QuoteYes there seemed to be massive Irish support. Pity many didn't appear to bring their vocal cords with them.Originally Posted by zinedineontour
Firstly , the support was amazing again ... three sides of the ground full or irish .. pity the team didnt turn up .. The only positives were shay as ever , elliott ( who i think should now replace keane which would give robbie the kick up the arse he needs ) and the result ... At the end of the day it matters **** all how we performed if we do the biz on wednesday ...
Yes there seemed to be massive Irish support. Pity many didn't appear to bring their vocal cords with them.
I could hear them clearly on Setanta they were amazing.
Out of 4 positive things about the game that was one.
1. We Won
2. Shay Given
3. Stephen Elliot
4. The Fans.
Based on the team performance: God help us Wednesday - This was the worst performace yet.
I was there, and it was amazing, as for the 7 you know who went fair play to them, at least they bothered, even if they did take it in as a holiday as well, and from what they witnessed over in Cyprus was definitley not an advertisment for them to go hunting for overpriced block book tickets from the FAI who seem to be in the papers for all the wrong reasons, Kerr's future in the balance ! AND who happen to have us cast as the FAI NFA (no fixed abode) to the rest of the soccer civilisation.
Even if we do reach the playoffs, and I believe we will, maybe more with my heart than my head. They got a deal with the GAA, and did they
a)forget
b) were not allowed
c) assumed we wouldn't be in a playoff situation.
And if we do/when reach the playoff, let's hope there's a lot more people who don't get to Landsdowne (home of Irish RUGBY) dig into their pockets again to cross the sea, by land or air to support their national team we're going to need it playing our home leg on foreign soil.
Again they were outstanding Saturday night, anyone who attended that game should have been placed on Suicide watch, it was that bad.
It's not actually winning that counts, it's playing the game with attitude
This is a quote from a friend of mine who was at the game:
Fans also poor. Huge crowd which gave the lads a lift at the start but
looked like a trappist monks outing for most of the rest of it. It's time
we stopped congratulating ourselves for being wonderful fans. Going to
another country and dressing up in green is not the same as supporting.
Majority don't realise that its not about them its about the team. When
the team is struggling they need a boost.
Apart from the odd chant which came across on the TV the fans seemed just sat on their behinds and watch not support.
What a huge insult to all the fans who travelled and lost their voices while singing and chanting. We did our best but the players didn't return the compliment. It's hard to sing when you see the likes of John O'Shea performing their rabbit caught in car headlights routine.
We're the ones who spent a fortune going to/in Cyprus to support our team. The players are the ones paid a fortune to kick a ball about. I have no reason to question my performance last weekend.
On another note, Don Givens is an absolute disgrace and he should refund the thousands of Ireland fans who paid €14 to see his charges embaress themselves on Friday.
Have Boot Disk, will travel
I watched the game on tv and although I didn't enjoy the performance I just kept wishing I was at the game in Cyprus. The performance of the fans was excellent. They created a great atmosphere and continuously got behind the team. On the other hand, I've often attended home games in recent years where the atmosphere was muted.
"Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe." Dillo
Well I can only quote as I did from someone who was there.
As for the players not returning the compliment, anyone see the Norn Iron fans for the game against Wales ? Even when 0-2 down they (90% of them at least) kept going. It was very impressive. As one who has been at numerous games away from home going back to 1975, I have noticed there is now a large proportion of "event junkies" going to away games who think their mere presence is enough and that the "crack" is the main thing and the game something to attend but not necessarily participate in.
The rendition of the anthem was excellent but like the game, it seemed to go downhill quickly after that. I have no doubt many came out hoarse but from what my friends who were at it tell me and what I heard on TV it was pretty muted considering the size of the Irish contingent.
For Wednesday we need a repeat of Holland 2001 and then some...
How can you compare the NI fans with us, given that the level of expectation is worlds apart!?
When players give their all for the jersey, then they deserve support. When players show absoultely no pride, we can hardly be criticised for not singing non stop for 90 minutes.
It's very Irish for you to be having a go at those of us who actually made the effort to be at the game.
Have Boot Disk, will travel
yes but according to the herald today we're just "green-soaked, tunnel-visioned, capering leprechaun-suited football tourists"
We all know about the herald and how bad it is though .. the fans started off well but wained as the side showed no pride in their performance. If we had got something from the team we would have responded though the booing from some at half time was a disgrace .. again in the second half the crowd started well but got nervous near the end ..
They've almost described me perfectly. What they should have called me is a, green-soaked, tunnel-visioned, capering leprechaun-suited football tourist who doesn't buy the herald.
Have Boot Disk, will travel
Had to laugh to myself when:
a) Hartson was booed by the "home fans" every time he touched the ball and Jackie Fullerton comments that Hartson "should expect it.....as there are a lot of Rangers fans there...."
and then
b) the "home fans" start singing "Rule Britannia"....were they sing it to the away fans ie the Welsh, who are British of course or were they simply at a public gathering of "Traditional" pride?! Oh and there for the footie as well!
They did well to come back from 2 down, deserved a draw!
"Inflatable hammers and Leprechaun suits, & a chorus of "Here we go" or Olé, Olé"....
Yeah but the options so far are;
1) Celthick Park
2) Anfield
3) Cardiff
Another place was mentioned but they're all I can remember!!!
Also why wasn't Windsor Park considered, it is after all in Ireland, maybe not the Republic, but its still on the island, and was a formal request made to Croke Park or just media speculation???
Sitting pretty!!!
The Northern Ireland Fans have been fantastic recently, great noise generated by them in the last 3 or so matches that I've seen anyway!!
Sitting pretty!!!
I was delighted to see Non Iron get beaten - they have no identity as a country whatsoever. Singing 'Rule Britania' to the Welsh supporters and draping themselves in Union Jacks is pathetic. You'd never see that at a Welsh or Scottish game.
On another note I was disgusted to see so many Celtic shirts in the crowd in Cyprus. Celtic have nothing to do with the Irish national team - wear a bloody Ireland shirt and not a SellThick one.
What's Windsor's capacity? About 15,000 or something? Sure nearly that many went to Cyprus, it wouldn't be near big enough.
Croke Park is non-starter, the 'opening up' motion was only for when Lansdowne is being redeveloped so it's no more available for the play-off than it was for any game prior to now.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
norn iron played well, and deserved a draw, i think their performance got the crowd going, our boys didnt get play well and the crowd didnt keep up the tempo....i think the team and crowd complement each other, hard to cheer a team when nothing going on.
really wierd seeing supporters dressed in red/bue and white supporting a team playing in green...scumbags...thought norn iron played well but it is great to see the fans sick after loosing....woo-hoo
YAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNN
I thought you were off the drink Ronnie?
"No, I drink to help me mind my own business....can I get you one? (c) Ronnie Drew
Its still on the same island though, makes more sense then going to play in a ground in Glasgow where a load of confused idiots will show up wondering whether to wear hoops or not! Nightmare!
And is it over 2 legs?? If so two away legs??? Not good!
Last edited by Drumcondra Red; 10/10/2005 at 4:15 PM.
Sitting pretty!!!
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