Why do we have a soccer team?

Donnielighto · 16-10-2019 1:29am

uchimata83 wrote: »

I thought I'd answered it, but then you accused me of abusing you?

If you mean "Why do we have a soccer team"
Arguably the third most popular sport in Ireland behind Gaelic football and hurling.
The most popular sport in the world, with the highest participation numbers by miles.
Significantly lower risk of serious injury than other field sports.
It's a good way to socialise and stay fit.
Almost no barriers to entry

I suspect you knew all the above but work away, I've entertained you enough

Just on the injury stuff, soccer is awful on the knees, rugby is more tissue injuries I think.

SmartinMartin · 16-10-2019 1:33am

Why is rugby even being mentioned here? I originally asked why we bother with a soccer team, there was no other sport mentioned.

Arghus · 16-10-2019 1:35am

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Why is it "a horrible thread to start"? It's a genuine question. We are really REALLY ****e at soccer and I don't understand why so much money is thrown at it in this country, hence the original question.

How much money is thrown at it? I'm a big football fan and sure even I could only guess at "how much money is thrown at it".

And what does that even mean? Money spent by the state? Money spent by fans? By advertisers and commercial partners? Money spent by organisations like FIFA and UEFA? Money spent on the national team? Money spent on underage teams? Womens teams? Local teams?

iebamm2580 · 16-10-2019 1:36am

Why is so much money pumped into a sport that only a handful of nations play? The media darlings rugby im talking about.

MrAbyss · 16-10-2019 1:39am

The reason is Soccer is by a mile the most popular sport in this country. Also, unlike the GAA aside from some unfunny American screaming about hurling for Google Ad Sense points, the GAA DOES NOTHING for Ireland on the World Stage and never will.

The FAI is a rotten organization who only cares about the National Team and living off that. This is why the LOI clubs are on the verge of leaving them to form a new league.

We have a crop of fantastic young player in the wings and brilliant future manager in Stephen Kenny.

The Ireland rugby team will be coming home in a few days and I don't see you complain about that.

Kermit.de.frog · 16-10-2019 1:47am

MrAbyss wrote: »

The reason is Soccer is by a mile the most popular sport in this country.

This is not true.

Participation;

With 21%, GAA is now the most popular sport in Ireland, followed by Soccer (19%), Rugby (14%), with Athletics, Tennis, Golf, and Swimming all getting 3% each.

https://www.joe.ie/sport/gaa-most-popular-652397

Say Your Number · 16-10-2019 1:54am

I like that we have our own games unique to us, as long as there is some kind of sport there for people to get out and exercise and meet new people especially in rural areas with can be a bit isolated, who cares if it doesn't translate to international sucess.

Arghus · 16-10-2019 1:56am

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

This is not true.

Participation;

https://www.joe.ie/sport/gaa-most-popular-652397

I'm going to call absolute bull**** on the methodology of that survey. There's rakes of schoolkids every day out there kicking a ball around, I've yet to see a game of gaelic football happening in a schoolyard. I'd love to know how they arrived at those figures.

Maybe, in terms of official "games" with legitimate teams there may be more adults playing GAA regularly, but if you look at the whole picture from kids kicking a ball around to people playing five a side, soccer is miles, miles, ahead.

Kermit.de.frog · 16-10-2019 1:59am

Sorry but I deal in fact, not fiction. Reality, not feelings.

#dismissed

:P

Arghus · 16-10-2019 2:02am

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Sorry but I deal in fact, not fiction. Reality, not feelings.

#dismissed

:P

Ah, look, we all know soccer is the most popular sport in the country.

Even if we - God help us - take Boards as a microcosm of Irish society, just look:

GAA forum - 611,000 posts
Rugby Forum - 1.3 million posts
Soccer Forum - 3.7 million posts

FanadMan · 16-10-2019 2:03am

Izabella Thankful Poetry wrote: »

Go wan away you miserable bollix. We lost 1 match and are still top of the group ffs.

There's always one. Not you Jacksie, btw......the twonk you quoted!

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 16-10-2019 2:53am

uchimata83 wrote: »

I thought I'd answered it, but then you accused me of abusing you?

If you mean "Why do we have a soccer team"
Arguably the third most popular sport in Ireland behind Gaelic football and hurling.
The most popular sport in the world, with the highest participation numbers by miles.
Significantly lower risk of serious injury than other field sports.
It's a good way to socialise and stay fit.
Almost no barriers to entry

I suspect you knew all the above but work away, I've entertained you enough

It's definitely more popular than hurling in Ireland. Hurling is very much a regional sport that isn't played in huge areas of the country.

twowheelsonly · 16-10-2019 2:54am

Stopitwillya wrote: »

So we can give some English lads not good enough to play with their home country the opportunity to play international football.

10 out of the starting 11 tonight were Irish born. The only exception was James Collins who was born and raised in Coventry but to Irish parents and he also played U19 and U21 for Ireland.
Some people might say that McClean and Duffy are English as well, being from Derry. They might say it..... but they wouldn't say it to their face !! :P

The rest of tonight's team were from Bray, Donegal, Dublin (3), Cork (2) and Galway.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 16-10-2019 2:55am

Arghus wrote: »

I'm going to call absolute bull**** on the methodology of that survey. There's rakes of schoolkids every day out there kicking a ball around, I've yet to see a game of gaelic football happening in a schoolyard. I'd love to know how they arrived at those figures.

Maybe, in terms of official "games" with legitimate teams there may be more adults playing GAA regularly, but if you look at the whole picture from kids kicking a ball around to people playing five a side, soccer is miles, miles, ahead.

It really requires grass to play. I played it all the time in school, but we had a pitch we could use. A schoolyard wouldn't cut it.

NIMAN · 16-10-2019 4:25am

twowheelsonly wrote: »

10 out of the starting 11 tonight were Irish born. The only exception was James Collins who was born and raised in Coventry but to Irish parents and he also played U19 and U21 for Ireland.
Some people might say that McClean and Duffy are English as well, being from Derry. They might say it..... but they wouldn't say it to their face !! :P

The rest of tonight's team were from Bray, Donegal, Dublin (3), Cork (2) and Galway.

That would be stretching things quite a bit methinks.

s7ryf3925pivug · 16-10-2019 5:33am

hide n' seek and chasing have high participation rates but are chronically underfunded.

Dj Stiggie · 16-10-2019 5:47am

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

This is not true.

Participation;

https://www.joe.ie/sport/gaa-most-popular-652397

Gaelic football and hurling are lumped in together there, hardly makes it fair.

16-10-2019 9:14am

Arghus wrote: »

Ah, look, we all know soccer is the most popular sport in the country.

Even if we - God help us - take Boards as a microcosm of Irish society, just look:

GAA forum - 611,000 posts
Rugby Forum - 1.3 million posts
Soccer Forum - 3.7 million posts

While that definitely is an interesting stat, surely GAA is more popular than Rugby. I say that as a Leinster season ticket holder.

DarTipp · 16-10-2019 9:19am

our soccer team is limited and to be within a game of qualifying for the euros which we would have taken from the beginning as we were 2 years ago in the 2nd play off game v Denmark for the 18 WC, we're similar to wales Scotland and NIR where we know we're crap but the fans are great supporters

Necro · 16-10-2019 9:46am

Deleted User wrote: »

While that definitely is an interesting stat, surely GAA is more popular than Rugby. I say that as a Leinster season ticket holder.

Is there as much to discuss though tbf. Like there's threads for most of the major leagues in both Soccer and Rugby, before you even mention international whereas vast swathes of club GAA barely gets mentioned here.

And it's not wrong per se, there's just infinitely more things to discuss in rugby and soccer in comparison.

Greyfox · 16-10-2019 9:47am

DarTipp wrote: »

but the fans are great supporters

Or just eejits. Football/Soccer is the greatest sport in the world but watching Ireland play would turn you off football for life

Mad_maxx · 16-10-2019 9:50am

We expect too much, we have a tiny pick, smaller than Wales as they only have rugby to compete against, soccer here has rugby and GAA

Liam O · 16-10-2019 9:55am

What "soccer team" are you referring to OP?

Few in this country last I checked.

Donnielighto · 16-10-2019 9:55am

Arghus wrote: »

Ah, look, we all know soccer is the most popular sport in the country.

Even if we - God help us - take Boards as a microcosm of Irish society, just look:

GAA forum - 611,000 posts
Rugby Forum - 1.3 million posts
Soccer Forum - 3.7 million posts

That's not representative though. There are more stories in soccer due to the number of foreign teams people are interested in. Talking about something isn't playing it.

Donnielighto · 16-10-2019 9:56am

Liam O wrote: »

What "soccer team" are you referring to OP?

Why the quotation marks? They're redundant.

Franz Von Peppercorn II · 16-10-2019 10:02am

SmartinMartin wrote: »

So I'm a miserable bollix cos the Irish soccer team are sh1te? lol.
Dunno why the rugby comparison, at least we've actually won something in that sport. Really though, why is the State wasting huge amounts of money on this rubbish?

It’s largely self funding.

What is it with this forum and the hatred of sports y’all don’t like.

Mad_maxx · 16-10-2019 10:05am

MrAbyss wrote: »

The reason is Soccer is by a mile the most popular sport in this country. Also, unlike the GAA aside from some unfunny American screaming about hurling for Google Ad Sense points, the GAA DOES NOTHING for Ireland on the World Stage and never will.

The FAI is a rotten organization who only cares about the National Team and living off that. This is why the LOI clubs are on the verge of leaving them to form a new league.

We have a crop of fantastic young player in the wings and brilliant future manager in Stephen Kenny.

The Ireland rugby team will be coming home in a few days and I don't see you complain about that.

Soccer isn't the most popular sport in this country

GAA is and by a mile, kick arounds with mates don't count

Wrongway1985 · 16-10-2019 10:07am

twowheelsonly wrote: »

Some people might say that McClean and Duffy are English as well, being from Derry. They might say it..... but they wouldn't say it to their face !! :P

I'd recommend you ask for an atlas for Christmas.

Seamu$ · 16-10-2019 10:08am

There are 182 teams who are even worse than us! Why do they have soccer teams?!

https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/#

Donnielighto · 16-10-2019 10:15am

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Why is it "a horrible thread to start"? It's a genuine question. We are really REALLY ****e at soccer and I don't understand why so much money is thrown at it in this country, hence the original question.

What makes Ireland that bad at soccer, results or style of play or something else.

How much money is being thrown at it.

Answer then and you might not be on the wind.

Liam O · 16-10-2019 10:18am

Donnielighto wrote: »

Why the quotation marks? They're redundant.

Using the language the OP used. The sport he's referring to is run by the Football Association of Ireland. No mention of Soccer, be like he said 'Why do we have a Rugger team in this country' or 'why do we have a Gah team in this country'.

Mad_maxx · 16-10-2019 10:19am

Mysterypunter wrote: »

So Denmark can qualify for major tournaments

Denmark doesn't have GAA or rugby hoovering up talent

We are not that bad, Scotland has the same population as us, rugby is perhaps marginally smaller in Scotland than Ireland but no GAA there yet they are worse than us

16-10-2019 10:22am

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Let's face it, we're really sh1te at it and it costs ridiculous amounts of money, so why bother?
(I feel the same about the army, but that's another thread.)

They should put a tax on watching sport from other countries and pay for Ireland Football that way.. The money spent on Liverpool/Man U etc would easily support the Irish Football.

Thelonious Monk · 16-10-2019 10:24am

I always loved the football team since watching Euro 88 as a 7 year old with my Dad when we beat England. I was at the home game V Swiss recently and it was good craic as I was drunk, but since 2002 basically we've been absolutely atrocious for the most part. It's depressing af.
Although I like to watch rugby, I never felt an affiliation with the Irish team and I don't really care if they win or lose that much. I suppose it's the whole southside heino goys thing just puts me off them.

yourdeadwright · 16-10-2019 10:25am

Why bother with Rugby then ?

Both side have never made it past a world cup quarter final,

How many teams in the world take Rugby serious 10 at a push and the soccer team has made it as far in a world cup as them lot.,

So why bother with Rugby ?

Oh and on top of that the Rugby team get the lads from the other six counties , the soccer team would be much better if they had the same option ,

The Moldy Gowl · 16-10-2019 10:29am

Liam O wrote: »

What "soccer team" are you referring to OP?

Few in this country last I checked.

This soccer/football thing is the most annoying thing, and you only ever see it online.

It's generally soccer in this country, as well as a few others. It's to differentiate from the gaa.

And this is coming from someone who goes to mathes every week and I use the 2 terms and everyone understands.

The Moldy Gowl · 16-10-2019 10:30am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

They should put a tax on watching sport from other countries and pay for Ireland Football that way.. The money spent on Liverpool/Man U etc would easily support the Irish Football.

Call it a plastic tax so it goes unnoticed as well.

valoren · 16-10-2019 10:32am

The Euros and the World Cup are really to my mind extended tournaments. The qualification is classed as a separate tournament but it is really the group stage for the group stage.

The 'finals' are the sexy culmination of those tournaments and are condensed into a month at the end of each tournament cycle. The teams who progress are the cream of the crop.

The initial cycle of qualification groups are part of the tournament proper and as such we always participate in the Euro and the World Cup tournaments. That's why we have a soccer team i.e. to participate in international tournaments. Sure we mostly don't progress from the "initial" group stage of the tournaments but given our level of play progressing to the finals will always be a major achievement in itself. In effect, if, for example, you get capped for Ireland playing against Georgia in a WC qualification match then to my mind you've played in a World Cup. If you scored then you've scored in the World Cup. With that in mind, the Irish team have won 3 games in Euro 2020. We have scored 6 goals in Euro 2020. If we were losing all 8 games and almost never scoring and doing so at considerable expense then calls for the actual need to have a team would pertinent.

The Moldy Gowl · 16-10-2019 10:37am

valoren wrote: »

The Euros and the World Cup are really extended tournaments. The 'finals' are the culmination of those tournaments and are condensed into a month at the end of each tournament cycle. The teams who progress are the cream of the crop.

The initial cycle of qualification groups are part of the tournament proper and as such we always participate in the Euro and the World Cup tournaments. That's why we have a soccer team i.e. to participate in international tournaments. Sure we mostly don't progress from the "initial" group stage of the tournaments but given our level of play progressing to the finals will always be a major achievement in itself. In effect, if, for example, you get capped for Ireland playing against Georgia in a WC qualification match then to my mind you've played in a World Cup. If you scored then you've scored in the World Cup. With that in mind, the Irish team have won 3 games in Euro 2020. We have scored 6 goals in Euro 2020. If we were losing all 8 games and almost never scoring and doing so at considerable expense then calls for the actual need to have a team would pertinent.

I get what your saying in the first paragraph but that's really clutching at straws.

Church on Tuesday · 16-10-2019 10:48am

SmartinMartin wrote: »

So I'm a miserable bollix cos the Irish soccer team are sh1te? lol.
Dunno why the rugby comparison, at least we've actually won something in that sport. Really though, why is the State wasting huge amounts of money on this rubbish?

Because it's hugely popular and the biggest sport in the world.

dxhound2005 · 16-10-2019 11:22am

Most small countries never get to World Cup, or European finals. Ireland never achieved it until 1988. Only 7 countries have won the World Cup. We are doing OK, and it would be unprecedented for a country like Ireland to withdraw from international competition. A generation of players to match the Dublin footballers might come along. Dublin went for a long time with no success.

Achebe · 16-10-2019 11:59am

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Most small countries never get to World Cup, or European finals. Ireland never achieved it until 1988. Only 7 countries have won the World Cup. We are doing OK, and it would be unprecedented for a country like Ireland to withdraw from international competition. A generation of players to match the Dublin footballers might come along. Dublin went for a long time with no success.

Maybe FIFA will give some money.

TheIrishGrover · 16-10-2019 12:13pm

I was gonna post a thread about this. Now, disclaimer: I'm not a football fan. Personally I don't understand the appeal but I appreciate that many MANY people do. I'm not a "Fair weather" fan. I wasn't much interested even in the Charlton days.

But..... But I fail to understand how we can support them with Tax Payers money. It's not like these professional players are living on the breadline. It's not like they have no sponsorship. And it's not like it's free into the games. I'm not saying remove all funding to sports or whatever. Far from it. I think it's important for a nation but isn't it time we redistributed the limited money where it is needed most? Instead of supporting a team of professional players shouldn't we support others more (Or at all)

My nephew has been doing Tae Kwan-do for almost 20 years. Has gone to many world championships, won many medals. The Irish team is VERY well regarded internationally. And yet they do not get a single cent of support from the Government. Every competition he went to he had to pay every single penny. Literally saved and worked summer jobs etc in order to go. While Olympic Tae-Kwan-do does get some support (Enough to buy their uniforms and that's about it) the non-Olyimpic sport gets nothing.

And it's clubs like THESE: Grass roots, local clubs that gives the kids something to do and out of mischief that needs the support. Clubs practically begging for money outside shops. How much money was given to Equestrian Ireland? When the last Olympic medal we received was stripped from us? And Ireland used to be very highly regarded equestrian-wise.

Maybe these high-level support should be performance-based

twowheelsonly · 16-10-2019 12:28pm

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

My nephew has been doing Tae Kwan-do for almost 20 years. Has gone to many world championships, won many medals. The Irish team is VERY well regarded internationally. And yet they do not get a single cent of support from the Government. Every competition he went to he had to pay every single penny. Literally saved and worked summer jobs etc in order to go. While Olympic Tae-Kwan-do does get some support (Enough to buy their uniforms and that's about it) the non-Olyimpic sport gets nothing.

And it's clubs like THESE: Grass roots, local clubs that gives the kids something to do and out of mischief that needs the support. Clubs practically begging for money outside shops. How much money was given to Equestrian Ireland? When the last Olympic medal we received was stripped from us? And Ireland used to be very highly regarded equestrian-wise.

Maybe these high-level support should be performance-based

IMO that's Tae Kwan Dos' own fault. They should be well able to lobby for funding as countrywide it's a huge sport - far bigger than most people would realise. The trouble is it's too political with too many associations and side shows going on and it's been that way for years. As a unified body they could have serious lobbying power but some within it can't see past their own differences for the greater good.

ThunbergsAreGo · 16-10-2019 12:30pm

SmartinMartin wrote: »

So I'm a miserable bollix cos the Irish soccer team are sh1te? lol.
Dunno why the rugby comparison, at least we've actually won something in that sport. Really though, why is the State wasting huge amounts of money on this rubbish?

The Nations League says hello, a historic victory by the football team

Feisar · 16-10-2019 12:34pm

twowheelsonly wrote: »

IMO that's Tae Kwan Dos' own fault. They should be well able to lobby for funding as countrywide it's a huge sport - far bigger than most people would realise. The trouble is it's too political with too many associations and side shows going on and it's been that way for years. As a unified body they could have serious lobbying power but some within it can't see past their own differences for the greater good.

And then how about this karate or that type. In fairness there are to many types of martial arts that are basically similar enough to an outsider. However yes there are to many organisations within the one sport.

Woke Hogan · 16-10-2019 12:39pm

Omackeral wrote: »

How is it not?

All you need is a ball and a bit of space. Jumpers for goalposts, ever hear of that expression? Kids in barrios can play it and many of them have nothing. College students play it. Over 35's play it in leagues. Work mates play it for bonding. Even boards.ie has had teams (I've played for them!). Astros, streets, indoor or on a green field. It's for everyone.

This website had a football team? Hahaha, are you for real? Who were they playing, Banter United from Joe.ie?

Edgware · 16-10-2019 12:41pm

Don't worry, McClean will be getting his bit of publicity next month when he has his annual "I wont wear a Poppy" phase.
He certainly wont be getting it for his football ability

Dr. Bre · 16-10-2019 12:43pm

Why do we have to go to work

TheIrishGrover · 16-10-2019 12:57pm

twowheelsonly wrote: »

IMO that's Tae Kwan Dos' own fault. They should be well able to lobby for funding as countrywide it's a huge sport - far bigger than most people would realise. The trouble is it's too political with too many associations and side shows going on and it's been that way for years. As a unified body they could have serious lobbying power but some within it can't see past their own differences for the greater good.

And in the case of Tae-Kwan-Do, yeah, you are absolutely right. But this money should be going to local clubs. Local football, Karate, Boxing clubs. 50 million in the last 10 years to FAI. I know, in the big picture, that's not a huge amount of money. But if you gave 50 million to 1000 clubs over 10 years think of the good it would do.

Why do we have a soccer team?

Comments