Friendly against England in June?

**SkStu** · 29/04/2011, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I think it's only inevitable that such contexts envelope the discussion in this forum at times given, whether one likes it or not, the undeniable politico-cultural nature of international football. You have to ask yourself, would we be bothering to play England at all in a football friendly in this period of national craving for a sense of "maturity" if it were not for that "dirty" word; h*story? It would be na�ve to see this as a football match solely for football's sake. The game doesn't exist in a bubble.

only thing is our side will be the only ones putting some pseudo-political, pseudo-historical context to it while simultaneously financially and emotionally supporting British football teams. Its all a bit immature really when you think about it. And im sure I and most others except for you, ArdeeBhoy and a couple of others didnt log on to foot.ie to be given a history lesson on the foundation of the state, history almost all of us are only too aware of already.

**Eminence Grise** · 29/04/2011, 10:58 PM

"Hedley Lamar: My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
Taggart: God darnit, Mr. Lamarr, you use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar wh*re."

Levity aside, DI, that's very well put, although I'd maintain that history itself isn't a dirty word. The problem is more the nuances that are put on it to mould a version of the past that dovetails neatly with a vision of the future. History, or more accurately, historiography is damnably contestable on this island (and if I'm honest, I'll admit to being a post-revisionist). It will always be just a game of football to some, and more than a game of football to others. And never the twain shall meet - here or elsewhere.

**Crosby87** · 29/04/2011, 11:34 PM

Sorry, I'm too lazy to look this up: SO will this be the last friendly before WC Q Starts? Or will it have started already?
Again apologies. Was up at 4 AM waiting to see if the Queen wore an Apricot hat so I could collect my winnings. Damn.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 30/04/2011, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by SkStu

only thing is our side will be the only ones putting some pseudo-political, pseudo-historical context to it while simultaneously financially and emotionally supporting British football teams.

Except no club (anywhere) is a country....especially in the case in point.

And what's this 'pseudo' thing ??

**SkStu** · 30/04/2011, 1:51 AM

dont mind, i was just being pseudo-intellectual...

**Charlie Darwin** · 30/04/2011, 2:09 AM

PseudoStu

**SkStu** · 30/04/2011, 2:22 AM

PseudoStu talks lots of poo.

**AlaskaFox** · 30/04/2011, 8:44 AM

Originally Posted by Crosby87

Sorry, I'm too lazy to look this up: SO will this be the last friendly before WC Q Starts? Or will it have started already?
Again apologies. Was up at 4 AM waiting to see if the Queen wore an Apricot hat so I could collect my winnings. Damn.

Nope, it takes place before Euro 2012, so there will be plenty of other games in between, with WCQ starting after E12 is over.

**Fixer82** · 30/04/2011, 11:02 AM

I'm thinking of starting a Suede tribute band called Psuede

**Crosby87** · 30/04/2011, 11:44 AM

Thanks. Im a moron. For some reason I thought it took place after the Euros. So they are basically scheduling these games hoping they make Euros... And if they dont they are just kind of meaningless cold weather games many players would pull out of I would imagine...

**DannyInvincible** · 30/04/2011, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

only thing is our side will be the only ones putting some pseudo-political, pseudo-historical context to it while simultaneously financially and emotionally supporting British football teams. Its all a bit immature really when you think about it. And im sure I and most others except for you, ArdeeBhoy and a couple of others didnt log on to foot.ie to be given a history lesson on the foundation of the state, history almost all of us are only too aware of already.

I'm not sure if all of those assumptions are directed at myself personally, although I was simply observing or describing what I view to be a reality, if you will. Indeed, maybe it is a bit immature of those you mention - I don't offer financial or emotional support to British clubs, for what it's worth - but then you could say that of any "petty rivalry" or even the whole idea of masses of grown men (and women, of course) channelling their hopes and dreams through groups of eleven other incomparably more talented men kicking a ball around field. It's not that difficult to discredit or degrade something of which you have little interest. Each to their own and all that.

As Eminence Grise points out, there will be those who see this game as a chance to "get one over the old enemy" - it wasn't by chance that the popular 'Joxer Goes to Stuttgart' happened to be written about a game against England - and there'll be those who'll see it as an opportunity to reach out in the seductive and prevailing spirit of forgiveness and political maturity so we can give ourselves a good pat on the back for being so progressive and forward-looking as a nation when we stand to observe 'God Save the Queen' with only the most impeccable of respect, or whatever it is cosmopolitan nations apparently do these days. There'll be others who'll have it marked down as just another football game; the same as any other.

I don't log on to receive or give history lessons. I sense that's a subtle reference to my posting habits. When I post at length on the eligibility issue, for example, as I admittedly do quite a bit - although it's not all I do here - my primary aim is not to engage in political discussion, but, rather, to give my take on matters from personal experience of the reality of the situation in the north and how the rules impact upon it or how it impacts upon the rules. I have a personal interest in the issue for obvious reasons. The discussion often takes on a political guise as the issue just happens to be a sensitive and inherently political one. It doesn't mean it ought not be discussed or the past be ignored just because some people have become tired of hearing about it or oversensitive to the mention of anything of a political nature seeing as we're all supposed to be looking exclusively to the future now or whatever. You have to recognise that FIFA's rules have political and social implications too; not merely footballing ones.

**SkStu** · 30/04/2011, 2:39 PM

nah, they werent all directed at you personally - just that you liked receiving history lessons from ArdeeBhoy. And the subtle reference you sensed was actually aimed at ArdeeBhoy who posts about very little else. Thats not necessarily a criticism - we're all allowed to comment on anything we like - its just a little one dimensional and gets a bit tedious. If youre in the same boat - i havent noticed - knock yourself out.

This isnt an eligibility thread so your last paragraph is largely irrelevant. I have learnt to stay away from those threads.

This is a thread about a possible friendly against England. Should be a cracker - they always are - i was at the last one in 95 and enjoyed it and the aftermath immensely. That said, im aware of the history of Ireland and the influence of England in that history. 99% of posters here will be aware of it. Do we really need to read it again? Cant we focus on the game, the build up, the players etc etc....

**DannyInvincible** · 30/04/2011, 5:04 PM

No worries, although you had taken issue with what you considered the side-tracking or politicisation of "every topic that is even semi-related to Ireland/Northern Ireland/England/UK", so forgive me for thinking you might have been referring to me given I take an interest in the eligibility issue.

Now, where's AB? We're supposed to be covering the Battle of Widow McCormack's Cabbage Patch this lesson.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 30/04/2011, 7:20 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

nah, they werent all directed at you personally - just that you liked receiving history lessons from ArdeeBhoy. And the subtle reference you sensed was actually aimed at ArdeeBhoy who posts about very little else. Thats not necessarily a criticism - we're all allowed to comment on anything we like - its just a little one dimensional and gets a bit tedious. If youre in the same boat - i havent noticed - knock yourself out.

That said, im aware of the history of Ireland and the influence of England in that history. 99% of posters here will be aware of it. Do we really need to read it again? Cant we focus on the game, the build up, the players etc etc....

Glad to hear the latter. And you'll be glad to know my posts have been on a much wider range of topics than you imply. Whilst DI has as ever identified a certain, er, 'inconsistency' above.

My interjections have been merely to point out, that probably for the duration of our lifetimes, such a fixture will not just be 'another game', which some people seem to think it will be.
If you think I'm overstating this, please see the above reference to Scotland and be grateful you're not part of the Tartan Army!!

**Crosby87** · 30/04/2011, 9:54 PM

Don't you mean Retartan Army?

**Fixer82** · 01/05/2011, 3:55 AM

No need to play England in a friendly. It would attract inevitable and unwanted trouble from morons on both sides. English morons, naturally, and a few Irish looking for revenge for '95 etc etc. No need for the grief unless we happen to get drawn in a group with them (it used to happen all the time...them and the North).
I would relish a game with England and really look forward to it but I think it's probably gonna be something that will attract too much negative press post-game and in footballing terms the players wouldn't learn much either

**Deckydee** · 13/11/2011, 8:18 AM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...s-2933320.html

**mypost** · 13/11/2011, 9:04 AM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

No need to play England in a friendly. It would attract inevitable and unwanted trouble from morons on both sides. English morons, naturally, and a few Irish looking for revenge for '95 etc etc. No need for the grief unless we happen to get drawn in a group with them (it used to happen all the time...them and the North).

So what's the alternative? Let the yobbos win? That's what happened the last time.

If properly policed, the game should pass off without incident. If.....