Club or Country?

[eirebhoy]

Yeah go on PP, no harm in a poll.

Just looking at the Fans Forum there's a thread with the title "Your Country Needs You". It made me think, people have been dying for their country for hundreds of years and still are to this day yet people still support a club team over their very own country.

[Sheridan]

To paraphrase a comment I read elsewhere when this topic was broached, I'd rather see DC win a corner than Ireland win the World Cup (and we're rubbish at corners.)

Only in this country would a majority of (even casual, as in this case) fans answer "country." Always the least painful path to glory, eh?

Look at this way, when the team for whom one holds the greatest affection performs well, upom whom does it reflect credit? If it's your club, then you've contributed (in however insignificant a fashion) directly to that success by helping to pay the players' wages each week and lending moral support "live" and in person. If it's the (specifically Irish) national team, who can rightfully claim the credit? British football scouts and amateur genealogists.

[eirebhoy]

Only in this country would a majority of (even casual, as in this case) fans answer "country."

That should be something to be proud of. I asked an American what's the first thing that comes to mind when she thinks of Ireland and she said golf. Why is that? Because Harrington, Clarke and McGinley rapping themselves in the Ireland flag and singing with the Irish people. I can't wait for the Ryder cup in two years time as the 3rd biggest sporting event is coming to this country. Its all about country, its all about Ireland and I hope that doesn't change.

[Dublin12]

I've been going to Ireland games since the 70's and am proud of my country just like everybody else and I've been going to Bohs since the 70's too,except for a spell that I was in England,anyway with Ireland it's easy to jump on the glory train as we've seen by many fans,with Bohs and other el teams it's a week in week out affair.Ireland games too me are bonus games and if we get to the world cups thats cool ,you can switch off from the national team,it's not so easy with your local team.

[eirebhoy]

you can switch off from the national team

I can't...

[jbyrne]

If it's the (specifically Irish) national team, who can rightfully claim the credit? British football scouts and amateur genealogists.

i'd say the many underage coaches in this country who give up many hours of their free time week in / week out may be able to take just a little bit of credit dont you think???!!!!

by the way my vote is for country over club by a million miles

[Dublin12]

Hey Conor,was over at ER on Sunday for the fun and games against the Wall,kicked off too ,bad season so far

[Dublin12]

Yeah,he said he didn't even consider Leeds an ex club cos he only played a few times,he celebrated that penalty as though he had been at Leeds all his life ,anyway MOT

[Plastic Paddy]

Look at this way, when the team for whom one holds the greatest affection performs well, upom whom does it reflect credit? If it's your club, then you've contributed (in however insignificant a fashion) directly to that success by helping to pay the players' wages each week and lending moral support "live" and in person. If it's the (specifically Irish) national team, who can rightfully claim the credit? British football scouts and amateur genealogists.

Why should that matter? Whoever plays for the Ireland team are representing us, and that's why they deserve our support. Similarly, when they win, lots of us celebrate. Our investment is emotional, and it's certainly no less real for that.

Your argument is similar to those who won't cheer Clinton Morrison's goals because he's not fully-Irish. What nonsense that is.

To you and the other nay-sayers at this time of good cheer, bah bleedin' humbug. To the rest, a happy and holy Christmas.

PP

[KR's Post]

Country definetely.... Only because bray have no chance of winning the premier title..... Plus i want to go to germany anyway....

[Karlos]

i'd say the many underage coaches in this country who give up many hours of their free time week in / week out may be able to take just a little bit of credit dont you think???!!!!

by the way my vote is for country over club by a million miles

here here, I haven't attended many EL games in my lifetime but give up 3 nights and a saturday morning to coach one underage and one men's amatuer team and make as much contribution to the development of Irish Soccer as they guys who pay the wages of Eircom League players week in week out.

I don't believe that attending every EL game makes you any more of a fan than someone who can't afford to go games, or can't becuase of work life etc but lives and dies for the results of his/her team. I know many people who live like that and others whoose lives revolve around amatuer football in the country. We wouldn't have any players in this country if if wasn't for the coaches and mentors who voluteer their time ar the likes of St. Kevins, Belvedere, Kilbarrack Utd, Ballyfermot FC, Raheny Celtic, Home Farm and every single club involved in developmental and recreational football in this country.

It's my pet hate amongst some football fans - swap the bar stool/terrace for a coaching field and the world of football takes a completely different view!

[Babysis]

As far as Im concerned there is no contest, its country all the way. In my opinion, anyone lucky enough to be allowed to wear that green jersey should be incredibly proud, and feel very lucky, and as long as they respect the shirt, I have no problem with them.

[harps1954]

CLUB - everytime

[eirebhoy]

That's true all over the world, players transfer for money. It's true in England, it doesn't stop fans at Old Trafford chanting 'Argentina' to show their dislike of the English team. Many Leeds fans I know would have no interest in the English team. Club before country is quite common. It has nothing to do with pride in one's country blah blah blah. Is someone seriously suggesting that unless we get all excited over drivel like Oireland -v- Celtic FC (I would watch a La Liga game on telly first tbh, but that's from a footballing perspective) there's something wrong? It just has to be club, unless the Irish game is actually important, like a World Cup final.

If Ireland were playing a friendly the same day as the world cup final Its no contest, I'd watch the Ireland match.

[dublinred]

Club - Although would be country if the club won the league every year.

[Slash/ED]

I used to be country all the way, I think it's the attitudes of some Irish fans more than anything else that písses people off. The amount of bandwagon jumping that goes on with the Irish team is a joke and that has led to the poor atmosphere in Lansedown road atm imo. All of this "best fans in the world" rubbish is just that, rubbish. I mean 30,000 travel to France to watch us play, 19,000 go to Dublin to see the Canada game, the debut of one of our most promising and talented youngsters in years. So I think, like I said, I support both equally but I'd rather see Shels qualify for the CL than Ireland make a world cup, probably because it'd have a bigger impact on football in this country.

[Hibs4Ever]

If Ireland were playing a friendly the same day as the world cup final Its no contest, I'd watch the Ireland match.

Me too. Definitely

[Paulie]

If Ireland were playing a friendly the same day as the world cup final Its no contest, I'd watch the Ireland match.

Well said that man.

[Slash/ED]

the "fans" that you speak of shouldnt take away or dictate your feelings towards the irish team in any way. its your team

Believe me I haven't missed a home Ireland match I've been able to get a ticket for since I've been old enough to go but I can see why these fans píss people off, and it's probably their attitudes towards the EL which makes me get behind my club even more rather then put me off the Irish team, if that makes sense, which is why I'd love to see Shels make the CL more than Ireland do anything.

[sadloserkid]

Club. I watch Ireland matches and I'm proud as hell of my nationality. I watched Ireland games long before Limerick matches. But I can honestly say that all of my greatest memories of football are club-based.
I should stress though that I'd put Ireland a long way ahead of Aston Villa or Dundee United, British clubs that I 'follow' but Limerick are where the heart is.