Club or Country

eirebhoy

If there was one thing I hate in the world of fooball it would be people supporting clubs over their country. I have noticed that a few people that would reply regularly on an Arsenal/United/ManU thread have not replied to Ireland threads that have been up for days. I have a suspision of a few people on this forum that support their club over their country and most of them support the same club (guess who :rolleyes: ).

If there is more than 5% of Irish people that support any club over Ireland it is a huge shame IMHO.

Mossy Monk

i would support club over country for the simple fact that i dont see my country play week in week out but it is hard to go and see them play so i have to make do with tv coverage

but......

i also take time out to watch my country play and support them also but it is also hard for me to see them aswell

Agent Smith

i would give my right eye to play soccer for my country, and no club would ever take that believe away from me.

Guy:Incognito

Im sure for €80,000 or €100,000 a week you could see your way clear to concentrating on the club if it was down to an injury or the chance to prolong a career.Thats generally the only time it comes down to a choice for a player and wen you really think bout it a few caps for your country doesnt pay the bills or look after you and your family long after retirement.

eirebhoy

Originally posted by Stekelly
Im sure for €80,000 or €100,000 a week you could see your way clear to concentrating on the club if it was down to an injury or the chance to prolong a career.Thats generally the only time it comes down to a choice for a player and wen you really think bout it a few caps for your country doesnt pay the bills or look after you and your family long after retirement.

Stekelly - I am taking about fans of football supporting their favuorite club over their country or vice versa, not player.

Guy:Incognito

I no that, I was just replying to agent smith. He said about giving his right eye to play for his country which would be a bit ironic btw seeing as he probably wouldnt get a gmae if he only had 1 eye:D

The Muppet

Its hardly surprising that some people are disillusioned with the National setup. Look at the thread on the Brazil game and at the amount of Irish Soccer Fans who could not see it Live because the rights for it was sold to a foreign broadcaster. How much loyalty and consideration is that showing to the fans and how far sighted is it to do that? I know it was sold to the highest bidder but is it really in the interest of the game not to have our International Teams games freely available to the nation.

Take boxing for example before that went pay per view regularly there was high profile bouts on TV with Ireland and the UK boasting World champions at various levels who were household names. Now the kids wouldn't know very many boxers at all and IMO the lack of accessible coverage on TV plays a major part in that.

Its no wonder then that there are many people who are very disillusioned with the running of the National Team and that is going to have an effect on support for it.

As for the club over country there is no direct competition between club and country so I can not see ant relationship between loyalty to a Club and disillusionment with the national team. Of couser there are people still bitter over the Saipan affair which has been tured into a club V Country issue but I dont believe it is. I would be just as annoyed if it had happened to Duffer or Robbie Keane or a indeed any player
that we could not replace with equal quality.


As has been debated here recently its up to each individual to decide what soccer teams they choose to support and it should not be judged as a lack of Patriotism if they show their annoyance by lack of interest with the National setup and that should not be seen as supporting Club over Country .

xlex

club, Longford Town FC.

nothing beats the week to week involvement on the terrace, I'm not slagging or looking for a debate but that's the way I see it.

TwoShedsJackson

Coming from the man who sees nothing wrong with wearing a Celtic jersey to an Ireland game, or booing a player playing for his country because his club side is Rangers, this is pretty fucking rich stuff.

xlex

Originally posted by TwoShedsJackson
Coming from the man who sees nothing wrong with wearing a Celtic jersey to an Ireland game, or booing a player playing for his country because his club side is Rangers, this is pretty fucking rich stuff.

WOW, it certainly does...

cournioni

Originally posted by TwoShedsJackson
Coming from the man who sees nothing wrong with wearing a Celtic jersey to an Ireland game this is pretty fucking rich stuff.

There is nothing wrong with wearing a Celtic jersey to an Ireland game. Are you telling me that there is something wrong with wearing a Liverpool, Man Utd or a Chelsea jersey to an Ireland game?

If he supports Celtic, then let him be. Thats the club he supports and theres nothing wrong with that. He's not going to stop you from wearing your Liverpool jersey to an Ireland game.

Imposter

Originally posted by The Muppet
Its hardly surprising that some people are disillusioned with the National setup. Look at the thread on the Brazil game and at the amount of Irish Soccer Fans who could not see it Live because the rights for it was sold to a foreign broadcaster. How much loyalty and consideration is that showing to the fans and how far sighted is it to do that? I know it was sold to the highest bidder but is it really in the interest of the game not to have our International Teams games freely available to the nation.

I think this oversimplifies things a bit. While i'm no fan of the FAI's I think they are right to take the money with regard to who shows the matches. RTE may not be able to afford the same monies as Sky but they shouldn't get it for next to nothing just because some people don't have sky. Similarly these fans may be loyal to Irish football when it comes to international matches but you can bet your last panny that most of them don't regularly support the Irish League. So why should the FAI think of them when it costs so much to run the national sides? On the other hand it would promote the game in Ireland if it were on national television.

As has been debated here recently its up to each individual to decide what soccer teams they choose to support and it should not be judged as a lack of Patriotism if they show their annoyance by lack of interest with the National setup and that should not be seen as supporting Club over Country.

I completely agree. Would you accuse someone who doesn't support GAA or the Irish rugby team as being unpatriotic? International soccer is not club soccer and people are free to support whatever and whoever they wish. All this patriotic bull for me is beginning to sound a bit too american.

TwoShedsJackson

Originally posted by PORNAPSTER
There is nothing wrong with wearing a Celtic jersey to an Ireland game. Are you telling me that there is something wrong with wearing a Liverpool, Man Utd or a Chelsea jersey to an Ireland game?

If he supports Celtic, then let him be. Thats the club he supports and theres nothing wrong with that. He's not going to stop you from wearing your Liverpool jersey to an Ireland game.

He certainly won't as once again I have to tell you I don't support Liverpool.

I'd say if anyone did wear a shirt from any of the above clubs to an Ireland game they'd get a right slagging off their neighbours at the match, at the very least. But it seems to be okay to wear a Celtic shirt. Why isn't anyone wearing a Hibs shirt?

Anyway that argument's been thrashed out more than once on this very board.

SheroN

This board has gone to pot. Ever since the "kids" came along.

cournioni

Originally posted by TwoShedsJackson
He certainly won't as once again I have to tell you I don't support Liverpool.

Well ok then.

Villain

Country of course, no question about it.

Wonder what Roy Keane would answer???

The Muppet

Originally posted by irish1
Country of course, no question about it.

Wonder what Roy Keane would answer???

Or Dean Kiely or Denis Irwin or Shearer for England.

He's retired from International Football , Get over it.

Villain

Originally posted by The Muppet
Or Dean Kiely or Denis Irwin or Shearer for England.

He's retired from International Football , Get over it.

It was a joke Muppet, don't worry I'm well over it

The Muppet

Fair enuff, I didn't see any indication in the post that you were joking . I,m sure most people are tired of this issue but I find the results of the poll to date surprising considering the amount of negative comments Roy Keanes retirement generated on this forum.

According to the the poll the majority of supporters think its ok to support club before country yet don't accept a players decision to prolong his club career to the detriment of his internationa one. That smacks of hypocracy to me.

Thanx 4 The Fish

If you want a thread on Roy Keane then start one Muppet, I am sure you have things to say on the matter that you haven't already said. :rolleyes:

According to the the poll the majority of supporters think its ok to support club before country yet don't accept a players decision to prolong his club career to the detriment of his internationa one. That smacks of hypocracy to me.

How many of those fans, firstly read the poll incorrectly or secondly are fans of man u, thinking of the roy Keane incident in particular and expressing it in this poll ?

I support Ireland but as has already been said, they do not play every week, let's just say that if Ireland were playing somebody and Liverpool were playing Man U, I would watch the ireland game. does that mean I support club over country or vice versa ? Or does it just mean that I like to watch international matches ?

talla

Muppet didnt bring Roy Keane into this! I understand the mods on this board have a lot of work to do in controlling things and keeping everything in line and have the upmost respect for both Thanks for the Fish and the rest of the moderators on the soccer forum. But this personal battle between yourself and Muppet is having a detrimental effect of the forum(im talking about the way you jump on anything he posts and vice versa, him jumping on any post you make). Can this just end once and for all and everyone call a truce??

The Muppet

Originally posted by Thanx 4 The Fish
If you want a thread on Roy Keane then start one Muppet, I am sure you have things to say on the matter that you haven't already said. :rolleyes:

I think you should direct your comments that the person the brought Kean into this thread. That was not me I was just replying to the topic raised. Have you a problem with that on this football discussuion forum? The way its getting around here lately its difficult to express any opinion or discuss anything .

Originally posted by Thanx 4 The Fish
How many of those fans, firstly read the poll incorrectly or secondly are fans of man u, thinking of the roy Keane incident in particular and expressing it in this poll ?:[/B]

Typical ABU comment. Can nothing be discuused here with bringing Utd into it. I,m sure most the people here can read and understand a simple question and answer it as in the poll.

Originally posted by Thanx 4 The Fish

I support Ireland but as has already been said, they do not play every week, let's just say that if Ireland were playing somebody and Liverpool were playing Man U, I would watch the ireland game. does that mean I support club over country or vice versa ? Or does it just mean that I like to watch international matches ? :

No It would mean you made a choice as to which game you preferred to watch. Nothing more.

cournioni

I would support United, because the quality of entertainment is higher. Ireland are sometimes just pure and utter boring.

eirebhoy

Originally posted by TwoShedsJackson
Coming from the man who sees nothing wrong with wearing a Celtic jersey to an Ireland game, or booing a player playing for his country because his club side is Rangers, this is pretty fucking rich stuff.

First of all, what has that got to do with this topic? I will get my reply in before I go back on topic. I wouldn't wear a Celtic jersey to an Ireland match as I have a couple of Ireland jersey's but I cartainly have no problem with someone wearing whatever jersey they like. If I hadn't got an Ireland jersey I would wear something green to a match and that is why there are so many Celtic jersey's. About the booing, again I wouldn't boo a Rangers player in Lansdowne and thats all I will say on that matter. Did you have to try and make an argument about something completely off topic?

OK, a lot of people definitely didn't read the poll correctly as I don't think there are more people that would support a club over their country. I have one friend that would watch Aston Villa whenever they play but couldn't be bothered watching Ireland and we always have a friendly debate whenever Ireland play (unfortunately the word friendly doesn't seem to exist on boards).

People are saying stuff like they don't play every week, I don't like the FAI or its not on RTE, so what? Playing once every few months actually makes the matches more exciting IMO. How could those reasons make you want to support a club (probably a British club) more than a team that is representing our country.

As someone said already, R** K**** is known as a traitor for retiring from international football yet the poll suggests that most of us agree with him.

I take an interest in anything that Ireland take part in. I hate cricket but I actually like to see how Ireland are doing, I would never have started watching rugby if we hadn't got a team and I even bloody supported the irish in the special olympics. If international football was scrapped I would take very little interest in the premiership as most of the matches I watch are to see how the Irish players are getting on. Maybe this is the reason I find it so strange that people would prefer the club they support over their very own country.

BKtje

tbh i dont give a flying **** about friendlies. They are usually drab affairs with about 9 subs for either side used. Was happy to see that wasnt the case but i really dont feel like entering the discussion about it.

That said im dutch so maybe that why Irish friendlies for me have so little meaning. (same with club friendlies tho. yawn)

The Muppet

Originally posted by eirebhoy


OK, a lot of people definitely didn't read the poll correctly as I don't think there are more people that would support a club over their country. I have one friend that would watch Aston Villa whenever they play but couldn't be bothered watching Ireland and we always have a friendly debate whenever Ireland play (unfortunately the word friendly doesn't seem to exist on boards).

C,mon its not a very complex question that was difficult to comprehend.

Originally posted by eirebhoy

As someone said already, R** K**** is known as a traitor for retiring from international football yet the poll suggests that most of us agree with him.

I said it and at the time 33% had voted Country and 66% Club so what you say about Roy Keane is exactly what the poll showed.

Pepe LeFrits

I couldn't give a shit about a meaningless Ireland friendly tbh. I'm not particularily nationalistic, why should I have to support the team representing the piece of rock I was born on and live on above all others?

I'll cheer them on in a match that means something but given the choice i'd rather watch my favourite club play.

Big Chief

why cant it be both?

im more passionate in my support for celtic though i must admit

The Muppet

Originally posted by kaids
I couldn't give a shit about a meaningless Ireland friendly tbh. I'm not particularily nationalistic, why should I have to support the team representing the piece of rock I was born on and live on above all others?

I'll cheer them on in a match that means something but given the choice i'd rather watch my favourite club play.

Thats a pretty definite statement.

Are you sure you understood the question ?

Are you a Manchester United supporter?

Villain

Originally posted by kaids
I couldn't give a shit about a meaningless Ireland friendly tbh. I'm not particularily nationalistic, why should I have to support the team representing the piece of rock I was born on and live on above all others?

I'll cheer them on in a match that means something but given the choice i'd rather watch my favourite club play.

Yea what, omg posts here never ceases to amaze me!:eek:

Pepe LeFrits

Eh? i was responding to "Who would you support most?"

I'd support Arsenal over Ireland.

Villain

Originally posted by kaids
Eh? i was responding to "Who would you support most?"

I'd support Arsenal over Ireland.

yea I know which quite frankly, shocks me to say the least.:mad:

Pepe LeFrits

I know! How could I not buy fully into our proud nationalist heritage! I should love everything about this rock in the atlantic!!

Villain

Originally posted by kaids
I know! How could I not buy fully into our proud nationalist heritage! I should love everything about this rock in the atlantic!!

Well I wouldn't go that far, but supporting a Premier League Side over your country is a tad weird

Aliminator

oh come. World Cup Final or Champs League/FA Cup (or equivalent)?
WORLD CUP FINAL
the only problem is that countries like France and Holland have become clubs more than representing France/holland (i.e. they've taken all their really good players from african countries).

international soccer is the pinnacle of the love for football.
Club soccer is hte pinnacle of the business of football.

Dustaz

Im a bit suprised by some of the replies and the response to the poll also.

I suppose its a matter of degrees. Ill watch both Irelands and Arsenals important matches. I often miss arsenal playing on sky because of work and it doesnt bother me too much, but unless Ireland are playing really bad opposition ill try to get to see them play.

If Ireland were playing a world cup game and Arsenal were playing a champs league game, then no contest, Ireland comes first. If Ireland were playing Canada in a friendly and Arsenal were playing in the FA cup final, then id feel entirely justified in watching Arsenal.

What i think the REAL question should be is, If Ireland were playing your club in some sort of testamonial, who would you support? Id support Ireland without a doubt. In fact, i think some early seeds of ABUism were planted in me when i went to see various Ireland testamonials against Manu/Allstar sides and saw people turning up with utd jerseys and cheering for an english team.

Dustaz

Originally posted by Aliminator
the only problem is that countries like France and Holland have become clubs more than representing France/holland (i.e. they've taken all their really good players from african countries).
.

er what? Viera is the only one i can think of.

Big Ears

country over club definetly , i hardly have to even think to make that decision

Agent Smith

Originally posted by Stekelly
I no that, I was just replying to agent smith. He said about giving his right eye to play for his country which would be a bit ironic btw seeing as he probably wouldnt get a gmae if he only had 1 eye:D

now thats just mean!

representing my country is a great honnur that i woud love to recive....



of course i would need to play club football but i would pick country over club everytime, i'd rather play a friendly for my country then in the premership for my club (man utd)