Would you like to see an All-Ireland Soccer Team?

Worztron

Hi.

Would you like to see an All-Ireland Soccer Team?

Nalz

Do we take everything into account when asking this?

Like the bollox that comes with uniting North and South? Or in a happy care bear world?

The Backwards Man

No way. Could you imagine a match thread with McCarthy, Whelan, Brunt and Davis in midfield?

Lovely Bloke

This entails merging the leagues too, you realise that?

It also entails depriving 50% of the suits their jollies, so it will never happen (barring political re-unification)

greenman09

Is it the case that this is being mentioned as the North are now better. It's never gonna happen. The Republic is gonna lag behind if they don't get their finger out.

brianregan09

I actually quite enjoy following both teams

Worztron

Trilla wrote: »

Do we take everything into account when asking this?

Like the bollox that comes with uniting North and South? Or in a happy care bear world?

I just asked about a united soccer team. You do realise we have All-Ireland teams in Rugby, etc. right?

10green bottles

Worztron wrote: »

I just asked about a united soccer team. You do realise we have All-Ireland teams in Rugby, etc. right?

Rugby,hockey...what else ETC.

keeponhurling

<Insert grabs popcorn GIF here>

Magico Gonzalez

Worztron wrote: »

I just asked about a united soccer team. You do realise we have All-Ireland teams in Rugby, etc. right?

Who is going to convince two sets of turkeys to vote for Xmas.

No one in the IFA would want the suits in FAI running the show and vice versa.

Looks like a non starter long term. Would be tremendous to see both teams in the Euros.

I'd like it in fantasy land, but in reality it would alienate 90% of current NI fans and a fair amount of RoI fans wouldn't be overly keen.

A lot of history involved in the FAI split from the IFA which is still very present in Irish politics, i can't see how in a working class game that can be overcome.

To be diplomatic, the supporters of the rugby team are slightly more amenable to "joint" sports teams than the football crowd. Shared competition and success against the other "home nations" probably helps engender that cohesion. I can't see that happening. I can't imagine a significant strengthening of the team after unification. I can see a lot of arguments about a. Why such and such from the north hasn't been picked and b. This is bias when such and such player from the north is picked. Happens in the rugby today although to a much less controversial degree.

smileyj1987

Worztron wrote: »

I just asked about a united soccer team. You do realise we have All-Ireland teams in Rugby, etc. right?

If it can be done all those sports it can be with soccer it could be a great thing for the domestic and international game.

tastyt

No way. And believe me, those up north don't want it either. They are ****e, they are having their day in the sun at the minute but will always go back to being ****e and we don't need all the crap that would come from their fans.

ArmaniJeanss

smileyj1987 wrote: »

If it can be done all those sports it can be with soccer it could be a great thing for the domestic and international game.

Well, we lose half our places in European competition, and €10M bi-annually from the centralised UEFA deal for TV rights.
So would it really be such a 'great thing' to cover the loss of the above?

3hn2givr7mx1sc

I quite enjoy the furor caused when we steal one of their starlets.

So, no.

smileyj1987

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Well, we lose half our places in European competition, and €10M bi-annually from the centralised UEFA deal for TV rights.
So would it really be such a 'great thing' to cover the loss of the above?

Sure its not like the league of Ireland is benefitting from that money . I'm just thinking more in terms of football then anything that it does make sense .

keeponhurling

Yes I'd like to see it

Even more so for the fact our league would be strengthened - we're a small island and doesn't make sense to be divided and have two struggling leagues.

But for political reasons (more on the Northern side), cannot see it happening

LuckyLloyd

Nope, no interest. Mainly because their fans would be trenchantly opposed to the idea. Northern Irish football stands for something (in the main) that is in social and political opposition to this state. There is no scope to merge to a single team.

Worztron

10green bottles wrote: »

Rugby,hockey...what else ETC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Ireland

obezyana

I think it would be a good thing. I vote yes. I hope the North Qualify I say fair dues to them. It will be nice to see the North and Wales at a major competition and hopefully we will be there also.

10green bottles

Worztron wrote: »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Ireland

WOW,you realy showed me up there! No need

The_Kew_Tour

No and I'll be shouting for everyone the North play next summer. I hope they get stuffed in every game.

CSF

greenman09 wrote: »

Is it the case that this is being mentioned as the North are now better. It's never gonna happen. The Republic is gonna lag behind if they don't get their finger out.

The north are not better. They are worse. They just benefitted this term from an easier group. We could have done business against Finland, Romania, Hungary and Greece too.

galwaylad14

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

No and I'll be shouting for everyone the North play next summer. I hope they get stuffed in every game.

Agree with you 100%. Can't ever figure out how some people from the republic wish the North well etc. I think they'll probably qualify at this stage but would love to see them get a few big beatings over there

The Golden Miller

As a staunch nationalist I would say no. The only people who advocate it from the south seem to be very naive and ignorant on the current set up, as you can regularly see from all the muddled up terminology used to describe the "Northern Ireland" football team recently in threads e.g "the 6 counties", "the north" etc. These are nationalist terms being applied to a unionist team who do not represent, in practice, any of the 6 counties, just the unionist community within them. More of the naivety can be seen when posters who advocate this, think by doing so, we are uniting the southern team with the 1.5 million people in the north's team. We already represent the 32 counties and the people of the Irish nation who reside within all 32 counties, including the 6. The national teams being called "Republic or Ireland" and "Northern Ireland" is actually very misleading.

Both current teams being called "Ireland" (and I'm aware of the history between the two associations and FIFA and how this used to be the case), with one representing unionists and the other the Irish nation, is far more in line with the reality of the situation and the two teams. I think the best solution is FIFA allowing a special status whereby the southern team is renamed Ireland officially and represents all 32 counties officially including the 6, and the IFA continue as is, also representing the 6 officially and their community within them. So we would be "Ireland" (none of this Republic nonsense) and they would be "Northern Ireland". Problem sorted. Both organisation then have jurisdiction in the north. Following on from this, teams in the north then have the choice of which league to play for, just as citizens can choose their nationality. If teams like Cliftonville leave and play in FAI's league then all the better, and the IFA's league will die on it's feet and then there will be no option but for the league's to amalgamate at some point anyway. This is the situation we should be pushing for from FIFA, not pandering to the IFA to see what they think about a united league and team because the answer will always be NO. If FIFA granted this, unionists are happy and nationalists are happy. And each have their own national team representing them officially.

So I think some people in the south who go out of their way to call the team "Republic of Ireland" need to cop on as it's alienating to many northern nationalists. The only people who seem to call us "the Republic" are some clowns down south, Sky Sports and the British media. You can see this even by the terminology used when we "rob their players".....em no we didn't, they wanted to play for their country and stand under the tri-colour. Even the FAI now make a point of putting just "Ireland" on the crest.

RedemptionZ

Won't happen, I'd only want it to if the pro Irish people there could significantly outbreed the unionists so the inevitable outrage would be limited to a minority. At the moment I'd say the vast majority are passionately against it.

homerjay2005

and have to suffer through "irelands call" everytime i watch or go to a game?

no thanks.

LiamoSail

We already have a team that represent everyone on the island who wishes for the island to be represented by one side. And they're not very good

Nalz

homerjay2005 wrote: »

and have to suffer through "irelands call" everytime i watch or go to a game?

no thanks.

You reminded me of this thread
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056425427&page=6

I'm not a fan of our national anthem either, but jesus Irelands Call

TheCitizen

greenman09 wrote: »

Is it the case that this is being mentioned as the North are now better. It's never gonna happen. The Republic is gonna lag behind if they don't get their finger out.

The current position Northern Ireland are in is false. They're in a Group where the pot 1 side Greece completely imploded and are bottom of the Group after losing at home to the Faroe Islands among other things. If Northern Ireland get to the Finals, and we get to it as well I hope we meet them, because we'd beat them, no bother.

I wouldn't mind an all Ireland team. Can't see it happening though. FAI and IFA wouldn't want to give up power to each other.

RayCon

Ulster says NO

eire4

Peraonally I would like to see it. Not aware of any moves being made officially in this regard but it would be better for football on the island if we had just one team and one league. A united national team could even be a helpful force in healing divives within the 6 counties too over time.

artanevilla

It wouldn't work of the pitch. Home fans would have to be segregated as well as away fans. Couldn't really for a pint before the game unless you had designated North/South pubs and fans marched by the police to and from the ground. We'd lose our reputation as well behaved away fans also.

Liam O

If Ireland by some turn of events make the euros and are drawn against them I think it would become obvious why it would be a non-starter I'd say.

smileyj1987

RayCon wrote: »

Ulster says NO

You mean the 6 counties , 3 of them are in the republic

Mr.Nice Guy

We sort of already have one.

We are managed by a Derry man and can acquire players from north of the border if they are interested. We can represent all areas that want us to represent them and can do so without watering down our preferred choice of anthem, flags etc.

Fr Tod Umptious

keeponhurling wrote: »

Yes I'd like to see it

Even more so for the fact our league would be strengthened - we're a small island and doesn't make sense to be divided and have two struggling leagues.

But for political reasons (more on the Northern side), cannot see it happening

I don't agree that it would strengthen the league.

Bray v Crusaders is not going to be any more attractive than Bray v Galway currently is.

obezyana

We must remember that this is about football not politics, if other sports can be united on this island then the people involved directly or indirectly in football should grow up pool our resources together and enjoy what would come out of it which I believe would be a better international team and a slightly better domestic league

BOHtox

In an ideal world - yes.

In the world of Ireland's Call or Danny Boy and games in Windsor Park - no.

Realistically, we wouldn't strengthen too much either. Our current northern born players would walk in to the NI team. Shane Ferguson would give us another option at left back - and no more than an option.

Evans and McCauley at centre half would add depth but with O'Shea, Clark and Wilson we're pretty good there. McNair is definitely one for the future.

Davis in the middle is undoubtedly a good player and would walk in to our centre mid. Brunt is another option for the wing who can deliver a good ball - an older Robbie Brady.

Kyle Lafferty I do not want anywhere near the team. They have one or two up and comings strikers. Caolan Lavery mainly. But with a name like that he might even consider switching to the republic anyway.

I'm happy enough with the current system. I'd like to continue trying to get the republican northern players to switch to us but more importantly we should be looking at those in America. We should cap Ryan Meara and Shane O'Neill and one or two others while we can and hope we don't lose them

Fr Tod Umptious

obezyana wrote: »

We must remember that this is about football not politics, if other sports can be united on this island then the people involved directly or indirectly in football should grow up pool our resources together and enjoy what would come out of it which I believe would be a better international team and a slightly better domestic league

That is way over simplifying the situation.

Just because other sports are a single team does not mean soccer can be.

Let's be honest rugby is the sport of the middle and upper class establishment, both Protestant and Catholic, and always has been.
Within that establishment there is mutual respect for each other.

Soccer is a sport of the working class, were tribal differences are far more acute as is suspension of the other tribe.
And the NI soccer team are primarily supported by one tribe, getting them to support another team or getting the other tribe to support NI in big numbers is not something that could be done.

~Rebel~

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

We sort of already have one.

We are managed by a Derry man and can acquire players from north of the border if they are interested. We can represent all areas that want us to represent them and can do so without watering down our preferred choice of anthem, flags etc.

This about sums it up I think. It's actually quite a neat Irish solution to an Irish problem - it fixes it without needing to bother with all the bureaucracy and nastiness (not to mention hassle) that would come from a more solid, official solution.

citytillidie

10green bottles wrote: »

Rugby,hockey...what else ETC.

Basically most other sports are Island based not split

The Golden Miller

~Rebel~ wrote: »

This about sums it up I think. It's actually quite a neat Irish solution to an Irish problem - it fixes it without needing to bother with all the bureaucracy and nastiness (not to mention hassle) that would come from a more solid, official solution.

It needs to be a bit more official imo. Certain elements in the south continue to view it as a 26 county team, and will talk about the "Northern Ireland" team representing 1.5 million people. You'd swear some Irish people down south grew up in Australia, such is the naive ignorance in relation to the north you get from some, particularly in relation to the footballing situation. I've lost count of the amount of people who look at you like you've two heads when you say the Irish in the north support the "Republic of Ireland",.... "sure why would they support 'us' when they have their own team?"

LuckyLloyd

obezyana wrote: »

We must remember that this is about football not politics, if other sports can be united on this island then the people involved directly or indirectly in football should grow up pool our resources together and enjoy what would come out of it which I believe would be a better international team and a slightly better domestic league

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I'll have to disagree there and all the smileys in the world won't change the fact. The Northern Irish football team is intensely politicised and relations between the FAI and IFA are borne of the political / social context on this island.

As is astutely noted on this thread already, the FAI are essentially an all island football organisation and their national team represent both sides of the border. The Northern Irish football team make no pretence at cross border representation.

Fr Tod Umptious

The Golden Miller wrote: »

It needs to be a bit more official imo. Certain elements in the south continue to view it as a 26 county team, and will talk about the "Northern Ireland" team representing 1.5 million people. You'd swear some Irish people down south grew up in Australia, such is some of the naive ignorance in relation to the north you see here, in particular the football situation. I've lost count of the amount of people who look at you like you've two heads when you say the Irish in the north support the "Republic of Ireland",.... "sure why would they support 'us' when they have their own team?"

But it can never be officiall unless you have an All Ireland team or FA.

The jurisdiction of the FAI does not extend beyond its current borders, regardless of home may fans or potential players there may be up there.

The Golden Miller

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

But it can never be officiall unless you have an All Ireland team or FA.

The jurisdiction of the FAI does not extend beyond its current borders, regardless of home may fans or potential players there may be up there.

FIFA, if they wanted, could have a special status in this regard like they do for many unique situations. And there's a first for everything

Fr Tod Umptious

The Golden Miller wrote: »

FIFA, if they wanted, could have a special status in this regard like they do for many unique situations. And there's a first for everything

How exactly ?
What would they do ?

There is no way that the IFA would allow another FA to administer the game in their geographical area, and why should they.

The Golden Miller

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

How exactly ?
What would they do ?

There is no way that the IFA would allow another FA to administer the game in their geographical area, and why should they.

It's only their "geographical area" as FIFA set those parameters when dealing with the situation to begin with. They could just as easily give the northern situation a special status whereby the FAI have as much jurisdiction within the 6 counties as the IFA, as there's a very large community who do not support "Norther Ireland" and who's allegiances are to Ireland. The IFA may not like it, just as they tried protesting to "us" robbing "their" players and going to court, but not much they could do about it in the end.

Fr Tod Umptious

The Golden Miller wrote: »

It's only their "geographical area" as FIFA set those parameters when dealing with the situation to begin with. They could just as easily give the northern situation a special status whereby the FAI have as much jurisdiction within the 6 counties as the IFA, as there's a very large community who do not support "Norther Ireland" and who's allegiances are to Ireland. The IFA may not like it, just as they tried protesting to "us" robbing "their" players and going to court, but not much they could do about it in the end.

But its not only geographical, its also political.

NI is a different political entity to the Republic of Ireland.

So FIFA cannot just start allowing one FA have justriction in another, and you know it.

The current situation where players from NI can play for the Republic is about as much as its going to be without a full merger.

The Golden Miller

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

But its not only geographical, its also political.

NI is a different political entity to the Republic of Ireland.

So FIFA cannot just start allowing one FA have justriction in another, and you know it.

The current situation where players from NI can play for the Republic is about as much as its going to be without a full merger.

NI being a different political entity has little to no bearing on the issue other than convenience for FIFA, as is seen when they both continued on as Ireland after partition. I'm aware that it's as good as we'll get, but the FAI could push for a special status if they really were serious about a united Ireland football team (which they proclaim to be), and push the issue on the basis that it's a unique situation whereby 800,000 people or so are not represented by any FA or international team within their supposed jurisdiction (in practice). Infact had this been in practice it would have saved Belfast Celtic from extinction

obezyana

How about we merge with N I, Wales, Scotland......what a super team.............. I bet the team would still struggle to qualify. :pac:

citytillidie

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

But it can never be officiall unless you have an All Ireland team or FA.

The jurisdiction of the FAI does not extend beyond its current borders, regardless of home may fans or potential players there may be up there.

I think it does have some jurisdiction in Northern Ireland as it deals with Derry City.

Never going to happen the IFA would never give up the spot along side the SFA, WFA and FA on FIFA where a member from those FA''s will be seated on the FIFA board no matter