Shane Long

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/08/2011, 12:01 AM

No, they're not. What's your point?

And while there might not be a Premier League team that's lost 20 games straight, there was one who went 32 without winning so it's not as if you have a point there either.

**Colbert Report** · 15/08/2011, 12:10 AM

Twenty losses in a row is a joke. The team obviously shouldn't be in the league.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 15/08/2011, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

If there was no LOI these players would just head over to England straightaway and get discovered much earlier.

Or get rejected....

Whatever its other failings (mainly financial instability) the domestic clubs provide a 'second chance' for many players or late(r) developers, eg. Long and Paddy McCourt.

The standard will never be the greatest, but it's not doing any harm either....

**Colbert Report** · 15/08/2011, 12:37 AM

I think it does terrible harm to the popularity of the sport in Ireland. I think there should be one club only, based in Dublin, that plays in the English tier. Think of how much better it would be if there was one team that got 50k a week out to see a Premiership match in Dublin instead of a few thousand scattered throughout the country.

**mastershake** · 15/08/2011, 1:36 AM

I think it does terrible harm to the popularity of the sport in Ireland. I think there should be one club only, based in Dublin, that plays in the English tier. Think of how much better it would be if there was one team that got 50k a week out to see a Premiership match in Dublin instead of a few thousand scattered throughout the country.

Stupid logic. Why would you want an Irish team in the Premier league when the majority of fans already support an English team. How exactly is having our own national league with the likes of shamrock roves competing well against the teams of Copenhagen's standard detrimental to the'' popularity of the sport in ireland''. We're generating players of championship standard or better now on a regular basis.Doyle, Long, Hunt,Hoolahan,Darl Murphy, Forde,Deegan, Delaney, O'Donavan even.Wake up man.

**tricky_colour** · 15/08/2011, 2:01 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I think it does terrible harm to the popularity of the sport in Ireland. I think there should be one club only, based in Dublin, that plays in the English tier. Think of how much better it would be if there was one team that got 50k a week out to see a Premiership match in Dublin instead of a few thousand scattered throughout the country.

That would be a bit like Cardiff City (who are in Wales). Ireland would be better off doing it like rugby, with Munster Leinster stc...

**ArdeeBhoy** · 15/08/2011, 2:05 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I think it does terrible harm to the popularity of the sport in Ireland. I think there should be one club only, based in Dublin, that plays in the English tier.

One small problem. Ireland's, er, not in England...

**gastric** · 15/08/2011, 2:21 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

One small problem. Ireland's, er, not in England...

While you are obviously correct, we are still sending droves of teenagers to England every year as they are wanted by clubs there. Any plan that would keep these youngsters here until they are at an age to make up their mind about their futures would be certainly welcome by me.

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/08/2011, 2:29 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Twenty losses in a row is a joke. The team obviously shouldn't be in the league.

Yeah, they'll be relegated at the end of the year.

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I think it does terrible harm to the popularity of the sport in Ireland. I think there should be one club only, based in Dublin, that plays in the English tier. Think of how much better it would be if there was one team that got 50k a week out to see a Premiership match in Dublin instead of a few thousand scattered throughout the country.

Football is not unpopular in Ireland. Scrapping the league and having only one club, on the other hand, would do terrible harm to the popularity of the sport in Ireland. Assuming the thousands of dedicated LOI fans in Cork, Sligo, Galway, Derry and Louth actually matter to you.

**Colbert Report** · 15/08/2011, 3:21 AM

No, they don't matter to me at all.

**BonnieShels** · 15/08/2011, 8:01 AM

Which is why you really shouldn't bother talking about the LOI in that fashion.

Absolute bullplop being talked here.
And in the week where OTB rehashed an interview with Eamo about the Dublin Dons.

Also say we did have an EPL team in Ireland. Why would it be populated exclusively by Irish players? What would stop the management purchasing foreigners to ensure success.
So we lose not only 20 or so senior clubs but the replacement club would end up just like any other EPL team.

It would be such a retrograde step and idiotic debate that any further talk about it on this forum should be punishable by a whack in the head by PoS's manbag.

**Acornvilla** · 15/08/2011, 12:23 PM

I cant believe I just read that conversation, jesus christ what an idiot

**BonnieShels** · 15/08/2011, 12:25 PM

The worst part is I responded like a suckah.

**paul_oshea** · 15/08/2011, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Which is why you really shouldn't bother talking about the LOI in that fashion.

Absolute bullplop being talked here.
And in the week where OTB rehashed an interview with Eamo about the Dublin Dons.

Also say we did have an EPL team in Ireland. Why would it be populated exclusively by Irish players? What would stop the management purchasing foreigners to ensure success.
So we lose not only 20 or so senior clubs but the replacement club would end up just like any other EPL team.

It would be such a retrograde step and idiotic debate that any further talk about it on this forum should be punishable by a whack in the head by PoS's manbag.

I'm more than happy with that. I can fill it with Bricks. Its quite a strong ManBag.

**drummerboy** · 15/08/2011, 12:55 PM

What should be done is the FAI should fund an academy, top coaches, top facilities and each season a fresh batch of players are divided among the LOI clubs, similar to the the draft system in American Football.

**paul_oshea** · 15/08/2011, 12:57 PM

The only way that would be financially viable is if the FAI got significant chunks for any big money move/sell on clause. And i cant really see that happening.

Btw back on topic, I took Long was pretty annonymous bar the goal. What i do like from what i have seen recently though, is like rooney and a lot of good strikers he is making a yard of space for himself before getting a shot in. Great to see that sorta ability and awareness.

**SkStu** · 15/08/2011, 2:46 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

What should be done is the FAI should fund an academy, top coaches, top facilities and each season a fresh batch of players are divided among the LOI clubs, similar to the the draft system in American Football.

im glad to see that someone has paid attention to my previous posts. It really is the only viable way to keep the majority of our best young players at home to learn their trade at a professional or semi professional level and also ensure that clubs get compensated appropriately when players are bought from Irish clubs. The english clubs get way, way, way too many "bargains" from the league each year. McClean and O'Donovan are an exception to the rule.

The best of the best would still probably go abroad earlier but if they were contracted to the academy then a portion of the compensation agreed could be split between all clubs in the League.

**BonnieShels** · 15/08/2011, 3:06 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I'm more than happy with that. I can fill it with Bricks. Its quite a strong ManBag.

Your ManBag now Paul, not your hod!

As regards your comment re Shane, is it bit this that differentiates the good from the great strikers' in that they can be anonymous for large portions of the game and then pull something out of no where?

**SwanVsDalton** · 15/08/2011, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

im glad to see that someone has paid attention to my previous posts. It really is the only viable way to keep the majority of our best young players at home to learn their trade at a professional or semi professional level and also ensure that clubs get compensated appropriately when players are bought from Irish clubs. The english clubs get way, way, way too many "bargains" from the league each year. McClean and O'Donovan are an exception to the rule.

The best of the best would still probably go abroad earlier but if they were contracted to the academy then a portion of the compensation agreed could be split between all clubs in the League.

What about the clubs already fairly successful at developing players and reaping the benefits? No hint of pretence here - I'm thinking of Derry predominantly although we're not the only ones who might feel aggrieved at any kind of central system. We haven't always got the best deal we could, but we're pretty good at developing quality players. OFF TOPIC at this point but I'd be curious to see your thoughts on how it would work - link to another post perhaps?

**SkStu** · 15/08/2011, 6:32 PM

SvD, ive posted on it many times a few years ago. I tried looking for them a while back but couldnt find them.

My thoughts on the problem you raise is that there is nothing to stop the clubs either a) competing with the academy if they have an adequate youth set up or b) signing the players that dont make the academy and developing these players themselves and of course retaining all transfer rights to these players - not every player would go through an FAI elite-academy.

There are obviously going to be challenges with any system and i havent thought through it all. In fact i havent thought about it much at all recently!!