League of Ireland in Europe 2017

**legendz** · 08/06/2017, 9:04 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Sadly for every time ive heard Horgan and Boyle mentioned positively among the English game obsessed football fans, i have heard double the amount scoff at Towell and Hoban to a lesser extent. It will be an interesting time at Deepdale come August.

Why sadly? I wouldn't be getting bothered by the limitations of those lacking the football knowledge and capacity, and completely ignorant of the league due to their own ineptness. Not every player who goes to England from the Dutch league is a success either.

I'd imagine English won't be taking a punt on LoI players for the sake of it. They have and will have their scouts at games here. It's a great time for LoI players with the league being noticed by those in the know. If players are performing consistently well and naturally gave the talent, their LoI performances are putting them in the shop window for decent wages on 2 or 3 year contracts that can set them up reasonable well for even after their careers come to an end.

There's an incentive there now for players to stay on in the league up to the ages of 21 to 23. If players are good enough, clubs will come calling. There should be know panic nor great necessity to head over at a young age.

**Nesta99** · 08/06/2017, 10:51 PM

Sadly that they exist at all and choose to balance the positive impact of one or two players after recent moves to be dismissive of their stock due to another players lack of game time. Sadly 'cause such dim and or narrow minded people exist and miss the amount of former LoI players that have carved out good careers across the English leagues from Southend United up to our international squad. It is also sad that if English clubs start paying attention again and they sign up players it may weaken our product. Any signing from the relative unknown scouting or not is taking a punt - would Oxford sign Hoban if they could do it all again. We will be watching Maguire with interest to see if he cuts it considering his blistering form here but there are no guarantees. Even with bags of knowledge on players we payed a transfer fee for Kilduff(?) and Horgan...

**ccfcman** · 09/06/2017, 8:04 AM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Preston seem to be the only club in Britain who've properly clocked on to the talent in the LOI.

The lovely club aka Reading had their time already.

**sbgawa** · 09/06/2017, 9:20 AM

LOI clubs need to start signing up their best prospects to longer contracts or we will see our best players heading off with little or no money coming in

**Ezeikial** · 09/06/2017, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

LOI clubs need to start signing up their best prospects to longer contracts or we will see our best players heading off with little or no money coming in

The St Pats experience with Jason Gavin and others illustrate the other side of that debate

**legendz** · 09/06/2017, 4:34 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

LOI clubs need to start signing up their best prospects to longer contracts or we will see our best players heading off with little or no money coming in

Have any clubs got the finances available to viably commit to longterm contacts? The financial rewards in the league aren't great and money from European is exploits is dependent on progress in knockout competition. Cork and Dundalk seem to be operating very well within their financial limitations without the need for gambling on European progress.

**sbgawa** · 09/06/2017, 6:06 PM

Best prospects only. How much did dundalk lose out on horgan and boyle.....and with maguire and delaney heading over other English clubs are bound to start looking.

**sbgawa** · 09/06/2017, 6:09 PM

It's one extra year on the normal contracts offered and wouldn't neccesarily be to the highest earners.

**nigel-harps1954** · 09/06/2017, 7:02 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

It's one extra year on the normal contracts offered and wouldn't neccesarily be to the highest earners.

How do the clubs find the money to pay the players during the off-season though? That's the primary reason for one year deals here.

**sbgawa** · 09/06/2017, 7:43 PM

Have to go to 52 week contract for the first year but if you've a guy earning 500 a week ...12 weeks extra is only 6k. I know thats not nothing but in the context of a decent transfer fee it's probably worth a chance.
I think rovers and dundalk are 52 wks already

**sbgawa** · 09/06/2017, 7:46 PM

Plus if they are paid for 52 wks they can do promotional or comunity work for the club.

**pineapple stu** · 09/06/2017, 7:49 PM

Don't think a 52-week contract is a requirement for a two-year deal?

If I sign up for E200 a week for 36 weeks, and do it for 2017 and 2018, then I've signed a 2-year-deal surely?

**sbgawa** · 09/06/2017, 7:59 PM

Fair point , don't know.
I suppose the club could say it's a 52 wk contract during which you are paid 200 a wk during season and 1 euro in off season. Still think with the lack of staff at most clubs and amount of work to be done having a couple of extra people around for the off season is an investment in a different way.

**pineapple stu** · 09/06/2017, 8:03 PM

I don't think they even need to do that tbh.

It should be enough to have the player saying they've signed up for both 2017 and 2018.

Agree that there'd be work for a couple of players over pre-season alright.

**jinxy lilywhite** · 09/06/2017, 8:21 PM

If I remember correctly 2016 contracts terms were offered for more than 1 years for our key players and all apparently were advised by agents to keep the contracts down to a min (especially in Horgan's case).

In 2013 kenny signed all the players man to man. In 2014 everyone of them had agents. It's the way it is over here. Longer contracts don't suit the top players because they are advised that it's an impediment to them going to England

**legendz** · 09/06/2017, 8:22 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Fair point , don't know.
I suppose the club could say it's a 52 wk contract during which you are paid 200 a wk during season and 1 euro in off season. Still think with the lack of staff at most clubs and amount of work to be done having a couple of extra people around for the off season is an investment in a different way.

Are players entitled to social welfare payments during the off season? It might be in there best interests to be paid their annual wage within the 40 weeks or so of the season.

**legendz** · 09/06/2017, 8:27 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

Longer contracts don't suit the top players because they are advised that it's an impediment to them going to England

It's a gamble on their part, if they get injured, are they covered by insurance when their season contract runs out?

**blueblood** · 09/06/2017, 8:28 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Have to go to 52 week contract for the first year but if you've a guy earning 500 a week ...12 weeks extra is only 6k. I know thats not nothing but in the context of a decent transfer fee it's probably worth a chance.
I think rovers and dundalk are 52 wks already

In the off season they get a couple of grand off the dole, I think the players would prefer getting paid more over 42 weeks + dole for 10 weeks.

**pineapple stu** · 09/06/2017, 8:32 PM

Well, only if they don't have a full-time job elsewhere.

**legendz** · 09/06/2017, 9:03 PM

Originally Posted by blueblood

In the off season they get a couple of grand off the dole, I think the players would prefer getting paid more over 42 weeks + dole for 10 weeks.

Is it the dole or will they have built up enough social stamps or whatever it is that their contributions over 9 months covers their social payments for 3 months?