Best fans in the world

Father Damo

Zebra3 wrote: »

For those who think Ireland's fans are the BFITW...

Who did they win this accolade from?

How do you become BFITW during a European only tournament?

What if there's better fans of a team that didn't qualify?

I am fairly sure we first won some award along those lines during WC 1990 tbh. And I would bet my house that if UEFA has a similar award on their website this year that we will win the public vote. I have been around the world and, of all places, the only fans I ever saw with the same buzz as we have is....wait for it....South Korea. Was in a bar in Sydney with them 2 years ago and jesus they are like us, sing away even when they are going down, great fans. Turkey would be a close second, they have their hooligan element but they support their boys to the last.

If you want to pretend that Shels fans or some other sh1te team fans are better fans go on ahead, and let the world laugh at you. Because from some of the posts I have seen here some LOI fans are about as loveable as Millwall.

Zebra3

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Why do you want people to answer your questions when you cant answer anybody else question?

What questions can I not answer?

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

But you cant question for one second how Irish fans get behind their team even at the bleakest time.

Of course I can. I already pointed out how quiet the fans were for twenty minutes after going 3:1 down to Croatia.

It's already been pointed out in the thread about the players being booed off the pitch after drawing with Cyrpus.

There was also the abuse after the late win in San Marino.

Shall I go on?

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Can't see why people are getting their knickers in a twist over this. Who cares if a few people think that the Irish are the BFITW? It's completely harmless.

This is a discussion forum.

People made a claim, people questioned it.

Kinda how things work on here.

Father Damo

Zebra3 wrote: »

But love the British club loyalties?

I think it is alright to support a British club, but to treat it as life and death, as most of us treat Ireland, is pure nonsense.

Father Damo

dan1895 wrote: »

Oh but don't you see that's the fun thing about supporting a football club in any country, those rivalries are the bread and butter of the sport.

Maybe because we dont have the socialist vs capitalist, facist vs democracy slant that most mainland countries base a good few of their club divisions under.

We had our anti and pro treaty divisions, but since then its all Irish all the way.

Is that something to be ashamed of?

That we dont have the regional or idealogical differences that divided Spanish and Italian sport for all these years?

CiaranC

Father Damo wrote: »

Zebra3 wrote: »

But love the British club loyalties?

I think it is alright to support a British club, but to treat it as life and death, as most of us treat Ireland, is pure nonsense.

Are you in Poland?

tigger123

Zebra3 wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/15/the-fiver-england-ireland-euro-2012



Nail on head.

Complete horsesh*t, there's not a manager out there that could engineer a victory over Spain with the players available to Ireland, the gulf is far too large.

The_Kew_Tour

Zebra3 wrote: »

Of course I can. I already pointed out how quiet the fans were for twenty minutes after going 3:1 down to Croatia.

It's already been pointed out in the thread about the players being booed off the pitch after drawing with Cyrpus.

There was also the abuse after the late win in San Marino.

Shall I go on

I was at game and I cant disagree more with you. The fans were quite for about few minutes as we were bit stunned but after that the fans got right behind the team.

Jesus just cause you could not hear it on TV does mean **** all. The Croatia fans were in party mood at that stage.

If you were there you would see what it was like.

But continue to delude yourself into thinking otherwise.

Oh about what 100 fans booed after the Cyprus game. They were bunch of odd balls who more likely never set foot at football field again. Lets call the police:rolleyes:

Father Damo

Actually, fcuk it, I am glad the LOI has a piss poor following.

The last thing I want at an Ireland away game is a load of "ultras" LOL with their flares out, their menacing flags, their utter contempt for the opposing fans (they have enough contempt for the other Irish fans- god knows what they would make of the Croats and Spaniards). There is a reason we have a rep as the best fans, and morons like that thankfully dont get a foot in the door.

CiaranC

Father Damo wrote: »

Actually, fcuk it, I am glad the LOI has a piss poor following.

The last thing I want at an Ireland away game is a load of "ultras" LOL with their flares out, their menacing flags, their utter contempt for the opposing fans (they have enough contempt for the other Irish fans- god knows what they would make of the Croats and Spaniards). There is a reason we have a rep as the best fans, and morons like that thankfully dont get a foot in the door.

Another best fan in the world right here folks. Football is life or death for these lads.

Father Damo

CiaranC wrote: »

Another best fan in the world right here folks. Football is life or death for these lads.

For Ireland, yes, it is.

When it comes to which half of the north inner city I support in a pub league, no, I couldnt give a sh1te.

As couldnt a great deal of their players who dreamt of greater things in their youth.

CiaranC

Father Damo wrote: »

For Ireland, yes, it is.

How is it? Did you go to the finals?

the realpigiron

Fed up of this best fans in the world sh*te. Keane is right about this.

While fans should never turn on their team and boo them when they lose, just what the hell are they doing singing like they've won the World Cup when the team are getting stuffed 4-0. In the pub afterwards over a few pints they can sing all they like, but in the stadium when the team are being tanked doesn't sit right at all.

It's a distraction from what the discussion should be about; the fact that this Irish team didn't punch their weight and underperformed. Nobody expected them to beat Spain or to get out of the group, but going on previous form in big tournaments we can expect an Irish team to perform to their optimum - they didn't do that.

Father Damo

CiaranC wrote: »

How is it? Did you go to the finals?

I didnt. And due to my location, you know I didnt.

I did, however, take a day off, at a cost of 250 euro, to watch a match vs Spain that my mind told me we wouldnt win but my heart hoped we could. We had the Croatia match off as a bank holiday here, but if we were going the distance to the final and my boss made me choose between my 1500 euro a week job and seeing the team, I would have taken the hit.

Why?

Because some things are more important than money. Because a draw would have been worth every penny I own if it gave us a glimmer of hope. Even now sod the 250 euro, I have no regrets, like the lads singing to the end we supported the team to the end. And all of that team has friends and family stuck abroad b y the recession and know that from Perth to Philadelphia there were bars full of loyal fans cheerin them on from afar.

Zebra3

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

I was at game and I cant disagree more with you. The fans were quite for about few minutes as we were bit stunned but after that the fans got right behind the team.

Even Whelan commented on how quiet the Irish fans were.

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Oh about what 100 fans booed after the Cyprus game. They were bunch of odd balls who more likely never set foot at football field again. Lets call the police:rolleyes:

It was a lot more than 100. And how do you know they were oddballs? How do you know they never set foot "at a football field again"?

The_Kew_Tour

the realpigiron wrote: »

Fed up of this best fans in the world sh*te. Keane is right about this.

While fans should never turn on their team and boo them when they lose, just what the hell are they doing singing like they've won the World Cup when the team are getting stuffed 4-0.

It's a distraction from what the discussion should be about; the fact that this Irish team didn't punch their weight and underperformed. Nobody expected them to beat Spain or to get out of the group, but going on previous form in big tournaments we can expect an Irish team to perform to their optimum - they didn't do that.

What did you expect the fans to do? Run onto the pitch and start playing also?

Christ most fans were upset all around me. I saw people crying and some people in disbelief.

I did not sing at end myself as I was too disappointed, but ****ing hell what in ****ing Gods name do people want.

You guys seem to have all the questions, but **** all answers.

Its bitter and pathetic now.

I have yet to hear an Irish fan say that he was OK with the performance on Thursday night.

Shall all us Irish fans just jump into the river now and get it over with?:rolleyes:

Zebra3

Father Damo wrote: »

Actually, fcuk it, I am glad the LOI has a piss poor following.

Spoken like a true football fan, fair play to you.

Put that in your speech when you're up there collecting the BFITW award.

The_Kew_Tour

Zebra3 wrote: »

Even Whelan commented on how quiet the Irish fans were.



It was a lot more than 100. And how do you know they were oddballs? How do you know they never set foot "at a football field again"?

Because I was at the game and have not seen the type at football game since.

There was a strange atmosphere at that game even before kickoff.

Renn

Ha yeah, there's been quite a few times where I've been at Lansdowne Road and the fans really got behind the team with some booing. How quickly people forget how McCarthy was treated as well.

Father Damo

Zebra3 wrote: »

Spoken like a true football fan, fair play to you.

Put that in your speech when you're up there collecting the BFITW award.

Do I want an Ireland crowd full of pissed up hate filled flag waving flare letting off ultras who think they are all that?

Do I ****.

Take a look again at why Irish fans are better liked than, say, Serbian or Russian fans. The teams that take the ultras with them to the national games. Our national team doesnt need this level of neo nazi gobsh1te.

If you want to keep arguing imaginary reasons why you should disagree with the media and the opinion of European football fans and say we have sh1t naional fans, go on ahead. The last urope wide news story I can recall about LOI fans abroad was two gobsh1tes who nearly killed some oul one running from the cops in Salzburg.

the realpigiron

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

What did you expect the fans to do? Run onto the pitch and start playing also?

Christ most fans were upset all around me. I saw people crying and some people in disbelief.

I did not sing at end myself as I was too disappointed, but ****ing hell what in ****ing Gods name do people want.

You guys seem to have all the questions, but **** all answers.

Its bitter and pathetic now.

I have yet to hear an Irish fan say that he was OK with the performance on Thursday night.

Shall all us Irish fans just jump into the river now and get it over with?:rolleyes:

No, that's not what I said if you had read my post right you can see that. I said if the lads going to the match want to enjoy themselves they can sing all they like in the pub after, to sing in the stadium while the match is still going on like we had won the World cup when the team is being thrashed is fookin weird.

Zebra3

Father Damo wrote: »

Actually, fcuk it, I am glad the LOI has a piss poor following.

Spoken like a true football fan, fair play to you.

Put that in your speech when you're up there collecting the BFITW award.

Father Damo wrote: »

Do I want an Ireland crowd full of pissed up hate filled flag waving flare letting off ultras who think they are all that?

Nobody said you did. So what are you sh*teing on about it for?

Anyway, we've all heard the hate filled Irish fans and their attitude towards Rangers players.

But thanks for the pointless lecture.

mikemac1

20,000 Irish in Poznan

5,000 English in Kiev

I know there are vast distances between the two cities

Yet Sweden has 20,000 at that game

Best fans in the world? Well most points have been addressed, for a small country the fans certainly travel anyway

51 million in England yet only 5,000 travel to the game
Seems incredibly low

southlouth type

It infuriates me how some on here can have a go at LOI fans for daring to be annoyed with the total ignorance of our league ! Can you people not get it through your thick heads that a strong LOI has nothing but positive knock on effects for our National team and its the only way we will be stronger as a football nation . We have zero football culture in this country apart from the LOI diehards , people over at the euros have no clue how to behave at football matches as they only ever go to one man u game a year , the rest of the time spent on a bar stool . You can harp on about how they did us proud against Spain the other night , how about the rest of the time when we are the laughing stock of European football , the only nation at the tournament not to have a representative from our National League . Embarrassing to say the least .. More fans = more money and better standard of League and national team , extremely simple really ...

Frankie Lee

tigger123 wrote: »

Complete horsesh*t, there's not a manager out there that could engineer a victory over Spain with the players available to Ireland, the gulf is far too large.

CiaranC

Father Damo wrote: »

I didnt...I did, however, take a day off

What can you really say to that.

Father Damo

southlouth type wrote: »

It infuriates me how some on here can have a go at LOI fans for daring to be annoyed with the total ignorance of our league ! Can you people not get it through your thick heads that a strong LOI has nothing but positive knock on effects for our National team and its the only way we will be stronger as a football nation .

How???

France are coming back into their own yet there are only a handful of national players in Ligue 1.

The Edrevise is little more than a feeder league for the Bundesliga and the EPL these days.

Cop on like

kksaints

Father Damo wrote: »

Actually, fcuk it, I am glad the LOI has a piss poor following.

The last thing I want at an Ireland away game is a load of "ultras" LOL with their flares out, their menacing flags, their utter contempt for the opposing fans (they have enough contempt for the other Irish fans- god knows what they would make of the Croats and Spaniards). There is a reason we have a rep as the best fans, and morons like that thankfully dont get a foot in the door.

You good sir are an idiot.

dan1895

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

I have still ye to see a reasonable solution as to what the Irish fans should have done other then singing the other night too?

I support Cork City have been to 3(2 have been away) of their games this season. Mostly working in Dublin these days so find it hard to get down.

But I know plenty of people who do not support any LOI side.

I know guy who pretty much runs a football club single handed. He trains all teams from U12 upwards. He does not support Cork City or any LOI club. He did produce a lad to make few caps for Ireland though. He was in Poland. But sure he does not support a LOI club so hell be with him eh:rolleyes:

This thing that you have to support a LOI team is complete and utter crap.

Thats not whats being said. Your friend is involved largely with a local club. Just because they're not loi makes no difference. If anything the country needs more people like him. Its the people with no involvement with any football other than a sky subscription proclaiming to be super fans that i have a problem with

southlouth type

Father Damo wrote: »

How???

France are coming back into their own yet there are only a handful of national players in Ligue 1.

The Edrevise is little more than a feeder league for the Bundesliga and the EPL these days.

Cop on like

The French League is very strong as is the dutch and a handful is better than none is it not , if you seriously think its ok for a nation to ignore its national league while looking for success from its national team then i feel sorry for you . Try telling Ajax fans that there teams are playing in a feeder league Passionate football fans with a desire for there clubs to succeed and not content to support foreign teams because easier :eek: oh yeah cop on like ...

Xavi6

Father Damo wrote: »

Actually, fcuk it, I am glad the LOI has a piss poor following.

Fucking pathetic :rolleyes:

Father Damo

kksaints wrote: »

You good sir are an idiot.

Apart from St Pauli and the Danish Rooligans I am hard pressed to think of a likeable group of ultras. The vast vast majority Europe wide are just a bunch of arrogant hate filled **** who know more about pyrotechnics than football. I swear, from what I have seen I doubt a great deal of them even come for the football, they are more interested in burning flares and holding banners.

CiaranC

Father Damo wrote: »

How???

France are coming back into their own yet there are only a handful of national players in Ligue 1.

The Edrevise is little more than a feeder league for the Bundesliga and the EPL these days.

Cop on like

We are striving to get to a point where we can be a feeder league you simpleton. Seriously, go read a wikipedia article on how football structures work, you are embarrassing yourself.

Father Damo

CiaranC wrote: »

We are striving to get to a point where we can be a feeder league you simpleton. Seriously, go read a wikipedia article on how football structures work, you are embarrassing yourself.

Every second post here moans about how our league only serves to either

a- send lads to England at 17 before they get LOI experience (though most England returnees end up in the LOI anyway)


b- Leaks the likes of McLean, Long, Doyle etc once they show a spark

Contradictions galore.

djPSB

southlouth type wrote: »

It infu
riates me how some on here can have a go at LOI fans for daring to be annoyed with the total ignorance of our league ! Can you people not get it through your thick heads that a strong LOI has nothing but positive knock on effects for our National team and its the only way we will be stronger as a football nation . We have zero football culture in this country apart from the LOI diehards , people over at the euros have no clue how to behave at football matches as they only ever go to one man u game a year , the rest of the time spent on a bar stool . You can harp on about how they did us proud against Spain the other night , how about the rest of the time when we are the laughing stock of European football , the only nation at the tournament not to have a representative from our National League . Embarrassing to say the least .. More fans = more money and better standard of League and national team , extremely simple really ...

League of Ireland will never take off when it's playing second fiddle to both Gaelic Football and Hurling.

Also, all the good players will still head to the UK where the money is.

kksaints

Father Damo wrote: »

Every second post here moans about how our league only serves to either

a- send lads to England at 17 before they get LOI experience (though most England returnees end up in the LOI anyway)


b- Leaks the likes of McLean, Long, Doyle etc once they show a spark

Contradictions galore.

It doesnt do (a). Thats what the likes of Cherry Orchaid and Crumlin do. They arent LOI teams

Father Damo

djPSB wrote: »

League of Ireland will never take off when it's playing second fiddle to both Gaelic Football and Hurling.

Also, all the good players will still head to the UK where the money is.

Try tellin that to this bunch of bog brained Murphys. You have more chance of getting a blowjob off the pope.

monkey9

Father Damo wrote: »

Try tellin that to this bunch of bog brained Murphys. You have more chance of getting a blowjob off the pope.

We're bog brained Murphy's for going to LOI matches!! :rolleyes:

Frankie Lee

djPSB wrote: »

League of Ireland will never take off when it's playing third fiddle to both Gaelic Football and Hurling who themselves are increasingly playing second fiddle to Rugby.

Also, all the good players will still head to the UK where the money is.

FYP.

Zebra3

Father Damo wrote: »

Apart from St Pauli and the Danish Rooligans I am hard pressed to think of a likeable group of ultras.

Sweet Jaysus. :rolleyes:

*Shakes head in total disbelief*

*Doublechecks Father Damo's post*

*Shakes head again*

southlouth type

djPSB wrote: »

League of Ireland will never take off when it's playing second fiddle to both Gaelic Football and Hurling.

Also, all the good players will still head to the UK where the money is.

Nonsense :eek: The usual excuse trotted out , LOI plays second fiddle to idiots who " support " foreign football clubs and think our own League is somehow below them ... The contradictions just go way over there heads . Our League could happily co exist with other sports just as football does in Scandinavian countries with ice hockey etc . There is always an excuse to not support your own .

Jelle1880

Father Damo wrote: »

Apart from St Pauli and the Danish Rooligans I am hard pressed to think of a likeable group of ultras.

Those loveable rogues.

CrowdedHouse

Father Damo wrote: »

Try tellin that to this bunch of bog brained Murphys.

Ah here FFS

I'm a relatively recent convert to LOI and don't really consider myself an evangelist but -

Over the last few years I've gone to a lot of Premier, first division, cups and some U19 - I won't say never, but rarely have I seen such abject team performances as witnessed from the Irish team in this competition.

MANUTD99

My missus is German so we read up a lot on German websites and newspapers. Everybody in Germany and around the world has been talking about the singing in Gdansk.

Regardless if you go to LOI games, go to Old Trafford, go to every game in Lansdowne Road or just went over to Poland for the craic. The team was on the receiving end of a hiding and the Irish Supporters were well and truly amazing.

The footage has been shown all around the world and even now I'm getting texts from folks in Germany saying how they had goosebumps looking the Irish and how amazing the support was.

If anything, Ireland and the Irish themselves have been shown in a very positive light all around the world. This is just one article from Germany that even goes on the explain the meaning of the song. If you have google chrome you can translate

http://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/em-2012/the-fields-of-athenry-der-stolz-der-unterlegenen-11786856.html

kitakyushu

Father Damo wrote: »

Try tellin that to this bunch of bog brained Murphys. You have more chance of getting a blowjob off the pope.

Good Brass Eye reference.

MANUTD99

MANUTD99 wrote: »

My missus is German so we read up a lot on German websites and newspapers. Everybody in Germany and around the world has been talking about the singing in Gdansk.

Regardless if you go to LOI games, go to Old Trafford, go to every game in Lansdowne Road or just went over to Poland for the craic. The team was on the receiving end of a hiding and the Irish Supporters were well and truly amazing.

The footage has been shown all around the world and even now I'm getting texts from folks in Germany saying how they had goosebumps looking the Irish and how amazing the support was.

If anything, Ireland and the Irish themselves have been shown in a very positive light all around the world. This is just one article from Germany that even goes on the explain the meaning of the song. If you have google chrome you can translate

http://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/em-2012/the-fields-of-athenry-der-stolz-der-unterlegenen-11786856.html

Can I also point out that the commentators in Germany actually stopped talking for 6 minutes in appreciation of listening to the fans.

Sir Oxman

"Although the situation is so hopeless, and fails in the defeat, no matter how much her pride will never break." From that German link above.

I'd rather have listened to our own countrymen and women giving it socks than the humiliation of 'Olé' for every pass the Spanish were making for the last ten minutes. That was the alternative.

The_Kew_Tour

By looks of it it seems like every country thought it was one of the highlights of the competition..............bar the Irish themselves.

dan1895

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

By looks of it it seems like every country thought it was one of the highlights of the competition..............bar the Irish themselves.

Maybe because we were the ones on the end of a humiliation.

bobbysands81

The Irish fans were utterly terrific the other night, why so much begrudgery towards them? Folk spent a lot of money to go all the way to Poland so they're dead right to try and enjoy themselves even though the team let them down badly.

The cheek of them enjoying themselves eh? Sometimes I think that folk would much prefer them to riot then to sing, get pissed and have a ball.

bobbysands81

dan1895 wrote: »

Maybe because we were the ones on the end of a humiliation.

I can see our terrific support as a high of the tournament. It's not the fans fault that the team was ****.

Some folk obviously have so little to whinge about.