Who you approve of replacing the league cup with an expanded Setanta Cup?

**shizzle787** · 05/03/2016, 10:08 PM

Here's my idea: get rid of the league cup in both Ireland and N. Ireland (league cups are all but pointless) and have an expanded Setanta Cup. The top division clubs in both countries would be entered so that 24 clubs would be in the competition. The top three and the big cup winners of both countries (each country's European representatives) would get a bye to the Round of 16, and the rest would start in the First Round. All rounds (bar the final) would be played over two legs. What do you think?

**fionnsci** · 05/03/2016, 10:26 PM

Would be great if not for the seasons not running side by side. March-May and August-October are the only stretches when the leagues overlap.

**nigel-harps1954** · 05/03/2016, 10:26 PM

No. Simple no. You can't have a league cup without including all the league teams.

**El-Pietro** · 05/03/2016, 11:06 PM

I was 100% sure this thread had been started by citybone before I read it. He's been saying the same thing for 5 years or more.

**shizzle787** · 05/03/2016, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

No. Simple no. You can't have a league cup without including all the league teams.

This isn't a league cup. Both the Irish and N. Irish league cups will be scrapped. This is just an expansion of the Setanta Cup to include all 1st division clubs on the island.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/03/2016, 2:49 AM

Originally Posted by shizzle787

This isn't a league cup. Both the Irish and N. Irish league cups will be scrapped. This is just an expansion of the Setanta Cup to include all 1st division clubs on the island.

And leave the rest of the clubs with one less cup competition. The IL sides weren't interested in the Setanta once the gap between them and LOI became so big. That wouldn't change with an expanded SC.

**TonyD** · 06/03/2016, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

And leave the rest of the clubs with one less cup competition. The IL sides weren't interested in the Setanta once the gap between them and LOI became so big. That wouldn't change with an expanded SC.

That's it in a nutshell. There's no appetite for it from the Northern clubs.

**disgruntled** · 06/03/2016, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

And leave the rest of the clubs with one less cup competition. The IL sides weren't interested in the Setanta once the gap between them and LOI became so big. That wouldn't change with an expanded SC.

This exactly.

**toffeejay** · 06/03/2016, 7:14 PM

I think its a nice idea, it replaces the arguably redundant League Cups with something different to the FAI/IFA Cups but as mentioned it wouldn't work because NIFL clubs wouldn't be as interested and because of the different league start times makes it difficult make it fairly competitive.

It could work elsewhere Dutch/Belgium Swiss/Austria etc.

**jinxy lilywhite** · 06/03/2016, 8:02 PM

Why is the league cup redundant?
When we won it in 2014 we celebrated it like we won the league. Actually it was a catalyst for winning the league. Pats last year too, celebrated it like winning the league.
In the general sense it might not mean much but when you hit the semi finals is a serious competition.

Also it's the only senior cup where the finial can be outside the capital

**citybone** · 07/03/2016, 4:34 AM

as El-Pietro said I have suggested this for years. I would include first division sides from both countries, keep the early rounds regionalized (not necessarily according to the border but to reduced travel) and give the European sides a bye till the last 16.

**seand** · 07/03/2016, 9:38 AM

I approve. Now if you could just explain please how we're going to run this competition in two jurisdictions, playing different calendars, bearing in mind that the most introverted FA this side of North Korea might not be too keen on getting hockeyed on a regular basis by the Fenian bastaads from the Free State.

**citybone** · 08/03/2016, 6:33 AM

Originally Posted by seand

I approve. Now if you could just explain please how we're going to run this competition in two jurisdictions, playing different calendars, bearing in mind that the most introverted FA this side of North Korea might not be too keen on getting hockeyed on a regular basis by the Fenian bastaads from the Free State.

I'm sure the likes of EA Sports might pay more in sponsorship/prize money if there are some more and bigger team's involved in a cup competition more than what the Irish league cup would pay out, maybe don't bother with the Irish league first division side's. The Irish league sides 5th-12th would be similar level to the LOI first division sides. Would make games more competitive than the setanta cup. The tournament could be played in as little as 6 weeks or more realistically 12 weeks from July- October. Having a bye for the European sides in July would be good and give competitive games for the rest while the top teams are competing in Europe.

**TonyD** · 08/03/2016, 6:36 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

Why is the league cup redundant?
When we won it in 2014 we celebrated it like we won the league. Actually it was a catalyst for winning the league. Pats last year too, celebrated it like winning the league.
In the general sense it might not mean much but when you hit the semi finals is a serious competition.

Also it's the only senior cup where the finial can be outside the capital

Well, not quite. But I know what you mean. A trophy is a trophy. Last years win meant that we had won the three major trophies in 3 years, which was nice.

**Jofspring** · 08/03/2016, 11:14 PM

I'd certainly be delighted if we won the League Cup this year. I know it's not the FAI cup but it is still a trophy to be won. It's the kind of cup that if you go out of it really early it doesn't bother you too much but I bet if your team gets to a semi-final or final you want them to win it from there on.

**bluewhitearmy** · 08/03/2016, 11:38 PM

Never understood fans of clubs like us who haven't won anything in years looking down on it I would be thrilled to win it.

**Charlie Darwin** · 09/03/2016, 12:25 AM

If we weren't boycotting cups I'd love to win one of them. Sadly we're concentrating full time on the political banners this year.

**outspoken** · 09/03/2016, 9:58 AM

I don't think we've got past the second round of the league cup since it became the EA sports cup so I'd love nothing more than to see it scrapped

**Dodge** · 09/03/2016, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

Pats last year too, celebrated it like winning the league.

That clearly isn't true.

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Never understood fans of clubs like us who haven't won anything in years looking down on it

That is true though.

It's the 3rd biggest competition in the country. It's a good bit behind the others but I'd rather win it than not win it.

FWIW, the Setanta Cup has shown that an all-Ireland cup wouldn't be any more attractive to fans so not really sure how people here can argue that

**dundalkfc10** · 09/03/2016, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

That clearly isn't true.

That is true though.

It's the 3rd biggest competition in the country. It's a good bit behind the others but I'd rather win it than not win it.

FWIW, the Setanta Cup has shown that an all-Ireland cup wouldn't be any more attractive to fans so not really sure how people here can argue that

I cant speak for every club, but I loved the Setanta Cup.

We brought more to Linfield than we do most away games a few years back, and was a great occassion home and away, no trouble (Rovers take note)
Cliftonville, Glentoran and Coleraine were also all fantastic trips!

The only way clubs will take this seriously (especially our friends up North) is if the money is substantol and thats not going to happen