You players capable of higher standard than LOI/IL

[oriel]

Steve - totally off topic, but if you`re that bored - u could give the IFA a hand finding a new manager - i see Sanchez has left the NI post for Fulham - bit cheeky of him dont you think ????

[BohsPartisan]

If summer football isn't the key then the clubs must have improved a huge amount in the space of about 12 months.

Summer football is just one factor. Irish clubs performances in Europe were improving since the end of the last decade, long before the advent of our summer season.

[Cymro]

Summer football is just one factor. Irish clubs performances in Europe were improving since the end of the last decade, long before the advent of our summer season.

But why the massive leap forward in the last 3-4 years? Your coefficient has gone up about 2-3 points in the last 3-4 years, and given that it was about 1 to 1.5 before summer football, that's a huge leap in such a short space of time.

Let me remind you the the League of Ireland was behind the Welsh Premier in UEFA's rankings for part of the 90s and behind the Irish League for a long time.

It's obvious that summer football has had a considerable impact on your results in Europe since it was implemented. There may well be other factors involved too, however I believe if your league were to switch back to winter football it would not be achieving its current level of performance. I think without summer football your clubs may be struggling to hit the second round consistently.

It's not about skill-it's about match fitness.

[GavinZac]

But why the massive leap forward in the last 3-4 years? Your coefficient has gone up about 2-3 points in the last 3-4 years, and given that it was about 1 to 1.5 before summer football, that's a huge leap in such a short space of time.

professionalism, and better players (when those points were earned, Cork City had 3 future premiership players in their team, a player on form enough to be called to train with the international seniors, and a player who's going to move to the premiership in june)

It's not about skill-it's about match fitness.

i would invite you to watch any of the City v Swedish games, both teams being on summer seasons, and tell me city won because of match fitness.

[Cymro]

professionalism, and better players (when those points were earned, Cork City had 3 future premiership players in their team, a player on form enough to be called to train with the international seniors, and a player who's going to move to the premiership in june)

Cork are one team. It would take one hell of a freakish coincidence for the entire league to take a massive leap forward in terms of players.

i would invite you to watch any of the City v Swedish games, both teams being on summer seasons, and tell me city won because of match fitness.

Swedish teams are crap. I'm aware of that. Llanelli beat a Swedish team in Europe this year, so that's no bragging point, to be fair.

[Soper]

IFK would thrash the Jacks

[GavinZac]

Cork are one team. It would take one hell of a freakish coincidence for the entire league to take a massive leap forward in terms of players.

Not a coincidence, just an adoption of professionalism - this isnt rocket science. while the league suffered from its success this winter, the standard is still noticeably higher than a few seasons ago.

Whatever about swedish teams being rubbish, it was the on-form championship winning teams that Cork beat. being knocked out of europe by cork city seems to be a blessing in terms of winning a league

[Cymro]

IFK would thrash the Jacks

Have you seen the Liberty Stadium when full? If we had 20,200 there, which if we ever played in Europe again I'm sure we would, we would have a great chance in my opinion.

Gefle, the team Llanelli played, would not even be League 2. And I say that from personal experience, as someone who's watched nearly 1,000 league games over the years.

[Cymro]

Not a coincidence, just an adoption of professionalism - this isnt rocket science. while the league suffered from its success this winter, the standard is still noticeably higher than a few seasons ago.

As I've said full time doesn't improve things that much, and I've cited Welsh teams as evidence of this, however I suppose we can simply agree to disagree as this debate is going nowhere and I have no first-hand experience of Irish football.