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We're slightly worse than last year I'd say - no real surprise having lost Benson and Watts.
I never really rated Harps from last year; thought they bullied their way out of the division. It's one way of playing of course, and they did get out of the division, but I don't think I'd agree they're better than Drogheda and Cobh.
Do you think they could bully their way past the current Drogheda and Cobh teams? I'd say they would every time.
Hard to tell. Bullying can work against a younger team like UCD. I think Cobh and Drogheda would be better prepared for it, to be honest.
I'd say both Cobh and Drogheda are younger teams than UCD, to be honest.
Wouldn't have thought so? (OK; take out Jason Byrne...)
I know our average age last year was 21. Seán Thornton is playing for Drogheda; he has more experience than our 2015 team put together.
Anyways, it's an impossible argument really. I think we're in agreement that the FD is slightly better than last year, which isn't saying a huge amount.
1087 at Drogs game according to their Twitter.
Says it all that just over 1,000 has the place looking packed to the naked eye, such is our poor crowds over the last few years.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy
Bullying...like the UCD under-19 manager bullies young opposition lads after a game?Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
For what it's worth, Harps are a million miles better this year than we were last year, and we've still struggled at times this year. I'd say we'd comfortably dispose of both Cobh and Drogheda.
There's nothing to suggest either Drogheda or Cobh would do better than Harps or Wexford other than the opinion of a UCD fan who just saw their side beaten to the play-off by both.
Whut?Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
There's nothing to suggest ye'd comfortably dispose of Cobh and Drogheda other than yadda yadda yadda.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Of course this is opinion.
That said, the amount of times you've refused to see Harps' physical play and commented with bafflement on the curious amount of yellows ye've received may indicate a slight disconnect with the reality of what's happening on the pitch. Harps are a very very physical side, hence the "bullying" comment.
That bit made me laugh. Harps couldn't comfortably dispose of anyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Maybe a bit harsh. A non-league team surely?
Say, Crumlin?
Oh, wait...
369 at Pats v Cork last night.
Longford v Dundalk 495
450 of that being away fansQuote:
Originally Posted by eitoof
I wish Cork brought 450 :(Quote:
Originally Posted by outspoken
Harps can be physical but then so can most teams on their day. We outplayed UCD on a number of occasions last year despite being dismissed as wrestlers. But the longer people write us off as completely one dimensional the better in my view, long may it continue.
TO be fair. We lost the league last week, we've had a lot of away games lately, and Longford is a lot closer to Dublin/Dundalk than Dublin is to Cork. We brought a good number to Dundalk last Tuesday, after bring a very large crowd to Inchicore in the cup semi. We were never going to bring a similar number for the second time in about 3 weeks.Quote:
Originally Posted by PartySaint
346 at Wexford Youths v Galway.
The FAI have to accept that only less league games will help increase attendances on average against the current system. There are 12 clubs in the Premier League and during the course of a season (from March to October) each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at home and once away, for a total of 22 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. The fact is that most of our teams are semi-professional and are unable to play 33 league games plus FAI & League Cup competitions and further European games for certain clubs.
The current season has approximately 35 weekends and if properly structure, advertised and promoted, all league and various cup games could be played as a priority on weekend days which suits the fans.
Midweek should only be used in cases of replays and European fixtures.
If a 22 league format was the norm, all games could then be played on weekend dates over the course of the season, which is the basis of most Scandinavian league formats and where we should be looking at as a model to follow.
All aspects of promotion and fixtures should be structured to maximise the best date and time for clubs that avoids other competition, to help gain the most of attendances even if you are only considering an extra few 100 at a game. You have to start a system that involves the club and take each set of fixtures and arrange them that has every aspects that can be considered to put the game on at a date and time that can attract or suits the public.
The fact is we are not a professional sport and cannot compete with the huge professional sports and media businesses.
Until we prioritise this structure things will just limp on.
I think the comment was tongue in cheek. Nobody would have expected Cork to bring a large crowd to Dublin on a Monday night in the circumstances. Even if you had won the league was probably beyond you. It was more a comment on our poor crowd I think. I didn't appreciate how bad it was, being in the middle of the main stand. The TV pictures showed it up badly. I think the majority of Pats fans have just given up on the season. Pity, as it was probably our best performance of the season. More of that attitude is needed next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Pietro