FAI to sign deal with Endemol

[PartySaint]

As Champions it would seem best that Rovers go forward to represent the League in this. Another XI is a complete waste of time for everyone, but this way, and if it became a regular feature, the Champions could be rewarded by playing big European sides every year even if they were say, dumped out of Europe by a Welsh team.

Don't be ridiculous

[Dodge]

I think the idea of having 2 weeks off for friendlies is the worst idea I've heard since the idea of 2 weeks off for holiers

[A N Mouse]

I think the idea of having 2 weeks off for friendlies is the worst idea I've heard since the idea of 2 weeks off for holiers

Well sounds like we're stuck with this representative side in a tournament thing for a while. May as well try and do it right.

I mean if there a full set of fixtures and these visiting teams are going to be playing other games then our european representatives are unlikely to available to fulfill friendly fixtures. They'll likely be the first to complain about other teams getting 'glamour' friendlies. Would leave il teams to benefit.

[Dodge]

Sod them, every club here would prefer Europe to friendlies.

Can't have everything

[sullanefc]

Why not leave the team who finishes just outside the European places into this. 4th or 5th?

[Dodge]

Why not leave the team who finishes just outside the European places into this. 4th or 5th?

At the rate we lose clubs it'll be 6th or 7th

I'd imagine the real answer is its part of the Airtricity sponsorship

[gael353]

The FAI will not let clubs use agents to bring in teams....check
No team can play friendly games on days when there are some vitally important airtricity league or european games......check
No other LOI team would benifet from a friendly held by just one club.....check

[Dodge]

In fairness there was never any doubt that LOI clubs could use outside agents. Platinum have arranged friendlies for Rovers the past two years and before that for others (including pats)

[osarusan]

But wasn't one of the reasons listed off by Gavin on MNS that outside agents were not allowed as they were taking money out of the game? I'm pretty sure it was given as one of the many and ever-changing reasons for not allowing the friendly.

[legendz]

Limerick to be fair have other things to be focussing on. It's a shame the city didn't get the Barca tie but Limerick at the same time don't exactly have a ground where they can host their own games. Clubs should be able to play friendlies in their own ground unless under construction.
On this tournament, it's an FAI run tournament so I'd agree with fielding a representative side. Otherwise the participating club would be getting an advantage. If any club feels they should be hosting a competition like Shamrock Rovers for being Champions, let them host their own tournament in the Tallaght stadium and make their money from that.

[Dodge]

But wasn't one of the reasons listed off by Gavin on MNS that outside agents were not allowed as they were taking money out of the game? I'm pretty sure it was given as one of the many and ever-changing reasons for not allowing the friendly.

He might've said it but the facts prove him wrong

I had though it wa only agreements above a certain capacity but he flip/flops so much he might've said both

[gael353]

Limerick to be fair have other things to be focussing on. It's a shame the city didn't get the Barca tie but Limerick at the same time don't exactly have a ground where they can host their own games. Clubs should be able to play friendlies in their own ground unless under construction.

eh Thomond Park......

[gael353]

the rule only applied to a club where they had the use of a stadium which could cator for and generate enough revenue and profits to make friendly games with big big clubs worth while

[Steo]

On day 25 in the LOI House, George O'Callaghan is moving into his 25th different bedroom so far.

[gastric]

Does anyone know if an Irish side, be it international or domestic, will be competing in this tournament?

Please ignore! On second reading realised my stupidity!

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/...ournament.html

[Dodge]

BTW Delaney confirms in today's papers that it was ndemol who stopped the Limerick/Barca friendly

I mean we all guessed it at this stage but there he is confirming it

[Sambuca]

But wasn't one of the reasons listed off by Gavin on MNS that outside agents were not allowed as they were taking money out of the game? I'm pretty sure it was given as one of the many and ever-changing reasons for not allowing the friendly.

I didn't undserstand how ndemol could stop a friendly. Pity for Limerick.

[elroy]

Decent deal for the FAI, however it doesnt exactly align itself well with the domestic season. Also after the debacle that was the MU V Airtricity match, I would prefer if they put Shamrock Rovers in the tournament as league champions rather than a hastily thrown together select.

[pineapple stu]

Whatever you're having yourself, we're all inclusive.

Don't worry LTID; I'm mocking the copy and paste "journalist", not yourselves.

Why not leave the team who finishes just outside the European places into this. 4th or 5th?

You'd probably end up in a position where clubs are fighting to come lower down the table to play Inter in the summer tournament instead of Qarabaq in the UEFA Cup. Would be an utter farce.

[Straightstory]

A League XI would be a complete joke; on a hiding to nothing. It would be different if one of the clubs were invited, but that's difficult because of European commitments. I don't think the clubs should have anything to do with this. And after the master-stroke of the €10 tickets yesterday, the FAI have turned around and shot themselves in the foot again. I realise they need to pay for the stadium, but it would actually be better to have four foreign teams in this tournament than suffer the embarrassment of this years Airtricity v Man Yoo yet again.

Completely agree. Humiliation ahead, and a gift to the worst kind of barstoolers. Rico's management of the team the last time was a disaster. And his defensive reaction afterwards to the debacle was embarrassing. I lost all respect for him as a result.
After the good work by the FAI over the cup final, they've resorted to type. It would be just great if the clubs had the bottle to tell Delaney they want nothing to do with this.