Who is going to win the 2021 League

**oriel** · 03/02/2021, 10:34 AM

But what are we looking for here, in terms of tv coverage (separate to WatchLOI)

1/ For either RTE / VM to offer to show games lives?

2/ For a deal for either, and for the first time have an actual contract in place that directly benefits the clubs?

I know option 1 prob most realistic, as clubs regardless of any previous deal with FAI/RTE effectively got zero for live games, the only benefit was promotion of the game / and existing ground sponsors to get more profile.

**Neish** · 06/02/2021, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

Yeah Im surprised VM wasnt never approached. If they dont get it I would like to see them host goals roundup on Monday nights like they did with Trevor Welch all these yrs ago. They always did a way better job than RTE imo but suppose its FAIs call?

Lads if RTE/ Virgin etc saw a market for LOI they would snap it up in a flash, its just not there.

Whether we like it or not LOI is way don't the list for most Irish sports fans. RTE, Virgin etc are not in the promoting LOI business they are in the profit making business

**pineapple stu** · 06/02/2021, 10:12 AM

Harsh but fair.

Club streaming worked well for the FD last year in fairness. OK, the standard was a bit variable (but generally very watchable, all things considered) and it's more effort (and cost) to throw it back onto the clubs. The flip side is they have control and can charge themselves. Did clubs make anything off WatchLoI last year?

It's not ideal of course - nothing in covid is - but as a fall back, I think clubs taking over their own streaming is fine.

**sbgawa** · 06/02/2021, 10:39 AM

The only money the clubs "made" was in terms of season ticket holders not looking for refunds as they were able to be compensated with a watchloi pass.
Also to a certain extent keeping sponsors happy as they still got limited coverage.

I think id be happier with the clubs doing it themselves , i guarantee the clubs will get better deals locally than the FAI were able to and it will provide a possible source of revenue and allow fans to buy season tickets to support their teams.

**Neish** · 13/02/2021, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

The only money the clubs "made" was in terms of season ticket holders not looking for refunds as they were able to be compensated with a watchloi pass.
Also to a certain extent keeping sponsors happy as they still got limited coverage.

I think id be happier with the clubs doing it themselves , i guarantee the clubs will get better deals locally than the FAI were able to and it will provide a possible source of revenue and allow fans to buy season tickets to support their teams.

The thing about each club doing it themselves is possibly 10 different sites/apps etc need, 20 if you want to watch both division games. Needing to setup accounts register etc to each one & probably different prices and video format systems required That what I liked most about Watch LOI on site for all 10 premier clubs same price for each club

**pineapple stu** · 13/02/2021, 10:19 AM

The FD games were generally streamed on YouTube with a link to a donate site for an optional donation. I think Longford's stream was the only one that required registration

**sbgawa** · 13/02/2021, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Neish

The thing about each club doing it themselves is possibly 10 different sites/apps etc need, 20 if you want to watch both division games. Needing to setup accounts register etc to each one & probably different prices and video format systems required That what I liked most about Watch LOI on site for all 10 premier clubs same price for each club

Fair point but i think most of the hardcore will buy the home streams and then dip in and out of away matches

**ToberonaTornado** · 22/02/2021, 7:04 PM

Premier:
Shams 5/6
Dundalk 23/10
Bohs 13/2
Pats 11/1
Sligo 18/1
33/1 and better bar those.
https://www.paddypower.com/football/...?tab=outrights

First:
Shels 5/4
Galway 5/2
Bray 8/1
Cork & UCD 9/1
Athlone 16/1
33/1 and better bar those.
https://www.paddypower.com/football/irish-division-1

Leading Goalscorer Prem div: -
Hoban 5/1
McMillan 17/2
Greene,Parkhouse,Burke 11/1
Gaffney,Coughlan,Kelly 12/1
OTHERS - https://www.paddypower.com/football/...?tab=outrights

**placid casual** · 22/02/2021, 7:22 PM

Lump on the students in Division 1 anyway. They have a knack of finding their way ouuta that division.
Think Kelly at boez would be an outside bet for top goalscorer.
Ian Morris to be the first manager sacked seems a decent bet, although super mario may beat him to it, if dundalks United Nations team doesn't start well.

**Dalymountrower** · 23/02/2021, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by placid casual

Lump on the students in Division 1 anyway. They have a knack of finding their way ouuta that division.
Think Kelly at boez would be an outside bet for top goalscorer.
Ian Morris to be the first manager sacked seems a decent bet, although super mario may beat him to it, if dundalks United Nations team doesn't start well.

If Kelly is top scorer, Bohs will win the league, both outcomes unlikely, but slightly more likely than last season.Rovers being odds on with their two best players gone probably reflects PP not being arsed to look too closely at squads before setting odds. Sligo by far the best outside bet for me.

Agree that a toss up between Super Mario and Ian Morris for the earliest sacking. Both Bray and UCD know how to win promotion, so between them for the title, with both going up.

**pineapple stu** · 23/02/2021, 11:59 AM

I think given we took one point off the entire top half of the league last season, and have lost both our captain and our top scorer since then, it's premature to look at us going up. If Galway are still going fully-pro, they should have a big advantage over others.

I do like being the same odds as Cork for the title though!

**Longfordian** · 23/02/2021, 12:17 PM

UCD always come up with new young players to replace those that have moved on. I don't know if they'll win the league, Shels should, but I expect they'll be in the mix.

**pineapple stu** · 23/02/2021, 12:29 PM

Yeah, we should be top half; the new recruits look good and only losing two players is quite good for us.

But much and all as we improved as the season went on last year, one point from the games against the top half is a long way off title form. And we conceded way too many too.

Shels should be up there too, albeit that they underachieved last year and could easily do so again this year. I'd expect us to be behind certainly one of Galway/Shels, and probably both.

Edit - actually, we got two points off the top half, not one. Huzzah! Also dropped two points against the bottom half.

**sbgawa** · 23/02/2021, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

If Kelly is top scorer, Bohs will win the league, both outcomes unlikely, but slightly more likely than last season.Rovers being odds on with their two best players gone probably reflects PP not being arsed to look too closely at squads before setting odds. Sligo by far the best outside bet for me.

Agree that a toss up between Super Mario and Ian Morris for the earliest sacking. Both Bray and UCD know how to win promotion, so between them for the title, with both going up.

I agree with this, they dont bother looking in any depth. simply put a low limit on how much you can bet solves the problem for them.

**blueblood** · 23/02/2021, 1:14 PM

Strange that have PP have Cabinteely, Cobh & Wexford behind Treaty in the betting, Treaty don't even have a team yet and I've no idea what kind of team they'll slap together in a few weeks

**NeverFeltBetter** · 23/02/2021, 2:51 PM

I suppose if all are basically operating on an amateur basis there's room to not be an automatic wooden spoon. They'll (we'll? Feels weird saying that) be doing well to get anywhere near mid-table really.

**Sonny** · 23/02/2021, 3:18 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

If Kelly is top scorer, Bohs will win the league, both outcomes unlikely, but slightly more likely than last season.Rovers being odds on with their two best players gone probably reflects PP not being arsed to look too closely at squads before setting odds. Sligo by far the best outside bet for me.

Agree that a toss up between Super Mario and Ian Morris for the earliest sacking. Both Bray and UCD know how to win promotion, so between them for the title, with both going up.

How would you price it up out of curiosity? I'm not massively confident that Rovers will win it or anything, but looking at the state of play I think that pricing looks pretty reasonable.

Byrne and McEneff are big losses, and Mandroui and McCann could go either way (although both have the potential to be good signings.) But outside of that Rovers have basically retained the squad and added Gannon and Hoare.

A lot of turnover at Bohs including losing their best player. Definitely some interesting signings with good potential but I don't see how you could really argue for them ahead of Rovers or Dundalk at this point. Very weak looking at centre half to me also.

Dundalk have also had big turnover including Rodgers, Hoare, Gannon, Massey, Flores, Oduwa and Colovic leaving. Seeing a lot of people saying 9 starters or something from the cup final are still there. That's fair enough, but they were played off the park in that game, and finished 22 points behind Rovers after 18 games. That's a lot of ground to make up. Their goalkeeper situation looks very suspect, and pretty much all the signings are major unknown quantities. Some of them will no doubt work out, but none of them are very obvious upgrades.

I understand there are so many unknowns that seeing Rovers odds on might be a bit jarring, and I certainly wouldn't be backing them at that price, but I can't really see the argument against it on paper.

**Dalymountrower** · 23/02/2021, 3:56 PM

Originally Posted by Sonny

How would you price it up out of curiosity? I'm not massively confident that Rovers will win it or anything, but looking at the state of play I think that pricing looks pretty reasonable.

Byrne and McEneff are big losses, and Mandroui and McCann could go either way (although both have the potential to be good signings.) But outside of that Rovers have basically retained the squad and added Gannon and Hoare.

A lot of turnover at Bohs including losing their best player. Definitely some interesting signings with good potential but I don't see how you could really argue for them ahead of Rovers or Dundalk at this point. Very weak looking at centre half to me also.

Dundalk have also had big turnover including Rodgers, Hoare, Gannon, Massey, Flores, Oduwa and Colovic leaving. Seeing a lot of people saying 9 starters or something from the cup final are still there. That's fair enough, but they were played off the park in that game, and finished 22 points behind Rovers after 18 games. That's a lot of ground to make up. Their goalkeeper situation looks very suspect, and pretty much all the signings are major unknown quantities. Some of them will no doubt work out, but none of them are very obvious upgrades.

I understand there are so many unknowns that seeing Rovers odds on might be a bit jarring, and I certainly wouldn't be backing them at that price, but I can't really see the argument against it on paper.

Evens /2/1 would seem reasonable for Rovers with Byrne and Mc Eneff gone. Who knows with Mandriou , we saw the best and worst of him at Bohs, dont think he is a patch on the departed two.
Losing Danny Grant is certainly a blow to Bohs , but otherwise a very much a strengthened squad with Hery, Georgie Kelly, Feely, Tyreke, Coot, and particularly Mallon who Long seems to be raving about.
I think it will be Rovers again, but closer than last season and a scrap between Bohs Dundalk and Sligo for second place. Hopefully we will get to to see our respective teams in the flesh by early Autumn.

**sbgawa** · 23/02/2021, 4:21 PM

Pats look to be building a decent squad and look like winning the preseason again

the goalie from Liverpool and the kid from west ham as well as a few others look like they could be competitive

I cant see past Byrne and McEneff they probably scored or assisted 50% of our goals last season between them, Gannon and Hoare are decent signings but we already had the best defence in the league.
Mandriou would need to be named PFA player of the season next year to replace Jack ....is that likely?? McCann at 33 better than the best box to box midfielder in the league last year ....hmmmm
Dundalk have lost one first choice player Gannon who didn't have a great season for them last year and a very average keeper.
Although after our goalkeeping nightmares before Manus came back DFC fans might look back on Rodgers fondly next season

I really really hope i'm over worrying about Byrne and McEneff but
6/4 each Rovers DFC

**Martinho II** · 23/02/2021, 7:40 PM

Very good piece in irish sun on treaty utd they only got confirmation at the last minute so they can only get cracking at short notice on their squad. What I found particularly interesting is that they have trouble getting the local limerick league any players they are interested in to sign a contract. They have paid employment.
Also with Dublin County reason they couldnt get Morton was cos Athletics ground was so booked out. If they had got in Aaron Callaghan would have being manager. A person I never rated as manager but a solid no 2 considering his poor spell with us as manager!