Pre-Season Friendly Fiasco???

from www.eleven-a-side.com

Details of the annual four-team Dublin tournament in August have been announced, with Irish patrons this year having the chance to witness Irishman David O’Leary take charge of his Aston Villa side against his former club Leeds United, while there is certain to be one eircom League club in the final of the "pre-season" event.

The match with Villa and Leeds will take place just a week prior to the start of the Premiership campaign and seeing as it will be the last ’friendly’ before the new season commences, a competitive match is sure to be in store.

Also involved in the tournament – which takes place from August 8-10 – will be eircom League pace setters Shelbourne and Premier Division rivals St Patrick’s Athletic, with the two Dublin sides meeting in the second game of the tournament on Saturday, August 9th.

All games will be played at Shelbourne’s Tolka Park grounds with the decider being played on Sunday, August 10th.

:confused:
i was just wondering how shels and Pat's fans feel about this 'pre-season' tournament coming right in the middle of the season. is the money the clubs will get (taking into account the cut that villa and leeds will take) worth the extra games played.
what possible value is the game on august ninth between the two dublin clubs (especially as one will have a game the following day)?

Shels need the money simple as that, my friends a Villa fan he will go I'm sure, he'll have to twist my arm though.;)

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Originally posted by Estar
my friends a Villa fan he will go I'm sure

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He must be fairly dedicated if he'll come all the way over from Birmingham for a meaningless friendly!

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Originally posted by Colm
He must be fairly dedicated if he'll come all the way over from Birmingham for a meaningless friendly!

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Park Villa are not from Birminger ham are they:D

One stupid statment deserves another:p

Seems like $hel$ plan to move their game at tolka against city to the thursday also.

IMO city should oppose that strongly.

its a money spinner, just a fundraising excercise like a race nite only on a grande sacale

football wise its a no brainer as pats will be fielding all their squad players and maybe even guests

our first team programme will not be affected


if some suckers want to pay into this rubbish we'll gladly take their money :D

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Originally posted by pete
Seems like $hel$ plan to move their game at tolka against city to the thursday also.

IMO city should oppose that strongly.

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Agreed, it is totally unacceptable to re-arrange league fixtures to facilitate a friendly.
This is the second year in a row that $hels have done something like this, it shouldn't be alllowed.

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Originally posted by Colm
Agreed, it is totally unacceptable to re-arrange league fixtures to facilitate a friendly.
This is the second year in a row that $hels have done something like this, it shouldn't be alllowed.

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Whilst I agree to a certain extent about moving games for a friendly, fook youse with your moaning over fixture changes....