League of Ireland in Europe 2017

**PartySaint** · 06/06/2017, 1:15 PM

One of the Irish sides are definitely going to get Rangers

**placid casual** · 07/06/2017, 11:59 AM

and my guess is it will be Rovers

**Dalymountrower** · 07/06/2017, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

and my guess is it will be Rovers

`Mon the Gers.

**placid casual** · 08/06/2017, 9:45 AM

Boez,linfield, rangers..

**sbgawa** · 08/06/2017, 1:33 PM

Can't decide if I would like to draw rangers or not.
There are weaker teams which you could draw to give you a better chance of progression but then the sheer joy of potentially knocking them out ............

**sbgawa** · 08/06/2017, 1:34 PM

ah c'mon Dalymountrower even I would cheer for Bohs against that lot

**El-Pietro** · 08/06/2017, 2:12 PM

By that lot I assume you mean Rangers? Why? Why are Rangers remotely relevant? Just another European team, as are their rivals. I honestly couldn't care how they do in that league, no more than I care about the Dutch or Belgian leagues. I was going to say I wouldn't cross the street to watch them but thats not true, if I was in their town I'd go along to a game same as I would in any country.

**Nah Nah Nah Nah** · 08/06/2017, 2:31 PM

They are just a little bit anti-Irish.....

**Straightstory** · 08/06/2017, 2:33 PM

Tribalism alive and well...

**nigel-harps1954** · 08/06/2017, 3:04 PM

Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

They are just a little bit anti-Irish.....

So are quite a lot of British football clubs.

**El-Pietro** · 08/06/2017, 3:05 PM

If you're ever bored go on to any English football teams forum and read what they have to say about James McClean.

**dundalkfc10** · 08/06/2017, 3:13 PM

Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

They are just a little bit anti-Irish.....

They have Irish players!

**Dalymountrower** · 08/06/2017, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

ah c'mon Dalymountrower even I would cheer for Bohs against that lot

Will be an interesting test to determine whether football rivalry mellows with advancing years, though I do remember cheering for Shels when they played a brilliant first half and took a big lead against Rangers when the "home "game was played in Tranmere, (18 years ago?) although then being not disappointed when they blew that lead

**PartySaint** · 08/06/2017, 3:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Will be an interesting test to determine whether football rivalry mellows with advancing years, though I do remember cheering for Shels when they played a brilliant first half and took a big lead against Rangers when the "home "game was played in Tranmere, (18 years ago?) although then being not disappointed when they blew that lead

22nd of July 1998, Pats played Celtic in Celtic Park in the Champions League qualifiers on the same night and drew 0-0

**legendz** · 08/06/2017, 4:21 PM

LoI teams in the European qualifiers is usually more entertaining and interesting than the GAA championships pre the All-Ireland series.

It'll be hard to match the exploits of last season. LoI champions have a poor record of not getting through CLQ2. LoI clubs in the EL have a good record of getting past Q1 but not Q2. I think the Belgian team that beat Cork in Q3 went as far as the EL quarter-finals last season.

With a favourable draw etc., I'll be hopeful that Dundalk and Cork will make Q3 in their respective competitions. A few relatively successful seasons, be it one club reaching a play-off round, will enhance the league's reputation.

**El-Pietro** · 08/06/2017, 4:30 PM

Its all down to the draw. City (or Derry or Rovers) making the playoff round is nearly impossible due to being unseeded. It looks especially tough in the first round this year.

**sbgawa** · 08/06/2017, 4:56 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

By that lot I assume you mean Rangers? Why? Why are Rangers remotely relevant? Just another European team, as are their rivals. I honestly couldn't care how they do in that league, no more than I care about the Dutch or Belgian leagues. I was going to say I wouldn't cross the street to watch them but thats not true, if I was in their town I'd go along to a game same as I would in any country.

Well it was listening to a whole stadium sing anti irish song scc that kind of makes me pull against them. There are other English clubs that are anti irish but not quite so overtly.

**EatYerGreens** · 08/06/2017, 6:43 PM

Originally Posted by Straightstory

So, Sean Maguire off to Preston at the end of July. How many games could he play for Cork in Europa League before that?

Preston seem to be the only club in Britain who've properly clocked on to the talent in the LOI.

**legendz** · 08/06/2017, 7:31 PM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Preston seem to be the only club in Britain who've properly clocked on to the talent in the LOI.

There are many so-called football supporters in Ireland who would be doing well to clock on to that as well. It reflects well on the league that players are quickly transitioning to the competitive second tier across the water and also integrating quickly with the international setup.

**Nesta99** · 08/06/2017, 8:44 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

There are many so-called football supporters in Ireland who would be doing well to clock on to that as well. It reflects well on the league that players are quickly transitioning to the competitive second tier across the water and also integrating quickly with the international setup.

It does reflect well and if Maguire is a success on top of Horgan and Boyle and PNE are in the hunt for promotion you might see a surge in player drain as English clubs from the lower tiers take a punt and player go for the money even for 2 or 3 years and then back. Sadly for every time ive heard Horgan and Boyle mentioned positively among the English game obsessed football fans, i have heard double the amount scoff at Towell and Hoban to a lesser extent. It will be an interesting time at Deepdale come August.