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.
Bradywasking wrote:Return of The League of Ireland this weekend. Obviously the Green Army will be out in force following their local clubs...
As fans who support a team in a different country, I think that we should be the last one's to judge I haven't been to a league of Ireland game in years (although I did go watch a ucd Europa league game last season) - athlone town are my nearest club (about 35 miles) and they are an absolute shambles. I used to go a good few years ago and back then they were promoting many good local players, but these days they are shipping in so many players that the local interest is no longer there. Many of us do support local football clubs within their own community (there is no more local than that) and I would sometimes go into support tullamore town play in the Leinster Senior League.
Bradywasking wrote:Return of The League of Ireland this weekend. Obviously the Green Army will be out in force following their local clubs...
As fans who support a team in a different country, I think that we should be the last one's to judge I haven't been to a league of Ireland game in years (although I did go watch a ucd Europa league game last season) - athlone town are my nearest club (about 35 miles) and they are an absolute shambles. I used to go a good few years ago and back then they were promoting many good local players, but these days they are shipping in so many players that the local interest is no longer there. Many of us do support local football clubs within their own community (there is no more local than that) and I would sometimes go into support tullamore town play in the Leinster Senior League.
I was trying sarcasm Augie.. I live 10 minutes walk from Shamrock Rovers but haven't gone in years..I accept the poor standard but have no passion for the club... What I was trying to say was the moral high ground taken over Irish fans behaviour will be in contrast to the ugly nature of Man U v Liverpool games in Irish pubs, or the sectarianism of Celtic games In Irish Pubs..
Condem English fans but deny Heysel if you are a Liverpool fan In Ireland... condem racism but shout abuse at Rangers players and fans from the comfort and safety of pub..
If you take the moral high ground then it has to extend to your club allegiance..
GranadaJoe wrote:It is regularly claimed that footballers play too many games, yet UEFA organise a tournament where 36 games are played, 16 teams go through to the knockout round and only 8 go home, leaving a lot of mediocre teams in the competition.
I'm pleased for the Brits and Irish, but it's still a bit of a borefest.
Nonsense. Half of the teams in Pot 2 before the draw are going home and half of Pot 4 are going through. That's brilliant. Seeing the same 8 teams in the knockout round every time is actually boring.
I know we can have different opinions about many matters, but 36 games have been played by 24 teams, 16 of which are into the next round. 24 minus 16 equals 8 teams going home. That's a lot of playing time to whittle away so few teams.
Also, which team was in which Pot is pretty arbitrary. It's based on team cooefficients, the same coefficients that place Costa Rica and N.Ireland ahead of Croatia and Poland and the Cape Verde Islands ahead of Norway, Australia and Nigeria.
Coming back to Engerland for a second , I thought that "woy" should have taken Andy Carrol simply because he is a wrecking ball and when team tries to lock the shop up he can cause havoc ,especially to Zonal Marked teams .
The Slovakia game confirmed this for me and Iceland will be more of the same !
Herd wrote:Coming back to Engerland for a second , I thought that "woy" should have taken Andy Carrol simply because he is a wrecking ball and when team tries to lock the shop up he can cause havoc ,especially to Zonal Marked teams .
The Slovakia game confirmed this for me and Iceland will be more of the same !
Sounds mental but I actually agree with you. Carroll is a very average footballer on a good day but he does have that something in his game that can put the shits up centre halves at set pieces (as he ably demonstrated against our shower this season). He'd never be a starter for me, but as something to throw on for the last 10 - 15 minutes to cause havoc among an oppo that has parked the bus? Deffo.
The issue with taking somebody like Carroll is that it will only be effective if you put in some training with a system that suits him and are brave enough to use it.
England don't even know the best way to set up as Plan A, there's no point then just chucking on Carroll if all you are going to still have everything going through Rooney dropping deep and spraying 30 yard sideways balls, or Wilshere or Alli trying to dribble through the very fabric of the universe.
Plus he is nowhere near as fashionable as Marcus Rashford.
Not as good as Euro 2000 but the best bit is coming up. I fancy Rep of Ireland to do the French. The Henry handball thing and Martin O Neil knack of getting his team set up right will be motivation enough.
Wales v England final anyone?
Nos89 wrote:Not as good as Euro 2000 but the best bit is coming up. I fancy Rep of Ireland to do the French. The Henry handball thing and Martin O Neil knack of getting his team set up right will be motivation enough.
Wales v England final anyone?
TBH I don't think we will. Guts/spirit/attitude will only carry you so far. i think the French just have a bit too much technical savvy for us. Anything can happen but I'd be amazed if we even score tbh.
Seeing Ireland beat Italy reminded me of getting married (damn you oirish ) in St Lucia in 94 when obviously England didn't get there, so we wholeheartedly supported the Irish (frank sinclair joined our group ) and that Houghton goal I will always remember for those reasons.
LeftfootlegendGooner wrote:Seeing Ireland beat Italy reminded me of getting married (damn you oirish ) in St Lucia in 94 when obviously England didn't get there, so we wholeheartedly supported the Irish (frank sinclair joined our group ) and that Houghton goal I will always remember for those reasons.
That for me was a far greater victory than beating the Italian B team the other night. That Italian team in 94 were good. I remember McGrath having the game of his life that day.
LeftfootlegendGooner wrote:Seeing Ireland beat Italy reminded me of getting married (damn you oirish ) in St Lucia in 94 when obviously England didn't get there, so we wholeheartedly supported the Irish (frank sinclair joined our group ) and that Houghton goal I will always remember for those reasons.
That for me was a far greater victory than beating the Italian B team the other night. That Italian team in 94 were good. I remember McGrath having the game of his life that day.
Yes that Italian team were better and it was a massive win for Ireland at the time and a shock, whereas this euro competition seems to be like the pl last season, there really seems to be no big difference from the higher ranked teams to the under dogs.
I actually believe one of the lower ranked teams will win it now.
LeftfootlegendGooner wrote:Seeing Ireland beat Italy reminded me of getting married (damn you oirish ) in St Lucia in 94 when obviously England didn't get there, so we wholeheartedly supported the Irish (frank sinclair joined our group ) and that Houghton goal I will always remember for those reasons.
That for me was a far greater victory than beating the Italian B team the other night. That Italian team in 94 were good. I remember McGrath having the game of his life that day.
I can see why some fans got so excited about us winning the other night, because it put us through, but some of the Italian players aren't even regulars for their clubs. I would be surprised if we are even competitive against France. Having said that, they do have a guy up front, who has a habit of missing easy chances
LeftfootlegendGooner wrote:Seeing Ireland beat Italy reminded me of getting married (damn you oirish ) in St Lucia in 94 when obviously England didn't get there, so we wholeheartedly supported the Irish (frank sinclair joined our group ) and that Houghton goal I will always remember for those reasons.
That for me was a far greater victory than beating the Italian B team the other night. That Italian team in 94 were good. I remember McGrath having the game of his life that day.
I can see why some fans got so excited about us winning the other night, because it put us through, but some of the Italian players aren't even regulars for their clubs. I would be surprised if we are even competitive against France. Having said that, they do have a guy up front, who has a habit of missing easy chances
Can you imagine how embarrassing it will be when the c.unt bags a hat-trick against us ?
LeftfootlegendGooner wrote:Seeing Ireland beat Italy reminded me of getting married (damn you oirish ) in St Lucia in 94 when obviously England didn't get there, so we wholeheartedly supported the Irish (frank sinclair joined our group ) and that Houghton goal I will always remember for those reasons.
That for me was a far greater victory than beating the Italian B team the other night. That Italian team in 94 were good. I remember McGrath having the game of his life that day.
I can see why some fans got so excited about us winning the other night, because it put us through, but some of the Italian players aren't even regulars for their clubs. I would be surprised if we are even competitive against France. Having said that, they do have a guy up front, who has a habit of missing easy chances
Can you imagine how embarrassing it will be when the c.unt bags a hat-trick against us ?
I haven't been to a league of Ireland game in years (although I did go watch a ucd Europa league game last season) - athlone town are my nearest club (about 35 miles) and they are an absolute shambles. I used to go a good few years ago and back then they were promoting many good local players, but these days they are shipping in so many players that the local interest is no longer there. Many of us do support local football clubs within their own community (there is no more local than that) and I would sometimes go into support tullamore town play in the Leinster Senior League.
) in St Lucia in 94 when obviously England didn't get there, so we wholeheartedly supported the Irish (frank sinclair joined our group 
) and that Houghton goal I will always remember for those reasons.
