QuoteIsn't that what most do anyway?Originally Posted by pineapple stu
NIFL itself won't get involved as such discussions can on only be conducted by the IFA due to it being a cross associations issue. The IFA will only fully engage when several key questions are answered and protections are in place. E.g. Financial package, club licensing, European comps etc. Basically, is it viable and good for the IFA and it's member clubs. There are one or two people in the IFA who use such competition's, like the current cross border cup, as nothing more than a vanity project, especially when it comes to votes for FIFA positions.
Personally, I try to call reality, rather than being just defensive or combative.
Last edited by Mr_Parker; 05/04/2021 at 10:28 AM.
Isn't that what most do anyway?
There was no announcement. It was more like a speculative story, let alone one given any thought by or involvement of UEFA.
People said the exact same thing when Rovers won the league in 2011 (.... the 'model club' argument again..). People said the same about Dundalk. LOI history shows no team stays long at the top. As you said, both Dundalk and Cork dominated for 5 years and now look at them. So many clubs in LOI are roughly the same size.
As for the NI clubs, if Ballymena and Cliftonville were playing Dundalk and Rovers instead of Warrenpoint and Carrick Rangers , it would definitly provide a lot more room for growth. Both teams both get 3000 to at least one game a year (which is high considering they dont challenge for the league). There is a gap between ROI and NI football, its espeically the case from 8th place downwards in the Norths premier, who are little more than mid-table first divison teams here.
Eg how you were bleating on about pro license requirements? Once again yes rules are rules but having a lesser qualified head coach doesnt offer an advantage/cause imbalance as were are seeing all too obviously currently at Oriel Park. I'd be interested to know what particular blind eye is being turned actually and where you see things unbalance?
I think the Rovers setup is different now. If they can bring decently-coached young players through and generate consistent income from that each year, then all they're doing is exactly what most successful smaller clubs on the continent are doing now anyway. They weren't doing that in 2011. It's why I think they could dominate for a while to come, especially while their closest rivals implode by virtue of poor short-term policies.
It would provide a small bit of extra room for growth, not a lot; we need to be realistic about the impact. But to the extent that 4-6 NI teams could challenge for the title in an AIL? No.
I don't think you know what point you're trying to argue to be honest.
EYG made the point that "The results generally bear out the view that the LOI is stronger than the IL. That's therefore just a statement of fact. Yet plenty in the north still look down their nose at us." I'm saying that results aren't everything when it comes to following football. For you, as a Dundalk fan, to say "What else matters?" is openly hypocritical. You know full well that there's more to following football than results. It's why we're all here following it and talking about it.
Same point, that results are predominantly what matters to everyone but a small minority like us on here. If they didn't all clubs would be supported proportionately based on their location and we'd have a well supported little league here.
It's pretty much how people pick their English club, predominantly Leeds, Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City because they were the most successful clubs at the time. It shouldn't be the way but it is
According to responses to the article on Twitter, most Northern Irish fans would be against this idea https://twitter.com/SundayLifeSport/...18342668402689
I wouldn't give too much weight - either way - to a few idiots on Twitter.
But the bit that really caught my eye was this:
"Clubs involved believe they can earn an eye-watering £400m from TV rights alone, a prospect that would be hard to reject out of hand."
What do you all reckon? Is that £1m a year for the next 400 years, or £2m a year for the next 200?
I presumed that the 400m was with the Dutch Belgian project!?
Actually you're right, but so what if it is?
It has no relevance to any proposed AIL.
Meanwhile, as far as IL competitiveness goes, Linfield, Crues and Glens already are (or are about to go) f-t. All three have big plans for the future.
And Larne's benefactor has big ambitions (and big money!) to do the same for them - f-t contracts, stadium, European aspirations etc. So that if they can make the same progress over the next 3 or 4 years we've seen over the last 3, then you couldn't discount them.
While Coleraine are very well managed, and Portadown have potential (though they've ****ed it up the wall for a decade or more).
And all the above would surely prompt Cliftonville to try to keep up - Mr.P, any comment?
My guess is that if an AIL doesn't actually materialise for another 3(?) years, and the IL continues in the interim to grow as it has recently, I'd suggest that it could contribute 4, 5 or even 6 clubs who would all be competitive in the company of their LOI counterparts. For if an AIL produced the revenues which its backers are projecting, then being generally well-managed clubs, they all have the potential to grow to be bigger fish in a bigger pond.
Glens and Crues may be full time but some of their practices reek of 1990s part time stuff. That’s likely the fault of their respective managers.
How sustainable that set up is for either of those clubs is is also up for discussion (admittedly that can be said for most clubs on the island).
I guess what they are getting at is there is a multiplier effect of when leagues join together.
And also, to be fair, LOI clubs are also improving. Attendences have been steadily growing (1), clubs look better run (esp the Dublin clubs and Sligo). Also, a LOI team has reached the Europa league group stages three times in the last decade. Anecdotally, I feel there is much more positivity and buzz about the league, from within and outside (Although some might disagree)....
Again, I would be excited for AIL. More depth to the league, great away games, higher ceiling for growth, similar football culture (as in *unpopular* league).
(1) https://www.extratime.com/articles/2...23%20on%202018.
I wouldn't agree with you on the Dutch and Belgian leagues. Ajax aside, Belgian football has been as strong or stronger than the bulk of the Dutch league in the past four or five years. The Dutch clubs would probably benefit more from the increased money, though.
Clubs in both countries will benefit. The Belgian clubs wouldn't have voted for it and it wouldn't be being discussed otherwise.
(Genuine question) How have those "1990's part time" practices manifested themselves?
Over the last 20-odd years, Crues have clearly managed to move up a level from a minor Belfast side, to one which can take its place amongst bigger teams (on the playing field, at least).
And afaik they have very achievable plans to upgrade the stadium to help cement that standing.
As for the Glens, after a decade or more of mismanagement, they are showing clear signs of getting back their Big Two status, both on and off the pitch.
If (emphasise) they should manage to do that, they are quite capable of taking their place amongst the top half dozen clubs on the whole island.
Again.
(And yes, of course I'm biased, but I think I can produce the evidence to back it up)
Players training on their own, players meeting at opposition ground on day of away games, missing training during the week etc happens at both clubs.
McDermott at the Glens in particular. He is not a professional football manager.
They'll both benefit but as the bigger clubs the Dutch will get the bigger slice of the increase is what I mean.
That's not clear at all though. It depends what gets agreed.
As the Belgian league is smaller commercially, it will probably get the biggest proportional increase/benefit.
Yeah the plan is for 10 Dutch and 8 Belgian teams to form an 18 team league; that's where the commercial projections came from. From this ratio I'd imagine the Belgian league currently is worth less than Dutch.
Will be interesting to see how it progresses in any case.
Last edited by Buller; 07/04/2021 at 2:23 PM.
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