There really should be some kind of competition with just sides like Gibraltar, San Marino, Andorra, Luxembourg so that they can at least have some competitive games against each other with the winners being allowed to compete in the WC and Euro qualifiers.
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
There really should be some kind of competition with just sides like Gibraltar, San Marino, Andorra, Luxembourg so that they can at least have some competitive games against each other with the winners being allowed to compete in the WC and Euro qualifiers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spot on
Don't forget the mighty Feroes Islands
What's peoples problem with the really small nations?
comment by LocoLiverpool (U18018)
posted 2 seconds ago
What's peoples problem with the really small nations?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing. If anything we should be grateful for them as England have had at least one of them in their qualifying groups for the last decades or so.
We've been very lucky indeed to always get one of San Marino , the Feroes Islands , Andorra , etc.. in recent years
They just create completely pointless games. Most of us feel that players play too much football as it is and having to waste time against sides like these who offer absolutely nothing is just a waste.
To be fair to Gibraltar they will probably win the same amount of trophies as Manchester United this season
There really does need to be a "minnows" group but I don't see the point in laughing at them (or San Marino etc) or making snide comments.
Have a look at the goals scored by Andy Selva or the odd 0-0 San Marino or Gibraltar have achieved. It means a hell of a lot to them.
I'd love to see a minnows world cup, be better than the crap in the main one
comment by RJCanty (U17308)
posted 13 seconds ago
There really does need to be a "minnows" group but I don't see the point in laughing at them (or San Marino etc) or making snide comments.
Have a look at the goals scored by Andy Selva or the odd 0-0 San Marino or Gibraltar have achieved. It means a hell of a lot to them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair point
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 1 minute ago
They just create completely pointless games. Most of us feel that players play too much football as it is and having to waste time against sides like these who offer absolutely nothing is just a waste.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not pointless for them. The arrogance to think of only England is unbelievable. These countries deserve their shot as much as anybody else. It is only qualifiers remember, they deserve the chance to qualify.
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 1 minute ago
They just create completely pointless games. Most of us feel that players play too much football as it is and having to waste time against sides like these who offer absolutely nothing is just a waste.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not pointless for them. The arrogance to think of only England is unbelievable. These countries deserve their shot as much as anybody else. It is only qualifiers remember, they deserve the chance to qualify.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a massive waste of time. Besides if they were in a qualifier for the qualifiers they'd still get a chance to play in the qualifiers.
It just means we get less pointless 6/7/8-0 games in the actual qualifiers.
They just create completely pointless games. Most of us feel that players play too much football as it is and having to waste time against sides like these who offer absolutely nothing is just a waste.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this not what other countries think when they play England in the Finals of Competitions ?
Football is supposed to be a competitive sport.
These teams are not in the slightest bit competitive.
Gibraltar obviously are new to this, but San Marino have not improved in the slightest.
These teams need a competitive arena in which they have incentives to improve.
You only have to look at this qualifying competition to see what having achievable targets has done for so many nations like Wales, Albania, Northern Ireland and so on.
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
Surely anyone in the UK could play for Gibraltar?
So we should pander to teams that aren't even considered real nations just to make them happy?
What is their purpose? They don't aim to win games and they don't increase competition. Some of these teams have a population of only 30,000, it's ridiculous.
I never said to eradicate them, I said what would be best would be to allow them to play one another, this would actually create far more competitive football for these sides where they have a very real possibility of winning. Surely that is more important than playing big nations just for the novelty. These games would likely increase the quality of these sides allowing them to actually compete in games and then whoever does best out of these can get a chance in qualifications.
It's not arrogance, these teams are f-cking useless and offer absolutely nothing to qualifying rounds.
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
Because they have worked to improve, because they have attainable targets.
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
The arrogance and selfishness of some people is unbelievable.
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
I agree the minnows shouldn't go straight into the qualifying rounds with everyone else. Nobody gets ANYTHING out of it, other than 3 points and 7-8 goals of course....
The players from San Marino would gain much, much more from playing home and away games against Lichtenstein and Andorra than the top nations IMO.
They would be able to set up to attack for starters, they would win some games, get a feel of the ball, get some fans through the turnstiles, build up there confidence and maybe even produce one-or-two decent footballers as a result.
There should be a pre-qualifying tournament for the 8-10 lowest ranked European nations to play home and away, then either the teams that top the two groups go straight to the qualifiers proper, or play a one-off final against each other to determine who gets there.
It would be more beneficial for everyone IMO.
Sign in if you want to comment
Gibraltar
Page 1 of 6
6
posted on 7/9/15
There really should be some kind of competition with just sides like Gibraltar, San Marino, Andorra, Luxembourg so that they can at least have some competitive games against each other with the winners being allowed to compete in the WC and Euro qualifiers.
posted on 7/9/15
Snobs
posted on 7/9/15
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
There really should be some kind of competition with just sides like Gibraltar, San Marino, Andorra, Luxembourg so that they can at least have some competitive games against each other with the winners being allowed to compete in the WC and Euro qualifiers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spot on
posted on 7/9/15
Don't forget the mighty Feroes Islands
posted on 7/9/15
What's peoples problem with the really small nations?
posted on 7/9/15
comment by LocoLiverpool (U18018)
posted 2 seconds ago
What's peoples problem with the really small nations?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing. If anything we should be grateful for them as England have had at least one of them in their qualifying groups for the last decades or so.
We've been very lucky indeed to always get one of San Marino , the Feroes Islands , Andorra , etc.. in recent years
posted on 7/9/15
They just create completely pointless games. Most of us feel that players play too much football as it is and having to waste time against sides like these who offer absolutely nothing is just a waste.
posted on 7/9/15
To be fair to Gibraltar they will probably win the same amount of trophies as Manchester United this season
posted on 7/9/15
There really does need to be a "minnows" group but I don't see the point in laughing at them (or San Marino etc) or making snide comments.
Have a look at the goals scored by Andy Selva or the odd 0-0 San Marino or Gibraltar have achieved. It means a hell of a lot to them.
posted on 7/9/15
I'd love to see a minnows world cup, be better than the crap in the main one
posted on 7/9/15
comment by RJCanty (U17308)
posted 13 seconds ago
There really does need to be a "minnows" group but I don't see the point in laughing at them (or San Marino etc) or making snide comments.
Have a look at the goals scored by Andy Selva or the odd 0-0 San Marino or Gibraltar have achieved. It means a hell of a lot to them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair point
posted on 7/9/15
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 1 minute ago
They just create completely pointless games. Most of us feel that players play too much football as it is and having to waste time against sides like these who offer absolutely nothing is just a waste.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not pointless for them. The arrogance to think of only England is unbelievable. These countries deserve their shot as much as anybody else. It is only qualifiers remember, they deserve the chance to qualify.
posted on 7/9/15
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 1 minute ago
They just create completely pointless games. Most of us feel that players play too much football as it is and having to waste time against sides like these who offer absolutely nothing is just a waste.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not pointless for them. The arrogance to think of only England is unbelievable. These countries deserve their shot as much as anybody else. It is only qualifiers remember, they deserve the chance to qualify.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a massive waste of time. Besides if they were in a qualifier for the qualifiers they'd still get a chance to play in the qualifiers.
It just means we get less pointless 6/7/8-0 games in the actual qualifiers.
posted on 7/9/15
They just create completely pointless games. Most of us feel that players play too much football as it is and having to waste time against sides like these who offer absolutely nothing is just a waste.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this not what other countries think when they play England in the Finals of Competitions ?
posted on 7/9/15
Football is supposed to be a competitive sport.
These teams are not in the slightest bit competitive.
Gibraltar obviously are new to this, but San Marino have not improved in the slightest.
These teams need a competitive arena in which they have incentives to improve.
You only have to look at this qualifying competition to see what having achievable targets has done for so many nations like Wales, Albania, Northern Ireland and so on.
posted on 7/9/15
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/9/15
Surely anyone in the UK could play for Gibraltar?
posted on 7/9/15
So we should pander to teams that aren't even considered real nations just to make them happy?
What is their purpose? They don't aim to win games and they don't increase competition. Some of these teams have a population of only 30,000, it's ridiculous.
I never said to eradicate them, I said what would be best would be to allow them to play one another, this would actually create far more competitive football for these sides where they have a very real possibility of winning. Surely that is more important than playing big nations just for the novelty. These games would likely increase the quality of these sides allowing them to actually compete in games and then whoever does best out of these can get a chance in qualifications.
It's not arrogance, these teams are f-cking useless and offer absolutely nothing to qualifying rounds.
posted on 7/9/15
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/9/15
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/9/15
Because they have worked to improve, because they have attainable targets.
posted on 7/9/15
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/9/15
The arrogance and selfishness of some people is unbelievable.
posted on 7/9/15
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/9/15
I agree the minnows shouldn't go straight into the qualifying rounds with everyone else. Nobody gets ANYTHING out of it, other than 3 points and 7-8 goals of course....
The players from San Marino would gain much, much more from playing home and away games against Lichtenstein and Andorra than the top nations IMO.
They would be able to set up to attack for starters, they would win some games, get a feel of the ball, get some fans through the turnstiles, build up there confidence and maybe even produce one-or-two decent footballers as a result.
There should be a pre-qualifying tournament for the 8-10 lowest ranked European nations to play home and away, then either the teams that top the two groups go straight to the qualifiers proper, or play a one-off final against each other to determine who gets there.
It would be more beneficial for everyone IMO.
Page 1 of 6
6