retired_cin4me9

To be fair, he was cheated out of a cast-iron penalty which prevented him making the Quarter-finals. Not quite the same as having no chance getting past the first qualifying round. </BLOCKQUOTE>

What goes around, comes around.

Wee ginger bloke was probably a poor example, as him and speccy Irish bloke have done quite well over recent seasons.

But previous to that, it was a real case of big fish/little pond to little fish/big pond, for many years. Same goes for the other tribe.

dwglobal

My experience as well.

Unfortunately, it seems to mirror real life, as aside from some interest in the local derbies, most football fans I talked to in Belfast seemed indifferent toward their local clubs. They either wanted to talk about the national team, or who'd beat Chelski, or else just talk rugby with me. Of course, I wasn't exactly hanging around in Linfield supporters' bars, so I didn't exactly get a scientific sample.

retired_lastdietever

Got to disagree there, no offence. Fortunately it mirrors real life. No Irish (be it Northern or Republic) team is ever going to win a European title, nor a Welsh one for that matter. If it is your ambition to be seriously challenging in those competitions then use those clubs to make a name for yourself and then jump ship. It's the best you can hope for.

Of course, I know you know this, next week I'm going to show my grandma how to suck eggs...

In the past I've normally started in Wales and built my rep until the Wrexham job came up and I could get it (I'm weird like that).

Give us two seasons at the rate I'm going and I won't have to bother doing that

retired_lastdietever

retired_mekeesha

Completely agree with you there fugazi.

I certainly never harboured any fantasies of winning a Euro cup with a Norn Irish side; my beef was that I had absolutely no chance of getting through the earliest qualifying round against fellow part-timers.

Sure, given the real-life record of N. Ireland (and Wales) it is realistic. However for me, as a LLaMA, I strive for realism, but at the end of the day it's a game and I like a challenge. This one left me sick as a parrot

retired_lastdietever

Have a word with the NIFA to change the season then

You know the sad thing (and as far-fetched as this sounds, the more I think about it the truer it fells somehoew), is that you would have more chance of raising Fisher from the depths into a competing (rather than 'just to make the numbers up') European side than doing the same with any Irish side.

Think I've gone insane? Take a look where Wigan were 20-odd years ago. And now that grounds seem to be able to keep on track with the success of the club there's nothing really stopping you. So good luck andy!

retired_lastdietever

BTW what's the betting that in 20 seasons time you're playing a NI team in a European final - just to rip the **** out of everything we've said

retired_crazybonejr

Tsk tsk, Dave, didn't you know it's the IFA?

retired_lastdietever

*Hangs head in shame*

Absolutely no chance in me trying to pass it off as an observation test is there?...

Thought not.. Taxi for Mr Jones please..

retired_mekeesha

Funny you should say that. I'm poddling along happily in the Conf South with Fisher now; I even got to the threshold of Europe - an awayday in the Trophy at Dover :p