Great crowd for a televised game on a Tuesday night, and a good crowd up with Rovers considering it was a Tuesday, on TV and in Oriel.
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Great crowd for a televised game on a Tuesday night, and a good crowd up with Rovers considering it was a Tuesday, on TV and in Oriel.
596 at Waterford v Wexford Youths last Friday.
3,956 was the season highest so far and was an excellent crowd really, you do have to take into account Tuesday night and live on Setanta, although its possibly the lesser one most have, still it would have been shown in all local pubs. Credit Rovers too for taking a decent crowd up, and after playing Sligo away at the weekend.
Last nights turn out by the locals implies there is no let up in the hunger to win another title, good to see so many school kids there too.
Bizzare really that our lowest crowd of the season will probably be the Cork City match (2,600) played on a Sunday 6pm KO, rained for 24 hours that day too.
Week 23:
Cork v Galway: 2,518
Sligo v Shamrock Rovers: 2,178
Bohs v Dundalk: 1,893
Pats v Derry: 926
Shelbourne v UCD: 732
Waterford v Wexford: 596
Longford v Bray: 446
Drogheda v Limerick: 450 estimate
Cobh v Athlone: 370
Cabinteely v Harps: 250 estimate
Midweek:
Cork v Pats: 2,017
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers: 3,957
Week 23:
PREMIER DIVISION
Bohs - 1,718 (1,395; 1,597; 1,496; 1,488; 1,835; 2,366)
Bray - 819 (718; 891; 965; 1,121; 952; 1,169)
Cork - 3,476 (3,777; 1,965; 2,786; 2,128 FD; 1,693 FD; 2,681)
Derry - 1,185 (1,106; 1,446; 1,460; 2,135; 1,965 FD; 2,436)
Drogheda - 800 (1,064; 817; 977; 811; 859; 1,106)
Dundalk - 3,192 (2,534; 1,997; 949; 1,355; 1,877; 2,371)
Galway - 1,312 (975 FD)
Limerick - 928(757; 1,649; 734 FD; 569 FD; 598 FD; 429 FD)
Longford - 807 (567 FD; 379 FD; 365 FD; 315 FD; 230 FD; 260 FD)
Pat's - 1,432 (1,386; 1,687; 1,474; 1,346; 1,756; 1,631)
Rovers - 3,028 (2,269; 2,763; 3,127; 3,779; 3,794; 3,611)
Sligo - 1,763 (1,959; 2,342; 3,007; 2,103; 1,807; 1,756)
FIRST DIVISION
Athlone - 336 (653 PD; 754; 271; 200; 354; 462)
Cabinteely - 657 (No previous)
Cobh - 368 (223; 439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681; 368; 403)
Harps - 805 (449; 479; 429; 433; 644; 480) -
Shels - 625 (713; 1,114 PD; 1,187 PD; 781; 737; 972)
UCD - 219 (397 PD; 487 PD; 506 PD; 558 PD; 610 PD; 272)
Waterford - 470 (470; 478; 453; 466; 619; 434)
Wexford - 432 (331; 227; 302; 216; 343; 494)
PREMIER AVERAGE: 1,700 (1,502; 1,566; 1,630; 1,547; 1,512; 2,010)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 487 (495; 391; 372; 578; 682; 417)
OVERALL AVERAGE: 1,251 (1,160; 1,140; 1,125; 1,110; 1,095; 1,175)
TOTAL WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: Week 22: 16,333 (including two midweek)
OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 44,309 (55,408)
OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 263,499 (297,334)
OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 307,808 (352,742)
I think over the course of the rankings (5 years) it shows we were are but some people have a tendency to over react to one year's results. Or even one team's results
The other issue for me is it doesn't really matter how we ranked against leagues from other countries. It shouldn't effect anything that happens domestically
On the other hand some also tend to big up the league. Apart from Dundalk I don't see much quality at all.
I would also argue that Europe should be even more important now with the big pay offs for doing well. With clubs struggling financially, it looks like Europe is the only decent source of revenue, since the FAI don't give a toss about our league. Get into Europe and doing well will set a club up for years in the LOI.
I dont think that is entirely fair. Rovers are rebuilding and this is the first full season under Fenlon, they have quality but needs to be tactically adjusted to Fenlons ideas regardless on whether it will be easy on the eye or not. Bohs are a good side with a limited budget that Long has made the most of, again they will continue to improve even more than Rovers imo. Cork are held back by the managers philosophy (couldnt resist) but are a resilient bunch and nobody enjoys playing them. Pats is a strange one as they have declined both with a manager who actually has tactical nuance to change things when needed. They were on a fine run until Dundalk and Cork beat them well so confidence is low but they still have enough quality to cause a few upsets during the remainder of the season and then to build in future.
[QUOTE=bennocelt;1836728
I would also argue that Europe should be even more important now with the big pay offs for doing well. With clubs struggling financially, it looks like Europe is the only decent source of revenue, since the FAI don't give a toss about our league. Get into Europe and doing well will set a club up for years in the LOI.[/QUOTE]
Fenlon said as much when he was interviewed after the game in Oriel the other night. Third place is as good as second, its all about qualifying for Europe ( and the Leinster Cup)
I do get all that, but I wonder what you are comparing the standard too? Wales, Norn iron, Estonia?
Have seen Bohs twice this season live, wasnt great tbh, even if I do think Long is a decent manager. (i was sure they would get a better cup run).
Fenlon sticks to a very rigid system, that can be tough to watch at times, Cork too.
Pats are very brittle, nice to watch at times, but not solid enough.
Dont get me wrong, I love the LOI, and want it to be great, but I am under no illusion.
Correct me if I'm wrong but in the 6 games listed 449, 429 & 433 are all BELOW 450.
Harps highest listed is 644, while Shels Lowest is 713 with figures in attendance of 11 & 12 hundred-ish in 2 games.
I don't want you to list Finn Park attendance, or give a flying F**k what it is, I just seen these figures and thought they looked strange.
If you don't wish to explain I won't loose any sleep over it either.
Next time try answering the simple question that was asked and not be such an obnoxious *****
For someone not losing any sleep over the issue......
:D
First and foremost I gauge the standard of players and team by simply watching games. European results have often been influenced by an inferiority issue and by the time the players realise that they are in the game its often too late. There may be some change after Dundalk's and UCD's more positive tactics rather than damage limitation tactics in the past.
Comparing our own leagues to another is something all fans do but it needs to be in a positive way and without the scoffs from EPL fans about LoI, and vice versa, where domestic fans lay off the 'barstoolers' or the 'real fans' jibes.
LoI fans and Irish EPL fans too should drop the inferiority complex they have with domestic football and enjoy it for what it is and not look for the bells and whistle that large TV companies have used elsewhere to create a TV spectacular...all this in an ideal world of course.
I have mentioned before that in England, fans by and large support both the bigger premiership clubs and have an odd day out in the Emirates or Boleyn Ground etc. But they also attend games of their local team; Most importantly though, they do not compare the matchday experience of a Premier division match and Conference south.
I have seen a lot of football in the south east of England-Conference South to Premier League so Conference South Chelmsford, League clubs Southend, Colchester, Brentford, Barnet and Orient. In between QPR, Fulham and Watford(my english club). Then the biggers clubs - Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United. I hope to get to the Olympic Stadium next season. Dundalk in my layman's opinion would be a consistent League 2 looking to being promoted.
Watching most Conference games has you wanting to leave after 5 minutes! Some of our MDL or even Summer League sides could cut it at the regional Conference divisions.. (at this stage ive forgotten the point I wanted to make ha!)