Airtiricity League XI v Manchester United confirmed for Aviva Stadium on August 4

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Originally Posted by sparky12345678

i posted the extratime.ie article on facebook and this was the response i got;

I'll tell you why, because most clubs and the FAI for a long period have been run by individuals who were in it for themselves rather than the club. There was a time in the 60's and 70's when Irish run clubs attracted big crowds-not anymore. The Charlton era while it gave us a taste of what its like to play with the big boys did nothing to bridge the gap between English and Irish footbal-hence the phenomena of the Irish passionately supporting Liverpool, Man U etc.

so thats his excuse. Not much i can say though because im too young and new to talk about the history of the league.
Did anyone see the bit in the irish indo yesterday about a scunthorpe united fan (alsso a finn harps fan apparently) who followed them because he wanted to be "different" from the manu's and liverpool fans in class

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He's right that the FAI squandered the riches garnered by the Charlton era. It was hugely short-sighted, but considering that the country did it on a grand scale for the last 15yrs vis-a-vis the riches of the Celtic Tiger, it becomes a little more understandable. I'm fairly sure the FAI would struggle to account for all the Charlton era money though.

He's wrong, however, to link the Charlton era with Irish people supporting foreign football. It was very deeply ingrained by then already, and the Charlton era income wouldn't have changed that even if it had all ended up in the league.

And let's not forget that a lot of Irish people didn't support the ROI either up until the glory years. Attendances and merchandise sales made that clear. Many of them viewed Glasgow Celtic as the equivalent of an Irish national team, so all the Charlotn era really did was to give many Irish people a national team to support for the first time. It could never have addressed the club-level support issue.

Does anyone think that a type of LOI all-star game similar to the MLS version could be played every year to showcase the talent in the League?

Maybe if we had the Shamrock rovers players available and Rico had 7-10 days to prepare a team the homegrown players could have given it a better go.

Perhaps a space in the calender ( a weekend ) could be set aside for it ?

I think it would be a nice reward for the players. A chance to play a game at the aviva in front of a big crowd against a Chelsea / Barca / Milan type team, perhaps even invite South American opposition. A well prepared LOI team could beat Celtic imo.

Can't help but feeling this has more benefits then downsides if the quality of opposition can bring in a large crowd. Perhaps the gate reciepts could be ploughed back into the league in its entirety.

There is a large potential for this type of game to really help the league.

Lots of ole ole brigade / barstoolers etc, but clubs themselves have been exploiting these kind of revenues for years, I think its about time the FAI did the same on behalf of the league.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Does anyone think that a type of LOI all-star game similar to the MLS version could be played every year to showcase the talent in the League?

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Personally, no. If you play 'glamour friendlies' like the one last week against Man Utd all you get are hordes of red shirts shouting against the Irish team. However, I do think that the league should hold a double or triple-header of games at the Aviva Stadium on a sunny* Saturday in the summer. Make it a competitive regular league game and pitch rivals against each other. It would attract league fans like us no doubt, but I'd say you could attract loads of others if the tickets were pitched at somewhere around €10 or €15 rather than the ridiculous €45 last week. Maybe a bit like Rugby League's Magic Weekend.

*I'm not sure how to guarantee sun!

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Originally Posted by Schumi

Are most barstoolers part-English?

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Nope, but it's something I always ask:

Sheep: 'Did you see the match last night/the goal/ the ref/ whatever'
Me: what game? I didn't know there was a match last night.
Sheep: 'Wha? the Pool/Manu/Chelsea/whatever game, blah blah'
Me: 'I didn't know you are from Pool/Manu/Chelsea/whatever? You don't have the accent'
Sheep: '?'


It makes me feel a tiny bit better
:ball:

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Does anyone think that a type of LOI all-star game similar to the MLS version could be played every year to showcase the talent in the League?

There is a large potential for this type of game to really help the league.

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Delaney has said he plans on having a tournament every summer now with 3 'big' teams and a LOI XI.

It doesn't help the league, it helps the FAI.

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Originally Posted by crc

Personally, no. If you play 'glamour friendlies' like the one last week against Man Utd all you get are hordes of red shirts shouting against the Irish team. However, I do think that the league should hold a double or triple-header of games at the Aviva Stadium on a sunny* Saturday in the summer. Make it a competitive regular league game and pitch rivals against each other. It would attract league fans like us no doubt, but I'd say you could attract loads of others if the tickets were pitched at somewhere around €10 or €15 rather than the ridiculous €45 last week. Maybe a bit like Rugby League's Magic Weekend.

*I'm not sure how to guarantee sun!

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Agree. This Delaney plan for a tournament must be stopped. HE must be stopped!!

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Originally Posted by sligoman

Delaney has said he plans on having a tournament every summer now with 3 'big' teams and a LOI XI.

It doesn't help the league, it helps the FAI.

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It would help the league if reciepts were put back into the league. That's all I'm saying. An all star league selection v a top European side with proper prearation would go down well with barstooler and domestic league follower alike imo, IF the funds were redirected to the league itself.

The FAI subsidises the league to the tune of millions every year - the money IS re-directed into the league.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

It would help the league if reciepts were put back into the league. That's all I'm saying. An all star league selection v a top European side with proper prearation would go down well with barstooler and domestic league follower alike imo, IF the funds were redirected to the league itself.

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Not a hope in hell of funds going back into the LOI. Given the financiai liabilities taken on by the FAI over the "new" lansdowne any cash will be diverted to cover that cost - no doubt the reason the game(s) are being mooted.

Not adverse to the idea of a one off game personally as long as it doesn't interfere with the LOI programme but not convinced it would be something I would attend either.

I still think there should be a weekend where all scheduled premier league games are played in lansdowne and have a blitz. You are talking about one game friday and then 2 on each of saturday and sunday. Then the gate receipts should be equally distributed among all clubs (possibly incl 1st division clubs) This way it would benefit the league as a whole and not one or two individual clubs.

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Originally Posted by tippex

I still think there should be a weekend where all scheduled premier league games are played in lansdowne and have a blitz. You are talking about one game friday and then 2 on each of saturday and sunday. Then the gate receipts should be equally distributed among all clubs (possibly incl 1st division clubs) This way it would benefit the league as a whole and not one or two individual clubs.

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If we ever go back to a 33 game seaosn (12 team premier), it'd be a handy way of getting rid of the odd numbered home/away game

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Originally Posted by Dodge

If we ever go back to a 33 game seaosn (12 team premier), it'd be a handy way of getting rid of the odd numbered home/away game

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It would but surely even the FAI have learnt from the mistake that was a 12 team league. The way to go is 16 teams (in fairness its the only hope we have of staying up unless another club goes the way of cork/derry)

You'd have to play an entire round of matches in Lansdowne for that to work. That'd lose its novelty appeal very quickly.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

You'd have to play an entire round of matches in Lansdowne for that to work. That'd lose its novelty appeal very quickly.

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Three games on Saturday, Three on a Sunday. 2pm, 5pm, 8pm kick offs.

Would work well imo

I'm thinking of clearing all cases where Club A plays Club B twice at home and once away. I suppose having all clubs play 16 times at home, 16 times away and once in a neutral venue is a start alright.

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Originally Posted by Réiteoir

Three games on Saturday, Three on a Sunday. 2pm, 5pm, 8pm kick offs.

Would work well imo

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Fans would only show up for thier own game - meaning a 80 - 90 % empty stadium for most of the day. obviously there are a few who would hang around. But the majority won't.

Not a bad idea either IMO - but I just don't think its as lucrative as an All-star game played as part of the domestic calender.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Fans would only show up for thier own game - meaning a 80 - 90 % empty stadium for most of the day. obviously there are a few who would hang around. But the majority won't.

Not a bad idea either IMO - but I just don't think its as lucrative as an All-star game played as part of the domestic calender.

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I know I'd go for the whole day depending on when we were scheduled to play. it could get expensive though in the bars:)

The GAA does something similar for the All-Ireland qualifiers when there is more than one game going on in succession. Seems most people only show up to see their team then **** off.

The bumper-fixture idea might work better for FAI cup semis or something.

Dave Barry is a barstooler.

:clap:

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I'm thinking of clearing all cases where Club A plays Club B twice at home and once away. I suppose having all clubs play 16 times at home, 16 times away and once in a neutral venue is a start alright.

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Surely if it was a 16-team division, each team would play 15 times at home and 15 times away? Tsk tsk, and you a Student, just what are the rest of us paying grants for, I ask ya!!!

Except I was talking about the 12-team division where you have 16 or 17 home games and 16 or 17 away games, adding up to 33 in total...

Also, the rest of ye don't pay grants; students get grants.

Anything else you want to get wrong today? ;)

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

The FAI subsidises the league to the tune of millions every year - the money IS re-directed into the league.

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Doh..................thats what they should be doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Except I was talking about the 12-team division where you have 16 or 17 home games and 16 or 17 away games, adding up to 33 in total...

Also, the rest of ye don't pay grants; students get grants.

Anything else you want to get wrong today? ;)

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And whwere does the grant money come from, thin air?!?! Taxes my man, taxes. Fair enough, take your clarificaiton on the 12 team division thing

Here's a bit of a crazy idea: an LOI XI play Rangers during the SPL's winter break. It doesn't clash with any league fixtures, the LOI side have plenty of time to train together and put in a decent performance, the barstoolers will actually rally behind the LOI side as opposed to firmly against them, Rangers get a cut of the gate receipts to help pay off their massive debts, and keep the team in match practice for the second half of the SPL season. Everybody happy!

Question: Does Uefa have any set guidelines for how your league should be structured??

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

Here's a bit of a crazy idea: an LOI XI play Rangers during the SPL's winter break. It doesn't clash with any league fixtures, the LOI side have plenty of time to train together and put in a decent performance, the barstoolers will actually rally behind the LOI side as opposed to firmly against them, Rangers get a cut of the gate receipts to help pay off their massive debts, and keep the team in match practice for the second half of the SPL season. Everybody happy!

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Emmmmmm as someone who attended the Bohs/Rangers match in dalymount all those years ago I would happily wait as long again before "welcoming" them back (think Manchester may share similar view)

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

Here's a bit of a crazy idea: an LOI XI play Rangers during the SPL's winter break. It doesn't clash with any league fixtures, the LOI side have plenty of time to train together and put in a decent performance, the barstoolers will actually rally behind the LOI side as opposed to firmly against them, Rangers get a cut of the gate receipts to help pay off their massive debts, and keep the team in match practice for the second half of the SPL season. Everybody happy!

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So we're now stooping to arranging fixtures against opposition primarily on the basis of how much the Irish people dislike them...?

We may as well play a Fianna Fail or Paedophiles XI.......:eek:

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

So we're now stooping to arranging fixtures against opposition primarily on the basis of how much the Irish people dislike them...?

We may as well play a Fianna Fail or Paedophiles XI.......:eek:

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The away side can have Hooperman as their mascot if that game ever came about

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

Here's a bit of a crazy idea: an LOI XI play Rangers during the SPL's winter break. It doesn't clash with any league fixtures, the LOI side have plenty of time to train together and put in a decent performance, the barstoolers will actually rally behind the LOI side as opposed to firmly against them, Rangers get a cut of the gate receipts to help pay off their massive debts, and keep the team in match practice for the second half of the SPL season. Everybody happy!

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I actually think you have a good idea there

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

We may as well play a Fianna Fail or Paedophiles XI.......:eek:

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Get the Vantican City football team over so?

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

So we're now stooping to arranging fixtures against opposition primarily on the basis of how much the Irish people dislike them...?

We may as well play a Fianna Fail or Paedophiles XI.......:eek:

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Gary Glitter could perform at half time!

A paedophile Vatican Select XI should take on Young Boys (of Berne).....

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Originally Posted by Réiteoir

The away side can have Hooperman as their mascot if that game ever came about

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Paedo The Limerick Lion would have a thing or two to say about that.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

So we're now stooping to arranging fixtures against opposition primarily on the basis of how much the Irish people dislike them...?

We may as well play a Fianna Fail or Paedophiles XI.......:eek:

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Well the fact is that the money the friendlies generate is needed by the FAI, and I'd prefer it if they also gave exposure to the domestic game. Obviously I'd love it if Europe's biggest clubs were lining up to play our domestic sides and league select, but the fact is they're not, so if we're going to have to find teams to play us, they might as well be teams the Irish public are still going to pay to see, but who wouldn't generate the kind of sick spectacle we saw last week.

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

Obviously I'd love it if Europe's biggest clubs were lining up to play our domestic sides and league select, but the fact is they're not,

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Eveyr one of them would play if they got the srt of money Man Utd did. Do you think they did for the love of Irish football?

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Eveyr one of them would play if they got the srt of money Man Utd did. Do you think they did for the love of Irish football?

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Ah Dodge, you're putting words into my mouth now. We have to fill Lansdowne Road for friendlies, we have to pay teams to do it, and if we're going to do that, I'd prefer the crowd were cheering the Irish side instead of the foreign one.

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

Obviously I'd love it if Europe's biggest clubs were lining up to play our domestic sides and league select, but the fact is they're not,

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So Real Madrid didn't play Shamrock Rovers last season, and that whole Limerick-Barcelona furore recently was just a bad dream.....?

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

So Real Madrid didn't play Shamrock Rovers last season, and that whole Limerick-Barcelona furore recently was just a bad dream.....?

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Touché. But the point still stands that the FAI need to make the money back for Lansdowne, and that the cheapest team that will fill the ground for a friendly is going to make the most money. Also, the less likely that team is to leech support away from the domestic league the better. I think Rangers tick all those boxes.

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

I think Rangers tick all those boxes.

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Security issues alone mean this is nonsense.

Also you could give away tickets for free and you wouldn't fill the Aviva for Rangers v Rico XI.

You'll see some big big clubs in the Aviva over the next few years. Rangers wont be one of them and the LoI wont benefit a jot from it.

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

I think Rangers tick all those boxes.

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I can't believe you're repeating this in seriousness. Are you aware of the negative publicity such a fixture would generate for the FAI; inviting a team over on sectarian undertones with the expectation that the Irish public would come out in their droves to support the Irish side merely as a convenient by-product of offloading their much stronger hatred of Rangers? I mean, seriously? That's assuming that the Irish public would even care enough about the exploits of Glasgow Rangers to come out in numbers and unleash this supposed "hate".

I read the Northern Ireland fan forum, OWC, now and again, generally to follow what the latest is in the line of ignorance and bile being spouted from that side of the fence regarding the whole international eligibility saga that went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport recently, and the FAI are lambasted as a sectarian organisation day in and day out there for simply calling up northern-born Irish nationals. Whilst I don't see such a practice as sectarian in the slightest, for the FAI to organise a fixture like what you're suggesting would have these types creaming themselves as they'd actually have a serious point to make; that being the shameful sectarianisation of a "friendly" fixture. Not that I'm even suggesting the FAI would entertain your idea anyway; it's an outrageous proposal all round.

Besides, as 'dcfcsteve' says above, stooping to arrange a game against opposition based on how much Irish people are perceived to dislike them would be altogether more farcical than the sorry Manchester United affair we witnessed last week.