I think this is good but I'm not a fan of the split half way through the season.
The teams are likely to be IMO
Linfield
Glentoran
Portadown
Glenavon
Coleraine
Ballymena
Cliftonville
Crusaders
Dungannon
Distillery
Institute
Newry
Although I wouldn't be suprized if Distillery or Newry are ousted and Donegal Celtic are put in their place.
Their will be no relegation for 2 seasons either, which imo isn't a good idea either.
The Hallion Battalion Molests football.:D
Split is a major cause for concern.Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
Anyway, swap Institute for Larne and thats the 12 teams IMO.
Wouldn't have DC near the league.
Not overly fussed on promotion/relegation unless a club is worthy of promotion, dross like Limavady/Armagh could win the first division easily.
Linfield Football Club - Hatchets & Hammers - You Can Only Envy Us
A Blue 52
According to Nosey and a few others Institute are a shoe in.
DC might get in because of the Celtic name.
If Limavady/Armagh and the likes meet the requirements for stadia and get the results on the pitch, they would deserve to me in the premier league.
Last edited by Steve Bruce; 09/08/2007 at 8:58 AM.
The Hallion Battalion Molests football.:D
Can't see it.
As for DC, they probably have the worst "stadium" in the current Premier League so I can't see how they should be granted entry just because they are Celtic.
Linfield Football Club - Hatchets & Hammers - You Can Only Envy Us
A Blue 52
I'd have left well alone, last time we played each other 4 times in the league attendances plummeted.....in 1996 Portadown actually won the league against a backdrop of falling attendances..
attendances where falling anyway and they continue to do so with 16 teams and IMO at a far faster rate than before.
16 teams is a no-goer.
The Hallion Battalion Molests football.:D
I give the new format two seasons max.
Regardless of facilities if teams like Armagh & Limavady perform where it matters most then they deserve their place in the top league.
Its not as if their grounds have to cope with massive crowds, 1000 tops, and only then when Linfield come to town.
The best crowds and best games in my time watching the IL, were in the 16 team league prior to 1996. Crowds of 6-8000 at Shamrock Park for games v Linfield, Glentoran & Glenavon, even Cliftonville & Crusaders drawing 3000+
Sadly enticing back the 1000's who've stopped watching the local game since that time, may be mission impossible.
Why would they deserve it?
Amended my post. I wrote the post in a rush.
Also if DC could get their ground up to standard and their results are to, they would deserve it.
The Hallion Battalion Molests football.:D
Ok im not going anywhere near the all island league debate, but how many times have both the Irish league and League of Ireland restructured in recent times. 10/12/16/22 teams, league splits, summer/winter hashed and rehashed membership criteria. All cosmetic solutions.........
Imo and im not claiming expertise, but if both leagues played the same calender, 12 teams ruthlessly picked on facilities and viability (in otherwords if you had to invest your own savings in the 12 clubs who would it be) league cup or expanded setanta cup or somthing played cross border. Added to a co-ordinated publicity campaign blah blah.
Summer football is the one success of all changes i think.
Summer football has certainly helped the Republics UEFA co-efficient, but lets be honest, that is only ever going to climb so high, then stop.
Can't say i've been bowled over by the attendance figures published on here either, one figure 4206 for Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians particularly stood out. The only time last season a Blues v Glens game had a crowd that low was in the Setanta Cup.
This all seems a bit mad apparently Crusaders are on of the teams that is in severe risk of not getting into this new league
To be fair the Celtic name hasn't really done them any favours, for Donegal and Lurgan Celtic when they were trying to get into the league in the 90s has anything changed?DC might get in because of the Celtic name
Yes but are the average attendances not a lot bigger for the smaller EL teams than for the smaller IL teams? whats Linfield and the Glens average attendance anyway?Can't say i've been bowled over by the attendance figures published on here either, one figure 4206 for Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians particularly stood out. The only time last season a Blues v Glens game had a crowd that low was in the Setanta Cup.
thats a small enough crowd for bohs vs rovers allright. however how many more thousand go to glentoran vs. linfield than a normal run of the mill game?
overall nearly every premier club is capable of pulling in 1000+ regularly
Thats true the co-eff will plateau when the league reaches its technical standard, but isnt that the same for most leagues, difference for LOI is that preperation is as good as possible due to Summer football, ability is maximised and teams are not undone by fitness/sharpness issues. Improved European performances mean improved credability etc. Summer football has facilitated more than improved european results though, media coverage while not amazing is better than it was. Not competing with the premiership for column inches for the summer months, more live games, (the only live games ive seen from IL on TV is the Cup Final). I dont know if improved playing surfaces is a true argument, but it certainly costs less to water a hard pitch than it does to maintain a mudbath! Quite honestly id rather stand at a game in July than freeze in January...
I also think summer football would close the gap between IL and LOI clubs. Although I'm not saying that IL clubs would become world beaters because of it, but we would certainly be better.
The Hallion Battalion Molests football.:D
What difference would it make to a club? Use Lisburn Distillery for example...
Linfield Football Club - Hatchets & Hammers - You Can Only Envy Us
A Blue 52
The difference is, when LOI and IL teams play they would be equally as match fit and we wouldn't get as many embarrasing results.
Also the difference it would make to Linfield for example(don't believe in commenting on other clubs I have no interest in) is we would have went through the next round of Europe as our forwards and all round play would be a lot sharper.
The Hallion Battalion Molests football.:D
Yes, but Irish League clubs wouldn't actually get ANY better, they would just be peaking at a different stage.
Linfield Football Club - Hatchets & Hammers - You Can Only Envy Us
A Blue 52
1. Linfield FC - 1084
2. Ballymena Utd FC - 982
3. Glentoran FC - 882
4. Dungannon Swifts FC - 775
5. Coleraine FC - 770
6. Portadown FC - 735
7. Cliftonville FC - 732
8. Glenavon FC - 717
9. Newry City FC - 715
10. Lisburn Distillery FC - 695
11. Loughgall FC - 632
12. Armagh City FC - 575
13. Larne FC - 568
14. Institute FC - 567
15. Crusaders FC - 566
16. Limavady Utd FC - 545
17. Donegal Celtic FC - 540
18. Ballymoney Utd FC- 503
19. Ballyclare Comrades FC - 493
20. Ards FC - 465
21. Bangor FC - 453
22. Carrick Rangers FC - 417
23. Queens University FC - 395
24. Lurgan Celtic FC - 362
25. Sport & Leisure Swifts FC - 359
26. H&W Welders FC - 333
27. Portstewart FC - 320
28. Ballinamallard Utd FC - 310
29. Brantwood FC - 308
30. Knockbreda FC - 307
31. Oxford Utd Stars FC - 293
32. Dromara Village FC - 284
33. Tobermore Utd FC - 251
34. Coagh Utd FC - 233
35. Killymoon Rangers FC - 229
36. Annagh Utd FC - 221
37. Moyola Park FC - 207
38. Derriaghy CC FC - 198
39. Hanover FC - 173
40. H&W Sport FC - 117
This is a joke scenario here with Armagh City, with no fans, amateur like set-up, very poor stadia and a poor team are ahead of the likes of a club like Crusaders.
Even more nonsense is that Ards are ahead of Bangor, Ards for the past 6 or more years have used Bangor's ground as they haven't bothered their arse trying to rebuild one of their own, and on top of that Bangor almost made the Premier League this year when Ards struggled in a sh*t First Division.
Linfield Football Club - Hatchets & Hammers - You Can Only Envy Us
A Blue 52
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