A great victory for the Boys in Green, but a very disappointing crowd (19,783, according to the Beeb), it makes me wonder what things will be like for the games that don't involve Ireland. Now I know this Wales side were weak, missing many of their star players, but they at least worked hard, and that's the first time in many years I've seen an Ireland team pass around the opposition at will, and we've played some shocking teams in that time! Good to see Wilson and Coleman making their debuts as well, hopefully two stars of the future. Now what I'd like is for Ireland to build on this confidence-boosting result, and go on, not only to win the Celtic Nations, but carry the momentum into the Euro qualifiers.
Was a terrible first half but we pulled it together for the second half. I think we really need England in this competition to give it a bit of excitement, they are talking about entering the 2013 comp. Hopefully after a few tournaments and a bit of Sky hype and it will be a bit more exciting
I actually missed the first half an hour because I timed some cooking wrong, I think I got the best hour of the game! I think the tournament will be fine without England, but they'd definitely add some big attendances and a lot of bite to it. I said this on the 606 boards, but I think the FAI really have to drop ticket prices for this tournament through the floor. It'll mean taking in a bit less money in the short term, but a full Lansdowne Road for this tournament will be far more likely to help it take off than having under 20,000 people there. That, and organise it on a rotating home and away basis as soon as possible. I'd say we'll be lucky to get over 12,000 at the game tonight, whereas the game would probably sell out Windsor, and get 30-40,000 at Hampden (or sell out Easter Road or Pittodrie). The early stages of the competiton have to be about just getting people through the gates, and building up interest. The milking of the fans for all they're worth can come later, if it really has to!
Prices were cheaper for the game on wednesday. Which I guess is fair enough when its only scotland facing the regional representative side. Wales were absolutely shocking and I don't think we learned a whole lot from that.
It's been mixed, to be honest, but I think the fact that Ireland have started well is a bonus. The Irish football public are the biggest bunch of glory hunting bandwagon jumpers you could ever hope to meet, so while you'd always have the die-hards hoping Ireland won every game, there'd be a significant proportion of the public who'd just lose interest and call the entire thing "Mickey Mouse", and not worth bothering with if we'd say drawn with Wales. I think most people much prefer games with a bit of needle and real motivation to friendlies against Paraguay and Algeria though, with the greatest of respect to those two teams!
its a shame our own players havent had the attitude about this competition as what they may have for internationals and show up. its a good idea in principle. too much crap marring this competition for me tbh. good luck in the rest of the tournament