Is there now a Big 3?

**Rovers Maniac** · 01/07/2008, 4:35 PM

I think another season or two and there will be a clear split between the clubs with vasts amounts of money, Pats, Drogs and Bohs these 3 seem to be able to afford whatever or whoever. I could not believe Drogs have 27 full timers on their books that is a massive squad. It is amazing that Drogs are doing so poorly with their set up. Are the fans there starting to ask questions about Doolin?

I am not sure about Cork or Derry but both are better supported than either of those 3 and when you see Gamble looking like he will be lured away to Pats, a club with traditionally a less attractive team with a poorer support than his present club. It will also be interesting to see how the hoops will get on in Tallaght, i can see them getting very good crowds at the start but the long term is much more uncertain. However i can't see them cross the divide without a big backer.

**Dodge** · 01/07/2008, 4:38 PM

In a nutshell, no. These things come in cycles. At various times loads of clubs have threatened to dominate, usually through spending. I'd guess the last team that won the league without being one the top 2/3 spenders in the league was Pats in 1990. Ever since then money has talked (in pretty much every league in the world)

Pats, bohs and Droghea (who aren't near top 3 in league BTW) will **** up sooner or later

**Rovers Maniac** · 01/07/2008, 4:43 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

In a nutshell, no. These things come in cycles. At various times loads of clubs have threatened to dominate, usually through spending. I'd guess the last team that won the league without being one the top 2/3 spenders in the league was Pats in 1990. Ever since then money has talked (in pretty much every league in the world)

Pats, bohs and Droghea (who aren't near top 3 in league BTW) will **** up sooner or later

I don't know never have we seen such money in the league of Ireland among these clubs to me it is a first. I know Pats have a big squad but 27 full time players is simply massive no club has ever been able to afford that. No club has even won the league bar Shels with the money those 3 clubs have behind them. Traditionally it swings but it may not swing again for a long time. Dundalk in 1995 were the last team to win witout any investment into the playing staff imo.

**dancinpants** · 01/07/2008, 4:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I'd guess the last team that won the league without being one the top 2/3 spenders in the league was Pats in 1990. Ever since then money has talked

The Derry team of 1997 were hardly galacticos in fairness, the squad being made up mostly of locals and youngsters.

**dublinred** · 01/07/2008, 4:47 PM

There seams to be a serious split at the moment between football clubs and developers clubs , Shels started this trend and look at the mess they are in now.The big 3 can smash any competition by simply buying up the remaining decent players in the league and putting them onto there already inflated wage bills , this could simply be stopped if the FAI had the brains to ensure that the 65% rule was based on operational income and excluded large single donations and profits from ground slaes.

**HarpoJoyce** · 01/07/2008, 4:52 PM

The prize money allow for a Big Four. And with the distribution of the placings and trophies last year can it be considered that there were Five winners with four UEFA competitors and Derry City in the Setanta Cup?

Clubs invested heavily in the past but reassesed their situation. I'm thinking more of Bohs' rebudgeting and managing their finances before having another crack at the professional experiment than anyone else.

Is there room for six clubs providing there is a revolving winning system, with each six picking up a trophy/qualify for financial rewards every two or three years?

**GavinZac** · 01/07/2008, 4:54 PM

Originally Posted by londonred

There seams to be a serious split at the moment between football clubs and developers clubs , Shels started this trend and look at the mess they are in now.The big 3 can smash any competition by simply buying up the remaining decent players in the league and putting them onto there already inflated wage bills , this could simply be stopped if the FAI had the brains to ensure that the 65% rule was based on operational income and excluded large single donations and profits from ground slaes.

Why?.

**dublinred** · 01/07/2008, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

Why?.

I think the current situation is ridiculous , Bohs(or it is shels mk 2) will lose millions this year but will win the league, the heart is being ripped out of a lot of clubs , Cork and Derry may mount a challenge in the foreseeable future but will then probably loss half their team in July if they are really threatening.

**Dodge** · 01/07/2008, 5:13 PM

Originally Posted by dancinpants

The Derry team of 1997 were hardly galacticos in fairness, the squad being made up mostly of locals and youngsters.

Like Young Tony O'Dowd in goal? Every team has had their youngster or locals (doesn't mean to say poorly paid...) but I stand by what I said

For the record Pats have 21 profressionals. Not big. Not saying we're not one of the biggest spenders either BTW

What the league needs is more investment, not less...

**Rovers Maniac** · 01/07/2008, 5:18 PM

23 Players on your website, who are the 2 that are not professionals?

**GavinZac** · 01/07/2008, 5:20 PM

Originally Posted by londonred

I think the current situation is ridiculous , Bohs(or it is shels mk 2) will lose millions this year but will win the league, the heart is being ripped out of a lot of clubs , Cork and Derry may mount a challenge in the foreseeable future but will then probably loss half their team in July if they are really threatening.

So then we just need to find investors of our own. Thats the way football works and has always worked. Even decades ago the great teams of Italy and Spain were funded by their societies and presidents, respectively.

**Dodge** · 01/07/2008, 5:20 PM

HAverty and Foran.

**Rovers Maniac** · 01/07/2008, 5:25 PM

Still though 23 players is a big squad + backroom staff

**dublinred** · 01/07/2008, 5:32 PM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

So then we just need to find investors of our own. Thats the way football works and has always worked. Even decades ago the great teams of Italy and Spain were funded by their societies and presidents, respectively.

Ever since our ground was put in trust and cannot be sold there has been a shortage of investors sniffing around for some reason :-)

**dancinpants** · 01/07/2008, 5:33 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Like Young Tony O'Dowd in goal? Every team has had their youngster or locals (doesn't mean to say poorly paid...) but I stand by what I said

Do I have to explain the word "mostly" to you?

Care to give me more examples in that squad where we used "the money" to buy that league title?

**sonofstan** · 01/07/2008, 5:44 PM

Impossible to know for certain of course, but Cork's wage bill must be close enough to ours or Pats' if rumours are true: certainly no one at Bohs is making what G O'C is reputed to be on. Seems to me there's a big 5 - although Derry will continue to employ the b�al bocht when it suits them.

**mr.untitled** · 01/07/2008, 5:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Pats, bohs and Droghea (who aren't near top 3 in league BTW) will **** up sooner or later

since when is 4 points not near?

**SkStu** · 01/07/2008, 5:45 PM

to the original poster. NO WAY.

You should all realise by now, there is only one big club in Ireland.

Bohemian FC.

(just giving you all what you want)

**Dodge** · 01/07/2008, 5:47 PM

Where did I say you bought the league title? I said you were among the top 2/3 spenders in the league that year. Whch I believe you were.

On the 23 players, I honestly didn't think it was that big. Maybe I'm comparing it to our teams around 98/99 when we had HUGE squads