Thanks for the report, FFC. Feel free to let us know how Roddy is doing, and if he manages to keep his nose clean!
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Thanks for the report, FFC. Feel free to let us know how Roddy is doing, and if he manages to keep his nose clean!
LOL - there are no famous players in the League of Ireland Premier Division....! :D
Good to see Roddy up to his usual spin and spoofery.
Floriana - does your club have much money ? The only way a half decent player from Ireland would go to Malta would be if the money was more than they're getting here. Or at least close to what they're getting here if they're on decent wedge already, with the added allure of some sunshine. Roddy may talk a good game, but I suspect that most Irish players would know his reputation and be wary of him.
I'm not so sure SC.
The standard of football is definitely poorer over there (the odd dodgy Irish Euro result aside ! :) ), and I doubt it would pay enough to attract our top tier of full-time players - even in the current economic climate. A lower standard of living is all very well, but people will still compare what they're on now to what they would be on over there anyway (human nature) and factor in the drop in standard and being in a footballing backwater as well (Keith Fahey or Kevin Doyle wouldn't have ended up where did if they'd been in Malta :D). Balanced against that would be sunshine and a lower cost of living - though I've never been to Malta so have no idea how costs compare.
The second or third tier of players here talent-wise may find the opportunity more attractive, as they'd be on lower salaries than the best, may not be full-time but keen to move that way, and the drop in standard would be less of an issue for them.
It'll be interesting to see how many the league's prime spoofer can coax over there with his promises of sun, shekels, sand and soccer.
I can only go on what Jordi Cruyff said, "€1200 a week and all this" pointing to the sun, sea and eh, females.
Luke Dimech, formerly of Rovers confirmed that while the money may not be great the lifestyle more than mad eup for playing in the lower reaches of the UK.
I'm not advocating Malta but suggesting that if some players wanted an easy life then it is there.
Additionally players appear to be well treated locally with restaurants and bars offering them meals and drinks gratis.
Well first of all financially we are one of the weaker sides in the premier league... I think that jordi cruyff of v......a gets paid a salary equal to nearly all our squad together!
About the foreigners coming down to malta, it's a fact that there are some factors that help like the standard of the league, the weather etc but i can assure you that there are local and foreign players that could easily make it in the irish premier league. The fact is that semi-professionalism could not help these players develop there talents.
About george o'callaghan he was offered a contract from yeovil town and it's fair to say that yeovil town are competing in a league better than the maltese premier league and they have better salaries. I don't think he did not come over to Floriana beacuse of Roddy but beacuse he was offered a better contract.
If Roddy loses against Valletta, he's got a ready made excuse...
That's some contradiction there Floriana. I'm not sure you understand the standard of football in the League Of Ireland.
On one breath you say that all manner of players for Maltese teams could "make it" in Ireland (on what basis are you able to 'assure me' of this factlet ?), then on the other hand you say that the Maltese league is worse than English Division One.
The truth is that the top teams in the LOI would be of a standard higher than League 1. Yes - our weaker premier teams may be around or about the level of Yeovil, but to suggest that Maltese-based players could just stroll into teams over here is fanciful.
bit unfair there Steve - i think he was saying that if they moved to a professional league, they could be good players because
Quote:
The fact is that semi-professionalism could not help these players develop there talents.
Any chance we could change the name of this topic to Roddy Watch?
:p
You could say the same thing about the League of Ireland. I can assure you that there are local players in the LOI that could make it in the English Championship or Premiership. That's not saying LOI is a higher standard because clearly it is not.
I don't see a contradiction in what he said.
You think that Jordi Cruyff couldn't make it at Bray?
Ya get a feeling this thread will be around for quite a bit. Well for as long as Roddy is in a job really. Which may indeed contradict my first statement but how and ever.
I was interested to hear about Floriana. James you might be able to tell us a little about the club size, fan base, budgets etc. I'm sure somebody will provide a link anyhow.
Did Roddy make any specific demands then. Like perhaps a million pound maybe to turn things around as he has done in the past?
He said "foreign and local" players.
Now to me that pretty much covers every possible player on the planet and beyond (unless you want to be nit-picky over his definition of 'local'). Which is pretty much "all manner". So he did really say that.
What type of players do you think local and foreign doesn't include....? :confused:
As if Jordi Cruyff is in any way indicative of Maltese football....:eek:
Which current LOI players would you say could "easily make it" in the English premiership then* ....? :confused:
Bearing in mind that it took Birmingham City a lifetime to get round to just adding Jay O'Shea to their panel, and there's no guarantee that he'll get much first team football let alone easily make it.
Please don't drag up Keith Fahy or Kevin Doyle, as they're not current.
*(that sounds like the title of a thread by Longford James or IorFAJamJams.... :D)