FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[Declan]

For me the Magic wand solution would be if we could have the Rugby Provincial Club model.

Exactly the conversation I had today - Organise a Celtic League along the lines of the rugger and it would improve things here and in Scotland and Wales

[Billys Boots]

For me the Magic wand solution would be if we could have the Rugby Provincial Club model.

Exactly the conversation I had today - Organise a Celtic League along the lines of the rugger and it would improve things here and in Scotland and Wales

I've had that conversation recently too.  And it wasn't with Declan. 

[AZOffaly]

For me the Magic wand solution would be if we could have the Rugby Provincial Club model.

Exactly the conversation I had today - Organise a Celtic League along the lines of the rugger and it would improve things here and in Scotland and Wales

I've had that conversation recently too.  And it wasn't with Declan. 

In what sense lads? Have a team in Munster Ulster Connacht, Leinster and a couple in Dublin? Then join with the Scots and Welsh in a league?

Interesting idea, but I can see a couple of issues. Would the IFA be interested in this? And what would happen clubs like Derry City, Sligo Rovers, Bohs, Cork City etc. not to mind Linfield Glentoran etc? We've all seen what's happened clubs like Shannon, Garryowen and Blackrock. Nobody cares except a cohort in those clubs. I can't imagine the FAI getting much support for essentially turning those famous old clubs into junior clubs.

It does sound interesting though.

[Billys Boots]

Well the discussion I had was about having an alternative progression for Irish players to the Premiership (or probably the Championship, at this point in time).  The people I was talking to had been working on links with the Dutch and Swedish leagues, but the impression I got was that youngsters would be less likely to succeed there as a result of a mixture of culture-shock and homesickness.  The chat moved on to an alternative home-based system that might have a basis on development of technical skills, as opposed to the tall gym bunnies required for the English conveyor belt.  The discussion hasn't ended there, will keep you updated. 

[Declan]

Interesting idea, but I can see a couple of issues. Would the IFA be interested in this? And what would happen clubs like Derry City, Sligo Rovers, Bohs, Cork City etc. not to mind Linfield Glentoran etc? We've all seen what's happened clubs like Shannon, Garryowen and Blackrock. Nobody cares except a cohort in those clubs. I can't imagine the FAI getting much support for essentially turning those famous old clubs into junior clubs.

Huge issues as you say AZ but bar a couple of LOI clubs the rest are a basket case. My thinking is if we want an alternative to the Premier League/Championship route to develop our players we should link up with the Scottish and Welsh and have a 12/14 team league based on provincial lines ala the rugger. Yes Rovers, Bohs, Linfield etc would moan about it but actually you'd find that it's be the blazers at each level that would be the biggest  obstacle. If its a viable option for a sport like Rugby I can't see why it wouldn't work at soccer.

It depends on what yo want though - As far as I can see in the current globalised world of soccer we have less chance of being successful at international level as our lads will not be exposed to the top competitions. So to paraphrase if it ain't working it needs to be fixed.

Currently despite numerous efforts over the last 30 years or so the LOI cannot work in it's current format.

Though it needs someone with a vision of where we want to go and the necessary drive to bring it forward and floppy head ain't the man to do that

[Billys Boots]

There's another barrier too - three of the four associations that would have to be involved have seats on the FIFA Rules Committee; those seats are (rightly) under threat, so they won't want to be drawing attention to themselves either. 

[ballinaman]

Squad for friendly against Serbia.


Ireland squad: Westwood, Forde, Randolph; Wilson, O'Shea, St. Ledger, O'Dea, Ward, Kelly, McShane; Whelan, Gibson, McCarthy, Green, Coleman, McGeady, Keogh, McClean, Treacy; Doyle, Long, Cox, Walters.


This is a middle finger to the brilliant & loyal Irish fans from a stubborn manager.

Pilkington? Robbie Brady? Conor Clifford? Duffy? Foley? Hoolahan? Stokes (gobshite but prolific at Celtic)? Ciaran Clarke?

[Applesisapples]

I think Trap has proven that he is a stubborn oul wan.

[laoislad]

Shay Given has retired from international football.

One of the best.

[From the Bunker]

Shay Given has retired from international football.

One of the best.

+1

Good time to go for Shay. He has given his time, and given it well (to use the puns) Glad he did not announce this after the Euros.

[Farrandeelin]

Alternatively you could blame the Mayo Association Football League for poor attendances at training sessions for a lot of rural clubs From the Bunker, particularly at underage level but that's for another discussion rather than the FAI thread!!

[AZOffaly]

I notice Shane Long, who was 'idiotic' for suggesting he might have been fit to play in Serbia played, and played bloody well too, for WBA today. (Disastrous effort at a peno aside). So who is 'idiotic' Trap?

[laoislad]

I get the sense Trap has a problem with Long and I don't mean his footballing ability.

[AZOffaly]

Seems that Trap has a problem with quite a few lads at this point. It's nearly unusual for their not to be a 'communications issue' on squad or team announcements at this stage. I think Long would be a fairly dedicated individual as well.

[trileacman]

Agree with Trap, Long declared unfit to play, then after the match declares that he was fit.