LOI in Europe 2011

[Ezeikial]

Would it be better financially for Sligo to be seeded in the 2nd round? Gives them a better chance of having two paydays.

Best to play and advance from the 2nd round even if knocked out in the 3rd round, rather then only playing a 3rd round match?

Obviously if they could progress to the play-offs even better............

[redobit]

Would it be better financially for Sligo to be seeded in the 2nd round? Gives them a better chance of having two paydays.

Best to play and advance from the 2nd round even if knocked out in the 3rd round, rather then only playing a 3rd round match?

Obviously if they could progress to the play-offs even better............

Depends who you get drawn against in the 3rd round I suppose.

[Dodge]

Would it be better financially for Sligo to be seeded in the 2nd round? Gives them a better chance of having two paydays.

Best to play and advance from the 2nd round even if knocked out in the 3rd round, rather then only playing a 3rd round match?


Sligo wouldn't have been seeded in the 2nd Qualifying Round 9and obviously enough won't be seeded in the third round). They have only a co-efficient of 1.991

Pats (4.241) are seeded in first round, and if they reach the 2nd round they'll be seeded too. Bohs (3.741) are seeded in the 2nd Qr too

[TheBoss]

BOSNIA UPDATE:

Both Borac and Zeljeznicar are winning with about 30 Mins to go

[TheBoss]

Both won, only 2 games left

Borac 28 60
Zeljeznicar 28 55

[A N Mouse]

Both won, only 2 games left

Borac 28 60
Zeljeznicar 28 55

Don't suppose you've been able to fathom when 1st v 2nd match is down for?

2nd leg of cup final, and otherwise full set of fixtures, down for 25/5 and final round listed as 29/5

[TheBoss]

Don't suppose you've been able to fathom when 1st v 2nd match is down for?

2nd leg of cup final, and otherwise full set of fixtures, down for 25/5 and final round listed as 29/5

Its on Sunday afternoon.

[gspain]

Maribor won the Slovenian league tonight. Them losing it was always a bit of a longshot. They are now seeded. It is between Rovers, Borac & Zeljeznicar for the last seed. Borac need a draw away to Zeljeznicar tomorrow to win the league and ensure Rovers are seeded. If they lose it goes to the last day.

[legendz]

Good stuff on the updates with how the seeds are going to be worked out. It's the sort of thing I'd nearly be tempted to check out to see how it's going to work how. Great to see the hard work has been done already!

[nigel-harps1954]

0-0 after 30 minutes in that game in bosnia.

[gspain]

1-0 to Borac res so they are champions and Rovers are seeded

[Dodge]

They can get one of (in order of UEFA co-eff) Bosnia, Moldova, Latvia, Hungary, Wales, Montenegro, Faroes, The North, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Estonia, Iceland, Malta, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Albania, San Marino, Andorra

real mixed bag there in terms of travel.

[gspain]

They can meet any of the teams below (Montenegran champions not known yet afaik).

Still some tough ones in there but some very winnable ties there too.

Dacia Chisinau Mol 2.549
Pyunik Yerevan Arm 2.516
FK Borac Banja Luka Bos 2.324
Skonto Riga Lat 2.233
FC Fehérvár Hun 2.200
Bangor City Wal 2.058
CL Mon 2.025 - 2.275
HB Torshavn Far 1.783
Linfield Belfast Nir 1.699
Tobol Kustanai Kaz 1.624
F91 Dudelange * Lux 1.524
Flora Tallinn Est 1.50
Breidablik Isl 1.491
Valletta FC * Mlt 1.483
Neftchi Baku Azb 1.233
Shkendija Tetovo Mac 1.041
Skënderbeu Korçë Alb 0.774

[sligoman]

If we're officially there, I'm hearing the Europa League qualifying 3rd round might yet be able to be played in the Showgrounds.

[SkStu]

They can meet any of the teams below (Montenegran champions not known yet afaik).

Still some tough ones in there but some very winnable ties there too.

Dacia Chisinau Mol 2.549
Pyunik Yerevan Arm 2.516
FK Borac Banja Luka Bos 2.324
Skonto Riga Lat 2.233
FC Fehérvár Hun 2.200
Bangor City Wal 2.058
CL Mon 2.025 - 2.275
HB Torshavn Far 1.783
Linfield Belfast Nir 1.699
Tobol Kustanai Kaz 1.624
F91 Dudelange * Lux 1.524
Flora Tallinn Est 1.50
Breidablik Isl 1.491
Valletta FC * Mlt 1.483
Neftchi Baku Azb 1.233
Shkendija Tetovo Mac 1.041
Skënderbeu Korçë Alb 0.774

can someone remind me if the draw was regionalised at all last year when we got TNS? I remember some last minute discussion about it in the corresponding thread last year but cant quite remember if it was regionalised or not. If so you'd have to think that Rovers are quids in to progress. (no TNS jokes please!)

[pineapple stu]

It was, yeah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_UEFA_Champions_League_qualifying_p hase_and_play-off_round#Seeding_2).

(Which ruins my Twas Not So reply...)

[SkStu]

10 minutes of research later and i think that there was some sort of regionalisation.

http://foot.ie/threads/134587-Looks-like-Bohs-will-be-seeded-in-2nd-qualifying-round-of-CL?p=1369453&viewfull=1#post1369453

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1498111.html

[SkStu]

It was, yeah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_UEFA_Champions_League_qualifying_p hase_and_play-off_round#Seeding_2).

(Which ruins my Twas Not So reply...)

looks like i still have a few working brain cells left. Im impressed.

[gspain]

I assume any regionalisation will only be done based on the seedings as they are. You may recall a few years ago we had a side(s) seeded in the UEFA Cup that would have been unbseeded in the other regions.

Is it just me that would love to see a Rovers v Linfield tie?

[Martinho II]

I assume any regionalisation will only be done based on the seedings as they are. You may recall a few years ago we had a side(s) seeded in the UEFA Cup that would have been unbseeded in the other regions.

Is it just me that would love to see a Rovers v Linfield tie?

I would love to see a repeat from the 1984 meeting to see how both sides are treated both sides of the border compared to the bad old days

[gspain]

I was at the Milltown game last time and there was very little trouble, It was an afternoon kickoff with high security though. There was a lot of trouble at Bohs v Rangers 2 weeks earlier.

It was a cracking tie with Rovers throwing the kitchen sink at Linfield for the last 20 minutes but lost on away goals.

[Dodge]

I assume any regionalisation will only be done based on the seedings as they are. You may recall a few years ago we had a side(s) seeded in the UEFA Cup that would have been unbseeded in the other regions
yeah, they're not strictly regions but rather 'groupings' Last year for example Latvia was in with the eastern Europeans when it's usually with us in the North.

Same for the Europa League

[Mario]

Some statto has worked out based on last years regionalisation that the unseeded teams we are likely to face are either

Skonto Riga Latvia
Bangor City Wales
HB Torshavn Faroes
Linfield Belfast N.Ireland
F91 Dudelange Luxembourg
Breidablik Iceland
Flora Tallinn Estonia

He said "There might be more or less teams in our region because they have to even out the seeded and non seeded teams. (There can't be 7 seeded and 3 unseeded in the draw!)"

The other seeded teams are

Rosenborg Norway
Malmo Sweden
Helsinki Finland
Eranas Lituania
Austria
Bate Borisov

so great if we have now avoided rosenborg.

On paper Ig guess we'd be strong favourites against

Bangor City Wales
HB Torshavn Faroes
Linfield Belfast N.Ireland
F91 Dudelange Luxembourg
Breidablik Iceland

and these two might be a bit trickier

Flora Tallinn Estonia
Skonto Riga Latvia

Anyways surely a good chance for Rovers to get past this round and build up some coefficient along the way hopefully.

[Charlie Darwin]

Wow, huge relief to have avoided all of those teams. I don't know much about Eranas but I assume they're decent enough.

[Dodge]

Derry beat Skonto Riga a couple of years ago. Drogs beat some team from Tallinn that year too I think (in CL qualifiers)

Rovers would be favourite in all ties

[Spudulika]

Can't see Rovers having a problem in their first round tie. None of the opponents will present a challenge to their side.

[HulaHoop]

Can't see Rovers having a problem in their first round tie. None of the opponents will present a challenge to their side.

That was said about Bohs V TNS last year. If theres one thing we should all know as LOI fans it is that there are no easy games in europe.

[El-Pietro]

Cork City beat Ekranas a few years back. Not sure if its the same team you are talking about there.

[A N Mouse]

With all the movement Glentoran could now be seeded.

Seems to depend on Macedonian Cup final. Metalurgs finished second in the league and are in the cup final.

They have the lowest co-efficient of the possible teams. So if they win the cup - enter in the next round - both 3rd and 4th would be seeded. If they lose the cup final then Glentoran would be seeded.

So Glentoran fans should want Metalurgs to win, and Pat's should probably be hoping they lose - to keep the glens as possible opponents.

[Cymro]

Wow, twelve months on and people are still talking about TNS and Bohemians. You boyos need to get over it :p

Hopefully in future I'll be more than an idle spectator in these threads, if the rumours are true (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13150160.stm). Incidentally how many games do you reckon Swansea would win in Europe, starting from the first round? I reckon the group stages of the Europa League if not the Champions' League would be a serious target, and maybe the latter rounds of the EL.

It was a bit before my time but I can vaguely remember us beating Sliema Wanderers by a hatful in a qualifying match once in the late 80s, and then losing 8-0 to Monaco a year or two before the exiles got booted out of Europe. Those were the days! :D

[DannyInvincible]

Hopefully in future I'll be more than an idle spectator in these threads, if the rumours are true (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13150160.stm). Incidentally how many games do you reckon Swansea would win in Europe, starting from the first round? I reckon the group stages of the Europa League if not the Champions' League would be a serious target, and maybe the latter rounds of the EL.

Interesting one, that. Although how would the likes of Swansea get near Champions League competition through the Welsh Cup? Wouldn't they have to finish at least fourth in the English Premier League, being members of the English league structure? For what it's worth, I think these clubs would be daft to decline the invite if it opened up a realistic possibility of Europa League qualification for the winner.

[bennocelt]

Would they still be allowed to enter the FA cup, would seem daft if so - two bites of the cherry!?

[Cymro]

Interesting one, that. Although how would the likes of Swansea get near Champions League competition through the Welsh Cup? Wouldn't they have to finish at least fourth in the English Premier League, being members of the English league structure? For what it's worth, I think these clubs would be daft to decline the invite if it opened up a realistic possibility of Europa League qualification for the winner.

The question about the CL was more of a hypothetical, though as you point out it would be possible if we could somehow win the Europa League! Hey, it's not impossible, look at Fulham and Middlesbrough getting to the final in the last decade.

I understand that if we were to re-enter Europe from the Welsh Cup we would be unable to qualify through the English system as the FA and UEFA would block it. But we're unlikely to do that anyway.

[DannyInvincible]

The question about the CL was more of a hypothetical, though as you point out it would be possible if we could somehow win the Europa League!

Are you saying the winner of the Europa League qualifies for the Champions League? That's not right, surely?

[Dodge]

No, that's 100% not true. Only have to look at Sligo's 'promotion' due to Porto not using their 'holders' place in next years Europa.

[Dodge]

With all the movement Glentoran could now be seeded.

Seems to depend on Macedonian Cup final. Metalurgs finished second in the league and are in the cup final.

They have the lowest co-efficient of the possible teams. So if they win the cup - enter in the next round - both 3rd and 4th would be seeded. If they lose the cup final then Glentoran would be seeded.

So Glentoran fans should want Metalurgs to win, and Pat's should probably be hoping they lose - to keep the glens as possible opponents.

WOuldn't that be the other way round? Metalurgs win, therefore enter in QR2. Meaning teams that finished 3rd and 4th would then both be seeded and Glentoran wouldn't be. So Pats want Metalurgs to win, and Glens want them to lose

[pineapple stu]

That was said about Bohs V TNS last year. If theres one thing we should all know as LOI fans it is that there are no easy games in europe.
Nope. There are easy games in Europe. What that game showed us was that if you want an innovative and humorous way of screwing up the unscrew-up-able, head down to Dalymount to see the specialists.

[A N Mouse]

WOuldn't that be the other way round? Metalurgs win, therefore enter in QR2. Meaning teams that finished 3rd and 4th would then both be seeded and Glentoran wouldn't be. So Pats want Metalurgs to win, and Glens want them to lose

Oops, seems I explained it right, then fecked it up in summary :(

[placid casual]

Nope. There are easy games in Europe. What that game showed us was that if you want an innovative and humorous way of screwing up the unscrew-up-able, head down to Dalymount to see the specialists.

Your really not the biggest fan of the boez are you PS...
I mean , as a lifelong Rovers fan I'm contractually obliged to dislike them and all, but whats your excuse if you dont mind me askin ?:dunno:

[Dodge]

Metalurg won, so Glentoran won't be seeded

[Dodge]

Right, going on the groups for last year that Dundalk had... (http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/news-template.html?100621b)

I think that if we're in the same seeded group as TNS, we won't be able to get Neath. Likewise Iceland has a seeded and unseeded team. They won't be in the same group. Hopefully we're in the same pot as KR Reykjavik and not TNS

I think the 2 Northern groups will be made up of the following seeds;
Fulham/Blackpool Eng
IF Elfsborg Swe
Tromsø IL Nor
St. Patrick's Athletic Irl
Aalesunds FK Nor
Honka Espoo Fin
BK Häcken Swe
KR Reykjavik Isl
The New Saints Wal
FK Minsk Bls

and the following unseeded teams;
Glentoran Nir 1.699
Banga Gargzdai Lit 1.541
Daugava Daugavpils Lat 1.483
Cliftonville Nir 1.449
Trans Narva Est 1.258
Kalju Nomme Est 1.008
IBV Vestmannaeyjar Isl 0.991
NSI Runavik Far 0.783
Neath FC Wal 0.558
UN Käerjeng Lux 0.524
EL2-3 Lux 0.274 - 1.274

Now that's 11 unseeded, sp one of them will slide over to the Central/eastern European group. My bet is Lithuania like previous years. COuld be luxembourg too

So that'd mean that the 10 unseeded would include 2 Nordies, 2 estonians, 2 luxemburgers, and one each of latvia, wales, iceland and faroes

SO... by my reckoning we'll go into a group with
1 Northern ireland
1 estonian
1 Luxembourger
1 Latvia/Faroes
1 Iceland/Wales (as these have to be seperate)

The only real complication I see is that the like spreading the top seeds out a bit, and Pats are the 4th highest seed in the 1st round. The problem is that the top 3 are also Northern teams

[bennocelt]

On Bert kas' site he mentions that "in the Europa League qualifying rounds the teams will be no longer be divided into regional groups (as used previously in the UEFA Cup)"
Is that a definite then?

[Dodge]

On Bert kas' site he mentions that "in the Europa League qualifying rounds the teams will be no longer be divided into regional groups (as used previously in the UEFA Cup)"
Is that a definite then?

It wasn't regionalised officially last year either, but they were still put in the groups that were practically regionalised. I've linked it above.

[legendz]

That was said about Bohs V TNS last year. If theres one thing we should all know as LOI fans it is that there are no easy games in europe.

Agreed with that. There aren't any easy games. Just like champion after champion seem to fall to a casino type finance system, club's seem to fall to I would say easy but winnable games in Europe. Shamrock say they won't fall into the financial melt-down of previous champions. I hope they don't screw up what could be winnable games. If they win their first round game, they are guaranteed at least 4 more games. We need our champions doing that at least every other season.

As an aside, the Drog's late miss from about 6 yards against Kiev away a few years ago, would that be rated as the worst miss of all time by an LoI club and player in Europe. They really were desperately unlucky not to get through that evening. Kiev went on to beat Spartak Moscow 8-1 on aggregate, finished 3rd in group G and got to the semi-finals of the then UEFA Cup losing to the eventual champions Shakhtar Donetsk. Talk about making the near most out of their good fortune from a terrible miss by the Drog's in early August. Spartak Moscow, defeated by Dynamo, went onto join a group of Udinese, Spurs, NEC and Dinamo Zagreb, while seedings would've been different for the Drog's having different opposition, it would've been some run have games to have gotten.

[A N Mouse]

It wasn't regionalised officially last year either, but they were still put in the groups that were practically regionalised. I've linked it above.

Dodge as you say they're not officially regionalised. I'd worry that, seeing as how they seem to make this up as they go along, grouping would be based off the top seeds. Which worked out last year into seemingly nice regions, but this year with 4 northern teams (Pat's among them) in top five would be a bit less clear cut.

But unless anyone can confirm otherwise it's all speculation at this stage.

[pineapple stu]

Your really not the biggest fan of the boez are you PS...
I mean , as a lifelong Rovers fan I'm contractually obliged to dislike them and all, but whats your excuse if you dont mind me askin ?:dunno:
Ah, I just enjoy a bit of a laugh every now and again.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0531/airtricity_europe_shamrockrovers_stpats_sligorover s_bohemians.html

[thischarmingman]

Reading these sentences gave me that lurch of excitment that European football gives you. Roll on the games.


The Hoops, along with Sligo Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians will enter the UEFA Champions League and Europa League draws in June with the most favourable odds in the history of Irish participation on the European stage.

By virtue of FC Porto winning the Europa League Cup rather than Sporting Braga, Sligo Rovers - as FAI Ford Cup winners - will be forwarded to the Third Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League.

This is because FC Porto do not require the title holder's place in the Europa League as they have qualified for the Champions League next season.

Ireland is placed 29th on the access/ranking list. This would be the first time ever that an Irish club was exempted from two rounds of a European club competition.

[MeathDrog]

When are the draws?

[SkStu]

Reading these sentences gave me that lurch of excitment that European football gives you. Roll on the games.

funny that... after last year it gives me a lurch of nausea in the pit of my stomach.