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Who are the sleeping giants of the L.O.I .
The definition of a sleeping Giant is a team with a large fanbase which has enjoyed periods of dominance but now find themselves struggling for success and silverware. I know who I feel are the sleeping giants of the league but I would like to hear what other people think.
Salthill and Mervue.
Dundalk FC, great history, sadly we are at rock bottom now.
Limerick should have major potential, having said that they've never been dominant and they don't have much of a fanbase as things stand. I would like them to build things up and get a proper Munster derby going next year. Our games against them last year were always full blooded.
All teams with money and success have the ability to be 'sleeping giants' due to the fickle nature of the Irish football supporter!
In that case no-one really.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuyahoga
' Large Fan Base' is meant relative to League of Ireland. I think Athlone Town are the Sleeping Giants of the league. Big town with a large population with a good tradition of soccer and were successful in the past.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy
This :p was supposed to be at the end of that post my bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuyahoga
Limerick tick a fair few of the boxes you outlined. The potential there is considerable.
What is the population of Athlone?
I agree with you Limerick has the population, the third biggest city in the republic.If they get up for next season I think they can kick on from there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuyahoga
You forget who our manager is.
The Bohs Will Rise Again.
If you consider what has happened to you of late as being a tumble, its as well for you that you weren't a Limerick fan at The Markets Field a generation ago and witness to the ensuing descent.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
We will see.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuyahoga
Dundalk would be the only ones I think, Athlone had a time with money and nobody else (bar Shels) would have had sustained periods of success. Plus Dundalk has a decent fanbase now and when winning can pack the place. Then again, the term giants....
Athlone has a population of 18,000 or something. Lovely stadium in a decent location, they should be much bigger than they are.
Limerick should be much bigger than they are too, but until such time as Markets Field is finished, I don't see the greater Limerick crowds coming to see them.
Dundalk also in theory should have more people following them, things just not going right there at the minute.
Harps should be much better than they are at the minute, few years as the 'nearly men' of promotion and relegation, now faded into obscurity, yet still have a faithful 400 or so sticking by the worst years this club has ever had.
A GUST team could come back and become very strong, only time will tell there. League of Ireland needs a strong Galway team.
St. Pats should have a bigger following, they shouldn't be happy sitting around 1,200 attendances each week.
Longford of course should be bigger, have one of the nicest grounds in the league when it's cleaned up. But just too far out of the town.
Wexford are one to watch out for if you ask me.
There's no 'sleeping giant' as such, rather a whole host of teams that should be bigger than they are. The next 5-10 years are massive for this league toward progression and widespread respect as such. A lot of teams investing in better facilities and with this, it should attract a few more fans and potential investors.
We'll just have to sit tight and wait and see how it plays out.
If Limerick get promotion, they can take off. It is increasingly hard to see that happening though and I would be concerned that the team would have the capability to stay up if they went up, as it stands. Aside from that, Drogheda, Cork, Longford could all fit the bill.
Going on the past you are probably talking about Limerick, Athlone and Dundalk. Waterford would have big potential if they became a top LOI team also. Finn Harps in a new stadium and good results means they could easily be a big club again.
With us the Markets Field would help but I don't think it is the be all for support. We started this season going from 800 to 900 and up to 1,200 fans and that was in Jackman. Shocking displays is what has sent us back in the other direction with crowds dropping from 1,200 down to 600 and again last week down to 450. Jackman Park wasn't a factor in it.
If lets say we got promoted and held our own next year with a few big results then I could see us having the bones of 1,500 to 2,000 regularly and if the likes of Cork were to bring 500- 600 up the road then you are talking getting around the 3,000 mark and maybe we could push on from there. If we go up and get results like Dundalk currently or Bohs then sadly our crowds will still be at the 1,000 mark max.
I do think if we can get near the top we could stay there for a long time though.
The only teams I can see with not much potential to be big clubs are:
Mervue
SD Galway (in the current guise or as Salthill Devon)
Wexford Youths
Monaghan
U.C.D
All have done well on merit but I can never see them being big clubs in the league.
Im not so sure there is any 'giant' in this country or one in the wings either. Clubs tend to have good spells that can last for varying lengths. Ourselves and Shams have done well recently based on the end of the celtic tiger, geting our house in order and building on a fanbase that we knew was there. Dundalk, Limerick, Galway and Waterford all should have the potential to have the good spells, IF they can get things right.
In terms of comparison of past success with present reality, only Athlone and Waterford have spent extended spells outside the top-flight in the last decade. Limerick could be bracketed there also, but they've never really won the level of honours that would be expected in a city of its size.