World Cup Qualifications Thread 2010

[Ally Lemon]

no fighting in the world cup qualifications thread. Kiss and make-up!

[Im A Touch Overrated]

I've never known someone to talk so much nonsense. I'm now certain you only do it to get a rise out of people. It's really very quite sad.

Yeah, I've been pretty certain of that for a while now.

[Im A Touch Overrated]

Right firstly, Bulgaria are better than Scotland for starters. Berbatov, The two Petrov's for example.

Secondly McGeady turned down Scotland, i remember it was pretty big news at the times.

As much as i don't mind the SPL, i like Hearts. the Old Firm clubs with there current squads would be nothing more than relegation battlers in the English Premier League.

And lastly without all those glory hunters Celtic or Rangers wouldn't get those crowds they get.

Thank yoou Stephen <3
=]

haha

[Avril's Scottish Boi]

Right, there's been a lot of comments so I'll try to address the various issues as best I can.

First off, regarding me winding people up - to be quite honest, you're probably right. It's rather amusing watching people getting their knickers in a twist.

Now, to address Sterock's points:

Bulgaria are certainly not better than Scotland. Woah, they have one "decent" player. Scotland has a player who plays for Man Utd every week, unlike Berbatov. Scotland have also qualified for more World Cups and are higher in the FIFA rankings.

I've already addressed your second part regarding O'Geady so I won't tread over that again.

I agree the current Old Firm squads are poor, but what people seem to forget is that with the huge TV money in England, the Old Firm would quickly improve their squads due to the huge funds available to them, and would soon challenge for the Top 4. They have bigger crowds than Liverpool and Chelsea right now for goodness sake!

Every big team has gloryhunters so I'm not sure what your last point is trying to achieve.

Now on to Sinead.

You've completely proved my point, and thanks for that. They buy jerseys and don't even support them that much? What the fuck does that say about them? I mean you even support Celtic and I doubt you've been to a game in your life. It's pathetic to be honest.


Now, I'd like to make a new point. Ireland has to ask itself why there is such a huge gulf between the Scottish and Irish leagues - we have similar populations, and we are similar countries in pretty much every area. So why is the SPL in the top 10 leagues in the world, yet the Irish league is 33rd? There needs to be a huge revamp in Irish football imo. I'd make a decent Sports Secretary in Ireland to be honest, I know the problems that need to be addressed. First off, I'd make the selling of the "Big 4" and the Old Firm tops illegal in Ireland, and invest heavily in the Irish league's infrastructure (such as stadiums etc). A bit of investment is what is needed imo, the Irish league has some decent potential.

[.Sterock85]

I agree the current Old Firm squads are poor, but what people seem to forget is that with the huge TV money in England, the Old Firm would quickly improve their squads due to the huge funds available to them, and would soon challenge for the Top 4. They have bigger crowds than Liverpool and Chelsea right now for goodness sake!

Every big team has gloryhunters so I'm not sure what your last point is trying to achieve.

We had bigger crowds than Chelsea this year and had huge funds available, doesn't automatically mean you will challenge the top 4. That's so naive if you think it's that easy. Celtic might have a better chance as they are a global renowned team, Rangers aren't.

Ha'way you were mocking the glory hunters from Ireland, many of who travel over to games each week to watch the Old firm. There a huge part of your fanbases.

[Avril's Scottish Boi]

^Maybe if they stayed in Ireland and watched their own teams, instead of being gloryhunters and supporting the Old Firm, their league wouldn't be in the dire state that it is.

[Im A Touch Overrated]

Right, there's been a lot of comments so I'll try to address the various issues as best I can.

First off, regarding me winding people up - to be quite honest, you're probably right. It's rather amusing watching people getting their knickers in a twist.

Now, to address Sterock's points:

Bulgaria are certainly not better than Scotland. Woah, they have one "decent" player. Scotland has a player who plays for Man Utd every week, unlike Berbatov. Scotland have also qualified for more World Cups and are higher in the FIFA rankings.

I've already addressed your second part regarding O'Geady so I won't tread over that again.

I agree the current Old Firm squads are poor, but what people seem to forget is that with the huge TV money in England, the Old Firm would quickly improve their squads due to the huge funds available to them, and would soon challenge for the Top 4. They have bigger crowds than Liverpool and Chelsea right now for goodness sake!

Every big team has gloryhunters so I'm not sure what your last point is trying to achieve.

Now on to Sinead.

You've completely proved my point, and thanks for that. They buy jerseys and don't even support them that much? What the fuck does that say about them? I mean you even support Celtic and I doubt you've been to a game in your life. It's pathetic to be honest.


Now, I'd like to make a new point. Ireland has to ask itself why there is such a huge gulf between the Scottish and Irish leagues - we have similar populations, and we are similar countries in pretty much every area. So why is the SPL in the top 10 leagues in the world, yet the Irish league is 33rd? There needs to be a huge revamp in Irish football imo. I'd make a decent Sports Secretary in Ireland to be honest, I know the problems that need to be addressed. First off, I'd make the selling of the "Big 4" and the Old Firm tops illegal in Ireland, and invest heavily in the Irish league's infrastructure (such as stadiums etc). A bit of investment is what is needed imo, the Irish league has some decent potential.

It says they buy the jerseys as a fashion statement. It doesn't say they support the club much. And you're a fucking idiot, cos I indeed have been to a Celtic match before. I've also been to St Pats matches(was a regular attender of those games for about 4 seasons), I've been to Man United matches, and I've been to Crewe Alexandra matches, and they're the 4 clubs I take an interest in how they do, I've been to other games too(In both the Irish and English leagues). So I've been to the most matches of Pats(oh yeah I've never given anything to the Irish league). In the way in which I would support a team, It would go Manchester United, St. Patricks Athletic, Crewe Alexandra, and Celtic LAST. Thats right, LAST. Now,... given that you know I would take interest in Crewe, who are now in League 2, of the English leagues, go on ,.. call me a glory hunter again. The reason I take an Interest in Crewe is the same reason as to why I take an Interest in the other 3 teams.

As to similar populations, you have a bigger population, similar populations is when you include the North of Ireland, who have their own league too, perhaps if we combined our leagues, then it would be fair to judge the populations.
Now, for the main reason as to why nobody gives a shit about the Irish Football, or dare i say SOCCER, league. Is because, we have our own sport, called Gaelic Football, which is of main interest around the Irish country. Croke Park is our national stadium for Gaelic Football, which holds 80,000 or more people even. All of the money towards sport is put into Gaelic in this country as it is our OWN sport, that we take great pride in, and prefer to play it rather than play a sport that some other country came up with.
So go ahead, try be the secretary for Irish football, but you will never change the fact, that the main sport played over here, has and will always be Gaelic football.


Also, lol @ the Scotland has a player that plays for Man United every week, Berbatov doesnt.

Berbatov league appearances last season = 30, overall appearances =42
darren fletcher league appearances last season = 23, overall appearances =39

Hmm.....who played more

And the fact that Berbatov challenged Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo for a starting spot.
whereas Fletcher challeneged, Carrick, Scholes and Anderson.

Don't get me wrong, I fucking hate Berbatov, and I love Darren Fletcher, its just funny how you considered him as a regular above Berbatov.

[Spaghetti Incident]

I agree the current Old Firm squads are poor, but what people seem to forget is that with the huge TV money in England, the Old Firm would quickly improve their squads due to the huge funds available to them, and would soon challenge for the Top 4.

If you say that one more time I will actually hunt you down and throw cheese at you. That TV money will get you nowhere near the top 4 in the Premier League. It's such a shit point, so stop using it.

[Spaghetti Incident]

Yeah, I've been pretty certain of that for a while now.

Yeah, me too

[Avril's Scottish Boi]

Not really. The Old Firm are far bigger than Arsenal, and if they can challenge the Top 4, with the TV money the Old Firm easily could.

and Sinead, do you know what similar means? I meant Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have SIMILAR, not the same populations.

[LΞW!S]

Not a premiership thread, so shut up Mike

World cup thread. Ireland better than Scotland. All that matters. /End discussion!

Woot!

[Avril's Scottish Boi]

Naw, you shut up. We'll see who's better at the World Cup mate.