Can we sustain our full-time players and large squad?

[pete]

The clubs need to get together to prepare some kind of 10 year development plan that could be presented to government for funding.

I had a glance (anyone got spare 5 hpours may read it) through FAI technical Plan @ fai.ie & while will produce better players in the country I wasn't impressed by eL sections...

[paudie]

The country has an excellent youth coaching system as we produce a lot of good players for our population but most of this work seems to be done through clubs like Home Farm, Cherry Orchard, St Josephs Boys who specialise in youth football coaching

EL clubs should go out of their way to set up similar structures and then develop their own players.

Grants that are seen to be going to clubs that specialise in youths football are more popular than those going to EL clubs who are suspected of wasting the money on wages.

Most EL clubs seem to have little interest in youths football wheras it could the key to developing their facilities.

[Éanna]

far from deluded! yes we have to put the training facilities inplace, but rumour has it there are plans afoot there anyway. As for the youth teams- haven't city signed a deal with the Cork Schoolboys league? Is our U-21 not the best in the country, with a stream of young players coming through each year? We have the biggest crowds by far, which will hopefully keep growing, jerseys and other merchandise are selling well, we have big sponsors and a young team which can get so much better. Look at how much we've progressed since our last Euro adventure- last time out (in 2000) we lost to some bog-standard team from Latvia (who then got hammered by a dutch team) and compare to our results this season. Add to that the fact that the progress really began when Dolan took over and if we can maintain that level of progress each year, I say we CAN make the group stages in 3 years. Being honest I think we'll find it harder to win the league than win through 2 or 3 rounds in Europe because of our style. It is possible, and in Brian Lennox and Pat Dolan we have the best chairman and manager equipped to do that for us. Positivity is not delusion!

[bohs til i die]

far from deluded! yes we have to put the training facilities inplace, but rumour has it there are plans afoot there anyway. As for the youth teams- haven't city signed a deal with the Cork Schoolboys league? Is our U-21 not the best in the country, with a stream of young players coming through each year? We have the biggest crowds by far, which will hopefully keep growing, jerseys and other merchandise are selling well, we have big sponsors and a young team which can get so much better. Look at how much we've progressed since our last Euro adventure- last time out (in 2000) we lost to some bog-standard team from Latvia (who then got hammered by a dutch team) and compare to our results this season. Add to that the fact that the progress really began when Dolan took over and if we can maintain that level of progress each year, I say we CAN make the group stages in 3 years. Being honest I think we'll find it harder to win the league than win through 2 or 3 rounds in Europe because of our style. It is possible, and in Brian Lennox and Pat Dolan we have the best chairman and manager equipped to do that for us. Positivity is not delusion!

I will say this now, NO club from the eircom league will make the group stages of the Champions League for a minimum of 20 years, unless UEFA really change the structure of the competition. This season, the third round draw includes

Real Madrid, Manchester United, Deportivo La Coruña, Liverpool, Juventus, Internazionale, PSV Eindhoven, Bayer Leverkusen, Sparta Praha, Anderlecht, AS Monaco, Club Brugge, Glasgow Rangers, Rosenborg BK, PAOK Thessaloniki, Dinamo Kiev.


Yes, clubs will always have a chance in most ties, but realistically, no Irish club has looked like getting beyond round 2 so far, so how can we hope to compete in the near future in round 3 ??

Malmo and Nec Nijmegan are good sides, but nowhere near as good as any of these. They are in the Intertoto because they finished mid table in their respective leagues. For Cork to get to the UEFA Cup, all they have to do is finish one place higher. The likes of NEC Nijmegan wont be bothering the champions league hierarchy any time soon unless Ajax, PSV or Feyenoord go out of business.

Cork may be doing a lot right, but how many players in the eircom league would be able to play regular premiership/serie A/Primera liga football ?? The answer is none, because we dont have players in this league good enough. Likewise we dont have the facilities or coaching abilities that are available to the clubs who we could face in round 1, 2 or 3 of the champions league qualifiers.

[pete]

[QUOTE=bohs til i die]I will say this now, NO club from the eircom league will make the group stages of the Champions League for a minimum of 20 years, unless UEFA really change the structure of the competition.
[QUOTE]

I think 20 years is a bit pessimistic but clearly no team is going to get there in next 3-5 years. Its too hard to ride your luck over a 2 leg tie.

Immediate goal should be getting teams to progress through a few rounds & gradually build it up & makes it easier to keep & attract better players.

Shel$ have one of the better draws with Hijuk Split this year but I don't see them getting past them but doesn't Bohs or City wouldn't have good go.

Getting to the 3rd qualifying round of CL would mean good money plus bonus of UEFA 1st round proper & more cash.

[Éanna]

I will say this now, NO club from the eircom league will make the group stages of the Champions League for a minimum of 20 years, unless UEFA really change the structure of the competition. This season, the third round draw includes

Real Madrid, Manchester United, Deportivo La Coruña, Liverpool, Juventus, Internazionale, PSV Eindhoven, Bayer Leverkusen, Sparta Praha, Anderlecht, AS Monaco, Club Brugge, Glasgow Rangers, Rosenborg BK, PAOK Thessaloniki, Dinamo Kiev.

sure why don't we give up altogether?! the likes of PAOK, Rosenberg, Rangers and maybe Anderlecht should be in our sights in a few years.