Why don't the Irish support their local teams?
- Thread starter Plan M
- Start date
In fairness, that's a response to a bit of as ridiculous post from you.
It's a thread debating why Irish supporters should support United, you are going to get Irish posters defending their views...
Don't ask questions that provoke a response, and then post that response as if it's been posted without any reason.
We all don't live in Dublin though fred. I live 3 hours away from Dublin. And even if i did i wouldn't be able to afford to fly over. Thats why i have to take the 32 hour round trip by car, boat, bus to Manchester along with approx 2/3 thousand others, sort of puts the journey the lad has to make from Cornwall look nice doesn't it.
To go by boat costs approx 129 euros (package deal) to go by plane costs approx 300 euros (package deal).
Your not the only one that does a bit of travelling in order to support Man Utd fred i'm afraid.
I dont think thats strictly true Fred, how do you figure?
Not that its relevant because most Irish will tell you its worth every cent (about to say Penny, but Irish are on cents)
The point about NI was that he was harping on about how there are more Irish fans outside the UK go to watch united than anywhere else in the world.
Well thats hardly a fecking surprise is it.. Given that its right next fecking door....
Why can't Irish fans just say "look I love the team, I think they are great, and thousands of us love going to OT" end of story
Not
"well we've had more players play for United than anyone else, we're historically linked to the club, they even wanted to name the club after us, they chose the colours to suit the Irish, we've got a larger contingent of overseas fans than anywhere else on the planet and basically Manchester United is a part of Ireland that we've decided to let the people of Manchester borrow until we get something in Ireland that we can call our own"
Get over yourselves.
maybe you should concern yourself with the actual facts before speaking as if you had a clue........
Ryanair and Aer lingus are all over that, reguarly double their prices at match weekends. Most I know and me personally travel over on the boat and coaches, alot better atmosphere aswell.
Err, generalisation in the extreme. I never complained once about how hard it is to get to Old Trafford and anyone can see that it is a big undertaking to go to Manchester a lot from Ireland. As it is from anywhere else.
Not sure what your issue is or what you're trying to prove.... but you're spouting an unmerciful amount of shite Fred. You're coming across as an idiot.
No, and neither are you....
Look at that there.. "i have to travel half way around the world, it costs me three years salary"
Get over yourself.. You think your the only one that has to do that ? You think that because your Irish that gives you special consideration.
Oi, Wanker - It Only takes 45 minutes from Manchester Airport to Old Trafford!
Yeah - Problem is I live in Stone Henge
Stone Henge?! But that's in England!!!!!
Yeah - Problem is I live in Stone Henge
Stone Henge?! But that's in England!!!!!
No but you were rabbiting on about the lengths you go to support the team though on the other thread, sleeping in train stations sneaking on to buses & flying to Spain etc.
You maintain its people/fans like you that are different from the people/fans that can't travel or go or don't go to games.
well done Fred, you've ignored practically every reasoned post in the full thread and then made up what you though you read (again)
To summarise,
Irish do pay a small fortune every weekend to get there, but they dont complain about it because its no worse than someone coming from say Poland, etc.
There are various reasons why Irish fans support United, including but not limited too:
- generational. Following grandfathers, fathers, brothers
- having family from Manchester
- getting their interest started by following the fortunes of a particular Irish player
- having no local teams to support
To summarise,
Irish do pay a small fortune every weekend to get there, but they dont complain about it because its no worse than someone coming from say Poland, etc.
There are various reasons why Irish fans support United, including but not limited too:
- generational. Following grandfathers, fathers, brothers
- having family from Manchester
- getting their interest started by following the fortunes of a particular Irish player
- having no local teams to support
Right, so you accept that its nothing special that 2000 Irish fans make the trip each home game.
So why have we got Irish fans making out like its a big issue that 2000 irish fans make the journey ?
If you accept its nothing more than anyone else does, then shut the feck up about it.
Cheers for that Pops - a good summary.
Anyway I get that support is low but is it getting lower over time? Moses was suggesting that it has been
I think you might direct that one at yourself.
btw, I have no doubt you're doing this just to wind us up Fred, and probably sniggering about it with your mates. I dont really care, but you are spouting some rubbish in this thread
Add to that the strange jealousy and possessiveness that some Manc United fans develop and you'll not be far wrong.
If the last few pages have proven anything, its that the whole 'there's no nearby club' thing isn't really that much of a factor in supporting a club. I know how unlikely it would be for a guy living in Kerry to build an affinity for his nearest LOI team, but he is willing to travel to Manchester no problem. If a club as big as Manchester United was sat in Limerick, he'd go no problem.
Because we're continually asked 'why though' over and over again by people like you.
These are generally the responses when "look I love the team, I think they are great, and thousands of us love going to OT" isn't enough for people like you.
Keep going though, all you need to do it figure out how to work the catholic church into things and you tick all the boxes.
Irish fans don't complain or go on about the effort to go there, or how much it costs.
Unless of course, it's as a response to a question. I mean, who would they be complaining too? What point would they be making?
I think the problem is you have invented some sort of attitude that all Irish (Dublin) fans apparently have, despite not having it. Black Pearl is simply saying there's no difference between us guys making our journeys round to watch United, and Irish fans as well, the defensive aspect of it comes into play because you are attacking him for no reason.
Unless of course, it's as a response to a question. I mean, who would they be complaining too? What point would they be making?
I think the problem is you have invented some sort of attitude that all Irish (Dublin) fans apparently have, despite not having it. Black Pearl is simply saying there's no difference between us guys making our journeys round to watch United, and Irish fans as well, the defensive aspect of it comes into play because you are attacking him for no reason.
I would say that it has been getting a bit lower. But, there are various reasons for this. Not least the fact that league matches get played on Friday nights. If you support anyone outside of the Dublin teams, theres no chance in hell you're going to get home from Dublin to see your home town play.
for example, if i wanted to go and see Derry in a home match, it would take me 4 hours to drive from Dublin. Thats without bad traffic. Normally theres an exodus of Irish from Dublin, heading to their respective towns on a Friday night, which means traffic is choc-a-bloc heading out of Dublin.
Did we get a response to this?
Must say that I always thought Fred was a bit of a schizo and the multiple poster thing would explain a lot
I know you're a Shels man, but i thought you were a United fan too?
If you read what I posted, you complete spa, you would see that I said it's a big undertaking for people to travel from anywhere outside the UK to see United. Nobody is saying it's a special effort to get there from Ireland.... but it does require some dedication and a bit of planning. Are Irish people over there in the pub before the game looking for a hand job off you or something?
You appear to lack the basic intelligence to read and digest what individuals are saying in the thread and are scatter gunning responses and generalisations as if they have some basis in fact. You're a bit of an oddball, I'm off to work. I suggest you also get something else to divert your mind cos you're gone a bit mad.
I can only speak for my old man but alot of his generation who used to attend religiously stopped after the league changed from its traditional layout to summertime football. It was aimed at attracting a new breed of fan and avoiding the traditional fixture backlog due to poor pitch conditions. It backfired imo
Correct me if im wrong, but is there no internal flights in the UK, and if there is, then surely its as easy to jump on a plane in Glasgow and fly to Manchester as it is from Dubin.
Problem with your arguement is, I live in Sligo which is in the north west, Im 3.5 hours drive from dublin, then a 1.5 hour wait at the airport normally, a 2 hour flight to manchester and then the connection to OT. Easy Peasy!!
And that is different to anyone else in what way ? What makes that a sign that Ireland is "historically linked" to United in any way shape or form ?
What makes Irish fans believe they are any more connected to United than anyone else..
Thats what no one has been able to answer.
We've had Irish fans coming in this thread telling us United was formed by Irish people, the colours were chosen to match the Irish flag, that because Sir Matt had irish roots Ireland is connected with United.
I couldnt give a toss where fans come from. For some reason Irish fans seem to believe that they have links to United that should draw them close to United, and its bullshit. THere is nothing about United that should appeal to Irish fans any more than it would appeal to any other supporter.
Irish people support United for the same reasons everyone else does. No more no less, and it winds me up something rotten when Irish fans run about trying to make out that if you are Irish you should be a United supporter because thats what historically irish supporters do.
I got this from a League of Ireland forum, its not set in stone but it should give you an idea, average attendence-wise:
I'm not saying that there is a historic link
but historically irish fans have become United fans
theres a difference in the 2 lines i just posted
but historically irish fans have become United fans
theres a difference in the 2 lines i just posted
Don't really see myself that way anymore. Having gone to games more and more frequently as I've gotten older and with all the shite I've been through in that time, really I'm 100% Shels now. I don't really have that much of a problem with people who watch an Irish team and an English team, its those who dismiss their local game entirely I have issues with.
Fred, where in the last couple of pages has anyone who has argued along side you, mentioned United being founded by Irish people, or suggested that there is a massive historic link?
Because all the people you are arguing with, aren't talking about that. You might be stuck on a single point that one poster might have made a while back, but that's not we are talking about. The difference is you are ignoring everything else anyone is saying, and using one single point, none of us has made, to argue against us all with?
You must see that.
Because all the people you are arguing with, aren't talking about that. You might be stuck on a single point that one poster might have made a while back, but that's not we are talking about. The difference is you are ignoring everything else anyone is saying, and using one single point, none of us has made, to argue against us all with?
You must see that.
Find me ONE time where I've asked why Irish fans support United.
I dont care where fans come from. Holland, England, Siberia. They are all the same to me.
WHich is PRECISELY the point I am trying to tell you lot. Stop making out that because you are Irish you are somehow more inclined to be United supporters, or that because you are Irish you have some special connection that justifies your support.
You dont need to justify it, so stop trying.
In many ways I am actually trying to defend you by saying you are no different to anyone else. But as we've seen on this thread, hte moment you start to tell Irish fans they are no different you get the same crap
"they wanted to name the club after us..
We formed the club
They chose the colours to show the irish connection
United have historically selected Irish players
There are more of us than there are polish
Sir Matt had Irish connections"
Those are not reasons why Irish folk support United, and nor should they be.
Im a Tyrone man, and my local clubs at home would have been either Derry City or Finn Harps, but I never once went to see them play. No since I moved to Sligo, a few of my mates go to the Rovers games, and I have went with them. As a result I have started to support them a bit, and was delighted when they won the cup yesterday. Its just funny though that I never went to see Derry or Harps playing when I was a kid, or im sure id be hooked on them instead.
The incentives that the clubs and the FAI are doing now to get kids going to the matches are to be welcomed with open arms. If you get them hooked at 5-6 they will go all their lives. To see 36000 people at the Aviva yesterday was brilliant and showed the possibilities the League has to open up to new supporters. Fair play to the FAI for the €10 and €5 ticket scheme.
Also an extra answer to the OP's question. almost everyone who supports a LOI team also supports a prem or a scottish team. They dont compete against each other and probably never will again, so there is no real problem with mixed loyalties.
Who is saying this?
As you've just seen with Eyepopper, he's said it himself.
He uses those arguments when confronted by people who ask why they support United. ( something incidentally I havent done at any stage in this argument ).
So he admits its an automatic defense mechanism. that Irish fans tend to use, and its a defense mechanism that is
1) Unjustified
2) condescending to other supporters who dont likewise come from Manchester
If anyone asks an Irish supporter why they support United the response should be "because I fecking want to" not half a page of shite about how Irish fans have links that draw them to the club.
I am all for people from Ireland supporting United. I love it.. But not when they try make out that there are reasons for it over and above what anyone else uses.
You see, because this is post #46 and this is where the argument starts:
The 45 posts before that I saw only two posts that even mentioned a historic link, one of those wasn't even related to this current debate.
The 45 posts before that I saw only two posts that even mentioned a historic link, one of those wasn't even related to this current debate.
What about Dungannon Swifts?
And where have I said any of that?
You think Irish supporters are the same as all other supporters, great, good for you, I'd say they're not because on average more Irish than other foreign fans travel to see united, more Irish families have supported United over multiple generations than other foreign fans, Irish fans have had more international players at utd than other foreign fans, not that any of those things make Irish supporters any 'better' than anyone else, but they do mean the motivation for support might be different....
Who cares really.....
We've had English people telling us that Ireland is connected to the UK, spouting rubbish about "The Irish" as if everyone in Ireland is one and the same, generally slagging off any resonable response (actually it was only you)
As for winding you up something rotten.... we'd never have guessed.
Here's my issue. You say 'they', but the majority, vast majority of posts I've seen in this thread do not say that at all.
You made a point earlier about how close Ireland is to the UK, would that same proximity not make fans more likely to follow a team in the nearest big league than fans on the other side of the world who would be just as likely to follow La Liga?