G6 stay defiant

**micls** · 24/12/2007, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by khoop

A self-proclaimed G6 of southern Irish football clubs -

Self proclaimed? Yeah I'm sure it was the clubs came up with it alright....not the newspaper

Originally Posted by khoop

without Shamrock Rovers???

Oh how we laughed.

Keep on dreaming, losers.

In a couple of years when Bohs are STILL in a delapidated Dalymount - Drogheda playing in an empty field in the middle of nowhere - and St. Pats still wondering what the property speculators have planned for Inchicore - Rovers will be wiping the floor with you.

Ye sound like those really old men-back in my day......

**AnnaghRed** · 25/12/2007, 7:34 AM

PREMIER:
DROGHEDA UNITED
ST PATS ATH
LINFIELD
BOHEMIANS
CORK CITY
GLENTORAN
CLIFTONVILLE
SHAMROCK R
SLIGO ROVERS
DERRY CITY
GALWAY UTD
PORTADOWN
LISBURN DISTILLERY
CRUSADERS
COLERAINE
DUNGANNON SWIFTS Bottom four relegated relegated

FIRST SOUTH:
BRAY WANDERERS top two promoted
UCD
WATERFORD U
LONGFORD TOWN
COBH R
FINN HARPS
DUNDALK
LIMERICK
SHELBOURNE
ATHLONE T
KILDARE C
MONAGHAN U
WEXFORD YOUTH
KILKENNY C
CHERRY O
ROCKMOUNT bottom two relegated

FIRST NORTH:
BALLYMENA UNITED top two promoted
LIMAVADY U
ARMAGH C
NEWRY CITY
DONEGAL C
LARNE
GLENAVON
LOUGHGALL
INSTITUTE
BANGOR
CARRICK R
BANBRIDGE T
ARDS
DUNDELA
COAGH U
H&W WELDERS bottom two relegated

SECOND SOUTH:
BLARNEY U top two promoted
CRUMLIN U
LETTERKENNY R
MALAHIDE U
FANAD U
CARRIGALINE U
DOUGLAS HALL
CASTLEVIEW
COCKHILL CELTIC
BANGOR CELTIC
KILDRUM TIGERS
EVERTON
BELGROVE
WAYSIDE C
BLUEBELL U
AVONDALE UTD

SECOND NORTH:
TOBERMORE top two promoted
PORTSTEWART
BALLINAMALLARD
MOYOLA P
BALLYCLARE C
LURGAN C
WAKEHURST
BALLYMONEY U
OXFORD UTD STARS
PSNI
BRANTWOOD
ANNAGH UNITED
CHIMNEY CORNER
DERGVIEW
QUEENS UNIVERSITY
GLEBE RANGERS

**Buller** · 25/12/2007, 2:08 PM

Originally Posted by AnnaghRed

PREMIER:
DROGHEDA UNITED
ST PATS ATH
LINFIELD
BOHEMIANS
CORK CITY
GLENTORAN
CLIFTONVILLE
SHAMROCK R
SLIGO ROVERS
DERRY CITY
GALWAY UTD
PORTADOWN
LISBURN DISTILLERY
CRUSADERS
COLERAINE
DUNGANNON SWIFTS Bottom four relegated relegated

9 Teams from Northern Ireland and 7 from the south... Would have thought a ratio of 4:12 to be a more accurate reflection population wise. Letting that many northern irish teams in would have a hugely negative effect on the quality - rather than improving it, we would be going backwards in my opinion. Personally I don't think this would work. The only 2 or 3 decent teams that would actually benefit the new league would be Linfield and Glentoran, and maybe Portadown... The rest are equivilant to our 1st division sides.

**osarusan** · 25/12/2007, 2:26 PM

Where did you come up with the division of teams? Is it your idea, or did you read it somewhere?

Originally Posted by AnnaghRed

SECOND SOUTH:top two promoted
LETTERKENNY R
..........
DOUGLAS HALL

Do you seriously think that these teams will be able to travel for these games? These teams have no or very little money, and no or very little money will be generated in the "Second South" division.

And what happens if the bottom four teams in the premier division are all teams from the "north" or "south" section? How will promotion/relegation be decided?

**Dodge** · 25/12/2007, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by Buller

The only 2 or 3 decent teams that would actually benefit the new league would be Linfield and Glentoran, and maybe Portadown... The rest are equivilant to our 1st division sides.

The worst team I've seen Pats play is Portadown. We beat then 3-0 last year with our reserve team

**DmanDmythDledge** · 25/12/2007, 5:31 PM

Originally Posted by Buller

9 Teams from Northern Ireland and 7 from the south... Would have thought a ratio of 4:12 to be a more accurate reflection population wise. Letting that many northern irish teams in would have a hugely negative effect on the quality - rather than improving it, we would be going backwards in my opinion. Personally I don't think this would work. The only 2 or 3 decent teams that would actually benefit the new league would be Linfield and Glentoran, and maybe Portadown... The rest are equivilant to our 1st division sides.

The Sunday Times said that the plans were to have 8 teams from the eircom League and 4 teams from the Irish League.

**Buller** · 25/12/2007, 6:17 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

The Sunday Times said that the plans were to have 8 teams from the eircom League and 4 teams from the Irish League.

A lot more practical and a fairer reflection... (I assume derry would be included in that 4

)

**blackholesun** · 25/12/2007, 9:38 PM

I think all this talk is crazy, the problems the leagues have will not be sorted out in any way by any all Ireland league merger.

With Platini talking about wanting to see more teams from smaller counties in the Champions league, the biggest potential assets the two leagues have are the European slots, anything that would see some of these slots lost would be suicidial. UEFA will be very reluctant to see leagues from neighbouring countries merging.

Yeah, the clubs should use it as a lever to get more outta the FAI but leave it at that. The people pushing this are doing so to make money for themselves, not for the love of the game. I wouldnt trust them an inch.

bhs

**Kivlehan** · 25/12/2007, 9:48 PM

Originally Posted by Buller

A lot more practical and a fairer reflection... (I assume derry would be included in that 4

)

I doubt Derry would be included in the four from the North.

Drogheda
St. Pats
Cork
Bohs
Derry City
Galway

all definitely in from the LoI.

Linfield
Glentoran
Dungannon Swifts
Newry City

likely in from the Irish League

leaving two spots. Likely chosen from Shamrock Rovers, Cliftonville and Sligo Rovers.

**Aaron** · 25/12/2007, 10:26 PM

I'd say Cliftonville are very much in favour of it, also Crusaders are rumoured to be in discussions about it also

**khoop** · 25/12/2007, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Kivlehan

..... leaving two spots. Likely chosen from Shamrock Rovers, Cliftonville and Sligo Rovers

Shamrock Rovers don't give a flying f*ck about this infantile rubbish.

Dream on.

We're busy.

Very busy.

**AnnaghRed** · 26/12/2007, 7:55 AM

Originally Posted by Buller

9 Teams from Northern Ireland and 7 from the south... Would have thought a ratio of 4:12 to be a more accurate reflection population wise.The only 2 or 3 decent teams that would actually benefit the new league would be Linfield and Glentoran, and maybe Portadown.

If the Premier was to start with 8 teams from each league, then eventually teams would find their own level....i'd imagine in the first season all 4 relegation slots would be occupied by IL clubs

TBH if any of this ever materialises, then I doubt very much if Portadown would make the cut for the Premier league, ended up fourth last season and will do well to make the top six this season.

Spent force

**AnnaghRed** · 26/12/2007, 7:57 AM

Originally Posted by osarusan

Where did you come up with the division of teams? Is it your idea, or did you read it somewhere?
And what happens if the bottom four teams in the premier division are all teams from the "north" or "south" section? How will promotion/relegation be decided?

Was just wondering what sort of format might work. I know Douglas Hall and Letterkenny can play each other in the FAI & Intermediate cups, maybe a 3rd tier would be a step too far in the south, or would have to be regionalised.

If 4 IL clubs come down, then 4 would have to drop from the division below. I definitely wouldnt favour a 12 team division though.

**AnnaghRed** · 26/12/2007, 8:09 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

The worst team I've seen Pats play is Portadown. We beat then 3-0 last year with our reserve team

Portadown were an embarassment in the Setanta last season, but having the heart tore out of their defence just prior to the competition starting, certainly didn't help.

Not to mention a [past his sell by] manager who is on record as stating he felt it was a competition too far for his small squad. Can you imagine how inspiring his team talks were?

**GavinZac** · 26/12/2007, 9:15 AM

Originally Posted by khoop

Shamrock Rovers don't give a flying f*ck about this infantile rubbish.

Dream on.

We're busy.

Very busy.

Ok, sorry for disturbing you Shamrock Rovers.

**CharlesThompson** · 26/12/2007, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by blackholesun

I think all this talk is crazy, the problems the leagues have will not be sorted out in any way by any all Ireland league merger.

With Platini talking about wanting to see more teams from smaller counties in the Champions league, the biggest potential assets the two leagues have are the European slots, anything that would see some of these slots lost would be suicidial. UEFA will be very reluctant to see leagues from neighbouring countries merging.

Yeah, the clubs should use it as a lever to get more outta the FAI but leave it at that. The people pushing this are doing so to make money for themselves, not for the love of the game. I wouldnt trust them an inch.

bhs

The thing is though, with a merger between the two leagues despite there being less European places available, this will make very little difference in my opinion or if anything only improve our coefficient and results. Why? We will be sending stronger teams into European competition each year as the league will be stronger and the odds of poor sides gaining qualification will be greater. Stronger home sides qualifiying will only help our results and our coefficient.

At the moment in the eL and the IL each team is chasing one of four places. In a new league, each team will still be chasing one of four (or possibly five depending on sweet talking Uefa) places. What's the difference?

**half_full** · 26/12/2007, 12:05 PM

The FAI don't want it. The IFA don't want it. Most clubs don't want it. Uefa certainly don't want it.

If anything is to happen it will result in a few stupid clubs trying to form a little league of their own with no Uefa places. Anyone who thinks any differently is deluded.

**GavinZac** · 26/12/2007, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by half_full

The FAI don't want it. The IFA don't want it. Most clubs don't want it. Uefa certainly don't want it.

If anything is to happen it will result in a few stupid clubs trying to form a little league of their own with no Uefa places. Anyone who thinks any differently is deluded.

Yes, but you need to weigh the value of clubs against the others. Are small part time clubs like Harps or Waterford or Shamrocks really that important in the greater scheme of things? Starting from a clean slate, are they really necessary to seduce the average paying customer? Perhaps in time they'll accept their place on the lower rungs of the new ladder as a better position than slightly elevated in a meaningless league, but for their sake you'd hope they do it before someone decided to set up Tallaght FC or Waterford Athletic and align themselves with, as Kevin Doyle would say, 'proper clubs' and professionalism.

**Lux Interior** · 26/12/2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

To create any hype down here, linfield would have to be involved. Joe public hasn't heard of glentoran or dungannon.

You can rest assured that of the so-called 'G6' only Derry City would carry any sort of gravitas with IL supporters. The only other 'name of note' - Shamrock Rovers - are conspicious by their absence.