Billy_Hainey wrote:

Was'na feeling too well the night so probly shouldna went to the game. But I'm glad I did because a beautiful lady from Chesterfield sat next to me. WYOWYN. Eh defo.


Anybody ken what the attendance was?

 
1. photos or it didn't happen
2. Just over 1600

Young lad loved that the night (he'll learn soon).

To the gem, it was played like a friendly, as you'd imagine they came ti sit and counter and ti be fair to thum they done it well at times in the first half.

As fir us we were affy slow in possession Keatings and Nkoyi were nothin short oh brutal first half, Keatings no much better in the second. Happy fir Nkoyi ti get his goals hopefully he kicks on now. Willo was Willo running aboot like mad even finished the gem at right back. Oot the young lads Daily impressed me eh thought he looked assured and will hopefully get better, Chalmers eh didni think looked up to much 1 or 2 decent moments, the boy Taylor fae the left made a couple oh good runs first half.

Everybody kens em a big fan oh young Fraser and tonight he showed us again what a talent he is, he is hade and shidders above the rest oh oor players on his day(only Cowdenbeath but none oh the other first teamers stood oot) problem fir Ray is getting those days mare often, eh hope the strength of oor squad this year keeps um on his toes. Anybody no at the gem should wait fir the arabzone highlights just watch and appreciate his bah control and genuine talent in his assist fir the goal.

Last edited by BigAndyFTD (15/8/2017 10:56 pm)

Andy's post sums it up well. Was played like a friendly. Played like we couldn't care less about getting knocked out and tbh that's fine by me. Second half we could've had 2 or 3 more I thought but besides the point. Only benefit of continuing in this cup is it gives fringe players and any players who've been injured a chance to get back in the swing of things. Hope we continue to play the young lads in future fixtures, so fuck if we get knocked out.

It's all about the league this season, nothing else.

Went along last night and didnt expect much
Was pretty poor left just as we scored our first.
Nkoyi first touch is poor and will let him down alot this season as he does get himself in good positions. Maybe 2 goals last night will help him build confidence.
Good run out for the young boys and plyers who needed game time.

Last edited by bowers (16/8/2017 7:57 am)

tangerine terror wrote:

PatReilly wrote:

Crowd was officially reported as 1655. The tournament is a waste of time.

How is it a waste of time? Youth players got experience, and it's an early stages match against poor opposition.
 

Since you ask and have only recently joined the board, it's a waste of time as it has become a vehicle to justify installing a Celtic and The Rangers side into the lower leagues, in case these two get an opportunity to fuck off and play elsewhere.

If you think it's a worthwhile tournament, I respect that opinion, but if this is the best Scottish football can come up with to give youth players experience, then it reinforces the poor structure of football in this country.

Its a joke competition as Pat says. A crowd of 1655 last night proved that.

The U20 teams don't bother me and the foreign teams make it more interesting. The U20 teams mostly got knocked out in this round.

shedboy wrote:

what is the point of the cup - 1600 odd at the game.  probably biggest in the round as well.

should have an opt out and let the welsh and irish battle it out

Plenty point to the comp. 10 changes last night & 4 debuts. Next round I imagine there will be less changes & debuts. This comp gives you the opportunity to experiment. You must respect the sponsor too, there are other sports looking for sponsors. Scottish football is not awash with money. Respect the tournament & appreciate we can use it to our own devices. Plus we just happen to be the holders. It's an interesting format too, different these last two seasons.
 

smedDUm wrote:

PatReilly wrote:

tangerine terror wrote:

Can't agree with you. It is primarily a Cup for those teams outwith the Premiership.

It used to be, yes.

But now it isn't.

U20 teams for the first time last year, this year U20 plus overage players, Welsh and N Irish teams last year, same this year plus LoI teams. It's a joke.



Folk supporting it are supporting the likes of Doncaster being visionaries who will lead Scottish football out of the gloom it now inhabits.

 

Last season as this season the SPFL Prem U/20s are allowed to play a maximum of two players over 20. Nothing wrong with the competition, Irn Bru could be spending their money elsewhere. Anything that gets tried in Scottish football just gets slaughtered. Stand back & take another look. And if you still don't like it don't attend & don't try to deter fans that ARE interested.

Not really wanting to get into an argument with you, Smeds, but your first two statements are wrong.

This is the first season that overage players can be used, due to the dismal performances of the U20 teams last year.  

http://www.afc.co.uk/mobile/news/9945.php

http://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/irn-bru-cup-round-1-accies-u20-v-edinburgh-city/

http://www.forfarathletic.co.uk/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=10:fixtures-and-reports&id=2887:match-detail-irn-bru-cup&Itemid=28


And Jim McInally's view, which also mentions the rule change: he appears to disagree with your assertion that there's 'nothing wrong with this competition'. 

http://www.peterheadfc.com/news/item/1897-fizz-has-gone-out-irn-bru-cup-claims-balmoor-boss

In the 'nineties, we had over 3500 attending a Challenge Cup match at Tannadice in an early round, but less than half that last night. In fact, we had over 3500 just last season against Peterhead, but last night less than 1,700.

Most regular fans don't attend, because the present set up of the tournament is pathetic.



 

tangerine terror wrote:

 
I seriously don't think people have changed their mind about the challenge cup in the last year.
 

And I agree with you: folk haven't changed their mind. They thought it was a mess last season, and Doncaster has managed to make it worse this season. The holders (us) enter at the earliest stage, while the non-Scottish clubs receive a bye. Brilliant innovation!

And you are correct about the attendance comparisons, they aren't like for like, as they cannot be, with the arrangements being much worse nowadays due to allowing teams in which should be nowhere near the competition.

We can look forward to much bigger attendances in the next round, I imagine.

"utter rot"? "bollox"? 

Not really polite debating terms...........

Since I've outlined the pitiful arrangements for this tournament, can you maybe tell us why you think the Irn Bru Cup is an attractive or useful tournament for Scottish football and fans of the sport?

Can we all agree that it's a tournament our club shouldn't find itself having to play (a first team) in.  It was a useful exercise for Ray the other night, but it was a friendly in every aspect except name.  The tournament is possibly great for the wee clubs, but it should never be seen as important to United, accepting it is means accepting that we belong at this level and I'll never accept that.