Negativity among 'Irish Supporters'..

spear thrower

I don't know if its a case of George Hook rubbing off on everyone but the amount of negativity among the so called 'Irish Supporters' is phenomenal.. All the country wanted was Eddies head this time a year ago and we get one of the best up and coming coaches in the world who has achieved the highest accolades in club Rugby and yet people are still wining.. I understand this is a Forum and without negative comments we wouldn't really have alot to talk about but the volume of negative comments is astounding..

I for one am extremely excited about the start of what promises to be the best and most open 6 nations for years.. Come on fellas Irelands Calling(Well some are anyway.. the rest are heckling:))

Otacon

My God, hold off on the bold please /read: The goggles, they do nothing!

I think the negativity has been fuelled by the poor form of the Irish team of late, though the provinces have shown promise since. The team have played particular well since before the RWC. EOS was not the only issue we had, we just needed different direction to freshen up the team as we were stagnating.

As for Kidney, people seem to be judging him based solely on his squad picks so far. Like many, I want a bit more experimentation going on, however, I can also see the logic in getting a core team up and running effectively first, before swapping in and out parts.

I am actually a lot more hopeful this year than I have been in a long time.

kmick

If we beat France at home we will all be back on the bandwagon. If we lose at home to France a lot of the fair weather supporters will be as good as gone. I hardly watched 10 minutes of any game after the English result last year.

anonymous_joe

I think a lot of fans are still reeling from the positivity of early 07 being ravaged by the brutality of our shítness in teh summer of 07 leading up to the warm up games and then on to the World Cup itself. That sucked major balls.

As it is, the last 6 Nations was dire from our perspective, and the Autumn Internationals had both positives and negatives.

I think fans are a little bit too negative at the moment, but a winning performance against the French is within our grasp, and is a necessity. I've a feeling a lot of fans are waiting until after the 6 Nations before deciding whether to like or dislike Kidney.

toomevara

Bah, what a nonsense thread..irish fans are bloody harmless compared to the likes of the french, Kiwis or English....it's a professional game,expectation comes with the territory,deal with it.

Dante

Maybe if we didn't fail in every 6 Nations, there might be a bit less negative....

I've been watching Irish rugby for about 6 or 7 years and we have been fancied in many of them (and a world cup) yet still I havn't seen us win anything other than the triple crown which means **** all after the first time.

Serenity Now!

Oh supporters love a good moan. They haven't been given much to shout about since 2007. All it takes is a good campaign this season and good fervour will return as sudden and quick as the knives appear following a poor one.
Problem with the Irish supporter tends to be that they seem to get too far ahead of themselves. Examples being the point of view of some posters seeing Scotland and Italy (and incredibly Argentina!) as opportunities to field weaker teams, the utterly pathetic tribalistic blame-game that ensues when things don't go their way and that pathetic Celtic curse of "so-long-as-'we'-beat'England" although this latter trait is hopefully and deservedly on the way out.

I've got great confidence in this coaching staff and its manager plus the team and its captain. From what I hear they're gunning to get this 6N off to a flyer. There's also some badly needed depth surfacing in some previously worrying positions.
One game at a game...one win at a time.

NickNolte

DaaaaaaaaaaN wrote: »

Maybe if we didn't fail in every 6 Nations, there might be a bit less negative....

I've been watching Irish rugby for about 6 or 7 years and we have been fancied in many of them (and a world cup) yet still I havn't seen us win anything other than the triple crown which means **** all after the first time.

The Triple Crown means f**k all any time. It's a tournament of 6 countries now. Getting a prize for beating 3 of them is almost an insult to be honest. I can remember a DVD was even released featuring coverage of Ireland's Triple Crown 'victory'. Cringe!

Ireland are currently the competing nation with the longest running record of not winning the championship. 1985 was the last time we won. Since then Scotland have won it 3 times, France have won it 11 times, England have won it 7 times and Wales have won it 4 times.

Irish supporters have a right to be negative. Nobody wants to hear how good a team we have or about our erstwhile 'heroic performances' or about Triple Crows without some (real) silverware.

It's time Ireland played with a bit of passion like they want to win and stop making excuses.

NickNolte

NickNolte wrote: »

The Triple Crown means f**k all any time. It's a tournament of 6 countries now. Getting a prize for beating 3 of them is almost an insult to be honest. I can remember a DVD was even released featuring coverage of Ireland's Triple Crown 'victory'. Cringe!

Ireland are currently the competing nation with the longest running record of not winning the championship. 1985 was the last time we won. Since then Scotland have won it 3 times, France have won it 11 times, England have won it 7 times and Wales have won it 4 times.

Irish supporters have a right to be negative. Nobody wants to hear how good a team we have or about our erstwhile 'heroic performances' or about Triple Crows without some (real) silverware.

It's time Ireland played with a bit of passion like they want to win and stop making excuses.

England have been champions more than any other country.
We beat them the year after they won the WC,that is most definitely achievement.

You expect more because your deluded,our team is no where near as good as people make out.

NickNolte

Bruce Warm Ketchup wrote: »

You expect more because your deluded

Why am I deluded?

Bruce Warm Ketchup wrote: »

our team is no where near as good as people make out.

I agree. We haven't won a championship in 24 years. That's how good we are. The proof is in the pudding.

NickNolte

NickNolte wrote: »

Why am I deluded?

Because you say "why all the negativity",this would insinuate that you think we should be doing better than we are and we should hold heads high.
The negativity is there because the people who are depresed about the competition feel we have a poor team and they are probably right.

NickNolte

Bruce Warm Ketchup wrote: »

Because you say "why all the negativity"

Um. No I didn't.

sm.org

NickNolte wrote: »

Why am I deluded?



I agree. We haven't won a championship in 24 years. That's how good we are. The proof is in the pudding.

I think its more to do with the fact you dont really know what your talking about. Remember the 90's when we had to wait for an away game in Wales every two years to win a match ?

The Irish media blow the talent of this team out of proportion, its fun to get caught up in the hype but most rational rugby fans keep their expectations realistic. Only a fool would complain about winning three triple crowns while expecting Ireland to make WC semi's and finals.

NickNolte

sm.org wrote: »

I think its more to do with the fact you dont really know what your talking about.

Um, I think it's more to do with the fact that you don't know what I'm talking about and are misquoting me and misunderstanding me completely. No need to reply to this as we actually agree with each other. You just don't seem to realise this.

Diabhal Beag

I'm amazed that we are being criticized for being unhappy with past preformances and we have all been through this shyte before. Ireland should really be happy with a top 3 finish and when we don't get it then we'll see if the positivity remains.

anonymous_joe

Little Shyte wrote: »

I'm amazed that we are being criticized for being unhappy with past preformances and we have all been through this shyte before. Ireland should really be happy with a top 3 finish and when we don't get it then we'll see if the positivity remains.

Some of us are too young to remember the bad old days. :P

newmills

One thing that disappoints me is, that when an irish player is giving a positive spin on things, they talk about the personal bests that "so and so" is doing in the gym or leg drives etc. Wouldn't it be great if we could worry more about throwing the ball around or on the ball skills than breaking personal bests in a gym?

sm.org

NickNolte wrote: »

Um, I think it's more to do with the fact that you don't know what I'm talking about and are misquoting me and misunderstanding me completely. No need to reply to this as we actually agree with each other. You just don't seem to realise this.

My interpretation of your post is that you think we underachieved and that winning a triple crown is nothing to be proud of.

My point is that every triple should be savoured, that your expectations are completely unrealistic and that you greatly over rate the potential of the irish teams of the past 8 yrs.

I'm perfectly happy with what we've achieved. I couldn't disagree with your opinion more.

NickNolte

sm.org wrote: »

My interpretation of your post...

is wrong.

Judgement Day

Is there any point in staging the 6 Nations unless this man returns from injury?

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw_dgXhpr5s

Padjoe

Judgement Day wrote: »

Is there any point in staging the 6 Nations unless this man returns from injury?

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw_dgXhpr5s

LOL, ROFL, LMAO:D

SomeFool

Things are gone so negative that tickets are plentiful and cheap........

sm.org

NickNolte wrote: »

is wrong.

So your saying you're happy with the performances over the past 8yrs ?

You've lost me dude.

Chucky the tree

I dont how anyone can say there happy with a load of **** triple crowns and a couple of second place finishes. Also Ireland had brilliant talent during the last 5 years. The Irish team bottled it on far to many ocassions though, thats the sickening thing about it.

NickNolte

sm.org wrote:

So your saying you're happy with the performances over the past 8yrs ?

I'm saying whatever you think I'm saying. If you put words in to my mouth it'll make your confused debating and basless accusations of delusion a lot more palatable. No need to reply to this, let's just leave it at that.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

I dont how anyone can say there happy with a load of **** triple crowns and a couple of second place finishes. Also Ireland had brilliant talent during the last 5 years. The Irish team bottled it on far to many ocassions though, thats the sickening thing about it.

Ireland certainly should have taken at least one championship this millenium, based on overall form. Three Triple Crowns is a poor showing.

Serenity Now!

Chucky the tree wrote: »

I dont how anyone can say there happy with a load of **** triple crowns and a couple of second place finishes

Well, for some...erm...no, MANY, the highlight of a season was just beating England. Yes, people really are that sad and that stupid.

Persiancowboy

Given the success of Munster in recent years and the fact that that while being consistent underperformers, Leinster have also plenty of talented players, it is not unreasonable for fans to have high expectations of the national side. In Eddie we had a coach that if there were medals and awards for bullsh*t he would be top of the class every time. He talked a fantastic game and so did some of his team but with the exception of a small few occasions, they singularly failed to live up to their own hype and to the level that their provincial form would suggest they were capable of.

I genuinely wonder whether the green shirt means as much to some of them. How much does it hurt to lose when they play for Ireland? I suspect that Heineken cup losses hurt more in some cases. Another problem (not a major one) is that apart from the home game in Croker against England, there has been no atmosphere whatever at an irish match in a very long time. I don't know what effect (if any) this has on players but i find it difficult to get enthused watching from the stands or terraces. I have been in both RDS and Thomond Park where the crowd is loud and raucous and this must help lift the players.

Kidney is a conservative coach and I don't think we will see any radical change in how the team plays the game. we could be in for another frustrating 6 Nations campaign.

Serenity Now!

Persiancowboy wrote: »

I genuinely wonder whether the green shirt means as much to some of them. How much does it hurt to lose when they play for Ireland?

This tired old question has been answered time and time again in various interviews and published biographies by players.

To quote Dec Kidney directly (at an Irish Rugby Supporters Club Q&A last autumn): "There isn't one player out there who wouldn't give anything for even 15 seconds in the Irish shirt".

As for atmosphere, as Paul O'Connell said, the team has to give the crowd something to shout about.

murphym7

Bruce Warm Ketchup wrote: »

England have been champions more than any other country.
We beat them the year after they won the WC,that is most definitely achievement.

You expect more because your deluded,our team is no where near as good as people make out.

I don't think he is deluded at all.

We came 2nd on points difference in 2006 & 2007
We came 2nd in 2003 & 2004

Why would people be deluded in thinking that sometime we could start changing those 2nd's into 1st's.

Noopti

murphym7 wrote: »

I don't think he is deluded at all.

We came 2nd on points difference in 2006 & 2007
We came 2nd in 2003 & 2004

Why would people be deluded in thinking that sometime we could start changing those 2nd's into 1st's.

Noone who thinks we have a chance of winning is deluded. You are absolutely correct. We have the 2nd best record of achievement in the 6N behind France, so to think we might actually win the tournament is in no way delusion.

kmick

Noopti wrote: »

Noone who thinks we have a chance of winning is deluded. You are absolutely correct. We have the 2nd best record of achievement in the 6N behind France, so to think we might actually win the tournament is in no way delusion.

Thats just silly - we have not one since 85. That is the only stat I need. Wales have won it four times in that period. We should be at least matching that.

Poncherello

Ive seen absolutley nothing from kidney so far that would lead me to hope we might have a decent tournament. If EOS was still in the job, do you think the match day 22 would be much different to Kidneys ...???
I will be heavily backing France in the spread.

thehighground

Poncherello wrote: »

Ive seen absolutley nothing from kidney so far that would lead me to hope we might have a decent tournament. If EOS was still in the job, do you think the match day 22 would be much different to Kidneys ...???
I will be heavily backing France in the spread.

What you have seen from Kidney is that in his last 3 games, he won 2 of them (the Argentinian game was a big pressure game). I suspect the French game isn't going to look pretty either.

On paper, EOS did fairly well. What do you expect - Kidney to miraculously find 22 brand new players and throw them in against France?

Sorry, but I won't be wishing you good wishes with your bet!

damselnat

Judgement Day wrote: »

Is there any point in staging the 6 Nations unless this man returns from injury?

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw_dgXhpr5s

:Dlege:D

theKramer

Poncherello wrote: »

Ive seen absolutley nothing from kidney so far that would lead me to hope we might have a decent tournament. If EOS was still in the job, do you think the match day 22 would be much different to Kidneys ...???

Well what we have seen is a willingness to play players that are playing well in their best positions. EOS probably would have moved Horgan or Trimble to the centre.

daveharnett

Poncherello wrote: »

Ive seen absolutley nothing from kidney so far that would lead me to hope we might have a decent tournament. If EOS was still in the job, do you think the match day 22 would be much different to Kidneys ...???

Were you expecting 22 changes?

Look at the records ponch - DK took 10 good players and made the strongest club team in europe. EOS took 15 good players and made the worst underachieving team in europe.

The job isn't just about picking the best 15, it's about getting that team to realise it's potential.

All this arguing is academic. We'll have our answer come 7pm on Saturday.

Chucky the tree

Deleted User wrote: »

All this arguing is academic. We'll have our answer come 7pm on Saturday.

No we wont, and looking at in such a short sighted way is the reason EOS got away with serving up such tripe year after year because everyone was just happy with a win over the English or French, a tin cup triple crown or a failed 2nd place finish. I'll personnally judge kidney on the performance of the team and the squad selection, so far his let me down with his squad. We could win on saturday and I might still be unhappy, we could lose and I could be delighted. Alot will depend on which french team turns up.

garbanzo

One of my favourite times of the year. The eve of the start of the 6 Nations. I've been following Ireland for donkey's years. Got to all our 5 matches both home and away in the competition last year and what does the "golden generation" do . . . fall apart in front of my eyes.

Anyway, another campaign and the optimism is already starting to rise. A first 6 Nations title is within our grasp. Can we do it ?

My pessimistic side tells me " we will in our bolix"
My optimistic side says "yes we can . . . yes we can "

We'll know by 7pm tmrw as someone said earlier. See you on The Hill. Always great to hear La Marseilleise belted out by a brass band. Great anthem.

big dan

Think we have a better chance this year. Never thought for a second we'd win last year. Hopefully the back line click. I'm thinking positive.

C'MON IRELAND

spear thrower

Was Saturday good enough for the "Negative Brigade"...

"Most skilled game of Rugby in the last 10 years" are quotes that spring to mind following Irelands great win against the mighty French!!! A pleasure to watch from the Lower Hogan!!!

Micky Dolenz

Poncherello wrote: »

Ive seen absolutley nothing from kidney so far that would lead me to hope we might have a decent tournament. If EOS was still in the job, do you think the match day 22 would be much different to Kidneys ...???
I will be heavily backing France in the spread.

:p:p :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

Micky Dolenz

Winning with a grand slam is realistic, even before saturday. We have the best club team in Europe. least not forget we have probably the no1 centre in our side of the world.
Man management was always the problem, that may be sorted now.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

Auvers

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

We have the best club team in Europe

Sorry for nitpicking but Munster isnt a club its a province

Micky Dolenz

Auvers wrote: »

Sorry for nitpicking but Munster isnt a club its a province

Call them what you want they are still the best club in European rugby.

Auvers

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Call them what you want they are still the best club in European rugby.

Micky its just a pet hate of mine so I wont call them what I want

The fact is they are not not a CLUB they are a PROVINCE

Micky Dolenz

Auvers wrote: »

Micky its just a pet hate of mine so I wont call them what I want

they are not not a CLUB they are a PROVINCE

If I say they are the best provincial team in Europe, I would be only half right.

How's this, Munster are the best team in European club rugby?

Serenity Now!

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Call them what you want they are still the best club in European rugby.

Cool. How do I join this 'club' then?

Auvers

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

How's this, Munster are the best team in European club rugby?

okay Micky thats acceptable

and lets hope for two in a row once Ireland win the six nations

Micky Dolenz

Serenity Now! wrote: »

Cool. How do I join this 'club' then?

Sorry you can't...please try again later:pac::pac::pac:

Serenity Now!

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Sorry you can't...please try again later:pac::pac::pac:

Exactly. Nobody can.