As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
augie wrote:I find a lot of Irish supporters as embarassing as the next guy, but lets not throw the baby out with the bath water here and slate everything they do - I like the fact that they go to tournaments without expectation and ready to enjoy the experience for what it is. Nobody wants to see their country heavily beaten and for the fans to laugh at it, but at the same time we have to accept that we currently have the worst bunch of international footballers we have had since the 1970's and we have to adjust our expectations accordingly
augie I know there are genuine fans of the Republic of Ireland , I remember considering myself one until the obnoxious Big Jack humiliated Liam Brady. I respect the genuine ones but the whole phenomenon of Jacks Army was built on people who knew fuck all about the game. The JCLs , the same ones who are now rugby experts because that game is now flavour of the month in Ireland.
I also have no issue with fans going to a tournament with little expectation but enjoying the experience non the less. But I cringe when I hear this we are the best supporters in the world stuff. Who judges that ? , ourselves and our media. I cringe at the "win ,lose or draw we will sing and drink " mentality. That not only belittles a football team but also a nation.
I understand what you are saying and I agree with some of it, but as the peeman rightly points out, success is relative - big jack may well have been obnoxious/thick/bluffer, but it also has to be said that this is a results business and he led the countries football tem further than they had ever been before. Surely you will agree that there is a slight contradiction in you advocating a policy of winning being everything, and then bemoaning the very manner in which those victories are won ?
Re the jcl bit, I agree with most of what you say but not all of it - growing up in rural Ireland we were really pissing into the wind when trying to promote the game prior to '88 as football/soccer was very much a despised sport. The "success" that those big jack teams enjoyed (and all the nationwide partying that accompanied it) helped spread the game like nothing before to the point that there is scarcely a village in the country that doesn't have it's own football/soccer club now. Yes it developed a breed of jcl/know it all fans, but it also publicised the game and brought it to the people who were kids back then but who are the backbone of their clubs now and speaking as a man that is continually fighting against the gaa, that is good news to me
augie, not sure where I advocated a policy of winning being everything but then bemoaning the very manner of the victories. I accept that Ireland were never going to be a former day Brazil or a latter day Spain, but I can remember comments even before Euro 2012 like "there is no reason why we can't win this" .Admittedly from a deluded minority. Also I know football is on a good footing now . Maybe it is because of my loathing of Jack Charlton and all that went with the whole Green Army era that I cannot credit that time and that man with anything.
DB10 agree - the quality of international football is generally dire. Sides who consistently qualify for tournaments - the likes of Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey etc - are fucking rubbish. They are packed full of bang average players and would struggle in the Premier League.
mcdowell42 wrote:Giroud booed by France fans as he is substituted in their game against Serbia
The french fans can see him for the limited lumbering hair flicker that he is. Its a pity that our own french fan(ny) cant see what his fellow countrymen did tonight.
Can someone explain to me how Wes Hoolahan is a professional footballer please? Fucking hell, he's worse than Rambo on a bad day for pissing away easy possession, delaying on the ball, choosing the wrong option almost every time.
Oireland were dire again. The Tallaght pikey did his usual huff and puff and stupid outlandish throwing himself after long gone balls and not much else. Subbed at half time says everything. Even complete dullard Ray Houghton nailed it that Oireland have no tactical plan - it was like watching park football on a Sunday morning. The much wánked-over media-hyped "dream team" of O'Neill and Keane have not got a fucking clue. They make Wenger look tactically astute.
Mark my words, if this Oirish side do qualify, they are on the first plane home. Again.
How many empty seats at the Aviva last night ? The "experts " saying the attendance was a result of two big days and full houses in Croke Park over weekend.. ...Banging the same drum here, but there were banks of empty seats in the Aviva last night because the bandwagoners have other priorities.
Eamon Dunphy says Ireland can beat Germany, see Chippy's face when he said that? ...Two games , two wins and two clean sheets against the might of Gibraltar and Georgia. International football is dead in the water..uninspiring and tedious.
DB10GOONER wrote:Can someone explain to me how Wes Hoolahan is a professional footballer please? Fucking hell, he's worse than Rambo on a bad day for pissing away easy possession, delaying on the ball, choosing the wrong option almost every time.
Oireland were dire again. The Tallaght pikey did his usual huff and puff and stupid outlandish throwing himself after long gone balls and not much else. Subbed at half time says everything. Even complete dullard Ray Houghton nailed it that Oireland have no tactical plan - it was like watching park football on a Sunday morning. The much wánked-over media-hyped "dream team" of O'Neill and Keane have not got a fucking clue. They make Wenger look tactically astute.
Mark my words, if this Oirish side do qualify, they are on the first plane home. Again.
Why do I bother watching Interlull? Why?
In a team overloaded with carthorses, wes hoolahan is a rare ball player to bring some level of craft to the game - the problem with him though, is that when he is bad he is absolutely fcuking woeful and he tries too hard to be the creator in chief
Now I'm saying all that whilst admitting that the only bit I seen from last nights game was when they showed the goal on sky sports news, but I do like hoolohan if I'm honest
DB10GOONER wrote:Can someone explain to me how Wes Hoolahan is a professional footballer please? Fucking hell, he's worse than Rambo on a bad day for pissing away easy possession, delaying on the ball, choosing the wrong option almost every time.
Oireland were dire again. The Tallaght pikey did his usual huff and puff and stupid outlandish throwing himself after long gone balls and not much else. Subbed at half time says everything. Even complete dullard Ray Houghton nailed it that Oireland have no tactical plan - it was like watching park football on a Sunday morning. The much wánked-over media-hyped "dream team" of O'Neill and Keane have not got a fucking clue. They make Wenger look tactically astute.
Mark my words, if this Oirish side do qualify, they are on the first plane home. Again.
Why do I bother watching Interlull? Why?
In a team overloaded with carthorses, wes hoolahan is a rare ball player to bring some level of craft to the game - the problem with him though, is that when he is bad he is absolutely fcuking woeful and he tries too hard to be the creator in chief
Now I'm saying all that whilst admitting that the only bit I seen from last nights game was when they showed the goal on sky sports news, but I do like hoolohan if I'm honest
I watched every eye burning minute of both games over the last few days and he was appalling, augie. He certainly has a bit of flair (seen at times in the past) but he has now gone down the Ramsey Mini-Messi road to self-delusion. Almost every time an Oirish move broke down it was at Hoolahan's feet. He repeatedly tried to pass through oppo defenders or over-elaborated on the ball when a simple give and go was on. Having a bit of craft and flair is no use if you keep fucking the ball away.
Have to agree with the carthorse comment. Never seen a team so laden with bog standard players and no creativity or flair at all.
Top Londoner wrote:"I watched every eye burning minute of both games over the last few days"
_______________________
One doth protest too much, for someone so disinterested in Interlull matches.
Next thing you know, you'll be jumping on the bandwagon when the Oirish squad qualifies for the 'Soccer' finals.
WENGER OUT.
Don't be an arsehole every day, mate.
If there is no proper football on, I do still watch the Interlull, I just don't enjoy it. It's like a junkie having no smack to hand and snorting a bit of low grade Bolivian until his connection comes through!
Top Londoner wrote:"I watched every eye burning minute of both games over the last few days"
_______________________
One doth protest too much, for someone so disinterested in Interlull matches.
Next thing you know, you'll be jumping on the bandwagon when the Oirish squad qualifies for the 'Soccer' finals.
WENGER OUT.
Don't be an arsehole every day, mate.
If there is no proper football on, I do still watch the Interlull, I just don't enjoy it. It's like a junkie having no smack to hand and snorting a bit of low grade Bolivian until his connection comes through!
Top Londoner wrote:"I watched every eye burning minute of both games over the last few days"
_______________________
One doth protest too much, for someone so disinterested in Interlull matches.
Next thing you know, you'll be jumping on the bandwagon when the Oirish squad qualifies for the 'Soccer' finals.
WENGER OUT.
Don't be an arsehole every day, mate.
If there is no proper football on, I do still watch the Interlull, I just don't enjoy it. It's like a junkie having no smack to hand and snorting a bit of low grade Bolivian until his connection comes through!
mcdowell42 wrote:Giroud booed by France fans as he is substituted in their game against Serbia
The french fans can see him for the limited lumbering hair flicker that he is. Its a pity that our own french fan(ny) cant see what his fellow countrymen did tonight.
if nothing else this serves as a little reminder to AW what a donkey we have up front.
cant see what his fellow countrymen did tonight.
Fucking hell, he's worse than Rambo on a bad day for pissing away easy possession, delaying on the ball, choosing the wrong option almost every time. 
...Banging the same drum here, but there were banks of empty seats in the Aviva last night because the bandwagoners have other priorities. 
...Two games , two wins and two clean sheets against the might of Gibraltar and Georgia. International football is dead in the water..uninspiring and tedious.
