Latest scores 05/09/08

[cheech]

Harps played UCD off the pitch.

Could have been 5 or 6.

And the pitch was in bad condition because it was pishing the rain. Even I figured that out and I didn't go to University......

Feel sorry for UCD though. Well organised side with some fine young players. With other clubs having serious financial problems, I wouldn't be totally shocked if both UCD and Harps stay up.

[pineapple stu]

Harps played UCD off the pitch.

Could have been 5 or 6.

It could, but it was an even enough kind of game. We had more of the ball, but did nothing with it whereas youz created great chances. Very very annoying.

And the pitch was in bad condition because it was pishing the rain.

Duh. My point is I've never seen it any other way. Or maybe it's always pishing rain up there!

Feel sorry for UCD though. Well organised side with some fine young players. With other clubs having serious financial problems, I wouldn't be totally shocked if both UCD and Harps stay up.

I think you're lapsing into stereotypes there. That was the least organised I have ever seen us. Ever. It is very irritating though to look at Sligo, Cobh, Galway, Harps and Cork all in various financial problems, with Bohs, Drogheda and (sooner or later) Pat's about to cut back significantly. I don't think overspending has ever been so rife in the league. Wage cap me hole.

[cheech]

Duh. My point is I've never seen it any other way. Or maybe it's always pishing rain up there!

Duh, stereotypes.

I think you're lapsing into stereotypes there. That was the least organised I have ever seen us. Ever. [/QUOTE]

No I'm not. While you were no great shakes last night, I thought you played very well against us in the other two games this season and were well organised.

It is very irritating though to look at Sligo, Cobh, Galway, Harps and Cork all in various financial problems, with Bohs, Drogheda and (sooner or later) Pat's about to cut back significantly. I don't think overspending has ever been so rife in the league. Wage cap me hole.[/QUOTE]

Scusie moi??

[pineapple stu]

The Mr Men here have said Harps are overspending this year; it's not as bad as the others, but still overspending. That's my basis for adding Harps into the list, but they're seem reasonably trustworthy!

[the-blue-harp]

name me any club where money isnt tight?? compared to galway,cobh,sligo,cork we are a very healthy club.

i'll ask you one question just out of curiousity, but how is ucd funded? its not attendances anyway.

[cheech]

The Mr Men here have said Harps are overspending this year; it's not as bad as the others, but still overspending. That's my basis for adding Harps into the list, but they're seem reasonably trustworthy!

Fair enough. Point taken.

Thought it was a bit wild to jump in say we're having financial trouble because us fans have not heard anything.

Maybe the Mr Men know something the rest of us dont.

[pineapple stu]

Course money's tight. But there's a difference between that and overspending. And I've noted Harps aren't as bad as the others, but by the sounds of things there'll be cut backs over the winter.

UCD's funding has been well discussed on these boards before. Tired of repeating myself at this stage! You'll find it through the search function I'd say. But on the attendances front, our crowds are maybe half of Harps'? Do you think that funds a full time team where ours mean we're bankrolled by the Government? Crowds aren't hugely relevant in league finances.

[the-blue-harp]

crowds are very important to a teams finances stu, of course they are. obviously at ucd the crowd is the least important thing as figures would show. i think you need to put a lid on it mate.

[pineapple stu]

They really aren't.

What's Bohs' income, for example? E1.5m? What's their gate receipts? E250k per their 2006 accounts.

500 extra fans at a tenner a head over 20 games is E100k - not a massive sum compared to total turnovers.

[the-blue-harp]

come on! who else is working on bohs budget? 100k extra to any club is a massive figure no matter what way you look at it. i really dont see your point.

[pineapple stu]

You're baffled how a small club like UCD can keep going on our crowds; my point is that crowd receipts aren't that large a part of any club's turnover. We keep going the same way Harps and any other (non-property-magnate-funded) club keep going.

[the-blue-harp]

going back a few posts you said crowds arent important to clubs like ours, when clearly they are. "relevant" you said. crowds can be difference in a club going bust, look at cobh, if they had the crowds they wouldnt be in trouble financially. teams budget expecting an average gate, when you dont get them....your in trouble. so yes, again i'll say it the attendances are relevant to clubs like ours. its ok if youve got millionaire backing because they can pull you out of a hole. otherwise gate receipts are hugely important. they are to harps anyway.

[oldyouth]

You're baffled how a small club like UCD can keep going on our crowds; my point is that crowd receipts aren't that large a part of any club's turnover. We keep going the same way Harps and any other (non-property-magnate-funded) club keep going.

Perhaps I'm wrong but I would have thought that a club's success/survival/progression should reflect it's support via the turnstiles and other fan initiatives

[pineapple stu]

going back a few posts you said crowds arent important to clubs like ours, when clearly they are.

No, I said they aren't hugely important. Big difference. It answers your query as to how we survive with small crowds.

Cobh would be in trouble with more fans - they're in trouble because of idiotic budgeting decisions, which is nothing to do with their crowds. If they had more money, they'd have spent it and would be in the same position they are now anyway.

[the-blue-harp]

No, I said they aren't hugely important. Big difference. It answers your query as to how we survive with small crowds.

Cobh would be in trouble with more fans - they're in trouble because of idiotic budgeting decisions, which is nothing to do with their crowds. If they had more money, they'd have spent it and would be in the same position they are now anyway.

ok ok, if this wasnt saturday night id stay and argue with you on that all night!!

[pineapple stu]

Just sitting back watching the Eurovision Dance Contest; nothing better to do.

[TheBoss]

Kalonas scored for Lithuania v Romania in their 3-0 win in Romania, incredibly.

[Bohemian1890]

Kalonas scored for Lithuania v Romania in their 3-0 win in Romania, incredibly.

Alan Kelly was ref apparently

[rambler14]

Alan Kelly was ref apparently

They must have been stuck so!

If I knew that pr!ck was gonna be ref then I wouldn't have put Romainia in my 9 match accumalator. Needless to say I got 8 results and then Lithunaia went and shocked Romaina............I must go find a match report, I guarantee he gave the Lithuanians a penalty!

EDIT: No penalty given but he did find time to book Kalounas

[Mr A]

On the posts above bout Harps and finances.. certainly I have expressed concern that we're spending more than we can afford. It'll take a massive effort to keep an even keel financially but there are a few fundraisers coming down the tracks and hopefully these will see us stay out of any major trouble.

My biggest issue though is more with mismanagement of the increased expenditure than the fact that the club decided to take a bit of a gamble this year. I think we'll probably ship a loss this year- but if we stay up then it'll most likely have been worth it since we'll then be looking into a season with a lot more big games and two guaranteed home gates against Derry and Sligo. I think we should move back toward full time and cut back the spending a bit even at that.

With the premier reducing to 10 teams + AIL in the background etc I think it was inevitable that clubs would stretch to give themselves the best chance to make the cut. I think it's very ironic that at the same time the FAI are trying to impose some discipline on the clubs they introduced massive pressure to think short term by reducing the top flight. I have always been totally unconvinced that the ten team premier would improve anything and would do a lot of clubs a fair bit of harm.