Back to Back Champions

**Steve Bruce** · 16/04/2007, 3:18 PM

Linfield has once again shown our superiority in the IL winning the league for the 47th time, although not official untill Saturday.

Hopefully next season we will see a stronger Cliftonville & Portadown.

I think Glentoran will need next season to get rid of a lot of dead wood and it could take a season or two to be able to get themselves a young athletic hungry squad to challange Linfield properly.

Also with Cliftonville replacing Dungannon in the Setanta cup, I would say the IL will compete a hell of a lot better next season.

Cliftonville are still the best footballing side Linfield has played this season including the LOI teams. They gave us a complete footballing lesson. So I would expect them to acheive greater things that Glentoran or Portadown did.(although not very hard to do)

Anyway, the 1st part of our treble acheived. Lets hope we can get a home draw in the All Ireland Setanta Cup.

**AnnaghRed** · 16/04/2007, 5:47 PM

Congratulations on saturdays result. I thought the Glens could have maybe sneaked a win and made youse sweat a bit, but they seem as f*cked as we are.

How many Glens fans would you guesstimate?. Glentoran.net is giving the attendance as just under 7000 and if you had 4500 there then it doesnt leave much to go round!

Dungannon may yet make next seasons Setanta though they'd have to win the cup [i think]. Failing that it looks like Portadown will be in it again, and on this seasons performance i'm actually disappointed by that.

**Steve Bruce** · 16/04/2007, 6:59 PM

Originally Posted by AnnaghRed

Congratulations on saturdays result. I thought the Glens could have maybe sneaked a win and made youse sweat a bit, but they seem as f*cked as we are.

How many Glens fans would you guesstimate?. Glentoran.net is giving the attendance as just under 7000 and if you had 4500 there then it doesnt leave much to go round!

Dungannon may yet make next seasons Setanta though they'd have to win the cup [i think]. Failing that it looks like Portadown will be in it again, and on this seasons performance i'm actually disappointed by that.

Glentorans crowd was very dissapointing. Unfortunately Glentoran seen fit to restrict the away support rather than give us more of the ground share. We sold our tickets out and I know there was many who wanted tickets.

**BohsPartisan** · 16/04/2007, 8:47 PM

Well done to all the Linfield lads.

**David** · 16/04/2007, 8:57 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Linfield has once again shown our superiority in the IL winning the league for the 47th time, although not official untill Saturday.

Hopefully next season we will see a stronger Cliftonville & Portadown.

I think Glentoran will need next season to get rid of a lot of dead wood and it could take a season or two to be able to get themselves a young athletic hungry squad to challange Linfield properly.

Also with Cliftonville replacing Dungannon in the Setanta cup, I would say the IL will compete a hell of a lot better next season.

Cliftonville are still the best footballing side Linfield has played this season including the LOI teams. They gave us a complete footballing lesson. So I would expect them to acheive greater things that Glentoran or Portadown did.(although not very hard to do)

Anyway, the 1st part of our treble acheived. Lets hope we can get a home draw in the All Ireland Setanta Cup.

Cliftonville could be replacing Portadown rather than Dungannon in the Setanta. If Dungannon win the cup they are in again. If we beat Distillery next week, Dungannon are guaranteed Europe.

Oh and dcfcsteve, do you want the address to send that cheque to?

**Steve Bruce** · 17/04/2007, 9:37 AM

Originally Posted by David

Cliftonville could be replacing Portadown rather than Dungannon in the Setanta. If Dungannon win the cup they are in again. If we beat Distillery next week, Dungannon are guaranteed Europe.

Oh and dcfcsteve, do you want the address to send that cheque to?

Well to be fair to Dungannon, they deserve it, they haven't set the tournement a light but at least they weren't whipping boys like Portadown.

It will be good to see Cliftonville play the Southerners as I feel there style of play would create a lot of problems down there.

**David** · 17/04/2007, 9:49 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Well to be fair to Dungannon, they deserve it, they haven't set the tournement a light but at least they weren't whipping boys like Portadown.

It will be good to see Cliftonville play the Southerners as I feel there style of play would create a lot of problems down there.

But of course, no harm to Dungannon, I don't want them in as it would mean we have lost the Irish Cup.

**Steve Bruce** · 17/04/2007, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by David

But of course, no harm to Dungannon, I don't want them in as it would mean we have lost the Irish Cup.

Agreed.

**gspain** · 17/04/2007, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by David

But of course, no harm to Dungannon, I don't want them in as it would mean we have lost the Irish Cup.

A defeat in the Cup final to Linfield would guarantee Setanta and UEFA qualification for the Swits. If it is Distillery then they need to win.

**David** · 17/04/2007, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by gspain

A defeat in the Cup final to Linfield would guarantee Setanta and UEFA qualification for the Swits. If it is Distillery then they need to win.

I don't think runners up in the cup get a Setanta place if winners are already in, this is only the case for Europe. Setanta goes to next place in league which has not qualified, in this case Portadown.

**Mr_Parker** · 17/04/2007, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by David

I don't think runners up in the cup get a Setanta place if winners are already in, this is only the case for Europe. Setanta goes to next place in league which has not qualified, in this case Portadown.

If the same qualification process applies to next season as this then Dungannon will be in the Setanta unless Distillery get to and beat them in the IC final. If Linfield win the IC, the IC Setanta place does go to the runners up.

Definately through to next seasons comp are Glentoran, Linfield and Cliftonville. The remaining place will be between Dungannon and Distillery.

**Schumi** · 17/04/2007, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by David

I don't think runners up in the cup get a Setanta place if winners are already in, this is only the case for Europe.

It seems to be the same as Europe, if someone does the double, the cup runners up get in. That's how Pats got in this year (Derry being considered for qualification purposes to have won the league after Shels collapsed).

**dcfcsteve** · 17/04/2007, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by David

Oh and dcfcsteve, do you want the address to send that cheque to?

Congratulations to the Blues on yet another Irish league title. As the wrestler on Soccer AM would say "Eee-asy, ee-asy". Yees must surely be getting bored of it all by now.....

I won't have the time to clear out my PM inbox for the next few days, so post the details up here (incl who cheque to be paid out to) and I'll fire it over after the weekend.

Cheers,

Steve

**David** · 17/04/2007, 2:07 PM

If you really want to send it address is:

Linfield FC
Windsor Park
Donegall Avenue
Belfast
BT12 6LW

Was only a bit of a laugh though.

**Steve Bruce** · 17/04/2007, 2:38 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Congratulations to the Blues on yet another Irish league title. As the wrestler on Soccer AM would say "Eee-asy, ee-asy". Yees must surely be getting bored of it all by now.....

I won't have the time to clear out my PM inbox for the next few days, so post the details up here (incl who cheque to be paid out to) and I'll fire it over after the weekend.

Cheers,

Steve

Only a supporter of a team who hardly wins anything would say that. It never gets boring my friend.

**AnnaghRed** · 17/04/2007, 6:06 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

It seems to be the same as Europe, if someone does the double, the cup runners up get in.

No way should the cup runners-up be getting into Europe, at least not since the demise of the CWC.

That said i hope results conspire to help us avoid next seasons Setanta.

Portadown simply don't have the resources to be competing on three different fronts at this time of the season.

**gspain** · 18/04/2007, 7:34 AM

Originally Posted by AnnaghRed

No way should the cup runners-up be getting into Europe, at least not since the demise of the CWC.

That said i hope results conspire to help us avoid next seasons Setanta.

Portadown simply don't have the resources to be competing on three different fronts at this time of the season.

That is a UEFA rule. There is a UEFA Cup place reserved for the cup since the demise of the CWC. The only exception would be if both finalists qualify for the champions league. I think we are still a bit off any league on this island gaining a 2nd champions league place.

**dcfcsteve** · 18/04/2007, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Only a supporter of a team who hardly wins anything would say that. It never gets boring my friend.

A team that hardly wins anything....? When I meet a Harps fan, I'll pass your sentiments on to them.

Being a fan of a team that won 2 out of the 3 trophies in their league last year - and only missed out on the clean sweep by goal difference - you'd be forgiven for expecting me to share the same view as you. But I would find no joy in DCFC romping the Derry and District League every year.

Being a big fish in a small pond is no great shakes. Come join the captive breeding programme in the pond next door. The water's lovely, the company is friendlier, and there's a lot more room to grow.....!

**dcfcsteve** · 18/04/2007, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by David

If you really want to send it address is:

Linfield FC
Windsor Park
Donegall Avenue
Belfast
BT12 6LW

Was only a bit of a laugh though.

A deal's a deal David. Will get a cheque off later this week.

Bet you're gutted you didn't go for the double or quits option on Derry winning the EL this season......