It’s a new chapter for the Irish football team but no one seems to have bought the book. Despite UEFA’s attempts to hype up the Nations League, this still feel likes a set of early season friendlies, and with the Rice and Arter sagas, Irish fans are consumed with negativity towards the management duo of O’Neill and Keane. With a glaring lack of quality in the squad, this seems like the same old story with an unhappy ending.
They’re calling them ‘Box-Office. The unveiling of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane as Ireland’s new management has sparked a frenzy of interest in the home friendly with Latvia. Yet, if the duo weren’t in place next week, if there was no appointment, Irish ‘supporters’ would stay away in their droves. Billy Keane of Back-Post.com wonders if the Irish team would be better off without the event-junkies.
The League Cup is the easiest way for English clubs to win a trophy. Although it warrants a place in Europe, it isn’t exactly held in the highest regard, with some football fans referring to it as a “Mickey Mouse” cup. However, the competition does give smaller teams a fantastic chance of winning some silverware, as we witnessed last year when Swansea beat League Two outfit Bradford in the final. We’ve taken a look at some of the sides that could be in contention for the trophy in early 2014.
In the second of our Fan Direction series, looking at the growing phenomenon of supporter-owned football clubs in Ireland, the spotlight is on Cork City. Borne from the official supporters club, the FORAS trust became the saviours of the southern giant as she flirted with extinction. The Turners Cross outfit are now the driving force in Ireland behind an EC initiative on football governance.
Kevin Curran of the excellent back-post.com looks at the parallels between Alex Ferguson’s successor David Moyes and Frank O’Farrell, the Irishman who followed in the footsteps of the great Matt Busby.
Ireland’s sizable Brazilian population was out in force on Dublin’s O’Connell Street in solidarity with their countrymen. The Confederations Cup, now underway, has become a beacon for protest in Brazil among a people who see billlions spent on white elephant stadia while hospitals are overcrowded, water is cut off in schools and public transport is in chaos.
Cork City FC have revealed their new Umbro second strip which will be given its first outing in Friday’s home clash with Drogheda United.
When Inter Milan defeated Juventus 3-1 last November, it brought to an end a 49 match unbeaten run for the Old Lady. Who would have thought Inter would end the season 33 points adrift – having failed to qualify for Europe for the first time in 14 years – as Juve strolled to the championship? With the manager now replaced by Walter Mazzarri, Thomas Shannon takes a look at the current Serie A betting odds for the title race next season along with an online game for fans of football nostalgia.
June 12, 1988, Neckarstadion, Stuggart. Ray Houghton puts the ball in the English net. We could only post Gabriel Egan’s iconic commentary.
Ireland put in a battling display against Spain at New York’s Yankee Stadium early this morning. A depleted Irish side held the world champions scoreless until the 68th minute and had a goal from Sean St Ledger ruled out for offside before Juan Mata made it 2-0 in the dying minutes.