2023/24 UEFA Women's Nations League

**pineapple stu** · 31/10/2023, 5:55 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Farcical half of football. It can't be allowed to continue, surely?

Anybody else thinking of that Not the Nine O'Clock News sketch reading this comment...?

**samhaydenjr** · 02/11/2023, 11:54 PM

With the Girls in Green doing so well, is it time for them to play more games at the Aviva? Surely our cash-strapped Association could do with a couple of extra 30k crowds per year and that must be possible with the momentum of goodwill behind them

**nigel-harps1954** · 03/11/2023, 12:13 AM

If they could sell out the 10,000 capacity Tallaght Stadium every game next year they'll surely have to look at a couple of games, but a packed Tallaght will be a better option than a half empty Aviva

**Razors left peg** · 03/11/2023, 2:37 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

If they could sell out the 10,000 capacity Tallaght Stadium every game next year they'll surely have to look at a couple of games, but a packed Tallaght will be a better option than a half empty Aviva

It would be half full....

**tetsujin1979** · 01/12/2023, 6:00 PM

Lineup for the final home game against Hungary

**Diggs246** · 05/12/2023, 4:37 PM

I believe it will be the first time the Irish national anthem will be played in a international match in northern Ireland

**seanfhear** · 05/12/2023, 4:43 PM

The sky will surely fall !

**tetsujin1979** · 05/12/2023, 6:14 PM

Kicking Katie McCabe really hard is never a good idea

**TonyD** · 05/12/2023, 6:22 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Kicking Katie McCabe really hard is never a good idea

That was some strike for her goal.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 05/12/2023, 6:23 PM

Originally Posted by Diggs246

I believe it will be the first time the Irish national anthem will be played in a international match in northern Ireland

Did they just play GSTQ in 1993 and then play? Silly behaviour. Scared of a song.

**Diggs246** · 05/12/2023, 6:39 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Did they just play GSTQ in 1993 and then play? Silly behaviour. Scared of a song.

Yep they sure did. That game was a utterly toxic environment.

**EalingGreen** · 05/12/2023, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Did they just play GSTQ in 1993 and then play? Silly behaviour. Scared of a song.

They only played the SS in the corresponding game at Lansdowne, the home anthem-only protocol having been introduced from the two teams' first meeting in 1978. In Dublin.

But don't let the facts etc...

**Diggs246** · 06/12/2023, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

They only played the SS in the corresponding game at Lansdowne, the home anthem-only protocol having been introduced from the two teams' first meeting in 1978. In Dublin.

But don't let the facts etc...

Pretty sensible as well. Can you imagine the trouble that would have caused.

Probably a good time for the northern Ireland team to say goodbye to GSTQ or king. It's not ok to have an anthem that alienates nearly half your population

**EalingGreen** · 06/12/2023, 1:58 PM

Originally Posted by Diggs246

Pretty sensible as well. Can you imagine the trouble that would have caused.

Indeed.

Originally Posted by Diggs246

Probably a good time for the northern Ireland team to say goodbye to GSTQ or king.

Long since overdue in my opinion, and that of many other NI fans. (The Pavlovian "No Surrender" during GSTK at last month's game was more desultory than I ever recall, down to two or three hundred clowns on the Kop?)

But in the end, the IFA has doubtless figured that it doesn't want/need the massive sh1tstorm which 'the usual suspects', 90% of whom have never been to an NI game in their life, would be sure to kick up.

While changing it anytime before the Euro's in 2028 would inevitably be portrayed as a "sop" to the GAA/Casement/Sinn Fein etc

Originally Posted by Diggs246

It's not ok to have an anthem that alienates nearly half your population

For me, there is actually a more positive, and therefore compelling, reason for adopting something else. That is, since we already have our own distinctive colours, badge and flag, why not complete the set and adopt our own distinctive anthem?

Of course this would also have the benefit of acknowledging those players, officials and supporters who do not feel any affinity to GSTK, which is a good thing in itself.

But does anyone really imagine that if the IFA were to replace GSTK with Danny Boy (or whatever), large numbers of Nationalists in NI would suddenly feel more warmly towards the NI team, never mind switch any allegiance they may already have away from the ROI team?

In the end, a lot of complaints about GSTK from certain quarters (don't mean you) are just a convenient excuse to have another pop at the NI team, just as playing it provides a convenient 90 seconds for me to have a last minute p1ss before kick-off, while the toilets are empty!

So by all means change it, but for the right reasons, not for the sake of some (futile) gesture.

**seanfhear** · 06/12/2023, 2:21 PM

How about ~ ~ God Save Us from Harry and Meghan ? !

**Diggs246** · 06/12/2023, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Indeed.

Long since overdue in my opinion, and that of many other NI fans. (The Pavlovian "No Surrender" during GSTK at last month's game was more desultory than I ever recall, down to two or three hundred clowns on the Kop?)

But in the end, the IFA has doubtless figured that it doesn't want/need the massive sh1tstorm which 'the usual suspects', 90% of whom have never been to an NI game in their life, would be sure to kick up.

While changing it anytime before the Euro's in 2028 would inevitably be portrayed as a "sop" to the GAA/Casement/Sinn Fein etc

For me, there is actually a more positive, and therefore compelling, reason for adopting something else. That is, since we already have our own distinctive colours, badge and flag, why not complete the set and adopt our own distinctive anthem?

Of course this would also have the benefit of acknowledging those players, officials and supporters who do not feel any affinity to GSTK, which is a good thing in itself.

But does anyone really imagine that if the IFA were to replace GSTK with Danny Boy (or whatever), large numbers of Nationalists in NI would suddenly feel more warmly towards the NI team, never mind switch any allegiance they may already have away from the ROI team?

In the end, a lot of complaints about GSTK from certain quarters (don't mean you) are just a convenient excuse to have another pop at the NI team, just as playing it provides a convenient 90 seconds for me to have a last minute p1ss before kick-off, while the toilets are empty!

So by all means change it, but for the right reasons, not for the sake of some (futile) gesture.

Rome wasn't built in a day baby! change it and its just another step in the right direction.. A big step for me was hiring Michael O Neill and this would be another one.

"why not complete the set and adopt our own distinctive anthem?"[
100% this is the way forward for NI, do it yourselves and be proud of how far you have come and who you are.

IMO NI should not be part of the UK or a Untied Ireland. do it yourselves and rook on, apply to join the EU in your own right etc etc

you can be British, N Irish , Irish, Europeans , Citizens of planet earth, whatever you want, no one should want to change how they identify