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Croly's men trail Dundalk 2-1 in the Setanta Cup semi-final. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

'It's ludicrous' - Croly calls for longer domestic season

The Shamrock Rovers boss says it is ‘impossible’ to continue with the current format due to fixture congestion.

SHAMROCK ROVERS BOSS Trevor Croly has called for the length of the domestic season to be increased as he is unhappy with the current congested fixture list.

The Hoops have played 11 competitive matches so far and sit third in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after losing out to St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night.

They turn their attentions to the Setanta Cup this evening as a semi-final second leg with Dundalk at Oriel Park awaits.

Eamon Zayed kept the tie alive with an 84th-minute goal after Richie Towell’s double three weeks ago while the winner will face Sligo Rovers in the final after their 5-1 win over Pat’s last night.

Speaking ahead of a busy few weeks of football, Croly said: ”We’ve got eight games in 23 days, it’s virtually impossible to keep playing. It’s ludicrous really to ask players to play that number of games.

“I think we need a longer season, absolutely. I’ve said it before. We played seven in 21 days a couple of weeks ago and then had a week’s break where we played Friday-Friday, and then we’re into eight games in 23 days. It’s not possible.

We played 52 games last year which is a hell of a lot of games — 52 games in 36 weeks. There are very few weeks to prepare teams. You’re basically just recovering, playing, recovering, playing.”

As well as taking its toll on the players, Croly believes it is a lot to ask fans to attend more than one game a week.

“It’s not financially possible for people. Do people have enough money to go Friday, Monday, Friday, Monday, Friday, Tuesday, Friday? I don’t think they do looking at some of the gates. You have to expand it. The FAI need to take control.

“The other thing is that you get more quality. If you can prepare properly, there’s more chance of quality games to try promote and sell the league. I think it’s something that really has to happen to be quite honest but I think it’s just diluting the quality.”

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6 Comments
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    Mute Gerry Peyton
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:12 PM

    C’mon the Pool!

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:32 PM

    @Gerry Peyton: it’s a little cold to be going to the pool.. Maybe around summer time come back to me

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    Mute Hank_Scorpio
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:49 PM

    Hooray defence has changed a little.
    Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Can, Lovren, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Salah, Firmino. Subs: Karius, Klavan, Grujic, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Solanke, Sturridge.

    Some good news finally.

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    Mute Ronan Rafferty
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:52 PM

    @Hank_Scorpio: Emre Can at centre Half?

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    Mute Hank_Scorpio
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:56 PM

    @Ronan Rafferty: at this stage I take a traffic cone over some of the centre halves.

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    Mute Hank_Scorpio
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 3:07 PM

    @Ronan Rafferty: plus it’s good to see No 23 back in the defence.

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    Mute Colin Floyd
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:15 PM

    Brighton to Win and Shane Duffy to score a header..

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:29 PM

    @Colin Floyd: you are a header

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    Mute Laura Walsh
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 4:19 PM

    @Colin Floyd: threw himself to the ground for that peno, our Shane.

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    Mute powerfix
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:57 PM

    Come on Hendo Cano Dumo Robo Salo Gimpo Harpo Gypo and Kloppo . Majestic !

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    Mute Gerry Peyton
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 3:46 PM

    @powerfix: whatever your in to, we won’t judge.

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    Mute dannyboy
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:23 PM

    A Brighton win here wouldnt surprise me….if they contain and mark Salah, then they should score and take the points…i’m a big fan of Chris Houghton who was very hard done by at Norwich..

    And on to more important news…well done Chelsea another 3 points and the gap is closing….ish !!!!

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    Mute Link
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 3:28 PM

    @dannyboy: Hard done by at Newcastle too. The man gets no respect from up high but players have never had a bad word to say. Excellent football man, terrible footballing politician. Unfortunately that’s the same as every other walk of life. Big Sam, anyone?

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    Mute Gerry Peyton
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 3:44 PM

    @dannyboy: Houghton?? Wasn’t he yer man that put the ball in the back of the English net?

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    Mute Justin Barrett
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 5:01 PM

    @dannyboy: Great prediction, you must be a real football man, Lol!

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    Mute powerfix
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 4:07 PM

    3-3 anyone ?

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    Mute Chris Perrey
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    Dec 3rd 2017, 3:08 AM

    @powerfix: yeah maybe in 10 years

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