Tonights latest

[EAFC_rdfl]

I was told it was closer ot half seven and that we were back on the bus and not togged out yet. Let's give it a median of 7.25 Wallace said we could do it. That would mean we would have 35 mins to get the players back in the changing room, get togged out, get up to the other pitch, go through our 20-25 min warm up, get back down to the dressing room, go through last minutes tactics, have a team talk and get fully kitted out for the match. I don't care how inadequate Wexford's warm up is, 35-40 mins is nowhere near enough to do all this

Wallace was paying lip service so he could say to the FAI that he offered it, that is all

How many times does it have to be said??? the kick off could have been delayed 15-20 minutes and there ya go, lack-of-warm-up-time problem solved! Was it not the case at the start of the season that matches were getting delayed left right and centre over kit clashes? You can argue all you want about the lights, but this 'we hadnt enough time' case doesn't wash.

[GuisaSaigon]

Embarrassing stuff, but teams should be allowed warm up on the playing surface. You were about to play 90 minutes of a game on it what harm would a warm up do? Wexford should scrap this ridiculous "warm up on the training pitch" crap to avoid future embarrassment to the League.

[Dodge]

How many times does it have to be said??? the kick off could have been delayed 15-20 minutes and there ya go, lack-of-warm-up-time problem solved! Was it not the case at the start of the season that matches were getting delayed left right and centre over kit clashes? You can argue all you want about the lights, but this 'we hadnt enough time' case doesn't wash.

You're making a presumption that the ref would've agreed to delay kick off though.

Bottom line is that wallace was acting the dick. Even if Limerick overreacted, it all stems from the initial idiocy.

[Schumi]

Like refusing to play at Finn Park because there are no showers !

Has that been going on all season? I assumed it was a one-off that our players couldn't shower there a few weeks ago.

If the "Training Pitch" is used for U-21 and/or A-League games - then it has to meet the FAI's ground grading policy - and that includes having lights of a certain standard - which would be adequate.

Is this a new rule? I know we played most under-21 league games, up to last year, on a pitch with no floodlights. The night games were played in Belfield Park but any games in daylight were on an unlit pitch.

[Dodge]

Has that been going on all season? I assumed it was a one-off that our players couldn't shower there a few weeks ago

Showers weren't working for Pats players on Friday

[shep]

If every professional league in the world allows teams to warm up on pitches of a far better quality to Wexfords regardless of the weather,i really cant see why Wexford feel it is neccesary for visiting teams to use another surface.

I wonder where Dundalk will warm up on Friday night??

I feel for Limerick on this one.

[Réiteoir]

You're making a presumption that the ref would've agreed to delay kick off though.

I would have thought that in this case the referee would have been in contact with the League Office to seek guidance

[Sunny Jim]

Bottom line is that wallace was acting the dick.

No, the bottom line is that Limerick refused to fulfil the fixture, having been given adequate opportunity to do so. End of story.

[passinginterest]

Had visitors up to the house last night so pretty much missed all this.
It's made my morning fly by catching up!

I thought it was poor form from Wallace to criticise Stephen Kenny, after the League Cup final, for warming up on the main pitch. I felt the Youths should have done the same that night to help them acclimatise to the new set-up and big crowd. Having made public how much this bothered him it was almost inevitable that the next team down would make a similar request, some professional mind games from Kerley I'd say. If a team requests to warm up on the main pitch they should be allowed, no questions asked, it's particularly understandable for teams that haven't played there before. Limerick knew making the request would bother Wallace, he should have been nice as pie about it and got on with things.

Wallace, the League of Ireland and Limerick 37 have come out of this looking bad. Limerick should never have left the ground before kick off, by all means lodge an official complaint, even take to the field at kick off time but refuse to commence until full warm up has been completed. Wallace is making a show of himself with his comments about Limerick leaving out good players and not wanting to play at all, he has to realise that temas will try anything to gain a bit of an advantage and if this means winding him up by asking to train on the main pitch then so be it.

Overall the incident just gives fuel to the fire the the League of Ireland is a joke. It's a sad incident.

[oldyouth]

Had visitors up to the house last night so pretty much missed all this.
It's made my morning fly by catching up!

I thought it was poor form from Wallace to criticise Stephen Kenny, after the League Cup final, for warming up on the main pitch. I felt the Youths should have done the same that night to help them acclimatise to the new set-up and big crowd. Having made public how much this bothered him it was almost inevitable that the next team down would make a similar request, some professional mind games from Kerley I'd say. If a team requests to warm up on the main pitch they should be allowed, no questions asked, it's particularly understandable for teams that haven't played there before. Limerick knew making the request would bother Wallace, he should have been nice as pie about it and got on with things.

Wallace, the League of Ireland and Limerick 37 have come out of this looking bad. Limerick should never have left the ground before kick off, by all means lodge an official complaint, even take to the field at kick off time but refuse to commence until full warm up has been completed. Wallace is making a show of himself with his comments about Limerick leaving out good players and not wanting to play at all, he has to realise that temas will try anything to gain a bit of an advantage and if this means winding him up by asking to train on the main pitch then so be it.

Overall the incident just gives fuel to the fire the the League of Ireland is a joke. It's a sad incident.

As always Mr Passing, I take my hat off to you. Good points

[sadloserkid]

Limerick have made there own players endure two of the biggest dumps in LOI in Jackman and Hogan park for years.

We didn't train in either ground.

This is the same Limerick that made teams play at Pike Rovers a few seasons back?!

At 2.30 in the afternoon.

Had visitors up to the house last night so pretty much missed all this.
It's made my morning fly by catching up!

I thought it was poor form from Wallace to criticise Stephen Kenny, after the League Cup final, for warming up on the main pitch. I felt the Youths should have done the same that night to help them acclimatise to the new set-up and big crowd. Having made public how much this bothered him it was almost inevitable that the next team down would make a similar request, some professional mind games from Kerley I'd say. If a team requests to warm up on the main pitch they should be allowed, no questions asked, it's particularly understandable for teams that haven't played there before. Limerick knew making the request would bother Wallace, he should have been nice as pie about it and got on with things.

Wallace, the League of Ireland and Limerick 37 have come out of this looking bad. Limerick should never have left the ground before kick off, by all means lodge an official complaint, even take to the field at kick off time but refuse to commence until full warm up has been completed. Wallace is making a show of himself with his comments about Limerick leaving out good players and not wanting to play at all, he has to realise that temas will try anything to gain a bit of an advantage and if this means winding him up by asking to train on the main pitch then so be it.

Overall the incident just gives fuel to the fire the the League of Ireland is a joke. It's a sad incident.

Nail on head by that man. Well done.

[monutdfc]

Showers weren't working for Pats players on Friday

We got fined bucketloads (twice, with the second one €500 if memory serves) because there was no hot water for the referees' showers - we installed a new pump which was too efficient which meant the players had used all the hot water by the time the refs got into their shower.

[monutdfc]

ps on the topic in hand, got to agree with passinginterest. Its the LoI First Division FFS, not the World Cup finals.

[Dodge]

No, the bottom line is that Limerick refused to fulfil the fixture, having been given adequate opportunity to do so. End of story.

yeah, but what started the story?

passinginterest is spot on IMo

[Schumi]

The referee wouldn't warm up on the back pitch either according to a L37 statement.

the referee Rob Rodgers confirmed to Limerick 37 that he would not be warming up on the back pitch in question as he deemed the lighting unsafe.

[oldyouth]

The referee wouldn't warm up on the back pitch either according to a L37 statement.

I'd say there is a lot of poetic licence in that comment. Match officials are NEVER asked to warm up on the training pitch and ALWAYS warm up around the perimeter of the main pitch. Incidentally, the floodlights are not usually on full power when this is going on, only 5 mins before the teams come out

[Sunny Jim]

Statement from the FAI:

"In response to yesterday evening’s cancelled eircom League of Ireland, first division match between Wexford Youths and Limerick 37, the FAI will review the detail of the referee’s report and the match delegate’s report and under disciplinary procedures, both clubs will be asked to provide a full response to those reports within the next three working days. After this the matter will be put before the FAI Disciplinary Committee. Speaking today, Fran Gavin, Director of the eircom League of Ireland said:

“We are deeply disappointed and dissatisfied that this match did not go ahead and we will be carrying out a full review and disciplinary process to take appropriate action. We will not be in a position to comment further until this case is heard.”

My guess is they'll take their time, and then bottle it. I bet they fine both clubs a small amount and then order the match to be refixed. Whereas if they had any spine they would award us the points and hit Limerick with a massive fine.

[Longfordian]

I think we should make Limerick warm up on the astro turf pitches on Saturday just to see what'd happen. In all seriousness though, as passinginterest says nobody comes out of this with any credit but I still feel the FAI may come down hardest on Limerick for not playing the game.

[Dodge]

My guess is they'll take their time, and then bottle it. I bet they fine both clubs a small amount and then order the match to be refixed. Whereas if they had any spine they would award us the points and hit Limerick with a massive fine.

Nice, balanced view there.

[dublin_owl]

Nice, balanced view there.

If you're looking for nice balanced views, I'd suggest going somewhere other than a internet football forum.