MNS (Monday Night Soccer)

[eirebhoy]

Excellent show. Even Roddy was decent. They should stick with those panelists for a few weeks anyway. STV (ITV Scotland) have a highlights package for the SPL and it isn't a patch on that. The fact they always have different pundits on is annoying because it's hard to tell who knows their stuff and who to listen to.

I don't know if it's been mentioned but the only negative was that when they were analysing the match after showing the highlights they didn't replay any of the incidents.

[Jofspring]

Really enjoyed the show,a million times better than eircom league weekly. On the first division thing, yes the standard is obviously poorer in the first than premier but it would be nice to get some promotion for the first division. It needs it as much if not alot more than the premier. I'm sure there will be some sort of coverage of it over the season. Will be very dissapointed if there isn't. I would have thought they would have at least showed some of the Dundalk Shelbourne game even though it did finish 0-0.

[Redie]

Originally Posted by jebus
Nobody cares about parish rugby or basketball, what's your point in equating them with League of Ireland football?

My point is you never hear anyone criticising television coverage of these sports on the basis that they are played in front of tiny crowds in under developed venues with no stands, etc. etc.

[cudsy1]

If you're lucky, you might pick up the odd wierdo for the league along the way

brilliant!

[Mr A]

I thought the show was excellent- a really good start and a real step forward over anything that has gone previously.

I don't see what harm having the goals from a selected few of the first division games each week would be. There wouldn't be any great difference in standard or spectacle with many of the premier games. That said, just having cameras at all premier games is a huge step forward.

[dcfcsteve]

The standard is absolute $hite in both divisions when seen through normal people eyes (That's right, I call them normies). You can't make a silk purse out of the sows ear that is the League of Ireland.

As for the grounds

Belfield Bowl??

United Park??

St. Colmans??

The Carlisle Grounds??

No One, but No One is going to watch that programme and say "Hmm, you know what, that's actually pretty class looking, I must start going to that"

If you're lucky, you might pick up the odd wierdo for the league along the way but by and large people will watch this show like they watch the kayaking on transworld sport.

Which rant leaves us with two possible conclusions :

1) Stop showing any EL, as it's all muck.

2) Show First Division as well, despiute the fact that it's even greater muck than the Premier.

Neither option would improve the programme.

The First Division will receive scant coverage at best,a nd rightly so. The only ones who ever cry about seeing it are those who's clubs are stuck there - and they change their tune quickly when they get promoted. So worry abotu your club getting out of the basement league, not about making a TV show even less attractive to your proverbial 'normies'....

[Mr A]

and they change their tune quickly when they get promoted.

Not in my case anyway, nor from many of the Cobh and Harps fans who expressed their views on this. I have always believed that the coverage needs to be spread more evenly for the good of the league overall. How the hell are the clubs in the first meant to catch up if they're excluded from everything? It like punching a guys teeth out and then kicking him in the nuts for mumbling. The current top clubs are not the be all and end all of the league and spreading things around a little, like TV coverage and prizemoney would be a positive thing.

[Lim till i die]

2) Show First Division as well, despiute the fact that it's even greater muck than the Premier.

To deal with the part of your post which isn't you having a big cry:

Do you honestly, honestly believe that the highlights of goals from Tolka Park, Oriel Park, Athlone Town, The RSC or Flancare Park will look significantly worse than the highlights of goals from the Belfield Bowl, Colmans, Finn Park etc, etc??

[GuisaSaigon]

Thought it was the best LOI show ever produced, which wouldn't be too hard. it was well put together, presenters were decent. The Archive section could go back a bit further but im sure they are working on that. Well done RTE!

[Mr A]

Do you honestly, honestly believe that the highlights of goals from Tolka Park, Oriel Park, Athlone Town, The RSC or Flancare Park will look significantly worse than the highlights of goals from the Belfield Bowl, Colmans, Finn Park etc, etc??

There's the logical next step you see, soon only the top 6 premier clubs will be deserving of coverage, then maybe the top two. Provided their face fits of course.

[jebus]

Not in my case anyway, nor from many of the Cobh and Harps fans who expressed their views on this. I have always believed that the coverage needs to be spread more evenly for the good of the league overall. How the hell are the clubs in the first meant to catch up if they're excluded from everything? It like punching a guys teeth out and then kicking in the nuts for mumbling. The current top clubs are not the be all and end all of the league and spreading things around a little, like TV coverage and prizemoney would be a positive thing.

Sensible poster alert!!

[Bunny Kelly]

anyone having problems watchin it over the web, I keep getting an error every time I tried this morning

[Daragh]

I watched this last night. I'd put myself down as a GAA and Rugby fan ahead of football and I certainly have no interest in the soap opera that is English football. A little over a decade ago I lived in Drumcondra and on occasion would go to see Shelbourne but it was a very rare thing. Since then I've been to a couple of Shelbourne's champions league games but that would be it. I used to watch all the Irish international games but lost interest as the team lost all direction. With Trap as manager I'm very interested again. After seeing MNS last night I'm very interested in going to see some eircom league action.

I was talking to a friend who also saw it last night. We both have season tickets for Leinster Rugby so our Friday nights are tied up until the end of the Magners League but after that we'll be hoping to head to one of the grounds in Dublin to watch some football. We may even get in a few games when Leinster are away or when the Heineken Cup is on. We just have to decide who to go and see. I'd like to see a premier league team as we can then watch them and their opponents through the season on MNS but he's pushing for Sporting Fingal as they're new and half way between us both. I think we'll settle for going to anyone and everyone this season before making a final decision.

I have no football pedigree as I grew up swimming and practicing martial arts. My mate and I both played American Football for years in Dublin and neither of us ever played football for a club. I never played rugby either and am well used to the attitude of the "real" fans so I would expect to encounter more of the same with the eircom league. I couldn't give a toss though. I'm only posting this to answer those who said it wouldn't draw anyone to the games and point out that it's drawing at least two and probably more once we rope a few more people into coming along.

[bray boy]

that right there is brilliant well done mns

[Magicme]

Is it repeated at any late night/early morning time this week? Raging I missed it. Will series link it for next week.

Of course I would like to see a small bit on the First Division but I dont think it warrants taking up a big chunk of the show. Just maybe choose one game each week in first division and show a few minutes of it there as well as giving the first division table/results an airing so that people are reminded that there is another league. We cant possibly expect RTE to go from no cameras at games to cameras at every first division game. They need to walk before they can run and from what am reading here they have learned to skip already.

But when Mons are in the premier next season I do expect them to give us loads and loads of coverage!!

[LeixlipRed]

I watched this last night. I'd put myself down as a GAA and Rugby fan ahead of football and I certainly have no interest in the soap opera that is English football. A little over a decade ago I lived in Drumcondra and on occasion would go to see Shelbourne but it was a very rare thing. Since then I've been to a couple of Shelbourne's champions league games but that would be it. I used to watch all the Irish international games but lost interest as the team lost all direction. With Trap as manager I'm very interested again. After seeing MNS last night I'm very interested in going to see some eircom league action.

I was talking to a friend who also saw it last night. We both have season tickets for Leinster Rugby so our Friday nights are tied up until the end of the Magners League but after that we'll be hoping to head to one of the grounds in Dublin to watch some football. We may even get in a few games when Leinster are away or when the Heineken Cup is on. We just have to decide who to go and see. I'd like to see a premier league team as we can then watch them and their opponents through the season on MNS but he's pushing for Sporting Fingal as they're new and half way between us both. I think we'll settle for going to anyone and everyone this season before making a final decision.

I have no football pedigree as I grew up swimming and practicing martial arts. My mate and I both played American Football for years in Dublin and neither of us ever played football for a club. I never played rugby either and am well used to the attitude of the "real" fans so I would expect to encounter more of the same with the eircom league. I couldn't give a toss though. I'm only posting this to answer those who said it wouldn't draw anyone to the games and point out that it's drawing at least two and probably more once we rope a few more people into coming along.

You said you used to go to Tolka and watch Shels so why not continue that now? The crowds will be bigger (than Sporting) and we'll be pushing for promotion this season (always nice to follow a winning team). Also, there's two bars in Tolka and a very good chipper. And you'll definitely be made welcome. Any new faces are welcome

[kingdom hoop]

I thought it was a very encouraging opening, with probably the best thing being the enthusiasm exuded. Excellent foundation laid.

Minor teething problems aside, the difficulty lies in striking the balance between an in-depth highlights and analysis package, and the light-entertainment features. For the opening show I thought that was well done; ensnare any first timers, show them the league has personality. As the season progresses I think they should focus more on the football side of things with more time for previews as well as reviews, but all the while you must keep a light-hearted tone; take the smile/groan risk rather than leaving people stone-faced.

[Bald Student]

RTE should (and probably will) send cameras if there's a big game in the First Division. The only comment I'd make is that it would have been nice to show some of Fingal's first game.

[John83]

The only comment I'd make is that it would have been nice to show some of Fingal's first game.

Longford fans would agree.

I've laid into the interview elsewhere, but I should probably add that overall it was good, light years ahead of eL Weekly.

[dcfcsteve]

Not in my case anyway, nor from many of the Cobh and Harps fans who expressed their views on this.

That's becasue Harps fans rightly treat promotion as the footballing equivalent of a holiday.

Sadly, that inevitable date when you have to go back home again eventually comes round....