Celtic Cup thread

**Bottle of Tonic** · 30/05/2011, 11:14 AM

personally I'd rather see us play these NC games vs similar and local opposition than against some half arsed glamour side playing in kick about mode.

Agree though we should have more decent away friendlies.

**Bottle of Tonic** · 30/05/2011, 11:18 AM

Also tournament has suffered cos Wales and NI are so brutal at moment. I'm sure whinging Speed and Worthington would love to slink off to Lithuania or Iceland for their friendlies and get hammered there where no one would notice.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 30/05/2011, 11:21 AM

We'd have been better off playing Greece, Iceland and Portugal in some sort of 'bankrupt' Nations Cup, with all the fans paid to attend and the winners getting the biggest EU/IMF bailout....

**Charlie Darwin** · 30/05/2011, 1:49 PM

Originally Posted by Bottle of Tonic

personally I'd rather see us play these NC games vs similar and local opposition than against some half arsed glamour side playing in kick about mode.

Agree though we should have more decent away friendlies.

The reason we tend not to have many away friendlies is because historically we get better attendances than most other countries. We could get close to capacity for some games against unglamorous opposition, something that wouldn't be the case were we to visit Slovenia or Austria. Most countries like playing away games because it's a guaranteed payday: it's only us, England and some of the bigger countries that can take the financial risk of hosting an international friendly. I think with the recent drop in gates we'll see more events like Italy in Liege and Brazil in London.

**Murfinator** · 30/05/2011, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

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.

Ridiculous to even mention Rugby, The triple crown was achieved beating 3 teams all ranked in the top 10 in the world. This tournaments opposition contained #65, #66, and #114 in the world. There is no honour beating teams of that caliber, performances against teams that poor is of no relevance to qualifications to major tournaments as we'll never play teams that bad in them.
Our own players in their droves snubbed to chance to appear in this and you question why fans might dismiss it? Enjoy your trophy, beating 3 nothing teams at home is not anything I'll take the slightest bit of pride or satisfaction from.

It is what it is, a silly friendly cup desperately trying to stake a claim for relevance based on geographical location. This should never be the basis for friendly selection, I want competitive games at a level that will serve us well on our journey to qualification. Russia dismantled us with a 4-5-1 possession game, why not target friendlies against teams who play similarly to demo tactics for overcoming them. As much of a laugh our reserves got from winning the tournament 9-0 on aggregate I sincerely doubt they got anything useful from it.

**boovidge** · 30/05/2011, 2:22 PM

only about 10 countries in the world play rugby anyway.

**SkStu** · 30/05/2011, 2:37 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Really enjoyed the tournament. Some people called it "nonsense"..

Phil Collins is not a fan of the Celtic Nations Cup.

**Gather round** · 30/05/2011, 2:38 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

This tournaments opposition contained #65, #66, and #114 in the world. There is no honour beating teams of that caliber, performances against teams that poor is of no relevance to qualifications to major tournaments as we'll never play teams that bad in them

Three of the 2010 finalists (South Africa, New Zealand and North Korea) were ranked below #66 when the tournament started.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/05/2011, 2:42 PM

Hey, if you guys had taken it more seriously the tournie would have been pereceived better!

Anyway, the WC had 32 teams. The CC had 4!

**ArdeeBhoy** · 30/05/2011, 3:10 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Most countries like playing away games because it's a guaranteed payday: it's only us, England and some of the bigger countries that can take the financial risk of hosting an international friendly. I think with the recent drop in gates we'll see more events like Italy in Liege and Brazil in London.

Here's hoping....

Originally Posted by Gather round

Three of the 2010 finalists (South Africa, New Zealand and North Korea) were ranked below #66 when the tournament started.

Yeah, so what? They weren't invited. Would that they were.

**OwlsFan** · 30/05/2011, 4:33 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Why would we want to play three non-countries who're even worse than us, makes no sense....

Norn Iron ranked 65 and Scotland 66. FYR Macedonia 85. I see every reason.

If teams only played countries of a higher rank, then no one would play anybody!

**ArdeeBhoy** · 30/05/2011, 5:21 PM

Somehow there's always going to be 3, if not 10, or even 33 teams ranked ahead of us.
So that would be a start.

And FYROM will probably prove tougher than either of those two.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/05/2011, 5:52 PM

In fairness, a full ROI XI vs a full NI XI would have had plenty of interest and context. FYROM probably will be tougher than NI's under 19s. Well spotted.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 30/05/2011, 6:48 PM

Aye, but more worried about playing them than even a combined 'Best of' side from all the other players in the CNC.

**EastTerracer** · 30/05/2011, 8:34 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

Ridiculous to even mention Rugby, The triple crown was achieved beating 3 teams all ranked in the top 10 in the world.

There are barely 10 countries who play rugby seriously so I think you need to think a bit more carefully before casting the word ridiculous around.

**legendz** · 30/05/2011, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

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....

While I'd like to see it every year, every two years is probably about right. Aug, Nov and Feb are the only friendly dates available really that'll be of use.

**tetsujin1979** · 30/05/2011, 10:23 PM

As regards the comparisons with the Icelandic tournament won by Charlton, what players that were on the periphery of the squad, or made their debuts in the tournament, went on to become mainstays in the team?

**Kingdom** · 30/05/2011, 10:28 PM

Didn't Scotland play a 4-5-1?

We win, we whinge. Had we lost, we'd whinge. Someone on this board in the past 48 hours said "we all want to see Ireland do well" - I challenge that, there's a couple of names springing to mind that I never get the sense they want the team to do well. If we beat Eng in the friendly we're on for the Grand Slam. Boo-ya.

**BonnieShels** · 30/05/2011, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Didn't Scotland play a 4-5-1?

We win, we whinge. Had we lost, we'd whinge. Someone on this board in the past 48 hours said "we all want to see Ireland do well" - I challenge that, there's a couple of names springing to mind that I never get the sense they want the team to do well. If we beat Eng in the friendly we're on for the Grand Slam. Boo-ya.

Will we have to be beat Italy and France to take the "Real Slam"?

**Gather round** · 31/05/2011, 5:53 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Hey, if you guys had taken it more seriously the tournie would have been pereceived better!

I did take it seriously- watched all 270 agonising minutes

As mentioned here, I was genuinely planning to come over for the Wales game- it wouldn't be the first international friendly I've watched in a crowd of hundreds- but the IFA's insistence that we paid them to be bussed down from Belfast irritated me more.

Anyway, the chance has come up for a mini-break in beautiful Belgium next week. During the trip I will have the pleasure of lunch with at least one senior member of this forum. Anyone there and wishing to join us, I'll be in instantly recognisable national dress: