Chelski - St Pat'ski link up

**pete** · 10/05/2004, 1:29 PM

IMO eL clubs are too focused on stadium facilities when little attention been put towards improving training facilties which are still very poor.

Anyone know what happened the FAI plans for regional training faciltites???

**Roo69** · 10/05/2004, 3:57 PM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

a fvcking disgrace to the league, they might as well wave the white flag with "watch the premiership" written on it.

Don' agree with atht at all. Bigger and Better Clubs from Bigger and Better Leagues are used as feeder clubs as well for the likes of United and Arsenal from as far away as Brazil. If it means money is put back into the club then it can only be good, Players will only be brought over if there good enough, and at the right price as well. Don't see a problem with this as long as Clubs don't sell themselves short, which i dont think they will.

**A face** · 10/05/2004, 4:23 PM

For and against ... pros and cons ..... Lads, the end product, the results that these links produce are normally nothing to write home about. There are very few instances where it has been totally beneficial or a complete windfall for the smaller club. Whos to say the club that part-takes in the link couldn't have made progress on thier own. In our league, the idea of being linked with a big club isn't going to have fans streaming in the gates so the idea of the link will only go so far. Maybe the advice that the bigger club offers may be beneficial but the smaller club still does all the work, and money and coaching is thin on the ground. That the way i have seen it, open to correction though.

**Dr.Nightdub** · 10/05/2004, 9:27 PM

Exhibit A: Shels. You hardly think Ollie'd be bothered about the link up with Man.U. if there was nothing in it for Shels do you?

**eoinh** · 10/05/2004, 9:36 PM

Exhibit B - Royal Antwerp - relegated!

**A face** · 10/05/2004, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dr.Nightdub

Exhibit A: Shels. You hardly think Ollie'd be bothered about the link up with Man.U. if there was nothing in it for Shels do you?

I am on about tangiable beneifits ... a friendly every year is great but i am talking about a club evolving into a good side like a Dutch or Swedish team. Shels are not going that anyway fast. And there isn't a lot happening that they aren't doing themselves. What i am saying is that clubs are progressive not because they are linked with another club, it is because they put in the work.

Bigger clubs like Man U are not throwing money at any clubs, you can be sure of that. In fact ManUre in particular are a club that really watch the pounds. You can take isolated cases but by and large links dont work in the smaller clubs favour, while the bigger clubs promise the sun, moons and stars.

But man ..... if you think it is good then cool, you'd want to ... you are just about to get linked !!

**Dodge** · 11/05/2004, 9:24 AM

Originally Posted by eoinh

Exhibit B - Royal Antwerp - relegated!

Yeah but where would they be without the link...

it should not be the sole purpose of any club but if managed properly it can be a good thing...

**TheSaint2002** · 11/05/2004, 10:04 AM

I think the likes of these links might help save the whole thing, like others I was against them in previous years but people have to face facts about the eircom League and pretty they aint, 1 Most clubs are F**cking broke and only a few are brave enough to admit it ehem 2 The crowds are **** on a whole 3 The standard has gone poxy bar a few rare games 4 The general Irish public go out of their way to have nothing to do with EL 5 The grounds are ****holes 6 The tele coverage is utter S**t 7 general media coverage is poor at best, i have to be brave enough to call a spaid a spaid, I love the EL but facts are facts and they have to be faced if Irish soccer has any future there is no point putting the head in the sand and hoping all goes well, if chelski or anyone else wants to link up then clubs should jump for it, its all probaly Pie in the Sky anyway.