Shane Long

[Charlie Darwin]

What has Champions League football got to do with opening a national academy?

[the bear]

i didn't say a national academy, i said irish clubs each with academies that would hopefully be able to make an impact in the cl at some stage.

[DannyInvincible]

the only way i could see that working is if something similiar to the rugby magners league was set up. with 4 or watever small number of irish teams competing at a high level, drawing big crowds every week. say a team from dublin, cork ,belfast, galway, cardiff etc.

each with an academy and a realistic incentive of top class football, champs league and all.

i think this would be the best way forward. people might be skeptical and stay away at first, but if the standards are high the crowds will come. i see this as the only real way that an irish club could have a impact in the champions league. also the standards of our international team would greatly improve

do you think this is realistic, LOI fans are bound to be against it . im not actually calling for abolishing the league and all the histories of its clubs. that could still operate the same way, with the best players coming to play at these new higher standard irish teams rther than being poached overseas

That would probably require UEFA giving an extraordinary amount of leeway, especially if Welsh clubs were to partake.

[BonnieShels]

i didn't say a national academy, i said irish clubs each with academies that would hopefully be able to make an impact in the cl at some stage.

Yeah, but myself and gastric were talking about that and you've managed to disband the LOI and bring in some Welsh teams.
Anyway none of this has anything to do with Shane Long either...

[irishfan86]

That would probably require UEFA giving an extraordinary amount of leeway, especially if Welsh clubs were to partake.

It works here in North America with Canadian teams participating in MLS. There's always a way if you're creative. I agree with the assessment that Irish teams are unlikely to ever do much in Europe unless there is a major restructuring and a link up with other small leagues in the UK/Europe.

[the bear]

That would probably require UEFA giving an extraordinary amount of leeway, especially if Welsh clubs were to partake.

your right its not very realistic, just an idea really as it works very well for the rugby.


Yeah, but myself and gastric were talking about that and you've managed to disband the LOI and bring in some Welsh teams.
Anyway none of this has anything to do with Shane Long either...

ha ok i was just putting my pin on the academy idea. back to shane so

[the bear]

It works here in North America with Canadian teams participating in MLS. There's always a way if you're creative. I agree with the assessment that Irish teams are unlikely to ever do much in Europe unless there is a major restructuring and a link up with other small leagues in the UK/Europe.

which leagues would you think might amalgamate. the original one i said wales probably would be a non runner as they already have 2 teams at or around the epl. it would all depend on the old firm jumpin ship. have uefa ever allowed something similiar to happen before anywhere

[BonnieShels]

which leagues would you think might amalgamate. the original one i said wales probably would be a non runner as they already have 2 teams at or around the epl. it would all depend on the old firm jumpin ship. have uefa ever allowed something similiar to happen before anywhere

It took you exactly one post to go back off topic... well played sir.

[the bear]

thank you sir

[BonnieShels]

thank you sir

Anytime...

So has there been any move on our wee Shane heading to Bayern?

[Stuttgart88]

have uefa ever allowed something similiar to happen before anywhereNot that I know of, and I'd be surprised if they did.

One cross-border league among peripheral countries would lead to calls for another cross-border league among less peripheral countries, and so on until a larger European-wide "superleague" would be lobbied for (again (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/156161.stm)) by the major clubs. The clubs would gain more control over the game, at the expense of UEFA's authority. Remember, UEFA also shot down the idea of an "Atlantic League".

Ultimately the so-called "European Model of Sport (http://ec.europa.eu/sport/library/doc/a/doc248_en.pdf)" would be threatened, a concept that the EU is sympathetic towards, and hence why they allow UEFA to engage in restrictive practices such as collective selling of Champions League TV rights. In another industry this would be in blatant breach of articles 101 and 102 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_101_of_the_Treaty_on_the_Functioning_of_th e_European_Union) of the Lisbon Treaty, but sport's "specificity" can sometimes be argued to support such monopolistic behaviour. In this instance a pyramidal structure with national leagues featuring promotion and relegation, solidarity from the top of the pyramid to the bottom (facilitated by TV revenue sharing, transfer fees etc.) and cross-border club and (importantly) national teams is seen as the "European model" of team sport. The EU, in 2007's White Paper (http://ec.europa.eu/sport/white-paper/index_en.htm), came short of wholly endorsing this model across all sports but I think it's clear they would support UEFA on these grounds if a new move towards a superleague emerged. In any event, the G14 has now been disbanded and the European Club Association has been formed and is recognised as a key stakeholder by UEFA. It appears that UEFA is still in charge, so to speak, and will remain so.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's in UEFA's best interests to keep national leagues independent, or else their control over European football may begin to slip. It may deny Ireland a platform to compete at a higher level of club football, but by and large I support UEFA, especially in its stand against the out of control Thatcherite model of football endorsed by the EPL.

A potentially ironic outcome of a multi-country "Magners League" could be that Irish clubs would benefit, but club football in general would gain more control over the game, at the expense of international football. For all FIFA's criticisms of late I, for one, am glad that both FIFA and UEFA are fighting for the international game - even if it may be out of self-interest. In UEFA's case I honestly think they care, and I quite like them and Platini.

That said, Platini has supported a Dutch-Belgian league merger, and a Balkan-wide league in the past (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/mar/23/leander-schaerlaeckens-dutch-belgian-leagues-merge).

I suggested last year that the Europa League be reconfigured on a regional basis, with more group games, and guaranteeing entry to clubs like the best 2-3 Irish clubs. A specialist football / sports economist in Belgium thought it was a rubbish idea!

[the bear]

thanks for that stutt a lot of research gone in there

very interesting article bout holland/belgium, makes you think if uefa can support that merger then there really is a possibility of something happening here.

10 - 15 years ago it seemed that a european super league was defo on the cards , havent heard any mention of it in a while. the europa league seems to be becoming less important each year im not sure expanding it even more will do it any good.

[SkStu]

okay, ill humour you that the attractiveness of Welsh teams to the irish public will be the panacaea that cures domestic football but why would we have to regionalise and, i presume, get the Welsh (Nordies and Scots?) to regionalise (akin to Celtic Cup rugby). Wouldnt your plan work just as well without destroying the 121 year history of an institution like Bohemians? Or the 5 year history of those whippersnappers, Shamrock Rovers? ;)

If it is an academy you are after then it should be administered by the FAI and graduates are drafted to the league clubs (like the NFL draft or something). Ive posted on this before at length a while back. Will try and root out the posts at some stage.

I also think this discussion should be removed from this thread by the mods and a new thread created.

[the bear]

bonnieshels already sorted it out, i responded to you here

http://foot.ie/threads/152711-The-case-for-a-National-Academy

[the bear]

sums up long fairly well here, from foot365, doesn't mention bayern

Shane Long - Reading
A bit obvious given his goals last season and the amount of attention he has already received this summer, but forwards who bag a few in the Championship are usually the first to be snapped up by eager managers who Sky Plus 'The Football League Show'. A busy little bee, Long has a decent leap for a not particularly big man, as well as a nice turn of pace and a decent finish. Perhaps most importantly - and this is meant in the nicest possible way - he's a little b*stard to play against, nudging and shoving and chirping away, almost irritating opposition defences into submission. For a man unproven in the Premier League he won't come cheap, but he's a rough diamond who can be polished by the right man.
Who Might Want Him: Everton, Newcastle, Sunderland, QPR.

edit: it wouldn't mention bayern, the article only conernin epl clubs

[DannyInvincible]

Has there been anything further on the Bayern link?

[BonnieShels]

Nothing that I can see except stuff from a Bayern forum on 14/06 and NOTW on 12/06

[the bear]

Nothing that I can see except stuff from a Bayern forum on 14/06 and NOTW on 12/06

any idea what the bayern fans think about it

[the bear]

bayern fans not convinced to say the least

http://www.bayernzone.com/transfers/1859-shane-long.html

[Sullivinho]

bayern fans not convinced to say the least

http://www.bayernzone.com/transfers/1859-shane-long.html

Sure why would they. He's some English defender they've never heard of. ;)

The Bayern online rumour mill appears to be an expansive operation. (http://www.bayernforum.com/transfers-f1/) Almost 50 active, individual-centric threads on that first page alone. Shane get's the honor (http://www.bayernforum.com/transfers-f1/shane-long-t6866.html) of his own but in line with that other forum, it's a combination of (understandably) not knowing who he is and wanting a defender instead.

[the bear]

i was looking at that one earlier on sullvinho, did you watch the highlight video of shane on it? It consists of him falling over repeatedly and scoring the odd peno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEf5RRpcDf4&feature=player_embedded

understand why they wouldn't be impressed with that

[Sullivinho]

i was looking at that one earlier on sullvinho, did you watch the highlight video of shane on it? It consists of him falling over repeatedly and scoring the odd peno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEf5RRpcDf4&feature=player_embedded

understand why they wouldn't be impressed with that

That's all kinds of bloody godawful in fairness.

But enough about the music, the action scenes ain't up to much either. Not the most flattering tribute for sure.

[SkStu]

It consists of him falling over repeatedly and scoring the odd peno.

understand why they wouldn't be impressed with that

Carsten Jancker anyone? ;)

[Noelys Guitar]

I'm sure he has spoken with Doyle and Steven Hunt (and of course Noel Hunt) about things at Wolves. Doyle moved to Wolves because they were the only team that offered him a certain deal and matched Readings asking price. Same thing might happen with Long. Does he wait on a maybe deal or go with the first certain deal he gets (probably Wolves again). Of course someone like Spurs might come in for Doyle (in my opinion they need him) and he could end up signing for Wolves and Doyle moving elsewhere.

[dr_peepee]

A bit of a disservice regarding premiership credentials.. He has played and scored in the premiership and against premiership teams in the cup... His quality has never been in question.. Just his consistency until this year.

(referencing the football365 article there)

[AlaskaFox]

Had a read of those Bayern fan threads, just imagine the amount of Bayern jerseys Irish kids would wear if they signed Long.

That said, this move is seeming less and less likely.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I thought the prime cut of urban knack-pop for the backing track made it.

[French Toasht]

Anyone else looked at the "Funniest Youtube Video You Can Find" thread on the Bayern boards?
http://www.bayernforum.com/announces/funniest-youtube-video-you-can-find-t6552.html

I know most of the posters on that site are non-German Bayern supporters, but they certainly have adopted the German sense of humour ... or lack of it!

[BonnieShels]

About 15 secs of 2 videos is all I could last. JAYSUS!

[Stuttgart88]

urban knack-pop brilliant genre classification. I like it.

[Noelys Guitar]

Sunderland fans seem to think Long has signed for them. Gibson, Westwood, Mayler and possibly O'Shea and Long. And all likely to start.

[CraftyToePoke]

Sunderland fans seem to think Long has signed for them. Gibson, Westwood, Mayler and possibly O'Shea and Long. And all likely to start.

That would be interesting. Lets hope it all works out, they are one of these clubs that never feel quite stable in the division, relegation, if it came wouldnt be a massive surprise. Here's to Wolves and Sunderland safely in mid table and having a tilt at the cups.

[Stuttgart88]

What a contrast to August / September last year, when you'd have more chance of spotting a pair of rare birds of prey at an EPL ground than an Irish footballer.

Trap has no excuse now :)

[the bear]

chris eagles?

[Noelys Guitar]

No concrete offers for Long from anyone yet according to the local Reading news http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2095344_long_way_down_on_sunderlands_list.

I still think Long will end up at Wolves (probably for about 4 mil). I can see him getting 12 to 15 goals with a half decent team. Especially alongside Doyle.

[Murfinator]

I feel like they bigged him up way too much and scared clubs away from him referring to speaking about a 20m price tag and bayern munichs supposed interest. In reality the likes of newcastle, wolves, QPR etc may very well be interested in him for about 4m but they aren't going to embarrass themselves with talk like that emerging.

[Noelys Guitar]

I feel like they bigged him up way too much and scared clubs away from him referring to speaking about a 20m price tag and bayern munichs supposed interest. In reality the likes of newcastle, wolves, QPR etc may very well be interested in him for about 4m but they aren't going to embarrass themselves with talk like that emerging.

Wolves only side that offered Doyle a contract (Doyle admitted that himself to his credit) and I'm sure the same applies to Long. Lots of teams in the Premiership simply don't have the money ie Everton to afford players like Given, Doyle and Long. The top 6 aren't interested. So it comes down to 6 or 7 clubs. Sunderland (who I believe are using the media to get the price down), Wolves, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke and Newcastle. But how many of the 7 mentioned will follouw up? Possibly only one or two. I personally think Long is a bargain at anything under 6 mil.

[BonnieShels]

I came in here hoping for a great piece of news. Dammit.

[TiocfaidhArmani]

Wolves only side that offered Doyle a contract (Doyle admitted that himself to his credit) and I'm sure the same applies to Long. Lots of teams in the Premiership simply don't have the money ie Everton to afford players like Given, Doyle and Long. The top 6 aren't interested. So it comes down to 6 or 7 clubs. Sunderland (who I believe are using the media to get the price down), Wolves, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke and Newcastle. But how many of the 7 mentioned will follouw up? Possibly only one or two. I personally think Long is a bargain at anything under 6 mil.

This is his first good season though and £6 million is a bargain? It's not like he's a raw kid. He's 24 is he not? I rate him but the English market has gone nuts.

[Noelys Guitar]

This is his first good season though and £6 million is a bargain? It's not like he's a raw kid. He's 24 is he not? I rate him but the English market has gone nuts.

I agree the prices are nuts. But when you consider the prices players like Nugent, Chopra went for when moving from the championship to the Premiership then 6 mil for Long is not bad at all. He looked top class against a very good Uruguay team and he has played in the Premiership already. Plus 25 goals for Reading last year.

[tetsujin1979]

Long too costly for Bhoys: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_7012595,00.html

[jbyrne]

good. would rather he stay with reading

[Noelys Guitar]

Scored two goals today in Readings 3-0 win against Northampton

[OMTY]

West Ham have entered the race to sign Reading striker Shane Long and have made a £8m bid for the Republic of Ireland international, the Guardian reports. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/25/west-bromwich-west-ham-shane-long?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Ffootball%2Frss+ %28Football%29)

[dotts101]

altho they a big team and assembling a good squad it is not a move forward for long, he needs to be in the premiership

[the bear]

altho they a big team and assembling a good squad it is not a move forward for long, he needs to be in the premiership

he could be the following year though with a promoted west ham, and already an established first teamer. if a prem team doesn't come in , it is better than staying at reading

[the bear]

http://www.football365.com/news/21554/7062373/Long-Bid-Snubbed

first bid rejected
west ham will offer more

[Murfinator]

Can't see Reading being happy to sell him to a promotion rival.

[punkrocket]

Hammers sticking with it http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/26/shane-long-west-ham-reading

[Sullivinho]

Reading: No serious Long bid (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_7063827,00.html)

"With every player there comes a point, but we are nowhere near that point yet." - Sounds like a line from 'Shane Long: The Movie'

Mentions interest from Liverpool too but someone at SkySports probably threw a dart at the premier league table.