More rules than I realised!
Having another 25 professionals on the books would be tough enough, but this Dublin-born restriction is a step too far!
Printable View
Actually the national spread of where Dundalk players are from is less Dublincentric than at any time before. I'd imagine a 'B' team would be made up of young lads from all over the North East, Cavan/Monaghan, South Down/Armagh and players from Dublin possibly via the Malahide link up. In an ideal world a quota of senior team players should be able to move between the 2 sides without 'transfer' issues almost like a proper reserve team. It would help develop players and rehab injured lads - not likely or even possible but should be a consideration for a future League admin that wants the league as strong as possible. At face value other 1st Division clubs may see it as unfair but if they are playing against strong sides then they will improve also in a bigger picture way.
The whole local player thing was an excuse previously used not to go to games. Not such an issue when the club is successful. If there were local players good enough they'd be at the club. A lot of schoolboy clubs around Dundalk were very resistant to improving coaching as that would have involved breaking up some cliques. Dedicated and well intended people involved over the years but some self importance too that has undoubtedly held back development of local talent unless there was an exceptional talent that shone through regardless. Some clubs are better than others of course. There are also schoolboy clubs that have senior teams in the MDL for example and I think this has taken their focus off youth development in favour of running a senior team at whatever level.
What is different now is the number of players that live locally which seems to be a 'compromise' for those who whinged about players not being local.
Prior to the national league under-age development, the route for promising under-age players was to join one of the DDSL clubs like St Kevin's, or Belvedere where they would be playing at a higher level than in the local leagues. Presumably the new national league system means that exceptional talent find theses higher levels of coaching and competition at their League of Ireland club rather than in the DDSL
While there have been some exceptional players from Dundalk - like Tommy McConville, Barry Kehoe and Dessie Gorman - it's been a long time since any local player has emerged to be a first team regular in a successful Dundalk team. Maybe that will change with the new structures!
Thats very true, but flawed as a system as while player that showed promise (big lads for their age group basically) at a very young age moved to DDSL there were plenty of players that developed a bit later, often in to better players, but were 'past it' for a move to DDSL believe it or not. These players, if lucky, got their chance at a break with DSL at the Milk Cup. The new system will go a long way to correcting this old fashioned thinking. If Messi had been Irish he'd probably have never made the cut with coahes here, and would probably have not kicked a ball before a decision was made.
Yep, I remember those excuses being trotted out as reasons for locals not to support Dundalk, on the basis of not enough Dundalk natives on the playing staff. Then a Bank Rovers side full of Dundalk players got spanked in the cup in front of one man and his dog, and that was the end of that argument.
While Dundlak is a solid soccer town, it doesn`t have the numbers as it is completely surrounded by GAA territory in North Louth, ( Dreadnoughts, love the name), South Armagh, (Crossmaglen Rangers ) and GAA strongholds in C`Blayney and Carrick mc C. Compared to Sligo , which is similarly surrounded, they have a long tradition of many different nationalities playing for the Bit o`Red without any particular whinging from fans looking for excuses not to go to games.
If Dundalk were to go down this route, it would probably make more sense for them to put some sort of 'feeder club' structure in place with Monaghan and go with them as their B team.
I wish that had been it but the 2002 cup winning side had about 5 locals in the team and some still ranted on about not plaaying locals...the current excuse is ' I didnt go to Oriel when things were bad and I dont wnat to be a glory hunter fan now' as they are decked out in Man City or Leicester gear never mind Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal.
Irish Indo from Dec 2013:
https://www.independent.ie/sport/fai...-29855859.htmlQuote:
• From their Premier Division squad, Shamrock Rovers will be permitted to play a maximum of three outfield players and a goalkeeper in First Division fixtures.
I stand corrected. I don't remember Rovers using first team players.
Shamrock Rovers 'B' used first team players in 4 of their 28 first division matches that season. Shelbourne (H) 1-1, Galway (H) 1-1, Waterford United (H) 0-1, Galway (H) 0-3
8 first team players used and their appearances/goals were Robert Bayly (2/0), Rob Cornwall (2/0), Craig Hyland (3), Dean Kelly (1/0), Ciarán Kilduff (1/0), David O'Connor (2/0), Seán O'Connor (1/1), Karl Sheppard (2/0)
It's very clear why this is one reason First Division clubs are against Rovers fielding a B team in the exact same manner, as it puts teams at a competitive disadvantage if an opponent can field top Premier Division full-time players in random cameo appearances
Quality anorak work there TH, thanks :-)
Kinda surprised to see they used the option so infrequently. I guess the first team squad of 18-20 (?) were generally kept together for training and matches with practically every first team player involved in the first team matchday squad