A 7-team league First Division Next Year

[Dodge]

Some change of emphasis from Pat's! One of the leading clubs that sought the scrapping of the A championship.

Fair to say Pete Mahon and Liam Buckley are polar opposites on a number of issues (and that Buckley has more say behind the scenes too)

[Charlie Darwin]

Goes to show why clubs need a strategic vision that accounts for the turnover of managers. It shouldn't be Buckley's or Mahon's decision whether they have a reserve team, and if Buckley has managed to convince the board of its merits then that should continue even if he moves on in the future and somebody with contrasting ideas comes back in.

[legendz]

If more B teams join, the A Championship should return or the Premier expand to 16 with a north and south league below with B teams and all other aspiring clubs.

[Dodge]

Goes to show why clubs need a strategic vision that accounts for the turnover of managers. It shouldn't be Buckley's or Mahon's decision whether they have a reserve team, and if Buckley has managed to convince the board of its merits then that should continue even if he moves on in the future and somebody with contrasting ideas comes back in.

When Pats went from the Sadlier/big money era (ended 2008) throught the mess that was Kenna (09) to Mahon re-establshing the club (on a much smaller budget) in 2010 and 2011, the behind the scenes cut backs were even worse.

To Buckley's credit, he's managed to bring a more 'wholistic' (for want of a less wanky word) approach and he's involved with the under 19s to a degree and sees the footballing side as one club, not just one team.

In fairness to Mahon he didn't have that much power within the club and he certainly had to live short term

[gufcfan]

One of the leading clubs that sought the scrapping of the A championship.

A 'B' team in the FD is not the same as having one in the A Championship. Very different standard. Yes players got game time, but the standard was bad even compared to the FD. Don't know how I'd feel about a few more B teams entering the FD but it would be far better for players development than an A Champ.

[sadloserkid]

A 'B' team in the FD is not the same as having one in the A Championship. Very different standard. Yes players got game time, but the standard was bad even compared to the FD. Don't know how I'd feel about a few more B teams entering the FD but it would be far better for players development than an A Champ.

Agreed. The first teams in the A Championship tended to be pretty crap. Even the ones that came up (Salthill & Mervue) looked well off the pace in the First Division proper at times (all of the time in Salthill's case).

[Longfordian]

Shels and Wexford are quietly putting together decent enough squads. Waterford and Wexford seem to have a player exchange scheme on the go. This division is going to be very competitive.

[TommyT]

Just ploughing through this now.

Interesting to note that even most of the more sensible, non-Rovers contributions seem to have an issue with the fact that players can move between the two teams. I wonder how much of that is down to the publicity around the Spansh 'B' teams in recent years? There are plenty of other examples, particularly in small countries where players move up and down....

Also Garry Doyle's articles give us an insight into how jounos think. They all seem obsessed with the potentially headline grabbing prospect of say a player sitting on the bench in Turner's Cross one night and scoring in Finn Park the next...

[bluewhitearmy]

Just ploughing through this now.

Interesting to note that even most of the more sensible, non-Rovers contributions seem to have an issue with the fact that players can move between the two teams. I wonder how much of that is down to the publicity around the Spansh 'B' teams in recent years? There are plenty of other examples, particularly in small countries where players move up and down....

Also Garry Doyle's articles give us an insight into how jounos think. They all seem obsessed with the potentially headline grabbing prospect of say a player sitting on the bench in Turner's Cross one night and scoring in Finn Park the next...

Any other league where it happens there is a limit though after they have played a certain amount of games for the first team they cant drop down anymore.

[TommyT]

Any other league where it happens there is a limit though after they have played a certain amount of games for the first team they cant drop down anymore.

Not going to get into a long pedantic argument with you, but we're talking about many, many different countries. Ranging in size from the Faroes to Germany. There's no way you or I have the details of every system at our fingertips....

Personally I think the old Norweigan system was a good one, bar the need for a one division gap.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve...egian_football

[OldNassau]

Galway must be considered seriously for promotion, doing well in pre season. May be worth a few bob. Longford will have it tough again this year. Shelbourne would be hoping for a quick return to premier, interesting season ahead with Shams second team likely to be a thorn for these sides.

[gufcfan]

Galway must be considered seriously for promotion, doing well in pre season.

You can't read anything into those games. Sligo were barely back training, didn't score against Limerick and could have been out of sight within half an hour against Dundalk.

Not saying Galway aren't capable of reaching the playoffs at least, but you can't read anything into these friendlies, especially since they're the first few warmups. Pretty much a different XI used in every half of those matches.

I'm interested to see how Dunne sets the team up. There's quite a few different permutations up top that he could go with.

Loads of FD experience in the team and a some PD experience here and there. There's real quality in places, but that needs to rub off on the rest who get starting spots.

Loads of competition for some places, but with the disgraceful deal done for the u19s and the accompanying UEFA money, it will be difficult to throw anyone in unless you are forced into it.

No under 19s means that there is no opportunity for younger players get real competitive match fitness. I would be very wary of throwing in younger lads. If you're gunning for promotion, needing to blood youngsters isn't ideal.

Dunne might not mention promotion for a long time, but it would be daft to think he's aiming for anything else. You need to finish in the top 3 of 7 teams. This year's league might be better than it was most years in recent times, but the play-offs are wide open imo.

[legendz]

If Galway pick up the baton from Mervue Utd, they will be favourites for top 3. Any word on Waterford and Shels? Waterford were disappointing last season.

[Longfordian]

At the risk of upsetting our Waterford and Harps friends I think the top 3 will be ourselves, Galway and Shels. Shels may be the most vulnerable of the three. It's going to be a very tight league. Harps and Wexford should be better than last year.

[Mr A]

Don't know much about Shelbourne's squad to be honest but Longford and Galway should both be very strong. Harps have been utter pish for several years and haven't added much, but I have a feeling Horgan will at least have us well organised.

[outspoken]

Wexford have gone from looking totally torn apart to a very decent squad with the likes of Higgins and furlong signing. I fancy them to challenge for 3rd. Don't see harps being a threat, Shels will be aiming for third.

[legendz]

Apologies for leaving out Longford. It's kind of a compliment really! Keep forgetting ye were not promoted.

I think this will be the best first division season since the Premier expanded to 12.

[legendz]

7 Mar 2014 7:45pm Galway FC v Longford Town
7 Mar 2014 8pm Finn Harps v Waterford United
7 Mar 2014 8pm Shelbourne v Wexford Youths
8 Mar 2014 7:45pm Cobh Ramblers v Shamrock Rovers B

Good game lined up in Galway for kicking off the season in the first division.