Without a doubt, the gap is closing between the leagues. I feel the top teams in Ireland would be challenging a top 4 place in Scotland.
http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/...es/gnid-53531/
Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Player of the Month Gary Twigg says there is little to choose between The League of Ireland Premier Division and The Scottish Premier League.
Glasgow-born Twigg earned the April award for some impressive displays with Shamrock Rovers – and brought that form into May with two late goals to see off champions Bohemians 2-1 last time out. The former Brechin player has seen first-hand what there is to offer in Scotland and thinks the top teams in Ireland would more than hold their own against the majority of the sides there.
“I have a lot of better players around me here,” Twigg was quoted as saying by The Irish Mirror.
“Bohs are a good side, Derry and Cork too. [They are] sides that could play in Scotland no problem.
“I played against some SPL teams at the start of the season and to be honest there wasn’t much in it.”
Rovers moved to within two points of Dublin foes Bohs with their win at home to Pat Fenlon’s men, while they remain five points behind Cork City, who now lead the top flight. With a big win behind them, Twigg now hopes The Hoops can continue to live with the best.
“If we keep doing what we’re doing, hopefully we can start climbing the league a bit more and start challenging the top three.
Without a doubt, the gap is closing between the leagues. I feel the top teams in Ireland would be challenging a top 4 place in Scotland.
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I've always thought the Setanta should ultimately hope to expand into a "Celtic Cup", with teams from the Republic, the North, Scotland, and Wales (And maybe an Isle of Man select XI ).
That would certainly help the progress of the competition, this system of playing a for a few months and then a 5 month break and again play for another 2 months. They think that would enhance it, but the addition of Welsh and Scottish would give it a bit more flavour.
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Man tells everyone new workplace is at least as good as old job...
In fairness, as leading scorer he's hardly going to say it's a pub league.
http://soccer-stats.irishtimes.com/?...tr=Comp_Scorer
TOP SCORERS 2009
Jason Byrne 11
Gary Twigg 9
Mark Farren 5
Thomas Stewart 5
Chris Turner 5
Rafael Cretaro 4
Ciaran Martyn 4
Pádraig Amond 3
Dessie Baker 3
Denis Behan 3
There is no doubt our top 4 of Cork, Bohs, Derry, and maybe Rovers this year would be comfortable playing SPL sides, but this would only be on par with likes of Kilmarnock + M`well, I would say they would struggle v likes of top 6 teams like Aberdeen, Dun Utd, Hearts and Hibs, fitness for one would be a massive gap. Scot Div 1 crowds are somewhat similar to our Prem, maybe we get a lot more highs, but overall avg`s would not be far off, so maybe this would be our standard, then again is there much diff to bottom 6 in Spl and Scot First Div ?
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
There is not too much of a difference between the bottom of the SPL and First Division. Many players transfer between them during the season, and they do not spend money and bring players in on frees.
im not so sure how our sides would do week in week out in the SPL. in fairness there light years ahead in regards facilities, full time attitude etc. look at the grounds around our league, there kips. apart from turners cross and tallaght which are decent. plus we'd prob get slaughtered at ibrox and parkhead.
I think Europe is a good indication - I mean how far do Scottish teams bar Celt-Rangers do? Not that great in reality, in fact i would think Irish teams have been doing better recently?
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