Cymru Premier

[winsumluzsum]

What a gutless performance from TNS. I'll be amazed if they make the group stages of the Conference League as they're so lacking in bottle. They only fashioned a couple of good opportunities all game, despite having all the possession. And then they fluffed their lines, as in earlier ties. Clearly all this talk of making the group stages is getting to them.

Petrocub had about 6 fans at the match, but they outsung the 300 or so TNS fans that bothered to turn up.

If Cymru was represented by Caernarfon or Bangor you know the ground would be packed to the rafters and the team would give it a right go.

We desperately need the FAW to implore McIlhenny and Reynolds to buy a Cymru Premier side. With so many paths available to the champions to get to the group stages it could be a real money spinner.

We desperately need to have Cymru represented by a proper club.

[robwrecsam]

Are they out now or have a crack in a different comp?

[winsumluzsum]

They still have one more chance to make the group stages of the Conference League. I'll be amazed if this gutless bunch make it.

[stevej]

Didn't see the game, felt they had a chance in this tie and losing 1 nil over 2 legs proved that to be the case..

Moldova 18 places higher in the association rankings than Wales, plus we get some coefficient points for the draw on the night which takes us to 1.125 for the season..

Possibly see it as a 'small' step forward with a possibly more winnable tie to follow...

[conwy10]

I find the TNS hate a bit strange.

I don't want them to win the Cymru Prem, but if they do and do well in Europe we might not lose a European Spot. That European spot could be a money spinner for the 4th best team in Wales, or even 7th. Add to that exposure for the league, we won't be embarrassed as the only country that isn't a glorified city state to not qualify. It will break a glass ceiling for others to try later on.

[zserty]

Aug 13, 2024 21:38:46 GMT conwy10 said:

I find the TNS hate a bit strange.

I don't want them to win the Cymru Prem, but if they do and do well in Europe we might not lose a European Spot. That European spot could be a money spinner for the 4th best team in Wales, or even 7th. Add to that exposure for the league, we won't be embarrassed as the only country that isn't a glorified city state to not qualify. It will break a glass ceiling for others to try later on.

Why is it strange? A team owned by an absolute ego maniac that throw money at the league and win at a canter every year. They play in England and have a smaller fan base than Cymru north/south teams.
The extra spot would be nice, but they always bottle it. Most likely be the same next round where the team are arguably better than the one theyve just lost to.

[winsumluzsum]

It's not really TNS' fault, but the Cymru Premier desperately needs proper competition, which means at least one other team that's full time. McIlhenny and Reynolds could make that happen and given the European money available from qualification to the group stages of the Conference League this should be a profitable proposition, as well as giving Wrexham academy players a chance to gain experience of the men's game on loan.

How much money is likely to come TNS' way if they make the group stages of the Conference League?

[kracken88]

They should buy a club with real history like Merthyr because I think the actual history of Wrexham was a massive pulling point,let's be honest who would want to pump money into one of these white elephant clubs that make up this league,you'd have to have brain damage.

[CrackityJones]

Plenty of clubs yn y Gogledd with more history than Merthyr that actually play in the Cymru leagues

[allezlesrouges]

Still think TNS can do it, it's the best opportunity they've had in years to qualify. Although that will place even more pressure on them, pressure that wasn't on that last game

It seems Petrocub are a bit better than this Lithuanian team, and given how tight it was against Petrocub there's no reason they can't do it. However I think there will be a lot of disappointment if they blow this opportunity. Needs to be the game(s) of their life

[vvm]

Very gutless performance, Petrocub really not a good team but TNS had nothing about them and deservedly didn't go through.

Most likely Panevėžys in the playoff for the Conference league. On paper a much easier tie that they SHOULD win but agree with what's been said, they've got absolutely no bottle about them. Jordan Williams getting himself sent off like that. Unforgivable.

Panevėžys are somehow BOTTOM of the Lithuanian league after 24 games despite winning it the season before. Uefa club coefficient ranks below for reference also look favorable.

TNS - 193
Petrocub - 208
Panevėžys - 300

[talyfan]

Know full well TNS will bottle it

[welshrover]

There's No Spirit!

[conwy10]

Aug 14, 2024 9:29:01 GMT zserty said:

Aug 13, 2024 21:38:46 GMT conwy10 said:

I find the TNS hate a bit strange.

I don't want them to win the Cymru Prem, but if they do and do well in Europe we might not lose a European Spot. That European spot could be a money spinner for the 4th best team in Wales, or even 7th. Add to that exposure for the league, we won't be embarrassed as the only country that isn't a glorified city state to not qualify. It will break a glass ceiling for others to try later on.

Why is it strange? A team owned by an absolute ego maniac that throw money at the league and win at a canter every year. They play in England and have a smaller fan base than Cymru north/south teams.
The extra spot would be nice, but they always bottle it. Most likely be the same next round where the team are arguably better than the one theyve just lost to.

There was a Welsh system before TNS and they did nothing either. We talk about victories over Maltese clubs as historic and saying losing to Andorran clubs is fine as they're semi pro. That is Wales without TNS.

I loved it when CQN won the league, but they did nothing with the opportunity. If it wasn't TNS then it would be CQN or Bala winning it, wouldn't make any difference to attendances. I'll give you the English bit but they were a merger of 2 teams playing in Wales.

Fact is they are semi pro, when other teams have been semi pro they've competed and beaten them to the title. If we really want an elite class of teams... Caernarfon, Rhyl, Bangor to represent us we should really think how do we give them the opportunities to go semi pro without discriminating against TNS, Bala, CQ. They've done nothing wrong but everyone hates them as they've got a successful model others haven't.

[garynysmon]

People seem to have an obsession over TNS' attendances but there are even worse supported clubs in the league that don't seem to attract the same amount of stick. Cardiff Met, for instance, is a lost cause despite being in Wales' most populated city.

I'll argue that CQN and Bala are just as bad in terms of a bottleneck at the top, i.e stagnant clubs that are showing no signs of growth at all. The clubs actually showing growth are Penybont, Haverfordwest etc.

The argument you often see thrown around underneath Sgorio and Cymru Premier Facebook posts is that its somehow 'unfair' that TNS are full-time when its a 'part time' league.

Err, European top flights aren't meant to be part-time...

[iantov]

Aug 14, 2024 10:34:39 GMT CrackityJones said:

Plenty of clubs yn y Gogledd with more history than Merthyr that actually play in the Cymru leagues

Some clubs yn y Dde also, Llanelli spring to mind.

[winsumluzsum]

Whether it's fair or not is irrelevant. What matters is that we know before a ball is kicked that TNS are about 95% certain to win the league because of their European winnings and their consequent full time status. It makes the Cymru Premier a boring almost pointless proposition. Some way has to be found to get some meaningful competition for TNS.

[cynonvalley]

Aug 14, 2024 9:55:25 GMT kracken88 said:

They should buy a club with real history like Merthyr because I think the actual history of Wrexham was a massive pulling point,let's be honest who would want to pump money into one of these white elephant clubs that make up this league,you'd have to have brain damage.

Merthyr's greatest achievement was via an FAW competition then they have no interest in being in the Welsh pyramid

[stevej]

I think tns can see this as a good year in Europe as a result of winning their first round cl matches and playing 4 ties in total minimum as a result..

I think losing 1 nil on agg v a champion whose league is 18 places higher than ours bodes well for the next tie.. although this Lithuanian side whilst being bottom of their league did beat HJK Helsinki 4 1 on agg in the cl first round..

League of Wales from the outside doesn't seem to present huge financial barriers to someone wealthy maybe who wanted to take their club and make them competitive there in the top half of the table say, but i think it would take some doing for that club to challenge tns to win the league in a reasonable timescale..

Tns are well established now and the revenue gaps between winning the league playing champions league, to qualifying for the conf league by placings or cup win, and then to normal revenue turnover within the league are considerable..

[garynysmon]

When the Vaughans took over at Bangor it would have been a massive catalyst if it would have been anyone else but those crooks.

They did pump money in and created a very exciting side under Andy Legg, the only problem was where the money actually was coming from and the club being used as a launderette.

But TNS were clearly shaken by it all and were comprehensively beaten on the opening day of the season at Nantporth. it just shows that TNS could be knocked off their perch under the right circumstances.

The problem you have is that the money men usually take over a small side and artificially promote it above its usual level. But that growth is finite, be it an apathetic or low populated catchment area.

All due respect but Connah’s Quay Nomads in its usual guise would not be a ‘Super 12’ side and Bala may well still be in the recreational leagues without the backing of Nigel Aykroyd.

I do wonder what would have been achieved if Gary Dewhurt had decided to invest in a club with actual upside rather than Connah’s Quay Nomads, without even a ground of their own and with no apparent upside.

Investment is one thing but you need a buzz about the place too. Nomads’ crowds remained as flat as ever despite winning the league twice in a row..

[welshrover]

Aug 14, 2024 19:52:27 GMT garynysmon said:

When the Vaughans took over at Bangor it would have been a massive catalyst if it would have been anyone else but those crooks.

They did pump money in and created a very exciting side under Andy Legg, the only problem was where the money actually was coming from and the club being used as a launderette.

But TNS were clearly shaken by it all and were comprehensively beaten on the opening day of the season at Nantporth. it just shows that TNS could be knocked off their perch under the right circumstances.

The problem you have is that the money men usually take over a small side and artificially promote it above its usual level. But that growth is finite, be it an apathetic or low populated catchment area.

All due respect but Connah’s Quay Nomads in its usual guise would not be a ‘Super 12’ side and Bala may well still be in the recreational leagues without the backing of Nigel Aykroyd.

I do wonder what would have been achieved if Gary Dewhurt had decided to invest in a club with actual upside rather than Connah’s Quay Nomads, without even a ground of their own and with no apparent upside.

Investment is one thing but you need a buzz about the place too. Nomads’ crowds remained as flat as ever despite winning the league twice in a row..

Always amazes me after his involvement at Barrow and Chester how the good people of Bangor allowed this family (and it's dubious connections) anywhere near the club.

[robin1864]

Aug 14, 2024 16:43:38 GMT garynysmon said:

People seem to have an obsession over TNS' attendances but there are even worse supported clubs in the league that don't seem to attract the same amount of stick. Cardiff Met, for instance, is a lost cause despite being in Wales' most populated city.

I'll argue that CQN and Bala are just as bad in terms of a bottleneck at the top, i.e stagnant clubs that are showing no signs of growth at all. The clubs actually showing growth are Penybont, Haverfordwest etc.

The argument you often see thrown around underneath Sgorio and Cymru Premier Facebook posts is that its somehow 'unfair' that TNS are full-time when its a 'part time' league.

Err, European top flights aren't meant to be part-time...

Cardiff Met are a university/student representative side, I think many could forgive them for not having broad appeal across the city.

Bala is a propped-up club similar to TNS, however they're in a small town heavily dependent on tourism, which leaves the fairest criticism on CQN as Deeside is a fairly large area - that said, they're currently playing in Flint, spent most of their existence as also-rans and the vast majority of locals are already long-time supporters of the Merseyside clubs.

[talyfan]

Aug 14, 2024 19:52:27 GMT garynysmon said:

When the Vaughans took over at Bangor it would have been a massive catalyst if it would have been anyone else but those crooks.

They did pump money in and created a very exciting side under Andy Legg, the only problem was where the money actually was coming from and the club being used as a launderette.

But TNS were clearly shaken by it all and were comprehensively beaten on the opening day of the season at Nantporth. it just shows that TNS could be knocked off their perch under the right circumstances.

The problem you have is that the money men usually take over a small side and artificially promote it above its usual level. But that growth is finite, be it an apathetic or low populated catchment area.

All due respect but Connah’s Quay Nomads in its usual guise would not be a ‘Super 12’ side and Bala may well still be in the recreational leagues without the backing of Nigel Aykroyd.

I do wonder what would have been achieved if Gary Dewhurt had decided to invest in a club with actual upside rather than Connah’s Quay Nomads, without even a ground of their own and with no apparent upside.

Investment is one thing but you need a buzz about the place too. Nomads’ crowds remained as flat as ever despite winning the league twice in a row..

100% agree with this. One club with no fans you can get away but these clubs like TNS, Nomads, Bala, Cardiff Met we're talking almost half the league here.

People see empty grounds either attending or watching the highlights, clips etc. Just makes it look tinpot.

We need businesses to invest in well supported clubs something like the Stockport County owner. Mega rich local lad who only wants the best for the club

[garynysmon]

Flint's crowds are higher than CQN's, so there is hope for a well-run club in that part of the world.

On a separate note its a bit of a worrying time for football in north west Wales atm. The Cymru North is massively lopsided in terms of the north east, and in the top two tiers only Caernarfon and Bangor are to the west of Llandudno.

Not too long ago you had 6-7 clubs from Anglesey alone in the Cymru Alliance.

Forgive me in sincerely hoping that Bangor are promoted rather than the like of Airbus who offer nothing if we're brutally honest. There are probably too many clubs from Flintshire tbh.

[talyfan]

Anglesey always been very boom or bust, something going on that Island. One of the reasons they restructured Tier 3 and 4 was primarily because of Anglesey sides throwing the kitchen sink getting promoted, becoming the flavour of the month for every player on the island to move to, plateau after they found the level, fold or get relegated and join the next team below them doing just that.

Llangefni and Holyhead Hotspur always been the Tier 2 or 3 mainstays but every once in a while you had the likes of Holy head Town, Bodedern, Glantraeth, Gwalchmai, Amlwch, Trearddur Bay, Llanfairpwll giving it a go trying to cement themselves to no avail.

Trearddur interesting one at the minute with the money they've got

[garynysmon]

Aug 16, 2024 13:44:34 GMT talyfan said:

Trearddur interesting one at the minute with the money they've got

Interesting in that they're throwing big money around on players while plying their trade on a ground without any stands nor any apparent infrastructure!

You have a point though. Anglesey lads used to form the backbone of Porthmadog FC's squad in the League of Wales whilst still maintaining 5-6 Cymru Alliance sides on the island.

Nowadays there's a tendency to not want to travel and drop down a few leagues when the going starts to get tough. There are players capable of playing Cymru Premier level wasting away in tiers 3 or 4 because they'd rather score 4 goals every single week then drop down again when their club reaches a level where that isn't feasible any more.

[zserty]

Aug 16, 2024 14:08:22 GMT garynysmon said:

Aug 16, 2024 13:44:34 GMT talyfan said:

Trearddur interesting one at the minute with the money they've got

Interesting in that they're throwing big money around on players while plying their trade on a ground without any stands nor any apparent infrastructure!

You have a point though. Anglesey lads used to form the backbone of Porthmadog FC's squad in the League of Wales whilst still maintaining 5-6 Cymru Alliance sides on the island.

Nowadays there's a tendency to not want to travel and drop down a few leagues when the going starts to get tough. There are players capable of playing Cymru Premier level wasting away in tiers 3 or 4 because they'd rather score 4 goals every single week then drop down again when their club reaches a level where that isn't feasible any more.

Can't blame them in terms of the travelling, all these boys have jobs or families.
Even last night Briton Ferry were at Bala, its just not an option or convenient for them to play Cymru Prem.

[neverever]

What happened to Cemaes Bay who were in the League of Wales many moons ago.

[allezlesrouges]

TNS 0-0 at HT. They look quite clearly the better side in my opinion. Both teams lacking cutting edge at the top of the pitch, but TNS move the ball around far better

Would be absolutely fantastic if they can get a goal to take back home. This is such a golden opportunity for Wales, it would be devastating if they can't get the job done over 2 legs

[CrackityJones]

1-0 TNS. That’s been coming