World Cup - An Irish slant

[curly]

>>GROUP A GERMANY - CORK
>>
>>Not everyone's favourite team. Behemoths of their
sporting worlds
>>and
>>can go a long way without anyone really noticing
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ***
>>
>>
>>POLAND - OFFALY
>>
>>1982 was a big year for both. Defeated many more
illustrious
>>opponents.
>>Struggling to relive those glory days.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>
>>ECUADOR - FERMANAGH
>>
>>Overshadowed by their neighbours but have made their
mark on the
>>big
>>stage in recent years.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>
>>COSTA RICA - LEITRIM.
>>
>>Wouldn't have the biggest pick in the world. Unlikely
to make an
>>impact
>>in this year's championship. At least the scenery's
impressive.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: *
>>
>>GROUP B ENGLAND - DUBLIN
>>
>>Rarely live up to pre-tournament hype hope and
expectation. Few
>>tears
>>shed by opposition's fans at their demise.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: *****
>>
>>
>>SWEDEN - CAVAN
>>
>>Decent success in the fifties and have players capable
of causing
>>shocks
>>but lack consistency and killer instinct.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ***
>>
>>
>>PARAGUAY - ROSCOMMON
>>
>>Tend to do well despite the presence of overbearing
neighbours.
>>Less
>>exciting since losing a semi-insane free-kick taking
goalkeeper.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - LONGFORD
>>
>>Avery John revered by both. Getting more attention
because of their
>>opposition. Not going to trouble the trophy engraver
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>GROUP C ARGENTINA - TYRONE
>>
>>God-like status for their retired heroes. Magic to
watch when at
>>their
>>best; but expect things to turn nasty if things don't
go their way.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>HOLLAND - LIMERICK
>>
>>Flatter to deceive but never quite won the big one. A
good internal
>>row
>>to destroy their chances never seems far away
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ***
>>
>>
>>SERBIA & MONTENEGRO - TIPPERARY
>>
>>A clear divide exists and footballing success looks
unlikely for a
>>few
>>years yet. One or two fine players can only carry them
so far for
>>now.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>
>>IVORY COAST - LOUTH
>>
>>Appear to be an emerging team but grounds for optimism
will be
>>sorely
>>tested on step up the highest level
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>GROUP D PORTUGAL - ARMAGH
>>
>>Both have managers justifiably known as 'Big'. Ageing
squad
>>probably
>>missed chance for immortality
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>MEXICO - GALWAY
>>
>>Famous for lethal drinks (tequila/buckfast) Progress
because of
>>geographical advantage, could benefit from moving
province.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ***
>>
>>
>>IRAN - CLARE
>>
>>Former Ayatollahs still hold plenty of sway.
Goalkeeper always
>>likely to
>>see plenty of action
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ***
>>
>>
>>ANGOLA - ANTRIM
>>
>>Had more than their fair share of dark periods away
from sport.
>>Provide
>>novelty value but likely to be hammered by the big
boys.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>GROUP E ITALY - DERRY
>>
>>Complaints of systematic fouling brushed off once they
win. Haven't
>>delivered the number of trophies their talents should
have.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>CZECH REP - DOWN
>>
>>Tasted success in sixties and nineties. Plan B based
on lobbing
>>high
>>balls into beanpole forwards.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ***
>>
>>
>>GHANA - CARLOW
>>
>>Turn your county colours ninety degrees and you have a
ready made
>>flag.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>USA - WEXFORD
>>
>>Managing to flourish on football field despite strong
presence of
>>other
>>sports. A better team than they are given credit for.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ***
>>
>>GROUP F BRAZIL - KERRY
>>
>>Nothing less than victory - with panache - is enough
for demanding
>>public. Fans come out of woodwork for finals.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>CROATIA - SLIGO
>>
>>Jerseys a bit of an eye-sore. Occasional flutters of
hope.
>>Markievicz
>>Park could easily be in the middle of Zagreb
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>AUSTRALIA - KILKENNY
>>
>>Not shy about telling people how good they are at many
sports.
>>Football
>>isn't one of them
>>
>>Compatibility rating: *****
>>
>>
>>JAPAN - KILDARE
>>
>>Technology-reliant economy and a fondness for
horse-racing. Haven't
>>progressed after experiment with big-name managers.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>GROUP G FRANCE - MEATH
>>
>>Glory in the 1990s but a fading force. Over-reliant on
heroes of
>>the
>>past
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>SWITZERLAND - WESTMEATH
>>
>>Landlocked and without a reputation for too much
excitement. Hugely
>>reliant on a couple of good players
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>
>>SOUTH KOREA - WATERFORD
>>
>>Surprise packages in 2002 but ultimately fell short.
Living in the
>>shadow of a People's Republic
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>TOGO - WICKLOW
>>
>>Have as much chance of each other of success on the
big stage this
>>year.
>>Boys among men.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>GROUP H SPAIN - MAYO
>>
>>Everyone's dark horse but never step out of their
permanent
>>silhouette.
>>Pretty on the eye but ultimately infuriating for
long-suffering
>>fans.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ****
>>
>>
>>UKRAINE - DONEGAL
>>
>>Good forwards will probably only take them so far.
Enormous mass of
>>land; weather generally awful
>>
>>Compatibility rating: ***
>>
>>
>>TUNISIA - LAOIS
>>
>>Both have drafted in managers from places of greater
pedigree. An
>>improvement has been noted but yet to fully deliver.
>>
>>Compatibility rating: **
>>
>>
>>SAUDI ARABIA - MONAGHAN
>>
>>All tenuous links have been exhausted. They are a
match made in
>>heaven
>>
>>Compatibility rating: *

[bandage]

Think that's from the Indo the other day. Not as good as my hurling/cricket nations analogies from a few years back. Rock, do have this in the free kick archive?

[whyohwhy]

bandage said:

Think that's from the Indo the other day. Not as good as my hurling/cricket nations analogies from a few years back. Rock, do have this in the free kick archive?

You're just pissed off that Wexford got linked with the Yanks!

Brazil - Kerry. Brilliant

[curly]

I think the Kerry - Brazil link was linking the disloyal fans who only appear out of the woodwork on the day of the All Ireland, I didn't see any mention of Kerry actually ever winning with panache!

Wexford were given an over-complimentary comment....the Wexicans never stop telling us how under-rated they are!

I'd really have to question the comment about the Mayo fooballers being pleasant on the eye?!

[therock67]

bandage said:

Think that's from the Indo the other day. Not as good as my hurling/cricket nations analogies from a few years back. Rock, do have this in the free kick archive?

Poster her up thefreekick.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/hurling-cricket-analogies/

[whyohwhy]

curly said:

I think the Kerry - Brazil link was linking the disloyal fans who only appear out of the woodwork on the day of the All Ireland, I didn't see any mention of Kerry actually ever winning with panache!

It says: Nothing less than victory - with panache - is enough
for demanding public. Fans come out of woodwork for finals.

We have won many at time with panache!! Most of the 70's & Early 80's (see Kerry's Golden Years-the Greatest GAA Video ever), 2000, 2004, 1997 and whenever Maurice was playing. He is Mr. Panache (if there was a picture-dictionary for Ireland, 'Panache' would have a picture of Maurice nonchalantly kicking over a point)

[curly]

I'd prefer loyal supporters any day.
If there was a picture-dictionary for Ireland, 'loyalty' would be represented by a picture of Mossie Quinn slotting over a point with a sea of blue supporters in Hill 16 in the background.

[whyohwhy]

curly said:

I'd prefer loyal supporters any day.
If there was a picture-dictionary for Ireland, 'loyalty' would be represented by a picture of Mossie Quinn slotting over a point with a sea of blue supporters in Hill 16 in the background.

Dublin fans are just as bad, how come Parnell Park is rarely filled to the rafters for League matches? how come Parnell Park is used instead of Croker for the league to facilitate the 'sea of blue supporters'?

BTW if it was an important free, Mossie would choke and slot it wide, leading to a torrent of abuse from the 'supporters'. Fooking scumbags on the hill.

[steamboatsam]

curly said:

I'd prefer loyal supporters any day.
If there was a picture-dictionary for Ireland, 'loyalty' would be represented by a picture of Mossie Quinn slotting over a point with a sea of blue supporters in Hill 16 in the background.

...with said supporters pissing on those in front, throwing firecrackers at opposing players, calling for "offside" and encouraging the Dublin players to "keep it on the floor".........

[therock67]

whyohwhy said:

curly said:

I'd prefer loyal supporters any day.
If there was a picture-dictionary for Ireland, 'loyalty' would be represented by a picture of Mossie Quinn slotting over a point with a sea of blue supporters in Hill 16 in the background.

Dublin fans are just as bad, how come Parnell Park is rarely filled to the rafters for League matches? how come Parnell Park is used instead of Croker for the league to facilitate the 'sea of blue supporters'?

BTW if it was an important free, Mossie would choke and slot it wide, leading to a torrent of abuse from the 'supporters'. Fooking scumbags on the hill.

They aren't scumbags on the hill - Mossie deserves all the abuse he gets for constantly bottling all his kicks into the hill. If I was playing against Dublin I'd always play to the Canal End first because if Mossie's first kick is into the Hill he'll be shit all day.

[eamo]

curly said:

I'd prefer loyal supporters any day.
If there was a picture-dictionary for Ireland, 'loyalty' would be represented by a picture of Mossie Quinn slotting over a point with a sea of blue supporters in Hill 16 in the background.

That is wrong on so many levels:

First of all Mossy Quinn would not slot it over
Secondly who's the most loyal fans? The Dub fans on Hill 16? You are having a giraffe...

Smite - I'll smite you again in another hour

[tommymoore]

Agree completly with Eamo.
The majority of Dublin fans are scummers who wouln't know a gaelic football if it jumped up and bit them. They haven't a clue and are only there for the session.

On another point comparing Galway to Mexico is absolutely ridicilous. Mexico have never won anything. Galway have 2 recent All Irelands, 9 All Ireland in total. Smite for that.

[therock67]

tommymoore said:

Agree completly with Eamo.
The majority of Dublin fans are scummers who wouln't know a gaelic football if it jumped up and bit them. They haven't a clue and are only there for the session.

On another point comparing Galway to Mexico is absolutely ridicilous. Mexico have never won anything. Galway have 2 recent All Irelands, 9 All Ireland in total. Smite for that.

Harsh smiting considering nobody on here wrote that piece but if it gets the anger out of your system it's all good.

Re the Dublin fans that's just nonsense about the majority of them being scummers. They may be fairweather fans but the majority of them are players or have club allegiances the same as anyone else. They're by no means the only county with the "day out" mentality.

[whyohwhy]

admin said:

tommymoore said:

Agree completly with Eamo.
The majority of Dublin fans are scummers who wouln't know a gaelic football if it jumped up and bit them. They haven't a clue and are only there for the session.

On another point comparing Galway to Mexico is absolutely ridicilous. Mexico have never won anything. Galway have 2 recent All Irelands, 9 All Ireland in total. Smite for that.

Harsh smiting considering nobody on here wrote that piece but if it gets the anger out of your system it's all good.

Re the Dublin fans that's just nonsense about the majority of them being scummers. They may be fairweather fans but the majority of them are players or have club allegiances the same as anyone else. They're by no means the only county with the "day out" mentality.

No, they are, some of them still give Jason Sherlock 'lighthearted' racial abuse. fookers. Heard that from a good friend of mine who regularly goes to Hill 16.

[eamo]

admin said:

tommymoore said:

Agree completly with Eamo.
The majority of Dublin fans are scummers who wouln't know a gaelic football if it jumped up and bit them. They haven't a clue and are only there for the session.

On another point comparing Galway to Mexico is absolutely ridicilous. Mexico have never won anything. Galway have 2 recent All Irelands, 9 All Ireland in total. Smite for that.

They're by no means the only county with the "day out" mentality.

I never said that but they are nowhere near the 'most loyal fans in the country' like Curly is suggesting. In fact I think the biggest indicator of the lack of loyality is the filling out of Croker in the summer and the use of Parnell Park in the league. They probably have similar levels of disloyality as other counties but they get the spotlight because they have the most people

[therock67]

whyohwhy said:

admin said:

Harsh smiting considering nobody on here wrote that piece but if it gets the anger out of your system it's all good.

Re the Dublin fans that's just nonsense about the majority of them being scummers. They may be fairweather fans but the majority of them are players or have club allegiances the same as anyone else. They're by no means the only county with the "day out" mentality.

No, they are, some of them still give Jason Sherlock 'lighthearted' racial abuse. fookers. Heard that from a good friend of mine who regularly goes to Hill 16.

I've seen Jason Sherlock get racial abuse from Cork fans and Shamrock Rovers fans. The latter are indeed scummers, but I wouldn't generalise against the former. Not trying to justify racial abuse at all by the way - it is sickening.

[therock67]

whyohwhy said:

curly said:

I'd prefer loyal supporters any day.
If there was a picture-dictionary for Ireland, 'loyalty' would be represented by a picture of Mossie Quinn slotting over a point with a sea of blue supporters in Hill 16 in the background.

Dublin fans are just as bad, how come Parnell Park is rarely filled to the rafters for League matches? how come Parnell Park is used instead of Croker for the league to facilitate the 'sea of blue supporters'?

BTW if it was an important free, Mossie would choke and slot it wide, leading to a torrent of abuse from the 'supporters'. Fooking scumbags on the hill.

Getting back to some old posts now while I have a chance.

Parnell Park is generally "filled to the rafers for League matches." It doesn't make economic or atmospheric sense to open Croke Park for Dublin's league matches but Parnell Park was sold out for all the evening games this year as far as I know.

In addition to being the best supported team in the league at least Dublin fans turn out for all rounds of the Championship. I'll have no sympathy for anyone from Kerry/Galway etc. if they reach the final and there's a shortage of tickets. Not bothered going to the opening rounds but they'll be crying over the injustice of the ticketing come September.

[whyohwhy]

admin said:

whyohwhy said:

Dublin fans are just as bad, how come Parnell Park is rarely filled to the rafters for League matches? how come Parnell Park is used instead of Croker for the league to facilitate the 'sea of blue supporters'?

BTW if it was an important free, Mossie would choke and slot it wide, leading to a torrent of abuse from the 'supporters'. Fooking scumbags on the hill.

Getting back to some old posts now while I have a chance.

Parnell Park is generally "filled to the rafers for League matches." It doesn't make economic or atmospheric sense to open Croke Park for Dublin's league matches but Parnell Park was sold out for all the evening games this year as far as I know.

In addition to being the best supported team in the league at least Dublin fans turn out for all rounds of the Championship. I'll have no sympathy for anyone from Kerry/Galway etc. if they reach the final and there's a shortage of tickets. Not bothered going to the opening rounds but they'll be crying over the injustice of the ticketing come September.

I wont, I always get final tickets handy enough

Where are your facts to back up the 'best supported team in the league' claim?

Every county is guilty of having bad fans who only turn up for the later stages of the championsgip, plain and simple.

'Economic or atmosheric sense', if Dublin have the fans for the league, then it would make 'economic and atmospheric sense', but obviously they dont.

[bandage]

I wouldn't at all criticise Dublin for playing League games in Parnell Park as some have done. All teams have much inferior attendances for League games and it's totally unrealistic to expect 50k-60k Dublin attendances in Croke Park for a League game against Monaghan or someone in February. What I would say is due to their population base they do attract a proportionately higher rate of scumbags that go along with their decent supporters. Witness the cnuts throwing firecrackers at Redmond Barry as he was stepping up to the penalty last year and various spitting incidents on opposing supporters when leaving Croke Park last year. There are far more counties than Dublin alone with bandwagon supporters though - Cork spring to mind. Only a few hundred of their supporters at the football game in Limerick the other week as opposed to the thousands who follow the hurlers (although before they won the hurling in 1999 they'd had a terrible following for years with Tipp, Clare and Limerick dominating Munster for the previous 6 or 7 years).

[therock67]

whyohwhy said:

admin said:

Getting back to some old posts now while I have a chance.

Parnell Park is generally "filled to the rafers for League matches." It doesn't make economic or atmospheric sense to open Croke Park for Dublin's league matches but Parnell Park was sold out for all the evening games this year as far as I know.

In addition to being the best supported team in the league at least Dublin fans turn out for all rounds of the Championship. I'll have no sympathy for anyone from Kerry/Galway etc. if they reach the final and there's a shortage of tickets. Not bothered going to the opening rounds but they'll be crying over the injustice of the ticketing come September.

I wont, I always get final tickets handy enough

Where are your facts to back up the 'best supported team in the league' claim?

Every county is guilty of having bad fans who only turn up for the later stages of the championsgip, plain and simple.

'Economic or atmosheric sense', if Dublin have the fans for the league, then it would make 'economic and atmospheric sense', but obviously they dont.

I find it hard to gather supporting data in work but I'll have a go in a while. I do know that with season tickets and advance sales there were a couple of games this year that you couldn't get tickets for on the day of the game - not many other teams draw that sort of a crowd.

I'm not claiming that Dublin have the same number of fans in the league as in the Championship - I'm merely pointing out that they are the best supported team in both competitions. Also the attendances at some of the Championship games this year have been ridiculously low. There were more than twice as many people at Dublin v Offaly on Saturday night as watched Cork v Limerick in football last week. This is Dublin hurling we're talking about - a team that got beaten by Westmeath. Credit to Offaly fans too of course.