Celtic Cup thread

[ifk101]

That'll be a polite "No Thank You" from the vast majority of the Northern Ireland fanbase :-)

Now...if the breakaway Association wishes to participate, in addition to the original Irish Football Association, I'm sure it would add to the spectacle.

If the IFA fanbase doesn't want to support an All-Ireland team, that is their decision and a decision that should be respected by the FAI fan base.

However the British Home Championship in its most original format was a competition between the four distinct nations of the then United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Those four "home" nations were England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. If the English FA are looking to organise a tournament between the four home nations, the four footballing associations that represent those four nations should be involved. Following the partition of the island of Ireland, the IFA assumed the mantle of representing the Irish home nation in the Championship. This perhaps is linked to the fact that the IFA is the first established Irish footballing association, fielded their team under the guise of Ireland for 50 odd years after the split with the FAI, and that the IFA have fielded teams with an All-Ireland representation (even long after the establishment and regardless of the FAI).

There are five options open to the English FA as they set about organising the make-up of their tournament;
(a) run a four team competition with the Ireland team as a co-operation between the FAI and IFA.
(b) run a four team competition between the four associations that represent the four distinct nations of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
(c) run a five team tournament that includes both an IFA and FAI team.
(d) run a four team tournament between the four founding associations of the tournament.
(e) realise this tournament will open up a can of worms that is best left alone.

Option (c) is the most likely outcome with option (e) running it a close second.

[Gather round]

I cannot honestly see your problem EG (or GR). Personally I would love to see all the people of Ireland and for that matter all the people of Northern Ireland being given a one off opportunity to get behind the same football team

Morning TP. Look, at risk of repeating myself, I don't care if this proposed tournament commemorates the 50th anniversary of England winning something, the martyrs of Easter 1916 or the stadium tour to raise funds for Bonehead's latest tax avoidance scam. We ain't interested in merging with your football team. Don't you ever get bored of this nonsense?

PM for the non-Brazilian. Obrigado, Senhor.

Två små troll

You're funny.

Isn't there any reindeer clubbing on Svenska TV today?

[ifk101]

två små troll

Du menar att jag är "ett litet troll"? Du får gärna förklara det, helst på svenska.

[ArdeeBhoy]

That'll be a polite "No Thank You" from the vast majority of the Northern Ireland fanbase :-)

Now...if the breakaway Association wishes to participate, in addition to the original Irish Football Association, I'm sure it would add to the spectacle.

But what about if we disbanded the FAI for the occasion and played as a UI team with all the games in Beal-feirste?
If it's that much of an issue....

TP did use the phrase "one off competition".

Is there really that much Paranoia or Control Freakery at work??

Especially, as you correctly identified elsewhere, recent correspondence has not helped your argument.

[Not Brazil]

But what about if we disbanded the FAI for the occasion and played as a UI team with all the games in Beal-feirste?
If it's that much of an issue....

No, Thank You :-)

[ArdeeBhoy]

Fair enough, I suppose.

Though if it was good enough for Messrs. Best, Dougan & Jennings....

[Not Brazil]

Fair enough, I suppose.

Though if it was good enough for Messrs. Best, Dougan & Jennings....

Anyone from Northern Ireland who wishes to declare for the Association picking from 32 Counties has the CHOICE nowadays to do so (subject to FIFA eligibilty criteria).

That leaves those who CHOOSE not to, to have the CHOICE to play for Northern Ireland.

No mergers thanks - not for one off tournaments, or any other time.

You're welcome to YOUR All Ireland team....I, and the vast majority of the Northern Ireland fanbase, will be supporting our team for many, many, years to come.

You really need to get over the fantasist notion of a singular Irish International team...it ain't happening.

It's all about CHOICE.

[osarusan]

But what about if we disbanded the FAI for the occasion....

In that case I'd like the competition to be a constant, never-ending occasion.

[third policeman]

Anyone from Northern Ireland who wishes to declare for the Association picking from 32 Counties has the CHOICE nowadays to do so (subject to FIFA eligibilty criteria).

That leaves those who CHOOSE not to, to have the CHOICE to play for Northern Ireland.

No mergers thanks - not for one off tournaments, or any other time.

You're welcome to YOUR All Ireland team....I, and the vast majority of the Northern Ireland fanbase, will be supporting our team for many, many, years to come.

You really need to get over the fantasist notion of a singular Irish International team...it ain't happening.

It's all about CHOICE.

Yeah, I'm all for choice too. It would be interesting to see what the majority of people in NI thought about the idea of a single team for this competition. I have a hunch that they might be able to see the bigger picture and that the idea would be attractive to a lot of people and quite probably a lot of the players in both teams as well.. However, I think you are suggesting that it's the NI "fanbase" who should have a right of veto on this. Restricting the franchise to those people who by definition agree with your position is a wee bit undemocratic.. I genuinely wish you guys could take the blinkers off and be willing to give something a go, particularly when it clearly would not have any kind of knock on for other international competitions.

[Dodge]

Yeah, I'm all for choice too. It would be interesting to see what the majority of people in NI thought about the idea of a single team for this competition. I have a hunch that they might be able to see the bigger picture and that the idea would be attractive to a lot of people

I'd say the majority of people in the Republic would be against that side entering the British Home Championship. Works both way

No mergers thanks - not for one off tournaments, or any other time.

Geunuine question here, how do you feel about a possible GB team for the 2012 Olympics?

[Not Brazil]

I genuinely wish you guys could take the blinkers off and be willing to give something a go, particularly when it clearly would not have any kind of knock on for other international competitions.

I genuinely wish you would quit the fantasist nonsense.

I support Northern Ireland in International football...nobody else. Certainly not some cobbled together pretend All Ireland, token, team. Northern Ireland...first, last, and everything inbetween.

If you don't understand that, you're lost on the nuances of footballing passion.

It isn't happening, no matter how much you dream and dream about it - wake up, and get over it.

[Not Brazil]

Geunuine question here, how do you feel about a possible GB team for the 2012 Olympics?

Oppossed.

[Dodge]

Fair enough. Thanks for the reply

[third policeman]

I genuinely wish you would quit the fantasist nonsense.

I support Northern Ireland in International football...nobody else. Certainly not some cobbled together pretend All Ireland, token, team. Northern Ireland...first, last, and everything inbetween.

If you don't understand that, you're lost on the nuances of footballing passion.

It isn't happening, no matter how much you dream and dream about it - wake up, and get over it.

Just a bit weird that so many NI legends dont share your highly nuanced footballing passion.

[Gather round]

I think you are suggesting that it's the NI "fanbase" who should have a right of veto on this. Restricting the franchise to those people who by definition agree with your position is a wee bit undemocratic

Are you on drugs? Got it in one, it's the NI supporters who should decide whether the NI team gets, er, abolished. As for the bizarre franchise analogy, assorted NI-based RoI fans, ****-stirrers and random uninterested punters get a vote every time there's a real general, Assembly or Euro election. In none of which in living memory has the organisation of football teams been an issue. If you want to vote on the IFA, join a supporters' club or run for league treasurer or something.

I genuinely wish you guys could take the blinkers off and be willing to give something a go, particularly when it clearly would not have any kind of knock on for other international competitions

I genuinely wish you'd take your pretentious wind-ups elsewhere.

just a bit weird that so many NI legends dont share your highly nuanced footballing passion

If you're so impressed by what a couple of dead ex-players think, organise a seance and riff with them instead.

Geunuine question here, how do you feel about a possible GB team for the 2012 Olympics?

Also opposed. Effectively there'll be an England u-23 side. I daresay their press will have a go at drumming up interest next season, but at the moment no-one else seems interested bar Bale's agent.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Are you on drugs?

Presumably you are being, er, ironic here.

it's the NI supporters who should decide whether the NI team gets, er, abolished.

Surely, it would be UEFA, FIFA & the IFA in that order??
The fans would come a long way down, if they were at all consulted. No matter how many banners EG dreamt up....

As for the bizarre franchise analogy, assorted NI-based RoI fans, ****-stirrers and random uninterested punters get a vote every time there's a real general, Assembly or Euro election. In none of which in living memory has the organisation of football teams been an issue.

Not that bizarre, just that as you may have noticed, in the last 50 years or so, the very political existence of the North has been under question. So minor issues like sports teams supported by half its population would be rather down the agenda!
Just be grateful Ian never offered it to Gerry....

I genuinely wish you'd take your pretentious wind-ups elsewhere.

Rather a strong whiff of Hypocrisy here. If not complete double-standards.

If you're so impressed by what a couple of dead ex-players think, organise a seance and riff with them instead.

Well they did actually play for the team, so guessing their views would be rather more valid, even now.
After all a Dutchman of questionable sexuality has managed to exert his influence over the North for more than 300 years, after he's departed his mortal coil.

Lastly on the Olympics, they were discussing this on the PL preview recently and they reported a Mr.Brunt was interested in playing, when the idea was suggested by a reporter....

[EalingGreen]

The British Home Championship actually if we are going to take the pedantic route. But revealing that you would highlight that.

Really?

Next time you're in Belfast, why not take a wee dander out to Windsor Avenue, call in at the IFA, and take a look at what it actually says on the trophy?

[EalingGreen]

Actually for a one off competition it sounds like a good idea. The original Home Internationals featured a single "Ireland" team, so it would be a fitting way of honouring the common footballing heritage of the IFA and FAI. So long as there is no suggestion or expectation that this would be a harbinger of merger, I cannot honestly see your problem EG (or GR). Personally I would love to see all the people of Ireland and for that matter all the people of Northern Ireland being given a one off opportunity to get behind the same football team.

The forthcoming London Olympics in 2012 offers the people (or football fans, at any rate) of NI a one-off opportunity to get behind a united football team, too.

My response* to Seb Coe and his offer of a United Kingdom team is the same as it is to you and your offer of a United Ireland team.


* - If you need a clue, it's two words, the second of which is "Off!" Oh, and the first word is "F u c k" (in case you're still wondering).

[The Fly]

My response* to Seb Coe and his offer of a United Kingdom team is the same as it is to you and your offer of a United Ireland team.


* - If you need a clue, it's two words, the second of which is "Off!" Oh, and the first word is "F u c k" (in case you're still wondering).

Just say Never! Never! Never!

[gustavo]

Can we get back on topic please?