The John Delaney Thread

[Stuttgart88]

How many of these countries have another football creed as their national game, also played in the Summer, and which for decades forbade its members to play soccer? For 6 decades soccer was played and supported primarily by working class people from urban areas. The rest of the country and much of the cities was owned by the GAA and was an integral part of the community. Soccer could not compete and by the time the ban was lifted, the BIG MATCH, MATCH OF THE DAY etc were being broadcast at the exact same time as the League of Ireland games were on. This is not an excuse. It's a fact and club soccer has been playing catch up and always will in this country behind the GAA. There is huge interest ok in soccer but because of expert way the GAA has sown up the country and parish scene, soccer is on a hiding to nothing as far as the clubs are concered. It's just too difficult to break that stranglehold and whether it's John Delaney, Donald Trump, Pope Francis or whoever in charge of the FAI, it is an almost an impossible task to compete with the GAA because that's what it's about.

I largely agree. If Liverpool or Man U moved to Dublin for their home games they'd be the best attended sports teams in the country by a long distance. But at the same time I think there's a bit of EPL-weariness creeping in among the Irish. With diminishing numbers of irish stars in the EPL and declining national team performance I think the public is aware that what we do at home will help so there is pent up support of Irish domestic football that an attractive product can tap into. We can argue all day long what constitutes attractive; many will argue that it's already attractive though the sales numbers argue differently. I don't think it's beyond the wit of man to have ten teams in the LOI with nice stadia, a good match day atmosphere and a good standard of football attracting c.5,000 per game each week. Over and above the factors you cited, the GAA does well because its clubs are proper community clubs with joined up underage and senior teams. LOI clubs were really only ever teams, maybe an A team and a B team with little underneath. the schoolboy clubs were the community clubs and the Intermediate teams/clubs were largely different still. Recent changes might make a difference in time. Rovers are becoming a joined-up top-to-bottom club. Bohs are in a JV with Kevins but are strongly community-rooted. Over time this will closely mimic the GAA model.

Obviously if the Pope also got involved we could expect a miracle or two. Donald Trump could Make Irish Football Great Again. #MIFGA

[osarusan]

I'd say it needs to get to 100k to make much difference. If it gets north of 20k the tabloids will maybe pick up on it which would get it going that bit faster.

There's probably a few journos itching to have a go if it gets enough signatures for them to do so.

But he will ride out any storm. He has surrounded himself with people who need him there, so there is no way for him to be ousted.

[Kingdom]

I largely agree. If Liverpool or Man U moved to Dublin for their home games they'd be the best attended sports teams in the country by a long distance. But at the same time I think there's a bit of EPL-weariness creeping in among the Irish. With diminishing numbers of irish stars in the EPL and declining national team performance I think the public is aware that what we do at home will help so there is pent up support of Irish domestic football that an attractive product can tap into. We can argue all day long what constitutes attractive; many will argue that it's already attractive though the sales numbers argue differently. I don't think it's beyond the wit of man to have ten teams in the LOI with nice stadia, a good match day atmosphere and a good standard of football attracting c.5,000 per game each week. Over and above the factors you cited, the GAA does well because its clubs are proper community clubs with joined up underage and senior teams. LOI clubs were really only ever teams, maybe an A team and a B team with little underneath. the schoolboy clubs were the community clubs and the Intermediate teams/clubs were largely different still. Recent changes might make a difference in time. Rovers are becoming a joined-up top-to-bottom club. Bohs are in a JV with Kevins but are strongly community-rooted. Over time this will closely mimic the GAA model.

Obviously if the Pope also got involved we could expect a miracle or two. Donald Trump could Make Irish Football Great Again. #MIFGA

Btw don't forget that the Bohs/kevins venture was a one year only gig.

[Stuttgart88]

Noted

[gufct]

https://twitter.com/gufct/status/106...313617920?s=21

[pineapple stu]

Lads, when did an internet petition ever change anything?

[bennocelt]

Lads, when did an internet petition ever change anything?

TBF Stu I do wonder if the Kenny appointment wasn't due to all the negative flak Kim Jon is getting on social media. Trying to placate everyone.

[Cathalsmart]

https://twitter.com/gufct/status/106...313617920?s=21

Master of making things disappear, arrogance he has to think he will keep us quite for long! Literally a dictator.

[Stuttgart88]

I'd say metaphorically a dictator. Literally a single-minded self-serving CEO who lacks full accountability.

[colonelwest]

He had a mini Kevin Keegan after the main portion of the press conference was over when questioned on his running of the FAI and finances. Had the brass bo***cks to say if anyone wants to ask any questions to come to the annual FAI AGM and ask them there!

He's spooked by Quinn who knows well how to play football politics and JD has his eyes on hanging on until the UEFA elections in 2020. Started listing off all the underage teams and the facilities upgrades going on as if he put his hand in his own pocket for them when it's SDCC paying for Tallaght, DCC paying for Dalyer, Louth CoCo paying for Drogheda, Capital Sports grants paying for Glanmire & Harps. Delaney taking credit without putting the hand in the FAI till for nearly all or any of it at all.

[CraftyToePoke]

He had a mini Kevin Keegan after the main portion of the press conference was over when questioned on his running of the FAI and finances. Had the brass bo***cks to say if anyone wants to ask any questions to come to the annual FAI AGM and ask them there!

He's spooked by Quinn who knows well how to play football politics and JD has his eyes on hanging on until the UEFA elections in 2020. Started listing off all the underage teams and the facilities upgrades going on as if he put his hand in his own pocket for them when it's SDCC paying for Tallaght, DCC paying for Dalyer, Louth CoCo paying for Drogheda, Capital Sports grants paying for Glanmire & Harps. Delaney taking credit without putting the hand in the FAI till for nearly all or any of it at all.

'Centrally involved' in all those, was the phrase he used, from memory. Gas man.

[brine3]

Yep, money is scarce in Irish football. All that cash splashed on Trap, MON and JD over the years could have been better invested.

[geysir]

'Centrally involved' in all those, was the phrase he used, from memory. Gas man.

Definitely centrally involved in Clones

[gufct]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/socce...-37562335.html Another article in Sunday Times . Petition is gone to 20,000 it’s no good talking on forums any action you can take like ringing your local td or member of pac is better than sitting back and doing nothing.

[gufct]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/p...rg0xt7xk2?t=ie

[tetsujin1979]

Be honest gufc - what do you expect to change?
As I've said elsewhere, there's no way John Delaney will not be in charge for the Euro 2020 games at Aviva Stadium. I've said it for a while now that he's playing the long game to be head of UEFA

[gufct]

Just can’t sit back and do nothing. This from yesterday the man has no shame.

https://amp.independent.ie/sport/soc...mpression=true

[geysir]

In itself, an online petition is tame but it can add to the 'optics'. Emmet Malone referred to it in his IT article

'Around 20,000 people have now signed the online petition calling for him to go. He might just have won over a few waverers, though, with the way he has played this one.'

[gufct]

https://www.thejournal.ie/john-delan...62637-Nov2018/

[jbyrne]

https://www.thejournal.ie/john-delan...62637-Nov2018/

id say he is shaking in his boots.
rang rings around them the last time