Tonight's latest

[gufcfan]

Suprised no-one has started it...

What's the Pat's line-up? Just switched it on as Bobby Ryan was comin off.

Was it a collision or something?

[BillyG]

Pats Line Up

Ryan
Lynch Harris (c) Paisley Brennan
Kirby Fahey Dempsey Ryan
Quigley Fitzpatrick

Subs
Friesz
Guy
Murphy
O Brien
Haverty
Bialek
Partridge

Gavin Cup tied, O Neill and O Cearuill injured

[gufcfan]

Cheers BillyG

[Stiof]

Derry 1-0 Glens

Higgins

[BillyG]

1-0 Pats
Fahey header from Quigley cross

Half Time

[Stiof]

Linfield 0-1 Pats

Fahey

[belfastred]

Linfield 0-1 Pats

Fahey

I don't see alot of the LOI but Fahey looks a quality player

[BillyG]

Linfield missed great chance to equalise. Fahey also had great shot saved.

[Stiof]

Derry 2-0 Glens

Farren

[belfastred]

Linfield 1-1 Pats - Mulgrew

[sonofstan]

The fact that Linfield, with 7 pros, have always been able to hold their own with fully professional EL sides - Shels, Cork, Drogs, Pats- with wage bills many time the size of theirs, should give us pause; with all the money being spent, are we actually getting that much better a 'product'?

[BillyG]

The proverbial game of 2 halves. Pats much better team in 1st half and took deserved lead. Linfiled took control in 2nd half but only managed to equalise in last min....and could have won it. Deserved equaliser and draw was fair result even though in last 20mins linfield will wonder how they didnt win in or how it took so long to get level.

Good game

[MariborKev]

The fact that Linfield, with 7 pros, have always been able to hold their own with fully professional EL sides - Shels, Cork, Drogs, Pats- with wage bills many time the size of theirs, should give us pause; with all the money being spent, are we actually getting that much better a 'product'?

Aye, welcome to reality.

Some of us have to been asking these questions since the full time experiment began.

[Mr A]

Aye, welcome to reality.

Some of us have to been asking these questions since the full time experiment began.

Indeed, and only 2 of Linfield's pros were available last night, and they lost a few players over the summer and it does not look like the replacements are as good.

In our own case Harps basically doubled the budget to turn pro this year and are barely a better side than last season. I think Galway United found a similar experience in making the transition.

A core of good pros with the rest part time is probably the optimum solution until such time as the league can truly support all full time setups.

[finnpark]

The fact that Linfield, with 7 pros, have always been able to hold their own with fully professional EL sides - Shels, Cork, Drogs, Pats- with wage bills many time the size of theirs, should give us pause; with all the money being spent, are we actually getting that much better a 'product'?

Thats a load of ribbish imo.

The reason that Lingfield are able to do well against Eircom League sides is down to their style of play. They are a defensive team who get plenty behind the ball when they don't have it.

Cork, Derry and Pats are all attacking teams and struggle against this style of play. Drogs should fair better against Lingfield. If Bohs and Drogs are in it next year Lingfield will struggle against these teams. Shels used to be a very open attacking team too.

I think Lingfield and Pats will qualify for ther next round at the expense of Derry. Lingfield should get at least a draw against Derry and Pats should beat Derry.

Just remember that NI beat Spain, the European Champions in qualifing. That does not mean that NI are the best team in Europe. What it means is that their style of play is counter productive for attacking stlyed teams.

[finnpark]

Aye, welcome to reality.

Some of us have to been asking these questions since the full time experiment began.

Look at the Irish League as a whole. Its utter rubbish and their results are rubbish. Only Linfield can get results and as I said they are extremely defensive against attacking sides. If LOI teams used better tactics they would hammer them.

[Steve Bruce]

Manchester United play counter attacking football. What’s your point? Are you saying it is a fluke that Linfield have topped the group every single season this competition has run? We have managed to get into 2 out of 3 finals and that is a fluke?

Can you not also see that maybe, just maybe we are a cut above the rest of the IL, hence the reason why we have won a cleansweep, a double and a treble in the last 3 seasons.

If your teams come down playing an attacking style of play, of course Linfield are going to play a tactic that is going to get results and by and large we do get results. Can I also point out that Linfield regulary play fringe players in this competition as well.

I’m not saying we are the greatest team, but fairs fair, give credit where it is due.

Drogheda’s head to head record against us in 90 minutes isn’t better that ours. The difference between the two clubs is Drogs won on Penalties.

Also Finn, our league is rubbish I agree, but it isn’t going bankrupt either. I’d take that over the mess the LOI is seemingly in/or heading in.

[belfastred]

Look at the Irish League as a whole. Its utter rubbish and their results are rubbish. Only Linfield can get results and as I said they are extremely defensive against attacking sides. If LOI teams used better tactics they would hammer them.

You might be right

I'm sure if our teams allowed themselves get into hundreds of thousands of debt then we would be able send out teams that could compete on a more regular basis.

[blueman1886]

They pay average players outrageous wages,must think it makes them look more Pro.

[OneRedArmy]

And who the **** are Finn Harps? :confused:Exactly!:D