Jim Roddy - All-Ireland League

**David** · 04/03/2006, 6:03 PM

Originally Posted by Speranza

To keep up my cynicism of IL away support....the reason Blues and Glens take big support to these matches is because the Setanta cup and process of travelling to strange places is still a novelty. For further evidence of this check our own away support when we first came into the EL, although we still travel well the numbers in those days were amazing.

In an AIL this novelty will die and give it a few years and I would say you won't get this 700 crowd to Cork or Waterford.

I don't think anyone has ever claimed we would consistently take that sort of crowd to Cork or Waterford. However to the likes of Dublin clubs and yourselves (tickets permitting) we would consistently take a four figure support as we do now to every IL game

**MariborKev** · 04/03/2006, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Lux Interior

I think any club who can regularly turn out 700 plus away following during the worst season on and off the pitch in living memory can certainly have "something to shout about", regardless of distance travelled.

Lux,

Some of the mid ninetines years were fairly woeful too

**NY Hoop** · 07/03/2006, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by anto eile

im laughing at that post anyway

Same here!

Rovers have won 10 games in Europe, shels 6.

KOH

**Bald Student** · 07/03/2006, 2:42 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

Rovers have won 10 games in Europe, shels 6.

Can anyone match UCD's unbeaten at home in Europe record? Man United lasted 40 years but UCD are at infinity, and counting.

**dcfcsteve** · 07/03/2006, 4:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bald Student

Can anyone match UCD's unbeaten at home in Europe record? Man United lasted 40 years but UCD are at infinity, and counting.

But there's a very good reason why, Bald Student..... !

Monaghan United have never lost a game in Europe.

**pineapple stu** · 07/03/2006, 4:33 PM

Monaghan have never played; we've played twice. Everton and Velbazhd Kyustendil.

The most recent club to fall was Longford - drew against Litex but then lost against Vaduz.

**A face** · 07/03/2006, 9:03 PM

Originally Posted by Speranza

In an AIL this novelty will die and give it a few years and I would say you won't get this 700 crowd to Cork or Waterford.

Just want to put this out there as no one seems to be even thinking about this.

Do clubs not think that with an All-Ireland and improved quality of the games, their clubs support will not increase, i know the alot of City fans are hoping this would be the case if we were to have an All-Ireland league. Its not like there isn't room for this to happen, the potential for attracting more support is huge imo.

**pineapple stu** · 07/03/2006, 9:19 PM

Originally Posted by A face

Do clubs not think that with an All-Ireland and improved quality of the games, their clubs support will not increase.

To be honest, I can't see it being the panacea for both leagues it's being touted as. Don't forget, summer soccer was supposed to bring the crowds back in their droves. Linfield v Rovers and the likes are mentioned as mouth-watering ties, but for evey one of those, there's many more Dungannon v Longford or even Linfield v Longford games.

**A face** · 07/03/2006, 9:30 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

To be honest, I can't see it being the panacea for both leagues it's being touted as. Don't forget, summer soccer was supposed to bring the crowds back in their droves. Linfield v Rovers and the likes are mentioned as mouth-watering ties, but for evey one of those, there's many more Dungannon v Longford or even Linfield v Longford games.

Its the quality of football that will bring people back. Summer soccer on its own would never be the answer. IMO, with City it was the quality of football that brought people back and kept them there.

Attracting new crowds will take alot of work imo, but it'll get easier with a better product. Its getting people to change their habits and attend games on a regular basis.

**pineapple stu** · 07/03/2006, 9:40 PM

Originally Posted by A face

It's the quality of football that will bring people back.

Same argument holds though. Why would Dungannon v Longford be significantly more exciting than Dungannon v Newry or Longford v UCD?

**monkey magic** · 07/03/2006, 9:40 PM

Originally Posted by A face

Its the quality of football that will bring people back. Summer soccer on its own would never be the answer. IMO, with City it was the quality of football that brought people back and kept them there.

Attracting new crowds will take alot of work imo, but it'll get easier with a better product. Its getting people to change their habits and attend games on a regular basis.

the quality of football on show in the eircom league is the one thing barstoolers and followers of the premiership claim is the reason they dont follow the el. IMO a rise in the quality of football is the only thing that will bring more support to the league. an AIL with only the best teams in the land in it is the best way of doing this.

**A face** · 07/03/2006, 9:45 PM

Originally Posted by monkey magic

the quality of football on show in the eircom league is the one thing barstoolers and followers of the premiership claim is the reason they dont follow the el. IMO a rise in the quality of football is the only thing that will bring more support to the league. an AIL with only the best teams in the land in it is the best way of doing this.

Thats where i disagree to a point, i actually think alot of barstoolers cant actually tell the difference !!

I actually think that an AIL will command more media coverage and put it in the shop window more, that is one of the problems .... it is actually just not evident. Most barstoolers would struggle to hold a conversation on eL or IL simply because they just dont know about it though lack of media coverage. Most barstoolers have never been in an English ground yet could tell you load of useless info on the game because it is rammed down their throats at every opportunity by the media.

**pineapple stu** · 07/03/2006, 9:50 PM

Originally Posted by A face

That's where I disagree to a point, I actually think a lot of barstoolers can't actually tell the difference !!

Would actually agree to an extent here. Barstoolers say they wouldn't watch the eL because of the quality - but they say that because that's the reply to give, not necessarily because they believe it to be true. Now obviously, the eL isn't La Liga, but I watched both Chelsea v Barcelona games - billed as sensational clashes - and both were very very ordinary games really. Not much more excitement than at Cork v Dungannon.

Originally Posted by A face

I actually think that an AIL will command more media coverage and put it in the shop window more

Again though - summer soccer hasn't done much for media coverage; I don't think an AIL would have the huge effect that is being predicted. Wouldn't do any harm like, but certainly wouldn't suddenly make the media devote column feet rather than inches or make barstoolers sit up and take notice.

**dcfcsteve** · 08/03/2006, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Monaghan have never played; we've played twice. Everton and Velbazhd Kyustendil.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king....

Congratulations to UCD on such a proud European record. Thank God your mediocrity before and since then has helped to keep that proud record intact.

I hope you've informed 'World Soccer' magazine....

**Shimokita** · 08/03/2006, 7:37 AM

If Celtic and Rangers move to the Premiership, I'd rather see a Celtic League forming (like there is in rugby). Any thoughts?

**Raheny Red** · 08/03/2006, 9:45 AM

Originally Posted by Shimokita

If Celtic and Rangers move to the Premiership, I'd rather see a Celtic League forming (like there is in rugby). Any thoughts?

I reckon if that was proposed it won't be for another 7-10 years! There would be too many teams against it! Just think a first division club could end up been in a third or fourth tier league! Between the four associations there are (16

) places if that all went into one that would end up just 4 places!
However, there would be great weekend trips to Scotland!

**pineapple stu** · 08/03/2006, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Congratulations to UCD on such a proud European record. Thank God your mediocrity before and since then has helped to keep that proud record intact.

Hey, if it were a league table, we'd be a point behind youz with several games in hand!

Rather fundamental difference between comparing us and Monaghan. I thought I'd point it out to you seeing as we all know your maths isn't the best...

**pineapple stu** · 08/03/2006, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Shimokita

If Celtic and Rangers move to the Premiership, I'd rather see a Celtic League forming (like there is in rugby). Any thoughts?

Just one. UEFA. No chance.

**dcfcsteve** · 08/03/2006, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Hey, if it were a league table, we'd be a point behind youz with several games in hand!

Rather fundamental difference between comparing us and Monaghan. I thought I'd point it out to you seeing as we all know your maths isn't the best...

I know full-well Monaghan have never been in Europe. Just thought I'd point that out to you seeing as we all know your humour isn't the best.....

**dcfcsteve** · 08/03/2006, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Just one. UEFA. No chance.

PLEEEEEEASE Pineapple - we've done this debate to death on another thread !!!

How many times do I have to explain this - you're completely and utterly wrong ! Under both EU Restraint of Trade and Competition laws - as confirmed in the 1994 test case ruling by Lord Blackburn in the British High Court (ruling made with-reference to EU law) - there is nothing UEFA could do to stop the Old Firm joining the English structure, so long as the English clubs voted to accept them.

If you have legal advice/evidence that would over-rule this, please state it. Otherwise, stop ignoring the legal and factual reality of the situation. This is really getting tedious......