All-Ireland League Thread

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Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

Of all you have said, only Linfield have the potential to be a truly full time club. While others have been playing with the concept, none of them are close to what is a full time set up. Indeed I am aware of frustration and doubt within those same clubs, that fulltime football is something that will work in the short to medium term for them. There are a few egos that are driving their push to fulltime, while others in their clubs see the realities. It's the same egos that want to see an AIL so that they can play football manager on a larger scale. If they try to follow the same paths as some LOI clubs, then it will end in tears imo.

As for Cliftonville, and indeed the rest of the clubs, of course they will want to "keep up" with their competitors, but I doubt they will risk their existence just to do so.

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Fair enough.

What I might have said was that 4 or 5 IL clubs have the potential to match the top 7 or 8 LOI clubs' version of "Full-time" football. (Included in that calculation is that the IFA doesn't lose its current European slots.)

Beyond that, it would require any AIL to generate the increased revenues which would allow clubs to offer proper 52 week contracts of 2 or 3 years to players, some of whom might have genuine sell-on potential to GB/Europe, rather than these one year contracts of 42 weeks which I believe currently operate at some LOI clubs. (Open to correction on that last bit)

As for "ego's" driving some of this, I'm sure you're right. But so long as it's not overdone (i.e. clubs offering ridiculous wages they can never possibly afford), then maybe this egotism might not be such a bad thing, when compared with the lack of vision and ambition which currently holds back some clubs at least?

This was a good old laugh, initially looked like a poorly coach bunch of U12s and then a cracker of an own goal. At least the old Lee Dixon back pass that lobbed Seaman had some style!

https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/56705838

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...3VPWlWYige0oH8

This seems to have gone under the radar because of other football news. Its behind a paywall, but the first 2 paragraphs suggest all barriers are removed for it to happen.

Super League! Might want to re-brand that quick.

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Sunday Life Sport has been told by informed sources that on offer for such a cross-border competition is up to £10m of funding, underwritten by UEFA through their centralised policy of negotiating television rights.

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That paragraph stood out for me. UEFA don't go around underwriting league funding do they? £10m is a significant amount and way more than, say, UEFA solidarity income for the two leagues (which clubs get anyway).

I think the league format is maybe the best way of testing the water while still allowing an easy unravelling if numbers do turn out to be pie-in-the-sky. Which is what £10m sounds to me.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

That paragraph stood out for me. UEFA don't go around underwriting league funding do they? £10m is a significant amount and way more than, say, UEFA solidarity income for the two leagues (which clubs get anyway).

I think the league format is maybe the best way of testing the water while still allowing an easy unravelling if numbers do turn out to be pie-in-the-sky. Which is what £10m sounds to me.

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They've certainly got the cash to do so. They could dress it up as being a peace and harmony thing. And given that they're now supporters of smaller leagues combing together, it would help them get one up and running to act as an example for others to potentially follow suit. All for what is a relatively small sum of money for UEFA. So I could see the rationale for them being up for it.

Just because they have the cash to do it doesn't mean they'd go about setting a precedent to go throwing cash around every time a league wants to merge though.

I don't see any particular reason they'd actively be interested in it, tbh

Maybe they just see it as a way for smaller and medium level leagues to get more competitive, and generate more revenue.

Rumors were around the place that UEFA was set to announce support for merging of leagues on Monday, 19th. But obviously, other stuff took precedent.

If it goes ahead, it really would be the best (and possibly only) opportunity to implement a full integrated league system within Ireland.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Just because they have the cash to do it doesn't mean they'd go about setting a precedent to go throwing cash around every time a league wants to merge though.

I don't see any particular reason they'd actively be interested in it, tbh

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Well the revamped CL/EL/ECL 2024 format sounds interesting, almost like a half-way house to an actual continental league. Would explain why the big boys are throwing the toys out, and trying to shut up shop, or it could just be a pavlovian response to change.

There would be 12 more places, across the three competitions. Though doesn't sound like qualification would be any easier.

If they're looking to run a continental league with more than 100 clubs then it's in uefa's interest that there some semblance of competitiveness, and an element of unpredictability. Merging leagues, and raising standards, would be one way of doing that. Who knows, long term this could become a pyramid structure to the continental league.

And an all Island league here would be an 'easy win' for them, for what in the grand scheme of things is crumbs from the table

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Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa

Maybe they just see it as a way for smaller and medium level leagues to get more competitive, and generate more revenue.

Rumors were around the place that UEFA was set to announce support for merging of leagues on Monday, 19th. But obviously, other stuff took precedent.

If it goes ahead, it really would be the best (and possibly only) opportunity to implement a full integrated league system within Ireland.

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Political unification is starting to look like a question of when, not if. So it just remains to be seen if football is ahead or behind that eventuality. But it will happen at some stage for both football and politics.

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Political unification is starting to look like a question of when, not if. So it just remains to be seen if football is ahead or behind that eventuality. But it will happen at some stage for both football and politics.

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Really? Tell that to the Loyalist rioters who've been causing mayhem recently. A united Ireland and British withdrawal will mark a return to war back in the North. (On what scale it's difficult to know - but enough to make and all Ireland league an impossibility). Constantly amazed about how people underestimate Loyalists' hostility to a united Ireland.

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Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa

Maybe they just see it as a way for smaller and medium level leagues to get more competitive, and generate more revenue.

Rumors were around the place that UEFA was set to announce support for merging of leagues on Monday, 19th. But obviously, other stuff took precedent.

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Originally Posted by A N Mouse

If they're looking to run a continental league with more than 100 clubs then it's in uefa's interest that there some semblance of competitiveness, and an element of unpredictability. Merging leagues, and raising standards, would be one way of doing that. Who knows, long term this could become a pyramid structure to the continental league.

And an all Island league here would be an 'easy win' for them, for what in the grand scheme of things is crumbs from the table

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This all sounds lovely, but I don't think it's at all likely. UEFA have never shown any inclination to get actively involved with national leagues - rightly so, I think. Why would they start meddling with 55 national associations? It can only get messy.

I think the LoI and IL are so far down the radar that they'd be altogether the wrong leagues to be backing if you want to see how the idea would pan out. Are UEFA "underwriting" the proposed BeNe league for example?

I'd say it's more likely that the "underwriting" comment is some sort of fudge of reality - the £10m is funds already provided to national associations by UEFA for example, and over x years it's going to be used to invest in this project. Something truth-twisting like that. But while I think it's a more likely explanation than UEFA getting actively involved, I still don't think it's likely. (Those funds would go to the national FAs - are they investing in this?)

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Originally Posted by Straightstory

Really? Tell that to the Loyalist rioters who've been causing mayhem recently. A united Ireland and British withdrawal will mark a return to war back in the North. (On what scale it's difficult to know - but enough to make and all Ireland league an impossibility). Constantly amazed about how people underestimate Loyalists' hostility to a united Ireland.

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No no no, you're all wrong about this, it would not.

They'd start blowing chunks of our bit to bits as a separatist movement. Entirely different thing :)

Presumably you mean 'our bit' being the South. You're right.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/spo..._HG6te40ZOoo5Y

Not directly related to All-Ireland league... But I read it as an indicator of a push by UEFA to integrate leagues.

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Originally Posted by Straightstory

Really? Tell that to the Loyalist rioters who've been causing mayhem recently. A united Ireland and British withdrawal will mark a return to war back in the North. (On what scale it's difficult to know - but enough to make and all Ireland league an impossibility). Constantly amazed about how people underestimate Loyalists' hostility to a united Ireland.

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Constantly amazed by how people think a few thousand knuckle-draggers are going to stop the tide of history and the inevitable march of demographic and political change.

Mayhem? A few dozen kids kicking off in an isolated handful of places for a few nights. Hardly the return of 1972.

Every time loyalists protest and riot about something it involves less people, lasts shorter, and has less impact than the time before. That is demonstrably true. There is an inevitability around change in the north now post-Brexit, and recent polls show that the majority of people north and south think that too.

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

No no no, you're all wrong about this, it would not.

They'd start blowing chunks of our bit to bits as a separatist movement. Entirely different thing :)

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There will be no separatist movement. That ship sailed in the 1970s. Where would be their capital: Larne ?

Ive always thought the best solution to the North was to do a "hong Kong" on it.
The Brits announce they are leaving in 2121 and we get on with it.
Everyone has time to get used to it and the eejits on both sides now will be long gone.

Not sure who are the bigger gob****es up there Sinn Fein and their knuckle draggers or the DUP and theirs.

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Originally Posted by sbgawa

Ive always thought the best solution to the North was to do a "hong Kong" on it.
The Brits announce they are leaving in 2121 and we get on with it.
Everyone has time to get used to it and the eejits on both sides now will be long gone.

Not sure who are the bigger gob****es up there Sinn Fein and their knuckle draggers or the DUP and theirs.

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Gob****ery isn't exclusive to the north!
Increasingly marginalised loyalists are going to be a problem irrespective of the ultimate constitutional settlement.
The impact of the DUP screwing up Brexit and Theresa May's all UK deal has dealt them a fatal blow among middle class protestants/ small u unionists.A deal will ultimately be done with clear constitutional ties to a new Ireland and a continued semi detached arrangement with UK, the DUP will be a right wing rump by the time that happens.Sinn Fein are smart enough to re invent and to occupy the left leaning space in both parts of the Island The other side of the.political equation will be FG and old style official unionism/ forelock tugging , pretty much the profile of their Redmondite origins.
As for football unity , more teams , a bit of north/ south spicey rivalry.Can't wait.

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Constantly amazed by how people think a few thousand knuckle-draggers are going to stop the tide of history and the inevitable march of demographic and political change.

Mayhem? A few dozen kids kicking off in an isolated handful of places for a few nights. Hardly the return of 1972.

Every time loyalists protest and riot about something it involves less people, lasts shorter, and has less impact than the time before. That is demonstrably true. There is an inevitability around change in the north now post-Brexit, and recent polls show that the majority of people north and south think that too.

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Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Gob****ery isn't exclusive to the north!
Increasingly marginalised loyalists are going to be a problem irrespective of the ultimate constitutional settlement.
The impact of the DUP screwing up Brexit and Theresa May's all UK deal has dealt them a fatal blow among middle class protestants/ small u unionists.A deal will ultimately be done with clear constitutional ties to a new Ireland and a continued semi detached arrangement with UK, the DUP will be a right wing rump by the time that happens.Sinn Fein are smart enough to re invent and to occupy the left leaning space in both parts of the Island The other side of the.political equation will be FG and old style official unionism/ forelock tugging , pretty much the profile of their Redmondite origins.
As for football unity , more teams , a bit of north/ south spicey rivalry.Can't wait.

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There doesn't have to be a United Ireland for there to be an All-Ireland League.

But the more people drag this sort of s h i t e up in the context of an AIL, the further we move away from it, rather than closer.

P.S. The biggest proponents of an AIL in NI are Linfield - think on that.