State of the League

[hoops1]

The only way forward is if clubs start to live in the real world.

and fans

[brianw82]

I think that the sooner 2-3 professional youth academies are set up, the better in order to pump low wage, technically good talent into the league. It should help reduce the problems. I think that the FAI should put more money into full time youth academies where mid to late teens get an education and professional training - not so much fitness but work on strength, pace but most of all their technical ability to play football. Its important not to burn them out though. I think irish players are good physically by nature but lack a lot technically. The efflux of young players to Britain has to stop - they get burnt out or don't play at all. How many are really making the grade now - none probably. Stephen Ireland is average and he is probably the last young Irishman to make the breakthrough and he has major problems.

Its also important to introduce Psychologists at an early age to help players prepare mentally for matches and help them deal with the media. Furthermore, nutritionists and dieticians are important.

Regarding the 1st division, part time status should be abandonded. There should be no intermediate between amateur level and professional level. I think that 1st division teams should be forced to have 5 players on the pitch at all times that are under the age of 21 and that have come through their youth ranks.

The other part to the puzzle is more help from the media, Government and FAI, not just in terms of funding but also in putting together a plan. Having a side in the UEFA Cup group stages or CL group stages could be an extremely positive thing for the country, rather than Irish people forking out 1000s to go watch UK teams (and still be called Paddies).

Short term, well I think that the 10 team league will help but more of the clubs in the 1st division and lower half premeir should concentrate on youth development - imagine if UCD were able to keep all their players and offer them full time contracts. They would be be very close to the top of the league!!!

Thats some of my basic views anyway.

I think this is the best post of the lot, and yet nobody has commented on it???

In order for the league to progress, and for people to become interested in it, we have to produce better players that play in the LoI. While the best of the best will still inevitably go off to Britain, we have to create a situation where the remainder are much more highly-skilled than they are now. The big money that is currently being spent on player wages should be slashed, and spent on top quality coaches instead. I'm talking guys that have been coaching at the top level in Spain, Italy etc. Comparable in a way to replacing Stan with Trappatoni.

Once these structures have been in place for a few years, and wages have been brought down, market the bejaysus out of the league, some folk will come along and think 'hey, these players are a lot better than I thought! this is good stuff!!!'

For me, in order of importance and investment, what we need is:

1. Increase in playing standards by training young players to a higher standard and keeping them in the league until their early 20s
2. Increase in standards of facilities
3. Clubs being run properly by genuinely knowledgable business people
4. Marketing, marketing, MARKETING!

[DotTV]

The only silver bullet is significant government investment in stadium infrastructure combined with huge marketing spend from the FAI.
If that didn't happen when the Government coffers were overflowing then it certainly won't happen now.

Forcing adherence to the wage cap and pushing forward a coherent marketing approach is probably the most realistic options now available (current CPO approach is spotty, inconsistent and too depedent on the whims of the individual and club).

The core equation still doesn't make sense, we are a nation of football fans who won't watch our own football and we are almost unique in that respect. Nobody has ever given a coherent reason why this CAN'T be changed, all that we know is that like any significant behavioural change it will take a long time.

The only marketing campaign you need is on the pitch. If the product(ie the game itself) is not good or exciting people will not flock in droves. As was mentioned earlier the FAI need to set up some youth acadmies to stop all our talented teenagers heading across the sea and getting churned up in the big world of pro football.
In the meantime, clubs need to tighten up and stop paying ridiculous wages etc. If you get attendances of 1500 avg then budget for ticket sales of 1500 instead using exorbitant forecasts.

[barney]

The only marketing campaign you need is on the pitch. If the product(ie the game itself) is not good or exciting people will not flock in droves.

I don't necessarily agree with this. I've seen some football in England that made me want to gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon (Man U v Chelsea in the cup final, any number of games between Liverpool and Chelsea to name a few) and yet people still flock to the games and tune in. The power of SKY's marketing campaigns, the standard of facilities and the media coverage is what's driving a lot of the support.

What SKY have done for English football is absolutely mind-boggling.

[pete]

The power of SKY's marketing campaigns, the standard of facilities and the media coverage is what's driving a lot of the support.

Good facilities will hopefully bring bigger crowds & the "product" will look & feel better. If Drogs can build their new stadium for about 10m every club could have one. We need pubs in grounds too as Irish people watch anything if alcohol involved.

[Dazzy]

Good facilities will hopefully bring bigger crowds & the "product" will look & feel better. If Drogs can build their new stadium for about 10m every club could have one. We need pubs in grounds too as Irish people watch anything if alcohol involved.

Works in Germany

[bohs til i die]

State of the League= TERRIBLE (Financially)

i think it just shows that semi-proffesional clubs is the only option, as a nation we can support pro clubs but as a SPL, Barclays Prem league loving nation we simply cant support players been payed big wages.

Semi-pro/part time football isnt the answer either.

People in charge at clubs seem to think full time/professional football means contracts for average players worth thousands a week.

IMO that is the biggest problem. Too many average players making demands on clubs who are stupid enough to say yes. Cork should have told Gamble to fukk off to Pats.

Passing the buck to the FAI for decisions made by club directors is completely ignoring the real problem.

[brianw82]

IMO, no player in the league should be getting more than 52,000 p.a. They are simply not good enough, and it's killing the league.

[bennocelt]

IMO that is the biggest problem. Too many average players making demands on clubs who are stupid enough to say yes. Cork should have told Gamble to fukk off to Pats.

Passing the buck to the FAI for decisions made by club directors is completely ignoring the real problem.

Def agree here
Gamble is way over rated and Cork city must be mad to pay hims those high wages

The you have that fat lad that Pats paid over 3grand a week too, unbelievable

And Kildare, jeez second bottom of the league, i would have thought they would be amateur

[holidaysong]

And Kildare, jeez second bottom of the league, i would have thought they would be amateur

They can't pay their existing players yet they go and bring in Philly Hughes during the transfer window...

[Dodge]

IMO, no player in the league should be getting more than 52,000 p.a. They are simply not good enough, and it's killing the league.

YOu mean idiot directors are killing the league. No one else approves the wages

[BleusAvantTout]

If your expenditure exceeds your income then things will come to a head. Some of the players' wages down there are "way over the top" and now clubs appear to be feeling the pinch. Cut your cloth and see what happens. It's not rocket science.

I watched the Bohs v Drogs game last night and was disappointed with the crowd for the potential champions v the reigning champions. Very poor.

[brianw82]

YOu mean idiot directors are killing the league. No one else approves the wages

Absolutely - it's the directors to blame. You can't blame players like Joe Gamble for wanting to earn as much as they can. If you yourself were offered 50,000 p.a., would you turn it down to earn 30,000 somewhere else? No, you wouldn't. And neither do footballers.

[sullanefc]

Absolutely - it's the directors to blame. You can't blame players like Joe Gamble for wanting to earn as much as they can. If you yourself were offered 50,000 p.a., would you turn it down to earn 30,000 somewhere else? No, you wouldn't. And neither do footballers.

I would certainly turn down 30,000 if I was already earning 50,000.