Division: The Irish Split

[Vintage]

A match annual for christmas 1993 is to blame for it, there was a section on the team that won the treble in that 1992/1993 season. I just liked the blue shirt they wore, and i was a big fan of that team with Gazza and Brian Laudrup in it.

Obviously then i became more aware, that there was some unsavory stuff associated with them as well, but to an early teenage me they were just a team with a nice blue shirt, who had some great players. I was oblivious to all that other stuff.

I'm aware that certain elements of the Rangers support might have a problem with me i suppose, but the two scottish born Rangers fans we have here seem to be decent blokes.

Each to their own lad, dont mind what people think.
That Rangers side was fantastic. I remember there was an Alberts player with them I think he was called the hammer. He had some shot on him. I remember he was linked to Everton before and was sickened that we didn't sign him.
They were the great days of Old Firm derby's up until 10 or so years ago. Celtic and Rangers had some great players. Unfortunately the money has bottomed out of it there and its not the same anymore on the outside. But its still the same to the fans that are there no doubt.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Each to their own lad dont mind what people think.
That Rangers side was fantastic. I remember there was an Alberts player with them I think he was called the hammer. He had some shot on him. I remember he was linked to Everton before and was sickened that we didn't sign him.
They were the great days of Old Firm derby's up until 10 or so years ago. Celtic and Rangers had some great players. Unfortunately the money has bottomed out of it there and its not the same anymore on the outside. But its the same to the fans that are there no doubt.

Celtic had a serious team that time as well, but a bit like Serie A the Scottish league will never be as good as it was in the 90's in my opinion.

Football as a whole though was better back then. Dodgy agents and dubious businessmen have totally destroyed the sport.

Them Saudis buying out Newcastle was the final straw for me.

 

[Vintage]

Celtic had a serious team that time as well, but a bit like Serie A the Scottish league will never be as good as it was in the 90's in my opinion.

Football as a whole though was better back then. Dodgy agents and dubious businessmen have totally destroyed the sport.

Them Saudis buying out Newcastle was the final straw for me.

My highlight of the week was watching the Serie A highlights during the 90s, appart from the Toffees.I idolised that AC Milan team as well as Signori, Baggio and Batistuta. I think they were shown on the Sunday and praying that Sports Stadium on RTE on a Saturday will show an Everton game live.

Its all about the money now thats where Scottish, Italian football and the likes of Big clubs in smaller leagues are struggling .The Italians to a lesser extent. It has ruined fairness and competition throughout Europe. Just see how many English players are playing regularly in the Premier league never mind Irish players. Thats why the national team has been struggling so much.

As you said in the Gaa thread, the 90s 2000s were great. I don't know it in nostalgia or is it that sport seem to want to take the physicality and passion out of the games. I think the pc / health and safety are gone a bit too far and taking it away from what players and supporters have grown up on.

 

[Deleted member 48881]

 

[ToffeeTim]

That possibly could be true, maybe @ToffeeTim can offer an opinion on how NI fans view the ROI team. He's the one guy i know of on here, that would watch Northern Ireland matches.

Probably a wide range of views, as you might expect. Some would support, others support the opposition, most in the middle and more ambivalent. There's a little bit of a derby feel when the teams play each other, but nothing over the top or anything I don't think. I was at the last friendly in Dublin a few years ago and it was fine, although the standard of the match was terrible. The most nil nil football match I've ever seen!

 

[NeroCeasar]

I don't know if you remember 82 and 86 but we celebrated your performances - it was genuine. 93 was poison sadly but MIchael O Neill (former Rovers manager) did a lot to restore the friendship.

Sad that it is unlikely I will ever see the two associations uniting like the IRFU, the IHA and the Cricket team.

I am happy when NI do well.

The fai are the most corrupt, useless, not fit for purpose organisation anywhere in world football, there is no way they are voting themselves out of their committee jobs and perks, unfortunately.

Each to their own lad, dont mind what people think.
That Rangers side was fantastic. I remember there was an Alberts player with them I think he was called the hammer. He had some shot on him. I remember he was linked to Everton before and was sickened that we didn't sign him.
They were the great days of Old Firm derby's up until 10 or so years ago. Celtic and Rangers had some great players. Unfortunately the money has bottomed out of it there and its not the same anymore on the outside. But its still the same to the fans that are there no doubt.

Jorge Alberts, Colin Healy made his Celtic debut as a sub in an old firm game and was booked after about five minutes for absolutely cleaning Alberts out. A simple act that announced Healy to all Celtic supporters

 

[DuncanDoughnuts]

A match annual for christmas 1993 is to blame for it, there was a section on the team that won the treble in that 1992/1993 season. I just liked the blue shirt they wore, and i was a big fan of that team with Gazza and Brian Laudrup in it.

Obviously then i became more aware, that there was some unsavory stuff associated with them as well, but to an early teenage me they were just a team with a nice blue shirt, who had some great players. I was oblivious to all that other stuff.

I'm aware that certain elements of the Rangers support might have a problem with me i suppose, but the two scottish born Rangers fans we have here seem to be decent blokes.

That’s kind of a similar story to how I liked rangers too , loved that blue Nike kit in the early 00s when the Dutch legends were there . Didn’t know the sectarian element to Celtic and rangers then , me being a naive 10 year old . But I’ve always preferred rangers to do well and not Celtic, call it gloating ? any Celtic supporters I’ve come across are big ra heads more so than I’ve ever come across rangers fans to be into the paramilitaries. In fact any rangers fans I’ve come across on holidays have been bang on and just like the football and ashamed of some the sectarian nonsense

 

[Cork Evertonian]

any Celtic supporters I’ve come across are big ra heads

Oh jesus you've set the cat amongst the pigeons now!lol Ah sure Rangers have their bad element as well, but i like to block that all out and focus on the football.

 

[Verbal Kint]

Division is too great at the moment. It should happen but too many pigs will lose out on the status and high profile gigs in the Fai and Ifa. The country is United for Rugby, Hockey and athletics but for some reason is seems years away in football.

 

[Bluerover]

Division is too great at the moment. It should happen but too many pigs will lose out on the status and high profile gigs in the Fai and Ifa. The country is United for Rugby, Hockey and athletics but for some reason is seems years away in football.

Boxing at the Olympics has also seen Northerners representing ROI - people can choose ROI or GB if born in NI . Irish Passports are flying all around the UK since Brexit.

I agree that I am unlikely to see unity in soccer in my lifetime but I can live in hope

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Boxing at the Olympics has also seen Northerners representing ROI - people can choose ROI or GB if born in NI . Irish Passports are flying all around the UK since Brexit.

I agree that I am unlikely to see unity in soccer in my lifetime but I can live in hope

Speaking of unity Sinn Fein now have control of Stormont, so Northern Ireland in it's current form has an interesting future ahead.

 

[Earwigjoe]

Short tifo video 'gunshots and goalposts' on Irelands greatest ever club team Belfast Celtic, fought everyone off the pitch just to be allowed to play football and beat everyone on it including their Glasgow namesake and the Scottish national team and produced one giant of a man who instead of acclaim had 1 of the saddest stories in world football - 'Irish and Man Utd captain, Real Betis' only ever la liga winning manager and Barcelonas most important manager Patrick 'Patricio' O'Connell'.(plenty of youtube vids on o'connell) died penny less and found in an unmarked grave.

 

[Earwigjoe]

 

[DuncanDoughnuts]

Each to their own lad, dont mind what people think.
That Rangers side was fantastic. I remember there was an Alberts player with them I think he was called the hammer. He had some shot on him. I remember he was linked to Everton before and was sickened that we didn't sign him.
They were the great days of Old Firm derby's up until 10 or so years ago. Celtic and Rangers had some great players. Unfortunately the money has bottomed out of it there and its not the same anymore on the outside. But its still the same to the fans that are there no doubt.

He was class for Hamburg too , Jorg Albertz. Rangers did sign some quality players during that era. Shota arveladze was definitely my favourite, used to always shout ARVELAAAADZE in a Scottish commentator voice when I scored on our local pitch ha ??

 

[DuncanDoughnuts]

He must have a foot like a traction engine