Trap's Opinion on the Standard of LOI

[Philly]

Speaking about the League of Ireland to Italian journalists yesterday, Giovanni had this to say:
"The problem for us is that the Irish league is like the lower levels of Serie B".

So, needless to say, he isn't going to be very interested in picking players from the domestic league any time soon. Do you think this is a fair analysis? Has anybody got a good idea of what level Serie B is at? I understand the second teirs of European leagues can be tripe, unlike in England where the Championship is reasonably strong; so this comment could be bad indeed for players hoping to get a chance with the new man.

[Rovers1]

i havent watched any italian football for a whie, but from what i can remember Serie B is about the standard of League 1/2 in England. I dont follow the international team, but didnt Trap pick 1 or 2 players from league 1/2 for his first squad????

[niallsparky]

Juve were in league 2 recently...




They came straight back up though despite a points deduction.

[Dodge]

HOw would he know? He watched one game (Pats v Linfield) in the Setanta Cup. I'm not saying he's wrong either

He watched the league u23s play too, and singled out Mark Quigley as "an exciting player"

Hopefully Mr Trappatoni will seek to improve the league, and make us reach the standards he sees fit. Good too, that he acknowledges that a stronger league would lead to a stronger national side.

[Mr A]

I was at a league cup game in Italy a few years ago between a Serie C1 team and a C2 team. The standard in that game was better than anything I've ever seen in a game in Ireland to be perfectly honest.

[robertob]

I'm surprised about Trap's opinion to LOI. I thought with him as new nationalteam coach, players like K. Brenann, Mark Quigley, Brian Murphy or Fahey have any chance to come into the irish A-nationalteam.

I think the quality of LOI is not so bad because the strong teams play good football and after the last sucess of Drogs and Pats in europe it's a "must do" for Trap to take a serious look to LOI and there great players.

[TheBoss]

i havent watched any italian football for a whie, but from what i can remember Serie B is about the standard of League 1/2 in England. I dont follow the international team, but didnt Trap pick 1 or 2 players from league 1/2 for his first squad????

I believe that Serie B is the best 2nd Tier in Europe, Each team has some really top players that could handle any top tier easily.

Juve were in league 2 recently...

They came straight back up though despite a points deduction.

Well, if Man Utd, Lyon, Bayern Munich etc, were relegated, I would think they would go back up even with a points deduction.

[Nipper]

It's a fair enough assessment I'd say.

I would always have put the top Irish Premier Division teams somewhere between top of the English League One and bottom of the Championship, it's probably more or less the same standard in the Spanish and Italian leagues.

[mypost]

HOw would he know?

Exactly. If he hasn't been to English games, there's frankly no chance of him going to LOI games.

In fairness, Serie B's not that bad a standard. Our English-based ex managers probably reckoned our league was conference level.

[BohDiddley]

It's a fair enough assessment I'd say.

Agreed.
Given that Italy is a leading footballing nation, with a population of 58 million and no aberrations such as GAA or obsession with football in another country, I'd say that LoI being rated as equal to their second tier is quite an achievement.

[gufcfan]

You can't judge any league from one game of football.

[Rovers Maniac]

HOw would he know? He watched one game (Pats v Linfield) in the Setanta Cup. I'm not saying he's wrong either

He watched the league u23s play too, and singled out Mark Quigley as "an exciting player"

Hopefully Mr Trappatoni will seek to improve the league, and make us reach the standards he sees fit. Good too, that he acknowledges that a stronger league would lead to a stronger national side.

I wonder can he work a telly !

[Reality Bites]

No away is it Serie B standard I think Trap was being diplomatic, I would expect a Serie B team to be infinitely superior to LOI standard.

[DUFC4life]

would a serie b team fair as well against dynamo kiev and elfsborg over two legs as eircom league teams did???

[MariborKev]

He watched the league u23s play too, and singled out Mark Quigley as "an exciting player"

One of the worst games I have ever seen in a long time. No wonder Trap was bored....

[centre mid]

I've no problem with his statement, I dont think there is any player in the league that would get into the team and would improve it in anyway. Hopefully there will be during the reign of Trap, but he is right, the league needs to consistently improve by way of the Coefficient & general standard of football. A big improvement in facilities wouldnt go amiss but thats off topic.

[Reality Bites]

I've no problem with his statement, I dont think there is any player in the league that would get into the team and would improve it in anyway. Hopefully there will be during the reign of Trap, but he is right, the league needs to consistently improve by way of the Coefficient & general standard of football. A big improvement in facilities wouldnt go amiss but thats off topic.

Money as simple as that!

[Paulie Bleecker]

Hopefully Mr Trappatoni will seek to improve the league, and make us reach the standards he sees fit.

That's not his job. His job is to manage the Senior International side.

[pateen]

It's a fair enough assessment I'd say.

I would always have put the top Irish Premier Division teams somewhere between top of the English League One and bottom of the Championship, it's probably more or less the same standard in the Spanish and Italian leagues.

I do think thats pushing it a bit. Looking a few top players that went overseas, I think its more like league 2 to league one. The top four or five would survive league one, the botton 6 or so would bs suitable for league too

[finnpark]

One thing for it;

A LOI selection with 2 weeks training to play national side in a friendly

Surely Parkhouse should have been called up by now, Ireland could do with his pace up front