3 down ! Your opinion

I know, I know, another league structure post, but I have often thought about an NFL style conference system working for a regionalised 1st division.
Here is the new Rugby Pro 14 format:

https://youtu.be/j-5FhbB4Kp8

Entice Monaghan, Kildare, Kilkenny back. Add a Kerry league team and any other regional team. Allow Premier teams to have reserve/u23 teams at a reasonable cost. And hey presto. Enough teams to have a regionalised low cost 1st division.

Increase the premier to 14 and run it like the Belgian league and you have plenty of variety of fixtures.

League solved.

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

I know, I know, another league structure post, but I have often thought about an NFL style conference system working for a regionalised 1st division.
Here is the new Rugby Pro 14 format:

https://youtu.be/j-5FhbB4Kp8

Entice Monaghan, Kildare, Kilkenny back. Add a Kerry league team and any other regional team. Allow Premier teams to have reserve/u23 teams at a reasonable cost. And hey presto. Enough teams to have a regionalised low cost 1st division.

Increase the premier to 14 and run it like the Belgian league and you have plenty of variety of fixtures.

League solved.

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That might actually work so no hope of the FAI bringing it in.

"Entice Kildare, Kilkenny and Monaghan back"

Three clubs with maybe 500 fans between them, and not enough people to run them.

But we'll "entice them back" and that's problem solved?

Right so.

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

Entice Monaghan, Kildare, Kilkenny back. Add a Kerry league team and any other regional team. Allow Premier teams to have reserve/u23 teams at a reasonable cost. And hey presto. Enough teams to have a regionalised low cost 1st division.

League solved.

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You forgot Fingal. In fairness to have a 'low cost first division' is one thing. But any FD club would or should have aspirations of getting to the Premier rather than plodding along in the FD and hoping not to get promoted cause that will finish their club.

Limerick
Sligo
Drogheda

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Originally Posted by Northsider

Limerick
Sligo
Drogheda

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I see LTID has really upset you.

I can't see any of the bottom three getting out of it right now. I know its only three points but a couple of good results for Pats and Harps could open that right up. Maybe Limerick get dragged down into it, but can Sligo or Galway win enough games to catch them? Drogheda are sunk.

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Originally Posted by El-Pietro

I can't see any of the bottom three getting out of it right now. I know its only three points but a couple of good results for Pats and Harps could open that right up. Maybe Limerick get dragged down into it, but can Sligo or Galway win enough games to catch them? Drogheda are sunk.

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If we loose away to harps on Friday we are going down & if Sligo loose at home to Pats on Saturday they are going down too. If we & Sligo win then we are both back in the pack & have fighting chance of staying up.

Transfer window now closed. How has it affected squads?
Rovers and Pats look to have strengthened. Limerick and Galway seem to have weakened. Harps and Drogheda about the same as before.

Long way to go but this weekend is huge.

Harps in:

Ibrahim Keita
Peter Burke
Mark Timlin
Tommy McBride

Out:

Harry Doherty
Tommy McMonagle
Michael Funston
Simon McGlynn
Ciaran O'Connor


For me, we've got potentially a striker better than O'Connor, goalkeeper Burke similar to Doherty albeit more experienced at senior level, centre mid McBride to fill the bench replacing Funston, winger Timlin better than McGlynn.

All we missed out on was a centre half to replace McMonagle.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Harps in:

Ibrahim Keita
Peter Burke
Mark Timlin
Tommy McBride

Out:

Harry Doherty
Tommy McMonagle
Michael Funston
Simon McGlynn
Ciaran O'Connor


For me, we've got potentially a striker better than O'Connor, goalkeeper Burke similar to Doherty albeit more experienced at senior level, centre mid McBride to fill the bench replacing Funston, winger Timlin better than McGlynn.

All we missed out on was a centre half to replace McMonagle.

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Sorry but what about JDoherty? He was there in the bench for you in one of the games.
Also if you consider that McMonagle left in mid-season you should also consider McMillen as an addition as he got his clearence after the first one departed!

Jack Doherty never appeared for Harps. He was incorrectly listed as being on the bench away to Dundalk when it was actually Harry Doherty on there.

After all the hassle getting him cleared, I don't think Millien will end up playing much of a part at all.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Jack Doherty never appeared for Harps. He was incorrectly listed as being on the bench away to Dundalk when it was actually Harry Doherty on there.

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Uh oh. Points deduction on the way. :D

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

Uh oh. Points deduction on the way. :D

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He was only incorrectly listed by Dundalk media teamsheets. ;)

Limerick - The new manager is a disaster and I just think he doesn't know the League
Sligo - Can't turn draws into wins & don't score a lot
Drogheda - No explanation needed

If we slip into bottom 3 we haven't a hope of getting out. Our only hope is others don't get the points to put us in there.

Big win for Galway last night. A draw in the Sligo Pats game this evening and it'll be a decent weekend results wise for us.

Limerick are right in it now. Welcome to the party lads!!

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

"Entice Kildare, Kilkenny and Monaghan back"

Three clubs with maybe 500 fans between them, and not enough people to run them.

But we'll "entice them back" and that's problem solved?

Right so.

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Glasshouse. stone. throw.

I didn't think Galway had wins in them and was worried that the bottom three would be wrapped up with a few weeks to go but that win last night opens it right up and Limerick have to start worrying now. Why did they let Williams go?

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Originally Posted by Partizan

Glasshouse. stone. throw.

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What's your point, caller?

Fan of small club can't say that bringing in more small clubs isn't the solution to the league's problems?

Brilliant win for Galway up at Harps on Friday.
I felt Harps were pretty poor defensively but they've still been able to spring a surprise result here and there and probably will do again.
Limerick need to find some form and fast. As well as losing they're actually getting badly beaten and all of sudden our GD is better than theirs which could prove crucial.
Sligo are now the side who can't win games... Two ok draws in their last 2 games but they've ended up losing ground on everyone apart from Drogheda and Limerick.
As for ourselves in the last 4 games we've beaten Limerick, Drogheda and Harps and given Cork a fright. Now we've games against mid/top half teams coming up... Rovers-Bohs-Derry... If we can carry our form and get 4-points or more from those games it should set us up well for the run-in.

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Originally Posted by Trainee

If we loose away to harps on Friday we are going down & if Sligo loose at home to Pats on Saturday they are going down too. If we & Sligo win then we are both back in the pack & have fighting chance of staying up.

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I know this is a petty point to be making, but the word is LOSE!

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Originally Posted by JC_GUFC

Brilliant win for Galway up at Harps on Friday.
I felt Harps were pretty poor defensively but they've still been able to spring a surprise result here and there and probably will do again.
Limerick need to find some form and fast. As well as losing they're actually getting badly beaten and all of sudden our GD is better than theirs which could prove crucial.
Sligo are now the side who can't win games... Two ok draws in their last 2 games but they've ended up losing ground on everyone apart from Drogheda and Limerick.
As for ourselves in the last 4 games we've beaten Limerick, Drogheda and Harps and given Cork a fright. Now we've games against mid/top half teams coming up... Rovers-Bohs-Derry... If we can carry our form and get 4-points or more from those games it should set us up well for the run-in.

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Harps were awful defensively on Friday, but partly due to some strange decision by Ollie to play four players out of position. Centre half at right back, right back in centre mid, left back at centre half and centre mid at left back. Crazy really. Total lack of balance. As I said already, easily our worst performance of the season.

It was a great win for Galway alright.
Though can't really understand why Galway let one of their best players go, similarly Limerick let go their most experienced defender.?
I think Galway will get 3 points from their next 3 games and will be back in trouble.Limerick are in free fall. Those 2 and Drogs for the drop.

Still think 3 down is crazy. Would like Galway and Sligo to both stay up as I think they have something to offer the top Division. Limerick too, if it comes to it. However, it's every man for himself in the bottom 6.

Just hope Pats go down. Deserve to after voting for 3 to be relegated

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Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

It was a great win for Galway alright.
Though can't really understand why Galway let one of their best players go

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Not ideal for sure. What's being said is it was for the long-term future of the club. Unfortunately that's the reality of our finances, he'd have left for free at the end of the season. Apparently he got a 2 1/2 year deal so I'm sure he was keen to make the move too.
In saying that we only have 1 clean sheet all season so it's not as if he was keeping things together for us. Our problems this season have been at the other end of the pitch. Since being pushed further forward Gavan Holohan has 5 goals in 3 games with others weighing in too.
I fancy our chances of staying up but it's going to go right down to the wire.

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Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

It was a great win for Galway alright.
Though can't really understand why Galway let one of their best players go

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What would you do if you were United - offered money to cover a third of your debt for a player who could leave for nothing in 3 months?
What you you do if you were Grace - offered a 52- week contract for 30 months that doubles your wages plus accommodation, as opposed to a 36- week contract that leaves you without a job at the end of October?
No brainer from both perspectives this side of the Shannon. Plus, as JC says, Grace was a mainstay in a defence that kept 1 clean sheet all season. Letting Grace go won't define our season, putting the ball in the net will.

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Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy

What would you do if you were United - offered money to cover a third of your debt for a player who could leave for nothing in 3 months?
What you you do if you were Grace - offered a 52- week contract for 30 months that doubles your wages plus accommodation, as opposed to a 36- week contract that leaves you without a job at the end of October?
No brainer from both perspectives this side of the Shannon. Plus, as JC says, Grace was a mainstay in a defence that kept 1 clean sheet all season. Letting Grace go won't define our season, putting the ball in the net will.

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Just asking!.
Rovers bought LG for a third of your debt?
Must be a record LOI fee depending how your debt is calculated?

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Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Must be a record LOI fee depending how your debt is calculated?

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Have no idea of the ins and outs of our debt but things seem a good bit better than the Leeson days of '09/'10. Even if he went for 30 K (arbitrary figure), that's still a fair amount of debt that we had accrued.

You let a key player go when you are in the middle of a relegation battle with no time to bring in replacements. You may have paid off some debts for now, but what about the ones you accrue when relegated? If you stay up then fair play it will have worked out, but teams worry too much about getting a fee. You have to factor in the value of keeping the player and winning games.

We had him for 24 games and still found ourselves in the bottom 3 - people getting their knickers in a twist 'just because'. No point in keeping the player in the hope of staying up, and then becoming unsustainable/untenable. Better to address the debt and put your faith in the other 21 lads in the squad while also ensuring you'll have a club to support again next season

Those are fair points to make, but as good as he was in defence, out struggle with goals until recently has been our biggest weakness but Holohan is on fire at the moment, and Murray got a brace also the other evening. For sure it's a risk selling LG but if he was gonna go on a free anyway, it seems as if it was a tough decision to make but one that had to be taken (if it works out,as you say).

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Originally Posted by TonyD

Still think 3 down is crazy. Would like Galway and Sligo to both stay up as I think they have something to offer the top Division. Limerick too, if it comes to it. However, it's every man for himself in the bottom 6.

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It's hard to decide who I'd like to stay up. For purposes of geography, I'd go for Harps, Sligo and Galway. But that would mean losing Pats, leaving only two Dublin clubs. It might sound strange to ask, but is that too little?

At this stage, Drogheda look to be gone, can't see them leaving bottom spot at this point. That leaves four points between 7th and 11th spot. Mad. Harps's game in hand is against Cork, so we can probably discount that. Limerick's is at home to Shamrock Rovers, difficult.
It's utterly fascinating to watch, but if I'd to put a bet on, I'd go Drogheda, Sligo and Limerick to drop down.

Sligo
Harps
Drogs

Ever the pessimist but our defence is shambolic at times and will probably be our downfall, reckon pat's and limerick have enough quality to stay out of it and think it will be tight between Galway and Sligo to avoid the last relegation place

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Originally Posted by MattB11

Limerick have enough quality to stay out of it

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The grass is always greener where the dogs are sh*tting syndrome there. Whatever bit of quality still adorns our eleven presently is looking at those making up the numbers around them with frustration.

Complete lottery now who stays up and who goes down after tonight.
Pats back in it, Limerick in it, Harps, Sligo, Drogs and Galway all potentially going down.

Drogs definitely gone, after that it's anyones guess.

From Harps point of view, the Sligo game in a fortnights time is massive, win that and I think we're staying up. Lose and we have Rovers, Dundalk and Derry coming after.

Our next 2 games are away to Harps and Galway. If we only get 1 point from them we're gone.

Same as our whole season on Friday, played very well in one half and left 2 points behind us. Still a draw not the worst result until we find out Harps have won.
On paper we have the easiest run-in but need to start winning games.
We have home games against Derry, Sligo, Pat's and Dundalk (last day of season) and away trips to Bray and Limerick.

I think we'll need 10 points to survive, that would bring us to 36 and with our GD we'll finish above anyone else who is level on points with us.

I think it's only a matter of time before Drogheda are mathematically relegated.

The other 2 are a bit more up in the air but with 6 games left you'd almost be inclined to say Galway are going to find it near impossible to stay up. 10 points from the last 6 is a big ask, although 4 of those games are at home. If they don't beat Sligo I fully expect them to be relegated.

Sligo will be looking at their next 2 games as cup finals. They really can't afford to lose either.

Harps next game is huge, Sligo at home. Win that and we're 5 points clear with 5 games left. If we don't win that, it's hard to see where the points will come from in the next 3 games (Rovers away, Dundalk home and Derry away).

Pats will be smarting from the Dundalk spanking. After they hammered up in Inchicore I fully expected them to move comfortably to safety. They have a tough run in with Rovers, Bohs, Cork and Derry. The Limerick and Galway games will be massive and they'll be looking at getting something from the likes of Bohs.

Limerick are in free fall. Looked like world beaters first half against Harps, conceded against the run of play and missed pen. After that I never felt like Harps were in danger. Limerick fans must be worried about the teams mentality after that.

Can't call it yet but if Harps were to beat Sligo, I'd say the bottom 3 as it stands will go down. Sligo beat Harps and I'd fear for our safety. I think it's that big of a match.