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With TNS losing to the side from Luxembourg, that’s all teams out before the end of July. Not able to build on last years coefficient gains.
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Very disappointinting as the league has actually made great strides forward in recent years so after last year this is a big set back.
I see we only had three teams in Europe this year? I thought it was normally four?
It's taken a massive step backward this year though; development teams from the top 3 divisions are now being placed in the local league system which means a lack of competitive fixtures for the reserves team and a decimation of the local league teams by the big boys
Hope our women's team do better against Athlone later.
As I've said before Cymru Premier needs to change to summer football. There are 5 Irish clubs playing in Europe this week, no doubt a couple will go through to the next round.
The experiment by the octogenarians of FAW and Alun Evans still hasn't got off the launch pad.
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The only reason the Cymru Prem exists is because Evans and the blazers shit the bed about some very small suggestion that Wales should lose its seat on the International Board back in the late 80's.Originally Posted by Steve the Tea
The experiment by the octogenarians of FAW and Alun Evans still hasn't got off the launch pad.
StT.
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The FAW should be big enough to admit that it has been an abject failiure and that Welsh football would be better served if the top clubs in the Cymru Premier returned to the English pyramid system.
True.
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They didn’t. Someone who knows more about the subject than me might be able to correct me, but it seems like the standards in the Welsh domestic leagues are lower in the women’s game than they are in the men’s.
Has to be a concern when the team that won the league comfortably loses in Europe so comprehensively.
If Wikipedia is correct they've played 8 Champions League qualifiers now and have lost them all without scoring.
It's good to see them winning 3 league titles in a row, and you can only beat the opposition in front of you, but it clearly isn't a strong league. Not a single player from the league was in the Wales squad for the Euros, and I can't remember any of our team ever playing for Wales.
I saw they lost some players to English league tier 3 sides over the summer. Do they need to join the English pyramid in order to progress? Wouldn't help the league, but it might be the next step for the team (if it's possible).
It's a real shame tbh as the league has made great strides forward in recent years. The standard has generally improved, as have the stadia, general professionalism of the league and the attendances too.
TNS getting in the group stages was a giant leap forward and delivered a lot of money to the league (primarily TNS of course) so this season is a real setback, especially as Northern Irish and Republic of Ireland teams (broadly similar leagues historically, althouth the ROI league has surpassed the others) are still competing as I type.
I wouldn't let one season tar the league the though. Things are improving but this year it clearly hasn't happened in Europe this season. It's only 8 months since TNS won a European group stage game though. Something unimaginable 5,10 years ago.
One other thing that's notable is the increase in professionalism below the top flight. The Cymru North and South are now run much better with clear routes to the top and surprisingly good crowds in many instances - a couple of clubs got some 1000+ crowds last season.
All the talk from Iain Darbyshire in pre-season was that they had kept the core of players, strengthened and with semi-pro contracts were in a better shape than in previous seasons.
But they lost Eliza Collie to Gwalia United (Cardiff City Ladies) with a player coming the other way, and Rhianne Oakley, Seren Watkins and Molly Kehoe are all now playing for West Brom in the English third tier. A few other players came in or were promoted from the u19s, but it doesn't look much like strengthening.
The main problem yesterday was that Athlone were half way through their season and firing on all four cylinders. Cardiff were still in pre-season and barely firing at all!
That’s pretty much how I feel - I can’t recall them scoring a goal in European competition or coming close to winning a game.
It’s too early to know how much of a positive influence Wales qualifying for the Euros only to get beaten heavily in every match will have, but you’d like to think that England’s success will have some impact here. If there are lots of young girls coming into the game in Wales, then you would think that would lead to a healthier domestic system where the best young players may decide to stay rather than go to the English lower leagues.
Need to change the season dates for the women's league too if they want a better chance of winning a few European matches.
They've just launched a U13s squad. Good timing with the Euros. Hopefully will be positive long term.
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