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I think in mid-February when the Setanta Cup begins it favours the IL teams as they are over the mid-way part of their season and the EL sides are just in pre-season however by the time the competition is ending in May the EL sides have the upper hand as they are certainly fresh with a handful of games under their belts where the IL sides are badly fatigued due to playing close to 60 matches.Quote:
Originally Posted by StarandCrescent
Surely this would not affect Linfield as much as the other IL teams as they now have 7 full timers in the squad now, and I presume their fitness levels would be better than part time players!
Incidentally how many teams in the Eircom League are full time/Professional? I think that Shamrock Rovers are part time are they the only team?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graemerz
This post is spot on.
Longford Town are all part time.Quote:
Originally Posted by SolitudeRed
No, about half are part time. Bohs, Cork, Derry, Galway, Sligo, Pats and Drogheda are full time.Quote:
Originally Posted by SolitudeRed
Regardless if you are semi-professional or full time, a 60 game season is going to take it out of you.Quote:
Originally Posted by SolitudeRed
Sums up even more what Linfield achieved as Elfsborg defeated Debrecan tonight 1-0 in Hungary, in the first leg of the 2nd round.
You lost you achieved nothing.
KOH
Maybe, but we're still better than you.Quote:
Originally Posted by NY Hoop
Mature comeback that. Out of interest how do you come to that conclusion? By beating limavady 9-0 or something?
Delusions of adequacy again.
KOH
This coming from a supporter of a club who just last season were playing Eircom First Division football, thats a class above the rest that.
Yeah last season and we won the first division which is about the level you play at in some games.
KOH
Fortunately its not Linfield's problem if a few of the clubs within Northern Ireland are of a poor standard. All we can do is expect to beat them and dominate within our country, which we pretty much do.Quote:
Originally Posted by NY Hoop
Two defeats plus one after penalties in almost 20 games against the top Eircom League teams shows that we are at the very least on a par with anything the Eircom has to offer.Quote:
Originally Posted by NY Hoop
The games where they win the Setanta cup?Quote:
Originally Posted by NY Hoop
Agreed. So would you not prefer to play in a league where you'd get a game every now and then? Glens apart, it must get pretty boring up there.Quote:
Originally Posted by David
Never gets boring winning trophies. However personally I would prefer an all Ireland League.Quote:
Originally Posted by sonofstan
Once upon a time I would have but not now.Quote:
Originally Posted by David
Any games bar Tolka and we have a very reduced amount of tickets for our supporters.
Also with the LOI playing during the week most weeks and never on a Saturday, it would be a financial nightmare for the supporters.
I simply couldn't afford to pay £30+ every two weeks for an away game and also lose a days pay.
Who’s to say they would make an All-Ireland League and base it on the Eircom League and not the Carnegie? I’m sure fans of the Eircom League would prefer more structure and that most matches are played on a Saturday at 3pm. As for mid-week cup fixtures this could easily be sorted out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
Just an idea…
All-Ireland Premier League (12 to 14 teams) most matches played on a Saturday and could be moved to a Friday night or a Sunday for television purposes.
All-Ireland Cup (64 teams) most matches played on a Saturday and could be moved to a Friday night or a Sunday for television purposes.
All-Ireland League Cup (32 teams) Split into regional groups (Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht) Then goes to a final 8 from the groups. Group matches played on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening with the Quarter finals to final matches being played on Saturday and could be moved to a Friday night or a Sunday for television purposes.
Will probably never happen though…
There would certainly be difficulties. However I honestly feel we are outgrowing the Irish League if we have not already done so. I simply see continued participation in the Irish League as a possible hindrance to our undoubted progress.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce