Why Don't Irish Football Fans Support Other Countries?

Tusky · 06-02-2008 01:46PM

Jazzy wrote: »

because your actual country is more to you then a club.

clubs are clubs regardless of what country they are int. that just donates what league they play in. a national team is your national team because you are irish, english etc.

its not like ppl are born "Shelbournian" (DesF may argue that) but they are born Irish

Exactly. Look at the amount of foreign players (Irish included) playing the in premiership. Club football has become completely international. Liverpool only have 3 regular English players. When Ireland play, every single player is Irish and they are representing the country that we live & were born in.

~Rebel~ · 06-02-2008 01:46PM

Tusky wrote: »

I pick a new country to support in each big tournament. Usually Spain or Holland. However, if Ireland qualified I would of course, support them. Ireland are our national side, I feel a connection to them. I do not feel a connection to any LOI club.

The point mentioned earlier is a good one. Ireland play good teams and they have a chance to play on the biggest international stages (WC, EC) which is exciting. LOI doesn't have that, its always going to be small scale football.

Id agree a lot with this one too, I have an inherent connection with Ireland, couldn't support anyone else. For club football on the other hand, I didn't even know Cork city existed when i started following football. Grew up in the stix nearly an hour from turners cross and got into football through watching Liverpool on TV. Noone else in my family is very into football. Once I went to secondary school I came across eircom league fans for the first time, and since then i've gone to turners cross semi regularly, but at the same time, Liverpool will always be the club i grew up watching and fell in love with.

LuckyLloyd · 06-02-2008 01:47PM

SectionF wrote: »

You're quite right there. It's not. I suppose GAA is, God love us.
Yet our massive sense of footballing entitlement sends us into a quite hilarious lather when our beloved boys in green don't deliver for us in this horrible non-Gaelic game.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a Leeds fan (as I always have to point out in these discussions), but at this point we are a quite pathetic bunch of footballing pygmies strutting around in our ManU, Celtic and Ireland shirts, cheering on our little counties in the summer.

DesF wrote: »

nice counter there, I'm astounded actually.

What does that have to do with the price of cabbage? (and Gah folk eat a LOT of cabbage)

Point I was making, which you are avoiding for some reason, is that the majority of Irish people are only interested in the BIG DAY OUT.

The Gah figures prove this.

The 24,000 in Landsdowne for the Shels match prove it.

The 10,000 boxing "enthusiasts" in The Point for Bernard Dunne's title match prove this.

Can you disprove it?

How is this any different to the UK?

Maybe this is the problem. We are a country with a fairly small population. As such, there will only be a percentage of that population that are truly committed to sports of some sort or another. Most people in Ireland don't really care - same as the UK. But that minority who do care over there is naturally a larger number and naturally helps to sustain football as a bigger thing.

If engerland get to a major championships the fair weather fans come along for the ride too. There really is nothing strange about the behavior of the Irish public with respect to sport. Why be so bitter about it? There will still be people wearing Utd shirts in parts of London where Scrunthorpe or Brentford or Orient are the local team. So what.

Do your part, support football how you see fit. Be happy. Life is short.

Xavi6 · 06-02-2008 01:53PM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

If engerland get to a major championships the fair weather fans come along for the ride too. There really is nothing strange about the behavior of the Irish public with respect to sport. Why be so bitter about it? There will still be people wearing Utd shirts in parts of London where Scrunthorpe or Brentford or Orient are the local team. So what.

Difference is though, the English actually support there local teams as well and go to games regularly. Look at attendences for League 2. Probably higher than our own top division.

Mr Alan · 06-02-2008 01:54PM

Jazzy wrote: »

because your actual country is more to you then a club.

speak for yourself

LuckyLloyd · 06-02-2008 01:55PM

Xavi6 wrote: »

Difference is though, the English actually support there local teams as well and go to games regularly. Look at attendences for League 2. Probably higher than our own top division.

Yeah, but that's just because of the large number I was talking about above. There are still plenty of unloved professional teams in the bluesquare conferences.

Mr Alan · 06-02-2008 01:57PM

Xavi6 wrote: »

Difference is though, the English actually support there local teams as well and go to games regularly. Look at attendences for League 2. Probably higher than our own top division.

true in the main, but there is a massive following of the big clubs from all over England.:eek:

Xavi6 · 06-02-2008 01:58PM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Yeah, but that's just because of the large number I was talking about above. There are still plenty of unloved professional teams in the bluesquare conferences.

Oh really? not according to this -

http://www.thelinnets.co.uk/turnstile.shtml

Most Blue Square teams have higher attendences than eL clubs

OhNoYouDidn't · 06-02-2008 02:05PM

PHB wrote: »

Because I have no inherent link to any Irish football club. I have an inherent link to the national team.

But you have an 'inherent' link to some UK plc in a city you have no connection to?

I think this is a very interesting question and cuts to the heart of the barstoolers logic (or lack thereof).

If you prefer a higher standard of ball in a better arena than the LoI offers, why arent you all Brazil or Italy fans? Its a legitimate question and one the barstoolers have failed to answer.

Much as I think the Gah are a bunch of backwards, insular, bigoted savages, could you imagine somene from Wexford deciding to follow Kerry mudwrestling or Kilkenny stickswinging? We could do with some of their local loyalty.

shane86 · 06-02-2008 02:07PM

Can I interrupt and ask what EL has to do with the original question? It was asking why we dont support other national teams.

Id disagree. Plenty of Irish throw their support behind a foreign nationl team. At any World Cup/Euros we arent in (i.e most of them, and possibly for the foreseeable future) I usually throw my backing behind a strong team, an underdog and maybe one other (oh, and whoever England plays against

). In 06 I was backing Holland, Ghana and Australia, and in particular was delighted to see the Aussies go so far. When they were all gone I switched to France (particulrly for the final, I wanted revenge for the way they cheated the Aussies).

As for the Euros, I was nearly as disappointed to see the Scots go out at the very end in these qualifiers as I was when the Slovaks ended our campaign. Pub was full of Irish people cheering on the Scots, in fact more were there for the Scotland v Italy game than had turned up for the Ireland v Wales match earlier on.

SectionF · 06-02-2008 02:10PM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

There really is nothing strange about the behavior of the Irish public with respect to sport. ...Do your part, support football how you see fit. Be happy. Life is short.

As I've said before, it's slightly more than benign neglect. If you listen to the discourse on Irish football, read columnists, catch throwaway comments from sports hacks, and read the posts of a lot of exclusively EPL fans on message boards such as this, you will come across routine sneering and hostility towards the game in Ireland.
Even though more people in Ireland play football than any other sport, for the past few decades virtually no one has wanted to know at senior level. I think that that is changing for the better, as we grow up a bit, but the old view is still very much in evidence.

OhNoYouDidn't · 06-02-2008 02:14PM

shane86 wrote: »

Can I interrupt and ask what EL has to do with the original question? It was asking why we dont support other national .

...using the same logic they use to support foreign club teams!

We are all football fans, we all have teams we like in various leagues around the world. The issue is why do you not support your local league and still support your local national team. Its an illogical position and cherrypicking what bits of Irish football you support and one not seen anywhere else.

shane86 · 06-02-2008 02:17PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

...using the same logic they use to support foreign club teams!

We are all football fans, we all have teams we like in various leagues around the world. The issue is why do you not support your local league and still support your local national team. Its an illogical position and cherrypicking what bits of Irish football you support and one not seen anywhere else.

It was never on tv when I was young, and seldom is now. The oul fella used to go to the odd one in the 70s and 80s I think but he never took me, so there is one reason.

I dont support any EPL club either, just like to see one or two do well. Ireland is the only team that I would follow every game from a WC q final with Brazil to a friendly against the Faroes.

LuckyLloyd · 06-02-2008 02:21PM

There are 15 fully professional league clubs based in the greater London area (12 - 14m).

There are 5 Eircom league clubs in Dublin working off a total population of approx 1.2m.

djpbarry · 06-02-2008 02:21PM

Tusky wrote: »

Ireland play good teams and they have a chance to play on the biggest international stages (WC, EC) which is exciting, even if they rarely qualify.

Everyone seems to have forgotten what English football was like pre-SKY. It was **** (remember Ayresome Park, Roker Park, etc.), yet everyone in Ireland still followed it. And what about the Scottish League? Plenty of people in Ireland follow it religiously, yet the SPL is a pretty poor league in European terms. The fact that so many Irish people follow British teams and ignore Irish teams has little to do with the quality of the football.

Tusky wrote: »

LOI doesn't have that, its always going to be small scale football.

Well, yeah, it will be if people have that attitude.

Tusky wrote: »

Are you seriously suggesting the only reason, or the main reason even, that people go to big GAA games is to show off and to have something to talk about on a Monday morning ?

A lot of people go to watch the Dubs just to say they were there; a lot of people will go to the Brazil game tonight for the same reason. The point is only a minority are real fans.

homerjay2005 wrote: »

irish people in general tend to be a shower of bandwagon jumpers, it can be applied to all aspects of life, not just sport.

Very true. If an EL club qualified for the Champions League, the sales of their merchandise would go through the roof.

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Most people in Ireland don't really care - same as the UK.

I don't know about that. Look at the number of people who pay a fortune for pay-per-view football in this country. Look at the number of people who regularly go to the pub to watch "big" Premiership games with their mates. Look at the number of Irish-based supporters clubs who organise regular trips to Premiership games.

_blank_ · 06-02-2008 02:23PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

Much as I think the Gah are a bunch of backwards, insular, bigoted savages, could you imagine somene from Wexford deciding to follow Kerry mudwrestling or Kilkenny stickswinging? We could do with some of their local loyalty.

Your anti-Gah diatribes never fail to amuse me.

Tusky · 06-02-2008 02:24PM

If you prefer a higher standard of ball in a better arena than the LoI offers, why arent you all Brazil or Italy fans? Its a legitimate question and one the barstoolers have failed to answer.

I find this to be fairly silly. If Brazil played week in week out, I would watch them. I watch them whenever I can as I enjoy the football they play.

To be honest I find the whole idea behind this thread pretty strange & I would have thought that its a pretty obvious question. People are brought up watching Ireland. Their parents watch it, their fathers take them to games. There is also the excitement of a whole country getting behind the team on matchday. You support your country because they are representing YOU as an Irish citizen.

People support foreign clubs for two reasons.

1. They have much more exposure to them from a young age.
2. They play much much better football than anything our league can offer.

_blank_ · 06-02-2008 02:29PM

Tusky wrote: »

2. They play much much better football than anything our league can offer.

*ding ding ding*

Now, here is the ultimate catch 22.

Shíte standard, Oi'm not watching that crap, but I might if it was better.

How the hell can it improve if there is no money being put into the game?

How much of the FAI's take on tonight's game will be put into football at a grassroots level in Ireland?

Jazzy · 06-02-2008 02:29PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

If you prefer a higher standard of ball in a better arena than the LoI offers, why arent you all Brazil or Italy fans? Its a legitimate question and one the barstoolers have failed to answer.

Jazzy wrote:

because your actual country is more to you then a club.

clubs are clubs regardless of what country they are in. that just donates what league they play in. a national team is your national team because you are irish, english etc.

its not like ppl are born "Shelbournian" (DesF may argue that) but they are born Irish

that good enough for ya?

probably not cos im just a "barstooler".
god, ur so much more football then me

BaZmO* · 06-02-2008 02:30PM

It's simple, just look at your passport to see what country you should be supporting.

Thinly disguised "EL vs. The World" rant tbh.

SectionF · 06-02-2008 02:31PM

Tusky wrote: »

I find this to be fairly silly...

People support foreign clubs for two reasons.

1. They have much more exposure to them from a young age.
2. They play much much better football than anything our league can offer.

Someone always says that.

Let's not ever discuss anything any more. People are just brought up kinda doing stuff, (though not too many people grew up with Sunderland posters on their walls).

smackbunnybaby · 06-02-2008 02:35PM

BaZmO* wrote: »

Thinly disguised "EL vs. The World" rant tbh.

too true.

Jazzy · 06-02-2008 02:37PM

BaZmO* wrote: »

Thinly disguised "EL vs. The World" rant tbh.

yup

Tusky · 06-02-2008 02:40PM

DesF wrote: »

*ding ding ding*

Now, here is the ultimate catch 22.

Shíte standard, Oi'm not watching that crap, but I might if it was better.

How the hell can it improve if there is no money being put into the game?

How much of the FAI's take on tonight's game will be put into football at a grassroots level in Ireland?

Yup, it is a catch 22 alright. I have no idea how much of the FAIs $ will be put into grassroot level football but I would guess, not enough.

This thread isn't about EL v Foreign leagues or how the EL can improve though.....right ?

Mr Alan · 06-02-2008 02:40PM

So wat if its an EL vs the World rant!?!?!?!?!?!?

DONT READ IT THEN!

Jazzy · 06-02-2008 02:42PM

Mr Alan wrote: »

So wat if its an EL vs the World rant!?!?!?!?!?!?

DONT READ IT THEN!

apparantly it wasnt tho

Disclaimer : This is not a pro eL rant, or an anti FAI, or anti foreign football diatribe.

_blank_ · 06-02-2008 02:45PM

Tusky wrote: »

This thread isn't about EL v Foreign leagues or how the EL can improve though.....right ?

Some people who can't answer the questions posed have tgrown that accusation around, yes.

Why not answer the points instead of trying to derail the thread people?

Every single LucyLloyd has made has been rebutted fairly well, the points she makes simply don't stand up.

Nobody else is making points, just saying "OHNOES DA elll peepel r rantin agen".

Here, lets go back to the start.

Why not apply the same logic to the support of International Football that you seem to have when choosing what club team to support?

No anti EPL there at all, no eL rant, nothing of the sort.

This "National Pride" thing "I was born here" is a crock of shít, imo.

Mr Alan · 06-02-2008 02:46PM

maybe that was said to keep people from jumping down his throat going....oh stupid thread etc etc etc, if you dont like a thread, dont post in it.

why the EL isnt popular, EL vs PL, or why people support English clubs, or peoples feelings for the national team....... are all very relevant to these boards.

so stop moaning

djpbarry · 06-02-2008 02:48PM

Tusky wrote: »

They have much more exposure to them from a young age.

So why are there so many Sunderland fans in Ireland right now?

Tusky wrote: »

They play much much better football than anything our league can offer.

Please...

The only two teams in England who play decent football are Arsenal and Utd. God knows I've tried to watch the entire 90 minutes of a Liverpool - Chelsea game, but I just can't do it!

Besides, the standard of football played by the national team recently has been pretty appalling.

Xavi6 · 06-02-2008 02:49PM

DesF wrote: »

Some people who can't answer the questions posed have tgrown that accusation around, yes.

Why not answer the points instead of trying to derail the thread people?

Every single LucyLloyd has made has been rebutted fairly well, the points she makes simply don't stand up.

Nobody else is making points, just saying "OHNOES DA elll peepel r rantin agen".

Here, lets go back to the start.

Why not apply the same logic to the support of International Football that you seem to have when choosing what club team to support?

No anti EPL there at all, no eL rant, nothing of the sort.

This "National Pride" thing "I was born here" is a crock of shít, imo.

:eek:

Why Don't Irish Football Fans Support Other Countries?

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