League Of Ireland Discussion Thread

And Dublin have a better Real Football team then anybody eles :bbpd:

 

Shut your hole.

:icon_mrgreen:

 

Someone from Dundalk calling anywhere else in the country a shithole

"Miles ahead", its the LoI ffs. These things change every three of four years. The real test will be this year without Towell. Your current team is nowhere near the standard of Shels early 00's, Bohs 08 or Rovers 11 and thats only since the turn of the millennium

 

Whats your point? Renting a ground seems to work just fine in a load of European countries. No way am I talking lectures from a Dundalk fan on ground ownership when you don't know yourself what the state of play is with Oriel

 

Give over, shells of the early 00s are light years away from the current dundalk team in terms of fitness conditioning and style of play. The shels boys would tell you that, do you watch much football??

 

Are you thinking of the same Shels team? You know the one with Byrne, Crowe, Hoolahan, Ndo, Moore etc?

 

Where's Crowe nowadays haven't heard anything about him since about 2010

 

Those boys were great players, But I see these dundalk boys training in the gym, and I have never seen loi boys in the condition they are in. Im not talking out of my *, these boys are all single digit % fat, I just think they are like a pro team in a part time league, and its up to the other teams to raise their standards.

 

Coaching St.Mochtas in the LSL, he played for them for a few seasons but retired last year.

 

They could be the fittest team in the world for all its worth, they aren't a better team than any of the three mentioned above. Again lets see how things go now without Towell

 

I remember hearing a few seasons back Bohs were looking to re-sign him but he'd already got his tax back so it wasn't a runner

 

That's right. They've a few quid at Mochtas now as well and plenty of ex LOI players. They're challenging for the top league now and when Crowe etc first went to them they were a few leagues down.

 

Your bitterness is great to read :smiley-laughing002:

Without Towell, we will get on just fine! Already McEleney looks like he is going to improve the side (ran the show last week V Cliftonville and again Friday night V Shels, and we have yet to see Benson yet)

You should be getting angry that your board sacked the best manager in Ireland not that teams 10/15 years ago are better than Dundalk, after a few months and ever since he has left, his new side (who were bottom of the league when he joined) have finished 2nd, 1st, 1st and won the League Cup and FAI Cup in the 3 years! where as Rovers have been getting worse each season :smiley-laughing002:

 

Good luck making up the 30 odd goals, McEleney is a great prospect but hes shown nothing so far to guarantee that sort of a return never mind better it as you have alluded to.

We've finished 5th, 4th and 3rd the last three seasons. On what planet is that regressing?

Meanwhile Rovers are on an all expenses pre season tour in India playing in front of 20,000 whilst Dundalk are playing Waterford in front of a handful

 

Hoops enjoying benefits of Indian pre-season at Nagjee Cup

Updated: Wednesday, 17 Feb 2016 23:11 | 7 Comments

• 7 Comments

Shamrock Rovers have reached the semi-finals of the Nagjee Cup in India Shamrock Rovers manager Pat Fenlon is delighted with the way his side's pre-season has gone as the Hoops enjoy an extended stay in India, having reached the semi-finals of the Nagjee Cup in Kerala.
Rovers were invited to participate in the tournament and shocked many by progressing from their group to the last four with victories over the 1860 Munich Under-21 team and the Argentina U-23 national squad.
Fenlon’s side will now take on Brazillian side Atletico Paranaense for a place in the final, which would see the Hoops take on either Dnipro or Watford in Sunday’s showpiece.
The Hoops pre-season tour is now in its 17th day since leaving for Kerala on 1 February and aside from progressing in the tournament, Fenlon is very happy with the training opportunities and quality of opposition, which he believes has proved the perfect preparation for the start of the upcoming SSE Airtricity League season.
"Coming here was two-fold for us; it’s getting away from the weather in Dublin and the quality of the opposition,” said Fenlon, speaking to 2fm’s Game On.
“We played Dnipro, Argentina's Under-23 squad and 1860 Munich. And now we play a Brazilian club side in the semi-final.
“So the competition has been fantastic from our point of view. From a fitness point of view it has been very warm during the games, 28-30 degrees, 75-80% humidity, so it’s been difficult for the players but we have got stronger as the tournament has gone on.”
The now-extended trip has brought real positives for the manager as he feels the length of time spent together has helped the new players settle into the squad.

“We have been able to get some quality training sessions in here and to get the players to gel together, as we have a few new players in. When you come away for a couple of weeks, you get to know each other fairly well so it’s been great from that point of view as well.
“And the players can get out and about and get a look at the place as we are in the middle of the city so they can keep themselves occupied.”
Rovers were due to play Cabinteely in a pre-season friendly on Friday night but Fenlon believes that this tournament has provided the perfect preparation to challenge for this season's league title.
“The games that we have played should hopefully have brought the players on leaps and bounds in relation to their match sharpness and fitness.”
“We have been able to work them really hard in the days that we have had off as well. We’re hoping that we are going to get big benefits but we won’t really know until the season starts. I’ve taken teams away before and it’s always gone quite well, and hopefully this is no different.”

"We’re happy with the squad. We don’t have any more money to do anything else" ​

The Hoops open their league campaign with an away trip to Sligo on the opening weekend on 5 March but Fenlon does not feel being away is hampering his chances of strengthening his current squad as he has already spent this season’s player budget.
“We’re happy with the squad. We don’t have any more money to do anything else. The squad we have is quite strong, we’re happy with it and we're looking forward to the season with the players we have in the club at the moment.”
And while the locals have been turning out in their thousands to watch this once-prestigious tournament, which has returned to the calendar for the first time since 1995, Fenlon admits that it is mainly to watch the teams from Brazil, Argentina and Germany.
“We’re trying to open the Kerala branch of the Shamrock Rovers fan club. We have a few members so far. The locals love their football and they have a good knowledge and hopefully we have a good night tomorrow night.”
Shamrock Rovers v Atletico Paranaense Reserves takes place on Thursday afternoon, kick-off 1pm (Irish time).

 

????

 

A stutter:smiley-laughing002:

 

* me , how many teams have they got in this tournament ?

There will database errors for a month if they win the * thing.

 

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-have-to-build-something-better-34469856.html

Good read.

 

Interesting and a fair piece.

I don't think capping prices at €10 would prove worthwhile for clubs though. They'd be better off pumping a certain % into facilities be it for fans or players (including away fans who most clubs don't give a * about).

The most crucial point for me is the fixture congestion, there are too many games with all the cups over the second shortest playing season in Europe, its a joke for players and supporters alike