Barstool facepalm

[Charlie Darwin]

"Does your telly know you're here?" got another outing today, not sure if the TV cameras would have picked it up though. The Liverpool fans took the game ridiculously seriously. They were celebrating goals like they were playing against a side remotely on their level.

[Straightstory]

These type of games are just embarrassing. 40,000 Irish people turning up to support an English team against an Irish side. And you can bet these same people will be cheering on every team who play against England in the World Cup.
Oh, the confusion, hypocrises and paradoxes of being Irish.

[nigel-harps1954]

These type of games are just embarrassing. 40,000 Irish people turning up to support an English team against an Irish side. And you can bet these same people will be cheering on every team who play against England in the World Cup.
Oh, the confusion, hypocrises and paradoxes of being Irish.

Actually speaking to a fella yesterday who said he's not bothered that Ireland aren't in the World Cup now because he can cheer on England without feeling bad about it.

At least he's honest.

[Stuttgart88]

These type of games are just embarrassing. 40,000 Irish people turning up to support an English team against an Irish side. And you can bet these same people will be cheering on every team who play against England in the World Cup.
Oh, the confusion, hypocrises and paradoxes of being Irish.

In Bellamys pub in Ballsbridge after we beat Holland 1 nil the English 5-1 over Germany was on telly and a small group of green-wearing Ireland fans were cheering every Michael Owen goal like it was one of ours. So, I'd say there are at least 4 people out there who could cost you that bet

But yes, I think somebody should commission research into the mentality of the Irish football fan. I read a paper a while back describing the "typology" of football fans in general and what motivates fans to support teams. It wouldn't be stuff you don't instinctively know but at the same time the marketing industry needs to spell it out clearly so they can price and place the product to fit.

[CrowdedHouse]

This crap on extratime.ie deserves a mention here

http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/art...ll-supporters/

[Stuttgart88]

I only speed read that. Initially I thought the comparisons were benign and it was all a bit of fun, but comparing a genuinely community-rooted club like Sligo to Chelsea is an insult to decent football fans anywhere on the planet. World football needs more Sligos and far fewer Chelseas.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Shams have had "a long spell in the doldrums"? Two and a half years without a title, yeah, terrible drought altogether.

[pineapple stu]

You may recall the period before that?

[Charlie Darwin]

You may recall the period before that?

I don't. Somebody mentioned some lad called Larry Kilgallon the other day but to be honest it's all a blur.

[geysir]

Out of the doldrums and into............... Tallaght.

[Charlie Darwin]

Out of the doldrums and into............... Tallaght.

Lovely part of the world.

[ArdeeBhoy]

At least it's on the Southside...

[bluewhitearmy]

This bit about Drogs

who often struggle for recognition in the shadow of their more illustrious neighbours in the capital.



​Wasn't aware they had moved.

[Macy]

I don't. Somebody mentioned some lad called Larry Kilgallon the other day but to be honest it's all a blur.

It's good that you've been able to (car) park it.

[BonnieShels]

Wrote this the last day after a row with the denizens of Krank who thought I was some sort of elitist for my annoyance that they declared that the "season" was over.

I toned down my real thoughts to avoid alienation of course.

The End of the Soccer Season?
So it’s the end of the football season. All the Arsenal fans are celebrating an FA Cup win and Manchester City fans have a league title in their back pocket, and this one was won on points no less!

Barcelona fans are crying into their coffee and churros at a title lost in dramatic fashion. Atletico Madrid fans are gearing up for a league and European Cup double or in the case of Real Madrid they are finally in touching distance of La Décima.

Juventus fans are basking in the glory of a record breaking season and Bayern Munich fans have a league and German Cup double despite boring us into submission with Pep’s tiki-taka. I’m sure I could say something about Netherlands, Portugal and Scotland too, but let’s be honest, most Irish football fans probably don’t really care about them. The SPL, sorry SPFL is nothing without the Old Firm derby and even then that’s just an advertisement for al that is glorious about sectarianism.

So until June 12th when the World Cup begins in Brazil there’s no soccer on anywhere.

Or is there?

There is plenty of soccer out there – and it’s in Ireland! Live soccer, in stadia, which aren’t too far from your home. Live football matches that don’t require a trip to the city or town in question by plane or ferry. Live soccer matches with young Irish talent at the core of most squads.

What more can you ask for? You’re a football fan. Go watch some football!

Now, the stadium seats aren’t as plush as your leather corner sofa nor will Martin Tyler or Alan Smith get to call the plays in your ear. There’s no cover if it starts to rain in some grounds. And you will have to deal with a crappy tannoy. But that’s the joy of live sport. It’s the joy that people all over Europe have week in and week out going to live local sport to see local heroes playing for their local team

And then there’s the visiting grounds and towns you may not ordinarily see or visit. Seeing players as they rise in stature from young mites to international players; it’s a sight I tell you. Remember Séamus Coleman at Sligo, James McClean at Derry or even Kevin Doyle and Shane Long at Cork? No? Why ever not? They were playing every week and they were travelling all over the country too, for your delectation. Now they ply their trades in another country. But there’s a new generation you should get out to see.

The English season starts in the middle of August. So that gives you thirteen or so weeks to get out there and see some local talent and experience some local sport. Don’t worry, Manchester United or Liverpool won’t feel hard done by if you have a sneaky trip to Turner’s Cross or Tallaght Stadium or The Showgrounds. But do give it a bash – You won’t regret it.

http://www.krank.ie/category/opinion...soccer-season/

[legendz]

Well written, fair play!

[nigel-harps1954]

But why is the photo a half built Tallaght stadium on there? Could they not have a picture of a full Jodi in Dalymount, or Shed End in Turners Cross, or an aerial shot of the Showgrounds? Otherwise..good job.

[BonnieShels]

Yeah. I asked them to change that. Seems one of the admins just picked first picture available on wiki commons.

EDIT: Pic now changed and of a more vibrant nature.

[desaintsno.12]

Wrote this the last day after a row with the denizens of Krank who thought I was some sort of elitist for my annoyance that they declared that the "season" was over.

I toned down my real thoughts to avoid alienation of course.



http://www.krank.ie/category/opinion...soccer-season/

Yet again favouritism towards Shams. why not Richmond Park. sick of this

[Stuttgart88]

I was watching an interview with Vincent Kompany on SKY Sports News Yestwerday. He was at Belgium's training camp in Anderlecht(?) and could quite reasonably be expected to be asked questions on Belgium's world cup chances and preparations. Instead he had to put up with a very tenacious and, quite frankly, ridiculous line of questioning about Yaya Toure and his birthday cake that lasted far longer than it should have.

That's symptomatic of everything wrong with football in the anglosphere though. The EPL's media tentacles are everywhere. There is no escaping it.