Hurrah
League to kick off early starting on Feb 16th.
Return of promotion and relegation play offs apparently and details of the format of the ten team Premier still being finalised.
Debate about the play off being just for the second bottom in the premier league against second in the first division or whether to involve more division 1 teams.
https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football...off-returning/
Just glad the off season is a little shorter.
Last edited by sbgawa; 25/10/2017 at 8:24 AM.
5 midweek games. Could they not just bring it forward a couple more weeks.
From the link:
Sweet Jesus Christ, will that idea ever just f**king die.The option of a mid-season split into top-half and bottom-half tiers has been discussed.
Last edited by osarusan; 25/10/2017 at 3:28 PM.
Talks between the Premier Club Alliance and FAI on the format of the new ten-team divisions are still ongoing.What an absolute shambles if the article is accurate. The PCA are debating with the FAI what the format of the first division should be.The play-offs will definitely return next season, though the format is still being discussed.
It is a question of whether to pair second in the First and second-from-bottom in the Premier against each other or involve more First Division teams.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Five midweek games is way too many, literally no one will want to see Limericks fourth game against bray (or whoever replaces Bray when they're shelegated) if it's on a Tuesday night at 7.30.
Should play the fai cup games midweek until the semis, nobody cares until the semis anyway.
Premier clubs have 36 games next season - 3 more than this season. This is what the clubs wanted when they voted for a ten team league. When did you think they were going to play these extra games?
And why is their a debate about the First Division? Surely with 10 teams in it too it should just run hand in hand with the Premier - 36 games.
Also, they should forget about 'free' weekends for every weekend of the FAI Cup. What was the point of a 'free' weekend for the quarter-finals when only 8 teams were involved or the semi-final where only 4 teams are involved. Have a full round of League fixtures this weekend and only a handful of games would have to be postponed. Also, the European clubs should have fixtures against each other on the weeks before/after European dates, so if games need to be called off at least it's only the European teams that are being hit.
Final point on this - why have the FAI waited until the end of this season to work out what they are going to do next year? Surely this should have been sorted out when the decision was made to go with two Divisions of 10 teams?
Last edited by harps1954; 25/10/2017 at 9:53 AM.
Up the Harps!!
When will be First Division format be finalised?.......asking for a friend...
Here on a technicality.
I've been saying that for years.
There are 4 bank holiday Monday's in the season - Easter Monday, May Day, June BH and the August BH - a set of fixtures should be played on each of those as well which would negate some of the midweek fixtures. There should be no midweek fixtures in this league save for rearranged games.
I know it was said above but rovers dundalk Derry and cork should have no games scheduled against any other teams except each other for the couple of weeks after the first round of Euro games . Other clubs shouldnt be inconvenienced by Europe matches causing cancellations. Rovers should be down for dundalk the week after first round of Europa league follows by Derry than cork. Ditto for the others. I can't for the life of me see why this isn't done as a routine. Also if two teams are knocked out and aren't due to meet the followingv week rearrange that match straight away.
I hope the delay is because the first part (relegation playoff from premier is agreed ) but the next bit (format of div 1) is awaiting consultation with div 1 clubs.
If it's a 4 way playoff from 2nd to 4th probably 6 or 7 teams at least will have a shot at promotion until the last few weeks of the season.
If they don't do that they are certifiable......keep the league alive and give people a reasoin to come.
The PCA had a vote - and it was from this recommendation that the FAI went with the 10 team league. Only the 12 Premier clubs had a vote (hen the name PCA) and the vote was 7-5 in favour of a 10 team top flight. St. Pat's and Sligo were both in favour of this, and it's interesting that one of those two could be relegated at the weekend.
Up the Harps!!
The FAI had already made their mind up and have used this "vote" to validate their decision and to put themselves one step away from the criticism, and to divide the clubs further. Job done.
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