Airtiricity League XI v Manchester United confirmed for Aviva Stadium on August 4

[Rasputin]

No thanks, it's the national stadium, not a Dublin stadium. I'd way rather an Airtricity XI with representatives from every province take on a foreign team than have 22 Dubs running around.

Thats just idiotic in my opinion.
A Bohs V's Shams derby is the best foot forward for our League.
For the simple fact that the are 2 of the strongest teams in the league with big fan bases and a great rivalry with an atmosphere that dwarfs Premiership encounters.
Lets face it we can never go head to head with the Premiership with regaurds to quality or shiney packaging but we can compete with match day atmosphere.
Having token players thrown togethor from different corners of the country is just a shambles and not an accurate reflection of our league.

[A N Mouse]

It wasn't so long ago that these teams would do a pre-season tour of these parts as a matter of course.

With the advent of skysports, and the best league in the world, even the smallest of them have fecked off to do pre-season half way around the world - to expand their market. As others have pointed out this is united maintaining their market, as they'd do in the states or the far east - and the fai wetting themselves at the possibility is sickening.

It's a sad day when sunderland's pre-season garners more media coverage than our league, might they be eating into united's market?

I'm all for high profile friendlies, and league representative sides. But it has to be done in a proper thought out fashion. That means allowing for it in a mid season break, bearing in mind possible euro fixtures, and not fecking over clubs out of pettiness and spite.

[outspoken]

has everybody heard that the FAI have stopped bohs from playing Barca as well because it clashes with league fixtures. that makes no sense the game VS Utd is on at the worst possible time but they dont care once they get the barstool fans in. its really becoming a joke

[DannyInvincible]

has everybody heard that the FAI have stopped bohs from playing Barca as well because it clashes with league fixtures. that makes no sense the game VS Utd is on at the worst possible time but they dont care once they get the barstool fans in. its really becoming a joke

Where did you hear this?

Edit: Sorry, just read about it there. Would be interesting to hear the FAI's perspective on that one.

[Ciaran W]

Bohs v Rovers would be perfect for the league, or something like the magic weekend in rugby league where all the teams go to one stadium over the weekend and play one after the other might work ?

[outspoken]

Bohs v Rovers would be perfect for the league, or something like the magic weekend in rugby league where all the teams go to one stadium over the weekend and play one after the other might work ?

That is an absoluteley fantastic idea ciaran a magic weekend that would be so cool.

[DannyInvincible]

Here's a bit by Daniel McDonnell on the FAI lobbying UEFA to move the potential Bohs Champions League game as it would clash with this meaningless money-spinner: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...n-2181578.html

Delaney added that preliminary discussions have taken place if an embarrassing clash with a crucial Bohemians Champions League game the same night arises.

If Bohs win their second qualifyinground tie, the stage where they enter as a seeded team, then the decisive encounter in the third round, which would have huge ramifications for the domestic game, would be scheduled to played on either August 3 or August 4.

The timing is particularly unfortunate given that one of the reasons offered to Limerick FC for blocking their lucrative friendly with Barcelona is a clash with Airtricity League fixtures.

Delaney said that the FAI would lobby to have the Bohemians showdown moved to the Tuesday – 24 hours before the visit of Manchester United – if that situation developed.

“We can certainly talk to UEFA if Bohemians make their way through, which I really hope they will do,” said Delaney. “We’re in preliminary discussions with UEFA in terms of the ability to move games if we need to do so.”

Can't get over it. The bit about Limerick is especially galling. UEFA will just laugh at the FAI, and rightly so.

[SkStu]

the really galling thing is that this is a safe game for Delaney and the horrible smug c**t knows it. Outside of our little band of LOI fans, no one in the country will really give a f**k at the end of the day. Its sad and depressing. Its when **** like this last week happens that we need to stand together and make our voices heard. Quite how that is done is another question but Maxi was thinking along the right lines.

[DannyInvincible]

“We’ve got a huge positive reaction to Manchester United." - Delaney.

Isn't it just marvellous?...

[Charlie Darwin]

the really galling thing is that this is a safe game for Delaney and the horrible smug c**t knows it. Outside of our little band of LOI fans, no one in the country will really give a f**k at the end of the day. Its sad and depressing. Its when **** like this last week happens that we need to stand together and make our voices heard. Quite how that is done is another question but Maxi was thinking along the right lines.

Dunno about that. The average football fan would probably be quite miffed about missing out on a chance to see Barcelona. Having said that, if the FAI gets them for the Aviva then nobody will care.

[bennocelt]

A Dublin league select versus the rest of Ireland select would have been a nice way to open it.
Can I just ask if it was an Airtricity select playing against say Atletico Madrid, what would be the reaction? In my opinion it's a sad anti-premiership and anti-English thing. Still.

Can we not have faith in our own league and get rid of the chips on the shoulders?

I'm not expecting many people to agree with me, just trying to put the argument forward

No, just that our league wont benefit at all. Manure Utd are on show, they will get paid to come here, and John deleaney will cream his pants cheering on his team................

[bennocelt]

LOI support remains stubbornly low by standards in other developed countries. Some factors of course are the Premiership, the TV hype with Sky, Setanta and now ESPN and now the Internet. Most of the "foreign fans" I know absolutely love the game - and are lucky enough to have (debatedly) the best league in the World available to watch so easily. They want to see the best players in the world (!) with the drama and tension that goes with it.
I watched Fulham with 20 people in a pub on Wednesday after I watched an u14 club game with 40/50 parents and friends and we had no problem cheering on Fulham. And generally everyone thought it was a good game.
This week-end I will watch a local Junior game the outcome of which will be more important to me than any Premier game. Last night I played with 13 other over 40's for 90 minutes on the local Astro pitch - so like many thousands of others around the country I love football
... So - why dont I see "live" my nearest LOI club more than twice a year.
Simply , they do very little to connect with me - Galway Utd filled terryland v Sunderland 3 years ago, built a new stand to seriously improve the venue - But their management do not have a clue how to connect with their fanbase. Their catchment area would have a population of 300,000 people and they now struggle to get 1000. Any decent junior club connects everyday/week with its community to get sponsorship, lotto tickets, why do LOI find it so difficult to broaden their horizons.
While money is a factor, the "boom" years failed to deliver any steady progress in Europe which is what gives us a huge buzz.
It's not a GAA/Rugby problem IMO. Irish people love their sport - but they want to feel some connection.
As an example of the potential here, the World Cup Play-Off attendance at Croker against France was only matched by the Russia game on the same night and was three times greater than the others.
So we have a huge interest in football at junior youths level, we have an huge interest in the International game - its the Inbetweeners we cant sort out - yet. It will get there - but it could go faster.
In the meantime, if I was still a player I'd be delighted to run out against Man U - hopefully it won't be a leinster 11 tho'
LOI seems small minded, petty, conservative when looked at under the microscope - no razzamataz, still short on technique, stars (even little ones) dour contests and petty officialdom

Jesus so much wrong with this.................
Comparing live football to watching games in a pub
Mentioning bog ball!!!
And that statement proves how little you know - Please tell me how Irish people love their sport - they do in their hat. They love the bandwagon and the ole ole, thats for sure.
You dont need a "connection" to love football. You just do!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jicked]

Please tell me how Irish people love their sport - they do in their hat. They love the bandwagon and the ole ole, thats for sure.

Sure did you not get locked when Ireland won the Six Nations? That was great craic down the pub.

[MariborKev]

the really galling thing is that this is a safe game for Delaney and the horrible smug c**t knows it. Outside of our little band of LOI fans, no one in the country will really give a f**k at the end of the day. Its sad and depressing. Its when **** like this last week happens that we need to stand together and make our voices heard. Quite how that is done is another question but Maxi was thinking along the right lines.

That's the nub of it for me. I'm just utterly depressed by the antics of the week. The second biggest Cup tournament is overshadowed by this shambles and those running the League are shafting the biggest clubs in a European week. Enough to make you pack it all in.

[**FrOsTy**]

They should open The Aviva with Waterford United v Man United. It was the first ever football game in Lansdowne it should be the first in Aviva :P :P ( I kid I kid!)

I think they should stage the EA Sports Cup Semis Finals either side of the barstool w*ankfest

12.30 First EA Cup Semi - (Based on luck of draw who the first two teams to play in the Aviva will be)

3.00 LOI XI V Man Utd

5.30 Second EA Cup Semi

Each of the 4 teams in the EA Sports Cup Semis given a fair percentage of the tickets and the rest go on sale to general public.

By doing this it would ensure that there would be a great crowd for the first game. Full House for the Man Utd game and then hopefully they would stay and watch the second semi final given the 4 teams involved proper exposure and also gives the league good exposure in all 3 games.

[gael353]

Where did you hear this?

Edit: Sorry, just read about it there. Would be interesting to hear the FAI's perspective on that one.

TBH i dont think they have a case to answer there as i believe the bohs barca game was a selective leak today to the media to lessen the limerick barca decision. From my understanding the figures for bohs barca just didnt add up as the only stadium they could use was the RDS 16000 capacity and tickets would have had to have been massivly priced to justify the match fee, and possible profit.

[Straightstory]

Thats just idiotic in my opinion.
A Bohs V's Shams derby is the best foot forward for our League.
For the simple fact that the are 2 of the strongest teams in the league with big fan bases and a great rivalry with an atmosphere that dwarfs Premiership encounters.
Lets face it we can never go head to head with the Premiership with regaurds to quality or shiney packaging but we can compete with match day atmosphere.
Having token players thrown togethor from different corners of the country is just a shambles and not an accurate reflection of our league.

As a Drogheda fan - I agree with you. Rovers v Bohs would be the best option.

[MariborKev]

As someone said to me, this game shouldn't be about money. It's about Irish football.

If the organisation with the game here thinks that
- They want to chase the quick buck
- They want to potentially overshadow their own club sides participation in Europe
- They want to shaft our clubs who have the temerity to organise their own "big friendlies".

We might as well pack up and go home.

[DannyInvincible]

As someone said to me, this game shouldn't be about money. It's about Irish football.

If the organisation with the game here thinks that
- They want to chase the quick buck
- They want to potentially overshadow their own club sides participation in Europe
- They want to shaft our clubs who have the temerity to organise their own "big friendlies".

We might as well pack up and go home.

Perfect summation of the farce that has been the past few days. Sadly, the FAI are the quintessential chasers of the quick buck.

[fionnsci]

How likely are clubs to release their players for this? Is it going to be a team of second stringers or will the big guns be allowed play? In other words, who will be going up against Wes Brown, Glen Fitzpatrick or Gary Twigg?