yeah you really do have to feel sorry for Willie Bruton.The question that still remains therefore is why should a player who is banging in goals in the 1st division be left at home watching the game on telly when we have no strikers on the bench!?!
Perhaps Givens realises the potiential the eL has and that his two call-ups might give it the injection it so badly needs...
BTW I heard a counter arguement when Jim Goodwin got a run as a second division reserve team player... Where was Alan Lee that evening?
BTW 500 professional footballers in the U.K. didn't get a contract last summer... the number is expected to increase... if we can sustainably grow our clubs then the day a young lads goes to England maybe gone...
Where will the money come from to grow the EL clubs?
I think it's fair to say that GAA sports dilute
- Funds available
- Talent available
- No. of fans available
For a small country it's tough to keep so many sports going!
So to summarize, i don't see much changing in the near future!
Fair point. But to take it a step further, you haven't mentioned rugby. There was a time not too long ago that if a kid wanted to earn a living with a ball, football was the only option. Not today! The profile and incomes of guys like Brian O'Driscoll is bound to attract talented young lads towards rugby.Originally posted by The Legend
For a small country it's tough to keep so many sports going!
So to summarize, i don't see much changing in the near future!
That's True,
However, it's more common for a kid to have to choose between GAA football and soccer.
Rugby players generally grow up concentrating and having a preference on that sport!
I dunno, maybe i'm wrong about that!
If I am, yeah you can say that Rugby further dilutes the pool!
And one more thing... not to get into a class system arguement but...
From a funding point of view, Rugby is usually supported by, shall we say, the upper classes and schools (with a few quid to spend!)
I think it's fair enough to say that soccer is more of the working class man's sport!
Yes I know, most people will support an Ireland team no matter what the sport is, but when it comes to spending money to support that... I think the above paragraph is a factor!
Hello! We did actually qualify for the world cup- hardly farcicalOriginally posted by Shed End John
Mick McCarthy's farcical tenure
1 out of 3 tournaments, and the worst possible start to the 4th.
Not farcical, but then again, not far from it.
dunno about you but losing one competitive game at home in 6 years is harldyy farcical especially with the pool of players he had at his disposal.
Mick's entire reign wasn't farcical although it certainly had numerous farcical moments. It is true that he restored the old fortess Lansdowne feeling with a great home record (until Switzerland).Originally posted by gustavo
dunno about you but losing one competitive game at home in 6 years is harldyy farcical
However, his away record is awful. The number of competitive away wins secured against decent opposition during Mick's tenure is interesting. See for yourself....
97 WCQ Macedonia 2-3
97 WCQ Romania 0-1
97 WCP Belgium 1-2
98 ECQ Yugoslavia 0-1
99 ECQ Croatia 0-1
99 ECQ Macedonia 1-1
99 ECP Turkey 0-0
00 WCQ Holland 2-2
00 WCQ Portugal 1-1
01 WCP Iran 0-1
02 ECQ Russia 2-4
We haven't beaten a single qualification contender away from home in the entirity of Mick's stewardship!
No, but events subsequent to qualification were. Besides, under Charlton we got to 2 World Cups (1 quarter-final, 1 second round) and 1 European Championship, a much better haul I'm sure you'll agree.Originally posted by Éanna
Hello! We did actually qualify for the world cup- hardly farcical
Murphy Out Now!!!
In the Charlton days 2nd place in the qualifying group was good enough to get to the World Cup.Originally posted by Shed End John
Besides, under Charlton we got to 2 World Cups (1 quarter-final, 1 second round) and 1 European Championship, a much better haul I'm sure you'll agree.
Good enough for a World Cup but not for a European Championship. We finished top of the group for Euro '88 (after Scotland beat Bulgaria away in the final group match). We missed out on top spot for Denmark '92 on goal difference having finished the group unbeaten.Originally posted by pete
In the Charlton days 2nd place in the qualifying group was good enough to get to the World Cup.
It was during USA '94 that Jack's reign went pear-shaped. Great opening result against Italy (what a night that was!). Rubbish against Mexico (although the heat was cruel). Ineffective against Norway. Never turned up mentally to play Holland.
Euro '96 was a non event. Murdered by Austria home and away for Christ's sake. Outclassed by Portugal in the Stadium of light. Killed by Kluivert at Anfield.
Overall, our best qualification achievement for a World Cup was Japan. Our best achievement at European Championship level was Germany '88.
Jack 1-1 Mick.
well said Money Man. Thats a pretty fair assessment of it IMO
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