Setanta Cup 2009 Draw Delayed

It has to be remembered that even with the big money that Setanta were pumping into the competition Linfield and Glentoran played weakened teams in some matches. They also never seemed to shut-up complaining about the competition as well. They always appeared to be going on about how the competition favoured LOI clubs and threatened on a number of ocassions to withdraw.

Take away the Setanta money and reduce the prize money and I think the competition simply won't work. The will just isn't there from North of the border.

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Originally Posted by SMorgan

Take away the Setanta money and reduce the prize money and I think the competition simply won't work. The will just isn't there from North of the border.

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I'm not sure the will is there from South of the border either in cicumstances where the money would be reduced.

Even as winners last season the competition was dying a death in Cork, we were sick of rolling over Cliftonville, Dungannon and Portadown in the group games [it seemed to get less competitive in the group stages the longer it was around], the crowds we were getting to games were atrocious, people seemed to be bored with it in general. Last season, breaking it up over opposite ends of the season only added to the farce. Factor in 12-16 hours on a bus over a Monday or Tuesday night for players and staff aswell, not to mention Jeffries constant whinging about every little thing.

I for one wouldn't miss it, nice as the money for winning it was.

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Originally Posted by SMorgan

Take away the Setanta money and reduce the prize money and I think the competition simply won't work. The will just isn't there from North of the border.

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I'm not sure you can single out Northern clubs at all.

As for crowds, Derry averaged over 4,000 for home games in the three years we played in it.

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Originally Posted by Candystripe

As for crowds, Derry averaged over 4,000 for home games in the three years we played in it.

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Well its easier with a 'non-rigged' draw to give ye the 2 biggest teams, which ye have big rivalries with and will bring 1000 away fans....

micls,

Read what he said. Home crowds. The Glens and the Blues could only bring 200 fans to those games, max.

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Originally Posted by Maribor

micls,

Read what he said. Home crowds. The Glens and the Blues could only bring 200 fans to those games, max.

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200 max? I thought there were more in the games I had watched.

It doesnt really affect the point though. They're the 2 biggest teams, which ye have big rivalries with, and who will also drag out a lot of people to 'see what happens'.

There's a reason the crowds were higher than yere average home games in the league and it's not Glentorans footballing ability.

Bar ye're games vs Glens and Linfield, all other attendances have been disappointing to say the least. People just dont care. Even the Linfield Glens game doesnt come near a decent league attendance

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Originally Posted by Maribor

micls,

Read what he said. Home crowds. The Glens and the Blues could only bring 200 fans to those games, max.

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But still, Linfield and Glentoran (who mysteriously have been in the same group as Derry every year) would be a big draw for Derry fans while Portadown, Dungannon or whoever wouldn't be for fans of other clubs.

For the record corwds at our games were OK. Not the blockbuster some would have led us to believe but usually around the same mark as league games

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Originally Posted by micls

Well its easier with a 'non-rigged' draw to give ye the 2 biggest teams, which ye have big rivalries with and will bring 1000 away fans....

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Rigged draw? Surely not? How could they even do such a thing? I know the draws done in private but don't they have the same guy who checks the National Lottery to oversee? :p

What will Jeffries find to complain about without the Setanta Cup?