FAI bring injustice to a new level with Dundalk dumping

**red bellied** · 17/12/2006, 1:02 PM

From todays Sunday Independent

Some of the article,the rest is here http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stor...=12&si=1743226

The only problem with this reasoning is that Dundalk did get their act together off the field. In fact, their off-field ranking is joint eighth out of 21. So they would appear to qualify for the premier division on both on and off-field grounds.

However, what has scuppered Dundalk is their low on-field score of 247 points, a mere 15th overall, just three points ahead of the perennially struggling Cobh Ramblers, almost 100 points behind Waterford, who finished bottom of the Premier Division and in a normal year would have been automatically relegated, and 86 behind Bray Wanderers, who previously might have been playing off with the Oriel Park side.

And the reason for this terrible score? The League decided that the on-field ranking would be computed by taking into account the combined results of clubs since the 2002/2003 season. Dundalk have had a bad couple of seasons so they were severely handicapped before they started their campaign at all. You and I might think that Dundalk actually deserve credit for bouncing back from adversity. Then again, we're mere football supporters who cannot appreciate the Borgesian intricacies of the eircom League, an organisation which thinks logic is someone who used to play for Red Star Belgrade.

Whatever the reason for bringing off-field factors into play, this invocation of past results goes against everything competitive sport should be about. Surely the point of a football season is that every team starts with a clean slate and will be judged purely on their results. The only reason I can think of for this clause is that the League were scared that (a) a big club might follow the lead of Shamrock Rovers and get relegated this year or (b) that Shams might not do that well in Division One and might need a leg up. In the end, they needn't have worried. The Hoops won Division One. But it says something about the way the rankings are weighted that, after narrowly winning the title in the lower division, their on-field score is 40 points higher than Sligo Rovers, who finished fifth in the top flight

**R�iteoir** · 17/12/2006, 1:34 PM

Boo-hoo

Shouldn't have played so badly in the first couple of years of the on-field ranking period.

Indo such a rag tbh

**Poor Student** · 17/12/2006, 1:42 PM

Bet that'll get Shamrock Rovers fans boiling, a Sligo fan referring to them as Shams in the national media.

**OneRedArmy** · 17/12/2006, 1:52 PM

Thats the worst article I've ever read. Its a mindless, poorly argued dirge which is full of contradictions and has no point other than being anti-Eircom League (which I suspect was unintentional).

And the UCD fans on here are going to love his view of their club.

Now I remember why I don't buy the Sindo.

**Schumi** · 17/12/2006, 1:55 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

And the UCD fans on here are going to love his view of their club.

There's only one reason Sligo fans don't want us in the premier division.

**pete** · 17/12/2006, 2:05 PM

Yawn, pointless, inaccurate article. Sums up why I never read the Sindo.

**dcfcsteve** · 17/12/2006, 4:52 PM

Originally Posted by red bellied

The League decided that the on-field ranking would be computed by taking into account the combined results of clubs since the 2002/2003 season.

And who is this "The League" that yee speak of...? Oh yes - that body that Dundalk are an equal voting member of......

Did Dundalk speak out against the process at the time it was voted on ? Did they publically state their opposition to it, and their fears that it would be unfair ? I believe not.

So tough titties - Dundalk played as big as role int tbis change as every single other club, so they'll just have to shut the fcuk up and put up with its repercussions now that it's come back to bite them.

Complaining about circumstances working against you is one thing. Complaining about such circumstances when you played an equal measure in them arising in the first place is just pathetic. Whingers of the highest order....

Originally Posted by red bellied

an organisation which thinks logic is someone who used to play for Red Star Belgrade.

An age-old joke penned by someone who thinks shi'te is something that should be printed....

**Comic Book Guy** · 17/12/2006, 6:18 PM

Very poor article alright, ****ed me off by referring to Cobh as perennial strugglers, 3rd and 4th in succesive seasons is hardly struggling.

**inthestand99** · 17/12/2006, 6:20 PM

Get over yourself red bellied. Dundalk are where they belong in the first division along with their sugardaddy and firestarter supporters.

**red bellied** · 17/12/2006, 7:51 PM

Originally Posted by inthestand99

Get over yourself red bellied. Dundalk are where they belong in the first division along with their sugardaddy and firestarter supporters.

Get over what I didnt write the article, Mr Sweeney did.

**OneRedArmy** · 17/12/2006, 8:59 PM

Originally Posted by sduffy

What Dundalk want is a break down of the off-field criteria after all they signed up to a "transparent" process. At the recent press conference that's how the chairman of the IAG described the entire process. Why is it so unreasonable to request such information?

Answer on a brick and f**k it in the Foyle.

What's this got to do with the article?

Will Dundalk quit whining when they get the breakdown of points?

Or will they find a new whine, like not including their cup winning season
in the on-field points?

Whatever way you look at it the Sindo article is a disgrace to school journalism & frankly not fit to wipe your hole with.

**sligoman** · 17/12/2006, 9:21 PM

Originally Posted by inthestand99

Get over yourself red bellied

I think red bellied wrote that article very well actually. He could get a job with the Sunday Independant in my opinion

.

**pete** · 17/12/2006, 9:44 PM

Originally Posted by red bellied

Get over what I didnt write the article, Mr Sweeney did.

Sweeneys reputation in the eL destroyed in one article...

**Student Mullet** · 17/12/2006, 10:22 PM

This is very similar to a thread we had during the week. We should stop expecting quality journalism from the Indo.

**John83** · 19/12/2006, 8:45 AM

Originally Posted by Student Mullet

This is very similar to a thread we had during the week. We should stop expecting quality journalism from the Indo.

I missed that one. I don't expect quality journalism from them, but I'd accept journalism, maybe even poor journalism. This hardly even qualifies as an example of 'journalism', pronounced with much wiggling of fingers.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 20/12/2006, 10:26 PM

We are in the realms of utter absurdity here. UCD, for example, come second in the off-field rankings.

Yeah it's absurd that one of the best run clubs in the league managed to score so high.

**dcfcsteve** · 21/12/2006, 2:56 AM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

Yeah it's absurd that one of the best run clubs in the league managed to score so high.

Best run ? You have a mickey mouse ground that could barely host the league Cup Final safely last seaason. U have no fans, no local identity, and ur stadium is a sh!t hole.

In a mediocre league, u do very well. Let's hope events catch up and leave you minnows behind....

I love the whole romantic notion of a University club, but let's face it - it hasn't worked in die-hard football nations like England and Portugal. It's never gonna work in Ireland...

**Student Mullet** · 21/12/2006, 4:29 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Best run ? You have a mickey mouse ground that could barely host the league Cup Final safely last seaason. U have no fans, no local identity, and ur stadium is a sh!t hole.

Derry must be in a right mess to finish behind us in the IAG results so.

**pineapple stu** · 21/12/2006, 4:51 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Best run ? You have a mickey mouse ground that could barely host the league Cup Final safely last seaason. U have no fans, no local identity, and ur stadium is a sh!t hole.

In a mediocre league, u do very well. Let's hope events catch up and leave you minnows behind....

I love the whole romantic notion of a University club, but let's face it - it hasn't worked in die-hard football nations like England and Portugal. It's never gonna work in Ireland...

Could barely host the League Cup Final last year? Funny that - I recall the general consensus on here, even from ardent ABUs, being that Belfield Park came across really well on the telly with all the work that was done on it. The only reason we barely hosted the game is because that idiot chairman of yours got it into his head that he wanted more money by hosting the game in the Brandywell in front of a bigger crowd and made up some baloney about fire safety.

I think an at-this-stage tedious anti-UCD bias is showing Steve. You've been going on for months about how everyone - particularly UCD fans - should accept the results of the IAG and move forward. Now you're saying they must be wrong because we did so well?

**OneRedArmy** · 21/12/2006, 5:06 PM

Given the move to the Bowl, taking about Belfield is pretty much irrelevant at this stage.

However, to say there was consensus that the League Cup final went well in any way other than the result is ridiculous.

I believe an engineer was requested during the game to assess the risk of the stand collapsing due to the Derry fans doing the bouncy in an overcrowded stand that has the appearance of a large incomplete game of Jenga.

The "seats" behind the goal were shut and those of us who were on the far side were not allowed to stand on the grass bank, so anyone under 6 foot saw absolutely none of the game as the crowd was 4 or 5 deep against the hoardings.

Nice toilets though and the vol au vents in the marquee were to die for.....