Dermot Ahern's comments on an all Ireland side

[Not Brazil]

THIS IS AN IRISH SITE.

As an Irishman, I thought I would like to contribute to a discusion about talks to merge the two Irish teams.

Apologies if that annoys you.

[youngirish]

As an Irishman, I thought I would like to contribute to a discusion about talks to merge the two Irish teams.

Apologies if that annoys you.

Exactly. We are all Irish (whether some people like to admit it or not). If we stopped arguing and fighting amongst ourselves we could long have taken over the world. Let's get it sorted, make up and all hold hands together and invade somewhere (preferrably someplace with oil and fit women though it's hard to satisfy both counts I admit).

[ifk101]

I really don't see the point of an all Ireland side. It's not like we're missing out on any talent coming through in the North - anyone half-decent wants to play with us and if they're good enough they'll get their chance. Better that the North continues with its national team as those players that aren't good enough for us can get the chance to play international football with their second option.

[lopez]

Tuff Paddy these sorts of posts are very unlike you. Is Lopez using your account?

Not guilty! I think the plural (muppets as opposed to muppet) is a bit unwarranted. One poster comes on here and behaves with dignity while carrying no baggage from insulting us on other forums. The other is just taking the p*ss.

...Let's get it sorted, make up and all hold hands together and invade somewhere (preferrably someplace with oil and fit women though it's hard to satisfy both counts I admit).

There is a place and it's called Norway.

[Billsthoughts]

Frankly, none of us knows and I don't altogether care, since there doesn't have to be a reason or explanation - it's just one of those things. (Perhaps you'd be better thinking up a corresponding nickname for us. "Benefactors" perhaps? After all, we gave you the game )

Or the Borzas as you have so many chips on your shoulders......

[EalingGreen]

Or the Borzas as you have so many chips on your shoulders......

"Borzas"?

[Wolfie]

Bloody Hell! Do I have to explain everything to you lot? ...

"Borzas"

The tables turn.............

[EalingGreen]

"Borzas"

The tables turn.............

Touche! So go on then, is one of yiz gonna let this poor Nordie in on the joke? Before we "return serve" with these particular tables:

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statisti...n-2007,00.html

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statisti....html?static=5

[EalingGreen]

Meanwhile, back on the topic of political interference in Football, generally, and FIFA's view specifically, the following is interesting:


Poland and Kenya warned about governmental interference

Under the leadership of chairman Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia), the FIFA Associations Committee met today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich and issued a strong reprimand to governmental authorities who continue to interfere in affairs in the football communities of Poland and Kenya in clear contravention of the internationally accepted standards and statutes of FIFA.
Polish football could face dire consequences should Polish minister of sport Tomasz Lipiec not reverse his decision to appoint a commissioner to head the Polish Football Association (PZPN) - contrary to the roadmap jointly agreed upon during his visit to Zurich on 16 October 2006 - or allow the internationally recognised administration of the PZPN to organise elections by 31 March under the supervision of FIFA and UEFA observers. Such non-compliance with FIFA principles would prevent the PZPN from establishing an executive board in line with the new statutes ratified by its general assembly on 7 January, thus risking a suspension of the federation and all of its members (clubs, players, officials) from all international contact, participation in international competitions at all levels, the organisation of international matches and the appointment of officials for international duties, as well as freezing voting rights and access to Financial Assistance Programme payments.

Concerning Kenya, the committee lamented the fact that despite recent improvements in the relations with the football community in the East African nation, the problems were still far from being resolved due to the Ministry of Sport's systematic obstruction of progress and the National Sport Committee's interference with the federation and local clubs. The Associations Committee decided that unless a clear commitment was made by the Kenyan government and Ministry of Sport by 28 February 2007 to fully respect the FIFA Statutes and comply with the established roadmap for the normalisation of football in the country, the suspension of the federation would continue for the foreseeable future, without a likelihood of change.

The committee also reviewed the status of situations in the associations of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Macedonia, Peru, Senegal, Togo, Turkey and Tunisia, and noted with satisfaction that progress had been made in a number of cases, while agreeing to continue to monitor each of them closely.

(From: http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0...ticleid=130856 )

[youngirish]

EalingGreen congratulations on being above us in the rankings for the first time ever. I do find it funny though as you are setting yourself up for a serious fall if you think you'll stay there with the players you have. How everyone so easily forgets Iceland 3-0 at home. A poorer result than Cyprus. Enjoy it while you can I imagine you'll be in hiding by the time the groups wind down at the end of the year and the true quality shines through (probably not us in fairness but definitely not NI).

[Wolfie]

Touche! So go on then, is one of yiz gonna let this poor Nordie in on the joke? Before we "return serve" with these particular tables:

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statisti...n-2007,00.html

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statisti....html?static=5

Billsthoughts, will you do the honours on enlightening this particular Borza..............Salt / Vinegar?

[EalingGreen]

EalingGreen congratulations on being above us in the rankings for the first time ever. I do find it funny though as you are setting yourself up for a serious fall if you think you'll stay there with the players you have. How everyone so easily forgets Iceland 3-0 at home. A poorer result than Cyprus. Enjoy it while you can I imagine you'll be in hiding by the time the groups wind down at the end of the year and the true quality shines through (probably not us in fairness but definitely not NI).

Don't you mean "above us in the rankings for the first time since the tables were first compiled"?

You might not be old enough to remember, but when we were e.g. qualifying for World Cup Finals in 58, 82 and 86, or e.g. the ROI was going six whole years without a competitive home win, I dare say our stock was somewhat the higher!

As for the Iceland game, having been there, granted it was a shocking result, but the score didn't truly reflect the way the match went. And besides, at least we were playing the whole of Iceland...

Anyhow, I shall enjoy it while it lasts, just as I shall endure it if and when it changes. At the IFA, we've learned how to take the rough with the smooth for over 125 years now, which is why the (highly debateable) prospect of a "better" team were we to be merged with the ROI*, holds absolutely no appeal for us whatever.


* - Or worse still, "subsumed by"

[Calcio Jack]

Got a 'gem' of a magazine yesterday...called Football Digest... any way has an excellent article on Shamrock Rovers and this matter and effectively comes to the conclusion as posted by many here ie the IFA & FAI will never amalgamate due to the fear of loss of "jobs" by the blazers from both sides....

Did I mention that the magazine in question was published in Sept 1973 !!!! It was the follow up magazine that replaced Charles Buchan's Football monthly...and the article in question was on the back of the Rovers v Brazil game in the sumer of 1973.... meme ca change etc.

[EalingGreen]

Got a 'gem' of a magazine yesterday...called Football Digest... any way has an excellent article on Shamrock Rovers and this matter and effectively comes to the conclusion as posted by many here ie the IFA & FAI will never amalgamate due to the fear of loss of "jobs" by the blazers from both sides....

Many observers (from the Mexican end of the island, at least) point first to this "jobs for the boys" obstacle when assessing the chances of a single team.

But whilst I agree it is undoubtedly true, it is imo merely yet another (the final?) hurdle which would have to be vaulted before there was any chance of change.

How can we get it across that the vast majority of NI fans don't want a single team under virtually any circumstance? Unless or until there is an 180 degree turn in attitudes generally North of the Border, a single team is a non-starter and won't even get as far as "the Blazers" for their approval, or otherwise.

[lopez]

...Unless or until there is an 180 degree turn in attitudes generally North of the Border, a single team is a non-starter and won't even get as far as "the Blazers" for their approval, or otherwise.

Would you see members of parliament or the NI Assembly getting involved?

[youngirish]

Don't you mean "above us in the rankings for the first time since the tables were first compiled"?

No I meant ever.

[osarusan]

No I meant ever.

Are you really saying that, until recently when the Northern Irish side went above the Republic's side in the rankings, there had never been a time before that when the North's side would have been considered superior?

Or are you confining it just to what the rankings say?

[youngirish]

Are you really saying that, until recently when the Northern Irish side went above the Republic's side in the rankings, there had never been a time before that when the North's side would have been considered superior?

Or are you confining it just to what the rankings say?

I'm saying that NI have never been ahead of us in the rankings before as stated in my original post. Ever.

[Billsthoughts]

eh borzas own a lot of chippers in juarez...i mean dublin.....
i dont really care how we do in relation to the north. good on them for the way they are playin the mo.
dont want an all ireland team either but do think players from the north who want to play for ireland should be allowed play for them.

[Qwerty]

As I said before it will happen in it's own good time, there is no need to rush it and it far too early yet to even spend time fretting about it.

Right now from a team perspective NI don't have any world class players - nobody eevn close to be honest, they have a few players who would strengthen our squad a little bit but NI can their recent success down to good management just as we can put down our recent decline to poor management.

Effective management is more important than the players really. We will always have decent players available to us, I wish I could say the same about our managers and the FAI.