SPL better than eircom League – Hoolahan

[daveh]

Thought you were a Pats fan hibs4ever?:confused:

[ollie]

Thought you were a Pats fan hibs4ever?:confused:

*cough*fair weather supporter*cough*
;) :D

[Hibs4Ever]

*cough*fair weather supporter*cough*
;) :D


Where's the rocket science here lads???


I support St Pats and Hibs.


Now, when I talk about the Cork v Hibs match and say "our" it obviously means HIBS.

When I talk about Joe Gamble and say "our" league it obviously means the Eircom League

Whats difficult here lads:confused:

[Hibs4Ever]

*cough*fair weather supporter*cough*
;) :D

How do you work that out?


Wow, you Cork boys really are insulted that one of your top players could get in a team at a higher level than the Nationwide Conference in England. SAD:D

[bohs til i die]

The Scottish Premier league is by far and away of better standard to the eircom league in pretty much every area. From overall playing standard to stadiums, spectator facilities and media involvement.

Livingston's ground is a million miles better then anything the EL has to offer. I know as I have been in it, and I have also been in Dunfermline's ground, Aberdeen's ground and they are far superior.

The whole set up is better, more professional and to claim Shels are better then Livingston is a mistake. Shels may currently have a better team, but as a club they are not better.

Rangers, Celtic, Hibs, Hearts, Kilmarnock and Motherwell are better then our top 6, just like the bottom 6 in Scotland would be better then the bottom 6 in Ireland. Its a far better league in every aspect.

Bohs beat Aberdeen, who should have been relegated in 2000 but for Falkirk or someone having a ground deemed unsuitable for the SPL. Aberdeen got in the UEFA because they lost the cup final to the league winners.

As for the Cork-Hibs match. By that logic Bohs are better then almost the entire Premiership because we beat Spurs [all first teamers] 3-1 in March 2003.

If any of the top 6 in Scotland played Cork in UEFA Cup, I wouldnt back against the SPL side.

[Slash/ED]

Shels may currently have a better team

So you agree, that is the only argument. Nobody is denying facilities wise they are way ahead of us from top to bottom.

[daveh]

The whole set up is better, more professional and to claim Shels are better then Livingston is a mistake. Shels may currently have a better team, but as a club they are not better.

I think this is what w'eve been saying!!

Im not disputing the fact that the standard of facilities in Scotland are better than here,they're miles better,im just talking about playing standards which is what this thread is about IMO

[bohs til i die]

No, I think Shels are better team then Livingston, but Houlihan is moving to a league of better standard, and will therefore be playing at a higher level.

[ThatGuy]

Bohs beat Spurs, Spurs beat Liverpool, Liverpool are the European Champions, therefore Bohemians are better than the European Champions.

But Wayside drew against Bohs, therefore they are as good as the European Champions. But Verona beat Wayside, but I am better than some Verona players. Therefore I am better than Stephen Gerrard, and the Leinster Senior League is the best in the World.

I was a better underage rugby player that Brian O'Driscoll, therefore next time I see him in Myos with Glenda he's gonna get a hiding...

[pete]

No, I think Shels are better team then Livingston, but Houlihan is moving to a league of better standard...

Everyone agreed with that 3 pages ago. :eek:

[ollie]

Where's the rocket science here lads???


I support St Pats and Hibs.


Now, when I talk about the Cork v Hibs match and say "our" it obviously means HIBS.

When I talk about Joe Gamble and say "our" league it obviously means the Eircom League

Whats difficult here lads:confused:

thought you were just a hibs fan.

[joeSoap]

I think theres a high possibility that Hoolahan believes that some very decent performances against the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Hearts etc will earn him a transfer to a more successful / higher profile club. You can't blame the lad for that and theres no denying that he's talented.

Cork, Derry and Shels are the only clubs that would survive in the SPL. Any of the others would be relegation candidates. The structure of their league, coupled with better stadia and media coverage keeps us in the dark. Even though the EL has made progress, it sadly is still light years off the pace as a properly structured and organised league. All divisions in England, plus the conference are better leagues than ours, as is the SPL and Welsh Premier. Before anyone jumps down my throat,I'm not saying our leading sides couldn't compete in these leagues; they could, and have a degree of success too. I'm talking about organisation and administration. Every other country in Europe s better organised than we are, and thats why we are suffering. Theres no cohesion amongst clubs in the EL, just small minded bitterness and hatred. Plus a large dollop of envy.

We will always be Europes poorer relation until this is rectified, a proper league with quality management, and assistance for those clubs who need it, and they all do.:mad:

[pineapple stu]

All divisions in England, plus the conference are better leagues than ours, as is the SPL and Welsh Premier.
On what are you basing your assumption that the Welsh Premier is better than the eL?! One 45-minute spell of football?! The UEFA Rankings have the eL five places higher with almost double the number of points. Recent European results have been much better for the eL than the Welsh league. This year there were 16 places between the two. The eL's European results have been consistenly much better than the Welsh ones over the past few years. A couple of players who didn't make it in the eL went to the Welsh Premier (Graham Brett from UCD, Jamie Hughes from Derry), while I can only think of David Forde who went from the eL to the Welsh Premier and came back again. TNS would probably survive in the eL Premier, and maybe one or two others, but the eL is better than the Welsh league.

[ThatGuy]

On what are you basing your assumption that the Welsh Premier is better than the eL?! One 45-minute spell of football?! The UEFA Rankings have the eL five places higher with almost double the number of points. Recent European results have been much better for the eL than the Welsh league. This year there were 16 places between the two. The eL's European results have been consistenly much better than the Welsh ones over the past few years. A couple of players who didn't make it in the eL went to the Welsh Premier (Graham Brett from UCD, Jamie Hughes from Derry), while I can only think of David Forde who went from the eL to the Welsh Premier and came back again. TNS would probably survive in the eL Premier, and maybe one or two others, but the eL is better than the Welsh league.
Wasn't Jimmy Agree one of the best players in Wales, with nearly 400 appearences there too? Enough said!

[EnDai]

Ah, good ol' Jimmy! :D He's in the conference now, with Tamworth, on £1800 a week, unless I am very much mistaken; which I probably am. :) European results over the last few years are all we have to base a comparisson on, and we beat the Welsh Premier hands down, scary that someone thinks it is superior! :(

[joeSoap]

On what are you basing your assumption that the Welsh Premier is better than the eL?!
Read my quote:


All divisions in England, plus the conference are better leagues than ours, as is the SPL and Welsh Premier. Before anyone jumps down my throat,I'm not saying our leading sides couldn't compete in these leagues; they could, and have a degree of success too. I'm talking about organisation and administration.

I'm not talking about on the pitch here...

[Dazzy]

David Forde went from EL to Welsh to West Ham and to Derry!!

[pineapple stu]

I'm not talking about on the pitch here...
How much do you know about the administration of the Welsh league though? Any league which has several of its top clubs - even Merthyr Tydfil and Newport Co - playing in another league, and which has others (e.g. Rhyl) looking to leave doesn't sound overly well administered. Grass is always greener and all that...

[Soper]

Believe me, the Welsh League is in NO way better than the EL in ANY regard.

[Éanna]

You played Hibs, not Hearts :rolleyes: And as discussed earlier you played Hibs youth team. In 2nd half we brought on 3 players who are only making 1st team appearance now and tore City apart.
it was a type. same bloody difference anyway.

[Kerry Blue]

it was a type. same bloody difference anyway.
Ya. Just as Cork City are the same as Queenstown!;)

[mypost]

Livingston new-boy Wes Hoolahan insists he has taken a step up football’s ladder by swapping the eircom League for the Bank of Scotland Premierleague.

He told Livingston’s official website: “I have no doubt the SPL is better than the Irish league and saw this as a great opportunity to improve myself.

"I am looking forward to playing Rangers, Celtic and the other SPL teams. it’s really exciting to be here.

:D :D

Enjoy the battle to beat the drop Wes, and the ritual 4/5/6/7-0 hammerings to Rangers/Celtic for the rest of the season.

European football v Relegation dogfight. If it were you, what would you choose??

He's made a massive mistake leaving Shels, He'll be begging for a club here to sign him soon, when Livingston throw him on the scrapheap!! :o

[gustavo]

In fairness to him he never said anything about the eircom League:)

[Pablo Escobar]

I know this is off topic, but I always love to ask 'CELTIC FANS' why they support British clubs!?
The usual response in "I don't, I follow Celtic!"
Then I try, usually, in vain to explain where Glasgow actually is!

I think this 'CELTIC FAN' case can apply to a lot of people here that are defending Scottish football, without an attack being lauched at it! (and in one really sad case, a Hibs fan)

[Plastic Paddy]

I know this is off topic, but I always love to ask 'CELTIC FANS' why they support British clubs!?
The usual response in "I don't, I follow Celtic!"
Then I try, usually, in vain to explain where Glasgow actually is!

I know this is off-topic, but do you also love to ask Liverpool and Manchester United fans why they support British clubs? :rolleyes:

The whole issue of Celtic's location, tradition and fan base has been done to death on this site and still people like you bring it up in the expectation of a cheap rise and row. Catch yourself on.

:ball: PP

[Pablo Escobar]

I know this is off-topic, but do you also love to ask Liverpool and Manchester United fans why they support British clubs? :rolleyes:

The whole issue of Celtic's location, tradition and fan base has been done to death on this site and still people like you bring it up in the expectation of a cheap rise and row. Catch yourself on.

:ball: PP
I don't think there's any case for a row!
Celtic are British-FACT!

[gustavo]

ehmm pablo i suggest you close that particular can of worms sharpish!

[Poor Student]

I know this is off topic

Then what are you doing?:confused:

[Plastic Paddy]

I don't think there's any case for a row

Then stop ****-stirring.

:ball: PP

[Pablo Escobar]

Then stop ****-stirring.

:ball: PP
Done;)

[De Town]

Hoolahan started on the bench today for Livi away to Alloa in the Scottish Cup.

[ThatGuy]

I was never overly impressed by Houlihan to be honest, he is a very good player but there have been better young players in the league in recent years (Doyle, O'Flynn, JP Kelly, McCourt) and better players in the Shelbourne team (Byrne, Heary, and while not on 2005's form Crowe). Surprised that Houlihan has gone for such a fee.

Although in saying that, I don't doubt that people's high opinions of Houlihan are wrong, and the fact that he has gotten his "big move" would support that, I'm just going by games that I have seen him play against Bohs.

[Slash/ED]

Hoolahan started on the bench today for Livi away to Alloa in the Scottish Cup.

It'll probably be a few weeks before he's in the first team, his fitness must be way off the rest of the team atm.

[Raheny Red]

Weso came on in the second half! - Livi equalised with the last kick of the game. 1-1.
Anyway I just checked to see what league Alloa are in. Now I was expecting them to be in the first division and looking for promotion after that result. To my amazement they are bottom of the second division and are facing relegation to the Scottish Third Division!

Oh the mighty Livi!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :p

[Dyl10]

Weso came on in the second half! - Livi equalised with the last kick of the game. 1-1.
Anyway I just checked to see what league Alloa are in.

Is jose Quitonga playin for alloa?

[Iorfa]

Was on the bench. Don't think he's much of a regular with Alloa these days.

[dcfcsteve]

Weso came on in the second half! - Livi equalised with the last kick of the game. 1-1.
Anyway I just checked to see what league Alloa are in. Now I was expecting them to be in the first division and looking for promotion after that result. To my amazement they are bottom of the second division and are facing relegation to the Scottish Third Division!

Oh the mighty Livi!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :p

I sincerely hope he was scratching his head on the drive back to Midlothian, wondering what he had done to foresake European football for last-minute equalisers against a club who would probably struggle in the Eirom First Division.....

Dear oh dear....

[sfc red]

I was never overly impressed by Houlihan to be honest, he is a very good player but there have been better young players in the league in recent years (Doyle, O'Flynn, JP Kelly, McCourt) and better players in the Shelbourne team (Byrne, Heary, and while not on 2005's form Crowe). Surprised that Houlihan has gone for such a fee.

Although in saying that, I don't doubt that people's high opinions of Houlihan are wrong, and the fact that he has gotten his "big move" would support that, I'm just going by games that I have seen him play against Bohs.

I was at every Shels game last season and he was an absolute privilege to watch.
I seem to remember his best game being against Bohs in the the 2-1 at Tolka (Remember...Bobby Ryan swings it over and Glen Crowe, standing on the word Judas, scores the winner...) where he absolutely ripped you apart

[MrJoeSoap]

I sincerely hope he was scratching his head on the drive back to Midlothian, wondering what he had done to foresake European football for last-minute equalisers against a club who would probably struggle in the Eirom First Division.....

Dear oh dear....

I'm with you on this one. "eL title challengers -> SPL relegation fodder" being a step up is debatable... last minute equalisers to a team bottom of the Scottish Second Division is just awful.

Anyone else see what Wes said about when he played against Keane in a friendly?

"I was having a decent game ... and at one point he (Keane) turned to Gary Neville and shouted, ’kick that little so and so’."

[thejollyrodger]

Hoolahan and livingstons comments were bordering on the ludercous. Livingston arent in the same class as Shelbourne. We wont be on the recieiving end of a 7-0 thrashing by the old firms and Livingston are never ever going to see Europe.

The €140,000 move for Hoolahan is a step down and he knows it. Obvously its getting at him or he is completely ignorant.

The transfer does highlight the antics of Cork City who have disgraced themselves with the cheapo sale of Doyle, who is estimated to be worth £3million GBPounds, for a couple of thousand Euro.

[ThatGuy]

I was at every Shels game last season and he was an absolute privilege to watch.
I seem to remember his best game being against Bohs in the the 2-1 at Tolka (Remember...Bobby Ryan swings it over and Glen Crowe, standing on the word Judas, scores the winner...) where he absolutely ripped you apart
He was playing against a 17 year old making his debut and versus a Bohs team severely hit by injuries and suspensions and reduced to 10 men after a few minutes in fairness!

[ThatGuy]

Hoolahan and livingstons comments were bordering on the ludercous. Livingston arent in the same class as Shelbourne. We wont be on the recieiving end of a 7-0 thrashing by the old firms and Livingston are never ever going to see Europe.

The €140,000 move for Hoolahan is a step down and he knows it. Obvously its getting at him or he is completely ignorant.

The transfer does highlight the antics of Cork City who have disgraced themselves with the cheapo sale of Doyle, who is estimated to be worth £3million GBPounds, for a couple of thousand Euro.
The SPL is a step up, a mammoth step up. Livingston may or may not have a better team than Shelbourne or any club here, that is up for debate, but it is a better club in every sense of the word that is for sure.

The 7-0 point is irrelevant though, if any club here was to play against the Old Firm regularly I am sure that they would be on the wrong end of a hiding at least once. I know Irish clubs have gotten results against Aberdeen, Kaiserslautern, Rosenorg, Deportivo etc, but that is in the euphoria of Cup competition where underdogs always raise their game. In the run of the mill league games I think the gulf in class would be evident (not between top EL sides and Livi, but between top EL sides and top SPL sides).

And Cork City had no choice about Doyle's fee, it was in his contract. Luckily for them he didn't have a free transfer to Britain release clause as many players in the league do.

[thejollyrodger]

The league may be a step up but Livingston defintely arent. You can be in a top league but be bottom in a top league getting hammered regularly. Time to call a spade a spade. Its a bad move for Hoolahan.

[ThatGuy]

The league may be a step up but Livingston defintely arent. You can be in a top league but be bottom in a top league getting hammered regularly. Time to call a spade a spade. Its a bad move for Hoolahan.
Week in week out Houlihan will be playing against better sides than there are in the Eircom League. He will be playing in front of massive crowds, perhaps in the region of 60,000 on occassions. He will be playing against clubs which qualify for the Champions League group stages and have a pedigree in Europe. He will be playing in a better home staidium, presumably better facilities than what Shelbourne have in IT Blanchardstown, be earning more money, and with a club that has the budget to bring in better players than any EL club can afford to. He is also in a far greater shop window for moving to a bigger club.

How on earth is that a step down?

[MrJoeSoap]

Week in week out Houlihan will be playing against better sides than there are in the Eircom League. He will be playing in front of massive crowds, perhaps in the region of 60,000 on occassions. He will be playing against clubs which qualify for the Champions League group stages and have a pedigree in Europe. He will be playing in a better home staidium, presumably better facilities than what Shelbourne have in IT Blanchardstown, be earning more money, and with a club that has the budget to bring in better players than any EL club can afford to. He is also in a far greater shop window for moving to a bigger club.

How on earth is that a step down?

Because they are bottom of the SPL and staring relegation in the face???

How good a shop window is the Scottish First Division?

[ThatGuy]

Because they are bottom of the SPL and staring relegation in the face???

How good a shop window is the Scottish First Division?
They are one point behind half way through the season.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Even though they're currently bottom I don't see Livi dropping down this season unfortunately (nothing to do with Weso, I just never liked Livi). The Pars are a much worse football team through and through and have been gutted of most of their reasonably talented players since the Jimmys left.

[thejollyrodger]

He will be playing against 2 good clubs and 1 decent enough club. Talking about what other clubs are doing is pathetic attempt at trying to boost the club that you are going to. Livingston arent Celtic, Rangers or Hearts.

The rest of the time he will be travelling to the highlands playing pathetic attempts at clubs.

Although Shels and other EL clubs dont have great facilities and finances we at least have the potential of Europe. We will be playing against top teams, some far superior than the old firms.

Shelbourne also have plans for the future, new stadium training facilites etc. What have Livingston got ? Lets avoid relegation lads .

[ThatGuy]

Although Shels and other EL clubs dont have great facilities and finances we at least have the potential of Europe. We will be playing against top teams, some far superior than the old firms.
Who exactly will Shels be playing this season who are "far superior than the old firms?"

If teams in the SPL are jokes, what the hell are the other 11 clubs in the EL then?

People get their knickers in a twist about ignorant people dissing the EL, yet the same people make crazy remarks about teams in a league which they clearly know nothing about. Ridiculous.

[MrJoeSoap]

They are one point behind half way through the season.

And playing poorly (from what their own fans are saying on their forums) and unable to beat a team who will soon be in the Third Division.