Scottish Challenge Cup

[Finlay Harp]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38974097

[bluewhitearmy]

What would people think of their clubs being in this? Personally I'd love for us to get in once for the novelty of it.

[pineapple stu]

Sounds like great craic.

Dunno how cheap it is for a club to travel to a match in, say, Elgin, but as a fan, I'd like us to be involved.

Don't know if there's any concerns this (and the U20 sides) could be denying small Scottish clubs a cup final out.

[Longfordian]

The Scottish FA are paying for the LOI teams' expenses aren't they? Presumably in lieu of any prize money. Wouldn't mind a trip over there. Hopefully it would go better than our last UK excursion.

[El-Pietro]

I'm torn between it sounding like a lot of fun, and being somewhat derogatory to be asked to play against lower league and reserve teams from Scotland.

I maintain that the top teams in Ireland could beat any Scottish team not named Celtic and would not be overawed in a game against them even. I don't think theres a huge difference between the two divisions, other than the nice stadia and ... Celtic.
If the competition was the league cup it would be something. My hope is that Sligo or Bray go on and win the thing, theres no reason they couldn't do it, unless one of them *cough Bray* goes bust before then.

On the other hand it will of course be a load of fun for the fans, and its great that we now have 6 teams who will be involved in international tournaments this year, and that gives something for the likes of Limerick, Galway and Harps who haven't had European competition in some time to aim for.

Funny that, 12 teams, 3 relegated, 3 Euro places, 2 Scottish Challenge Cup places, plus the cup winners. We could have the whole division with something to play for in the latter weeks of the season. Even more so next year in a ten team division, though with 1.5 less relegation places.

[White Horse]

I'm torn between it sounding like a lot of fun, and being somewhat derogatory to be asked to play against lower league and reserve teams from Scotland.

I'm not torn. It will be good experience for the players, particularly if they progress to qualifying for Europe in years to come.

[citybone]

I like it. I'm glad the top teams are not involved. To easy for Cork and Dundalk and we have enough games. Not as good as Eruopa league but better than noting (maybe better than Setanta cup, time will tell)

[wonder88]

I take it the Welsh and teams from the north are still involved, if so, this is a step forward for the league(sorry for being too lazy to follow link, if answer given there).
I would be careful in claims that LoI standard is comparable to Scottish league(minus Celtic), the standard/quality of players is still well ahead of us I think. But it is a an achievable/realistic level that we can aim for.

[outspoken]

I take it the Welsh and teams from the north are still involved, if so, this is a step forward for the league(sorry for being too lazy to follow link, if answer given there).
I would be careful in claims that LoI standard is comparable to Scottish league(minus Celtic), the standard/quality of players is still well ahead of us I think. But it is a an achievable/realistic level that we can aim for.

Having watched Hearts V Hibs at the weekend id strongly disagree they standard is any better than here. The Scottish league is often one big game of head tennis

[CraftyToePoke]

What would people think of their clubs being in this? Personally I'd love for us to get in once for the novelty of it.

What I read in that is you will take 5th or 6th for Limerick as acceptable, but for one season only, yeah ? :)

Id love to see Irish sides in it and as said elsewhere, go and win it handy and turn a few more heads re LOI and how good it is hinting at being presently.

[sbgawa]

I think its a great idea.
The FAI should encourage it by giving a bonus for each round progressed as it benefits the league.

Champions league,
Europa League,
Europa League,
Europa League,
Scottish cup,
Scottish cup
Mid table obscurity
Last day survival
Last day survival,
Relegated
Relegated
Relegated

Position 1-12 next year, don't think there will be many teams with nothing to play for.

I think the Scottish cup thing is a brilliant idea, chance of a trip into "Europe : )" and a few pints of Scottish beer.

[Philosophizer]

I would be careful in claims that LoI standard is comparable to Scottish league(minus Celtic), the standard/quality of players is still well ahead of us I think. But it is a an achievable/realistic level that we can aim for.

Our league is almost impossible to compare to a league in Scotland or England, because of the enormous difference between our top and bottom clubs. Imho Dundalk and Cork would be at a similar level as most Scottish teams apart from Celtic, and could hold their own in League 1 in England. They might not win it, but they wouldn't finish bottom either. Derry, Bray and Rovers aren't far off either.

On the other hand, Longford last year wouldn't have been even been capable of staying in the 5th tier of English football, such in the gap in quality within our league.

[PartySaint]

I think its a great idea.
The FAI should encourage it by giving a bonus for each round progressed as it benefits the league.

Champions league,
Europa League,
Europa League,
Europa League,
Scottish cup,
Scottish cup
Pats
Last day survival
Last day survival,
Relegated
Relegated
Relegated

Position 1-12 next year, don't think there will be many teams with nothing to play for.

I think the Scottish cup thing is a brilliant idea, chance of a trip into "Europe : )" and a few pints of Scottish beer.

Fixed that for you

[El-Pietro]

A lot of people suggesting Pats might struggle this year, how likely do Pats fans think that is?

[EatYerGreens]

I thought the addition of Irish and Welsh League clubs last year was a brave and interesting step by the SFA, and this is one further.

The fact that the top 2 sides in the Irish League enter, whilst it's the 5th and 6th placed in the LOI, is an implicit recognition of how dramatically stronger the LOI is to the IL (and our likelihood to progress further in Europe). It should burst the bubble of those fantasists north of the border who claim there's little real difference in standard between our best and theirs.

It would be a curious thing, but a genuine possibility, to see Crusaders play Sligo Rovers in a Scottish League Cup fixture. This could grow into an interesting alternative to the Setanta Cup, and an embryonic Celtic Cup.

[PartySaint]

A lot of people suggesting Pats might struggle this year, how likely do Pats fans think that is?

There’s a lot of if’s and buts going into the season for us.

If the likes of O’Hanlon, Treacy and Peers turn out to be decent with Fagan up front and the likes of Conan Byrne scoring goals we could have a decent season.

On the other hand, If O’Hanlon isn’t any good and Treacy doesn’t sign or even worse, signs and has another season like last year, all of a sudden we have a pretty poor midfield, an ageing Peers with a slow Darren Dennehy at the back and Billy Dennehy on the wing surrounded by a load of kids, we could struggle badly, especially if we get off to a poor start and with 3 going down, that’s a massive worry.

I think we’ll be ok because of the likes of Fagan, Bermo and Conan but wouldn’t expect much higher than 5th at best

[littlebray]

chance of a trip into "Europe : )"
- Brexit permitting!!

[Longfordian]

Our league is almost impossible to compare to a league in Scotland or England, because of the enormous difference between our top and bottom clubs. Imho Dundalk and Cork would be at a similar level as most Scottish teams apart from Celtic, and could hold their own in League 1 in England. They might not win it, but they wouldn't finish bottom either. Derry, Bray and Rovers aren't far off either.

On the other hand, Longford last year wouldn't have been even been capable of staying in the 5th tier of English football, such in the gap in quality within our league.

You're being generous with us there I'm afraid

[outspoken]

You're being generous with us there I'm afraid

To be fair the team we have this season is a lot stronger, especially now that we have an actual football manager. I'd fancy us to give Wealdstone a game at least 😂

[citybone]

I thought the addition of Irish and Welsh League clubs last year was a brave and interesting step by the SFA, and this is one further.

The fact that the top 2 sides in the Irish League enter, whilst it's the 5th and 6th placed in the LOI, is an implicit recognition of how dramatically stronger the LOI is to the IL (and our likelihood to progress further in Europe). It should burst the bubble of those fantasists north of the border who claim there's little real difference in standard between our best and theirs.

It would be a curious thing, but a genuine possibility, to see Crusaders play Sligo Rovers in a Scottish League Cup fixture. This could grow into an interesting alternative to the Setanta Cup, and an embryonic Celtic Cup.
I beleive that they would be kept apart. The Welsh and Norn Iron teams were kept apart this year, so I guess Pats and Bray are unlikely to play a Welsh or Northern team unless some combination of 5 of the 6 teams into the quarter final or of 3 of those 6 teams get to the semi's

[Charlie Darwin]

Sounds like great craic.

Dunno how cheap it is for a club to travel to a match in, say, Elgin, but as a fan, I'd like us to be involved.

Don't know if there's any concerns this (and the U20 sides) could be denying small Scottish clubs a cup final out.
Saw on Extratime there that Celtic's U20s were the only one to win a match, so wouldn't be a problem I wouldn't think. Would be different if they started playing more players with first team experience, but then you'd wonder why they were playing senior players in an underage team. Men's football is a different game and you'd expect any decent lower league team to beat kids.

[Charlie Darwin]

Having watched Hearts V Hibs at the weekend id strongly disagree they standard is any better than here. The Scottish league is often one big game of head tennis
Teams who are good at head tennis could beat ours though. I remember a few NI teams winning the Setanta Cup doing exactly that. Obviously they wouldn't beat Dundalk or Cork bashing the ball up, but anyone below that could be.

[littlebray]

Involvement in that fizzy drink cup could mean major disruption of fixtures towards the end of the season.

Last year, 1st Round 2/3 Aug, 2nd Round a fortnight later, 3rd early Sep, 4th early Oct and QFs beginning of Nov. All matches go to ET & P if needed, so no replays, at least!

But player contract implications, also, assuming things go well on-field.

That schedule is far more intrusive than CL or Europa, isn't it? Especially at the tail end of a season with three relegations and no play-off ...

[EatYerGreens]

I'll doubtless be proven wrong on this, but I bet Sligo Rovers will be drawn away in their first game.

I'd say a lot of Scottish sides wouldn't look forward to the idea of getting to the west of Ireland for a game - especially the non-league or Second Division sides based in the middle of nowhere - so the draw will magic out a home fixture against Sligo.

I wonder if a deal is/will be done re travel costs for whatever team(s) are involved ?

[refjohn]

One Irish team at home and one away. Did same with the Northern and Welsh teams last year. Also, Irish and Welsh teams don't enter until 3rd or 4th round i I remember correctly.

[Johnnie C]

First of this season's semi finals currently live on BBC Alba, Dundee Utd 3-1 up on QOS. 2nd semi between St Mirren and New Saints also live on Alba tomorrow.