Setanta Cup Round 3

[Steve Bruce]

One league for the 32 counties of Ireland like it used to be,sounds good to me.

It used to be run by the IFA as well

[Dodge]

It used to be run by the IFA as well

I'd have no problem with that...

[GavinZac]

I'd have no problem with that...

I don't think anyone would.

[Steve Bruce]

I don't think anyone would.

Have you not seen the shambles our league is in?

[GavinZac]

Have you not seen the shambles our league is in?

I can't see your shamble trees for the shambles forest I'm in.

[pól-dcfc]

The difficulty is we would then have to give up our national side and whilst many on this island choose to ignore, there are many like me who are patriotic of NI(not in a rub your nose in it sort of way, but a genuine sort of way) I cannot agree to an all Ireland league at the cost of my national side who I am proud of.

Again this might come across as me being a WUM, it is not intended that way, it is my belief, which I know wont be popular.

Don't think anyone has (seriously) suggested that the NI national team be done away with. I'm sure UEFA would give another special dispensation for the two national sides to still be in existance, what with it being a good opportunity to promote inter-community relations and all that.

[TonyD]

Maybe the best compromise for the moment would be to have a more genuine all Ireland Cup (i.e expanded, and with more of a knock out element) even to the extent of doing away with both the current IFA and FAI cups ? Just a thought. And tbh, if the crowd at Richmond Park on Tuesday (and I don't think other attendances have been spectacular either) is anything to go by, is an all Island league really what is going to turn things around on either side of the border ?

[GavinZac]

I don't think the first visit of a supposedly hardline unionist team with their supposedly trouble making fans (not saying this is true but the perception isnt exactly dismissed by the media) on a tuesday night in a relatively meaningless cup is representative of the potential crowds, say, if Linfield were meeting St. Pats as established title rivals.

[TonyD]

Possibly not, and there may have been a first-time fear factor involved, which hopefully wouldn't apply if visits from Linfield were a more regular thing. I've nothing against the concept at all, all I'm saying is that an all island league shouldn't be seen as some kind of magic pill to cure both leagues of al their ills. Theres not much evidence to suggest that the Northern teams would have any extra attraction that will draw more punters, or vice versa with Southern teams travelling North.

[Steve Bruce]

I think crowds would go up, I would welcome an AIL if their was 100% protection for my national team.

Also playing on a Saturday most weeks would be better to. Evenings or afternoons.

Take away the footballing element, I think Linfield and Glentoran(don't know if they bring as much or more than Linfield) has shown that we do travel in numbers, I also think Linfields home support would swell if games where played on Saturday to.

There are many pluses to an all island league, but NI has to be ring fenced and Saturday football for Linfield anyway is a must. Our support does shrink any other day for whatever reason.

[CvilleRovers]

I think crowds would go up, I would welcome an AIL if their was 100% protection for my national team.

Also playing on a Saturday most weeks would be better to. Evenings or afternoons.

Take away the footballing element, I think Linfield and Glentoran(don't know if they bring as much or more than Linfield) has shown that we do travel in numbers, I also think Linfields home support would swell if games where played on Saturday to.

There are many pluses to an all island league, but NI has to be ring fenced and Saturday football for Linfield anyway is a must. Our support does shrink any other day for whatever reason.

i would be in favour of saturday games for the AIL, be alot handier getting to away games with some being afternoon kos and the rest at night.
i think any proper football fan realises the AIL is the only way forward for everyone to progress

[holidaysong]

i would be in favour of saturday games for the AIL, be alot handier getting to away games with some being afternoon kos and the rest at night.
i think any proper football fan realises the AIL is the only way forward for everyone to progress

With a username like 'CvilleRovers' who the hell would you go for in an AIL?

[kingdomkerry]

id say AIL in 3-5 years all going well!

[paudie]

I think crowds would go up, I would welcome an AIL if their was 100% protection for my national team.

Also playing on a Saturday most weeks would be better to. Evenings or afternoons.

Take away the footballing element, I think Linfield and Glentoran(don't know if they bring as much or more than Linfield) has shown that we do travel in numbers, I also think Linfields home support would swell if games where played on Saturday to.

There are many pluses to an all island league, but NI has to be ring fenced and Saturday football for Linfield anyway is a must. Our support does shrink any other day for whatever reason.

I presume you mean for home games.
Surely its up to the home team to decide what day a game is to be played. Of course it might suit clubs to play Linfield on a Saturday (or Sunday) if that meant a bigger away crowd

[paudie]

Possibly not, and there may have been a first-time fear factor involved, which hopefully wouldn't apply if visits from Linfield were a more regular thing. I've nothing against the concept at all, all I'm saying is that an all island league shouldn't be seen as some kind of magic pill to cure both leagues of al their ills. Theres not much evidence to suggest that the Northern teams would have any extra attraction that will draw more punters, or vice versa with Southern teams travelling North.

You're not going to see an explosion of attendances in an AIL, though I'd like to see what crowd there would be at Turners Cross for an important league game against Linfield ona Friday or Saturday night. At least as big as for the big Dublin clubs and Derry.

I think the main advantage would be the possibility of a really decent TV deal, which is what really funds most big leagues.

However there is no point in rushing it. Facilities have to be improved in a lot of grounds for a start. Also the different seasons will have to be reconciled.

[kdjaC]

You're not going to see an explosion of attendances in an AIL, .

You would with 100% gauranteed safety, something noone in All Ireland can offer due to crap grounds and poor policing. Alas i must say it look to england and how crowds should be policed with 30 years experience and over 100 deaths they are without a doubt the best at crowd control in the world.

Sorry for quoting only a part of your post but that line is the stickler, i would have brought 4 kids to the game on tuesday and between myself and mates there were 12 less kids at that game. Simply because we did not think the club and police could gauranteee their safety, in hindsight we were wrong Gardai and Club did a superb job of policing the situation. Shame that the media portrayed it differently (woot i feel like a rovers fan fan now)



kdjac

[David]

You would with 100% gauranteed safety, something noone in All Ireland can offer due to crap grounds and poor policing. Alas i must say it look to england and how crowds should be policed with 30 years experience and over 100 deaths they are without a doubt the best at crowd control in the world.

Sorry for quoting only a part of your post but that line is the stickler, i would have brought 4 kids to the game on tuesday and between myself and mates there were 12 less kids at that game. Simply because we did not think the club and police could gauranteee their safety, in hindsight we were wrong Gardai and Club did a superb job of policing the situation. Shame that the media portrayed it differently (woot i feel like a rovers fan fan now)



kdjac

Hopefully you will feel safe to bring your kids to Windsor in September. I have to be honest for the first time I was worried about a trip down south for the game at Richmond and I had my daughter with me (although she is 18). I was not even aware of the trouble until Wednesday. The Garda did seem a bit over exuberant to be honest and if accounts are to be believed got the one reported incident wrong but on the whole I felt things went well, I was certainly fearing worse.

As for the aforementioned September game, you can ask fans of any of the EL clubs that have been to Windsor and they will tell you just how safe it is and how welcome you will be made.

[GavinZac]

As for the aforementioned September game, you can ask fans of any of the EL clubs that have been to Windsor and they will tell you just how safe it is and how welcome you will be made.

Well you could've let the lights on for us

[dcfcsteve]

Sorry for quoting only a part of your post but that line is the stickler, i would have brought 4 kids to the game on tuesday and between myself and mates there were 12 less kids at that game. Simply because we did not think the club and police could gauranteee their safety, in hindsight we were wrong Gardai and Club did a superb job of policing the situation. Shame that the media portrayed it differently (woot i feel like a rovers fan fan now)

I'm sorry - but I just don't get this whole irrational fear.

What did you think would happen - Linfield fans with machine gun posts on top of the stands ? Seriously - what did you think would happen that was worth you consciously keeping people away from the game...?

[Steve Bruce]

I presume you mean for home games.
Surely its up to the home team to decide what day a game is to be played. Of course it might suit clubs to play Linfield on a Saturday (or Sunday) if that meant a bigger away crowd

I'm talking home games, I couldn't care less if we play away during the week, it is only the home team who will lose out in hundreds of potential away supporters coming to their ground.