League of Ireland 2021 - The Greatest Basket Case League In The World

Sport
61

Sure what’s the fucking delay then?

62

Athlone refused a license apparently

63

Lads it’s some mess :see_no_evil:

64

They’d be as well off scrapping the 1st division. The standard is no better than lsl/msl and its unsustainable. The appetite isn’t there for it.

2 Likes
65

Seems there is a John Caulfield interview on Sunday sport where he gives a prognosis on the LOI .

66

Still waiting on that PJ expose

67

They can’t or they can’t enter Europe. Has to be promotion/relegation or you can’t join European competition. They should split it North & South or something to cut costs though, play each other three times, then top 3 on each side play a round robin for promotion, or something along those lines.

68

Informative. I did not know that.
There aren’t enough teams in division 1 to split it geographically.

Having a B team in it is some farce.

1 Like
69

Ya it’s a good rule actually, to prevent the formation of an MLS style franchise system.

70

Informative - So there is a basket case second tier in Irish soccer losing money hand over fist just to ensure a few relatively rich clubs can make big money from Europe to keep them well ahead of other clubs .

71

Corrected

1 Like
72

European prize money is the only thing keeping the show on the road

1 Like
73

Yes

74

Too

75

Team qualifies for Europe. Can afford to pay the journeyman. Buys top LOI players. Goes bust. Rinse. Repeat

76

Nearly bankrupted Waherfurd last season not getting it. They’ve had to completely pare down their squad this season as a result.

1 Like
77

If they joined with the north there would be a possible element of sustainability there. Youd have at least 7/8 well supported sustainable clubs then

78

Dundalk are one of the best run clubs in the league and they are only surviving on that European run they had a few years ago, and a wealthy owner.

Another few years without a decent run and they’ll have to scale back.

Rovers look to be the most sustainable, selling young lads and hoping to make the Europa league group stages periodically is the only way forward.

The All Ireland league will have to happen one way or another really.

79

If that Brexit thing where British clubs can’t sign Irish players u18 comes in it could be a good money maker for the clubs with the academies now set up. The biggest money ever signing from the LOI was the 16 year old keeper from Rovers going to Man City

80

Rovers, Dundalk, Bohs, Cork, Derry all have enough of a pull to remain sustainable.

RTE had brilliant coverage last year, and the football has improved drastically with the switch to summer soccer and style changes.

Attendances are growing year on year. It’s just difficult for teams who aren’t the ones listed here

1 Like