Model club get help

[Charlie Darwin]

You lost the league, although Shels were punished for winning it, but it wasn't down to fixture congestion. It was because of your results over 33 games.

When we were in the other division, we were 6 points behind the leaders with 2 games in hand in October. We won the games in hand and the rivals could do nothing about it. It was an important step towards winning that division.

When we won the top division last, we had a game in hand on Cork in the last week of the season. Winning it would bring the title home, and we did so before Cork could affect the situation any further. That's the benefit of the game in hand you have, and it's repeated the world over.

Surely if the same game had been played two weeks earlier you'd still have gone into that round of fixtures as champions?

[Dodge]

I think you'll find very few people saying that without those people having a conflict of interest. Like Pats. Or Bohs.

I think you'll find Pats and Bohs have said nothing.

[Ezeikial]

I am uneasy about this postponement, and as with many issues in this league, it is open to misinterpretation or speculation about lack of even-handedness.

While personally in favour of postponements to ease congestion for Euro teams, there remains a number of unanswered questions

1) Did Dundalk, Bohs, or Fingal request any such postponements?
2) If so did they flounder at the doors of the FAI or the opposition club?
3) Have the FAI established a precedent of postponements subject only to the agreement of the relevant clubs
4) If the opposition clubs agreement is the crucial element, how will FAI guard against accusations of collusion or inducements from one club to another - whether this is real or perceived?

[hoopy]

Im not saying anything about referee decisions because i honestly believe they even out at the end of the day but youse have just been to Israel played a very tough game, one of your biggest matches in your history is on Thursday, Your next to games league are against Fingal then Bohs this game against UCD is huge in the title race IMO now instead yous will now be able to fully focus on this game later in the season and the possibilty of dropping points has fallen, You must see where im coming from as a supporter of a team thats going for the title with youse, Rovers fans would be the same if the tables were turned

You say 'fully focus' later in the season, but surely we'll be playing a fixture backlog by then so it won't exactly be a case of having a week to prepare? Anyway, these threads usually just develop into fodder for the anti Rovers brigade on here. It was surprising though that it took so long for a Bozo to complain.

[hoopy]

I am uneasy about this postponement, and as with many issues in this league, it is open to misinterpretation or speculation about lack of even-handedness.

While personally in favour of postponements to ease congestion for Euro teams, there remains a number of unanswered questions

1) Did Dundalk, Bohs, or Fingal request any such postponements?
2) If so did they flounder at the doors of the FAI or the opposition club?
3) Have the FAI established a precedent of postponements subject only to the agreement of the relevant clubs
4) If the opposition clubs agreement is the crucial element, how will FAI guard against accusations of collusion or inducements from one club to another - whether this is real or perceived?

Let's be honest here. The only reason you're 'uneasy' about this is because it was Rovers and because you've obviously believed all the excuses your manager has been making for losing games. Why don't all of you who have a problem with this complain to the clubs who wouldn't agree to cancellations, which is the main issue, or should be. Instead UCD get it in the neck for helping a fellow club out.

[redobit]

I am uneasy about this postponement, and as with many issues in this league, it is open to misinterpretation or speculation about lack of even-handedness.

While personally in favour of postponements to ease congestion for Euro teams, there remains a number of unanswered questions

1) Did Dundalk, Bohs, or Fingal request any such postponements?
2) If so did they flounder at the doors of the FAI or the opposition club?
3) Have the FAI established a precedent of postponements subject only to the agreement of the relevant clubs
4) If the opposition clubs agreement is the crucial element, how will FAI guard against accusations of collusion or inducements from one club to another - whether this is real or perceived?

Let's be honest here. The only reason you're 'uneasy' about this is because it was Rovers and because you've obviously believed all the excuses your manager has been making for losing games. Why don't all of you who have a problem with this complain to the clubs who wouldn't agree to cancellations, which is the main issue, or should be. Instead UCD get it in the neck for helping a fellow club out.

I think you just proved one of Ezeikial's point hoppy!

[Rasputin]

You lost the league, although Shels were punished for winning it, but it wasn't down to fixture congestion. It was because of your results over 33 games.

When we were in the other division, we were 6 points behind the leaders with 2 games in hand in October. We won the games in hand and the rivals could do nothing about it. It was an important step towards winning that division.

When we won the top division last, we had a game in hand on Cork in the last week of the season. Winning it would bring the title home, and we did so before Cork could affect the situation any further. That's the benefit of the game in hand you have, and it's repeated the world over.

Bizarre, just bizarre.

[PartySaint]

You say 'fully focus' later in the season, but surely we'll be playing a fixture backlog by then so it won't exactly be a case of having a week to prepare? Anyway, these threads usually just develop into fodder for the anti Rovers brigade on here. It was surprising though that it took so long for a Bozo to complain.

It depends when the fixture is played

Oh and before i forget, Congradulations, Great result, Hope you have a great trip to Italy and get home safely

[SkStu]

if UCD agreed then thats all there is to it. I understand the frustration of Dundalk fans though.

[Charlie Darwin]

Pat's (for instance) would have been mad to agree to a postponement when Dundalk were suffering from injuries and Foster was already losing his cool in the press. Rovers just got lucky that a postponement suits both sides on this occasion.

[hoopy]

It depends when the fixture is played

Oh and before i forget, Congradulations, Great result, Hope you have a great trip to Italy and get home safely

Apparantely the women in Modena have a bit of a reputation, so my stay may well be extended

[Ezeikial]

Let's be honest here. The only reason you're 'uneasy' about this is because it was Rovers and because you've obviously believed all the excuses your manager has been making for losing games.

It is quite staggering how you could interpret what I posted in that way.

For the record, there are more reasons then the 7 games in 22 days for Dundalks poor results in July, and I am in favour of the postponement of the Shamrock Rovers match - but I suggest you re-read what I posted if you are interested in my valid concerns.

Why don't all of you who have a problem with this complain to the clubs who wouldn't agree to cancellations, which is the main issue, or should be. Instead UCD get it in the neck for helping a fellow club out.

if UCD agreed then thats all there is to it. I understand the frustration of Dundalk fans though.

No - its not that simple. Transparency is also an issue. If all is okay once the opposing clubs agree (which is not at all clear), then there is the potential issue of unfair (and possibly illegal) inducements from one club to another that also comes into the picture

[SkStu]

No - its not that simple. Transparency is also an issue. If all is okay once the opposing clubs agree (which is not at all clear), then there is the potential issue of unfair (and possibly illegal) inducements from one club to another that also comes into the picture

i thought from one of the UCDs fans that UCD had granted their permission. Its obviously a lot different if not. To talk of inducements is paranoia in the extreme and im partial to the odd bout of it myself.

[SupaJon]

FFS lads...the important thing here is that the right thing has been done.
And it sets a precedence going forward.
If the FAI aren't going to postpone games to help teams in Europe, then I'd like to see the teams agree to do it themselves.

It's time to put rivalries behind you and get behind all our teams in Europe.
The better they do - the higher profile they raise for our league. And the better chance for all of us to pull in those badly needed extra punters each week.

Good luck to Rovers - I hope they beat Juve.
As for the league - the best team will win it. It all balances out over the course of the season.

[Dodge]

Is Rovers game next week postponed? if not, why not?

[Stevo Da Gull]

Forget all this chat about possible advantages, and underhand dealings. Maybe it's just a case of good sportsmanship from UCD. I know any club I've played in will accept a reasonable request for a postponement instead of digging our heels in and hoping for a forfeit, and I'd hope Bray would do the same thing if we were asked. There's more to football than winning at any cost.

As far as I know we did agree to postpone a fixture against Shels a few years back, but they chose to play the match to avoid congestion. Then Fenlon had a go at us for making life harder for them and subsequently for the league to progress.

It's a sporting move on behalf of UCD to comply with Rovers' request, fair play to them.

[Schumi]

i thought from one of the UCDs fans that UCD had granted their permission. Its obviously a lot different if not. To talk of inducements is paranoia in the extreme and im partial to the odd bout of it myself.

If you mean my post, I don't know whether we agreed or not but I'd expect that we did. I very much doubt there were 'inducements' from Rovers.

[dong]

FFS lads...the important thing here is that the right thing has been done.
And it sets a precedence going forward.
If the FAI aren't going to postpone games to help teams in Europe, then I'd like to see the teams agree to do it themselves.

It's time to put rivalries behind you and get behind all our teams in Europe.
The better they do - the higher profile they raise for our league. And the better chance for all of us to pull in those badly needed extra punters each week.

Good luck to Rovers - I hope they beat Juve.
As for the league - the best team will win it. It all balances out over the course of the season.

Will ya quit with the Brian Cowen speak??
The margins could be so small between winning and coming second or third this season that the "best team will win it" argument just does not stand up in my opinion.
Stuff like this can and will have a huge influence and Shams have been handed an advantage at this stage. Through no fault of their own it must be said but it's a bonus for them nonetheless, otherwise why would they have asked UCD in the first place?

[Ezeikial]

If you mean my post, I don't know whether we agreed or not but I'd expect that we did. I very much doubt there were 'inducements' from Rovers.

There is hardly much doubt that UCD agreed to the postponement - and fair play to them for doing so. The FAI statement would surely have been contradicted by UCD if it was otherwise

http://www.airtricityleague.com/inde...-ucd-postponed
Following a request from Shamrock Rovers and with the agreement of U.C.D., the above Airtricity League Premier Division League fixture has been postponed in order to facilitate Shamrock Rovers with their UEFA Europa League tie v Juventus.

I raised the questions of possible collusion or inducements from one club to another (although I am making no allegations in relation to Rovers / UCD), and other questions of even-handedness and fair play - both real and preceived.

The FAI have a poor record in this area and clarification on the questions previously raised would be illuminating:

I am uneasy about this postponement, and as with many issues in this league, it is open to misinterpretation or speculation about lack of even-handedness.

While personally in favour of postponements to ease congestion for Euro teams, there remains a number of unanswered questions

1) Did Dundalk, Bohs, or Fingal request any such postponements?
2) If so did they flounder at the doors of the FAI or the opposition club?
3) Have the FAI established a precedent of postponements subject only to the agreement of the relevant clubs
4) If the opposition clubs agreement is the crucial element, how will FAI guard against accusations of collusion or inducements from one club to another - whether this is real or perceived?

[Dodge]

Is Rovers game next week postponed? if not, why not?

Anyone?