Greatest League in the World 2024 [new thread available]

PGE1970

What this Drogheda side might lack in skill, they make up for in heart. We will lose more than we win but there will be no lack of effort.

Dodgy penalty aside, we still deserved a win last night in front of a rocking United Park.

And for once against Dundalk, we got what we deserved.

ben.schlomo

We were really poor despite the win in Athlone last night. Two well taken goals but hung on grimly at the end after dropping deeper and deeper. We'll definitely be in the mix at the end of the season but the negative substitutions and tactics from JC will cost us points along the way.

thebronze14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118804633#Comment_118804633

Yeah didn't see that coming. Would have bitten your hand off for a draw before hand. 3 nil was probably a fair reflection. Can only really remember 2 half chances for shels that were Skyed. We have looked well in a few games so far without being able to put the ball in the net so was nice to score a few! I was at shels v pat's earlier in season and despite the fact it was 3 nil there were some positives to take but there were none last night. The league is so weird this year that shels will probably blitz whoever they are playing next!

artanevilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118800381#Comment_118800381

Unionist teams are as much a part of Irish football and Unionist people part of Ireland whether they like it or not. It would be great to have a league with all involved. Probably would get a bit tasty but that, for me anyway, would be a huge draw.

Patrick2010

Good nights football in Tallaght last night, some atmosphere near the end when it looked all over a Hoops winner.

Stupid mistakes gave Sligo a 2 goal lead when hoops were all over them

Liberta Per Gli Ultra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118801296#Comment_118801296

The majority of clubs in the Premier Division are currently trying to coerce fans into buying tickets exclusively online at the behest of Future Ticketing, their software provider (aka racket operator). Your situation is one of the upshots and obviously goes against the "let's make the league accessible" line, which is a favourite of some when it suits.

Barring a sellout, there should always be a ticket kiosk open at a stadium.

dfx-

I think the making the league more accessible idea is dead in the water after the LOITV season pass fiasco. We're actively making it more difficult for those who are dedicated and interested, never mind those who are not.

CSF

Potentially the worst Shels performance I’ve ever seen and that’s saying something considering we’ve been through some dark years.

The next few games are crucial for us as a team and Duff.

eire4

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118806539#Comment_118806539

Won't happen any time soon sadly but it would be IMHO great for both leagues if they merged. You could easily then have 2 proper divisions of 18-20 teams and I would think over time it would only lead to the strengthening of football in the country overall.

deisedude

Anyone having trouble watching Wednesdays highlights show?

Got as far as the first division games and then I'm hearing commentary from the wrong game over the video

srfc d16

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118807440#Comment_118807440

I can't speak for away tickets but there has been a ticket kiosk open for home fans in tallaght this season.

Liberta Per Gli Ultra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118813891#Comment_118813891

I've seen that, and I'll be using it if we get drawn at home in the cup.

I'm more interested in the treatment of away fans, and not just our own. There are people across the league trying to fill supporters' buses, which is much easier when fans know that tickets are available to those who show up at an away ground, rather than those who reserve the option by buying online and selling later.

Like I said, unless sold out, any home or away supporter/neutral/random gobshìte that arrives at a stadium should be able to buy a ticket at a kiosk/desk/window and walk in.

Ohmeha

Shels away trip to Sligo moved at 10 days notice from Saturday 2nd April to Friday 1st April with no explanation provided by either club

The contempt show towards loyal travelling away fans in this league shows it's as backwards as ever

kksaints

It's moved because Sligo are playing Bohs in a rescheduled game Monday 4th so Sligo I assume want an extra 24hrs between matches. It's crap for Shels fans alright.

srfc d16

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118818322#Comment_118818322

Sorry but I don't understand your argument here. How is it easier to fill a bus with people who have not bought tickets in advance than those who have?

I know if I am traveling to an away game and tickets can be bought in advance I would buy the tickets online and not drive across the country without a ticket.

artanevilla

Why would you buy a spot on a bus if you don't have a ticket?

dfx-

The LOI being a select secretive bunch of nods and winks as you go past a fellow fan is supposed to be a caricature, not a goal.

Maybe it's the way that we can find out when our teams are playing each other. Pass someone with a Sligo crest on their jacket and ask them are they playing Derry today? Drop by UCD on the 46A and ask the driver if UCD and Drogheda is on...

Or only play games at random times and only tell home fans. Make it as impossible as we can..

Liberta Per Gli Ultra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118819039#Comment_118819039

It's one specific of a bigger point, and obviously not relevant to the Sligo fan left in the dark by Future Ticketing, but it's not particularly hard to understand. I appreciate that this is a thread where people dedicate pages to moaning about their LOITV experience and may not be ones to "buy" a spot on a bus all that often. Some of us have been "buying" a spot on a bus without a ticket for the last three decades.

If away tickets are exclusively online and the start-of-season bandwagon is still rolling with casual away fans on board, one of said event junkies can buy a few tickets days in advance, decide what he's using at his leisure, tell his mates on Thursday evening that he's selling a ticket or two, and drive/not drive his sedan to the game (as has happened with Derry and Dundalk away so far). Meanwhile, the supporters' club can't commit to the bus company on time as too many of its members missed or weren't invited to the "window for purchasing" (vomits at ticketmasterspeak in the LOI).

Again, not the overall point, irrelevant to the original poster who should've been able to show up at the away end of our stadium and get a ticket, and less of a problem as the season progresses and the event junkies ease off.

Ohmeha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118818903#Comment_118818903

Sligo should have been told to go and take a shyte by the FAI, there was a 72 hour gap between Shels and Bohs which are HOME games for Sligo who are full-time professional so absolutely justifiable reason for the fixture to be moved other than for competitive advantage for their Bohs game with full assistance of the all 'new' non-crooked FAI. Sligo choose to schedule their home games out of sync with most other clubs on a Saturday nights so they should live with it. It doesn't excuse the cowardly statement from Shels failing to call out Sligo and the FAI on this which has resulted in their own fans out of pocket for pre-booked travel and accommodation

artanevilla

Surely Shels would have had to agree to the change?

On a side note, it's now 32 days since the Sligo Bohs game was called off, still no word on refunds.

I told ya

Just to clarify the situation.

I bought an East Stand ticket on the Hoops website. Turned up at the away entrance. The ticket wouldn't scan, I explained the position and was let in, no problem. As I was walking away the guy shouts 'it's the only bleeding favour you'll get tonight'. 😁

Unfortunately, I didn't see him on the way out.

Oat23

Ed McGinty should defect to Scotland in protest after James Talbot gets a senior NT callup ahead of him.

fatbhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118825915#Comment_118825915

We'd only really need a time-wasting specialist like him against Belgium, so he wouldn't be in contention for the Lithuania game.

Oat23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118827607#Comment_118827607

He's unreal at it to be fair. Only 6 yellows in 90 games. Different class.

The mullet deserves a yellow for every appearance.

artanevilla

And he's behind Max O'Leary in the pecking order anyway.

I doubt Randolph done himself much favours with his social media posting.

Oat23

I still think if you're going to call up a LOI player it should be based on merit and not whatever lad lives closest to the training pitches. Even if the player is only going to be there as an extra training body for the week.

artanevilla

James Talbot has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League since he arrived, he's been in the squad before (this is his third call up) and it's not just a token Kenny LOI callup, his first was under McCarthy.

You can make an argument for McGinty, but it's not much stronger than Talbot's. Bear in mind Kenny has worked with McGinty in the U21s as well.

Oat23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118829364#Comment_118829364

McGinty is easily the best keeper in the league currently. He was also the best keeper last season. Both the eye test and the stats back that up.

artanevilla

Why was Max O'Leary called up then? Sligo is closer than Bristol.

shanec1928

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118821961#Comment_118821961

Cry me a river…games are always getting moved around there’s plenty of notice there, plus who dosnt book something with free cancellation. Plus shells never bring a big crowd here.

topmanamillion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118837703#Comment_118837703

A tough division to get out of, champions look like they'll come from Cork, Waterford or Galway. No guarantee either of the 2 that falls short will get promoted. All the likes of Treaty has to do is hang in there to finish 5th of 9 and peak next October for 2 weeks in games they'd have absolutely nothing to lose against sides with a lot of pressure on them.

Mr.Crinklewood

Only watched McGinty once so far this since ( v Shamrock Rovers ), hard to judge in that match as he didn't have that much to do.

He did make one decent save near the end, all the others were routine enough.

Oat23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118839549#Comment_118839549

Possibly the match winning save if McDonnell didn't score that OG McGinty was going to easily save right after.

ben.schlomo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118839526#Comment_118839526

Ya Treaty were really poor when we played them a few weeks back, should have beaten them handily but JC's negative tendencies allowed them back into it.

Ya JC and his archaic, negative ways are annoying plenty of us but still plenty here happy to take the start we've had and the position we're in with a game in hand.

Mr.Crinklewood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118839659#Comment_118839659

That's the one.

Oat23

A guy on Twitter has developed a LOI fantasy game if anyone is interested in playing. There's also a predictions league I think.

https://twitter.com/LOIFantasyF/status/1507827918428332039?t=A9CILvfmDUldtdp_C7GEXg&s=19

https://loifantasyfootball.com/

Oat23

Seeing the word "sportswashing" thrown around a lot today, and not all of it coming from the FIFA stuff in Qatar. There seems to be a very mixed reaction to the Comers getting the go-ahead to buy 85% of Galway United. Whats the story here? I've seen a few Galway fans on Twitter mention that there were suggestions the Comers would pull all support if the vote didn't go in their favour, which doesn't sound great.

https://galwayunitedfc.ie/galway-united-club-statement/

kksaints

Saw something about them buying buildings in Galway and then leaving them derelict as one possible factor. Interesting takeover although their track record in other sports wouldn't inspire. One of the brothers is a big horse breeder and part-time trainer. Most of the horses he breeds and trains are pure rubbish and he's been investigated before by the Department of Agriculture and Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

joeysoap

Good for Galway and the league in general.

Dundalk fined €1200. (which seems-to me anyway - way over the top)

UnleashTheBeast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118861349#Comment_118861349

Sportswashing? Ah will ya stop.

What do you think the Comers gain from sponsoring Galway United? Do you really think we as a club are going to have a huge bearing on how they're perceived locally or nationally. Of course not.

The Comers have sponsored the club to the tune of around 1.5m since we came back into the league.

Fan ownership does not work for all clubs, it has worked well for club's like Sligo, where more or less they're the only attraction in the town and their fanbase is incredibly loyal. Galway United competes with elite level teams in almost every sport and then you're also competing against the Races etc in the Summer.

Fan ownership did not get the traction it needed in Galway, and as a club, we were never going to compete again without significant investment, that's the cold hard truth of it.

The Comers have more or less been bankrolling GUFC anyway over the last few years, for little or no reward, so it's not like you're getting into bed with some unknown business man from god knows where that has shady intentions.

They are billionaires, if they deliver even half of what they promised, it will be unbelievable for GUFC and bring the club on hugely.

Oat23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118862409#Comment_118862409

I was just repeating what I read a few people saying in reply to the ownership announcement. I don't know anything about them myself which is why I asked. 👍️

Based purely on twitter it seems GUFC fans are split on the whole thing. Some think it'll be great and others think it's a big mistake. It is twitter though.

ben.schlomo

The majority, at least on our forum, would be in favour of it. There were lots of questions around why now, what would they invest in, the facility/land at Mountain South, Athenry. I'd be in favour but wanted assurances around those questions, which in part were answered.

NIMAN

Delighted with another 3pts tonight away to Bohs.

Draw would have been a fair result, but I'll take more of these late winners.

kksaints

We were disappointing tonight. Far too ponderous in possession and rarely looking like breaking the Drogs down too often despite most of the possession. Drogs goal was horribly sloppy defending from us. Some of our young players played well tonight when they came on and Burns was good but we need to play much better next time out.

ben.schlomo

We were very poor again in beating Cobh at home. Level of performance is just so bad. Too many average players. Style is poor. Tactically poor. Another 3 points though.

Looking more like us and Cork for the top 2 spots as the weeks go on. A 5 point gap to Waterford in 3rd now. Although Longford do have two games in hand to close the gap.

ben.schlomo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118869158#Comment_118869158

Ya I'd agree completely with that. We've played two good halves of football this season, against Treaty and the second half v Waterford. The rest has been filth. I know exactly what we're getting every week and it's painful. I don't listen to OTB. Others amongst our fans are happy to take it as long as long as the points are being won.

ben.schlomo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118869161#Comment_118869161

Also wouldn't surprise me. Cobh were willing and game last night but in fairness they could have been there til now and not had a sniff of a goal. But you can't just surrender territory and possession to every team once you go in front. That's why a team like Wexford with a better quality of player than Cobh could nick something.

Did you smash it

Sligo pitch is insanely bad. Odd incident in their game vs Shelbourne in the 51st minute where a Sligo player seem to have an easy header off a dropping ball in the 6 yard box but he overran the ball while the shels defender sleepily looked on.

topmanamillion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118861349#Comment_118861349

The Comers wanted ownership because they want full control. Understandable with their level of financial input and after making an ownership bid they were never going to go back to being good little sponsors, not how people like them operate.

Galway's their play thing now and who knows if they`ve any acumen in running a club, time will tell. They`ve had 3 years to build a training ground in Athenry and have yet to get planning, something you would have thought would have been bread and butter for 2 brothers who made their money in construction.

Galway football needs a hell of a lot more than 2 brothers with deep pockets to be successful. POS at Limerick threw about E5 million at it and managed to bury them. He had very similar plans around building a training ground and bought an old convent to convert into one if I remember correctly. Power at Waterford burnt through millions as well and left them just before they were relegated.

PGE1970

Good performance from Drogheda last night and I thought we deserved a point that I didn't expect us to get.

What is almost a brand new team is beginning to gel now and I'm hopeful that we might get 8th place that I'd bite your hand off for.

Big game in Harps on Monday. I'd take a draw now if offered it!