Is it time for a rethink?

I've been talking to another Limerick fan this morning about that disgraceful smear on the club last night and it's got me thinking.

With Pat O'Sullivan spending less and less and the new guy spending more and more is it time for a rethink of what the club is at as a club?

At the moment away from the senior team we have going on at any one time:

The hug a hoody campaign

The cuddle a criminal campaign

Mongolian exchange programme

A youth system that has been hugely expensive and a massive failure

The kitman saga

That's off the top of my head. Then with the senior team so far this year you've had:

The Russell saga

The replacing Russell epic

The local lads have to play no matter how bad they are because they are "local" and/or "young" rule

I could go on a rant but meh.

In short, do people think that if the club wants to have a successful senior team they should concentrate on having a successful senior team?

Or do people think the club should continue to be a giant pie that everyone can have a little finger in?

Surely there's a better balance to be found than where we are at at the moment.

My big concern is for a football club how many football people are involved? Do we have anyone at a high level in the club who you would really really trust on football matters? The fact they allowed themselves be spoofed to death by Stuart Tayloe and then kept Russell to put together this joke of a squad we have at the minute when 90% of people knew the chap hadn't a clue is worrying.

Over 1000 people have witnessed this team lose away to near bottom of the table harps 3 1, bottom of the table sligo 3 0 and now bottom of the table Galway 3 1. The cost for these fans in supporting this team and contributing financially to these impoverished areas is massive.

I'm all for building a club which plays a big role in the community but that starts with a successful first team and everything flows from there. The current management seems to think it's the other way round. There is a steady core of about 1200 supporters but it could be so much more with a successful team. Even the away support is excellent.
My worry is that core will start to decrease if current form persists. 3 home wins is a shocking return. Not sure how many more times these supporters will continue to turn up if the dirge of last night continues.
Personally I'm really worried the direction the club is taking.

The chairman is indeed a fine chap,however he has been listening to too many and the wrong, generals, too many ups and downs,managers,crusades etc...the youth system has been a costly failure.some heads need rolling before other issues take it all down.

The core of 1200 would be smaller without the youth system to be honest. Our biggest problem is wasting money on average senior players and making daft managerial decisions.

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Originally Posted by fieldofmarkets

The core of 1200 would be smaller without the youth system to be honest. Our biggest problem is wasting money on average senior players and making daft managerial decisions.

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Agree fully with this. Investing in the senior team only and hoping everything flows from that is the sure way to run the club out of existence. The first team do of course set the tone for the whole club and last night was unacceptable but the over-reaction is completely OTT.

Shamrock Rovers have lost 7 league matches away all season off a budget that's a multiple of ours yet they're convinced that they're on the right track and building sustainably for the future.

How can going to the bottom of the table team and getting turned over not cause a. Massive backlash. A lot of people are spending good money following this team around the country to watch that rubbish. And to add insult to injury only Clarke and Lee Jay came over to acknowledge us, the rest skulked off to the dressing room. This team need to get their heads out of their asses and start putting in performances that are worthy of the Jersey. I really think some of them are just collecting paychecks.

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Originally Posted by Centenary

Agree fully with this. Investing in the senior team only and hoping everything flows from that is the sure way to run the club out of existence. The first team do of course set the tone for the whole club and last night was unacceptable but the over-reaction is completely OTT.

Shamrock Rovers have lost 7 league matches away all season off a budget that's a multiple of ours yet they're convinced that they're on the right track and building sustainably for the future.

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They are also much much better set up off the field then us so it is in no way a similar comparison. Where did anyone say invest in the senior team only btw? In fact the only person that mentioned it flowing from the first team said the exact opposite.

Why do ye think the core would be smaller without the youth system btw? And by how much? And will the core now be smaller since a load of kids have been thrown to the curb by the academy?

You'd be surprised how many underage kids and their parents are going to games. Those teams are actually creating fans.

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Originally Posted by fieldofmarkets

You'd be surprised how many underage kids and their parents are going to games. Those teams are actually creating fans.

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That is fair i suppose but honest question you think the culling of kids teams will hit that?

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Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

That is fair i suppose but honest question you think the culling of kids teams will hit that?

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Is there a big cull going on so ?

I expect as kids get older there has to be some of that, very important to be sensitive and appropriate or it could effect it for sure. Of course every year there is a new group that comes in so as long as we hold onto a fair number it will keep growing the senior team fanbase slowly over time.

Not aware of a specific cull tbh

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Originally Posted by fieldofmarkets

Not aware of a specific cull tbh

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Have they not pulled out entire teams at certain age groups?

Hadn't heard that. What age groups?

Dont anyone hear believe that funds are being taken from underage and being given to senior. The truth is the underage is self funding (parents)
Limerick have pulled the 14/15 and 16s from the local leagues as they no longer need them as the 15s national league is starting.
Again, there are no cuts financially to the underage as there was no financial supports given to underage.

Don't be talking crap lads. Having an underage structure is one of the best things the club has ever done. More players, more parents, more volunteers. What do ye want a return of the bad old days of 15 senior players and two or three volunteeers

Through countless managers, complete changes in playing staff, different owners and so on.... we have always failed when it comes to the big games in front of big crowds. I honestly can't understand it but we always bottle it in big games or games we should be winning comfortably. It happened in Hogan Park, Jackman Park and now back in the Markets Field.

As for underage, isn't it basically a seperate entity to the senior team when it comes to funding? It's not having any affect on the senior team and if anything it has brought a lot of new fans. The stand would be pretty much empty without a lot of the new families that have started supporting the club.

The under 15's, 17's and 19's is where the major costs would come at underage and they are compulsory teams so nothing the club can do there.

No doubt MacDonald needs to put his stamp on the squad before he can be judged but he also needs players there to bring in before he can start getting rid of players left right and centre.

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Originally Posted by LFC Blue

Don't be talking crap lads. Having an underage structure is one of the best things the club has ever done. More players, more parents, more volunteers. What do ye want a return of the bad old days of 15 senior players and two or three volunteeers

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Who said we shouldn't have an underage structure?