Irish soccer
 
     You are here: Home > Blogs >
     Fixture pile-up makes a mockery of EA final


Fixture pile-up makes a mockery of EA final

It’s never exactly been a showpiece occasion but would-be sponsors will hardly be looking at Irish soccer as a viable vehicle for brand-building as the fall-out from a fixture pile-up demeans next weekend’s EA Sports Cup final.
 
     By Shane Breslin
     21 September 2009, 3:09:00 PM
 
For a number of years, the League Cup final took place on a Monday night.

Back in 2002, in the interim season which facilitated the switch between a winter and summer calendar, the fixture window was so constrained that no League Cup competition took place.

The early rounds, played out on a geographical basis, usually see managers make wholesale changes to their starting line-ups.

Whereas there is still some lustre to the FAI Cup, the League Cup occupies an entirely different place on the Irish football landscape: unloved and scarcely tolerated.

Still, the news that Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon will consider sending his reserves to Waterford for this weekend’s final – the first since EA Sports were unveiled as the League Cup’s new sponsors in March – comes as another damaging blow to a competition that is already treading water.

It’s difficult to feel sorry for League and Cup champions but Bohs deserve some empathy this week.

The vagaries of the fixture list have thrown up back-to-back games against the two pretenders to their throne, Derry City and Shamrock Rovers.

Throwing the EA Sports Cup final into the mix meant switching the Derry game to midweek, so now Bohs face Waterford on Saturday, Derry on Tuesday and Rovers next Friday.

Faced with that schedule, it was always going to be the case that the game at the RSC was going to be the one to suffer.

Saturday’s contest is a final but not a showpiece. There will be silverware but little glory.

Against such a backdrop, does the League Cup have any future? And what are the chances of EA Sports extending their sponsorship deal beyond next September?
Comments:  (Click here to post your comment)
1
The FAI’s sympathy for LOI competitions legendary.This season we had St Pats travelling to Russia to play on a Thursday and the generous FAI allowed them to move their league match from Friday to Sunday knowing they would be playing the second leg the following Thursday.
It was the same for the other LOI European sides. In the month of June we have a two week break for ??? Probably for LOI officials to have a break from their onerous duties,
  
mousey - 3:51:32 PM, 9/21/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

2
dont know whatfenlon is whining about
bohs are full time players whats the big deal playing sat,tues, fri. he should remember that those lucky enough
to have a job have to work mon,tues.weds,thurs,fri.get a grip fenlon
  
clonlee dundalk - 6:16:06 PM, 9/21/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

3
Its tough at the top Pat. Don’t know what’s hes crying about.Are they not full time? Last time he sent out the reserves Derry whopped them 5 in the same competion so go on the Blues see you in the sentanta next year
  
alex kristic - 6:26:35 PM, 9/21/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

4
In fairness is it not that crazy a schedule! It was always going to be a midweek game, and Waterford, who are also battling for the top of their league have the same problem. Except they’re part-time.
That said, the 2-week summer break does not make any sense to me. Does anyone know why we have it?
 
John Blue - 7:20:32 PM, 9/21/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

5
Lads,

Occasional midweek games are part and parcel of the season in its current format, so I’m not complaining about that.

But with Bohs down to play Derry and Rovers in the following six days, it was always going to be the case that Pat Fenlon would rest his first XI rather than risk injury in a game which is clearly low on the list of priorities.

It goes without saying that the same applies to Waterford, but as they haven’t won a trophy (the First Division title apart) since 1985, I think there is some sort of lustre for them that just isn’t there for Bohs.

The League Cup final should really be some sort of showcase. It’s on a Saturday evening. Live television. First-year sponsors. Surely it would have benefited from a bit of forward planning?


 
Shane Breslin - 8:21:54 PM, 9/21/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

6
I think the best way to save this ailing comp is to scrap the Setanta in its regular format and introduce a cross border league cup with about 64 teams involved, then you could have groups or just knock out, but with a whole new feel to it.
  
saint-abroad - 10:54:31 PM, 9/21/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

7
I think Fenlons main complaint is the about of travel involved ... Waterford to Derry to Wicklow.

Would it be an idea, to avoid the annual fixture pileup towards the end of the season, to have mini break in the summer while the qualified teams compete in Europe ? This would allow team to have a better chance in Europe, as well as avoiding the pileup.
  
Mully - 12:34:23 PM, 9/22/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

8
Interesting idea saint-abroad. I don’t know if there’d be some extra security problems with all the cross-border travel - would Kildare County cope with ~1000 Linfield fans? (no offence to Linfield, just the biggest Norn Irn team). Definitely worth considering though.
 
John Blue - 3:36:07 PM, 9/22/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

9
Congratulations Saint-abroad, probably the best idea I’ve heard in a long time. If such a competition started out regional it would allow smaller clubs a pay day against local big-boys, but would probably culminate in mainly the strongest teams on the island battling it out in the later rounds. Timing would be an issue with the two different seasons but in principle it might suit everybody nicely without much extra expense.
  
maseanjo - 5:08:43 PM, 9/23/2009  
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

 
Post your comment:
  
Name:
Insert below word into text-box
(What is this?)
  
Comment:
 
  more blogs
   McCarthy marked out by old head on young shoulders (9)
   Would another change of format benefit the League of Ireland? (17)
   Transfer deadline day as it happened (21)
   Scot-free Celtic on one-way ticket to nowhere (85)
   Trap trek: the next generation (26)
   Pantomime villain Tevez masks United’s real enemies (3)
   Bohs’ Fenlon stance to be applauded (15)
   Insurance vultures paint past in warm glow (4)
   Delaney parting shot puts league in the spotlight (9)
   The Cup is reeling from a decade of mortal blows (8)
   McCarthy was wrong to dress Wolves in sheep’s clothing (20)
   Threesome: Half-way line specials (5)
   Fergie: greatest of all time? (14)
   English triumphalism reminds us all of the real enemy (44)
   Embracing progress would be Fifa’s best compensation (13)
   Threesome: Sepp Blatter furores (5)
   The 33rd team request is beyond laughable (64)
   The SPL’s death has been quick, and it’s no less painful for that (13)
   Will Darron Gibson make the grade at Manchester United? (19)
   Spare a thought for Big Mick (19)
   Hand of Gaul – the fall-out continues (25)
   Paris 2009: Our turn to deal with sporting injustice (36)
   Dignity lies in avoiding England’s Hand of God mistakes (19)
   France-Ireland – the player ratings (56)
   Ireland can be inspired by Arsenal’s Anfield shock (19)
   France v Ireland – Live build-up (14)
   Get over it, Stephen. We have (28)
   Ireland v France – player ratings (30)
   Ireland v France: Live build-up blog (32)
   Dropping axe on Derry could be a turning-point (20)
   League hits new low as PFAI promise “all-out strike” (20)
   Is Galway capable of supporting Tribal Trio? (15)
   Can Miller rediscover lost promise? (9)
   Keane aura shattered by identikit errors (21)
   Levelling of Premier League’s playing field is something to savour (9)
   World Cup play-off draw - live blog (98)
   Feeling bleu... (23)
   Ireland v Montenegro – player ratings (26)
   RTE’s crew in cuckoo-land (40)