Ah, the League of Ireland. One team promoted from D1 last season. But three new teams to play this season.
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Ah, the League of Ireland. One team promoted from D1 last season. But three new teams to play this season.
It's positive the premier should go ahead as planned. Natural the top league will take the limelight. There's always likely to be change in the lowest league, without affecting the league's integrity as would happen in the higher profile division. I haven't heard D1 is limited to 8 teams. I hope that has the door open shall any other clubs apply to join in the next few years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr A
At least one of them (Shels) is the first team to drop down from the Premier Division based on their final points tally since yourselves in 2009. Five years without a team properly relegated says a lot about a league's integrity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr A
2008.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluemovie
Says a lot about the clubs integrity too and how they are run.
That's the key. If anything it helps the league's integrity as it shows that if you look after paying your debts, there's a fair chance you'll be OKQuote:
Originally Posted by Jofspring
Now and again maybe but year after year it hasn't reflected well on the league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Long-term the league's integrity should be fine. It's positive the premier should be going ahead as planned with the relegated team in D1. Hopefully a corner has been turned.
Doesn't say much about the licensing system used by the league that clubs keep getting in enough trouble to be relegated/ go wallop whilst holding a premier licence though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
I was being particular about that. Harps were relegated in November 2008, but joined the First Division in March 2009. Other teams have been relegated in the meantime, but haven't reappeared in the lower division the following year.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Yeah I agree that it's better that cheating clubs are demoted/booted and clubs deserve to be rewarded for being run properly, but most of the non-relegations have been due to ignominious financial collapses which reflect badly on the league. I suppose it's more the reputation of the league than the integrity of its rules enforcement that is damaged. Since the last proper relegation, Cork, Derry, Fingal, Galway, Monaghan all 'happened'. The lack of relegation definitely shows the league up as a mess especially to outsiders, potential sponsors, etc. The Premier Division has been relatively protected from damage since the numbers stayed constant, but each ****-up meant the First Division became weaker and less attractive. It's not so much a neatly-maintained graveyard anymore as it is a festering roadside burial pit!
Funny, it's worth pointing out, with the first proper relegation since then, the First Division this season has the makings of being the strongest and most competitive division we've seen in four or 5 years now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
What about 2009, 2010 and 2011? Fantastically competitive.
Actually scrap that. 2009 was a pile of shoite.
2010 was a strong league teams wise when you consider Cork, Limerick, Derry, Waterford, Shels, Longford, Harps and Monaghan were all there.
There was some very strong teams in the past few years, but I have a feeling that this year could be the most competitive seen in a long time. Aside from Longford, there's currently not very much between all the rest of the teams. Most of the teams could realistically win the league this year, maybe barring Cobh.
but it says a hell of a lot about the effort the clubs are/were making to dodge the licensing regulations. If clubs put half that effort into running themselves properly ( sticking to the criteria ) instead of everyone blaming the FAI ( I know its easy).Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
its a bit like blaming the Gardai because more people are committing crimes
Apples and oranges. From what I understand about what happened at Galway United, the FAI actively ignored huge red flags and did practically nothing to enforce the rules.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
If you are using the the guards as an analogy, I would put it closer to the guards sitting in the barracks playing minesweeper because the laws are there already and surely people won't break them.
Others have pointed out recent good seasons. It's shaping up to be the strongest since the premier expanded back to 12 teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
I don't believe that's true in all cases in recent years. And if licencing isn't robust enough, then its up to the association to strengthen it and its powers.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
Bucko apparently investigating the possibility of us entering a B side in 2015.
I know Limerick wanted a reserve side last year but I don't think a B team in the first division would ever be feasible for us.
Some change of emphasis from Pat's! One of the leading clubs that sought the scrapping of the A championship.Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
Fair to say Pete Mahon and Liam Buckley are polar opposites on a number of issues (and that Buckley has more say behind the scenes too)Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
Goes to show why clubs need a strategic vision that accounts for the turnover of managers. It shouldn't be Buckley's or Mahon's decision whether they have a reserve team, and if Buckley has managed to convince the board of its merits then that should continue even if he moves on in the future and somebody with contrasting ideas comes back in.
If more B teams join, the A Championship should return or the Premier expand to 16 with a north and south league below with B teams and all other aspiring clubs.
When Pats went from the Sadlier/big money era (ended 2008) throught the mess that was Kenna (09) to Mahon re-establshing the club (on a much smaller budget) in 2010 and 2011, the behind the scenes cut backs were even worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
To Buckley's credit, he's managed to bring a more 'wholistic' (for want of a less wanky word) approach and he's involved with the under 19s to a degree and sees the footballing side as one club, not just one team.
In fairness to Mahon he didn't have that much power within the club and he certainly had to live short term
A 'B' team in the FD is not the same as having one in the A Championship. Very different standard. Yes players got game time, but the standard was bad even compared to the FD. Don't know how I'd feel about a few more B teams entering the FD but it would be far better for players development than an A Champ.Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
Agreed. The first teams in the A Championship tended to be pretty crap. Even the ones that came up (Salthill & Mervue) looked well off the pace in the First Division proper at times (all of the time in Salthill's case).Quote:
Originally Posted by gufcfan
Shels and Wexford are quietly putting together decent enough squads. Waterford and Wexford seem to have a player exchange scheme on the go. This division is going to be very competitive.
Just ploughing through this now.
Interesting to note that even most of the more sensible, non-Rovers contributions seem to have an issue with the fact that players can move between the two teams. I wonder how much of that is down to the publicity around the Spansh 'B' teams in recent years? There are plenty of other examples, particularly in small countries where players move up and down....
Also Garry Doyle's articles give us an insight into how jounos think. They all seem obsessed with the potentially headline grabbing prospect of say a player sitting on the bench in Turner's Cross one night and scoring in Finn Park the next...
Any other league where it happens there is a limit though after they have played a certain amount of games for the first team they cant drop down anymore.Quote:
Originally Posted by TommyT
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy
Not going to get into a long pedantic argument with you, but we're talking about many, many different countries. Ranging in size from the Faroes to Germany. There's no way you or I have the details of every system at our fingertips....
Personally I think the old Norweigan system was a good one, bar the need for a one division gap.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve...egian_football
Galway must be considered seriously for promotion, doing well in pre season. May be worth a few bob. Longford will have it tough again this year. Shelbourne would be hoping for a quick return to premier, interesting season ahead with Shams second team likely to be a thorn for these sides.
You can't read anything into those games. Sligo were barely back training, didn't score against Limerick and could have been out of sight within half an hour against Dundalk.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldNassau
Not saying Galway aren't capable of reaching the playoffs at least, but you can't read anything into these friendlies, especially since they're the first few warmups. Pretty much a different XI used in every half of those matches.
I'm interested to see how Dunne sets the team up. There's quite a few different permutations up top that he could go with.
Loads of FD experience in the team and a some PD experience here and there. There's real quality in places, but that needs to rub off on the rest who get starting spots.
Loads of competition for some places, but with the disgraceful deal done for the u19s and the accompanying UEFA money, it will be difficult to throw anyone in unless you are forced into it.
No under 19s means that there is no opportunity for younger players get real competitive match fitness. I would be very wary of throwing in younger lads. If you're gunning for promotion, needing to blood youngsters isn't ideal.
Dunne might not mention promotion for a long time, but it would be daft to think he's aiming for anything else. You need to finish in the top 3 of 7 teams. This year's league might be better than it was most years in recent times, but the play-offs are wide open imo.
If Galway pick up the baton from Mervue Utd, they will be favourites for top 3. Any word on Waterford and Shels? Waterford were disappointing last season.
At the risk of upsetting our Waterford and Harps friends I think the top 3 will be ourselves, Galway and Shels. Shels may be the most vulnerable of the three. It's going to be a very tight league. Harps and Wexford should be better than last year.
Don't know much about Shelbourne's squad to be honest but Longford and Galway should both be very strong. Harps have been utter pish for several years and haven't added much, but I have a feeling Horgan will at least have us well organised.
Wexford have gone from looking totally torn apart to a very decent squad with the likes of Higgins and furlong signing. I fancy them to challenge for 3rd. Don't see harps being a threat, Shels will be aiming for third.
Apologies for leaving out Longford. It's kind of a compliment really! Keep forgetting ye were not promoted.
I think this will be the best first division season since the Premier expanded to 12.
7 Mar 2014 7:45pm Galway FC v Longford Town
7 Mar 2014 8pm Finn Harps v Waterford United
7 Mar 2014 8pm Shelbourne v Wexford Youths
8 Mar 2014 7:45pm Cobh Ramblers v Shamrock Rovers B
Good game lined up in Galway for kicking off the season in the first division.