Airtricity 11 vs Man. Utd - **MOD NOTE POST 457**

major bill wrote: »

but what was ireland before the recession??? we werent that bad off ourselves

djpbarry wrote: »

Guy plays on the wing for Pats, not up front, and deserves to be in the squad in my opinion.

homerjay2005 wrote: »

does anybody have -

the average total weekly attendance in the LOI and -
the average weekly overseas trips to england games?

i would say surely no more than 10,000 people, from all over ireland, travel over to England each week, but maybe i am wrong. obviously the midweek cl games play a part in that, but say for example, when theres away games on, no more than 300 or 400 irish lads would go to united, arsenal or liverpool away so that would compliment the bigs teams playing at home. i would think about 3,000-4,000 would go to old trafford/anfield and maybe about 2,000 to arsenal. then your talking a few hundred to the likes of leeds, everton, villa, chelsea.

however, a huge amount of people going to games are from the north of ireland also so that would distort figures a little surely.

celtic of course is a huge issue then also, im sure they get 2,000 to 3,000 for every home game going over, though i have to say, i rarely meet celtic fans at dublin airports on saturdays.

Zebra3 wrote: »

First of all, most clubs need to get their infrastructure in order...

stovelid wrote: »

Can you fit 30-60k punters in there?

Would they beat Juve or Madrid?

I THINK NOT.

Next.

Pro. F wrote: »

Celtic get their arses handed to them regularly by the likes of Juve and Madrid and they've still got plenty of fans in Ireland.

Oatesy23 wrote: »

I heard today that the LoI players wont be insured for the game on Wednesday.
So if a player gets injured his club has to deal with it.
Also players are not getting any money for playing in the match.

Bohemians striker Paddy Madden has set his sight on a victory ahead of his Airtricity League side’s friendly match against Manchester United on Wednesday evening in the first football match to be held in the new Aviva Stadium.

The young striker has come to prominence this season with some fine performances for the reigning league champions Bohemians and is looking to carry that winning mentality into the game.

“It’s a nice game to play in, but like in any game you expect to win”, Madden said. “We won’t treat this as a mess around in the park, we’ll be out there to win and hopefully we will get the win. Hopefully we can go out and do the league proud, hopefully other teams will keep coming over and help the Airtricity League and keep the funds coming in.”

Following the squads first training session with boss Damien Richardson, Madden was happy with how it went and is a fan of the style of the former Cork City boss.

“It was very good. I enjoyed the session today with Damien. He wants everything out of his players and I like that about a manager. He says to have confidence in yourself and if you have confidence you’re capable of beating anyone. We’re looking forward to the next few days working with him.”

Madden is delighted to be in the squad to face the side he has supported all his life and is looking forward to facing some of the world’s best players but a specific two in particular.

“When I heard that I’d got into the squad I was chuffed, because as a United fan I’m getting to play against the team I support all my life so I’m looking forward to it, looking forward to the day.”

“Rooney and Vidic and all of them. I look up to all of them as players.”

The week ahead will be a busy one for Madden as following the tie against Manchester United, he returns to Bohs to for a top of the table clash with Shamrock Rovers at the weekend, but he remains focussed while with his Airtricity League team mates until after the game.

“I’ll have the next few days when I’m with the Airtricity League squad and tune into this while I’m here. When I get back to Bohs I’ll tune into the [Shamrock] Rovers game. It’ll be a big occasion, top of the table clash, really looking forward to that game too.”

With no Bohs players having been expected to have been in the squad but for a disappointing European campaign, Madden admitted that Pat Fenlon was more than happy to allow his players represent the league.

“Pat [Fenlon] doesn’t hold any grudges against us playing in the squad, he’s great like that. He just said ‘go out and enjoy yourselves and show what you’re capable of doing.”

For most players getting to play against Manchester United would be a career defining moment, but Sligo Rovers defender Gavin Peers is one who is keeping his foot firmly on the ground ahead of the clash in the new Aviva Stadium on Wednesday evening.

“It’s a big occasion opening the Aviva but it’s just another game to be fair, we just want to do the best we can. It’s going to be a tough game.”

After a tough training session on Monday afternoon, Peers admitted that Damien Richardson was working hard to ensure his players are fully focused with the mammoth task facing his League of Ireland squad.

“It’s always good to play with the best players in your league”, Peers said. “It was good training out there with a good manager. I’m sure tomorrow is going to be as tough to get us well tuned in and hopefully do well on Wednesday.”

With very little dependent on the outcome of the game, the defender is hoping that his side can put up a good showing against the Premiership giants and show the quality that the League of Ireland has to offer.

“As a pro you want to do well for yourself so you just have to concentrate and just do well. We just want to go out and try do our best for ourselves, we’re professional footballers and we want to acquit ourselves the best we can. “

St. Patrick’s Athletic midfielder Ryan Guy has spent his childhood and his career looking up to stars of English Premiership giants Manchester United. This Wednesday evening Guy has the chance to play against the club he supports as his Airtricity League team take on the mighty Manchester United in the Airtricity Challenge in the first football match to be player at the new Aviva Stadium.

“When Damien [Richardson] gave me a call to say I was in the squad, I was absolutely delighted”, the American said. “Every player in the league would like the chance to play on this team, let along in a new stadium and against opposition like Manchester United.”

Following their first training session in Malahide today, Guy admitted that although he is playing with faces he usually plays against every week, it can only help the squad as the players know more about how their own style of play.

“It’s been great, it’s been hard work, and the lads and the standard have been top class. It’s true but we play against these often enough that we do know them, we know how they play.”

With a squad of 18 players chosen for the match, Guy believes that the right players have been selected but explained that their mentality will be the norm, and they will treat Manchester United like they would any other side.

“I think Damien has made some great choices and I’m really looking forward to it. We have opposition that we don’t get to play against so it’s a welcome break. The way we’re all going into it is that it’s 11 humans versus 11 humans.”

homerjay2005 wrote: »

nice to see the players well up for it. lets hope they do themselves and the league proud, this is a big chance for them.

monkey9 wrote: »

A big chance for what?? Nothing will come of this match. It's a nonsense.

I swear if the likes of Ryan Guy and especially Conor Kenna miss their proper match two nights later because of this, i'll be raging.

stovelid wrote: »

Any potential players over here come to the attention of English and Scottish clubs very quickly. Indeed, many of them have already been over on trial or on the books of the clubs.

I doubt scoring a goal in a friendly will suddenly get you on the magic airplane. If it did, I'd worry about the competence of the scouts or contacts. How many offers have come through for the Bohs players that beat Aston Villa?