[predator]

Just been hearing that Neil believes that all teams in the East of Scotland Premier League are as good as any of the current crop of SFL3 team. Neil said that they could compete easily in the division. Don't believe it myself.

[King Kong Bundy]

Nonsense. The standard of the Third Division is far higher than many outsiders believe. The standard may not be consistently good but it is still better than EoS level and the majority of Junior football. The level of fitness, even at SFL3 level, is high.

Never mind the fact that almost all of these clubs wouldn't be allowed access to the leagues because of insufficient facilities.

[Alloa_Shire]

Watching the standard of The Shire, Montrose, Clyde and even at times what I read about Berwick......I could probably believe that some of the EoS teams are better. When you look at what Inverness CT, Ross County, Gretna, Elgin, Annan, Peterhead have all brought to the Scottish game and lower leagues, all have done better than most 3rd Division teams (ourselves included) so there is nothing to suggest that EoS, Highland League, Junior teams etc etc couldn't cut their own in the SFL or in time higher.

This post has been edited by Alloa_Shire: 23 January 2012 - 19:43

[King Kong Bundy]

Alloa_Shire, on 23 January 2012 - 19:42, said:

Watching the standard of The Shire, Montrose, Clyde and even at times what I read about Berwick......I could probably believe that some of the EoS teams are better. When you look at what Inverness CT, Ross County, Gretna, Elgin, Annan, Peterhead have all brought to the Scottish game and lower leagues, all have done better than most 3rd Division teams (ourselves included) so there is nothing to suggest that EoS, Highland League, Junior teams etc etc couldn't cut their own in the SFL or in time higher.

Elgin have done next to nothing since joining the league over 10 years ago and Annan haven't exactly been great. Peterhead haven't gone beyond the 2nd division and Gretna went bust after a fictional rise to the SPL. I'll grant you ICT and Ross County. But it is hit and miss when teams join the league. Oliver's own team, Duns, trail Berwick Rangers reserves in their league.

[cowdenbeath]

Haven't seen any 3rd division games this season but as others have said there is no danger that all of the teams in the EOS league are better that the 3rd division. For a start does Oliver really believe that Berwick reserves are better than their 1st team
I would imagine any team coming into the SFL would quickly change their squad to make an impact in the 3rd division. Annan played mostly an EOSL side in their first season due to getting in at the last minute but how many of these guys are still there?

This post has been edited by cowdenbeath: 23 January 2012 - 20:20

[Fisherman]

cowdenbeath, on 23 January 2012 - 20:19, said:

Haven't seen any 3rd division games this season but as others have said there is no danger that all of the teams in the EOS league are better that the 3rd division. For a start does Oliver really believe that Berwick reserves are better than their 1st team
I would imagine any team coming into the SFL would quickly change their squad to make an impact in the 3rd division. Annan played mostly an EOSL side in their first season due to getting in at the last minute but how many of these guys are still there?

Berwick reserves are 1st Div EOS. Not Premier.
I'd reckon the top half of the prem could compete no problem, Spartans, Stirling Uni, Whitehill etc. Not saying they would win the 3rd but wouldnt look out of place.

[Pride Of The Clyde]

They can't be any worse than we are at the moment and many are probably better off financially and will be until we clear our debt.

[Doink]

Fisherman, on 23 January 2012 - 20:36, said:

Berwick reserves are 1st Div EOS. Not Premier.
I'd reckon the top half of the prem could compete no problem, Spartans, Stirling Uni, Whitehill etc. Not saying they would win the 3rd but wouldnt look out of place.

They would get slaughtered over a league season in the 3rd.

[Doink]

Pride Of The Clyde, on 23 January 2012 - 22:39, said:

They can't be any worse than we are at the moment and many are probably better off financially and will be until we clear our debt.

They are

[Clayhole Blue]

Alloa_Shire, on 23 January 2012 - 19:42, said:

Watching the standard of The Shire, Montrose, Clyde and even at times what I read about Berwick......I could probably believe that some of the EoS teams are better. When you look at what Inverness CT, Ross County, Gretna, Elgin, Annan, Peterhead have all brought to the Scottish game and lower leagues, all have done better than most 3rd Division teams (ourselves included) so there is nothing to suggest that EoS, Highland League, Junior teams etc etc couldn't cut their own in the SFL or in time higher.

There are different points here.

Yes, some of the clubs in the EOS premier could come into the league and possibly do as well as Peterhead, Annan or Elgin. But they would not do so with their current squads. All of the above teams which you have cited as coming in and doing well have had to acquire new players to do so. And that's fine, but from what the OP said is Oliver not saying that the current EOS Premier teams are as good as the current SFL3 teams? Evidence for this?

[Waspie]

Clayhole Blue, on 25 January 2012 - 12:17, said:

There are different points here.

Yes, some of the clubs in the EOS premier could come into the league and possibly do as well as Peterhead, Annan or Elgin. But they would not do so with their current squads. All of the above teams which you have cited as coming in and doing well have had to acquire new players to do so. And that's fine, but from what the OP said is Oliver not saying that the current EOS Premier teams are as good as the current SFL3 teams? Evidence for this?

Totally agree with Clayhole. There are some clubs outside the league who have the infrastructure/support that if they stepped up to the SFL they could, with a bit of work on and off the field, compete and do well. I'm not convinced there is anybody else capable of doing what ICT and Ross County have done, but there are a few who could live in Divisions 2 and 3 and even have a crack at Division 1. I don't think there are many in the EOS in that category though. Spartans have a new ground but no real support, albeit that would probably develop with SFL status. Whitehill have neither the ground or support. Questions over Edinburgh City with Meadowbank. Gretna perhaps?

As Clayhole says however even those clubs who do have the facilties and support would need to develop their playing squads on stepping up to the SFL. I watch a bit of Highland League football and the standard is clearly lower than Division 3. I took in a a top of the table clash at new year and neither team looked good enough to do much in Division 3. I don't think the standard is any better in the EOS, in fact it's probably worse. Oliver is deluded if he does indeed believe that EOS Premier clubs with their current squads would do well in Division 3, I reckon even Spartans would have a tough time over the season. With the new players they would get if they stepped up it would be different, but as things stand they would struggle. There are a good few EOS Premier sides who would get absolutely ripped apart by Division 3 opposition. It's not all that long since an Alloa team who hadn't won in almost 20 league games beat Selkirk 9-0 in the cup.