Should eL break for the World Cup? [Archive]

Raheny Red

28/05/2006, 9:41 AM

I don't think they should but I see the logic behind it. The EL is worried that people would rather stay at home or go to the pub and watch the WC instead of turning up at EL games.

Is that not the case already? :confused: :rolleyes: :p

I don't think it should, maybe they should have thought about it on the other hand that maybe some people might get the buzz for a quick fix of live football during the WC. Though this is very, very unlikely!

Dodge

28/05/2006, 10:33 AM

Don't see a problem with a md season break if its the same two week every year.

DmanDmythDledge

28/05/2006, 11:31 AM

Is that not the case already? :confused: :rolleyes: :p
Ye but there would usually be no competition in the summer.

BohDiddley

28/05/2006, 11:38 AM

I'm all for a break in the season - especially this season! :(
Seriously, I don't think there's any point when you're up against the World Cup. And if it gives us more football at the end, it can't be bad.

willymccann

28/05/2006, 12:25 PM

I agree with BohDiddley on this, we shouldn't go up against the World Cup.

Also, you have to look at it from the Players prespective, I'm sure they'll want to watch as much of the Cup as possible, which having a break gives them a chance to catch some of the earlier stages

sullanefc

28/05/2006, 6:49 PM

The eL should not clash with the international calender. When Ireland play any international, there should be no games as there are players being called up to the team - Byrne and Gamble - and all the U21s

harpskid

28/05/2006, 9:55 PM

I don't see the point of breaking for the first three weeks of the tournament.

Aren't we going to be in competition with the latter stages - the eL resumes on the week ending June 25th and the WC don't end til 9th July i think

A face

28/05/2006, 9:58 PM

eL fans, i'd imagine would like to see the national team in the world cup and to have domestic based players who are good enough to play in the world cup so yeah .... the break is a good thing.

mypost

29/05/2006, 12:15 AM

No, for 4 reasons:

Ireland's World Cup involvement ended 8 months ago.

By having the league going on during the WC, it will entice more people, I believe, to come and watch live games on the back of the tournament.

It harms our sides in Europe with European commitments. It's not good for them fitnesswise, to go into Europe in the near future, having not played for 2 weeks.

This is summer football. It demands that games are played at this time of the year, on EVERY week of it. Every club player and official in the NL, is aware of this situation before the league starts. If you want to take holidays during the summer, then get out of this league, and get involved in Junior Football!!! :mad:

Thunderblaster

29/05/2006, 2:19 AM

If you want to take holidays during the summer, then get out of this league, and get involved in Junior Football!!! :mad:

Except in Mayo!!:p :D

Magicme

29/05/2006, 8:30 AM

I am totally against it coz clubs have to pay the players the 2 weeks wages without getting any football outta them....am gonna miss my fix of live football and go demented.

Ash

29/05/2006, 8:37 AM

Actually, it suits me fine cos I'm being sent abroad with
work during the eL break so I wont miss any games :)

garykelly

29/05/2006, 9:54 AM

if the league is run better then maybe 2 week break would be ok. But i say no, becuase fixtures have been all over the shop so far with some teams not playing in 2 weeks ,while others play 3 or 4 in same period. This break will inevitably lead to more fixture messing and congestion. Also players still need to be paid throughout this break, which is very difficult for most clubs without a gate receipt in those couple of weeks.

NY Hoop

29/05/2006, 11:01 AM

Absolutely not. Only if Ireland are competing. Season will grind on now til december again.

We have no "home" game from May 7 til June 21 and am sure other clubs are in the same position. Especially that ourselves and Limerick have 2 back games to play now so players will be idle for nearly 3 weeks and will probably have to play those games in the space of a few days not to mention the inconvenience for the supporters.

You think managers in this day and age are gonna say to the players: "Right lads go off and get ****ed for a fortnight and then come back"? Players will be training during the break. Players are off for the winter. Go on hols then ffs.

KOH

Schumi

29/05/2006, 12:02 PM

I don't see any need. People who would miss games to watch TV wouldn't go anyway so I don't think there'd be much of a loss in crowds. It would be the perfect opportunity to market the league with everyone talking about football for a month. It needlessly extends the season too.

Neish

29/05/2006, 12:49 PM

I voted yes as I think ther should be a mid season break, but I think it should be so every year and not just because of the World Cup.I belive the vast majority of LOI fans will go see their team play whenever they can despite the fact that any other game is on. And if Ireland were playing in such tournaments I don't think anyone would have a problem with brought forward/delayed kick-off times in the League

pineapple stu

29/05/2006, 2:14 PM

I think crowds were markedly down during Euro 2004, even though Ireland weren't involved, which is probably why it's coming in. Also, it's to allow players to take a summer holiday. The latter stages of the World Cup will still clash, but you can't have everything - you can't have clubs inactive for a month or five weeks, as wages presumably still have to be paid. Also, there's fewer games in the latter stages (one or two a day), so basically less football to clash.

Suits me too as I'm off to Canada for two weeks on Saturday. Thought I was going to miss the Derry game, but the nice people at Setanta brought it forward a day for the telly too!

Terry

29/05/2006, 3:06 PM

When they decided this, they should have also said that whoever had games which were previously postponed, they would have to have them rearranged during these 2 weeks. It would prevent a build up of games and they would still be able to play them at the weekend, meaning no midweek fixtures and still having a half decent crowd attending.

willymccann

29/05/2006, 4:14 PM

Suits me too as I'm off to Canada for two weeks on Saturday. Thought I was going to miss the Derry game, but the nice people at Setanta brought it forward a day for the telly too!

Sure at least you have 2 weeks in Canada to get over Derry beating you in your own back yard

pineapple stu

29/05/2006, 4:22 PM

When they decided this, they should have also said that whoever had games which were previously postponed, they would have to have them rearranged during these 2 weeks.
But that would defeat the entire purpose of allowing players a break to take holidays - they now couldn't plan anything as they'd have no guarantee of having the time off.

Dodge

29/05/2006, 8:18 PM

pineapple stu

29/05/2006, 8:20 PM

Raises an interesting question though - what's their collective fitness going to be like for the first game back?

mypost

29/05/2006, 9:53 PM

Pretty much every LOI footballer has holidays booked for these 2 weeks.

Full-timers only!!

Dazzy

29/05/2006, 10:12 PM

For teams in European competition should be in heavy training in these two weeks.

Schumi

30/05/2006, 10:37 AM

Full-timers only!!
I'm sure part-timers can arrange their work holidays for that period if they want.

Buller

31/05/2006, 11:19 PM

i think there has to be a break during the world cup regardless of weather our international team make it or not, its the biggest sporting event in the world!

garykelly

01/06/2006, 4:53 PM

Pretty much every LOI footballer has holidays booked for these 2 weeks. No way could they arrange games

i think our club is letting players on holiday for the first week. they're all back training the 2nd week(might have a friendly/practic game in 2nd week). i'd expect this to be much the same in other clubs ??

John83

01/06/2006, 5:19 PM

Not to pick on mypost, but I disagree with every point he made:

Ireland's World Cup involvement ended 8 months ago.
But people will watch the World Cup anyway.

By having the league going on during the WC, it will entice more people, I believe, to come and watch live games on the back of the tournament.
During the tournament? People will be watching a load of football. The last thing they'll want is more.

It harms our sides in Europe with European commitments. It's not good for them fitnesswise, to go into Europe in the near future, having not played for 2 weeks.

This is summer football. It demands that games are played at this time of the year, on EVERY week of it.
Why? Winter football doesn't prohibit a mid-season break?

This will help the pitches recover and will let players who have been ignoring niggling injuries get a fortnight off.

As for it clashing with the later stages, there are less games played at that point.

NY Hoop

01/06/2006, 5:52 PM

The break is absolute nonsense. The MLS are not even taking one even though the national side are in the WC.

Do winter league countries take a break? Do they ****? Give the pitches a break is a pathetic excuse. The ONLY reason for a break should be if the national team is in the WC or the EC.

Between May 7 til June 21 we have no gate income.

Re Shels games in Europe mypost is dead right. They will have no games after tomorrow til the European games. Thats not ideal preparation.

KOH

Schumi

01/06/2006, 6:02 PM

Do winter league countries take a break? Do they ****?
Plenty have Christmas breaks of a couple of weeks.

exiled_gufc_fan

06/06/2006, 6:20 AM

Surely the FAI could have used their pwer and influence to get FIFA to have no games on Friday evenings so there would be no clashes? :rolleyes:

After all they have been so successful with the Premiership that the FA & Sky have arranged a few live tv Friday evening games having already taken over Sunday afternoons ten years ago. :(

CollegeTillIDie

06/06/2006, 7:01 AM

Plenty have Christmas breaks of a couple of weeks.

Some countries have winter breaks lasting three months. Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia are all examples of countries which have breaks of that length.

Jerry The Saint

06/06/2006, 8:52 AM

Some countries have winter breaks lasting three months. Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia are all examples of countries which have breaks of that length.

Having read through some of the recent attendances I was going to suggest something similar. I've changed my mind on the benefits of taking a break but instead of two weeks we should have a 2-3 month break during summer.

NY Hoop

06/06/2006, 11:35 AM

Plenty have Christmas breaks of a couple of weeks.

That would be because of the bad weather e.g. Germany.

Clubs are now idle for nearly 3 weeks for what? Then a rush of games after the break with the season again needlessly stretched out til december.

KOH

mypost

06/06/2006, 6:10 PM

instead of two weeks we should have a 2-3 month break during summer.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

That is a total non-starter. Summer football is designed primarily to assist our clubs in Europe. So the idea of a summer break of 2-3 months, smack in the middle of the European campaigns, is simply a no-go area.

Jerry The Saint

07/06/2006, 9:02 AM

:eek: :eek: :eek:

That is a total non-starter. Summer football is designed primarily to assist our clubs in Europe. So the idea of a summer break of 2-3 months, smack in the middle of the European campaigns, is simply a no-go area.

Well it comes back to the old debate, doesn't it? Summer soccer has brought us 1,000 people at a top-of-the-table clash in the home ground of the club with the best European record. We're about to take a break for the World Cup because we can't compete with it. We re-organised our whole season because it was deemed that we couldn't compete with the EPL.

I know they're not the most popular of organisations on this site, but look at how the GAA are responding to the World Cup - they're not just going into hiding, they're stepping up advertising.

"We recognise it's a major attraction. There are going to be a lot of people looking at it, we're all going to be looking at it so we have to push our own games hard during that period"

http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=13&si=1628579

In the spirit of football administration in this country, I say "Let's give it a go/Sure what harm can it do/Isn't it better than doing nothing inanyway?".

NY Hoop

07/06/2006, 9:45 AM

Eh the club with the best European record is Rovers. 2-3 month break? Try to bring some sanity into the debate please.......

I wouldnt mind the thousand at last nights game. Midweek games are not known for their attendances.

But why was the break for the 2 weeks when the tournament is starting? Surely the logical thing is break when the tournament gets into the latter, interesting, stage?

If Ireland were in the tournament there should definitely be a break but look at next year. No competing attractions with players and officials sitting idle for 3 weeks and then, again, games needlessly prolonging the season. Look at the weather now this is when the games should be played. By the time november comes there is a good chance of postponements cos of bad weather which will get messy.

There is no justification for a break. Reasons such as players rest and pitches rest are farcical. Players are very well paid and half of the premier are full time pros. Boo hoo for their break they can take one in the winter. The pitches only need a break in the off season.

KOH

Jerry The Saint

07/06/2006, 10:44 AM

Eh the club with the best European record is Rovers. 2-3 month break? Try to bring some sanity into the debate please.......

I don't know where you get that, they had a couple of good results in the Intertoto and beat that Maltese team over two legs:confused: Anyway Shelbourne's European record is a lot more relevant to the question of whether summer soccer has been worthwhile than any historical results.

And to clarify, my "2-3 month break" would involve starting the league in August and finishing with the Cup final in May - a radical concept I know.

NY Hoop

07/06/2006, 10:57 AM

Where I got that? Knowing my clubs history is where. We've won 10 games out of 48 in Europe. Shels have won 6 out of 49. And we've never played a Maltese team in European competition. You did and lost.

The idea of summer football was to help ALL of our sides in Europe not just shels.

Start the season in august and end in may? Doctor we have a live one here!

KOH

Jerry The Saint

07/06/2006, 12:46 PM

we've never played a Maltese team in European competition. You did and lost.

Where did I say anything about Shamrock playing a Maltese team? I don't recall Pats ever playing one either:confused:

NY Hoop

07/06/2006, 1:06 PM

I don't know where you get that, they had a couple of good results in the Intertoto and beat that Maltese team over two legs:confused:

Above?

Anyway summer break is a stupid idea.

KOH

passerrby

08/06/2006, 7:47 PM

this silly decision was taken when we thought we would be in the world cup (silly notion ) no club wants this yet it was done proberly because the FAI are of to germany ... who says the EL calls the shots.

Poor Student

09/06/2006, 10:07 AM

But why was the break for the 2 weeks when the tournament is starting? Surely the logical thing is break when the tournament gets into the latter, interesting, stage?

The main saturation of games takes place in the 1st round. By the latter stages there will be a few games remaining and less of a saturation.

NY Hoop

09/06/2006, 11:24 AM

Doesnt really matter there should'nt be a break anyway. Fixtures werent released til february. Ireland were out of the WC in october.

KOH

Poor Student

09/06/2006, 11:37 AM

Doesnt really matter there should'nt be a break anyway. Fixtures werent released til february. Ireland were out of the WC in october.

KOH

People are more likely to watch Poland v Ecuador tonight than they are an eL game. The eL is best to avoid competeing with the opening hype of the competition. Ireland being there or not doesn't have a whole lot to do with it. It's still the biggest watched event in the world barring the Olympics.

NY Hoop

09/06/2006, 11:44 AM

I agree with your first sentence. But whats worrying is the precedent this will set. Look at next year. No WC or EC or Olympics and we sit on our hands for 3 weeks? Absolute nonsense.

I do concede that had games gone ahead there would have been a decrease in crowds but thats preferable than having no games and then needlessly stretching out the season til december.

KOH

micls

09/06/2006, 11:46 AM

People are more likely to watch Poland v Ecuador tonight than they are an eL game. The eL is best to avoid competeing with the opening hype of the competition. Ireland being there or not doesn't have a whole lot to do with it. It's still the biggest watched event in the world barring the Olympics.

Did the clubs decide or were they told?

Surely its the clubs who should decide if they're willing to risk the drop in attendence in order to avoid a situation with no money coming in for upto 5/6 weeks

John83

09/06/2006, 1:48 PM

Did the clubs decide or were they told?

Surely its the clubs who should decide if they're willing to risk the drop in attendence in order to avoid a situation with no money coming in for upto 5/6 weeks
I assume the clubs decide. The league hasn't been signed over to the FAI yet.