Eircom League

So the Eircom League is about to implode, disappearing forever. I wonder if it will take the country with it. Probably not seen as most of the country doesn't know it exists or doesn't give a fuck about it.
There's so much guff given to the league about it being shit, hoof ball crap. Of course most of this guff comes not from followers of our beloved league but from haters. It's madness really it's like saying LOST is shit without ever seeing it. How do you know. Some people love it some hate it. I love it. There's nothing better than seeing your team do battle for 90mins with a fierce rival and winning. Many times I've walked out of Dalymount or indeed into the bars in Dalymount after a game with an electric buzz running through my body. A buzz I could never get nor understand getting from sitting in a pub watching a game. It's a special feeling, a unique feeling of being apart of something, belonging to something. It's a connection I wish every football fan could make but alas it can not be.

So all these news stories about teams on the brink of collapse, extinction etc etc is worrying news for all involved. Firstly if all of the teams mentioned (Bohs, Cork, Galway, Sligo, Cobh) go bust the league will be short a few numbers. Secondly it'll give those EL bashers some more fodder. Anyone that's close to the league will know now for a long time that this has been coming. Shelbourne were just a warning of the future to come. Overspending to achieve unattainable goals is suicide.

Unfortunately not everyone saw these warning signs and it would appear disaster is striking for some clubs. Galway and Sligo offloaded a heap of 1st team players in July to deal with mounting debt. Cobh have asked their players (who laughed it off) for €2k loans and have now asked their fans. Bohs have been recklessly spending money (that they may not receive) on spoofer managers, spoofer players and God knows what else. St. Pats recently sacked Michael Keane for being too fat, obviously that was found to be unjust and he will probably receive the rest of his €3k a week contract. Most recently in the news have been Cork City. Now there has been many different incarnations of a Cork football team but they are all before my time. This Cork team however have generally been successful and challenging since I've been around. They've got the biggest fan base in the country and have sold 6 players in the last 3 years to English clubs. So how are they in debt? Well their lovely backers Arkaga have decided to stop putting money into the club for whatever reason. Leaving cork more stranded than a spider down the shitter. They have since gone into examinership probably hoping for the same handy outcome which Shamrock Rovers got a few years back when they only had to pay off a fraction of their debt.

All these situations lead to the obvious question, how is the Eircom League ever going to be made sustainable and successful? Well firstly clubs are going to have to get real and stop spending money they don't have. If this means reverting back to part-time football than so be it. The days of grossly overpaying players must come to an end. The next step is a tricky one it's double edge sword like. Facilities and support. It's said that facilities need to be improved to increase attendances. But why and how are clubs going to improve their facilities if no one is going to their games?? Really and truly what do you need to enjoy a good game a football? 22 players on the pitch, a decent ref, a good view and a roof over your head. Possibly a pint at half time too. If that's all then get your backside down to your nearest Eircom League game give it a shot and stop making excuses. If crowds increase then facilities will fall in line and improve to meet new standards. It's much more difficult to follow, if we build it they will come. If Irish people want their own League to follow, that they can be proud of, that they can enjoy, that they own, they can. The capacity is there, just the mindset is lacking. It's easy to dismiss it and sit in the pub following your team. It can be hard work going to a home game every 2nd week and going around the country for games on the other week. But the rewards are there and they're worth it. If you really love football, you know what to do.

Ah Sure

I felt it was time I started to blog again. I've been filling with with rants and raves but have no one that will put up with them so blogspot here we go. Right now I've been banished to my bedroom, yes you heard right a 24 year old man banished to his room. But I've got cans of Tuborg Gold so it's all good. I hope you're ready for some good old fashioned giving out because that's what I'm best at and there'll be plenty of it.

All Alone

So Clarke have left me in Toronto all on my own, homeless! :(
But never fear Brelaine have stepped in and I'm now staying with them. Hurrah!
Yesterday we went to go to some freedom festival in Queen's Park but it was lashing rain so myself and Brendan got a load of cans and went to Emma & Katie's place to drink them. We then proceeded to the Green Room where we met our buddies and had a few more drinks and some food only for the nice staff to let us leave without paying! Happy days. The last few days have been fairly shit weather wise but today nil aon scamall sa speir agus ta an ghrian ag taitneamh!!

SPERM! For Tickets.

Interesting wha? Well Mark beat me to blogging about it and NME beat him to writing about it so I'll just say this, Oxegen isn't even worth a wank.

Football, who's the best?

Well I've been hearing and reading a lot recently about which league is the best in the world. The loudest group championing themselves is of course the English. Perhaps rightly so seen as their four representatives in the champions league are still there. The counter argument here is that the 'top four' are simply masking the fact that the rest of the Premier League is of a sub-standard what with Everton and Spurs just being knocked out of the UEFA Cup. Then again you could argue that Spain, Italy, Germany and Turkey only have one team each left in the Champions League and in truth it is the only way we have to compare leagues by comparing the top teams.

My point I want to get at here though is not about the Champions League it's about the best domestic league. How exactly is the best way to judge a league and say without a doubt which is the best? Is it on the number of teams in European competition, the style of play in the league, whether it be skillful, attacking, fast paced, etc. Is it all about TV coverage and sponsorship? Or is there more to it, is it about the fans? Perhaps it's the quality of players that grace these leagues. Or maybe just maybe it's about how those 18 or 20 teams compete against each other week in week out. I mean apart from the fans who wants the Bayerns' and Reals' of the world racing away with an eight point lead with over ten games to go.

If I have a quick glance around the European leagues many of them are as good as over, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Portugal it's for the leaders to throw away. Only England and Turkey seem to have leagues where teams are still competing for the title. The Premier League has Arsenal, Man Utd and even Chelsea are back in with a shout. In the Superleague you've got the top four all within a point of each other which is rarely seen in Europe at this time of year. Looking at it this way I suppose you can say the Premier League is the best this year if you take into account the superior players they have compared to the Superleague.

But then again I'm tired and hungry and want to wrap up this post for now. I want to discuss the other aspects of European leagues such as derby matches and mid table mediocrity. Please feel free to comment on what factors you believe make up the best league around and is it all all fair comparing leagues when budgets are so massively different. Until then your friend and mine, Deano.

P.S.
Fuck Man Utd.

Welcome Back!

Well I've neglected this wonderful blog for over 3 months now. I'm a disgrace I know but now I'm back, with a vengeance....