This coming from a team that look like failing to qualify yet again this year and have been unable to beat Linfield in four attempts and have been beaten twice by a poor Glentoran team.Quote:
Originally Posted by City till I Die
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This coming from a team that look like failing to qualify yet again this year and have been unable to beat Linfield in four attempts and have been beaten twice by a poor Glentoran team.Quote:
Originally Posted by City till I Die
I'll state the reasons why your league isn't in a lull and why our league is.Quote:
Originally Posted by pete
1) The support of the IL is shrinking on average
2) The league has 16 teams in a country that should have 10 teams - too many amatuerish setups.
3) The amount of quality players being produced in Northern Ireland has been reduced
4) Coverage of IL football is shrinking by the season
5) Facilities are crumbling
6) Only one club has any credibility in our league now.
Compare that to the LOI
1) Crowds are on the up on average
2) Fewer teams in the top division, makes competition a lot better
3) A lot of good players being produced by the LOI hence the amount going to Scotland and England
4) Coverage of LOI is getting better and better
5) Facilities are getting better
6) More clubs with credibility and pulling power
The fact that Scottish clubs and English clubs are signing your players is a testement of how well your league is going. Unfortunately few players in IL football get interest from across the water because the standard by and large is poor, even in comparison with the LOI. With Only Linfield being able to play and beat the top teams in the LOI.
Also on the 3 years to catch up thing.
I accept that the LOI will get better, but I do not and I think you would be foolish to believe that you will continue to get better at the same rate as you have in the last 5 years. Let's make no mistake about it, your standard has increased at a very rapid and steep rate. You will still get better I believe(and hope) but not at the same rate as you have been.
The IL however are even further behind than you where 5 years ago. But we seem to have good brains now at the top(Howard Wells) and I believe the IL will see a dramatic change in infrustructure and in 3 years the gap between us will be a lot closer. Whether we close the gap all together I don't know and probably say no, but I do believe we will have 3 or 4 teams in the IL that would be able to compete in the Setanta cup to a point where we could possibly have more than 1 qualify to the Semi's each year.
The Setanta cup has been a good exercise for IL football because it shows us how far we need to go to achieve a modest standard of football. Linfield aside the standard we have shown has been very limited.
It's also a good exercise for LOI teams because it's decent money and you get to have the likes of Linfield coming and achieving a bit of buzz about the towns.
How dare you question the European Giants of Irish football:p :DQuote:
Originally Posted by David
Laugh you may, but at least our players manage to avoid scheduling a fortnight in the sun at the same time as European ties.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
Your lot should try it some time (awaits reminder of Linfield qualifying for European Cup quarter finals back in God knows when).
Your minnowism was shown clearly in the Brandywell a few weeks back. Never has a draw been celebrated so uproariously.
Pathetic.
Not until last Friday night at Richmond anyway :)Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
Everybody celebrates coming from 2 goals down away to gain a draw. Everybody
Exactly. 15 minutes left, 2-0 down. Imagine celebrating a draw. They have had one good run in Europe when they got to the first round proper and you would think they won the fecking Champions League. Yet again though they finish well behind Linfield in a Setanta group, will probably fail to qualify and were beat at home against the reserve team of a club who are only placed third in a league they continually ridicule.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Yeah how dare we celebrate from coming from 2 nil behind against full-time opposition who are from a superior league and more or less assuring that we qualified into the next round of the Setanta. Still undefeated by the European giants in 4 games.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
Still hurting then:D
DCFC aha aha aha, aha aha aha, aha aha aha
Oh and enjoy your struggle in the league this year whilst I enjoy our 47th league triumph. :cool:
I can imagine the pride of such a record would be equivalent to that of Cork City's Munster Senior Cup triumphs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
Aye that would be right. :rolleyes: How did you do against Dungannon at Stangmore, a mid table team this season? By the way we beat them five down there.Quote:
Originally Posted by GavinZac
Pal one thing is for sure, your lot wouldn't win our league. Actually there is probably only 2 or 3 teams in your league that would challange. Drogs, St Pats and Derry City. Even then would they show the same consistancy as Linfield? Hardly think so.Quote:
Originally Posted by GavinZac
We drew 1-1 with them in our first game in 3 months. Telling me how easily you beat them only emphasises my point.Quote:
Originally Posted by David
As I've said before we need to have the competition at a different time. Our sides are shattered half way through just when the EL sides get full fitness and it's pointless and the last 2 seasons we've really struggled at this stage of the season mainly in the last few league games with it.
Ourselves this season we haven't been good enough bar a few games and we've almost thrown parts of our side together because we didn't have a good enough squad at the start and because of injuries it's been even more difficult. I think we've did decent enough in the competition although I think we should and will do better.
:rolleyes: yes, name the other 3 teams in the setanta cup, it shows how much you know. face it, the league you're in is a joke, and you're happy to wallow in it because a challenge might mean you can't brag about beating some of the worst footballing teams this side of georgia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
What point? That you could not beat a mid table Irish League team at the same venue that we won 5-1 at?Quote:
Originally Posted by GavinZac
Teams like Portadown that have went to Turners Cross and got a win? Is that the sort of teams you are talking about?Quote:
Originally Posted by GavinZac
No, teams like Portadown that have embarrassed themselves by being hockied this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by David
No, my point is that they are supposedly regulars in the top four of your league, and you're beating them 5-1 away. Our little preseason kick about hardly constitutes a comparison to your lot taking pride/pleasure out of beating 15 rubbish teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by David
****hole of a league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
Ye can stick yer Irish League up yer hole!! We're now playing with the big boys of Irish football, a challenging match every week, unlike pathetic easy victories at Loughgall, Limavady etc...Aye sure you bask in your 47th Mickey Mouse league win and we'll continue to face European giants of football:p
In fairness that was our season in one and it was complete ****e. We did get a draw up at WP if you can remember.Quote:
Originally Posted by David
And win feck all good one pal:DQuote:
Originally Posted by City till I Die
You where a small fish in our pond and your a small fish in the LOI pond. Your just a small fish:p