[HibeeJibee]

According to the BBC website, the Celtic Nations Cup looks properly dead, with the news that Northern Ireland are set to pull-out.

Cardiff 2013 will thus surely not take place.

This always looked likely, of course. Things looked bad enough after the woeful crowds for Dublin 2011 (partly caused by the ludicrous decision to play all the games in Dublin), and the weakened XIs many teams had to field (partly caused by playing R2/R3 post-season and not on FIFA dates)... but were clearly worsened further by disputes over revenue distribution and the FAs plans for a potential one-off Home Nations, in June 2013, as the FA 150th Anniversary Tournament which wouldn't involve Eire.

I'll not miss it... but as a concept, it could've worked, had it been better organised.

[Bluebirds Boyo]

Bit of a car crash from the start. All games in Dublin, bubble trip for the NI fans, dodgy fixture dates... Even calling it the Carling (Nations) Cup was a cock-up. Shan't be missed.

[forameus]

Shame this. Had the potential to be something great, but unfortunately club football has taken precedence again. The scheduling of the games was naive to say the least, and the clubs would never have let full strength squads go. As a result, the games were a bit of a piss-take before they started, when they should have been tasty "local" derbies. I was really looking forward to a Scotland England game, even if it was in the fairly academic setting of a friendly tournament.

However, now that this is dead in the water, hopefully Scotland can fill the spaces it left with some decent friendlies to get some ranking points.

[lau03143]

forameus, on 09 January 2012 - 16:59, said:

Shame this. Had the potential to be something great, but unfortunately club football has taken precedence again.

Stop talking rubbish.

It's died a death because of poor attendances, poor distribution of money, a ridiculous scheduling of games and the fact that we've played these teams a few times over the last five or so years.

[forameus]

lau03143, on 14 January 2012 - 13:49, said:

Stop talking rubbish.

It's died a death because of poor attendances, poor distribution of money, a ridiculous scheduling of games and the fact that we've played these teams a few times over the last five or so years.

And the scheduling of games made it fairly unpopular with the clubs as some games were played outwith the usual international football slots. I wasn't claiming that the big bad clubs were the only reason why this wasn't a success. It was a pretty woeful attempt from the start.

[TartanArmani]

Bluebirds Boyo, on 08 January 2012 - 23:13, said:

Bit of a car crash from the start. All games in Dublin, bubble trip for the NI fans, dodgy fixture dates... Even calling it the Carling (Nations) Cup was a cock-up. Shan't be missed.

I am also along these lines. Although if better organised it might have worked. Games should have been in all 4 countries as well. A farce playing them all in Dublin. Daft restriction rules on Northern Ireland fans.

If we had played rep ireland at Hampden rather then Dublin we would have probably won the cup. Would have been a good atmosphere, what with the away end probably being full of Celtic fans supporting Ireland.

[Barrfields_Largs]

TartanArmani, on 16 January 2012 - 14:08, said:

I am also along these lines. Although if better organised it might have worked. Games should have been in all 4 countries as well. A farce playing them all in Dublin. Daft restriction rules on Northern Ireland fans.

If we had played rep ireland at Hampden rather then Dublin we would have probably won the cup. Would have been a good atmosphere, what with the away end probably being full of Celtic fans supporting Ireland.

Any excuse to have a dig.

[Hampden Diehard]

Barrfields_Largs, on 20 January 2012 - 12:28, said:

Any excuse to have a dig.

Well, that,s what happened the last time. Who can forget "you are my Larsson........." ringing round Hampden as the real Irish fans wondered what the hell was happening.

[Wug]

Barrfields_Largs, on 20 January 2012 - 12:28, said:

Any excuse to have a dig.

It's called a memory.

[roverthemoon]

The Home internationals died a death because apart from the games against England no one was interested. Replacing England with the Republic of Ireland was never going to work.

Stop letting the hooligans dictate things and give us an England v Scotland game.