Players Frustrated

As mentioned above, there are many League of Ireland sides now days who try to play a good brand of football, but it's fair to say that a reputation has spread among Irish football fans suggesting that Irish football is full of teams who kick balls long, hoofers as one person put it. You would have to agree that on majority there is a clear emphasis on a direct physical approach in the league of Ireland, down the years outstanding technical footballers have lost their way in the league and indeed lost their love for the game as a result of it. I spoke to one such footballer recently, the player didn't wish for his name to be disclosed as he is still active within football in Ireland. "I fell out of love with the game here, it just wasn't worth it, traveling all the way up to Derry, down to Cork, places like that to be sat on a bench and then arriving home at 2am, up for work the next day, fuck that, I wasn't even enjoying my football. Anytime I played I felt under pressure to do a job, all defensive minded focus, track back here and there, work rate this and that, not once was I ever told, go express yourself and not once was I ever set up in a system designed to allow technical footballers to go and express themselves. I never felt free to go show what I could do, the things that got me across the water. It's mad like, in England you have much of the same, academy sides over there are like Barcelona the way they approach the games, the ball gets zipped about, then when competition arrives that goes out the window in most clubs from what I could see"......the player continued "The league of Ireland is full of recycled dinosaurs (reference to the managers), I don't think I can point to more than five managers and say 'that's how he likes to play', what footballer wouldn't get pissed off with it? you're running up and down a line doing doggies as the ball travels back and fourth in the air for the most part. For technical players, how is a technical footballer supposed to show what he can do if the ball spends half the game in the air? it's crazy then because managers here drop you from the team stating things like 'you had no impact on the game', no impact? mate the ball is in the sky I used to think"..........."Eventually I just got pissed off with the whole thing, you're sat on a bench watching lads with half a touch win their headers and clear their lines all game, if that's what the manager wants then what can you do".



The last line of the rant really grabbed the attention. The statement that "you're sat on a bench watching lads with half a touch win their headers and clear their lines all game, if that's what the manager wants then what can you do". That line begs the question......is that the style of play fans want to watch?. Style of football within the league is affecting interest in games and quality on the pitch?. It's worth stating that without question there is players with unbelievable ability in the League of Ireland. What you would question or have doubts about is the approach of some teams in allowing that ability to express itself.