FAI...New Manager is Heimir Hallgrimsson

[Baile Brigín 2]

Apart from Dewsbury Hall who else could still play for Ireland but has turned us down?

An odd time for this conversation.

The problem with this is the FA are wise to it. We aren't getting any more Aldridge or Townsend types. See Grealish and Rice. Also the contract a one cap wonder for England can command beats a 100 caps for Ireland.

The overseas born players in the setup are Cullen, Azaz, Taylor, Johnston and Coventry. Bar Cullen, who is average, they are all shite. So why try out the tier below?

[weareros]

You're kind of ignoring a group of cultural changes there.

The first one being that any man who plays 5+ PL seasons should have little or no need for media work, especially not stuff that involves flights to Dublin.

The second one being that in these islands, the PL now dwarfs over international football in terms of importance, achievement and awareness.

The decision taken by Houghton, Aldridge, Cascarino et al, was made when the opposite was true. Back then, being recognised as an international standard player was the pathway to bigger clubs and bigger wages. Nowadays it matters not a bit.

So whilst young English men might still wish to feel the pride of playing for their country, there really isn't much incentive in playing for someone's elses. Hence one cap v Andorra, even if that's all he ever gets, it's still a dream come true.

It's nearly amazing now the quality disconnect between club football, especially in Europe's top 4/5 leagues, and international football. If the current Irish team were a PL side, would we be in the relegation places? I'd say so.

That said with all the money in club football in the select few top leagues, no club competition comes near the World Cup for prestige, drama, mystique. They've tried the club World Cup and it was a damp squib. Of course national teams won't come near a top club with money to burn (Grealish cost City £100m and was to all extents and purposes a flop). I don't think club can ever match it for tribalism either no matter how much a derby game gets hyped up. World Cup still the greatest show on earth (for soccer anyways).

[Gold]

You're kind of ignoring a group of cultural changes there.

The first one being that any man who plays 5+ PL seasons should have little or no need for media work, especially not stuff that involves flights to Dublin.

The second one being that in these islands, the PL now dwarfs over international football in terms of importance, achievement and awareness.

The decision taken by Houghton, Aldridge, Cascarino et al, was made when the opposite was true. Back then, being recognised as an international standard player was the pathway to bigger clubs and bigger wages. Nowadays it matters not a bit.

So whilst young English men might still wish to feel the pride of playing for their country, there really isn't much incentive in playing for someone's elses. Hence one cap v Andorra, even if that's all he ever gets, it's still a dream come true.

It's nearly amazing now the quality disconnect between club football, especially in Europe's top 4/5 leagues, and international football. If the current Irish team were a PL side, would we be in the relegation places? I'd say so.

That said with all the money in club football in the select few top leagues, no club competition comes near the World Cup for prestige, drama, mystique. They've tried the club World Cup and it was a damp squib. Of course national teams won't come near a top club with money to burn (Grealish cost City £100m and was to all extents and purposes a flop). I don't think club can ever match it for tribalism either no matter how much a derby game gets hyped up. World Cup still the greatest show on earth (for soccer anyways).

Nothing comes close

Reason why i dont really support a club team.....follow 1 but means nothing compared to Ireland

[seafoid]

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/sports/football/why-ireland-will-be-watching-two-world-cup-qualifiers-closely-tonight/
Simply put, if Wales do not beat North Macedonia and Bosnia fail to overcome Austria, Ireland will be in Pot 2. If Wales or Bosnia prevail, the Irish team will be consigned to Pot 3.

[Baile Brigín 2]

You're kind of ignoring a group of cultural changes there.

The first one being that any man who plays 5+ PL seasons should have little or no need for media work, especially not stuff that involves flights to Dublin.

The second one being that in these islands, the PL now dwarfs over international football in terms of importance, achievement and awareness.

The decision taken by Houghton, Aldridge, Cascarino et al, was made when the opposite was true. Back then, being recognised as an international standard player was the pathway to bigger clubs and bigger wages. Nowadays it matters not a bit.

So whilst young English men might still wish to feel the pride of playing for their country, there really isn't much incentive in playing for someone's elses. Hence one cap v Andorra, even if that's all he ever gets, it's still a dream come true.

It's nearly amazing now the quality disconnect between club football, especially in Europe's top 4/5 leagues, and international football. If the current Irish team were a PL side, would we be in the relegation places? I'd say so.

That said with all the money in club football in the select few top leagues, no club competition comes near the World Cup for prestige, drama, mystique. They've tried the club World Cup and it was a damp squib. Of course national teams won't come near a top club with money to burn (Grealish cost City £100m and was to all extents and purposes a flop). I don't think club can ever match it for tribalism either no matter how much a derby game gets hyped up. World Cup still the greatest show on earth (for soccer anyways).

And players want to play at a World Cup. But the risk with a granny rule import is they may not be arsed with the hard yards to get there. See Sammie Szmodics as an example.

Or put another way. Charlton used the granny rule to excess because we didn't have other options. But you had to want to be there. Plenty of good players got one or two caps and got axed on attitude. While Grealish would clearly have added to the Irish setup, I suspect he would have fallen out with management at some point.

I think we need to be patient. Loads of talent coming through.

[smort]

Can the u17s keep the good vibes rolling!?

Kickoff Vs Switzerland at 14.45 Irish time. Coverage from 14.30 RTE2

[Baile Brigín 2]

Can the u17s keep the good vibes rolling!?

Kickoff Vs Switzerland at 14.45 Irish time. Coverage from 14.30 RTE2

On paper we can win this thing.

[weareros]

Riding our luck a bit there. Swiss are good, maybe even the best team left.

Unfortunate goal to give away but it was coming. We've enough talent to claw one back.

[Pub Bore]

Need Troy Parrott now!

[seafoid]

Need Troy Parrott now!

Troy Parrot is valued at 16 million Euro.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Can the u17s keep the good vibes rolling!?

Kickoff Vs Switzerland at 14.45 Irish time. Coverage from 14.30 RTE2

On paper we can win this thing.

I'll have the lotto numbers tomorrow

[Blowitupref]

Games of interest tonight at 7:45pm

Austria v Bosnia
Wales v N Macedonia

Ireland need Austria & N. Macedonia to win or draw tonight to secure Pot 2 in the draw.

[Pub Bore]

U21s 2-0 down against Andorra after 23 mins.

[Wildweasel74]

They lifting the roof off here,with the Scotland national anthem.

[BigGreenField]

They lifting the roof of here,with the Scotland national anthem.

Loud alright, it's no sunshine on leith though!