Linfield a class apart

**kevinito** · 18/02/2006, 9:12 PM

From a distant vantage point down south in Cork I can only admire Linfield's marvellous season. Winning every league game except one draw is impressive. I think it makes Linfield favourites to retain the Setanta Cup provided they are up for it and the prizemoney on offer should keep them keen. I recently had a wonderful visit to NI. I met so many friendly and kind people.
The debate rages down here about the merits of an All-Ireland League. Clubs in the Eircom League may have more cash but I believe the standard of the Carnegie Premier is superior to the EL and Linfield are without doubt in my mind the best team in Ireland.
Derry City, Shelbourne and Cork City have all improved in recent seasons but outside of these 3 clubs I don't believe the EL itself has got any better even though clubs budgets down here are huge in comparison to clubs in NI.

Do clubs and supporters in NI take the Setanta Cup seriously and would it be fair to say that some supporters stay away from attending Setanta Cup games for political reasons as it may signal the slippery slide into an all-ireland league?

**jorge** · 18/02/2006, 9:30 PM

Linfield are good but way overated,well see this in the Setanta Cup.

**blueman1886** · 18/02/2006, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by jorge

Linfield are good but way overated,well see this in the Setanta Cup.

wtf would you know?? anyway heard all that last season,"we'll see in the setanta cup" sure we won the fecking thing and won it easy.

ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE.

**Aaron** · 18/02/2006, 10:15 PM

Linfield are good but way overated,well see this in the Setanta Cup.

I wouldnt say they are overated but had shels not had a poor season last year i thi nk they would have beat them. If i was a linfield fan i would be worried by th lack of pace in the defence. With McCourt, Farren and McHugh i think Baillie and 'winkie' Murphy will have a tough time. Dont get me wrong they are two class acts but the pace of our three amigos may do some damage. I also think Spike and thompson will have a tough time with pizza and big clive. If we play to the best of our ability then i think we can beat Linfield. Looking forward to it and hope that once again the only winner on the nite is football

BRING ON THE LINFIELD!!!

**De Town** · 18/02/2006, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by City till I Die

I also think Spike and thompson will have a tough time with pizza and big clive

Sorry, but Thompson's pace will make bits of Hutton and Big Clive IMHO.

**jorge** · 18/02/2006, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by blueman1886

wtf would you know?? anyway heard all that last season,"we'll see in the setanta cup" sure we won the fecking thing and won it easy.

ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE.

Well see int the setanta cup and see how you progres in Europe.

**Fortuna1886** · 19/02/2006, 11:27 AM

Derry are playing us at a good time, we have gone off the boil recently and several key players are looking a bit tired. I'm still confident but not as confident as would have been in December.

**blueman1886** · 19/02/2006, 11:40 AM

Jorge lets not forget here linfield are only a part time team.

**SwiftsSupporter** · 19/02/2006, 1:06 PM

TBF their a good side and all but everyone else is crap this season. Glens haven't turned up. Ports haven't a squad worth talking about and Hamilton only plays when he feels like it. Swifts, Ballymena have taken half a season to start putting it together and we're still not even that good.

Linfield arn't that great at the back but they might have well won the league had everyone else been ready but their flattered by everyone else this season. Still favourites for the Setanta though

**SwiftsSupporter** · 19/02/2006, 1:08 PM

Originally Posted by City till I Die

I wouldnt say they are overated but had shels not had a poor season last year i thi nk they would have beat them. If i was a linfield fan i would be worried by th lack of pace in the defence. With McCourt, Farren and McHugh i think Baillie and 'winkie' Murphy will have a tough time. Dont get me wrong they are two class acts but the pace of our three amigos may do some damage. I also think Spike and thompson will have a tough time with pizza and big clive. If we play to the best of our ability then i think we can beat Linfield. Looking forward to it and hope that once again the only winner on the nite is football

BRING ON THE LINFIELD!!!

I've seen Derry a few times as well as Linfield and have been very unimpressed by yous. Linfield are fvourites and should win this game as with their passing and so on your players will be running around in circles like you did in Cork

**Speranza** · 19/02/2006, 1:45 PM

Why do you assume that the preformance in Cork was the norm. We were awful in Cork, IMO our very young squad froze on the night. Up until that match we were playing amazing football. In my mind there is no doubt that our squad is better than Linfield's however pre-season rustiness may take its toll on Monday.

**SwiftsSupporter** · 19/02/2006, 3:13 PM

You were awful because Cork played through you. I haven't just seen the Cork game but Linfield will do the same. I wish you good luck but I just feel Linfield will win

**Raheny Red** · 19/02/2006, 6:29 PM

Originally posted by kevinito
I believe the standard of the Carnegie Premier is superior to the EL and Linfield are without doubt in my mind the best team in Ireland.

superior

will you go way outta that...............

**Ifcp1** · 19/02/2006, 7:31 PM

Originally Posted by kevinito

Do clubs and supporters in NI take the Setanta Cup seriously and would it be fair to say that some supporters stay away from attending Setanta Cup games for political reasons as it may signal the slippery slide into an all-ireland league?

Of course, all clubs in the North want to be the best in Ireland, i think they would look at these games as a huge challenge for them and knowing the prize money theres alot at stake for all 8 clubs.

If anything last years success by Linfield was probably unexpected as most people would have put their money on a southern team winning, this proves that both north and southern football are not that far apart, now with Derry City entered the frame aswell this year will surely be harder for Linfield to retain the title.

**A face** · 19/02/2006, 8:12 PM

Linfield's Jeffreys hungry for seconds

There was much excitement and anticipation at the 2006 Setanta Cup Draw at Collins Barracks in Dublin on Monday evening, as the eight competing teams discovered their fate.

The cross-border competition, boasting the most lucrative soccer prize on the island, kicks-off on Monday, 20 February and features some mouthwatering ties.

Read more at www.setanta.com

**Aaron** · 20/02/2006, 8:19 AM

You were awful because Cork played through you. I haven't just seen the Cork game but Linfield will do the same. I wish you good luck but I just feel Linfield will win

Lets get this straight, Derry froze down in Cork. Everyone knows that . Otherwise if derry were that bad then why did they go on a 26 match unbeaten run. This was a fantastic run, all because of quality football and quality players. Our defeat in cork was a learning curve because the past four years they have been in relegation battles and our first season challenging for honours wheras Cork were there or thereabouts the past four seasons. Wait till this comming season and you will see Derry with a lot more experience of challenging

**Dassa** · 20/02/2006, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by kevinito

Do clubs and supporters in NI take the Setanta Cup seriously and would it be fair to say that some supporters stay away from attending Setanta Cup games for political reasons as it may signal the slippery slide into an all-ireland league?

No-one up in NI really minds the idea of an all Island league even tough it could be a disaster for clubs like my own with the loss of three or four of the big clubs but it does seem inevitable. As long as the National teams situation is sorted out and secured I cant really see much objection.