Did you smash it wrote: » Correct. It’s better than nothing but it’s unambitious
irelandrover wrote: » A 6000 seater stadium is perfect. In huge stadiums the atmosphere is terrible with a small attendance.. With a small stadium the atmosphere can be fantastic, and with a great atmosphere people can accept a lower standard of football. They start coming regularly and then you can look into expanding.
EmmetSpiceland wrote: » The FAI had no interest in domestic soccer. They only seemed to look after themselves and the National side, one a lot more than the other. With the state of their finances now it will be a long time before they can focus on the League of Ireland, that’s if they haven’t got the same type of people running it.
landofthetree wrote: » No excuse for following English teams.
fryup wrote: » how about scottish teams?
Strumms wrote: » The are clubs in most major population centers though. Dublin : Bohs, Shels, Rovers, Pats, Cork : Cork City Limerick : Limerick FCKilkenny : Kilkenny City Donegal : Finn Harps Louth : Dundalk, Drogheda Galway : Galway United Waterford : Waterford United Sligo : Sligo Rovers The cities or population centers you’ve mentioned, should it be up to the FAI ? Or people on the ground... to sort out teams and be successful.
Hamsterchops wrote: » Massive support here in Ireland for English Premiership football, cuz that's where the stars play and that's where the social media buzz is at. It's a long tradition to support English football teams here, usually picking out a team where there's Irish interest, in the 70s it was Liverpool or Leeds, then it was Newcastle, nowadays it's mostly ManU, not so much for any Irish interest but for the bling, the man buns, the tats and the kudos
Hamsterchops wrote: » We love football in this country.
Did you smash it wrote: » Reading on RTE.ie that the public purse will be used to fund a white water rafting complex in the ifsc to the tune of 25 million. This while “the home of Irish football” Dalymount park is a half condemned ruin. It amuses me that people think Ireland is a football country because it has the highest participation rate of any sport. Truth is we have no football economy really beyond a really small time one and no matter what the FAI do they’ll never have the ability to upgrade it as there is no financial investment or wealth in football in the country. The public’s investment in football amounts to sky sports subscriptions and trips cross channel.
cms88 wrote: » It's not the FAIs fault Irish people would rather support teams in England rather than Ireland.
irelandrover wrote: » I live in Holland and the model of the first division is one the league of Ireland should follow. They don't really want to compete with the Eredivise so all games are on a Friday night. Fans turn out because a few beers at live soccer with friends is a great Friday night. its not competing with the main games from the Premier league or the Eredivisie.
Omackeral wrote: » That literally is League of Ireland. All our games are on Friday nights. You can easily watch Man U/Liverpool/whoever else in Sat and Sun. Do both.
bocaman wrote: » How many players on the international team are there in the LOI? None. Thats part of the problem. A second one is horrendous facilities. I'll believe the Dalymount redevelopment when I see it. However its no good complaining about the standard of the LOI then headding off to Old Tafford or Anfield or London to catch a game.
Thelonious Monk wrote: » Do Irish people still support Celtic?
fryup wrote: » :rolleyes: no they've change allegiances to Rangers
irelandrover wrote: » I did look at the fixtures for last year before my post and saw quite a few other days. But maybe that was due to Covid. I cant attend LoI games as i don't live in the country but do have a season ticket here for my club.
Thelonious Monk wrote: » It's a serious question. Used to be a big thing. I don't hear about it any more or see Celtic jerseys like I used to.
Omackeral wrote: » Friday night is football night in our league and has been like that for at least the last 20 years. Sligo play on Saturday night but they’re the exception. Yes, Covid season was a one-off. All kickoffs are 7:45 on a Friday night. It’s a perfect start to a weekend.
maccored wrote: » pretend soccer country surely?
Omackeral wrote: » Turners Cross, Tallaght Stadium. Sligo Showgrounds are all perfect. People will still find an excuse. I remember on here a few years ago someone gave the facilities and standard reasons for not giving things a chance and it was pointed to them that Hannover96 were coming to Tallaght to play Europa League football. Good stadium with Bundesliga opposition. “Ah no Phelps is competing in the swimming tonight.”
Omackeral wrote: » They support Celtic in the same way they are Catholics on a census form. That’s my experience of it. I probably know 2 actual fans of the club. The rest say they like them but they don’t really give a toss outside of maybe the Old Firm or Knockout European games. Same as Xmas mass for the a la carte bunch!
twowheelsonly wrote: » The facilities in Soccer over the last 20 years have improved in leaps and bounds. To be fair to Delaney it's one of the things that he drove on. When I played we got changed in an old shipping container and we played on a pitch that was roughly as level as a skateboarding park. The same club now has dressing rooms, showers, 2 pitches with sprinklers and drainage and a half size astro. The same is true of many clubs. I don't agree that the FAI don't care about LoI or local football in general. I deal with lads in the FAI and almost without exception every one of them has a LoI club that they follow or are involved with their own local clubs. There's a very strong LoI culture there and a good slagging between staff on a constant basis. The problem as I see it is the overall structure. Too many Associations and divisions. All have their own structures (Chairman, Sec, Treasurer etc) and all want to protect what they have. The GAA structure is far better. Limerick for instance has two or three separate adult leagues. In Cork or Dublin you have the likes of the AUL, Munster/Leinster Senior leagues, Shipping Leagues etc. The same filters down at Schoolboys level - Dublin & District SL, North Dublin SL, Metropolitan Girls League etc. In GAA all clubs are affiliated to their County Board. They in turn are affiliated to their Provincial Council and in turn to the National Council/Congress. Everything flows sweetly up and down (for the most part) and everyone is (again for the most part) working to promote GAA. FAI Council is trying to cater to too many sub-divisions which leads to the pie being too broken up too many times. There's 60 members of the FAI Council - all representing various Leagues or Associations. Why does a country of our size and population need 60 representatives ?
Samsonsmasher wrote: » Until there is the same passion for soccer as there is for hurling and Gaelic football in rural Ireland we are never going to be able compete with other countries or European clubs. The best athletes in the country are wasted playing GAA. Not just potential soccer players but potential Olympic athletes. There is just no other sporting outlet. It's as simple as that.
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://w4.vanillicon.com/v2/4c2f272c464d99a9eee64a80fbe71a0c.svg)
