FAI Invites First Division Expressions of Interest

**gufcfan** · 26/09/2014, 9:20 PM

Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

Pretty sure Longford won't be taking advice from Galway on how to run their club

Galway fans were the problem. Nail on the head. You have such insight.

**legendz** · 12/10/2014, 7:25 PM

Most LoI supporters are against the idea of play-offs. Most clubs probably are as well. I'd be traditionalist enough as well.

The league is well down the sporting discussions of our country. The only story most will have heard of this year is the Dublin derby called off due to a divet on the pitch!

The unwanted option of an end of season play-off is possibly one option to create media coverage over a number of weeks and grab the imagination of people. The one off event is part of our sporting public.

I can't see it happening. Noone here will want to see it happening. I guess here ends the discussion!

**disgruntled** · 12/10/2014, 8:37 PM

To be honest if a club or fans don't want to be involved in an end of season play off which might get them promoted or save their place in the League then they might just as well not bother at all.

The main goal of clubs, players & fans in football should be to get as high as you possibly can either in the League or personal playing standards but do so in a sustainable manner & not in the hand to mouth fashion that most League of Ireland clubs continue to be run & let that take you where it will.

There are many clubs in this country who are run in a sustainable basis & have risen to their own level.
They can maintain that level no matter what happens because they are run within their means & not on some boom & bust philosophy which if it works is fine but if it fails it leaves them bust & broken beyond repair.
These clubs still maintain an ambition to rise higher if the opportunity arises.

The League of Ireland is full of the ghosts of clubs who thought they could spend their way to success, money which they didn't have.

People should not confuse failing to run a club in a reckless manner with a lack of ambition.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 12/10/2014, 9:56 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

Most LoI supporters are against the idea of play-offs.

On what basis do you make that statement? I'm not aware of any sort of mass resentment of the play-off idea. Maybe parts of how it is carried out, but not the idea itself.

**Dodge** · 13/10/2014, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

I can't see it happening. Noone here will want to see it happening. I guess here ends the discussion!

You'd never post if the criteria for your posts included a likelihood that "it might happen" clause

**Macy** · 13/10/2014, 10:26 AM

My main issue with the play off as it currently is, is that it should be a Promotion Play Off only*. Should be 2 down and 2 up.

*This opinion is subject to change, this time next year!

**legendz** · 13/10/2014, 12:25 PM

I should clarify by play-off, I'm on about that sacrilegious thing for the Premier Division title.

**seand** · 13/10/2014, 12:30 PM

I'd generally be opposed to an end of season playoff system with, say, the top 4 playing off for the title (as in some other leagues and some other sports). I don't see the harm in having a playoff match for the league title if teams finish level on points though. This could be implemented next season, obviously!

**NeverFeltBetter** · 13/10/2014, 2:04 PM

Oh right, I just assumed you meant the promotion play-off because of the thread. No, I wouldn't be behind that idea either I suppose. This isn't the pro-12. 33 games is enough to determine a winner, and the FAI Cup fills the void of "end of season showdown" well enough.

Maybe a play-off for the last European place? 3rd against 4th over two-legs?

But anyway, this doesn't seem like the thread for this discussion.

**Macy** · 13/10/2014, 6:21 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

I should clarify by play-off, I'm on about that sacrilegious thing for the Premier Division title.

Just lumping on a playoff on top of the existing structure I would be 100% opposed.

I am open minded if it was part of a wider restructuring of football, such as if we introduced a conference system that included all senior clubs.

**legendz** · 13/10/2014, 7:14 PM

That's all true. Lumping on a play-off for the sake of it is rudiculous.

I have to say, I still believe the league should go to a 16 team Premier Division. B teams and all other interested parties then in a regionalised second tier.

It's notable Pro 12 attendances in Munster are down, something like 7500 last Friday. I can't speak of Ulster and Leinster. There's only a few GAA counties who get crowds of around 7000 for their national league games. A lot of people traditionally as we know are event junkies.

If the league ever reached a level where about 6 clubs were getting around 6000 on a regular basis, I think that'll be a great position for the league.

In Limerick and back home in the county of Kerry, the league doesn't make much impact on sporting discussions. That is a problem for the league. There cannot be a divet on a pitch every week to get people speaking of the league!

**Longfordian** · 18/11/2014, 10:53 AM

I see a couple of the Shamrock Rovers B lads from last year have been signed by Shels and Pats. No Rovers B team next year so?

**disgruntled** · 18/11/2014, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

I see a couple of the Shamrock Rovers B lads from last year have been signed by Shels and Pats. No Rovers B team next year so?

I'm sure they have more than two players

**Dodge** · 18/11/2014, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by disgruntled

I'm sure they have more than two players

Of course but if the point of it is to develop players for their first team, then letting 2 highly rated prospects go is a bit odd. Sandford was top scorer with their 19s for a couple of years but must feel like Shels is better for him now

**legendz** · 18/11/2014, 12:41 PM

Have any other clubs expressed interest in entering a B team?

**Longfordian** · 18/11/2014, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Of course but if the point of it is to develop players for their first team, then letting 2 highly rated prospects go is a bit odd. Sandford was top scorer with their 19s for a couple of years but must feel like Shels is better for him now

That's more or less what I wanted to say but didn't have time to do so! Although the main memory I have of O'Malley was the absolute nightmare he had against us the night we won the league.

**Dodge** · 18/11/2014, 1:04 PM

I've never seen him play but he won their POTY award so can't be awful. He goes to NUI Maynooth so his coaches there would be Ger O'Brien and Brendan Clarke. They'd know his potential even if he hasn't done well for Rovers

**Longfordian** · 18/11/2014, 1:17 PM

Yeah in fairness I've no idea what his season was like. I only saw him play a maximum of twice (I'm not sure if he played in our second game in Tallaght) and he's obviously very young for a keeper.

**disgruntled** · 18/11/2014, 1:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Of course but if the point of it is to develop players for their first team, then letting 2 highly rated prospects go is a bit odd. Sandford was top scorer with their 19s for a couple of years but must feel like Shels is better for him now

Rovers probably reckoned that he wasn't going to make it with them.
Didn't score a goal last season with the B's as far as I can see & only made a few appearances.
Was mostly on the bench.

**Longfordian** · 18/11/2014, 1:42 PM

He scored 2 against Shels after coming on as sub I think. He was well regarded at Rovers by all accounts. They scored very few goals as a team. Daniel Purdy got most of them and he was an established LOI player who was wasting his time playing with the B team.