Club or Country

dundalkfc10

I know many on here will choose Country as they are Irish and support foreign teams (thats not a dig)

Im more looking a LOI fan's view on it.

For me, Club every day of the week. Older I get less I care how Ireland get on, wont make a difference to me if we qualify for WC or not.

Lyle Lanley

Club. Easily. Still like to see Ireland do well but not bothered of they don't.

I'd rather see Sligo Rovers win a friendly than Ireland a world cup. Not much danger of either right now to be honest!

HalloweenJack

Club, much bigger connection with players and other fans and a bigger feeling of contributing to your club and feeling like you actually make a difference when there's 1,000 of you as opposed to 50,000.

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

I'd rather see Shels win a corner than Ireland win the world cup.

Osmosis Jones

Also club, 3 or 4 games a year and a major tournament every 2 years at most vs watching a team play every week for 9 months in a year.

Irishmale0399

Club for me too....

However you have to ask yourself another question.....if our counties team was made up of players playing in the LOI would our feelings/interest change???

dan1895

Dahlia Tiny Slaughterhouse wrote: »

I'd rather see Shels win a corner than Ireland win the world cup.

This although winning a corner is sometimes the best that can be hoped for.

gimmick

Club by a long way. Country, while I support ROI, means pretty much nothing to me. If CCFC lose it could ruin a day, week, or in the case of after that awful night in October 2014, a year.

ROI lose, I go about business as normal moments after the whistle.

Darkglasses

Club by a very long way. I have much more of a connection with my local side that I deal with almost every day, than the national side which only plays a couple of meaningful games a year.

dundalkfc10

gimmick wrote: »

Club by a long way. Country, while I support ROI, means pretty much nothing to me. If CCFC lose it could ruin a day, week, or in the case of after that awful night in October 2014, a year.

ROI lose, I go about business as normal moments after the whistle.

3 years?

Amirani

Club, completely. While I do support Ireland, and the feeling of togetherness and camaraderie with the Irish team and fans has improved since being at the Euros last year, it just won't ever match the affinity I have with the local club I don't think.

gimmick

dundalkfc10 wrote: »

3 years?

That night took a long time to recover from. The cup win in November was redemption (kind of). This season should it play out as expected from here on in means receovery

Iang87

Club. The run in we (Limerick) had a few years ago when we got relegated did things to my emotions I didnt think possible in football.

Literally swung from the rafters in Sligo to wanting the ground to open up and swallow me in Ballybofey. Unreal.

The_Kew_Tour

Country, but that's not to say I dont care less about Cork City.

I have been going to Ireland games since 1993 and Cork games since 1996, (regular) but I have always had more affiliation with country because its only time im together with my football friends and we all cheer same team.

Made few friends from away trips too especially at Euros last year. That feeling of being in away end on International weekend is hard to beat.

thebaz

I was a fanatic Irish fan - Saipan just divided me , was huge Roy Keane fan , and struggled to have that passion ever since - even though he is back.
Am a lifelong Shamrock Rovers fan and Everton too.
Found watching Ireland really hard work since '02 , wish that wasn't the case , possibly the players just aren't the same compared to the crew I grew up supporting.

Oat23

Club. Both local and foreign.

galwaylad14

Huge Ireland fan but I dont really support a club, have one or two I look out for alright but that's it so i can't really answer this question.

However I understand those of you that have picked your LOI clubs over Ireland. It's where your from, you've a connection to the team, you see them week in week out, you probably personally know a few of the players in a lot of cases.

However I will never understand how anyone supports a foreign club over their country team. I just can't figure out how any Irish person could prefer a totally random foreign club from London or Madrid or Milan over a team that represents our country, the place we are actually from.

Though in fairness it seems that everyone that has picked clubs so far have chosen their local teams that they obviously have massive connection with.

Ferris_Bueller

Country for me, but I don't have a proper affinity to a club anymore. Hard to follow a team from an area you aren't from IMO. When Kildare County were around maybe my answer would be different but Ireland are definitely my first and longest love. No matter what stage of my life, they have been one consistent throughout and I love meeting friends at games that I wouldn't usually see during the rest of the year and picking up where we left off.

Balmed Out

Follow the club a lot more but would rather see Ireland win a world cup then city win a league though rather city win the champions league then Ireland the world cup.

Fr Tod Umptious

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Huge Ireland fan but I dont really support a club, have one or two I look out for alright but that's it so i can't really answer this question.

However I understand those of you that have picked your LOI clubs over Ireland. It's where your from, you've a connection to the team, you see them week in week out, you probably personally know a few of the players in a lot of cases.

However I will never understand how anyone supports a foreign club over their country team. I just can't figure out how any Irish person could prefer a totally random foreign club from London or Madrid or Milan over a team that represents our country, the place we are actually from.

Though in fairness it seems that everyone that has picked clubs so far have chosen their local teams that they obviously have massive connection with.

Exactly the same as that.
Never followed a LOI or foregin club so Ireland are the only soccer team that I could ever get anyway passionate about.

Can't figure how some would prefer to see the foregin club they follow win something over Ireland.

Maybe they were not around for Italia novanta.

SEPT 23 1989

Never felt the same about Ireland after Korea

Bateman

Club by a mile and the same for most of my mates

Arghus

They both occupy separate chambers of my heart. The love for club can feel more personal, but the love for country can feel more all encompassing.

SEPT 23 1989

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Never felt the same about Ireland after Korea

I hear you maaaaan, never felt the same about anything after 'Nam myself...

Iang87

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Huge Ireland fan but I dont really support a club, have one or two I look out for alright but that's it so i can't really answer this question.

However I understand those of you that have picked your LOI clubs over Ireland. It's where your from, you've a connection to the team, you see them week in week out, you probably personally know a few of the players in a lot of cases.

However I will never understand how anyone supports a foreign club over their country team. I just can't figure out how any Irish person could prefer a totally random foreign club from London or Madrid or Milan over a team that represents our country, the place we are actually from.

Though in fairness it seems that everyone that has picked clubs so far have chosen their local teams that they obviously have massive connection with.

Because the connection doesn't have to be geographical. You can genuinely love a club and never lived in the city. Its this reason that makes leagues like the english league the most watched in the world. If everyone thought geographical then the chinese league would be best supported.

Personally I chose Limerick over Irelande but would have no issue if someone chose Liverpool/United/Munich/Barca. I look at Ireland and genuinely despise the FAI so much that the only way you can see change within them is for the team to suffer and it causes a conflict that you just don't have with the club in most cases

The_Kew_Tour

The problem some of you have is ye hate a organisation more then a football team, but its the football team who dont run themselves that ye take yer anger out on

Iang87

Thats because the only opportunity for the anger is on the team because our supreme leader wont do interviews

The_Kew_Tour

Ya but he is leader of the organisation, not the team.

And this is coming from guy who is banned on twitter from their page and was escorted out of Lansdowne once over letting my feelings known

HalloweenJack

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

The problem some of you have is ye hate a organisation more then a football team, but its the football team who dont run themselves that ye take yer anger out on

I can't find anyone who's posted saying they prefer their club over their country because of Delaney. Where are you getting that from?

farna_boy

Club. Would much prefer City to do well than Ireland.

Saying that, I do support Ireland and watch them when they play, I find it hard to get passionate when countless managers snub LoI players until they move abroad where overnight they become good enough.

I find it ridiculous that a player can represent Ireland at underage, play as a pro player in LoI and play in Europe with their club and can be dismissed as not having enough experience, but that is a rant and discussion for another day.

major bill

I go to a lot of Ireland games and a few away games but I think its a completely different experience than following your club, for me Bohs will always win over for obvious reasons, I am a member, I have met so many people throughout the years and have established many friendships along the way. 17 Plus bittersweet years supporting them and so many great memories. I hope Ireland qualify for the World Cup and we give a good account of ourselves BUT I just feel more of a connection to my Club.

Oat23

HalloweenJack wrote: »

I can't find anyone who's posted saying they prefer their club over their country because of Delaney. Where are you getting that from?

That would be my view. I refuse to support the NT in any form until there are reforms. Does that matter to Delaney and the rest of them? No. Would it help if most people had the same view as mine? Perhaps it would result in our corrupt association being put under the spotlight a little more often.

The problem is Irish fans are so fickle. You can guarantee that if the team makes it to the World Cup next summer and you had a bar full of Irish folks in Moscow many would completely forget how much of a c*nt John Delaney is if he came through the door. Plenty would be laughing and joking while taking selfies with him. It's only when the NT is doing shit people seem to voice their dislike for the association.

Oat23

sugarman wrote: »

They'd be the "Fans" that suddenly show up every time we're doing well and/or make a major finals.

I can tell you now, Delaney got ****ed out of it any time hes shown his face at away qualifiers for the most part. At least until the pro Delaney crowd show up to back him up.. the lads like Davy Keogh and those he sorts out with tickets, drinks and favors/grants for clubs.

There was nearly WW3 with the ROISSC supports clubs trying to cover anti Delaney/FAI banners and trying to drown out any chants in recent months.

I remember the trouble in Serbia when they tried to confiscate anti-FAI flags in the away end alright.

The problem is, the day trippers far outnumber the hardcore Irish fans. If you took out all those "fans" and were left with the hardcore ones you'd fill half the Aviva maybe. As long as they are around, nothing will change as the protests are drowned out.

I've said it before on here and been hammered for it, but if there is going to be change the NT needs to hit rock bottom. This means no finals and no hope. The sooner it happens, the better.

Once that happens and the day trippers f*ck off the pressure will increase on the FAI.

Zebra3

K-lub.

Not even remotely a contest.

batistuta9

I like to see Ireland doing well but don't think I've ever been really passionate about them since seeing a lot of them weren't even Irish.

The_Kew_Tour

Oat23 wrote: »

I've said it before on here and been hammered for it, but if there is going to be change the NT needs to hit rock bottom. This means no finals and no hope. The sooner it happens, the better.

Once that happens and the day trippers f*ck off the pressure will increase on the FAI.

We have come as close to rock bottom in 2012 and 2013 and nothing changed.

Thata not going change anything

Oat23

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

We have come as close to rock bottom in 2012 and 2013 and nothing changed.

Thata not going change anything

The NT bounced right back after 2012/2013. Next time we won't. Have you seen our underage sides? They are really, really weak.

Brendan Flowers

Dahlia Tiny Slaughterhouse wrote: »

I'd rather see Shels win a corner than Ireland win the world cup.

This (and the other posts in a similar vein to it) are so idiotic IMO. Fair enough if you said win the league. As bizarre as it would be to me, even if you said a competitive game maybe I could take you seriously. But a corner?? Jesus Christ. A bloody corner.

Have you any comprehension of what winning a World Cup would do for Ireland? It would be the single biggest lift the LoI would ever see. It would transform the landscape of underage sports. More and more kids would be choosing to join their local soccer clubs rather than the GAA, wanting to emulate their World Cup winning heroes.

The money. As much as people will try to argue that the FAI would pocket everything gained from winning a WC for themselves, it's impossible for the league not to benefit with a windfall of cash. Some footballers who are now World Cup winners could have come through the youth system at a LoI club. Their value would skyrocket. Any transfers of these players could see a % of the fee (which would be huge in terms of the money in Irish football) going back to their original clubs.

And I'm just about scratching the surfaces of the huge benefits winning the World Cup would have on Irish football. But go on, enjoy that corner. And dont ever expect things to get better with League of Ireland football. Because with a mindset likes yours it stands no chance of progressing.

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

Coillte_Bhoy

Oat23 wrote: »

I remember the trouble in Serbia when they tried to confiscate anti-FAI flags in the away end alright.

The problem is, the day trippers far outnumber the hardcore Irish fans. If you took out all those "fans" and were left with the hardcore ones you'd fill half the Aviva maybe. As long as they are around, nothing will change as the protests are drowned out.

I've said it before on here and been hammered for it, but if there is going to be change the NT needs to hit rock bottom. This means no finals and no hope. The sooner it happens, the better.

Once that happens and the day trippers f*ck off the pressure will increase on the FAI.

Simplistic nonsense, where would the pressure come from exactly?

Oat23

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Simplistic nonsense, where would the pressure come from exactly?

The remaining fans, loss of revenue from ticket sales, merchandise and not qualifying for finals?

It's not difficult.

Coillte_Bhoy

Oat23 wrote: »

The remaining fans, loss of revenue from ticket sales, merchandise and not qualifying for finals?

It's not difficult.

And how will this 'pressure' lead to any changes? Who's going to lead the charge within the football community?

CHealy

Brendan Flowers wrote: »

This (and the other posts in a similar vein to it) are so idiotic IMO. Fair enough if you said win the league. As bizarre as it would be to me, even if you said a competitive game maybe I could take you seriously. But a corner?? Jesus Christ. A bloody corner.

Have you any comprehension of what winning a World Cup would do for Ireland? It would be the single biggest lift the LoI would ever see. It would transform the landscape of underage sports. More and more kids would be choosing to join their local soccer clubs rather than the GAA, wanting to emulate their World Cup winning heroes.

The money. As much as people will try to argue that the FAI would pocket everything gained from winning a WC for themselves, it's impossible for the league not to benefit with a windfall of cash. Some footballers who are now World Cup winners could have come through the youth system at a LoI club. Their value would skyrocket. Any transfers of these players could see a % of the fee (which would be huge in terms of the money in Irish football) going back to their original clubs.

And I'm just about scratching the surfaces of the huge benefits winning the World Cup would have on Irish football. But go on, enjoy that corner. And dont ever expect things to get better with League of Ireland football. Because with a mindset likes yours it stands no chance of progressing.

You've obviously never seen Shels fans when they win a corner.

Club for me all day every day, its been a constant in my life since my ol'man used to sit me on the barriers down the front of the Shed End when I was 4 or 5, never looked back. But thats not to say I dont follow Ireland either, I do and I always try to get to at least 1 away day a year because the piss up is unbelievable but Im definitely not as nervous about the result when Ireland are playing. I experience more joy and relief when Cork City score over any Ireland goal but thats just the way Im wired.

overshoot

Brendan Flowers wrote: »

The money. As much as people will try to argue that the FAI would pocket everything gained from winning a WC for themselves, it's impossible for the league not to benefit with a windfall of cash.

you might want to look into how the Icelandic FA distributed money from the recent European Championships and how the FAI did.
You also may want to look into how they support youth coaching. With 1/10th the population Iceland will probably win a competition before we do given the structures they have in place.

Your argument of some trickle down is all well and good but its simply never going to happen with the derisory attitude of our governing body. Funding for the domestic game youth and senior is holding the national team back and by ignoring that,

Brendan Flowers wrote: »

] with a mindset likes yours it stands no chance of progressing.

club all the way. Ill happily cheer on the National team but wont contribute to the FAI's coffers... except of course what they skim of our clubs gates

dan1895

CHealy wrote: »

You've obviously never seen Shels fans when they win a corner.

Went on a week long bender once after we won the coin toss.