Time to end the Setanta cup?

**Steve Bruce** · 03/09/2008, 3:13 PM

Lets face it, the competition is a flop.

The LOI has destroyed the IL every season (bar Linfield), the crowds are very very poor, interest doesn�t seem to be their either.

Before this competition started, I think most people where expecting regular crowds of over 5000, but this isn�t nearly the case. The crowds have been very bad and getting worse each year.

To think people want to make this into a league. If we cannot show any decent crowds in a cup competition, what�s the likely hood we would get strong crowds in a league game?

Time to scrap this trophy IMO.

**Rovers1** · 03/09/2008, 3:17 PM

what was the attendance at last years SC final?

**Mr A** · 03/09/2008, 3:25 PM

Setanta like it, the clubs like the money, so why kill it?

**finnpark** · 03/09/2008, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Lets face it, the competition is a flop.

The LOI has destroyed the IL every season (bar Linfield), the crowds are very very poor, interest doesn’t seem to be their either.

Before this competition started, I think most people where expecting regular crowds of over 5000, but this isn’t nearly the case. The crowds have been very bad and getting worse each year.

To think people want to make this into a league. If we cannot show any decent crowds in a cup competition, what’s the likely hood we would get strong crowds in a league game?

Time to scrap this trophy IMO.

The lack of media interest has caused crowds to drop just like the Eircom League and IL.

What we need is some decent rivalry, a riot or 2 for example

The clubs, players and fans are too nice to each other if you ask me.

**OneRedArmy** · 03/09/2008, 3:34 PM

See the other thread which suggests getting rid of the IL and EL League Cups and replacing with a widened Setanta Cup involving all clubs.

As the 5th tournament (after League, Cup, Europe and League Cup [are there still more Mickey Mouse tournaments in the North?]) it was never going to be that important, even taking into account the moolah on offer.

**Dodge** · 03/09/2008, 3:39 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Setanta like it, the clubs like the money, so why kill it?

Presumably because some fans are bored with it. Probably the worst reasoning ever.

BTW no one really expected crowds of 5,000+ did they?

Usual dramaqueen stuff

**Duggie** · 03/09/2008, 3:47 PM

the money is ok for been in it so the clubs wont want to see it gone.

**jinxy lilywhite** · 03/09/2008, 3:53 PM

It never caught my imagination tbh. The games be on bad nights and it will always be secondary to the domestic leagues. Some teams esp those at the top have far too many games to play. 33 league, 5 FAI Cup, 5 League Cup, Minimum 6 SC games and then an extra 4 for those in europe. You talking 53 games for a side who went all the way in each comp.
Quite a lot of games for a squad.

**micls** · 03/09/2008, 3:54 PM

Originally Posted by finnpark

What we need is some decent rivalry, a riot or 2 for example

The clubs, players and fans are too nice to each other if you ask me.

True after Joes comments the last time we played Linfield Id imagine playing them again would be interesting.

Originally Posted by Dodge

BTW no one really expected crowds of 5,000+ did they?

On a weeknight......people on a different planet if they did.

Setanta have ruined the appetitie for it by the 'draws'. 4 years, Linfield and City both in it every year and never in the same group, whereas Derry, Glens and Linfield manage to be in the same group 3 times in a row?

Playing the same teams is boring, especially since we never get the good ones.

i think it needs to be rejigged if they want better attendances, a knockout cup between all teams.

Saying that I think we'd get over 4000 if we got a home semi against Linfield

**amaccann** · 03/09/2008, 4:31 PM

I think the argument should be that the League Cups on both side of the border are fairly redundant at this stage (as well as over the water in the English league to be honest), so I like the idea of dropping them and coming up with some kind of all-island Setanta cup. It would be a sexier tournament than the existing League tourney & might create some classic clashes.

**holidaysong** · 03/09/2008, 4:50 PM

The group stages are the real problem - they are really boring to watch for a neutral. They should expand it and make it knock-out from the start. That would probably help with making it more exciting and attractive to fans.