Setanta Cup goes ahead

**Louth4sam** · 28/07/2009, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Rovers Maniac

Can see the FAI spinning the old fudge about it being an invitational tournement and letting in Shams or somebody else. They should allow Bray a crack at it as they would not come across to many big pay days.

Why should bray get it? Cork's place was for being reigning champions.

The fairest thing would to have a playoff between both leagues to decide who gets the spot. Either Bray VS Next ranked team in IL or a mini play-off with a few teams from each league.

**oriel** · 28/07/2009, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Highest placed non-qualifying team from last year's LoI apparently.

Top five all in, so Bray are next.

Ok fair enough then, I hadn't realised Bray finished so 'high' up the lge last year - the question though to be asked, would they want to participate ?

**awec** · 28/07/2009, 12:31 PM

The next ranked team in the IL would be Crusaders I think.

**Danny** · 28/07/2009, 12:33 PM

Pats Fixtures

Fixtures

Home v Derry 28/29 Aug
Away v Linfield 2/3/5/6 Oct
Away v Derry 9/10 Nov
Home Linfield 13 March

Semi's (2 Legged) 29th Mar / 17 Apr or 3 / 18 Apr

Final 15th May

**BrayUnknowns** · 28/07/2009, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Ok fair enough then, I hadn't realised Bray finished so 'high' up the lge last year - the question though to be asked, would they want to participate ?

I would think that would be a yes, only for financial reasons. If there is money to be made then we 100% would want to go into it.

But from a personal point of view the club would need to bring in 4/5/6 new players before the transfer window closes on Friday. We only have 1 fit striker and just lost our most talented player to Rovers. On the pitch we are in big trouble because we have not over spent like most clubs to bring in big name players on bit wages and given youth a chance.

**Mr_Parker** · 28/07/2009, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Highest placed non-qualifying team from last year's LoI apparently.

Top five all in, so Bray are next.

I still don't get how the assumption is being made that a LOI team will autmatically get the place.

Cork are in the comp by virtue of winning the cup, not their LOI position.

**BrayUnknowns** · 28/07/2009, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

I still don't get how the assumption is being made that a LOI team will autmatically get the place.

Cork are in the comp by virtue of winning the cup, not their LOI position.

Very valid point in fairness... Loosing cup team instead maybe ?

**pineapple stu** · 28/07/2009, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

I still don't get how the assumption is being made that a LOI team will autmatically get the place.

Cork are in the comp by virtue of winning the cup, not their LOI position.

Have to make some assumption. No-one's saying it's right.

**ger121** · 28/07/2009, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by brendy_�ire

And then Coleraine, Bohs and Glens.

Was hoping we'd get Linfield but Coleraine and the Glens could be decent away trips

**Flexy** · 28/07/2009, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Believe me when I say this, we are equally as sick of the sight of Derry City.

At least you'll be guaranteed a good crowd up from Derry to Windsor for the match, which in turn means more money for the club

**EalingGreen** · 28/07/2009, 1:03 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

EG - only a handful of IL fans like yourself seem unable to get their heads around the fact that the political boundaries and domestic football boundaries on the island don't overlap perfectly. They don't. No big deal.

It was another poster who queried an LOI side automatically getting Cork's place, not me.
At which point I merely asked what LOI fans would think of there possibly being 5 x IL vs 4 x LOI (inc. one from NI) in the draw. If the answer is "Not bothered", then fair enough.
There was no "side" to my question, I was more thinking of the travelling involved for Southern teams, plus the statistical likelihood of there being an all-IL Group (since avoided, as it happens).
My posts show that I am an enthusiastic proponent of the Setanta Cup (notwithstanding certain reservations about the format and organisation etc)

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

LOI fans see DCFC as an LOI club, and rightly so. Thankfully, so do a lot of IL fans - particularly those who can see past a theoretical border on a map.

I have no problem with that, indeed I clearly acknowledged it with my use of "5 + 1" shorthand.

So there was certainly "no big deal" on my part...

P.S. Just seen the Draw. Would hope Glens don't have too many problems with Coleraine, but don't like the look of Bohs!
As for Group Two - on current/recent form, I have to say Cliftonville, Sligo and Bray(?) looks rather weak.

**Section E Loyal** · 28/07/2009, 1:13 PM

Originally Posted by Flexy

At least you'll be guaranteed a good crowd up from Derry to Windsor for the match, which in turn means more money for the club

Whilst it is good that Derry do bring more than the average club to Windsor, it would've been nice to have Bohemians or maybe Sligo to visit. Although they wouldn't match the crowd maybe it'd be a bit more interest for us as supporters maybe bringing more Bluemen out. Just as long as the Linfield board don't do any of those funny ticketing shananigans again!

**EalingGreen** · 28/07/2009, 1:14 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

I still don't get how the assumption is being made that a LOI team will autmatically get the place.

Cork are in the comp by virtue of winning the cup, not their LOI position.

Imo, Crues would make a "better" participant than Bray (no offence), but it has to be acknowledged that the LOI is the stronger League, so having 4 x LOI vs 5 x IL would be hard to justify.

Tbh, the whole competition is flawed by the attempt to reconcile:
a) having the best footballing teams;
versus
b) having a wide geographical spread/IL-LOI split;
versus
c) the Sponsor's requirement for "big name" teams, crowds, stadia etc;
versus
d) the Summer/Winter season conflict.

Hard to see any easy answers, tbh.

**Section E Loyal** · 28/07/2009, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by ealinggreen

imo, crues would make a "better" participant than bray (no offence), but it has to be acknowledged that the loi is the stronger league, so having 4 x loi vs 5 x il would be hard to justify.

Tbh, the whole competition is flawed by the attempt to reconcile:
A) having the best footballing teams;
versus
b) having a wide geographical spread/il-loi split;
versus
c) the sponsor's requirement for "big name" teams, crowds, stadia etc;
versus
d) the summer/winter season conflict.

Hard to see any easy answers, tbh.

it's doomed! We're all doomed!!!

**awec** · 28/07/2009, 1:20 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Imo, Crues would make a "better" participant than Bray (no offence), but it has to be acknowledged that the LOI is the stronger League, so having 4 x LOI vs 5 x IL would be hard to justify.

Tbh, the whole competition is flawed by the attempt to reconcile:
a) having the best footballing teams;
versus
b) having a wide geographical spread/IL-LOI split;
versus
c) the Sponsor's requirement for "big name" teams, crowds, stadia etc;
versus
d) the Summer/Winter season conflict.

Hard to see any easy answers, tbh.

I was wrong though, it'd be Distillery in a playoff and not the Crues.

Distillery would hardly be a shining beacon for the IL with their 5 fans, tip of a ground and pish new manager.

**ifk101** · 28/07/2009, 1:22 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Imo, Crues would make a "better" participant than Bray (no offence), but it has to be acknowledged that the LOI is the stronger League, so having 4 x LOI vs 5 x IL would be hard to justify.

Personally I'd rather see two Welsh clubs coming in for 2 IL clubs. Hopefully that would make each match competitive.

**EalingGreen** · 28/07/2009, 1:28 PM

Originally Posted by awec

I was wrong though, it'd be Distillery in a playoff and not the Crues.

Distillery would hardly be a shining beacon for the IL with their 5 fans, tip of a ground and pish new manager.

Give it to Bray, then. Or Shams. Or anyone, really...