Would an all-Ireland league be more successful?

IRISHSPORTSGUY

FIFA would have to give guarantees first that the NI national team could continue before the IFA would even think about it, of course.

Yes, I know there's the Setanta Cup which has a bit of prize money, but there's no real edge to it with no European place on offer and the FAI Cup/EA Sports Cup already there.

What do you think it would be like? Would the league thrive or would it make no difference at all? Shamrock Rovers and Linfield might have the potential to be a tasty rivalry.

Fr Tod Umptious

IRISHSPORTSGUY wrote: »

FIFA would have to give guarantees first that the NI national team could continue before the IFA would even think about it, of course.

Yes, I know there's the Setanta Cup which has a bit of prize money, but there's no real edge to it with no European place on offer and the FAI Cup/EA Sports Cup already there.

What do you think it would be like? Would the league thrive or would it make no difference at all? Shamrock Rovers and Linfield might have the potential to be a tasty rivalry.

It would make feck all difference.

The people who are not bothered about Bray v UCD will not be too bother about Bray v Crusaders either.

Neil3030

It would be a welcome step in the right direction imo, but ultimately more would be needed.

SantryRed

Not at all. I do think Platinum One taking over the league could do the league good promotional wise.

Mint Sauce

I did once think it would be a good idea, but like it was pointed out, if people are not interested in matches from the individual leagues, their not going to be interested in matches from a combined league.

IRISHSPORTSGUY wrote: »

FIFA would have to give guarantees first that the NI national team could continue before the IFA would even think about it, of course.

The NI national side is under enough threat as it is with more players choosing to play for the ROI.

IRISHSPORTSGUY wrote: »

Yes, I know there's the Setanta Cup which has a bit of prize money, but there's no real edge to it with no European place on offer and the FAI Cup/EA Sports Cup already there.

Already european places up for grabs with the current FA's. A combination of the two leagues would more than likely reduce those places.

IRISHSPORTSGUY wrote: »

What do you think it would be like? Would the league thrive or would it make no difference at all? Shamrock Rovers and Linfield might have the potential to be a tasty rivalry.

Both leagues have their rivalaries already. A combined league could introduce a nasty element such as sectarianism or bigotry, with teams traveling either side of the boarder.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Supporters from the Republic would be putting themselves in a lot of danger going to games in the North, imo.

bUILDERtHEbOB

On the European places, could it not be done in that the places go to the highest sides from the respective country, like if a top 6 was for example Rovers, Derry, Linfield, Sligo, Pats and Glentoran, Rovers get the Republic CL spot and Linfield get the Nordie spot, whilst Derry, Sligo and Pats get the Republic's Europa spots and Glentoran get the first Northern Europa spot, and so on, if that makes any sense...?

AgileMyth

bUILDERtHEbOB wrote: »

On the European places, could it not be done in that the places go to the highest sides from the respective country, like if a top 6 was for example Rovers, Derry, Linfield, Sligo, Pats and Glentoran, Rovers get the Republic CL spot and Linfield get the Nordie spot, whilst Derry, Sligo and Pats get the Republic's Europa spots and Glentoran get the first Northern Europa spot, and so on, if that makes any sense...?

What if the top six was all current LOI sides? Seems unfair for a team you finished above to get a spot in Europe ahead of you.

This has been discussed numerous times at this stage. It not going to happen and I don't see how it'd improve anything anyway. The only thing that'll improve the league is bigger crowds and I can't see that happening anytime soon. People are determined not to support.

Ebbs

People under estimate how bad that league is. Super nice stadiums all around generally but attendances are even worse and the standard is terrible. Dundalk pre season beat most of their league comfortably.

That and I wouldnt touch that organisation with a barge pole. Anyone who employs the likes of Worthington and puts up with his behaviour is not fit to run a league. When the FAI do a better job than you, its time to pack it up as a football organisation.

Dozen Wicked Words

The cost of policing and stewarding the games would be prohibitive, not too many teams in the north would add to the standard of football or facilities, so don't think it would do irish football any favours.

wexfordia

I don't think it would raise the standard of domestic football that much.

Number 10 Shirt

I couldn't see it improving that much even with an AIL. Ireland doesn't have a critical mass of supporters like other countries in Europe so it would be hard to sustain a strong/decent league imo.

BOHtox

wexfordia wrote: »

I don't think it would raise the standard of domestic football that much.

It would. Let's say it's a 10 team premier all-ireland league. You wouldn't have Galway and you would have Linfield. Linfield are a lot better than Galway and therefore the standard of the premier division would be raised.
I am in favour of an 18 team all-ireland league.

nordydan

An All Ireland league cup would be a logical choice, ie simple merger of the two league cups. Would require two matches more per club each season (maximum). Scrap Setanta Cup, Co Antrim shield etc.

Also merge FAI Junior Cup with northern equivalent, I think its called the Steels & Sons Cup.

The easy, cost effective solution which would feed through

BTW, talk of southern fans being attacked in the north is bull****. Its the intracity derbies that cause the problems, ie Rovers-Bohs & Linfield-Glentoran.

Run this for 2 or 3 years and see how things progress!

djPSB

Would an All Ireland Championship, ran in the same format as the GAA football championship, with only one team per county be totally outrageous??

stovelid

baz2009 wrote: »

Supporters from the Republic would be putting themselves in a lot of danger going to games in the North, imo.

It's usually grand when we've gone up before.

ArmaniJeanss

djPSB wrote: »

Would an All Ireland Championship, ran in the same format as the GAA football championship, with only one team per county be totally outrageous??

It would be way beyond 'totally outrageous', it would have careered past 'farcically stupid' and be dangerously veering towards 'psychopathically insane'.

pablomakaveli

I'd be against an All-Ireland league.

I've always seen the idea as a quick-fix type solution that would do little to address the underlying problems with football in this country.

Look at the Setanta cup for a glimpse of what would happen. There was a lot of hype and good attendances for the first couple of seasons but it's almost forgotten about now and attendences are low.

nordydan

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

djPSB wrote: »

Would an All Ireland Championship, ran in the same format as the GAA football championship, with only one team per county be totally outrageous??

It would be way beyond 'totally outrageous', it would have careered past 'farcically stupid' and be dangerously veering towards 'psychopathically insane'.

It happens at schoolboy level in the north, each of the 6 counties has a team in the milk cup iirc. At a professional or senior level, no

NufcNavan

djPSB wrote: »

Would an All Ireland Championship, ran in the same format as the GAA football championship, with only one team per county be totally outrageous??

Yes.

dan1895

djPSB wrote: »

Would an All Ireland Championship, ran in the same format as the GAA football championship, with only one team per county be totally outrageous??

And what do you suggest happens to the existing clubs?

Ferris_Bueller

Can't see why it would help, don't think it would change anything in the long term, maybe just the first year or two there would be a small increase in crowds/interest.

born2bwild

dan1895 wrote: »

And what do you suggest happens to the existing clubs?

They'd get new technicolor O'Neill's gear, four extra players per side, the hand ball rules would be revolutionised and the goal posts would be raised up a bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDC5DGPJ1CI&feature=related