Civil Reception in Belfast with the Nordies?

Stick It wrote: I dont see any NI fan who disagrees with me as bitter but snide comments give that aura

Lighten up. It's a lightly-moderated and largely anonymous web board, so inevitably there are plenty of snides. You can always challenge them. Alternatively, take a look at Peter also from Belfast up the page for some real bitterness?

would you agree that for community relations it is good to see both teams recognised and both communities respected? Or is this Britain/Uk and the ROI should stay away as its not their country?

Amen to that brother. I have no problem at all with recognition of the obvious, ie that a large minority in NI identify with the South and its football team. All of this reflected in the media both in NI and England, where you are routinely referred as one of the home nations.

As for the RoI should stay away, That's just self-pitying mopery.

To the dum-dum who asked why a NI fan would post on a thread about the NI team, we last played you as recently as May 2015

Zizu wrote: In regards to the 40 man squads I’d say we’re all in agreement that they are pretty much a waste of time by MON As for how the government treats the diaspora I again believe you have a point

See, this shows what I've always thought: strip away the single issue obsession and there's much we can agree on

I’m not really sure what you’re trying to argue here FU

Only as you're letting a fertile imagination run riot. I reminded you above how I tend to post on here, pointing out that it's hypocritical to go on about non-existent countries and the like when you rely so much on England for players.

Rest assured I accept players from NI choosing your teams. It's a free country (or rather two) and we're doing OK without them.

Similarly, I don't mind what you call yourself. I'll continue to call you the Irish Republic or South for short. I know you don't really mind. It just avoids confusion, don't ye think? Even if your last Pres but two used to get her knickers in a twist about it as much as any 'flegger'.

PS to the Doc- your diagnosis is fair enough. There just isn't enough time to answer every comedy genius on the web, much as I'd like to ;)

PPS to Stoger- we'll just tell them we're not Brazil, merci.

Zizu wrote: Here is the 27 man squad named to face ze Germans and The Polskis

Afternoon Zizu. Surely you haven't forgotten Marty's original 40 man squad? Thought not.

You have a point about our reliance on the English football system but that is no different to u guys

Sure, we all (neighboring countries) borrow players from another country. You just do it more than almost anyone else. Which is fine generally and with FIFA's rules, it just makes your jibes about non-existent countries and the like a bit silly.

However, as most on here will agree, we have a very unique and special relationship with our diaspora

That's one of way of euphemising it, I suppose. As you may be vaguely aware plenty of Irish people (both living there and abroad) think the Southern State treats the Diaspora quite off-handly. That might imptove if- say- you gave the latter a vote for a ceremonial president or similar.

If you are trying to make an argument that your squad is somehow more ethnically pure than ours because less of them are born abroad

I'm clearly not, but thanks for asking.