League of Ireland in Europe 2015

[pineapple stu]

They played Dunfermline I think? With Stephen Kenny in charge maybe

Or maybe Bromma?

[Acornvilla]

Aachen from Germany were in the Group stages a few years ago, after qualifying via the cup. Zulte Waragem (probably spelling it wrong) from Belgium also made the groups as a 2nd tier side if I'm not mistaken.

[Viking]

Swede passing by, and yes it was Häcken who got a lesson from Spartak Moscow: 1-3 - 0-5 And yes they knocked out Dunfermline the previous round. And btw KR before that.

Geysir: I rather face an Icelandic team than an Irish one. Swedish teams very rarely lose to Icelandic ditos (over two legs) Not happen in the last 20 years to my knowledge anyway. I know Elfsborg lost to FH last year but they still won that tie after a big safe win in the first leg. I think Djurgården lost out in a round in the early 90's against an Icelandic team, but that was the last one. But we have had all sorts of problems with Irish teams during the last 20 years. But maybe the Irish football suits you lot better, I dunno? But KR's record are not that impressive the later years in Europe, for instance if we only take the last three seasons 1-9 against HJK (?!) 2-6 against Standard Liege and 1-6 against Celtic overall. (OK, you manage to sneak in an overall win against Glentoran in all that, but that hardly counts) Why so cocky?

Btw was Haukur Hauksson (rb) any good in KR last season? Because he's struggling in AIK. And has done so since the season started. Horrible technique with the ball and often out of position.
But maybe they don't teach out those particular skills at the academy?

[ger121]

No way are Cork out of it at 1-1. We've seen plenty of LOI sides draw at home in 1st leg and go away and win. They may not be the prettiest team to watch but they are hard to beat and always good for a goal in a tight game. That tie could go all the way to penalties.

[ger121]

Aachen from Germany were in the Group stages a few years ago, after qualifying via the cup. Zulte Waragem (probably spelling it wrong) from Belgium also made the groups as a 2nd tier side if I'm not mistaken.
What about Birmingham the year they won the LC and Wigan too. Also Milwall the year they got to cup final.

[pineapple stu]

Queen of the South from Scotland too, though they did lose home and away. Scotland banned non top flight sides from qualifying after that I think. England did the same for a while - Swindon won the League Cup in 1969, but weren't allowed play in Europe as they were in Division Three.

Probably lots looking through the years I guess. Real Madrid's B team even played in Europe one year.

[pineapple stu]

Report on last night (https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wort.lu%2Ffr%2Fsport%2Ffootball-europa-league-dudelange-tombe-de-haut-a-dublin-5595803b0c88b46a8ce5c291) from a Luxembourg paper, as told through Google translate.

I like -


in the quaint and outdated as much as bucolic Belfield Bowl Dublin

And the second act to start again on the same tempo kicks and corners galore for visitors who ... are still unable to accommodate the damn ball in the net Corbet

The second session dealing with these Irish UCD is scheduled on Thursday, July 9. And this time, it will score ...

Belfield Bowl Stadium, perfect temperature (21 ° C), lawn in excellent condition

The lawn wouldn't have been quite so excellent at the start of the season!

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd be personally upset if the phrase "accommodate the damn ball in the net" wasn't incorporated in some sort of chant for the away leg.

[Acornvilla]

What about Birmingham the year they won the LC and Wigan too. Also Milwall the year they got to cup final.
Milwall and Wigan lost in Qualifying I think, Bermingham made the groups thou is right!

[PartySaint]

First division Thor 5 Bohs 1 should have answered any questions in an emphatic manner. What does it take for that penny to drop?
Just humbly accept your lot couldn't pass mustard, then you won't have to listen to me rubbing it in :) and you won't be waiting in vain, hope against hope that an outdated, dying LOI club model can overcome a modest club who have spent years painstakingly overhauling and developing their academy and have successfully blended in the technical with the valued traditional character qualities. When they come here, will anyone from Cork City be remotely interested in how this extended academy structure functions, the quality of the coaching, how it's financed and see what they can learn from it?
It was a reasonable result for KR. Cork still have a flicker of hope. The return game will be played at the club "stadium" which has about 1700 seats. That's what the membership want, instead of playing it at the 10,000 seater national stadium. But usually all visiting fans are catered for, even if their numbers are greater than the minimum allocation.
No fighting on the pitch please, we bring our women and kids to games and don't like to expose them to that sort of langer activity.


I see much like the LOI it's been a mixed bag of results for Icelandic teams so far.

Vikingur Reykjavik look out after losing 1-0 at home to Koper. A great 1-0 for FH away to SJK from Finland and obviously the draw in Cork. Stjarnan got Celtic in the CL so they'll most likely go out. So the most likely outcome will be 2 teams from 4 to go through. Is that what was expected in Iceland when the draws were made?

Also no IBV in Europe this season, what's happened to them?

[ger121]

I see much like the LOI it's been a mixed bag of results for Icelandic teams so far.

Vikingur Reykjavik look out after losing 1-0 at home to Koper. A great 1-0 for FH away to SJK from Finland and obviously the draw in Cork. Stjarnan got Celtic in the CL so they'll most likely go out. So the most likely outcome will be 2 teams from 4 to go through. Is that what was expected in Iceland when the draws were made?

Also no IBV in Europe this season, what's happened to them?

I was thinking the very same thing last night when I saw the results and teams involved. I wonder is Icelandic Football due a dip in results after the highs of recent years. Doesn't be long till those lovely high scoring co-efficient years vanish and see a slide down the table.

[ger121]

Milwall and Wigan lost in Qualifying I think, Bermingham made the groups thou is right!

Just checked there. Millwall went out in the old 1st round in 2004-05 while Wigan went straight into the Group Stage for the 2013-14 edition.

[PartySaint]

I was thinking the very same thing last night when I saw the results and teams involved. I wonder is Icelandic Football due a dip in results after the highs of recent years. Doesn't be long till those lovely high scoring co-efficient years vanish and see a slide down the table.

2 out of 4 to go through isn't a bad return. I reckon we'll only have 1 in the next round out of our 5

[ger121]

First division Thor 5 Bohs 1 should have answered any questions in an emphatic manner. What does it take for that penny to drop?
Just humbly accept your lot couldn't pass mustard, then you won't have to listen to me rubbing it in :) and you won't be waiting in vain, hope against hope that an outdated, dying LOI club model can overcome a modest club who have spent years painstakingly overhauling and developing their academy and have successfully blended in the technical with the valued traditional character qualities. When they come here, will anyone from Cork City be remotely interested in how this extended academy structure functions, the quality of the coaching, how it's financed and see what they can learn from it?
It was a reasonable result for KR. Cork still have a flicker of hope. The return game will be played at the club "stadium" which has about 1700 seats. That's what the membership want, instead of playing it at the 10,000 seater national stadium. But usually all visiting fans are catered for, even if their numbers are greater than the minimum allocation.
No fighting on the pitch please, we bring our women and kids to games and don't like to expose them to that sort of langer activity.

I sometimes wonder if in a parallel universe, there is an Icelandic version of foot.ie known as fótur.is Now on this site there is an Irish user called... oh let's same Shamrock. He spends his time telling the natives, how wonder the LOI is compared to the Icelandic League, due to it's prudent expenditure, academy set-ups and the overall superiority of the Irish people due to genetic breeding vs the inbred Icelanders. I'd feel sorry for those guys and I'm sure their impression of Irish people would be some what poor.
Unfortunately, we have to inhabit this universe with Geez...sorry Geysir. Oh what would I give for a black hole, rather than having to listen to someone talking through theirs all the time....

[ger121]

2 out of 4 to go through isn't a bad return. I reckon we'll only have 1 in the next round out of our 5

True but Football is never that simple. Could be 1 Icelandic Team to go through and 3 from the LOI. I'm leaning towards 2 from each. Rovers and Pat's from here.KR and FH from Iceland.

[bennocelt]

Lets consult the oracle (the co efficients), temporarily the LOI are 39 and the Icelandic boys are 35. Nuff said:D

[nigel-harps1954]

Fully expecting Pat's, Cork, UCD and Rovers all to go through this round. They'll all know the challenges facing them next week. Cork is the only ones I'd be worried about losing their second leg.

[bennocelt]

Some decent pics here of Shamrock Rovers game
http://www.footballfans.eu/match/1528630

UCD goal

https://youtu.be/CKrw8gsRQT0

[Spudulika]

Hacken? Thay qualified for Europe a few years ago, same season they got relegated

Yes, Hacken! They'd a decent side but were totally outclassed. They had about 10-15 fans who traveled to Moscow and I'd to get them into the stadium after the usual meathead behaviour by the stewards at Luzhniki. The away supporters ended up in a VIP section, getting beautifully drunk and chatting up and taking photos with a girl band who performed at half-time. I think that was more fun for them as they were hammered on the field.

And yes, I think it was Dunfermline - they beat a Scottish team and a Faeroes team to get through. Spartak were just blessed to get such a draw.

[1899]

hey there. i'm heading over to dublin next week to get in some irish football (and beer). do you guys think tickets will be still available for st pats - skonto at the day of the match?

cheers from vienna.
i'm sorry but i have to quote my own post haha, any ideas?

[gufcfan]

which may well be a record!

In general?

[pineapple stu]

Well, outside Dublin maybe. And that time we won the league in Athlone.

[TheBoss]

I gather there is tickets on sale for must win game.

http://i.imgur.com/VV5Fcyx.jpg

[ForzaHoop]

Which Games are live on the Box this week. LJ's live on Sat doesn't open in work

[patrickccfc]

Which Games are live on the Box this week. LJ's live on Sat doesn't open in work

KR vs City is on setanta Ireland on Thursday

[ForzaHoop]

Yeah seen the Cork game, i wil watch for sure
Was hoping somehow Rovers would get televised or even a stream

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah seen the Cork game, i wil watch for sure
Was hoping somehow Rovers would get televised or even a stream
No, it seems people in Luxembourg give even less of a **** about their local sides as Irish people do. If we get through, I'd imagine Norwegian TV will want to televise at least the away leg, so hopefully we can get on the back of that.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Sure most Irish people seem to think Boston is a 33rd county.

[PartySaint]

i'm sorry but i have to quote my own post haha, any ideas?

Yes you should be ok to get tickets

Here is our official website with directions to Richmond Park
http://stpatsfc.com/ground.php

[ForzaHoop]

Will SRFCTV not lash it on the internet ?

[Charlie Darwin]

No, they were shut down years ago.

[ForzaHoop]

LIVESCORE it is then :(

[Nesta99]

No, they were shut down years ago.

Had to pay for the 'A' side somehow!

[nigel-harps1954]

LIVESCORE it is then :(

You should try the First Division for a while..outside of attending games, getting any information on match nights is like drawing blood from a stone in most places.

[Nesta99]

Again with thanks to Conroy on Orielweb for posting up the following link of the most recent BATE match - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aZTvMy1p40

I'm stuck in a hospital ward overlooking United park so I took to watching this match in entirety (almost) and also hence the manic posting in all threads as i'm bored stupid.

Watching this though along with other clips of next weeks opposition a few observations Ive made:

Unsurprisingly the BATE players are technically decent - first touch, comfortable on the ball, man on for the simple ball etc. But for a regular CL group stage qualifier they are a negative side (maybe thats a bit of savvy from playing in Europe and getting a job done). They nearly always have have the 2 centre midfielders sitting in front of the back four when not in possession, when possession is regained the wide midfielders hug the touchline but the ball is often launched forward with mixed results. They play a lot of keepball at the back with some probing runs. All fairly basic stuff really just executed reasonably efficiently.

In general terms the grounds have been a mixed batch and there are LoI grounds that are by far superior. Generalised I know. Crowds have been mediocre including the home league games. Looks no more than 5-6k at a push at the game posted previous. This has me thinking that maybe we are not as far off what is needed by the league to progress as we would think. Thats is not to say we have a long way to go before significant progression in European competition but are we too self deprecating? Obviously support from the national association would help bridge the divide. Indeed if on the face of things if Belarus champions can go from being knocked out of Europe by an Irish side to CL groups in 10 years how did they go about it? From the FAI's perspective, the LoI's progression to group stages of European completions would generate much needed revenue (even if its just increased participation fees from European qualifiers) and should warrant support and investment - maybe by using their influence with some of their friendly sugar daddies.

Now maybe i'm looking at this through lilywhite tinted specs in some sort of hope that there is the slightest chance of Dundalk's progression through this round and that the money associated would help develop Oriel and Dundalk FC and with continued qualification for European competition the bar gets raised and we continue to improve and progress in a sustainable manner to the holy grail of group stages.

Any opinions? On the footage of BATE themselves or the rest of the waffle (the goal by the way is 50mins on the vid or on half time in the match...free header). Spudulika would you know how the Belarussians developed their league? Anyways boredom has possibly led to some wild thinking...or dreaming!

[Yossarian]

I actually think that if we play to our strengths and cut out the individual errors then we have a good chance. BATE aren't prolific goalscorers at all but they are also quite strong defensively. As long as we keep it tight for the first leg over there and play to our strengths and try and get a goal it would set it up nicely for the second leg.

[El-Pietro]

I think Dundalks defense is quite shaky but they cover it up with their incredible midfield. If they don't dominate possession against BATE it could be very tough for them.

[Nesta99]

I think Dundalks defense is quite shaky but they cover it up with their incredible midfield. If they don't dominate possession against BATE it could be very tough for them.

I agree! Last season with Cherrie in goal and not being the vocal type Gartland or Boyle gave a shout and were solid. This season with Rogers who is far more vocal and confident it seems a bit 'to me to you'.. ball back of the net. It's like they have to gel as a defensive trio yet. Too many leaders (cooks and all that). We still dont concede too many and maybe that is due to having possession but there is a nerviness this season that there wasnt last season. Last season Cherrie caused the nerves to spike when having to claim a ball or dealing with a backpass under any pressure. Pace at centre-half was an issue v Drogheda. Neither defender dealt with the long punt and Rogers didnt know whether to stick or not, when he then tried to close the angles he was slow off the mark for the goal and pulled out of the save for fear of conceding a peno and walking. Issues that can be sorted really.

[ForzaHoop]

I attend nearly all Harps home games now, away games i follow on the phone thru Livescore, sure all going well Harps will be in Premier next season

[ger121]

After the Limerick game, I thought the defence was a bit dodgy but while watching the Drogheda match, I kept thinking Bate could run amok against that back four. Hope I'm wrong.

[Yossarian]

After the Limerick game, I thought the defence was a bit dodgy but while watching the Drogheda match, I kept thinking Bate could run amok against that back four. Hope I'm wrong.

I think if BATE hit long balls over the top then we could be caught as that is where our defence has struggled this season.

[White Horse]

After the Limerick game, I thought the defence was a bit dodgy but while watching the Drogheda match, I kept thinking Bate could run amok against that back four. Hope I'm wrong.

The back four was exposed against Limerick and Drogheda as Chris Shields did not start those games. His role is critical as he is the only midfielder who sits deep. Everyone else, including the full backs bomb forward. Gartland, in particular, is vulnerable if exposed to one on one situations with pacey forwards.

If Dundalk played like they did against Limerick and Drogheda, I share your fears. However, I think Kenny will set the team up differently to protect the weaknesses you identified.

[orielabu]

Two questions:
1. What is the Europa League prize money for round 2?
2. Is there bonus money for single match wins and draws in Europa and Champions?

[Charlie Darwin]

1. €200k for getting there, €210k for each subsequent win.
2. Not until the group stages.

[D24Saint]

Is there definitely a win bonus in the qualifying.

[MeathDrog]

Crusaders are through the preliminary CL round after a 1-1 draw away to Levadia Tallinn.

[ger121]

Crusaders went through on away goals tonight. Guess the Manager being on his holiers didn't hurt them after all. They have an Albanian side next.

[bennocelt]

1 nil to Rovers, get in! Webster

[ForzaHoop]

1-0 Rovers - Webster 21mins

[SPXcyan]

So if Rovers win tonight that's 200K on top of the 200K for qualifying? and from what I've been reading lately.. another 200K if it stays at 1-0?