QuoteGreat spur for the country. They'll look back at this triumph in documentaries in years to come and attribute it to Ireland's economic recovery and second boom.
Unfortunately, Carling do 'do cups'....
Thank a higher power this nonsense is now over.
Still, the only 'trophy' we're likely to win for a while.
Great spur for the country. They'll look back at this triumph in documentaries in years to come and attribute it to Ireland's economic recovery and second boom.
The image of Trap hoisting the scrap metal becomes iconic as we speak.Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Delighted with the victory. Delighted with the progress made, and delighted with everything that has been learned. Ward at left back, Kelly at centre back, and Cox up front in particular.
A full fortnight together and 2 semi-competitive games will do us no harm on the way to Macedonia. A win there and we are in really good shape.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
Good prep for Macedonia game if nothing else.
Better to win the comp than not. Fairdues to the fans who turned out for the games this week.
I'm what? I'm ants at a picnic?
I know the Nations Cup has had it's critics, it's been made easy for the critics as well with the embarrassing format drawn up leading to poor crowds. I enjoyed the games though, more so than friendlies which was part of the reason for the tournament.
https://foot.ie/forums/117-Kerry-FC
A Championship: 4 years - 8 first teams - 0 financially ruined. First Division '14: 7 first teams.
Opportunity lost for new clubs/regions to join the LoI family.
Really enjoyed the tournament. Some people called it "nonsense". Why? Because they wouldn't be bothered attending it themselves? The rugby crowd wet themselves when they get a triple crown. We got our own triple crown this weekend and won only the 2nd trophy in my life time and probably the last. The game on Sunday was competitive, played with a good atmosphere with the Scots adding to the occasion with their support. Are we so superior that we look down our noses at Northern Ireland and Wales? Why I don't know.
Most of the Scottish team was their first choice and it was a good competitive game with a fair few tackles flying in. They wanted to win the trophy was well. What do people want? Meaningly "glamour" games against Brazil or some such? I have enjoyed the games despite the stay at home "supporters" and not to concede in 3 games was amazing. Many fringe players got games and we won the Cup. What more could one ask and no injuries (of which I am aware).
The format of all games in one stadium didn't work out but live and learn. Nothing ventured etc etc
Biggest joy - seeing Given back and Robbie scoring and us winning the tournament.
Fingers crossed for Macedonia.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Hi Gastric, this story reminds me of one I've heard Nirvana fans tell about how Kurt Cobain designed the set of their MTV Unplugged performance so as to be his funeral service. Why? Because it's one thats taken to be true because it's repeated often enough and got mentioned on the telly. Also because it isn't supported by so much as a shred of evidence.
I know Dougan felt he was frozen out after the All-Ireland/shams 11 match, and it's understandable maybe that a person doesn't want to acknowledge their powers are waning, but there's simply no event horizon around his NI career that coincides with this game. Here's what is known -he was 35, he hadn't been picked in five NI sides preceeding the AI game and before that he'd not scored in his last ten NI games. In comparison to the modern era he would've been at a similar point of the NI career arc that Warren Feeney, never mind David Healy or Kyle Lafferty, is at now.
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
I dont really understand the bad turn out from Ireland fans for this tournament. I mean if we played Scotland in a one-off end of season friendly would we only expect a crowd of circa 18,000? You would Ireland would get 25,000 for any game and this one was 'competitive'. I understand the tournament didnt get great press but will the casual fan only turn up if we play big name opposition? Who are people there to see? So called world class players going through the motions or their own country?
agree with this 100%. a big part of the problem was the continual sneering by our media at the tournament. it bordered childish on much of what i heard / read. the scots got behind it and brought about 12,000 fans with them over the three games
The shreds of evidence are that Dougan did have another year with Wolves in the top division, played in most games and scored 15 goals. Maybe he had a point that he was good enough or maybe his time with NI had passed. Dougan was not exactly a player who lacked belief in his ability but at least he worked hard to stay at the top until the age of 36.
Had tickets for all of them as a BB, but you couldn't give them away. And no, couldn't be bothered going to games v.3 non-countries. Two of whom a LOI XI would have given a game.
'Triple crown', you are joking??
Two away friendlies rather than two more non-events in Dublin would have been far more use, IMO.
Like the Italy one, but pointless after Macedonia.
And yes, am a glass half empty person.....
yes, having the squad on the road in two different locations for 10 days or so in the build up to a very tricky away qualifier after a long season would have been ideal preparation for next saturday
Whatever about it being a nonsense it's clear now that the team has had some useful workouts and by the sound of things a real rapport has been built up in the squad. We need this backs to the wall spirit.
Sounds like there's even a strong tone of support gathering here as well.
Boring tournament, very useful preparation exercise.
Er, no. A friendly in Feb and one to some mid-ranking team eg.Belgium around this weekend....
A bit like Scotland then and Celtic? One competitive other team. Why bother going to any of the other games? If everyone in Scotland followed your attitude, the games at Parkhead/Ibrox would be half empty for all but the Old Firm games.
The Scottish team is also made up primarily of current or former Celtic and Rangers players described by you as a "non-country".
So what you are saying is that you will only go to support Ireland when they are playing big opposition in a friendly or in qualifying games for the two main tournaments? That's your choice but to describe the tournament as a "nonsense" is very myopic and failing to see what it has done for the fringe players and for players like Robbie and Shay.
I am not saying I got terribly excited by the whole thing but I enjoyed the games, I enjoyed us winning the games, us winning the trophy, seeing fringe players, us not conceding a goal, Shay playing well, Robbie scoring, the great Scots' support, lots of kids at the games getting involved, the sad faces of the Nordies at the end on the game against them and us heading off to Macedonia in a positive frame of mind. A "nonsense" ? I don't think so.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Super post Owls fan.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
The SPL analogy doesn't stand up as Celtic & Rangers have been playing those teams for decades and is a national league after all. And yes, in these economically pressed times, people will vote with their feet.
Am sick of pointless home Ireland friendlies at this stage, of which these were three v. crap opposition. Not to mention the cost.
In a completely pointless competition. Did the aggregate crowd for the 6 games come to even 50k?
And don't care what the away fans thought, am rather more interested in seeing the qualifiers half of which are now cr*p also, due to Trap's now depressing tactics.
I enjoyed the tourno although the crowds were a disaster. But then again how many turned up the night of the uruguay match? Unfort the days of ppl paying 35+ for a friendly are gone.
I think the format of the tournament was ill thought out. There were never going to be good crowds for the games w/o Ireland. I think it should be given another few tries yet, very few tournaments take off right for the start. Run it every two years. Play it similar to 6N, one game at home two away one year and vice versa the next. Play over the calendar year on friendly dates.
Last night was a good game and a good test considering that Scotland are on a par with Macedonia. Plus the time together and the success cant do any harm for the squad morale etc
Going forward, I think something needs to be done about friendlies. Hopefully the lower prices will see more come to friendlies. However alot of lads i know down the country buy the BB/season ticket but dont make the midweek friendlies due to travel costs etc. I think something needs to be worked where the lower tiers are filled (even at upper tier prices). While I appreciate the two tiered pricing, the fact that the upper tiers are almost full and the lower tiers are nearly empty just doesnt look good.
I heard that clown Paul Collins on Today fm this morning, mentioning on more than one occasion how the Tipp V Cork game got 32k yday, 6k more than our national side. In reality Paul, the "national side" for this game were by and large competing for numbers from the greater Dublin area. So then a more apt comparison would be the Dublin V Offaly game which only attracted 15k.
Your only valid point is the one about using the friendly dates. Though it's supposed to be bi-annual.
Otherwise, why would we want to play three non-countries who're even worse than us, makes no sense....
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