The debate about which league is stronger, based on looking only on results between teams or European progress is something that may give give comfort to some, but for clubs and leagues and those that run them, the real strength measurement is having sustainable clubs and a league that does not regularly see clubs lurch from one crisis to the next or go bust.
Is it all the years and all the recreational living but I seem to remember a Glentoran banner at an Irish Cup final V Linfield, way, way, way back in the day with 'Glentoran Play Football not Religion' on it
Don't they have a big sign saying "Jesus loves you" or something in the Oval? Sounds religious to me!
Well that backs up EYG's opinion to some extent - are you looking down your nose on LoI Mr P? You have a valid argument on this, but it is a results based game too. If we could put stars over crests for better run clubs IL trumps LoI, 2 runs to European group stages in the last number of years is much more fun!(as a Dundalk fan of course).
Last edited by Nesta99; 04/04/2021 at 10:30 PM.
He did say competitive, not bought...
Cant help but feel its bad timing for such an anouncement from the Belfast Telegraph. Could have waited till things died down a little bit (when petrol bombs werent being thrown at police up north) or maybe that was their intention. I guess UEFA want to announce something positive along with the deeply unpopular new Champions league rules. Do think that new language will have to be used around the competition. For example, 'all-Ireland' might put off some up North.
The great thing about LOI is the comparative sizes of clubs. In the next 10 years, its not beyond the possibility of most teams being able to win the league. There was 5 league winners of the league between 2010 and 2020 (from 4 regions). An All-Ireland league adds another 4-6 clubs which are similar stature to LOI, who can all win the league. I think it will work better than something like the Belgian and Dutch league, where you can expect Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord to finish consistantly over Genk, Anderlecht and Liege.
I don't think this analysis stands up to be honest.
In the past six seasons, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Cork have not only won the title or the Cup each year, but have also been runners-up each year (except for Bohs breaking that last year by coming second in the league). That's an unprecedented dominance here.
Cork have since imploded due to mismanagement, and I think Dundalk are on the same road to be honest. Rovers appear to have a much more sustainable model with their academy, and I don't see who's coming through to challenge them at the moment given no-one's beaten them in the league since Sept 2019 (25 games now). Bohs are the obvious ones, but this year hasn't started well. Harps are battling relegation obviously, Sligo could be on the way up but can they launch a title challenge?
And what 4/6 IL clubs are going to challenge for a title? We know it's a weaker league (which isn't to say it's a lesser league) and I don't see any way Ballymena, Cliftonville or Larne (4th to 6th at the moment) could challenge for the title here.
I think a combined league would be more competitive in general - it couldn't not be - but I don't think it's true at all to say that most teams, including 4-6 from the IL, would have a chance of winning an AIL in the next ten years.
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