Brazil friendly?

[peadar1987]

We're not playing England in this for a start. Besides that, Wales, Scotland and the North are mediocre sides at best. Would you honestly be more interested in a friendly against Scotland than Spain or Germany?

Well seeing as I live in Scotland, I'd be very interested in a friendly against them! And I was using the six nations as an example of another sport where we play the same teams repeatedly, yet don't get bored of it. I could (and probably should) have used Wales or Scotland in the example.

Competition against the North? Yes
Competitions against Wales and Scotland? Not a chance. Nobody will go to these games. Theres no rivalry. What do Irish know about Scotland or Wales? More of a rivalry with Poland or hell Lithuania I'd say.

Who do we have a rivalry with? England and the North, and that's pretty much it. Cyprus, maybe?!

And your post reveals the problem with the Irish event junkie attitude. We won't even go to watch our national team in a tournament if it's not against a glamour team we deem worthy of our attention. At least if we play against Scotland or Wales, there's some chance of them bringing over some supporters.

[Schumi]

I was using the six nations as an example of another sport where we play the same teams repeatedly, yet don't get bored of it. I could (and probably should) have used Wales or Scotland in the example.

But those rugby teams are good!

I don't have any particular problem with friendlies against those teams (although at current ticket prices, the value's not very good), they just wouldn't be anywhere near my top choices and the tournament doesn't excite me at all.

[Newryrep]

I think we should play some games against Scotland, Wales and Norn Iron. Nice short trips for away supporters, none of us are playing at the world cup, and we'd have a better chance of winning, to improve our world ranking.

And I'd love to see a match or two against an LOI select, but I doubt that's going to happen.

TBH I would rather play anybody but those ones

The rugby analogy is a total red herring. Different crowd altogether, all their games are competative and there are only a dozen major rugby countrys in the world and only half a dozen in this neck of the woods.

As regards competative ? TBH if its not the WC or EC I couldnt give a monkeys about the result - granted it probably wouldnt do our ranking anygood but Celtic Cup - hopefully will be strangled at birth

[peadar1987]

As regards competative ? TBH if its not the WC or EC I couldnt give a monkeys about the result - granted it probably wouldnt do our ranking anygood but Celtic Cup - hopefully will be strangled at birth

Why? Just because it hasn't got the golden stamp of approval from FIFA and UEFA's money-making division doesn't mean it's not worth winning.

I actually relish the chance to see Ireland win any tournament, whether it's organised by FIFA, UEFA, or individual associations. I know if we won the 4 nations tournament, I'd be immensely proud to be Irish, and knowing we'd earned that trophy, and anyone who says any different is probably lying.

[Newryrep]

Why? Just because it hasn't got the golden stamp of approval from FIFA and UEFA's money-making division doesn't mean it's not worth winning.

I actually relish the chance to see Ireland win any tournament, whether it's organised by FIFA, UEFA, or individual associations. I know if we won the 4 nations tournament, I'd be immensely proud to be Irish, and knowing we'd earned that trophy, and anyone who says any different is probably lying.

Bald men and comb spring to mind

Are you not immensely proud now to be Irish ?

[Riddickcule]

Scotland would be a brilliant option, not NI or Eng disaster waiting to happen i'm afraid.

On second thought, wouldn't mind a Scandinavian team, Denmark, Sweden or Norway

[Murfinator]

I can't think of anything more boring than playing somebody like Scotland in a friendly. Total snorefest, technically abysmal team who throw themselves about enough to try and bring the opposition down to their level. no thanks.

[Murfinator]

Why? Just because it hasn't got the golden stamp of approval from FIFA and UEFA's money-making division doesn't mean it's not worth winning.

I actually relish the chance to see Ireland win any tournament, whether it's organised by FIFA, UEFA, or individual associations. I know if we won the 4 nations tournament, I'd be immensely proud to be Irish, and knowing we'd earned that trophy, and anyone who says any different is probably lying.

There's no pride to be gained from beating 3 abysmal teams, only shame from potentially losing to them. It's a no win competition for us.

[peadar1987]

I can't think of anything more boring than playing somebody like Scotland in a friendly. Total snorefest, technically abysmal team who throw themselves about enough to try and bring the opposition down to their level. no thanks.

That's quite shocking arrogance!

So only teams in the top ten are good enough for the mighty Irish to play against? It's a good thing for you that the Brazilians, Spanish and Dutch don't share your contempt for lower-ranked nations, because if they did, then we'd never get to play exhibitions against them.

[eaststand85]

I can't think of anything more boring than playing somebody like Scotland in a friendly. Total snorefest, technically abysmal team who throw themselves about enough to try and bring the opposition down to their level. no thanks.

I know some people will take offence at this but sounds a bit like us (up until recently perhaps) to be honest.

[Closed Account 2]

Russia, Croatia, Hungary, Bosnia, Turkey - these would be good games that would actually test us and those teams would all be available in the summer.

[Closed Account]

We should use Friendlies to get the optimum number of ranking points.
Edgar here said that he offered his services to the FAI to suggest games to move us up the rankings. Wonder if he'd still be willing to do it.

[finbarrk]

hopefully my love for football is back by then!!!

I would have preferred Argentina/Spain or Holland myself.

I thought we had Argentina next year allready?

[ifk101]

The words that catched my attention when reading about the proposed Brazil friendly were "money" and "spinner". Personally I'd like us to wait until the Euro 2012 draw, see who we get, and play friendlies against teams with similar styles of play to those of the top seeds we have been drawn against. But Brazil again, and Brazil don't come cheap, plus factoring in the lost revenues from failing to qualify for the WC (did this more than anything else motivate the manner of the FAI's actions in the aftermatch of the French game?) and then the cost of the Lansdowne Rd project/ slow ticket sales - all brings you to wonder is there cause for concern?

[Ash]

On second thought, wouldn't mind a Scandinavian team, Denmark, Sweden or Norway

Those 3 games have 0-0 written all over them

seeing as we have the Argentina game already, from the WC10 qualifiers I'd like for us to play Spain and then any from Portugal, Japan, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast depending on how many games we play.

[Gather round]

Zzzzz. We'll have enough of that in the next few years anyway

Er, what's the problem with playing one of your neighbors next year as well as in the 2011 tournament? Which may not become a regular thing anyway.

We're not playing England in this for a start. Besides that, Wales, Scotland and the North are mediocre sides at best. Would you honestly be more interested in a friendly against Scotland than Spain or Germany?

Mediocre sides tend to play other mediocre sides, basically because the top dogs want to play each other.

As a NI fan, I'm all for an occasional game with Tartanarnia. Close, cheap, there's always some edge and we haven't forgiven the b*st*rds yet for doing a runner from the Home internationals

Competition against the North? Yes. Competitions against Wales and Scotland? Not a chance. Nobody will go to these games. Theres no rivalry. What do Irish know about Scotland or Wales? More of a rivalry with Poland or hell Lithuania I'd say

Ha ha. If you can nearly fill Croke for a nothing game against the Black Mountain-top, fans will turn out for your neighbors with even a minor trophy at stake. I imagine fans of the Scottish club sides that are the first and fourth best supported teams in Ireland know a bit about the country?

[ifk101]

Er, what's the problem with playing one of your neighbors next year as well as in the 2011 tournament? Which may not become a regular thing anyway.

It'd be similar to Ireland playing against a regional Connacht select. Those from connacht might be interested in the game but would it capture the imagination of the rest of the country?

Mediocre sides tend to play other mediocre sides, basically because the top dogs want to play each other.

Yes and why would we want to play NI then?

As a NI fan, I'm all for an occasional game with Tartanarnia. Close, cheap, there's always some edge and we haven't forgiven the b*st*rds yet for doing a runner from the Home internationals

I thought you were going to bring up something about national anthems there

[Gather round]

Will there be much of a competitive edge to this? I can't imagine there being much prestige to winning the tournament

Not the highest priority for the players, but the fans will take it seriously enough I think. The four teams have managed ONE successful qualification between us from 20 attempts in the last 10 years. Any success is welcome.

TBH I would rather play anybody but those ones

OK, but presumably for reasons other than boredom. A friendly against a weak, defensive, unsupported Kazakhstan or Moldova might not be a bundle of laughs either.

Celtic Cup - hopefully will be strangled at birth

I know anecdotally (basically from reading this forum and the Tartan Army MB equivalent) that there's plenty of opposition in the two bigger countries, but I've feeling it may be reasonably well supported come the time. I'd give it a chance.

Scotland would be a brilliant option, not NI or Eng disaster waiting to happen i'm afraid

I recognise your concerns. There must be a risk of crowd trouble at either game. On the other hand, you'll have to play England in a tournament sometime (and us when you manage to get into a different seeding pot).

There must also be the possibility of a British team making the Europa League final in Dublin 2011, so a game with England could act as a 'rehearsal' for that.

There's no pride to be gained from beating 3 abysmal teams, only shame from potentially losing to them. It's a no win competition for us

There's no 'shame' per se in losing to similarly-ranked teams, which Scotland and Northern Ireland are. You need to recognise your own place in the grand scheme- third rate over the last three tournaments and thus seeded for the next; 19th in Europe on the basis of the qualifiers just finished.

PS morning IFK. Shouldn't you be in hibernation with all the other nordic trolls?

[ifk101]

PS morning IFK. Shouldn't you be in hibernation with all the other nordic trolls?

Gather round

(a) Games against NI would not fill Croke Park
(b) Games against NI would not cover the rental costs of Croke Park
(c) The "fans" won't pay to watch games against NI.

Games against Brazil on the other hand .....

[peadar1987]

Gather round

(a) Games against NI would not fill Croke Park
(b) Games against NI would not cover the rental costs of Croke Park
(c) The "fans" won't pay to watch games against NI.

Games against Brazil on the other hand .....

I would pay to watch a game against NI at Croke Park. Does that mean I'm not a fan?