We’re not Brasil we’re Tuaisceart Éireann

Did they just stick in any random seat they could salvage? Surely it couldn't have been too hard to order seats of the same colour.

gspain wrote:

JD & Coke wrote:

Is there only one stand open now for this game?

No the building works have been ongoing and the new Railway Stand is open. I understand season ticket holders are all being relocated so none lose out.

2 massive games on the island this Saturday. Both totally sold out. 2 home wins would be great.

As well as the two stands (North and Railway), they've also managed to open a small section of the South Stand at the Railway corner, which will accommodate the Romanian fans (700?).

Considering they were relying on the Kop Stand being available whilst they built new South and Railway stands, the IFA have done well to expedite the work on the Railway and South stands for this game to cope with the "lost" Kop seats.

Irish Duke wrote:

Romanians are good people Thumbs Up

Agreed. Some fine looking women too

We need more. They are not upsetting the brethren enough

d13dave wrote:

The Oval. One of the worst grounds on planet earth. If Health and Safety were worried about Windsor they would have an absolute melt down at the possibility of Northern Ireland playing in the Oval..

As somebody said, the "(Bonkers) Health & Safety Capacity" is just over 5k.

The "Common Sense Capacity" is about 10k.

And the "If They Only Spent a Few Quid on It Capacity" is 15k+

When they moved this year's Irish Cup Final from Windsor at v.short notice, temporary seating allowed 8k(?) in, with no mass fatalities etc. ("A miracle", no doubt)

For something more permanent, what it needs is concreting over grassy areas, new crush barriers on terraces, proper toilet blocks and extra new turnstiles - nothing especially major.

Problem is, the sharks who own/run the club are only interested in The Oval as a property play - it's next to George Best City Airport - and that possibility has gone down the Swannee since the Crash.

This has been made worse by the fact that Linfield/Windsor gets any big games in NI, plus a lot of Government funding.

As a result, the owners haven't spent tuppence hapenny on the old place, nor will they, as they wait for property values to recover (and an easing of Planning Permission for the Airport).

Anyhow, here are a couple of reasonably neutral views, from a few years back:
http://www.footballgroundguide.com/northern-ireland/glentoran/
https://peterrmiles.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/banishing-preconceptions/

The Oval. One of the worst grounds on planet earth. If Health and Safety were worried about Windsor they would have an absolute melt down at the possibility of Northern Ireland playing in the Oval.

Can see them turning over Romania. They are no stranger to a home victory against a higher ranked team.

pre Madonna wrote:

I hope they get absolutely battered and lose the match too.

👍

Eamonn Dunphy:"I'll tell you who wrote it, Rod Liddle, he's the guy who ran away and left his wife for a young one".

Bill O'Herlihy: Ah ye can't be saying that now Eamonn

Shedite wrote:

What would be the second biggest ground in NI?

The Oval, but it is like GAA grounds in the sense that there is an official capacity that hasn't been tested in donkeys years.

Capacity is 26,556, but 5,056 is safe capacity. No way it is up to an international standard.

Solitude is 3,200, fine, but too small. Mourneview is 4,000. There is very little in terms of plan B

aye the Oval would be but its a complete dump and wouldnt be allowed to host a game like that.

Kingspan stadium would be the next best option for them but they would need to put temp stands in where the terraces all are.

Brilliant ground and well finished.

put em under pressure!