Eircom league - the reality

[afeencalleddan]

The average goals per game is markedly lower than that of the French, Portuguese and Greek leagues which are widely regarded as 3 of the dullest leagues in Europe. Another worrying trend to raise its head in the last few weeks in particular in the Eircom premier is the amount of drawn games. In the last month or so the amount of draws is phenomenal. That trend was continued tonight with 3/5 games ending all square.

How the hell are punters supposed to be attracted to attend these matches when they are showing these trends as well as being played at a lower standard than those mentioned above? You'd be better off watching Munster Senior League or Junior soccer. Speaking of which, Rockmount need to win away to Douglas Hall tomorrow night to set up a title decider against Avondale down at Avondale park on saturday afternoon in the MSL.

[ebenezer]

My tip, BOHS are flying.

[afeencalleddan]

My tip, BOHS are flying.Yeah, great win for them tonight away to pats. Puts them top of the league.

[ebenezer]

04/02/08 :

All I know is Bohs will have Glen Crowe and Jason Byrne up front.

Deadly partnership in an Irish league.

04/02/08 :

Do we discount 250 goals and 5 Irish titles :?:

06/03/08 :

COME ON YOU BOHS.

:cool:

[afeencalleddan]

It's Killian Brennan who's getting all the goals for them. Another tonight.

[ebenezer]

either player hasnt done anything in the last year and half
byrne has been sitting on his ass since he went to cardiff

crowe hasnt had a good season in 2 years

byren wont be gettng the same service he was at shels

yawn......city have george, gamble, healy, mooney, flynny (if he's fit) behan

who are bohs.....

jason byrne would be first choice striker at just about every EL side, however crowe is a spent force- he would get nowhere near citys first team this year

mooney, georgie, a fit jof would all wipe the floor with him and even behan is probably more dangerous at this stage :)

last year crowe was no threat so i dont see why this year will be any different

:rolleyes:

[ebenezer]

It's Killian Brennan who's getting all the goals for them. Another tonight.

That is true.

Crowe & Byrne will play their part yet.

[ebenezer]

3 league goals each for the boys so far, I think.

Any confirmation :?:

Brennan has 4.

[delzer]

yeah and what have crowe and byrne done yet?

they have a great midfield and neil fenn is keeping byrne out of the team.

byrne started on right wing tonight

[ebenezer]

yeah and what have crowe and byrne done yet?

they have a great midfield and neil fenn is keeping byrne out of the team.

byrne started on right wing tonight

How many league goals have Byrne & Crowe scored so far :?:

Where are BOHS in the table :?:

[afeencalleddan]

3 league goals each for the boys so far, I think.

Any confirmation :?:

Brennan has 4.Brennan has 5 now after tonight. The other 2 have 3 a piece.

[ebenezer]

Brennan has 5 now after tonight. The other 2 have 3 a piece.

Great work, Dan.

[delzer]

How many league goals have Byrne & Crowe scored so far :?:

Where are BOHS in the table :?:

im not questioning bohs position in the table

im just saying crowe and byrne wont be a lethal force as they were at shels

[ebenezer]

im just saying crowe and byrne wont be a lethal force as they were at shels

Who manages Cardiff City :?:

Who brought Wolves to the Premier League :?:

Who were in the FA Cup final this year :?:

Who signed Jason Byrne 18 months ago :?:

You calling Dave Jones a mug ?

[delzer]

who left jason byrne go?

how many goals did jason byrne score in the championship?

how many games did jason byrne play in the champioship?

was he not left go from cardiff?

[afeencalleddan]

Eb, I wouldn't be mad about Crowe but I'd say Byrne, Brennan and Fenn are the bright lights for Bohs from an attacking point of view.

[ebenezer]

who left jason byrne go?

Dave Jones. Didn't work out.

how many goals did jason byrne score in the championship?

Scored on his debut after coming off the bench.

how many games did jason byrne play in the champioship?

I'd say a dozen, all as a sub.

was he not left go from cardiff?

Yes. Fowler & Hasselbaink.



:cool:

[delzer]

byrne is just about getting his game.

he was onthe wing tonight and the two weeks before asfaik he was on the bench.

fenlon seems to perfer crowe and fenn up front.

i think bohs are a very good team and will be there or therabouts at the end of the season but imo i dont see byrne or crowe having the same impact as they did at shels thats all.

i really dont care about bohs to be honest im more worried about whats happening in turners cross.

[ebenezer]

Eb, I wouldn't be mad about Crowe but I'd say Byrne, Brennan and Fenn are the bright lights for Bohs from an attacking point of view.

TBH, Dan, I'm just winding.

[delzer]

i mean he wasnt good enough for the championship and i think byrnes conidence is probably very low after being left go at cardiff and making fawk all appearances it will take him a while to get back to the form he showed before he went to cardiff.

even though he is a lazy player hes a very prolific striker.

[ebenezer]

i mean he wasnt good enough for the championship and i think byrnes conidence is probably very low after being left go at cardiff and making fawk all appearances it will take him a while to get back to the form he showed before he went to cardiff.

even though he is a lazy player hes a very prolific striker.

Any International caps :?:

[delzer]

one i think but so has joe gamble

[ebenezer]

one i think but so has joe gamble

Did he play/score in Championship football for Reading :?:

Byrne has two caps.

[delzer]

Did he play/score in Championship football for Reading :?:

Byrne has two caps.

so has gamble

playing a handful of games and scoring 1 goal in the championship is a huge boast really is it?

boasting is colin healy numerous caps played in group stages of champions league.

but anyway getting back to the threads point

i think the eircom league standard has improved over the last few years.

i think there are so few goals and draws in the league because most teams in the league are very evenly matched bar one of two of the lower teams.

most teams now going professional definitley has made a difference.

[ebenezer]

so has gamble

playing a handful of games and scoring 1 goal in the championship is a huge boast really is it?

boasting is colin healy numerous caps played in group stages of champions league.

but anyway getting back to the threads point

i think the eircom league standard has improved over the last few years.

i think there are so few goals and draws in the league because most teams in the league are very evenly matched bar one of two of the lower teams.

most teams now going professional definitley has made a difference.

Let's face facts - It's a Mickey Mouse league.

[delzer]

Let's face facts - It's a Mickey Mouse league.

maybe in the grand scale of things it is but i enjoy supporting cork city and travelling to away matches.

i identify and have a passion for them above all other teams.

but yeah this league is never going to have a team challenging in europe or anything.

[ebenezer]

maybe in the grand scale of things it is but i enjoy supporting cork city and travelling to away matches.

i identify and have a passion for them above all other teams.

but yeah this league is never going to have a team challenging in europe or anything.

Good on ya kid.

Not for me.

[afeencalleddan]

Good on ya kid.

Not for me.Same here. That's what I'm getting at. People who aren't die hard City fans aren't going to be attracted in if this is what's being served up. I went to the Bray game on the opening night of the season and thought I'd die of boredom. I haven't been back yet this season and haven't missed a whole lot from what I can see. It looks like it's the same all over the country - low standard players (yes, I know they're better than they used to be) playing cagey soccer. There's no silver lining here.

[Centurion]

Same here. That's what I'm getting at. People who aren't die hard City fans aren't going to be attracted in if this is what's being served up. I went to the Bray game on the opening night of the season and thought I'd die of boredom. I haven't been back yet this season and haven't missed a whole lot from what I can see. It looks like it's the same all over the country - low standard players (yes, I know they're better than they used to be) playing cagey soccer. There's no silver lining here.

That Bray game was extremely boring. They defended to the last and City were poor throughout. Fair play for going though, pity about the bad game in question. Don't blame you for not going back after that. Very frustrating season so far for City and their fans.

2 type of 'supporters' out there I don't like.

The ones that slag it off endlessly because Sky have told them England or is better and the best league in the world!! 9don't get me wrong I follow it closely too but I'm more realistic about the league here and enjoy the games (eh, most of the time).

The 'hardcore' eLOI one who tell everyone they must get to a game and that they must stop following foreign football and try to make people ashamed of themselves for not going to a game/following the season.

A happy medium with a pinch of realism and some fun at games would make everyone happier.

I'm not sure that the league has got stronger in the last few years (being very recent). It did well in the early to mid 00's but when players started leaving around 2005 it's dropped a bit e.g. Doyle, Bennett, Houliahan - the Shels breakdown etc etc.

It's starting to catch up now again and the next two years are critical (in fairness this is said a lot and is true, it's nearly always between going a step forward and almost falling away).

A lot more money seems to be coming in or being made available again this year. The FAI have finally joined forces and got the finger out and increased TV monet and exposure should help. Also the prize money has dramatically increased.

European games are great when the teams get into the later qualifying stages. And you definitely get more value at these games if you've caught (at least) a few league ones during the season.

If it was looked after properly and a club was run well then a spot in the UEFA cup group stages could happen. A lot of ifs there but ya might as well dream y'know.





I know that UEFA thing is gonna get me in trouble!

[ho chi feen]

That Bray game was extremely boring. They defended to the last and City were poor throughout. Fair play for going though, pity about the bad game in question. Don't blame you for not going back after that. Very frustrating season so far for City and their fans.

2 type of 'supporters' out there I don't like.

The ones that slag it off endlessly because Sky have told them England or is better and the best league in the world!! 9don't get me wrong I follow it closely too but I'm more realistic about the league here and enjoy the games (eh, most of the time).

The 'hardcore' eLOI one who tell everyone they must get to a game and that they must stop following foreign football and try to make people ashamed of themselves for not going to a game/following the season.

A happy medium with a pinch of realism and some fun at games would make everyone happier.

I'm not sure that the league has got stronger in the last few years (being very recent). It did well in the early to mid 00's but when players started leaving around 2005 it's dropped a bit e.g. Doyle, Bennett, Houliahan - the Shels breakdown etc etc.

It's starting to catch up now again and the next two years are critical (in fairness this is said a lot and is true, it's nearly always between going a step forward and almost falling away).

A lot more money seems to be coming in or being made available again this year. The FAI have finally joined forces and got the finger out and increased TV monet and exposure should help. Also the prize money has dramatically increased.

European games are great when the teams get into the later qualifying stages. And you definitely get more value at these games if you've caught (at least) a few league ones during the season.

If it was looked after properly and a club was run well then a spot in the UEFA cup group stages could happen. A lot of ifs there but ya might as well dream y'know.





I know that UEFA thing is gonna get me in trouble!

What did you make of last night's match? I've heard a lot about City failing to close out games this year (haven't been able to get down there too often), but that was just plain bad luck last night IMHO.

I agree about the UEFA Cup, btw. Had those three teams we had a couple of years ago (City, Derry, Shels) remained on the same trajectory, it would certainly have been realistic. Things are a bit up in the air, but (from a neutral view), it's good to see teams like Pats and Bohs (both woeful for a time), reassert themselves. Let's just hope City can get in there too.

[Rebel Yell]

I enjoy the games in LOI because you don't expect great moments too often so when a super Dave Mooney strike or a great Devine save happen and City win it is the talking point for the night in the pub afterwards...and it's the nearest to top class football we are going to get on our doorstep...

That MSN programme is good also...can't deny that those highlights show up some great goals from time to time...

You have to appreciate the game for what it is here...it's not Real or Man U but it can be entertaining and addictive all the same...

[Rebelred]

I've been to the cross three times this season, twice I saw good football and once I saw poor stuff. Goals were few and far between but that's the way it goes, if it was 4-3 every week people would still complain.

[Comeretamebubbilah]

I enjoy the games in LOI because you don't expect great moments too often so when a super Dave Mooney strike or a great Devine save happen and City win it is the talking point for the night in the pub afterwards...and it's the nearest to top class football we are going to get on our doorstep...

That MSN programme is good also...can't deny that those highlights show up some great goals from time to time...

You have to appreciate the game for what it is here...it's not Real or Man U but it can be entertaining and addictive all the same...

well said...its never going to be the greatest footballing show on earth but there are moments in every game that make you appreciate having football on your doorstep..There's terrible games in every league in the world...its the goals, the last minute winners, the last minute equalisers (normally the opposition this season) etc...that makes football enjoyable...Can't beat live football...

[Rebelred]

Eircom pulling out as sponsors.

[KolaKubes]

I'm hoping that between Trappatoni and the new Dutch guru dude, Irish football is going to cut the umbilical chord to English football somewhat in terms of attitude.

I want to see ball-playing centre-halves and attacking, expressive and intelligent football being encouraged.

Things have improved, I remember domestic stuff being rubbish altogether but, from bottom to top (and I've some experience of the bottom), there's a sort of willful ludditism [sic] that delights in cloggers like Paul McShane and grafting, hard tackling midfielders booting small forwards two feet up in the air. The refereeing at local level in Cork is simply hilarious. Jokeshop stuff.

There's a friend of mine from France who's, apparently, a good footballer at "department" level at home. He plays five a side with us regularly. Outclasses us but it's not that he's a great dribbler or striker or whatever, it's his relentless intelligent use of the ball. We are just missing that from soccer here and I think its' something that could be addressed if the youth coaches were strictly under orders to instruct this to kids.

[ho chi feen]

I'm hoping that between Trappatoni and the new Dutch guru dude, Irish football is going to cut the umbilical chord to English football somewhat in terms of attitude.

I want to see ball-playing centre-halves and attacking, expressive and intelligent football being encouraged.

Things have improved, I remember domestic stuff being rubbish altogether but, from bottom to top (and I've some experience of the bottom), there's a sort of willful ludditism [sic] that delights in cloggers like Paul McShane and grafting, hard tackling midfielders booting small forwards two feet up in the air. The refereeing at local level in Cork is simply hilarious. Jokeshop stuff.

There's a friend of mine from France who's, apparently, a good footballer at "department" level at home. He plays five a side with us regularly. Outclasses us but it's not that he's a great dribbler or striker or whatever, it's his relentless intelligent use of the ball. We are just missing that from soccer here and I think its' something that could be addressed if the youth coaches were strictly under orders to instruct this to kids.

Step one- abolish organised matches on full size pitches for anyone under the age of 15.

[SenorCarlsberg]

Step one- abolish organised matches on full size pitches for anyone under the age of 15.

interesting idea...a smaller 5 or 6 a side game for under 15's would definitely enhance technical levels and awareness of space

[Waxing the Gaza]

Step one- abolish organised matches on full size pitches for anyone under the age of 15.

This would be a great move for the League and Irish soccer going forward. I've heard Johnny Giles talk about something similar on Newstalk as well. As far as i know the original Ajax youth system was based on similar ideals. I'd go one step further and reduce the amount of competitive matches played during a season by 50% thus removing some of the pressure on youngsters and put an emphasis enjoying their football, developing talent and expressing themselves on the pitch.

[ho chi feen]

This would be a great move for the League and Irish soccer going forward. I've heard Johnny Giles talk about something similar on Newstalk as well. As far as i know the original Ajax youth system was based on similar ideals. I'd go one step further and reduce the amount of competitive matches played during a season by 50% thus removing some of the pressure on youngsters and put an emphasis enjoying their football, developing talent and expressing themselves on the pitch.

I'd drop competitive matches altogether for the younger kids. If we're saying 15 for full size pitches, I'd say no competitive football for under 13s. The current environment puts winning above developing skills, and favours kids who've grown more quickly, and this is the crux of the matter.