The Anti-Rugby Football Thread

[Little_Lord_Fauntleroy]

@Phil_Leotardo

It is all perspective and a matter of a opinion really. Your argument is one that regularly gets thrown out by rugby people who love to look down their nose at soccer (and sometimes GAA).

It’s been close to 10 years since I last attended a rugby game but I nearly always found the constant stoppages for scrums and the not having a flippin clue of why the ref blew his whistle to be tedious. Due to this I concluded it was a better TV sport. It must be even worse now with all the TMO stoppages not to mind the breaks for injuries. Nowadays, I just couldn’t be arsed either way as the game isn’t what it used to be and I’ve stopped caring who is smashing into who or who is fronting up and breaking the “gain line”. I’d personally get more enjoyment and more appreciation of the natural skills on show watching live hurling and soccer. I know everyone doesn’t share the same opinion but such is life.

On the bad language, I like many of this forum were brought up going to GAA and soccer matches. We heard bad language true - doesn’t mean we turned out any worse in life. My auld fella can roar with the best of them but like most good sports people, when the final whistle goes he moves on and will always share a chat about the game with anybody willing from either side.

I also don’t buy the holier than thou / upstanding citizen perception of all rugby people. Many maybe all charm and polite manners on many fronts but together in a group (as I witnessed before Christmas), they can be right cunts. I am not saying all GAA and soccer people are saints either but the point is there are good and bad in all walks of life.

2017 post of the year wrapped up already

[Little_Lord_Fauntleroy]

@flattythehurdler

Edit, the average LOI game doesn’t involve riot police, armed gardai, batons and horses.
The average epl game in manc most certainly does, and the supporters seem resolutely pissed off and angry. There just isn’t a nice atmosphere at the big manc clubs.
I’d go with the kids to Macclesfield or somesuch, but it’s too far and too much hassle.
I find gaelic games and rugby league better to watch by far.
The atmosphere at the dogtrack, and at sale, has always been relaxed and friendly, as it has at any rugby league game I’ve ever attended.

I wouldn’t go to a LOI match if I wasn’t guaranteed a pre-game ruck

[Julio_Geordio]

@Phil_Leotardo

It is all perspective and a matter of a opinion really. Your argument is one that regularly gets thrown out by rugby people who love to look down their nose at soccer (and sometimes GAA).

It’s been close to 10 years since I last attended a rugby game but I nearly always found the constant stoppages for scrums and the not having a flippin clue of why the ref blew his whistle to be tedious. Due to this I concluded it was a better TV sport. It must be even worse now with all the TMO stoppages not to mind the breaks for injuries. Nowadays, I just couldn’t be arsed either way as the game isn’t what it used to be and I’ve stopped caring who is smashing into who or who is fronting up and breaking the “gain line”. I’d personally get more enjoyment and more appreciation of the natural skills on show watching live hurling and soccer. I know everyone doesn’t share the same opinion but such is life.

On the bad language, I like many of this forum were brought up going to GAA and soccer matches. We heard bad language true - doesn’t mean we turned out any worse in life. My auld fella can roar with the best of them but like most good sports people, when the final whistle goes he moves on and will always share a chat about the game with anybody willing from either side.

I also don’t buy the holier than thou / upstanding citizen perception of all rugby people. Many maybe all charm and polite manners on many fronts but together in a group (as I witnessed before Christmas), they can be right cunts. I am not saying all GAA and soccer people are saints either but the point is there are good and bad in all walks of life.

You wouldn’t have a clue whats happening when you’re at a rugby game, you can see nothing.

[flattythehurdler]

It is a fact, whatever way you try and spin it, that the atmosphere around the rugby union and league games around Manchester, and the general tone and behaviour is far better than the manu and city games.
I find epl soccer boring by and large. It is a fact that I find it boring. I find rugby union a bit boring, and haven’t been to sale since the u20 wc final to support Ireland, but not as boring as epl. I don’t find rugby league boring at all, but I try and go to derbies if possible as they are always more likely to be close.
I could watch any hurling match at all. I’d rather watch a junior c hurling match than an epl game any day of the week.
I enjoy LOI soccer live, but not on telly.
I’m not looking down my nose at any sport. I hate holier than though shite. I’ve played a bit of soccer, a lot of rugby. I just find the epl overhyped, overexpensive for what it is, and find the atmosphere thuggish by and large.

[Tim_Riggins]

Sounds like a great dad. His kids seem to have the discipline to pursue what they want in life.

The shite on here when someone’s kid is doing the Leaving Cert and we hear lads on here telling the father to tell the kid that “it doesn’t matter how you get on, the Leaving Cert is irrelevant” is nauseating. Going for walks with them in the woods to “clear the head” instead of studying their Poetry Now. No wonder so many young people are so useless these days. The “you can be anything you want to” but don’t need to put the graft in culture is far too prevalent. I understand RTÉ’s documentary on it last night fed right into that bollix.

[Phil_Leotardo]

Look back over some of my posts and you’ll see I’ve previously nominated Nigel for COTY for your very reasons below, only to be reminded that I could only nominate Irish people

[balbec]

I don’t know mate. I went to Anfield before Christmas for the West Ham game. I was surprised how low key the policing was. Got the bus into town after with a crowd of West Ham fans and the train back down to London that night. Not a peep out of them. Maybe it is different in Manchester where all the people are a shower of cunts.

[flattythehurdler]

Straight to the point. On the other hand, there is no bigger wanker than a cockney wanker.

[Bandage]

@Little_Lord_Fauntleroy

I wouldn’t go to a LOI match if I wasn’t guaranteed a pre-game ruck

Is that why you haven’t been to a game in 5 or 6 years?

[Phil_Leotardo]

You go the Emirates and the atmosphere is completely sanitised now. You’d never see any trouble. I would have thought Old Trafford ain’t far off given Keane’s and Ferguson’s comments even 10 years ago now.

I probably would have reservations bringing kids into an away section in a EPL game alright. The goading of the home fans, the wanking gesture, etc can be a bit pathetic.

At the same time, I was based for work in west London last year for a while and I took in 2 games at Brentford. I stood in the home terrace behind the goals with children, pensioners, proper London geezers and it was a great atmosphere. Plenty of singing, bits of bad language here and there but overall an atmosphere of a crowd that feel passionate about their local team and that would be extremely addictive no matter what age you are. It was the type of atmosphere that reminded me why I enjoy live sport (in comparison to very tame atmosphere’s in rugby or some EPL stadiums when big teams are playing weaker teams).

I think it was Frank Skinner’s autobiography that described his childhood really well of going into the terrace at WBA and why he loved it. Perhaps a kid hearing some bad language isn’t the worth thing ever. Better than completely protecting them from all the realities in life and producing this non street wise person and somebody who has been completely sheltered.

Hooliganism is a different matter. Saying that I remember going to to Rathbane to see Limerick play Sligo years ago and there being a rough Sligo crowd down. I didn’t want to become a hooligan after it, and after it was emphasised by my Dad, I just thought they were idiots (albeit I didn’t witness any bad violence).

[gilgamboa]

He’s French he doesn’t see himself as aby different they are never coming home. He’s been earmarked by toulouse for years

[mickee321]

@flattythehurdler

Edit, the average LOI game doesn’t involve riot police, armed gardai, batons and horses.
The average epl game in manc most certainly does, and the supporters seem resolutely pissed off and angry. There just isn’t a nice atmosphere at the big manc clubs.
I’d go with the kids to Macclesfield or somesuch, but it’s too far and too much hassle.
I find gaelic games and rugby league better to watch by far.
The atmosphere at the dogtrack, and at sale, has always been relaxed and friendly, as it has at any rugby league game I’ve ever attended.

that’s a grand post
albeit, the worst of all vulgarities i have heard were in LOI first div grounds. the worst ever was in Bray with the cork fans and the raping seagulls chant… maybe its beacause there is no one there, ah you see awful stuff, finn harps beat us in the cup 4-0 years ago, i was on the bench, walking off the pitch the linos wait for the ref, 3 or 4 of our lads just walk up and call the linesman a wanker, cunt walking off, they just stand there and have to take this, then you have lads leaning over the wall calling them worse
honestly, football attracts the dregs of society, people who follow the EPL do so from the comfort of their TV screens , if they ever actually went id say their perspective would change… simialr for the lads who follow the scottich soccer,ive no problem with lads following celtic but id say the calibre of individual at an old firm game is from the pits of humanity

was talking to a fella one time whose son hung around with tony stokes in blackrock college
anyway yer man and the priest from the college were over in twickenhame a few years ago at a game, the priest saw sunderland were playing that weekend in Ninian Park and said he;d like to go along and see Tony and Roy Keane, the 2 lads anyway show up at the ticket office and had to convince security to allow them buy tickets, they were warned not to open their mouth in the ground … the left at HT saying it was horrendous… just anger , nastiness and venom,

honestly, the GAA is the best here, just for joining and an all out relaxed friendly experince, family race days are brilliant also at places like Naas, actually ive been told that SRFC are also great places for family entertainment and as the ;ads are older ill have them there
not sure if ill have them playing soccer tho, there is no enjoyment, im coaching here u-14s , all our best players want to play DDSL with kevins, joeys and stella…
its a horrible system, parents in soccer are awful, its the worst i have ever seen, people driving kids from galway to play with kevins 4 nights a week, they have 6 u-14 teams, unless u are in the first u are treated like shit, its horrible, there is no enjoyment in soccer in this country… its a rotten game… the sooner they bring in parish rule for underage soccer itll be for the best , itll make it a game worth playing again

[flattythehurdler]

It’s not the language, it’s the venom with which it’s delivered that I wouldn’t want to expose the kids to.

[gilgamboa]

@Phil_Leotardo

Due to this I concluded it was a better TV sport

Undoubtedly a better TV sport for the professional games.

[Julio_Geordio]

@mickee321

not sure if ill have them playing soccer tho, there is no enjoyment, im coaching here u-14s , all our best players want to play DDSL with kevins, joeys and stella… its a horrible system, parents in soccer are awful, its the worst i have ever seen, people driving kids from galway to play with kevins 4 nights a week, they have 6 u-14 teams, unless u are in the first u are treated like shit, its horrible, there is no enjoyment in soccer in this country… its a rotten game… the sooner they bring in parish rule for underage soccer itll be for the best , itll make it a game worth playing again

But that’s the FAI’s fault as well. If you aren’t playing underage in Dublin or Cork they don’t want to know. The amount of young lads plenty good enough who never got a sniff because they weren’t from the right areas is unreal.

[TreatyStones]

Cracking post.

All my best memories of sport up along would have been from soccer. It’s was so enjoyable from 12 - 18. The fact we had a great team probably helped too. Going off playing junior soccer at 16 was class as well. Every Sunday morning, piling into cars with lads twice my age off up to somewhere like Broadford or feenagh. Into the local pub then afterwards where there would be some class of food laid on. Broadford always had a stew and sandwiches, Ballingarry used to be great into Barrets for buttered slices of bread and baskets of sausages and puddings. 2 or 3 pints with the opposition and everyone drive back home. Great times. The drink driving killed junior soccer.

[Julio_Geordio]

@Julio_Geordio

@mickee321

not sure if ill have them playing soccer tho, there is no enjoyment, im coaching here u-14s , all our best players want to play DDSL with kevins, joeys and stella… its a horrible system, parents in soccer are awful, its the worst i have ever seen, people driving kids from galway to play with kevins 4 nights a week, they have 6 u-14 teams, unless u are in the first u are treated like shit, its horrible, there is no enjoyment in soccer in this country… its a rotten game… the sooner they bring in parish rule for underage soccer itll be for the best , itll make it a game worth playing again

But that’s the FAI’s fault as well. If you aren’t playing underage in Dublin or Cork they don’t want to know. The amount of young lads plenty good enough who never got a sniff because they weren’t from the right areas is unreal.

The Ireland u-15 squad for reference

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U15 SQUAD:
Conor Carty (St Francis FC)
Aaron Davies (Ratoath Harps)
Alex Dunne (Belvedere FC)
Ayodeji Sotona (Manchester United)
Jack Funge (St Kevin?s Boys FC)
James Furlong (St Joseph’s Boys FC)
Armstrong Okoflex (Arsenal)
Harry Halwax (Leixlip United FC)
Brandon Holt (Belvedere FC)
Cian Kelly (St Joseph’s Boys FC)
Sean Kennedy (Tralee Dynamos FC)
Seamus Keogh (Benbulben FC)
Kian Leavy (St. Francis FC)
Matthew Healy (College Corinthians)
Sean McEvoy (St Kevin?s Boys FC)
Troy Parrott (Belvedere FC)
Timi Sobowale (Villa FC)
Cormac Moore (St Francis FC)

18 players
10 Dubs
2 UK
1 Kerry
1 Sligo
1 Cork
1 Meath
1 Kildare
1 Waterford

u-16 squad
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:

Kian Clarke (St Kevin’s Boys)
Harry Clarke (Cherry Orchard)
Max Murphy (St Joseph’s Boys)
Kevin O’Reilly (Cherry Orchard)
Nathan Collins (Cherry Orchard)
Kameron Ledwidge (St Kevin’s Boys)
Jason Knight (Cabinteely)
Marc Walsh (Finn Harps)
Barry Coffey (Nenagh AFC)
Adam Idah (College Corinthians)
Sean Brennan (Belvedere)
Callum Thompson (St Joseph’s Boys)
Connor O’Reilly (Bonagee United)
Oisin McEntee (Malahide United)
Mark McGuinness (Arsenal)
Adam O’Reilly (Ringmahon Rangers)
Tyreik Wright (Lakewood AFC)
Ryan Cassidy (St Kevin’s Boys)
Ray O’Sullivan (St Kevin’s Boys)
Luca Connell (Bolton Wanderers)
Ciaran Brennan (East End United)
Sean Mahon (Cherry Orchard)

22 players
13 Dubs
3 Cork
1 Tipp
2 Donegal
2 UK
1 KK

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U17 SQUAD:

Brian Maher (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Tom Murphy (Everton)
Cian Lee (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Luke Nolan (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Lee O’Connor (Manchester Untied)
Dominic Peppard (Bohemians)
Kameron Ledwidge (St Kevin’s Boys)
Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers)
Conor Coventry (West Ham United)
Sean Brennan (Belvedere)
Jordan Doherty (Sheffield Utd)
Rowan Roache (Blackpool)
Adam Idah (Corinthians Boys)
Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth)
Glen McAuley (Liverpool)
Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Brandon Kavanagh (Bohemians)
Callum Thompson (St Joseph’s Boys)

10 Dublin
8 UK

[TreatyStones]

@Julio_Geordio loves nothing more than a bit of pointless research to kill time on a Friday.

[Julio_Geordio]

@TreatyStones

@Julio_Geordio loves nothing more than a bit of pointless research to kill time on a Friday.

I’d have to work otherwise.

[Ashman]

The darts leagues were another casualty of drink driving laws .