SPL better than eircom League � Hoolahan

**ollie** · 06/01/2006, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

Where's the rocket science here lads???

I support St Pats and Hibs.

Now, when I talk about the Cork v Hibs match and say "our" it obviously means HIBS.

When I talk about Joe Gamble and say "our" league it obviously means the Eircom League

Whats difficult here lads

thought you were just a hibs fan.

**joeSoap** · 06/01/2006, 12:22 PM

I think theres a high possibility that Hoolahan believes that some very decent performances against the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Hearts etc will earn him a transfer to a more successful / higher profile club. You can't blame the lad for that and theres no denying that he's talented.

Cork, Derry and Shels are the only clubs that would survive in the SPL. Any of the others would be relegation candidates. The structure of their league, coupled with better stadia and media coverage keeps us in the dark. Even though the EL has made progress, it sadly is still light years off the pace as a properly structured and organised league. All divisions in England, plus the conference are better leagues than ours, as is the SPL and Welsh Premier. Before anyone jumps down my throat,I'm not saying our leading sides couldn't compete in these leagues; they could, and have a degree of success too. I'm talking about organisation and administration. Every other country in Europe s better organised than we are, and thats why we are suffering. Theres no cohesion amongst clubs in the EL, just small minded bitterness and hatred. Plus a large dollop of envy.

We will always be Europes poorer relation until this is rectified, a proper league with quality management, and assistance for those clubs who need it, and they all do.

**pineapple stu** · 06/01/2006, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

All divisions in England, plus the conference are better leagues than ours, as is the SPL and Welsh Premier.

On what are you basing your assumption that the Welsh Premier is better than the eL?! One 45-minute spell of football?! The UEFA Rankings have the eL five places higher with almost double the number of points. Recent European results have been much better for the eL than the Welsh league. This year there were 16 places between the two. The eL's European results have been consistenly much better than the Welsh ones over the past few years. A couple of players who didn't make it in the eL went to the Welsh Premier (Graham Brett from UCD, Jamie Hughes from Derry), while I can only think of David Forde who went from the eL to the Welsh Premier and came back again. TNS would probably survive in the eL Premier, and maybe one or two others, but the eL is better than the Welsh league.

**ThatGuy** · 06/01/2006, 1:01 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

On what are you basing your assumption that the Welsh Premier is better than the eL?! One 45-minute spell of football?! The UEFA Rankings have the eL five places higher with almost double the number of points. Recent European results have been much better for the eL than the Welsh league. This year there were 16 places between the two. The eL's European results have been consistenly much better than the Welsh ones over the past few years. A couple of players who didn't make it in the eL went to the Welsh Premier (Graham Brett from UCD, Jamie Hughes from Derry), while I can only think of David Forde who went from the eL to the Welsh Premier and came back again. TNS would probably survive in the eL Premier, and maybe one or two others, but the eL is better than the Welsh league.

Wasn't Jimmy Agree one of the best players in Wales, with nearly 400 appearences there too? Enough said!

**EnDai** · 06/01/2006, 1:31 PM

Ah, good ol' Jimmy!

He's in the conference now, with Tamworth, on �1800 a week, unless I am very much mistaken; which I probably am.

European results over the last few years are all we have to base a comparisson on, and we beat the Welsh Premier hands down, scary that someone thinks it is superior!

**joeSoap** · 06/01/2006, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

On what are you basing your assumption that the Welsh Premier is better than the eL?!

Read my quote:

Originally Posted by joesoap

All divisions in England, plus the conference are better leagues than ours, as is the SPL and Welsh Premier. Before anyone jumps down my throat,I'm not saying our leading sides couldn't compete in these leagues; they could, and have a degree of success too. I'm talking about organisation and administration.

I'm not talking about on the pitch here...

**Dazzy** · 06/01/2006, 1:50 PM

David Forde went from EL to Welsh to West Ham and to Derry!!

**pineapple stu** · 06/01/2006, 2:26 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

I'm not talking about on the pitch here...

How much do you know about the administration of the Welsh league though? Any league which has several of its top clubs - even Merthyr Tydfil and Newport Co - playing in another league, and which has others (e.g. Rhyl) looking to leave doesn't sound overly well administered. Grass is always greener and all that...

**Soper** · 06/01/2006, 2:29 PM

Believe me, the Welsh League is in NO way better than the EL in ANY regard.

**�anna** · 06/01/2006, 5:35 PM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

You played Hibs, not Hearts

And as discussed earlier you played Hibs youth team. In 2nd half we brought on 3 players who are only making 1st team appearance now and tore City apart.

it was a type. same bloody difference anyway.

**Kerry Blue** · 06/01/2006, 6:19 PM

Originally Posted by �anna

it was a type. same bloody difference anyway.

Ya. Just as Cork City are the same as Queenstown!

**mypost** · 07/01/2006, 1:04 AM

Originally Posted by sligoman

Livingston new-boy Wes Hoolahan insists he has taken a step up football’s ladder by swapping the eircom League for the Bank of Scotland Premierleague.

He told Livingston’s official website: “I have no doubt the SPL is better than the Irish league and saw this as a great opportunity to improve myself.

"I am looking forward to playing Rangers, Celtic and the other SPL teams. it’s really exciting to be here.

Enjoy the battle to beat the drop Wes, and the ritual 4/5/6/7-0 hammerings to Rangers/Celtic for the rest of the season.

European football v Relegation dogfight. If it were you, what would you choose??

He's made a massive mistake leaving Shels, He'll be begging for a club here to sign him soon, when Livingston throw him on the scrapheap!!

**gustavo** · 07/01/2006, 1:53 AM

In fairness to him he never said anything about the eircom League

**Pablo Escobar** · 07/01/2006, 9:08 AM

I know this is off topic, but I always love to ask 'CELTIC FANS' why they support British clubs!?
The usual response in "I don't, I follow Celtic!"
Then I try, usually, in vain to explain where Glasgow actually is!

I think this 'CELTIC FAN' case can apply to a lot of people here that are defending Scottish football, without an attack being lauched at it! (and in one really sad case, a Hibs fan)

**Plastic Paddy** · 07/01/2006, 9:34 AM

Originally Posted by Pablo Escobar

I know this is off topic, but I always love to ask 'CELTIC FANS' why they support British clubs!?
The usual response in "I don't, I follow Celtic!"
Then I try, usually, in vain to explain where Glasgow actually is!

I know this is off-topic, but do you also love to ask Liverpool and Manchester United fans why they support British clubs?

The whole issue of Celtic's location, tradition and fan base has been done to death on this site and still people like you bring it up in the expectation of a cheap rise and row. Catch yourself on.

PP

**Pablo Escobar** · 07/01/2006, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

I know this is off-topic, but do you also love to ask Liverpool and Manchester United fans why they support British clubs?

The whole issue of Celtic's location, tradition and fan base has been done to death on this site and still people like you bring it up in the expectation of a cheap rise and row. Catch yourself on.

PP

I don't think there's any case for a row!
Celtic are British-FACT!