AIL Update

[jebus]

Pyramid?

Anyway, this would be the lowest rung on the AIL pyramid, if things posted above are to be believed. Not that I approve of any such developments as teams being picked purely for their geographic location, but it is strange to see someone who has benefit from such in the recent past to complain this without recognising the equivalent "elitism" or "exclusion" of the ELOI.

Weren't you just proven wrong about that claim of yours?

[Lim till i die]

but it is strange to see someone who has benefit from such in the recent past to complain this without recognising the equivalent "elitism" or "exclusion" of the ELOI.

Birdseye Potato Waffles, they're waffly versatile

[WoodquayBoy]

Limerick 37 bypassed how many divisions to slot right into the first division? is that any less franchise football than the selections the FAI made recently or any inclusion of limerick in an AIL?

Why are you wasting your time?
When it is other clubs who are 'promoted' on non footballing issues, like my beloved United for example, they are fair game, but when you mention that, rather than invite an existing club to replace the Limerick outfit of Danny Drew, they went and 'promoted' a new entity ahead of every other existing club, without them kicking a ball (and at least United did compete the season they were, ahem, 'promoted') you are being stupid.
I know, I know, here comes the rantings of Jebus, but just wanted to make that point . . . .

[GavinZac]

Weren't you just proven wrong about that claim of yours?

What claim? Is the eircom league of Ireland not a selective, exclusive league which picks its clubs for the most part on the basis of their merits as a 'franchise' than any particular measurement of footballing skill? Such an exclusive club, for instance, that in the past 'club members' have had the right to exclude another club by vote, or in the present, the National Association can pick and choose its competitors at will?

I'm not saying that its a good thing but its a strange thing to gloss over and then complain about similar actions elsewhere.

[Mr A]

In all fairness, given that Limerick is touted as being in the AIL I think the L37 guys are taking a fairly consistent line. Limerick 37 coming into being was more of a scheme to get Danny Drew out than anything else from what I can tell, and a fair few of the L37 lads have made it clear that they thought it wasn't right.

[WoodquayBoy]

In all fairness, given that Limerick is touted as being in the AIL I think the L37 guys are taking a fairly consistent line. Limerick 37 coming into being was more of a scheme to get Danny Drew out than anything else from what I can tell, and a fair few of the L37 lads have made it clear that they thought it wasn't right.

I hold my hands up, admit my error and apologise if that is the case, I just thought this latest pontificating was a bit rich considering the recent history of football in Limerick, that's all

[osarusan]

I hold my hands up, admit my error and apologise if that is the case, I just thought this latest pontificating was a bit rich considering the recent history of football in Limerick, that's all

I think you missed this post.

Apparantly Limerick are being invited to the top table of the AIL, according to the rag that is the Indo anyway. If it's true then that's as much of a joke as Galway getting 'promoted' two years ago. I said it then and I'll say it now, that's not what football should be about, and will only heighten people's suspicions that LoI is a jokeshop

Best post on the AIL proposals so far-

I'm not averse to the idea of an AIL in principle, but if this is the model, then the sooner someone ties it in a bag and dumps it in the canal the better!

[Lim till i die]

I hold my hands up, admit my error and apologise if that is the case, I just thought this latest pontificating was a bit rich considering the recent history of football in Limerick, that's all

Whoosh.............

[GavinZac]

I think you missed this post.

While jebus is being consistent in the face of huge potential benefits for his club, I don't think anyone has denied that. The inconsistency, with every ELOI fan in this thread that is guilty of it, lies in decrying the selection process for the AIL as "franchising" without recognising that (almost?) every club in the eircom league is currently there either because they were elected to it or because the FAI cherry picked them to be. Opposition to the AIL would be better placed against claims of it as a panacea for Irish football or as unworkable in terms of the season cross over, than because of its "exclusiveness". Indeed, I'd imagine with the clean-slate attitudes they have, the 'organisers' would look at that as a sales point rather than an issue!

[passerrby]

lets face it gavin we can argue the legal and moral aspects till we are blue in the face but the opposition comes from the clubs who will be disinfranchised ,this ail was set up to cater for the interests of a few select clubs and nothing will convince me otherwise.

[jebus]

While jebus is being consistent in the face of huge potential benefits for his club, I don't think anyone has denied that. The inconsistency, with every ELOI fan in this thread that is guilty of it, lies in decrying the selection process for the AIL as "franchising" without recognising that (almost?) every club in the eircom league is currently there either because they were elected to it or because the FAI cherry picked them to be. Opposition to the AIL would be better placed against claims of it as a panacea for Irish football or as unworkable in terms of the season cross over, than because of its "exclusiveness". Indeed, I'd imagine with the clean-slate attitudes they have, the 'organisers' would look at that as a sales point rather than an issue!

When Limerick 37 were 'promoted' to take the First Division there was no league below it. The League had a space to fill, so we didn't take anyones spot, L37 wanted that spot and they were put in at the lowest rung on the LoI ladder at the time as the most able of the clubs who applied. How would that compare with Limerick 37 being promoted to the top division of a series of All Ireland leagues in place of a number of more deserving teams? And that is even leaving aside that it was the FAI's intention to replace one Limerick team with another from the start

[sullanefc]

When Limerick 37 were 'promoted' to take the First Division there was no league below it. The League had a space to fill, so we didn't take anyones spot, L37 wanted that spot and they were put in at the lowest rung on the LoI ladder at the time as the most able of the clubs who applied. How would that compare with Limerick 37 being promoted to the top division of a series of All Ireland leagues in place of a number of more deserving teams? And that is even leaving aside that it was the FAI's intention to replace one Limerick team with another from the start

That just proves that Limerick 37 is a franchise, which I have no problem with by the way, and you are contradicting yourself. If another team from Dublin or a small team from Junior football wanted to apply, I doubt they would have been accepted instead of L37.

[jebus]

That just proves that Limerick 37 is a franchise, which I have no problem with by the way, and you are contradicting yourself. If another team from Dublin or a small team from Junior football wanted to apply, I doubt they would have been accepted instead of L37.

Alright, allowing any club to exist is a franchise, but I still don't see how allowing Limerick 37 into the bottom rung of the LoI to take up a vacant spot is the same thing as promoting Limerick 37 to the top division of an AIL at the expense of quite a few clubs

[GavinZac]

Alright, allowing any club to exist is a franchise, but I still don't see how allowing Limerick 37 into the bottom rung of the LoI to take up a vacant spot is the same thing as promoting Limerick 37 to the top division of an AIL at the expense of quite a few clubs

Its not the same thing, obviously. Its marginally more cringeworthy than including Dundalk or Galway (cough) in a Premier division. However, because such precedents are already set, and football on this island has already, since the 80s, been less about actual ability and more about suitability as a 'representative of an area' for the league (prime example, of course, being our own existence) ... you're arguing on emotive, subjective grounds about what is franchise football and what isn't, the arguments lack the clear definition of other arguments such as "the NI teams are rubbish and the novelty would wear off quickly" or "it introduces too many complications in terms of the football associations and european representation"

[jebus]

Its not the same thing, obviously. Its marginally more cringeworthy than including Dundalk or Galway (cough) in a Premier division. However, because such precedents are already set, and football on this island has already, since the 80s, been less about actual ability and more about suitability as a 'representative of an area' for the league (prime example, of course, being our own existence) ... you're arguing on emotive, subjective grounds about what is franchise football and what isn't, the arguments lack the clear definition of other arguments such as "the NI teams are rubbish and the novelty would wear off quickly" or "it introduces too many complications in terms of the football associations and european representation"

That's all I wanted to hear I realise this AIL is probably going to happen, and that it has it's benefits, and I also realise that football competition on this island has often not been about what goes on on the pitch, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it

[WoodquayBoy]

Whoosh.............

Not a case of 'whoosh' at all, I understand your point on the AIL, you missed mine on the fact L37 were in the national league at all, a franchise was ceated in Limerick to replace a franchise, so as subsequent posters said, there is history on this whole franchise thing.
Anyway, I also agree with the suggestion that the proposed league, as it stands, stinks to high heaven, and it won't be much of an all Ireland league with 2 - at most - Irish Legaue clubs

[jebus]

Not a case of 'whoosh' at all, I understand your point on the AIL, you missed mine on the fact L37 were in the national league at all, a franchise was ceated in Limerick to replace a franchise, so as subsequent posters said, there is history on this whole franchise thing.

Lord God, how many more times does this need to be said, allowing a club into the bottom rung of the LoI is not the same as putting a club in the top division of the AIL/LoI. If you think all football clubs in national leagues are franchises then fair enough, but the only thing comparable with putting a Limerick team in the AIL top division without having earned it in footballing terms is Galway being put in the LoI Premier League without having earned it in footballing terms, so can we leave this 'every clubs a franchise' thing behind

[Dodge]

Lord God, how many more times does this need to be said, allowing a club into the bottom rung of the LoI is not the same as putting a club in the top division of the AIL/LoI. If you think all football clubs in national leagues are franchises then fair enough, but the only thing comparable with putting a Limerick team in the AIL top division without having earned it in footballing terms is Galway being put in the LoI Premier League without having earned it in footballing terms, so can we leave this franchise thing behind

Why leave it behind when both of you are right?

[jebus]

Why leave it behind when both of you are right?

Because whether football clubs in essence are franchises is not the issue, I mean do any of you actually like football as a sport? I can't see why people who claim to be football supporters don't see the problem with this

[Dodge]

Because whether football clubs in essence are franchises is not the issue, I mean do any of you actually like football as a sport? I can't see why people who claim to be football supporters don't see the problem with this

Thats because like me you're a stubborn **** who always thinks he's right.

I've no problem with franchises in cork or limerick or wexford as we need the country covered. I've also no problems with an AIL with the cream of each league represented, as long as promotion and relegation is a part of it.