Republic of Ireland V Sweden - Friday, 6th September 2013 - World Cup 2014 Qualifier

[Stuttgart88]

I think there are two separate components to this debate:

(a) is there any "moral" obstacle to discarding the past? My own view is that we should be very careful about trampling on Irish clubs' rich histories but if we could be pretty confident that a new model would deliver a product with much more popular appeal and that is commercially attractive - and sustainable - I think it should be considered. I say this as a guy who has put in the long lonely miles on the LOI circuit in my younger days, not as a smug ROI block booker with a regular spot at the bar on Wednesday nights for the CL.


(b) the economic component: given the construct of European football, the lessons being taught by the current H-Cup scenario in rugby, and the sheer scale of commercial improvement required to even compete with the 3rd and 4th tiers of English football, is there really a viable "new model" out there? Bear in mind too that more money usually is accompanied by more risk-taking in football and Ireland doesn't really have a great track record in showing restraint and not getting up its own backside when things are going well! So I very much doubt the existence of a radical "new model". That makes component (a) largely irrelevant.

Also, any privately sponsored initiative (e.g., Platinum One) should be regarded with the highest degree of suspicion. What's in it for them versus what's in it for Irish football? We'd only be introducing another vested interest into the game when we need fewer.

Therefore I think we should probably work with what we have as the foundation.

[geysir]

GAA is also a club thing, first and foremost, the county thing would not work without the extensive club structure. In fact, the clubs run the county structure.
Dublin is an exception, supporters/cokeheads etc, bypass the bread and butter grind of the club structure to support the county team.

Soccer is about traditional club structure, traditional club rivalry, the League followed by the Cup. There's no chance of another creation supplanting that, it's possible that a Europa League structure can supplement the local league but then it's only a few clubs who have a chance to benefit.
When that european adventure is over, the club's board count the cents left in the till and back to grind of the league/cup.

[Stuttgart88]

Good point.

Also, are Irish rugby clubs altogether happy with the provincial franchises? I've heard friends at Terenure raise concerns.

[geysir]

Wouldn't you be closer to the talk on the rugby doorstep, than the most of us?

[Bungle]

I think there are two separate components to this debate:

(a) is there any "moral" obstacle to discarding the past? My own view is that we should be very careful about trampling on Irish clubs' rich histories but if we could be pretty confident that a new model would deliver a product with much more popular appeal and that is commercially attractive - and sustainable - I think it should be considered. I say this as a guy who has put in the long lonely miles on the LOI circuit in my younger days, not as a smug ROI block booker with a regular spot at the bar on Wednesday nights for the CL.


(b) the economic component: given the construct of European football, the lessons being taught by the current H-Cup scenario in rugby, and the sheer scale of commercial improvement required to even compete with the 3rd and 4th tiers of English football, is there really a viable "new model" out there? Bear in mind too that more money usually is accompanied by more risk-taking in football and Ireland doesn't really have a great track record in showing restraint and not getting up its own backside when things are going well! So I very much doubt the existence of a radical "new model". That makes component (a) largely irrelevant.

Also, any privately sponsored initiative (e.g., Platinum One) should be regarded with the highest degree of suspicion. What's in it for them versus what's in it for Irish football? We'd only be introducing another vested interest into the game when we need fewer.

Therefore I think we should probably work with what we have as the foundation.

Great post that.

I would love if those involved in underage football could agree on what needs to be done and listen to those that would appear to be doing it right. While I would advocate us learning from the continentals, there are a huge amount of really dynamic people out there in clubs around the country and whole leagues such as North Dublin who are doing things right. You would imagine that in the coming years, there will be far more technically gifted players coming through, as a result of their work. The best youths will be still lost to English clubs, but there will be a far higher standard of young players over here, that I would hope would have a knock-one effect on our club's performances in Europe.

[Stuttgart88]

Wouldn't you be closer to the talk on the rugby doorstep, than the most of us?

Yes and no. A lot opf my mates are obsessed with Irish rugby but equally they think Irish rugby is created by God's own hand, free of any imperfection and a shining example of what Irish football can achieve if we only entered Leinster and Munster into the UCL (UEFA Champs League, not United Churches League). I'm not sure any of them have ever been to a AIL game. I regularly ask them where Leinster's clubhouse is.

[Stuttgart88]

Here's a snippet on the factions within FAI / schools set up.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29587192.html

It reminds me of the Life of Brian:

"We're the FAI Schools."

"I thought we were the Schools FAI?"

[DannyInvincible]

It'l be an absolute trainwreck and wickedly entertaining for anyone with a persuasion not of Sunderland A.F.C.

Even when they inevitably realise their horrific mistake, I hope TPTB over there stubbornly persist with him. Their blind optimism will continue to surrogate us a real life Fawlty Towers!

Lolz!: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24190407

West Brom 3-0 Sunderland: Paolo Di Canio faces fans

Manager Paolo Di Canio goes onto the pitch after Sunderland's 3-0 away defeat at West Brom to try and placate the angry travelling support.

The Italian boss gestures that the fans should keep their chins up but many seem to be blaming their new manager.

The defeat leaves Sunderland bottom of the Premier League with only one point from their opening five games.

[Stuttgart88]

Just proves the EPL is more of an international soap opera these days than the top tier of English football. If you saw that in WWE you'd think it was contrived.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Except DiCanio is an idiot (with fascist leanings) who Sunderland can't jettison soon enough...

[Stuttgart88]

True, but it still distracts from the football. And is Mourinho much different, apart from being a better manager? His histrionics in the dying moments of the Super Cup were just vanity / narcissism in the extreme. His team were clinging on to a lead and all he could think of was the TV exposure opportunity which he lapped up with relish.

[DannyInvincible]

And is Mourinho much different, apart from being a better manager? His histrionics in the dying moments of the Super Cup were just vanity / narcissism in the extreme. His team were clinging on to a lead and all he could think of was the TV exposure opportunity which he lapped up with relish.

Missed that. What did he do there exactly?

[geysir]

Jose thinks that "You're So Vain" was written about him.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Moanihio just needs hundreds of millions to spend, to 'create' a team. And to be the centre of attention.
He makes RMK look like a wallflower...

[bennocelt]

Moanihio just needs hundreds of millions to spend, to 'create' a team. And to be the centre of attention.
He makes RMK look like a wallflower...

Porto? Inter Milan? - rich clubs but not CL winners when he took over

[Stuttgart88]

Missed that. What did he do there exactly?

Waving his hands like a looney to get the Chelsea fans to sing, but you could see it was a clear attempt at playing for the cameras.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Porto? Inter Milan? - rich clubs but not CL winners when he took over

Madrid and of course his 'real, first love' currently, spring to mind. The small matter of spending a billion-plus quid...

[bennocelt]

Madrid and of course his 'real, first love' currently, spring to mind. The small matter of spending a billion-plus quid...

Heh, he was unlucky with both, wait till the end of the season as he might do it yet with Chelsea, ha

[DannyInvincible]

Just proves the EPL is more of an international soap opera these days than the top tier of English football. If you saw that in WWE you'd think it was contrived.

Alan Hansen praised Di Canio and his buffoonish antics as being "great value" on MOTD last night, which only supports your contention of EPL as soap opera.

[DannyInvincible]

Di Canio's been sacked: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24199626

It was fun while it lasted...