Four Associations Tournament/Celtic Cup 2011

**ifk101** · 27/11/2007, 8:04 AM

Originally Posted by osarusan

They might well say the same about us.

You can talk about potential all you like, players in the premiership and all that, but the fact is that right now, most teams would prefer to play the Republic rather than NI or Scotland.

Yes - we are minnows. And we'll never improve playing teams of a similar ilk.

We played Wales twice in the last year and Scotland twice in B internationals. And then we have forthcoming U23 internationals with Northern Ireland. How many times do we need to play them?

**co. down green** · 27/11/2007, 9:23 AM

I would much rather we were playing decent continental teams. It would be much more beneficial trying to get to grips with the Eastern European styles and tactics.

Pointless tournament with no lasting benefits.

**youngirish** · 27/11/2007, 9:30 AM

I agree that this tournament is pointless but not because of the competition as Scotland and NI have been far more impressive than us over the past year (even though I believe on paper we have far better players than both). I'd be more worried about the lack of interest our big players show for these sorts of games and the loss of confidence and embarrassment of getting hammerred by a full strength NI or Scotland team when the S Irelands, Finnans, Carsleys, Keanes and S Reids don't bother showing up for the games as on our trips to the States over the past few years.

**Bondvillain** · 27/11/2007, 9:34 AM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

Does anyone want to see us playing 3 trashy teams?

Can the average soccer fan even name 3 players between all of our competition? I doubt it.

While there would be more long term benefit in perhaps Ourselves and NornIron co-hosting a mini tournament with 2 decent Eastern European teams, I think there are several things wrong with your statement. There are SO many answers to it.... However, It's early, & think I'll just leave it at :

"No, of course it would be eminently preferable were the FAI to travel thousands of miles every year to tackle giants like the Mighty Bolivia & Equador. We would learn more, our superstars like Sean St Ledger & Joe Lapira would maintain their world famous status, our ranking would shoot through the roof, and all those South American boys are household names down in Ballyjamesduff"

Of all the moronic things that the FAI have done in the recent past, this is not the biggest crime.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 27/11/2007, 9:39 AM

Originally Posted by youngirish

I agree that this tournament is pointless but not because of the competition as Scotland and NI have been far more impressive than us over the past year (even though I believe on paper we have far better players than both). I'd be more worried about the lack of interest our big players show for these sorts of games and the loss of confidence and embarrassment of getting hammerred by a full strength NI or Scotland team when the S Irelands, Finnans, Carsleys, Keanes and S Reids don't bother showing up for the games as on our trips to the States over the past few years.

There's the fundemental flaw in your arguemenent. They're far more likely to turn up for a game on their doorstep rather then flying off to the states for a week or 2.

I'm for the idea, be interesting and trips to Scotland and Wales are always good craic and cheap.

**dynamo kerry** · 27/11/2007, 12:14 PM

in my office with 3 irish lads and about 6 scots (3 of whom attend all games) there is complete support for this.

we're all up for it and reckon the trips would be good craic. our players are no more likely to drop out than wales/NI/Scotland so it would balance out. Personally it would mean more to me to beat Scotland than the likes of romania or sweden.

If we have to have semi-serious friendlies, may as well be against teams we have something in common with.

anyway, I'd like the bragging rights!

**youngirish** · 27/11/2007, 1:19 PM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

There's the fundemental flaw in your arguemenent. They're far more likely to turn up for a game on their doorstep rather then flying off to the states for a week or 2.

I'm for the idea, be interesting and trips to Scotland and Wales are always good craic and cheap.

There's no need to go to the States. We could have home friendlies without the competitive edge playing better quality teams while experimenting with the lineups.

**NeilMcD** · 27/11/2007, 1:54 PM

Originally Posted by dynamo kerry

in my office with 3 irish lads and about 6 scots (3 of whom attend all games) there is complete support for this.

we're all up for it and reckon the trips would be good craic. our players are no more likely to drop out than wales/NI/Scotland so it would balance out. Personally it would mean more to me to beat Scotland than the likes of romania or sweden.

If we have to have semi-serious friendlies, may as well be against teams we have something in common with.

anyway, I'd like the bragging rights!

Rubbish trips rubbish matches, and rubbish players. A disaster for all concerned in my view. What is to be learned by playing other average nations who play similar systesm to us.

Who wants to go to Kips that are Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff in non competitive games. Rubbish idea and I hope it fails.

**tetsujin1979** · 27/11/2007, 2:01 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Rubbish trips rubbish matches, and rubbish players. A disaster for all concerned in my view. What is to be learned by playing other average nations who play similar systesm to us.

Who wants to go to Kips that are Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff in non competitive games. Rubbish idea and I hope it fails.

Cardiff is not a kip.
This is only a rubbish idea if you treat it as a rubbish idea. Before the summer people were saying that the trip to the States was a rubbish idea, after it the same people were clamouring for the inclusion of O'Halloran and Potter on the basis of their performances in those games.
I don't see the likes of Dunne, Keane, Duff, etc playing in the Celtic Cup, but as a chance for the likes of Garvan, Whelan, Flood, etc to stake a claim for a squad place then it will be a worthwhile exercise.

**NeilMcD** · 27/11/2007, 2:09 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Cardiff is not a kip.
This is only a rubbish idea if you treat it as a rubbish idea. Before the summer people were saying that the trip to the States was a rubbish idea, after it the same people were clamouring for the inclusion of O'Halloran and Potter on the basis of their performances in those games.
I don't see the likes of Dunne, Keane, Duff, etc playing in the Celtic Cup, but as a chance for the likes of Garvan, Whelan, Flood, etc to stake a claim for a squad place then it will be a worthwhile exercise.

I thought it was very tacky and full of hens and stag parties and tacky as hell to be honest.

**Cymro** · 27/11/2007, 2:11 PM

Shame England aren't involved, but this idea is better than having friendlies that you get nothing from and are often terrible games. Not sure if it should be done as often as every 2 years though.

Also,

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I thought it was very tacky and full of hens and stag parties and tacky as hell to be honest.

Stay at home then. I've read loads of messages on here from Irish fans saying they really enjoyed the trip to Cardiff.

Originally Posted by Ciaran

Does anyone want to see us playing 3 trashy teams?

Can the average soccer fan even name 3 players between all of our competition? I doubt it.

If the average soccer fan hasn't heard of Bellamy, Keane, Gordon or (given his recent scoring exploits) Healy, I'd be surprised.

I am hearing a lot of negative comments about this. Give it a chance before you judge it. You might like it, you never know.

**Bottle of Tonic** · 27/11/2007, 2:12 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

There's no need to go to the States. We could have home friendlies without the competitive edge playing better quality teams while experimenting with the lineups.

Well thats the right idea to have with friendlies but I don't think it pans out that way in practice. No matter who we play the friendlies always seem to be made up of whoever hasn't pulled out, not an experimental line-up, the opposition normally don't give a hoot and we get false dawns like Sweden, Denmark and Kerr's much maligned world class friendly record at lansdowne. These days in int football friendlies are a nothing occasion, and only serve to actually get the squad together, do a bit of training, bonding etc. You learn damn all from the games.

I'd love to see us playing friendlies in Greece, Kazakstan etc too but can't imagine a situation where we'd benefit much from it for the real competitive stuff. At least playing our neighbours on our doorstep we might get a few more players showing up and I think a lot of the fans will like it too. The hardcore travellers who go to all games worldwide regardless will miss out on their trip but I think the more will benefit.

**NeilMcD** · 27/11/2007, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by Cymro

Shame England aren't involved, but this idea is better than having friendlies that you get nothing from and are often terrible games. Not sure if it should be done as often as every 2 years though.

Also,

Stay at home then. I've read loads of messages on here from Irish fans saying they really enjoyed the trip to Cardiff.

If the average soccer fan hasn't heard of Bellamy, Keane, Gordon or (given his recent scoring exploits) Healy, I'd be surprised.

I am hearing a lot of negative comments about this. Give it a chance before you judge it. You might like it, you never know.

Am I not entitled to my opinino on a website about my football team. I do not want to be playing other average teams who play the same sort of football as us. I also do not want to go to cities which culturally are not a million miles away from Ireland and in addition seem to be full of stag parties and hen parties and fast food joints etc.

Not my scene whatsoever, and I like travelling abroad to support Ireland. In fact I love it but I have an opinion here that is valid and I do not think there is anything to be got from this. There are only certain amount of international dates in the calender. These matches will not be in addition to what we have already but will replace, matches like the trip to Denmark in August or friendlies V Brazil in Croke Park or the friendly away to Poland a few years ago. We had an opportunity to use the renovation of Croke Park to get some good away friendlies that will help us heal our achilles heal and what do we do, we play N Ireland Scotland and Wales. There is so many reasons that this is not good for us. That is nothing against Wales, N Ireland or Scotland as, if i was a fan of theirs I would not be in support of a trip to Dublin either.

Its a close minded Cup for by a close minded organisations for close minded fans.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 27/11/2007, 2:46 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I thought it was very tacky and full of hens and stag parties and tacky as hell to be honest.

You been out in Temple Bar at the weekend at any stage in the last 10 years?

Plenty of places in Cardiff that aren't full of hens and stags, it's just as a tourist you tend to end up in the same places that they do.

**Bondvillain** · 27/11/2007, 3:14 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I thought it was very tacky and full of hens and stag parties and tacky as hell to be honest.

And all over Europe that's pretty much the argument for not coming to Dublin.

Pesonally, Id welcome friendlies against almost anyone in the top 75. We need all the practice we can get.

**Dodge** · 27/11/2007, 3:23 PM

Just to confim, Cardiff is a kip.

It can't be viewed in the context of an Ireland away game though as the place is full of drunken paddies (I assume)

**NeilMcD** · 27/11/2007, 3:27 PM

I agree its why I never would drink in Temple Bar either. I am seeing this from my point of view and I am not trying to be balanced and fair. I do not want this for personal reasons as the trips would not interest me but I also do not believe it would be good for the education of the players.

**Dassa** · 27/11/2007, 4:28 PM

Originally Posted by Qwerty

I can't see the players really getting excited about this, I think people's horizons have expanded and it will just seem too parochial and meaninglesss. We want to play Brazil, Cameroon etc not Wales FFS. It works great for rugby but not soccer. And the less times we play NI the better, I don't mind the players but the IFA and the supporters are just not very nice.

could you explain exactly what is wrong with me