Good Luck to Shels, But......

**sullanefc** · 15/07/2004, 11:10 AM

I know, all being EL fans, that we would all love to see Shels do well in Europe so it can raise the profile of the League. But can you imagine the consequences of Shels getting to the group stage of the Champions League.

First of all, they'd be the first Irish team to do so and would prob hog the limelight for all other teams.

Secondly, the millions that they would receive could set them up for life. Imagine the facilities a club could develop with that sort of cash. They would most difinitely become the Rosenberg of Irish football and may go on to win title after title which would not be good for the League.

Personally, being a City fan, I would prefer if we were the first Irish team to get the Champions League group stages. I know we have to win a sh@ggin League title first. And thats where we should be concentrating.

So good luck to Shels and I hope they go far, but, not all the way.

**pete** · 15/07/2004, 11:30 AM

There is barely any hope of any eL team making CL Group Stages for years to come.

An eL club would have to play one of the seeded teams which this year are:
Real Madrid Esp
Manchester United Eng
Deportivo La Coru�a Esp
Liverpool Eng
Juventus Ita
Internazionale Ita
PSV Eindhoven Ned
Bayer Leverkusen Ger
Anderlecht Bel
AS Monaco Fra
Glasgow Rangers Sco
PAOK Thessaloniki Gre
Dinamo Kiev Ukr
Benfica Por
FC Basel Sui

**James** · 15/07/2004, 11:33 AM

anderlecht, basel, and that madrid team all definately takable like
esp if you got colin terrific in the midfield

**sullanefc** · 15/07/2004, 11:36 AM

Can you imagine.... Shels V Rangers in the third round qualifiers of the Champions League. Talk about mixed feelings

And I reckon Shels could beat them too.

**Ruairi** · 15/07/2004, 11:38 AM

i remember watching Pat Morley score against Rangers on Eurosport years ago. have to say i jumped around a bit

**patsh** · 15/07/2004, 11:40 AM

Liverpool Eng
Anderlecht Bel
Glasgow Rangers Sco
PAOK Thessaloniki Gre
FC Basel Sui

I reckon we would have a fair chance against any ot this lot.

**ccfc till i die** · 15/07/2004, 11:42 AM

To be honest we could do with another one of the top teams having a backlog of games like us, it would come in handy in the long run.

Here's to shels since all this cup run would do is lose them money since they don't have the home support to compensate for the cost of the away trip.

**sullanefc** · 15/07/2004, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by ccfc till i die

To be honest we could do with another one of the top teams having a backlog of games like us, it would come in handy in the long run.

Don't think they'll have as much of a back log as us, seen as they've got more time between rounds to play League games. But, having said that, they may have one eye on Europe all the same and drop points in the league

Originally Posted by ccfc till i die

Here's to shels since all this cup run would do is lose them money since they don't have the home support to compensate for the cost of the away trip.

Imagine if they got Rangers/Liverpool in the third round, they'd get huge support and would prob play it at Landsdowne. That'd be huge cash.
And then if they got through $$$$$$$$$$$$

**Jim Smith** · 15/07/2004, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by ccfc till i die

To be honest we could do with another one of the top teams having a backlog of games like us, it would come in handy in the long run.

Here's to shels since all this cup run would do is lose them money since they don't have the home support to compensate for the cost of the away trip.

Hear hear, cynical I know.

Anyway I can't get too enthusiastic about Shels. They are a team of thugs who choose to play that way. The have a bit of skill but usually resort to kicking players and that is bad for football no matter how far they progress in Europe.

**razor** · 15/07/2004, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by sullanefc

I know we have to win a sh@ggin League title first. And thats where we should be concentrating.

Saw a quote on the Echo the other night from Dolan referring to our European Odyssey and it went along the lines of that any of our players would sacrifice a League winners medal for the current success we are having.
This to me is total rubbish, while the current run is great for the club, the League is what we want to win. Champions League football is where we belong.
I must say I was surprised to read that but then again it was the Echo.

**James** · 15/07/2004, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by ccfc till i die

Here's to shels since all this cup run would do is lose them money since they don't have the home support to compensate for the cost of the away trip.

no it wouldnt
shels wud prob market the thing better, sell tv rights, make money from sponsors etc and if they did go on a cup run then they'd surely also get prizemoney for winning through different rounds etc

**sullanefc** · 15/07/2004, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by razor

Saw a quote on the Echo the other night from Dolan referring to our European Odyssey and it went along the lines of that any of our players would sacrifice a League winners medal for the current success we are having.
This to me is total rubbish, while the current run is great for the club, the League is what we want to win. Champions League football is where we belong.
I must say I was surprised to read that but then again it was the Echo.

I hear ya, this Intertoto run is brilliant don't get me wrong, but I'd much prefer if we had a league championship win, and we were going on a Champions League Euro Odyssey.

**Schumi** · 15/07/2004, 11:59 AM

$hels would still get a decent enough crowd for the home games as there'd be a good bit of neutral support (oxymoron of the day!) at the game. Bohs filled Dalymount for their games last year. There were a good few supporters from all the other Dublin teams and daytrippers. $hles will probably have less goodwill but should still get a decent crowd.

**tiktok** · 15/07/2004, 12:13 PM

Lads, I know Shels will profit from success, but in fairness, we all have to be fans of our own clubs first but the EL second.

It's definitely in CCFC's interest if Shels, Bohs and Longford progress in Europe, even if that overshadows our own achievements in the inter-toto. It improves the status of the league, should improve coverage but most importantly it increases our European coefficient. So that when City get into Europe next we could get a handier first round opponent, helping us to progress, and that cycle continues.

Another thing, if an EL team made it to the final qualifying round before the CL group stages, they'd have a huge payday, in terms of TV sales and gate receipts, but they'd also be guarenteed a second round proper UEFA slot, where they'd either get another payday or maybe draw a team they have a real shot at.

All the best to Shels, Bohs, Longford and City on their travels, the better they do the better it is for the league in the long run.

**drinkfeckarse** · 15/07/2004, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by patsh

Liverpool Eng
Anderlecht Bel
Glasgow Rangers Sco
PAOK Thessaloniki Gre
FC Basel Sui

I reckon we would have a fair chance against any ot this lot.

Good one!

**sullanefc** · 15/07/2004, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by tiktok

Lads, I know Shels will profit from success, but in fairness, we all have to be fans of our own clubs first but the EL second.

It's definitely in CCFC's interest if Shels, Bohs and Longford progress in Europe, even if that overshadows our own achievements in the inter-toto. It improves the status of the league, should improve coverage but most importantly it increases our European coefficient. So that when City get into Europe next we could get a handier first round opponent, helping us to progress, and that cycle continues.

Another thing, if an EL team made it to the final qualifying round before the CL group stages, they'd have a huge payday, in terms of TV sales and gate receipts, but they'd also be guarenteed a second round proper UEFA slot, where they'd either get another payday or maybe draw a team they have a real shot at.

All the best to Shels, Bohs, Longford and City on their travels, the better they do the better it is for the league in the long run.

What I'm more concerned about is the rich getting richer. Look at Scotland with Celtic and Rangers. If Shels make it to the CL group stages (maybe not this year) they would definitely be way ahead of us in terms of revenue. Would have better facilities, more money to pay the best players etc. And would run away with the League year after year. If you were George O Callaghan or John O Flynn, would you turn shels down if they gave you big wages and Champions League football? I don't think so. And this the reason I started this thread. I still want Shels, Bohs and Longford to do well, but I don't want them light years ahead of us either.

**patsh** · 15/07/2004, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

Good one!

Are you trying to make a point?

**Schumi** · 15/07/2004, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by davros

See No Shels.fans have bothered to contribute........

I'd be impressed if they've managed to get back from Iceland already!

**drinkfeckarse** · 15/07/2004, 1:01 PM

Originally Posted by patsh

Are you trying to make a point?

Yeah, wasn't sure if you were serious but obviously you are...my point being if you think City would beat the likes of Liverpool then you need to take off the green & red tinted glasses! Now before I get hordes of people attacking me with the "how do you know" and "the standard isn't that far apart", let me state that being a proud Corkman of course I wish City well, I'm just being realistic in saying that they are nowhere near that level yet.

**tiktok** · 15/07/2004, 1:09 PM

Fair enough, but a month ago would you have fancied our chances against the French Champions of 2001/2002 (and Group winners of their CL group in 2002/2003)?

....and do you now ahead of the game the weekend?