Wed Jun 28, 2017 10:36 am
Sven wrote:Tony Blue Williams wrote:Sven wrote:I can describe what went wrong for semi and non-professional Welsh teams previously playing happily in the vastly superior and competitive English pyramid in two simple words...Alun and Evans
He oversaw the ruination of many teams ambitions to climb through the English Leagues (as they had done for so many years)
He saw the end of the path of Welsh Referees being able to reach the pinnacle of their trade in English professional football, which had been so graced by their Welsh predecessors, such as Clive 'The Book' Thomas, Keith Cooper, Roger Gifford, Howard King, John Lloyd, Jack Flye and others
He oversaw the end of The Welsh Cup as we knew it (ending ANY Welsh club's only realistic route into Europe at that time) and I also recall Welsh-based teams literally being bullied into joining the FAW or (as did Newport County) having to play their 'home' games over the border!
Even Sam Hammam (at one point) suggested our club could eventually join in and play in Europe every season!
UEFA would like nothing more than all the Welsh professional clubs to join the League of Wales; and having a 'Reserve Team' in there would help their cause and not ours!
Currently, longevity and precedent are what are keeping Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham in the English pyramid and with that in mind, they are all best staying away from the FAW and the League of Wales, if they now what what is best for their long-term English League futures
Even if done with the best of intentions by the 'pro' clubs, someone somewhere at the FAW or at UEFA will use it for their political ends...just as the guy mentioned at the top of this post did a few years ago!
I agree with just about all of that, but isn't there a possibility for a partnership/feeder agreement between say Barry/Cardiff, Cwmbran/Newport, TNS/Wrexham and Llanelli/Swansea in the same way Manchester United used to have a tie up with Royal Antwerp in Belgium where players were sent out on loan so they could progress?
By proxy Barry vs. Llanelli would become a Cardiff/Swansea game in the WPL and could possibly boost interest.
Tony, I'd love to think that would work in a similar fashion (to some extent, isn't that what we do currently with Vincent Tan's other clubs?) but I think that is different to having a City 'team' in the League of Wales
It also raises the question about the possibility of actually playing Tan's other clubs in some sort of arrangement, but sadly I simply don't trust either the FAW or UEFA and wouldn't want to enter anything without cast-iron guarantees written in stone!
It wasn't that long ago we had to sweat on a decision from The FA/UEFA regarding whether we could play 'on behalf of the English League' if we had won the FA Cup/League Cups OR finished runners-up to a team already qualified for Europe through another route, e.g. Champions League via a Top Four Premier League finish
Wed Jun 28, 2017 10:52 am
Wed Jun 28, 2017 11:54 am
Wed Jun 28, 2017 12:01 pm
Wed Jun 28, 2017 12:09 pm
Blue_Barber wrote:Remember when Barry weren't bad and played a Jose Mourinhio led Porto!!
Wed Jun 28, 2017 12:41 pm
Wed Jun 28, 2017 1:06 pm
Sven wrote:
Tony, I'd love to think that would work in a similar fashion (to some extent, isn't that what we do currently with Vincent Tan's other clubs?) but I think that is different to having a City 'team' in the League of Wales
It also raises the question about the possibility of actually playing Tan's other clubs in some sort of arrangement, but sadly I simply don't trust either the FAW or UEFA and wouldn't want to enter anything without cast-iron guarantees written in stone!
It wasn't that long ago we had to sweat on a decision from The FA/UEFA regarding whether we could play 'on behalf of the English League' if we had won the FA Cup/League Cups OR finished runners-up to a team already qualified for Europe through another route, e.g. Champions League via a Top Four Premier League finish
Wed Jun 28, 2017 1:23 pm
Wayne S wrote:An idea that will probably be scoffed at...
You should get a free season ticket for your chosen LOW team with every ST bought for Swansea or Cardiff.
Have them play their games at differing times and get the fans through the gate. The club will benefit from takings in refreshments alone.
I know the fans who go to LOW games may ask why they shouldnt get free tickets but they are not having to cough up for the much more expensive Premiership or Championship ST's
Wed Jun 28, 2017 2:47 pm
Tony Blue Williams wrote:Sven wrote:
Tony, I'd love to think that would work in a similar fashion (to some extent, isn't that what we do currently with Vincent Tan's other clubs?) but I think that is different to having a City 'team' in the League of Wales
It also raises the question about the possibility of actually playing Tan's other clubs in some sort of arrangement, but sadly I simply don't trust either the FAW or UEFA and wouldn't want to enter anything without cast-iron guarantees written in stone!
It wasn't that long ago we had to sweat on a decision from The FA/UEFA regarding whether we could play 'on behalf of the English League' if we had won the FA Cup/League Cups OR finished runners-up to a team already qualified for Europe through another route, e.g. Champions League via a Top Four Premier League finish
Your probably right the red tape would scupper the idea. It is a shame we can't help the LOW in some way as it is embarrassing seeing the pathetic results in Europe.
Wed Jun 28, 2017 2:56 pm
Wed Jun 28, 2017 3:06 pm
Blue_Barber wrote:Why is it the Welsh clubs have to go to the FAW as well as FA when they get bookings?
Especially since they do naff all for our teams anyway
Wed Jun 28, 2017 5:47 pm
Blue_Barber wrote:Why is it the Welsh clubs have to go to the FAW as well as FA when they get bookings?
Especially since they do naff all for our teams anyway
Wed Jun 28, 2017 10:36 pm
Blue_Barber wrote: even speak with Ireland maybe and have a Gaelic/Celtic league type thing if Rangers and Celtic ever leave Scotland then we could even invite the Scots!! Lmao
Thu Jun 29, 2017 11:52 am
ealing_ayatollah wrote:Blue_Barber wrote: even speak with Ireland maybe and have a Gaelic/Celtic league type thing if Rangers and Celtic ever leave Scotland then we could even invite the Scots!! Lmao
I was just thinking this myself - a Welsh/Irish league run in the summer could do very well commercially in my opinion. Lots of nice away trips over the Irish Sea would be quality!
Fri Jun 30, 2017 3:42 pm
Tony Blue Williams wrote:ealing_ayatollah wrote:Blue_Barber wrote: even speak with Ireland maybe and have a Gaelic/Celtic league type thing if Rangers and Celtic ever leave Scotland then we could even invite the Scots!! Lmao
I was just thinking this myself - a Welsh/Irish league run in the summer could do very well commercially in my opinion. Lots of nice away trips over the Irish Sea would be quality!
It sort of works with the Celtic League in Rugby. Not sure though that the all mighty UEFA would allow it or even if the Irish League needs the Welsh teams.
Tue Jul 04, 2017 8:19 pm
Wed Jul 05, 2017 7:38 am
griff105 wrote:TNS go through tonight (though you will do well to see mention of it on BBC)
Rangers out
Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:20 am
Wed Jul 05, 2017 1:05 pm
Wayne S wrote:New Saints ranked 239 in Europe beaten at home by a Gibralta team (Europa FC) ranked 421.
Having looked at the UEFA coefficients almost all of the Welsh teams are right at the bottom totally at odds with the national team.
I know internationally we benefit from our proximity to England but something needs to be done.
The worst decision ever was to not fight FIFA when they wanted the Welsh teams out of the English League System.
.
Wed Jul 05, 2017 2:43 pm
ealing_ayatollah wrote:Blue_Barber wrote: even speak with Ireland maybe and have a Gaelic/Celtic league type thing if Rangers and Celtic ever leave Scotland then we could even invite the Scots!! Lmao
I was just thinking this myself - a Welsh/Irish league run in the summer could do very well commercially in my opinion. Lots of nice away trips over the Irish Sea would be quality!
Wed Jul 05, 2017 4:55 pm
BlueGog wrote:ealing_ayatollah wrote:Blue_Barber wrote: even speak with Ireland maybe and have a Gaelic/Celtic league type thing if Rangers and Celtic ever leave Scotland then we could even invite the Scots!! Lmao
I was just thinking this myself - a Welsh/Irish league run in the summer could do very well commercially in my opinion. Lots of nice away trips over the Irish Sea would be quality!
You could add the Breton teams to the mix Lorient, Guingamp, Rennes and Nantes all playing in the French prem. Would make a good competition.