Barstoolers Love-In

**Straightstory** · 07/05/2011, 3:41 PM

Just saw a bit of last Sunday's RTE's Premiership highlights programme - in front of a packed audience of Irish people wearing Premiership shirts. The audience members consistently used the term 'we' in reference to clubs like Arsenal and Man United. One Sunderland (!) fan (?) actually asked 'Do you think simulation is coming into the English game and is becoming a real problem here'.
An utterly weird and surreal experience. I'd like to see a similar experiment in the World Cup. They could all wear their England jersies.

**D.24saint** · 07/05/2011, 4:14 PM

the sad facts are that the premier league has found its way into the fabric of the Irish society there is nothing the LOI clubs with their tiny marketing budgets can do,it doesn't wreck my head anymore its just something you have to come to terms with.

**bluewhitearmy** · 07/05/2011, 5:44 PM

Just have to get used to it...I had a fella few week ago tell me while wearing a Chelsea jersey that "I wouldnt support Limerick because its all Dubs no local lads there".

**monkey9** · 07/05/2011, 6:18 PM

It's not about competing with the English league because there is now competition. You're not gonna get people to stop supporting clubs they've been supporting since they were a child. All that can be done is to keep trying to attract them to LOI matches while still having the English clubs!!

**ped_ped** · 07/05/2011, 7:04 PM

Probably brought up too often in these kind of discussions, but I give you . . . Norway.

Population:4,956,700 (2011 Census) [vs Ireland's 4,470,700]
Average Tippeligaen Attendance: 9,812 [vs Airtricity Premier Division's 1,657 last season (according to Wikipedia!)]

Their stadiums are by far superior, adequately sized while not oversized, but clean, nice to look at, and customer-friendly.

Most importantly, Norwegian people, even though 1,785,815 attended Tippiligaen matches in 2009-'10, are mad about the Barclay's Premier League. Their attendances are in spite of that.

**nigel-harps1954** · 07/05/2011, 8:09 PM

Originally Posted by ped_ped

Probably brought up too often in these kind of discussions, but I give you . . . Norway.

Population:4,956,700 (2011 Census) [vs Ireland's 4,470,700]
Average Tippeligaen Attendance: 9,812 [vs Airtricity Premier Division's 1,657 last season (according to Wikipedia!)]

Their stadiums are by far superior, adequately sized while not oversized, but clean, nice to look at, and customer-friendly.

Most importantly, Norwegian people, even though 1,785,815 attended Tippiligaen matches in 2009-'10, are mad about the Barclay's Premier League. Their attendances are in spite of that.

100% agree with everything thats going on there and something I've brought up enough times elsewhere, there is no point complaining about EPL now, it's the simple fact that the LOI just isn't attractive. Not just the football, but walk into stadiums like Finn Park and Jackman Park, then tell me they're attractive.

When clubs are attractive to go and watch both football wise, and stadia, then we'll see a rise in attendances.

**Hurt Locker** · 07/05/2011, 8:33 PM

Originally Posted by ped_ped

Probably brought up too often in these kind of discussions, but I give you . . . Norway.

Population:4,956,700 (2011 Census) [vs Ireland's 4,470,700]
Average Tippeligaen Attendance: 9,812 [vs Airtricity Premier Division's 1,657 last season (according to Wikipedia!)]

Their stadiums are by far superior, adequately sized while not oversized, but clean, nice to look at, and customer-friendly.

Most importantly, Norwegian people, even though 1,785,815 attended Tippiligaen matches in 2009-'10, are mad about the Barclay's Premier League. Their attendances are in spite of that.

I agree with your point of view, but you haven't factored in is the irish no 1 national sport is football and hurling, Finland has nothing comparable to this.

**BonnieShels** · 07/05/2011, 8:40 PM

And Norway?

**monkey9** · 07/05/2011, 8:43 PM

Plus Dublin is closer to Liverpool than any other city in Ireland. Imagine if the Danish league was one of the top two or three leagues in Europe. How would Norway be then?

**oriel** · 07/05/2011, 9:03 PM

There are very few people who travel over to England regulalry for games that I have respect for. I also cant stand the sight of a the tricolour flung across an advertising board at games, exactly what is their point ?

'Wow, look at me, I managed to get on a 40 euro flight and paid in 50 stg (min) to be here'

SO WHAT ?

As for the over 40`s in replica English teams tops, dont get me started.

I even gave up watching match of day months ago, zero interest, for me the Championship is much better, for those clubs at least people associated with their teams support them, much better feel to it, all games actually.

I use the England national team thing all the time, always ends the conversation.

**DannyInvincible** · 07/05/2011, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by Hurt Locker

I agree with your point of view, but you haven't factored in is the irish no 1 national sport is football and hurling, Finland has nothing comparable to this.

Assuming you mean Norway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_Norway

Football is the most popular Sport in Norway in terms of active membership (by television viewership Football comes third, behind Biathlon (Cross-country skiing/Rifle shooting) and Cross-country skiing,

I think Norway is a pretty apt comparison. Going by UEFA's league rankings, the overall quality of football on offer there might be adjudged to be slightly superior but certainly isn't miles ahead of the standard evident in the League of Ireland. The Norwegian league is ranked 26th with a coefficient of 14.375 over the last five seasons whereas the League of Ireland finds itself ranked 31st with a coefficient of 8.708 over the past five seasons.

**Hurt Locker** · 07/05/2011, 9:07 PM

TBH the vast majority of league of ireland players I know personally watch sky/moth and follow english/scottish clubs many also travel to england to watch a match. PL teams probably inspired some of these irish players to start playing soccer.

**oriel** · 07/05/2011, 9:10 PM

Originally Posted by monkey9

Plus Dublin is closer to Liverpool than any other city in Ireland.

I`ve heard this a few times, and its just not correct.

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...nces.html?n=78

**Candystripe** · 07/05/2011, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

I`ve heard this a few times, and its just not correct.

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...nces.html?n=78

That website has the wrong milage.

**bullit** · 07/05/2011, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Candystripe

That website has the wrong milage.

Regardless,its still a hoor of an excuse !!

**PartySaint** · 08/05/2011, 2:19 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

I use the England national team thing all the time, always ends the conversation.

I like to go with, 'If you team was relegated down the leagues to the conference would you stop supporting them because thats a **** level aswell?' Usually ****s up their 'I wouldn't watch that ****e' argument

**pineapple stu** · 08/05/2011, 5:18 PM

Originally Posted by D.24saint

the sad facts are that the premier league has found its way into the fabric of the Irish society

In fairness, that's nothing to do with the Premiership; that was always the case, even back in the day when LoI teams had respectable attendances. Phil Lynott was a Man Utd fan, for example. Irish players going abroad to the big English clubs ensured an extra interest in that club here. Gods versus Mortals highlights that point very well, I think.

Originally Posted by Hurt Locker

I agree with your point of view, but you haven't factored in is the irish no 1 national sport is football and hurling, Finland has nothing comparable to this.

Try handball, skiing and ice hockey for starters. Norway's similar. The notion that Ireland is unique in having the GAA as a competing sport is just wrong.