No, you've the wrong end of stick there Charlie. I've repeatedly made clear here my low opinion of IFA's understanding of FIFA rules and the like.Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Again, not so. I've no problem- as oft-repeated- about any eligibile player accepting caps for your team. I'm merely disappointed that some of them have amassed numerous games for NI's adult teams first. By the way, my reference to people wanting to take over NI above was to those who think it and its representative teams shouldn't exist. I wasn't suggesting you were one of them.Originally Posted by TOWK
Naughty As you remember perfectly well, at the time of your bans I suggested they were unjustified, and even offered that you use your powers of invincibility to re-register. Or change your name to Mervyn.Originally Posted by Danny Invincible
Your FIFA ranking (33 in Europe) is distorted and downplayed byOriginally Posted by Razor's Left Peg
a) friendlies- they are 'worth' only 40% of qualifiers against the same teams, and in recent years you've played more of them than most. Which tends to reduce your average ranking points even if the games are won or drawn
b) low ranking of teams you've beaten recently: a win against Faeroes or Kazakhstan in worth only about 30% or 40% of one against say Croatia or Russia
As De Lorean says, the formula is pretty bizarre. Here are some examples:
Win v Spain at Brazil finals: 100% of possible ranking points
Germany in qualifier: about 62%
Serbia in friendly: about 21%
San Marino in qualifier: about 16%
Last edited by Gather round; 24/02/2014 at 10:18 AM.
I assume you have a problem with Alex Bruce, Johnny Gorman and Oliver Norwood playing for NI after representing other countries then? I haven't even mentioned the myriad other British born players with completely frivolous links to NI that have declared in the last several years. That's the problem though. Why exercise any rationale when you can just beat a dead horse and portray it as a black and white issue where we are the bad guys, you are the put-upon good guys and there are no grey areas whatsoever.
Indeed, Alex Bruce playing for us is absurd. You'll notice I specified adult teams above: Norwood played for England only up to U-17, Gorman in your U-16. I cut the younger guys a lot more slack whichever team they move to or from.
Assuming you mean players like Maik Taylor, he qualified under the rules as they were at the time, which given your comments above I'd have assumed you accepted. His previous links to NI were admitted and nil, rather than frivilous and exaggerated. What's the problem?I haven't even mentioned the myriad other British born players with completely frivolous links to NI that have declared in the last several years
Do you read what others write? My attitude as regularly repeated here is basically the opposite of what you suggest. I've criticised the NI FA, teams and fans on here on numerous occasions.Why exercise any rationale when you can just beat a dead horse and portray it as a black and white issue where we are the bad guys, you are the put-upon good guys and there are no grey areas whatsoever.
Shall we move on to which are the strongest/ weakest groups? Here are the aggregated points that they each gained in current WC qualifying*:
Group A (Netherlands etc.) 89
Group G (Russia) 87
Group F (Greece) 84
Group C (Spain) 83
Group B (Bosnia) 80
Group E (England) 79
Group I (Portugal) 78
Group D (Germany) 77
Group H (Italy) 76
* teams in the five-team group last time have been gifted two notional wins each against Gib
I've booked Georgia this morning, its not cheap to get there but the real fans do this sorta stuff.
Looking forward to meeting my old friend Edward, or Eddie as crosby calls him when i get there.
I think Georgia away is a tricky fixture, one that I think is best played at the end when nothing for them to play for, however its our first competitive game under O'Neill and keane and the lads will be really fired up, so aside from being the last fixture away I think it's coming at the perfect time. We could have a nice collection of points come summer time next year, which we would need heading into the last 2 games. We need at least a 2 point cushion before those games at the very least, 4 would be better.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
Basically there are 3 back to back fixtures in our group scheduled, and in 2 of them we get Gibraltar.
Just how lucky can O'Neill get? along with getting the weakest team from pot 3. who really are a pot 4 team
When we get to the stiff back to back finale in Oct 2015, a point should do. Scotland will have risen up just enough to scuttle Poland's feint hopes in the penultimate game and by the time we get to Poland, it will be a dead rubber game for them.
Paul's got loads of money. He lives in London where there's a direct flight to everywhere and he's got no kids.
He doesn't get that much respect from me
got no kids?! or got no kids!?
Either way, I didn't know Paul was a shirker.
Sympathies Paul, I hope you can carry that cross with requisite manbag style.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
Stutts you always try and excuse yourself, or shirk as geysir put it better. The responsibility you should be shirking is that of your kids and to your wife ; )
It's no excuse, and I definitely don't have as much money as you do! Especially after buying you pints in the past! Kids or no Kids!
On a serious note in case anyone is looking Istanbul has probably the best times as the stop over, but not the cheapest, ukranian airlines-if you fancy that ;-) - are probably slightly better and around the same price. BOTN You obviously didnt realise I was joking....
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
A batsh*t crazy discussion from the Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster earlier today on whether or not Windsor Park should host a Euro 2016 qualifier on a Sunday: http://audioboo.fm/boos/1944961-ni-s...k-home-fixture
"NI should quit Euro 2016" - Rev David McIlveen opposes first Windsor Park home fixture
The draw for the 2016 European Football Championships was made yesterday and it will see Northern Ireland play at Windsor Park on a Sunday for the first time in their history. The match against Finland is scheduled to be played in March 2015. With football being played around the world on a Sunday should Northern Ireland be any different? We hear from Rev David McIlveen, Belfast Telegraph's Sports Editor Jim Gracey and we take your calls.
McIlveen is a broadcaster's dream. Nolan's put about at least two extra zeroes on the end of his salary from his ilk alone.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Wowsers!
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
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