blues six glens nil
07-05-08, 11:16 PM
It was inevitable, no sooner had the final whistle blown in last Saturday's Irish Cup Final, the moral crusaders were out in force decrying that any success over the last 3 years has been as a result of the contract to use Windsor Park for internationals.
An achievement last done in 1893, 12 years before Windsor Park even opened.
It does seem strange, that a contract signed in 1984 has only now started to become a bone of contention.
People have had 24 years in which to appeal and do something about it.
While they're at it, perhaps they should investigate the agreements between Manchester United and the FA for hosting England matches while Wembley was being renovated, or the agreement between the GAA and the FAI over the use of Croke Park.
That's just neighbouring countries. Scour the world and you'll find many similar agreement between clubs and governing bodies over the hosting of matches.
Some people appear to be outraged at the idea of a business trying to make money through a commercial contract. Every football club in the world, be it Manchester United or Real Madrid, Linfield or Glentoran, or a 3rd division team in Botswana, needs money to cover operating costs.
That is what's happening here. It is a commercial agreement, not a 'cosy business deal' as some people have labelled it. Quite how two organisations who have been at loggerheads over the past year can have a 'cosy business relationship' is beyond me.
These moral crusaders are quick to complain, but what are they doing to rectify the situation?
They still attend Northern Ireland matches, and contribute to the 'machine' that they claim to despise. They can claim that if they don't go, someone else will take their place and there's nothing they can do.
Well, actually there is, they could protest outside Windsor Park at the next international. Given the present climate, getting media coverage for their cause shouldn't be a problem.
Let's face it, over the past year, BBC Northern Ireland has been a propaganda machine for Howard Wells. Remember their exclusive report that Northern Ireland need a new stadium because, wait for it, the pitch wan't in the best of conditions?
In winter as well. Well, Dimitar Berbatov said so, when he 'slammed the state of the Windsor Park pitch'.
No he didn't. He was asked a question about the pitch and replied that it wasn't in the best condition. Hardly slamming it. It's not as if he stormed into the post-match press conference and ranted about it.
That's the thing about Northern Ireland media culture, seduced by celebrity and concerned by how others see us.
If a Bulgarian player outside of Berbatov or the two Petrovs made those comments, would they be deemed newsworthy?
Of course not. Remember the riots on the streets in September 2005?
It wasn't he economic impact of these which had people tut-tutting. It was the fact that the England football team were in Belfast that week, and people were worried that they might pick up a newspaper and have a negative view of the country.
What didn't get reported was the weekend after the Bulgaria game, matches at MK Dons and Doncaster were postponed, at stadiums opened within the last 2 years.
Puts a massive hole in that arguement, doesn't it?
Interesting to note that the excellent condition of the pitch at the following international, didn't even get a second of media coverage.
Howard Wells knows that every arguement he puts across is flawed, but he keeps shouting it in the hope that people believe him, to the point where he has an unhealthy obsession with everything that happens at the FAI, where him and his lapdog, Nigel Worthington can be seen telling the media that if we had the Maze Money, we could have everything the Republic have, such as friendlies against Brazil.
When Giovanni Trappatoni was appointed as the Republic's new manager, my only surprise was that Howard and Nigel didn't call a press conference to moan that if Northern Ireland had the Maze Money, they too could afford a top-class Champions League winning manager.
Someone should tell Howard that we're not the Republic of Ireland, we're Northern Ireland.
It would be fair to assume that as Linfield have been awarded a UEFA licence, and been accepted into the Invitational League, Windsor Park is a perfectly safe venue to watch football in. That, complimented with the fact that International Football will remain at Windsor Park until 2009 at least.
So what now for the Windsor Park naysayers?
Perhaps they should get of their arses and form a single policy political party such as the Valley Party (Charlton Athletic) or the Seagulls Party (Brighton) which were formed by football fans solely for the purpose of getting a stadium for their teams.
As previously said, getting media coverage and support shouldn't be a problem in the present climate.
A friend of mine recently blogged about Gemma Garrett's bid for parliament
"Gemma won’t win in Crewe and Nantwich, but the fact she’s standing at all serves to remind us that we have won perhaps the greatest battle of all; the battle for freedom"
These naysayers have the opportunity to do something about it, yet what are they doing?
If you sit about and complain about something you can change, then it's your own fault for being in the situation you are in.
In other words, put up or shut up, and if you do nothing about it, at least give our ears some peace.
An achievement last done in 1893, 12 years before Windsor Park even opened.
It does seem strange, that a contract signed in 1984 has only now started to become a bone of contention.
People have had 24 years in which to appeal and do something about it.
While they're at it, perhaps they should investigate the agreements between Manchester United and the FA for hosting England matches while Wembley was being renovated, or the agreement between the GAA and the FAI over the use of Croke Park.
That's just neighbouring countries. Scour the world and you'll find many similar agreement between clubs and governing bodies over the hosting of matches.
Some people appear to be outraged at the idea of a business trying to make money through a commercial contract. Every football club in the world, be it Manchester United or Real Madrid, Linfield or Glentoran, or a 3rd division team in Botswana, needs money to cover operating costs.
That is what's happening here. It is a commercial agreement, not a 'cosy business deal' as some people have labelled it. Quite how two organisations who have been at loggerheads over the past year can have a 'cosy business relationship' is beyond me.
These moral crusaders are quick to complain, but what are they doing to rectify the situation?
They still attend Northern Ireland matches, and contribute to the 'machine' that they claim to despise. They can claim that if they don't go, someone else will take their place and there's nothing they can do.
Well, actually there is, they could protest outside Windsor Park at the next international. Given the present climate, getting media coverage for their cause shouldn't be a problem.
Let's face it, over the past year, BBC Northern Ireland has been a propaganda machine for Howard Wells. Remember their exclusive report that Northern Ireland need a new stadium because, wait for it, the pitch wan't in the best of conditions?
In winter as well. Well, Dimitar Berbatov said so, when he 'slammed the state of the Windsor Park pitch'.
No he didn't. He was asked a question about the pitch and replied that it wasn't in the best condition. Hardly slamming it. It's not as if he stormed into the post-match press conference and ranted about it.
That's the thing about Northern Ireland media culture, seduced by celebrity and concerned by how others see us.
If a Bulgarian player outside of Berbatov or the two Petrovs made those comments, would they be deemed newsworthy?
Of course not. Remember the riots on the streets in September 2005?
It wasn't he economic impact of these which had people tut-tutting. It was the fact that the England football team were in Belfast that week, and people were worried that they might pick up a newspaper and have a negative view of the country.
What didn't get reported was the weekend after the Bulgaria game, matches at MK Dons and Doncaster were postponed, at stadiums opened within the last 2 years.
Puts a massive hole in that arguement, doesn't it?
Interesting to note that the excellent condition of the pitch at the following international, didn't even get a second of media coverage.
Howard Wells knows that every arguement he puts across is flawed, but he keeps shouting it in the hope that people believe him, to the point where he has an unhealthy obsession with everything that happens at the FAI, where him and his lapdog, Nigel Worthington can be seen telling the media that if we had the Maze Money, we could have everything the Republic have, such as friendlies against Brazil.
When Giovanni Trappatoni was appointed as the Republic's new manager, my only surprise was that Howard and Nigel didn't call a press conference to moan that if Northern Ireland had the Maze Money, they too could afford a top-class Champions League winning manager.
Someone should tell Howard that we're not the Republic of Ireland, we're Northern Ireland.
It would be fair to assume that as Linfield have been awarded a UEFA licence, and been accepted into the Invitational League, Windsor Park is a perfectly safe venue to watch football in. That, complimented with the fact that International Football will remain at Windsor Park until 2009 at least.
So what now for the Windsor Park naysayers?
Perhaps they should get of their arses and form a single policy political party such as the Valley Party (Charlton Athletic) or the Seagulls Party (Brighton) which were formed by football fans solely for the purpose of getting a stadium for their teams.
As previously said, getting media coverage and support shouldn't be a problem in the present climate.
A friend of mine recently blogged about Gemma Garrett's bid for parliament
"Gemma won’t win in Crewe and Nantwich, but the fact she’s standing at all serves to remind us that we have won perhaps the greatest battle of all; the battle for freedom"
These naysayers have the opportunity to do something about it, yet what are they doing?
If you sit about and complain about something you can change, then it's your own fault for being in the situation you are in.
In other words, put up or shut up, and if you do nothing about it, at least give our ears some peace.