Yes, you are.Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
You're talking about Linfield finishing 5th (maybe 4th - at a push) presumably behind Derry who managed 1 win - in 6 group games - against our ****-for-players pub outfit. And, like us, failed to qualify.
Ive no idea where Linfield or Glentoran would finish in an A-IL but I won't be using Setanta results to form a prediction either.
The only Irish club to win a European trophy.
The oul Derry City stuff coming out on this thread. Derry failed to beat Shels, failed to beat Linfield so using the logic on here I would assume that they would be relegation contenders?
And likewise Linfield failed to beat Derry. And so the merry-go-round continues.....
The FACT is, Linfield did not suffer from not beating Derry. Unlike some, we do not get caught up on whether or not we beat any one team. We topped the group and qualified, you went out.And likewise Linfield failed to beat Derry. And so the merry-go-round continues.....
We went out because we failed to raise our game against a very poor team in Glentoran at the oval. A problem for Derry City over the years unfortunately, in that we can play well against the best and terrible against the worst.I don't give a stuff whether we should have beaten Linfield or Shels, we played well end of story. That abject abysmal performance on a Baltic Monday night at the oval p issed me right off. I couldn't care less if we played Linfield again and hopefully if we qualify I hope they are in a different group. After watching Linfield in this tournament both live and on the TV I don't want watch that type of football, I've seen it first hand with Dermot Keely's Derry team and Mr Matthews Longford - it doesn't appeal to me. Don't get me wrong - good at what they do, but just not for me.
A little question: When Linfield play at the Oval have they hit any of the planes that take off from Belfast City airport with one of their passes to Ferguson and Thompson?
There is no merry-go-round.And likewise Linfield failed to beat Derry. And so the merry-go-round continues.....
Linfield topped the "Group of Death" that Derry City could only finish one from bottom in.
If you don't believe me, read the Derry Journal.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
At the ned of the day lads, Linfield in an All-Ireland league would become bigger and stronger.
They have the potential to be the biggest club in Ireland, they have the fan base and the Ground.
So if they moved to a league where they had to be full-time and try harder (which, in the Belfast & District league they don't have to) you would see a much stronger and competitive Linfield.
They certainly wouldn't get it as easy as they do now, but they would be amongst the top teams every year.
Lux - that was in response to all the slabbering that Linfield fans are making themselves, or other fans are making on their behalf. I merely stated my view on where I think they'd finish in the Eircom league at the moment. That's what forums are for, you know...
It's all moot, as unless and until Linfield play regularly against EL teams, we'll never know. Until then, however, the only evidence we have is the Setanta - and there's no reason why that shouldn't be used to support a viewpoint. Just cuz Glentoran had a good-awful run in it this year doesn't change that.
Myself and other people predicted that the IL teams would struggle in this year's Setanta, and they did. That prediction was based on an ubnderstanding of the teams involved, and their relative merits. The same understanding can also inform expected performances over a longer period.
Linfield Football Club have publicly stated that they do not want to join an All Ireland league.
They certainly will not be breaking away from the IPL to join one.
What part of that do you not understand?
More players will move to a full time contract in the coming months.
Linfield Football Club has proven itself to be one of the premier clubs on the island of Ireland.
We won the Setanta Cup last year, and topped a group consisting of two of the Eirecom Leagues so called better teams this year.
Linfield Football Club's support of, and commited participation in, the Setanta Cup will see this position maintained.
I look forward to the club contesting the Gibson Cup for many years to come.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Calm yourself paranoid boy.
Where did I say 'Linfield' will or want to join an AIL.
I stated that in a more competitive league they would be well equiped to cope with EL teams.
They are 'POTENTIALY' the biggest club in Ireland, but in the Irish league they don't have to try too hard.
What part of my post did you not understand???
So you are now happy to use the Setanta as a basis of who are the best sides? Therefore last May were Linfield the best team in Ireland, north or south?
Arguably yes. But one swallow doth not a Summer make. Porto were once Champions of Europe - but were they ever genuinely the best side in the continent ??
Consistency is the key. You were far from the best in Ireland this year. And I suspect you won't be either next year. Or the next year. Consistency is key, and only time will tell....
So in other words you will use the Setanta Cup to back your argument only when it suits you and completely ignore when Linfield are successful. You still can't hide that old Linfield hatred eh?
Linfield are well equiped to deal with EL teams.
We won the Setanta Cup last year, and won the "Group of Death" this year.
More of our players will make the transition to Full Time in the coming months, with the resultant benefits that will bring.
The records would show that Linfield Football Club have not dominated the IPL in recent years...this season we have a particularly good team and our main competitors have been particularly poor.
Maybe you should be concerning yourself more with what Derry City need to do to qualify from Setanta Cup groups?
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
I don't hate Linfield David. Whilst you're not my second or third team on the island, I like to see ANY Irish team do well. I was pleased when you qualified a round in Europe this year. Believe it or not, if you played Celtic in Europe I'd rather see Linfield win - which is this country's version of Norman Tebbit's cricket test, I guess. I support Irish football in all its forms - the only teams I hate are certain English and Scottish ones.
As for Setanta - the comparison between it and the Champions League is perfectly fair. Porto won that 2 years ago. On paper that made them the best team in Europe that year, but in reality they weren't. I don't expect Porto to win the CL again for some time either, and they can only truly claim to be the bext team in Europe when they are performing in that competition consistently.
Likewise, the Setanta also combines a group and knock-out element, which makes it a better measure of performance than your average straight knock-out tournament. But you have clearly been far from the best on the island this year, and have struggled to register results against EL teams (1 win in 5 - hardly championship form). Your win last year can't be taken away from you - but like the CL, only consistency in the competiton will allow you to claim to be one of the very best sides on the island. If Linfield never win another Setanta, are you still going to be harping on about 2005 in 10 years time ?
As for your response to Krstic re Derry City - we KNOW we've still got a long way to go. We're far from the best in the EL, let alone the Setanta. But we're not the ones with the over-inflated view of our own importance and standing - hence why we're not getting the type of criticism that Linfield is.
Last edited by dcfcsteve; 14/04/2006 at 10:42 AM.
But Gonzo they are going full time so it's ok.......No it isn't because it will only widen the already huge gap between Linfield and the two bit clubs. I am happy to let them seek glory in winning a non-competitive competition because I couldn't be arsed with the hassle of playing against Linfield.
I like playing against teams were sectarianism doesn't come into it EVER. Stupid pointless debates about songs, flags, conspiracies e.t.c don't enter the equation in the EL and that suits me.
"The Derry fans were fantastic in both matches. They sang their hearts out all the time and created an even better atmosphere than the Cup Final. They were brilliant. - David Graham, Gretna striker
Personally I am in favour of an all Ireland League and have been for some time now but surely Linfield, or any other club for that matter, are entitled to take whatever stance they want on it without being accused of lack of ambition or whatever. We play in a league for our country, just like clubs all across Europe. Would Lyon be criticised for not wanting a joint French/German league?
the Derry fans are clearly smarting that they failed to beat Linfield in two attempts - and doubtless thought their improved professionalism and standing in the el last season would translate in results on the pitch versus an IL team - it didn't happen (cos in reality theres nothing really between the them )
I've seen plenty in Linfield that el teams could learn from and adopt in our own league which is in danger of becoming stultifyingly boring - check out the lack of goals this season!
Care to explain this off-the-cuf remark ?
So it's ok for Linfield fans to come onto EL forums giving it the big 'I am', but as soon as any Derry fans (and why is it the Derry fans who you single out - hmmmm) point out that 1 win in 5 is not a world beating performance, all of a sudden it's swept under the carpet as 'chips on our shoulders'.
To clarify WWS - we're not the ones who were going around making huge claims of ourselves. Did our Manager and our fans blame the referee, the linesmen, the weather, the supposed full-time set-up of the opposition, or Buddha himself when we faield to beat Linfield ? No. Now ask youself the same question regarding Linfield.
No matter what way you look at it, 1 win in 5 is not championship material. Neither was Derry's 1 win in 4 - but we're not the ones who've been going around slabbering about how great we are versus everyone else. Wakey wakey, WWS...
I'm not gonna point out individual posts but you are the one who's banged on and on about gulfs in class etc
Jeffries bleatings are no more than any manager when a microphone is stuck under their mush - compare and contrast Pat Fenlon, Paul Doolin and heaven help us Pat Dolan and Roddy Collins - its par for the course - even no mark gareth farrelly is at it now - talking nonsense is what managers do when they dont win!
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