Going up and staying up

[passerrby]

with the promotion race coming to conclusion who has they sustainability to stay up,now that three teams are coming down would all three teams need to change their players and which club can afford to inject most into staing up.
my own opinion is that dundalk ..anybody else

[DmanDmythDledge]

Can't see any of the promoted teams this year staying up next season. Very early to say but I reckon it will be them and Galway going down next season.

[JC_GUFC]

I think we'll be closer to the top half than the relegation battle next season.

Bray will surely struggle next season and if UCD lose their better players they will find it tough too. I'd say the playoff winners will be favourites for the drop.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Remains to be seen, picture will be clearer during/after the off-season.

Bray have a good squad, can't understand why they aren't doing better. Everyone says that about us every year but we only ever lose 1 or 2 and rarely struggle.

[bohsmug]

It may be off topic but I really don't see why we have to go back to the failed 10 team format. The bottom teams this year have been strong. The gap in quality is nowhere near big enough to merit a format change IMO.

[feo123]

if harps go up, i think they'll come straight back down. don't know if they have the finances for the premier. all the promoted sides would need to considerably add to their squads for next season. just look at shams this season, and ourselves aswell from getting promoted in 2005. the last two first division winners are now doing well in the premier, no where near relegation. galway won't go down either so again after coming from the first division they've done well to avoid relegation.
it'll be hard to tell who'll go down until the first few games of next season once we see what the teams are like

[pineapple stu]

It may be off topic but I really don't see why we have to go back to the failed 10 team format.
Cos Genesis told us to. That's a fairly good summary of their argument too.


if UCD lose their better players they will find it tough too.
A tired cliché at this stage surely!

We're comfortable this season even with one of the biggest injury lists I've seen in a long time - seven first teamers missing in the Cup win in Derry, for example. A couple will leave, but they'll be replaced. Ian Bermingham, our left back, is strongly linked with Stockport for example, but we've Killian Gallagher in reserve who'll do grand. If Derry take Ronan Finn and Conor Sammon (as is rumoured in true not hugely reliable "A source told me..." style), we've Brian King and Timmy Purcell.

[Sam_Heggy]

if harps go up, i think they'll come straight back down. don't know if they have the finances for the premier. all the promoted sides would need to considerably add to their squads for next season. just look at shams this season, and ourselves aswell from getting promoted in 2005. the last two first division winners are now doing well in the premier, no where near relegation. galway won't go down either so again after coming from the first division they've done well to avoid relegation.
it'll be hard to tell who'll go down until the first few games of next season once we see what the teams are like


Any reason you singled out Harps?
It will be tough to stay up but I think it will be a real dog fight and there will be a good few teams involved. But hows about we have this debate nearer the start of next season?
One more point, does anyone else see a few clubs over-spending in order to stay up? Say for instance, Bray go out and spend a fortune on players and get relegated or Waterford/Harps/Cobh/Galway for that matter, it could be a financial disaster for the team(s) involved.

[ramblersnb1]

Any reason you singled out Harps?
It will be tough to stay up but I think it will be a real dog fight and there will be a good few teams involved. But hows about we have this debate nearer the start of next season?
One more point, does anyone else see a few clubs over-spending in order to stay up? Say for instance, Bray go out and spend a fortune on players and get relegated or Waterford/Harps/Cobh/Galway for that matter, it could be a financial disaster for the team(s) involved.

in all fairness ramblers havent really spent big we have a small squad full of good players i think its more signing the best rather then gettin alot of average players.

[feo123]

Any reason you singled out Harps?

not really, just think out of the 3 their the least financially secure? correct me if im wrong, tbh im just guessing?

[Terry]

Galway united wont be struggling financially, with the board already stating that they will be annoucing a small profit for this year.

I also agree with Feo. I think harps (if they come up) will struggle as they must concentrate most of their cash going towards there new stadium rather than putting it into the players wages. Failure to do this could put back the construction time massively.

[Poor Student]

Next year will be the mother of all struggles. If you imagine that next year's relegation structure was in place this year then everyone up to UCD (8th) would be in serious danger and Derry (7th) would be in mild danger. I think UCD will be involved in the battle to stay up due the the large amount of relegation places. Clubs like Galway and Bray could push on to being midtable or low European placed teams next year or they could be in the mix of the relegation battle, it's way too early to say but I would say by this time next year 5 to 6 clubs will be fighting for their lives.

[harps1954]

I also agree with Feo. I think harps (if they come up) will struggle as they must concentrate most of their cash going towards there new stadium rather than putting it into the players wages. Failure to do this could put back the construction time massively.

The cost of constructing the stadium will not be coming out of Harps' day to day cash. The money for the stadium is coming from the sale of Finn Park plus already agreed Government and FAI funding. In effect, Finn Harps will not have to raise any cash outside of this to fund the construction of the stadium.

[Sam_Heggy]

The cost of constructing the stadium will not be coming out of Harps' day to day cash. The money for the stadium is coming from the sale of Finn Park plus already agreed Government and FAI funding. In effect, Finn Harps will not have to raise any cash outside of this to fund the construction of the stadium.

Plus we have the ability to draw big crowds week in week out. Im sure IF we are promoted, Higsy will have us well prepared and won't have us there to make up the nuimbers :cool:

[harps1954]

At the minute, it looks like Longford are going to be relegated this season and Waterford will be in the play-offs.

There is no doubt that this season's First Division winners (Harps/Dundalk/Cobh) and the winners of the play-off will be in a relegation battle (Waterford/Dundalk/Cobh/Harps) next season. With one-third of the clubs in the Premier next season being relegated, you probably have to say that Galway, UCD and Bray will also be in the relegation battle. Apart from the top four or five clubs in the Premier this season, with so many relegation places next season there is going to be a lot of clubs battling for survival.

One thing is for sure, at least two of this season's Premier Division clubs won't be a Premier Division club at the end of next season.

[Conor H]

At the minute, it looks like Longford are going to be relegated this season and Waterford will be in the play-offs.

There is no doubt that this season's First Division winners (Harps/Dundalk/Cobh) and the winners of the play-off will be in a relegation battle (Waterford/Dundalk/Cobh/Harps) next season. With one-third of the clubs in the Premier next season being relegated, you probably have to say that Galway, UCD and Bray will also be in the relegation battle. Apart from the top four or five clubs in the Premier this season, with so many relegation places next season there is going to be a lot of clubs battling for survival.

One thing is for sure, at least two of this season's Premier Division clubs won't be a Premier Division club at the end of next season.

Don't know why you're so sure of that.
Traditonally the premier Divison team wins the playoff.I think what happens in the 1st Divison is you get a false sense of how good you actually are(that includes myself with UTD last year).
The gap between both Leagues is huge,and the ratioanale when you're Top of one League is that you're more than likely better than the teams in the Lower half of another.
UTD/Bray/Waterford/UCD will be in the playoff this year and i'd fancy all 4 of them teams against wither of the 3 1st Divison teams in the playoff.

As for next year-Huge year for all clubs.If Tc manages to keep us up he won't be given long to prove we won't be down in the bottom 4 next year.
I'd expect the 2 promoted teams and the one of the usual suspects(Bray,Waterford,UCD,UTD,Sligo)to struggle.

[pineapple stu]

Don't know why you're so sure of that.
So sure of what?

If it's the point about two Premier teams being ex-Premier teams this time next year, then the fact that the league is being reduced by two teams proves it. :confused:

[superfrank]

I'd expect the 2 promoted teams and the one of the usual suspects(Bray,Waterford,UCD,UTD,Sligo)to struggle.
Sorry but Sligo are too good to end up in the bottom four or five next year. And this is from a neutral.

[pineapple stu]

Depends on what happens there. They seem to be a club always on the edge of turmoil. Talk in the Sligo forum about Paul Cook leaving at the end of the season, so if there's to be another rebuilding process, then they could have a slow start which will leave them fighting relegation for much of the season, with the increase in the number of teams going down.

[Conor H]

I mis-read his post.I thought he said 2 premier teams been relegated this year.

[Conor H]

Sorry but Sligo are too good to end up in the bottom four or five next year. And this is from a neutral.


Depends on what happens there. They seem to be a club always on the edge of turmoil. Talk in the Sligo forum about Paul Cook leaving at the end of the season, so if there's to be another rebuilding process, then they could have a slow start which will leave them fighting relegation for much of the season, with the increase in the number of teams going down.

Exactly my reasoning for putting them in that bracket.No wuming because it's Sligo.
If they hold onto their current squad and management and add a few players they'll be fine but it appears Hughes has left already so they might struggle next year.

[feo123]

you never know whats going to happen in this league, just look at derry last season, cup winners and 2nd in the league, bringing PSG so close in europe aswell, they've been inconsistent this season, and will finish about 7th, from season to season its a different story

[superfrank]

Exactly my reasoning for putting them in that bracket.No wuming because it's Sligo.
Sorry Conor I wasn't aware of the situation up in Sligo.

Depends on what happens there. They seem to be a club always on the edge of turmoil. Talk in the Sligo forum about Paul Cook leaving at the end of the season
Seriously though, is there some deep lying problem at that club? I know Connor wasn't forced out but the players didn't take much convincing to go with him. Now, having read about Adam Hughes, I wonder why is it that Sligo can't hold on to their players and managers?

[sligoman]

Hughes is well settled in Sligo but with the wages Drogs have offered him, ya couldn't expect him to turn it down. Although Drogs are welcome to him now after him faking an injury to avoid playing against them on Friday.

[superfrank]

Hughes is well settled in Sligo but with the wages Drogs have offered him, ya couldn't expect him to turn it down. Although Drogs are welcome to him now after him faking an injury to avoid playing against them on Friday.
Why would a happy player fake an injury (if he did)?

[feo123]

lets not get into this, we don't know the full story, very unfair on the player involved if its a genuine injury

[Sam_Heggy]

Don't know why you're so sure of that.
Traditonally the premier Divison team wins the playoff.I think what happens in the 1st Divison is you get a false sense of how good you actually are(that includes myself with UTD last year).
The gap between both Leagues is huge,and the ratioanale when you're Top of one League is that you're more than likely better than the teams in the Lower half of another.
UTD/Bray/Waterford/UCD will be in the playoff this year and i'd fancy all 4 of them teams against wither of the 3 1st Divison teams in the playoff.

As for next year-Huge year for all clubs.If Tc manages to keep us up he won't be given long to prove we won't be down in the bottom 4 next year.
I'd expect the 2 promoted teams and the one of the usual suspects(Bray,Waterford,UCD,UTD,Sligo)to struggle.

Remind me how Galway faired against Harps this season? :cool:

[don ramo]

Don't know why you're so sure of that.
Traditonally the premier Divison team wins the playoff.I think what happens in the 1st Divison is you get a false sense of how good you actually are(that includes myself with UTD last year).


wanna check your history there, last three years the first division team beat the premier in the play-offs,

best bet for any first division team next year is keep the budget low, get young talented players to showcaes there talents to bigger teams, and hope there good enough to keep the team up, and then they can move on to a more stable club, or stay put and make there current team better year by year,
if you do get relegated you have kept a low budget while bringing in more revenue, thus being financially prepared for an assault on the first divsion the following year,
basically save up money when your promoted, cause if you pump money into a team that has to finnish above 9th, you could cripple yourself, so if you go and save money, hope you stay up with that, the following year you have, either, more money to build a better prem team, or your well prepared finacially for the first,

[Conor H]

wanna check your history there, last three years the first division team beat the premier in the play-offs,

best bet for any first division team next year is keep the budget low, get young talented players to showcaes there talents to bigger teams, and hope there good enough to keep the team up, and then they can move on to a more stable club, or stay put and make there current team better year by year,
if you do get relegated you have kept a low budget while bringing in more revenue, thus being financially prepared for an assault on the first divsion the following year,
basically save up money when your promoted, cause if you pump money into a team that has to finnish above 9th, you could cripple yourself, so if you go and save money, hope you stay up with that, the following year you have, either, more money to build a better prem team, or your well prepared finacially for the first,


It was 4 years ago we lost to Drogheda?
The year after that Derry beat Harps?
Last year Dundalk won the "playoff" and Dublin City beat Rovers the year prior to that one but if you look back through the last couple of seasons the Premier teams have faired better.

[don ramo]

define couple, 3 years (actually 2), the only way it gets uneven in advantage of prem is if you go back 7 years, if even, could be more, no matter what division were in next year i think we can do well, maybe in the prem in another season id be more happy, as we have strong enough and talented young squad they would keep us in the current prem format, but the reduction would require a fairly hefty injection of cash, for any team going up this year, i think if longford and waterford come down and we stay down we stand a good chance of winning the division next year, if we keep the current squad,
but i would rather one season in the prem to prepare financially in case of relegation the following year, instead of another season in the first,

[CollegeTillIDie]

Harps will be leaving Ballybofey altogether for Stranorlar. Is this the first example of an ELOI club leaving it's home town? In England I can only think of Wimbledon moving to Milton Keynes.
Now I know Harps move , it's not far but still, the principle of the thing :D

[Jerry The Saint]

Is this the first example of an ELOI club leaving it's home town?

Pat's left Inchicore for long stretches. Shelbourne left Ringsend. Rovers haven't played in Shamrock for a long time.

[cheifo]

If Harps keep Higsie from crossing over to the dark side(our neighbours on the Foyle) then we will stay up.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Pat's left Inchicore for long stretches. Shelbourne left Ringsend. Rovers haven't played in Shamrock for a long time.

They all stayed in Dublin though. Stranorlar is a different town albeit a few hundreds yards over a bridge.

[superfrank]

Harps will be leaving Ballybofey altogether for Stranorlar. Is this the first example of an ELOI club leaving it's home town? In England I can only think of Wimbledon moving to Milton Keynes.
Now I know Harps move , it's not far but still, the principle of the thing :D
But they're not called Ballybofey Harps or Stranorlar Harps, they're Finn Harps, after the Finn River, iirc.

Also, there was the Murcia team moving to Granada in Spain during the summer.

[pineapple stu]

They all stayed in Dublin though. Stranorlar is a different town albeit a few hundreds yards over a bridge.
Stranorlar is just a conurbation of Ballybofey, the same way as Drumcondra and Ringsend are the same conurbation. Hardly Harps' fault if there's more country in between than in Dublin.


Also, there was the Murcia team moving to Granada in Spain during the summer.
That's an AFC scenario though. Different to here.

[superfrank]

That's an AFC scenario though. Different to here.
I thought the Granda business man bought the club in Murcia. He got all the players and their place in the Liga BBVA. It's very similar to the Wimbledon situation, as was CTID's example.

It's a lot different than the Harps one, I know.

[pineapple stu]

So...we agree...? :confused:

Edit - sorry, kind of see where it's coming from. I was using the tack that CTID was wrong to liken Harps' move to Wimbledon.

[Sam_Heggy]

Its really the Ballybofey-Starnorlar twin towns ;) Anyways its the river Finn that counts and we are still going to be beside that so no harm done. :D