League of Ireland in Europe 2016

[ger121]

2-0 to Cliftonville

[nigel-harps1954]

5 minutes for Cork to hold on.

[pineapple stu]

Just going off extratime, Roy Carroll - fresh from the Euros - has mad four decent saves in the past ten minutes. So maybe "hold on" is the wrong phrase - they seem to be on the front foot.

Cue a Linfield winner of course...

[pineapple stu]

Cork v Linfield the only game left now. 5 minutes added.

[nigel-harps1954]

Cliftonville through. Full time there 2-0. 3-1 on aggregate. Great result for them.

[nigel-harps1954]

FT in Cork. Phew.

[ger121]

Jesus they made hard work of that. Would have been criminal if they had of gone out. Carroll kept them in it in both legs.

[pineapple stu]

Yup. Though Ireland have dropped now to 46th, a new record low. It's quite close around us, granted. But there's some countries there it's quite worrying to be behind - Estonia's attendances would be crap in the First Division here for example.


Rank Country Total
40 Latvia 5.625
41 Macedonia 5.000
41 Montenegro 5.000
43 Armenia 4.875
44 Luxembourg 4.750
44 Estonia 4.750
46 Ireland 4.700
47 N Ireland 4.500
48 Lithuania 4.000
49 Wales 3.750
50 Faroe Islands 3.500

[ger121]

Yup. Though Ireland have dropped now to 46th, a new record low. It's quite close around us, granted. But there's some countries there it's quite worrying to be behind - Estonia's attendances would be crap in the First Division here for example.


Rank Country Total
40 Latvia 5.625
41 Macedonia 5.000
41 Montenegro 5.000
43 Armenia 4.875
44 Luxembourg 4.750
44 Estonia 4.750
46 Ireland 4.700
47 N Ireland 4.500
48 Lithuania 4.000
49 Wales 3.750
50 Faroe Islands 3.500


The gap from 46 to 41 is very small. Plenty of ball to be played yet!

[pineapple stu]

Oh, for sure. But we ended last season in 41st - so we'd only be getting back to where we started!

Can't see Pat's getting anything off a side who made the group stages last year. Don't know what to make of Cork's performance - seemed to be the better team but only won 2-1 on aggregate. As you say, really hope Dundalk get by the Icelandic side!

[Hitman]

Made ridiculously hard work of it, Carroll made some fine stops (and looked like he nearly kept the penalty out), but we squandered some absolute sitters on the break. We were much better last week, while Linfield really only threatened from set pieces again their fitness did look markedly improved.

[orielabu]

What would the effect on the co-efs of say a win and a draw from Dundalk.

[geysir]

Yup. Though Ireland have dropped now to 46th, a new record low. It's quite close around us, granted. But there's some countries there it's quite worrying to be behind - Estonia's attendances would be crap in the First Division here for example.


Rank Country Total
40 Latvia 5.625
41 Macedonia 5.000
41 Montenegro 5.000
43 Armenia 4.875
44 Luxembourg 4.750
44 Estonia 4.750
46 Ireland 4.700
47 N Ireland 4.500
48 Lithuania 4.000
49 Wales 3.750
50 Faroe Islands 3.500

The country's rank is not important, the LOI will have 3 entries into the EL first round for the foreseeable future unless there will be a string of atrocious results over the next 3 years. It's much more important for the clubs get the results to boost their coefficient in order to be seeded in the early rounds.
Pats winning 2 games and a win and draw for an unseeded Cork is a very good return.

[nigel-harps1954]

The country's rank is not important, the LOI will have 3 entries into the EL first round for the foreseeable future unless there will be a string of atrocious results over the next 3 years. It's much more important for the clubs get the results to boost their coefficient in order to be seeded in the early rounds.
Pats winning 2 games and a win and draw for an unseeded Cork is a very good return.

Pats only won one game.

[patrickccfc]

That should've been a lot easier. Apart from their goal, there wasn't too much from them bit nerves were always there when a goal would've knocked us out. Carroll made some fine saves to be fair to him and he's the reason it was close score wise.

Also, never seen a minutes applause have to be repeated before. First one strangely started as the players were shaking hands.

Happy to be through anyway, now let's have a go off these swedes

[pineapple stu]

The country's rank is not important...It's much more important for the clubs get the results to boost their coefficient in order to be seeded in the early rounds.
The country's rank is a function of the clubs' results - so if it's dropping, it means results are getting worse, which means clubs are less likely to be seeded in future Europa Leagues (a big issue), and the possibility of starting out in QR1 of the Champions' League (you would hope a small issue against San Marino/Andorra/Malta opposition, but it does give the possibility of losing in that round and missing out on €300k)

[geysir]

The country's rank is a function of the clubs' results - so if it's dropping, it means results are getting worse, which means clubs are less likely to be seeded in future Europa Leagues (a big issue), and the possibility of starting out in QR1 of the Champions' League (you would hope a small issue against San Marino/Andorra/Malta opposition, but it does give the possibility of losing in that round and missing out on €300k)
The individual clubs performance is much more important to their seeding, both Pat and Cork have improved their rank in their indiv. seeding. It's totally irrelevant that the LOI might have dropped a place or two in the league rankings.

Of course a league's rankings depends upon clubs' performance and if the LOI's rank keeps dropping it means the clubs are not performing, i'm not a complete moron, but that's not an issue (the LOI dropping as opposed to my moronicity) nor is it likely to be an issue because LOI clubs are winning/drawing games and ther LOI is well ahead of the drop zone to just having 2 EL entrants.

[Charlie Darwin]

Pats only won one game.
I think you'll find they lost both games.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cmok0IQWEAEFz_6.jpg

[Pablo Escobar]

Oh, for sure. But we ended last season in 41st - so we'd only be getting back to where we started!

Can't see Pat's getting anything off a side who made the group stages last year. Don't know what to make of Cork's performance - seemed to be the better team but only won 2-1 on aggregate. As you say, really hope Dundalk get by the Icelandic side!
Over the 2 legs Roy Carroll stopped about 4/5 goals that would have been had a LOI keeper been playing. He'll win them that league on his own.

[El-Pietro]

Linfield had one shot on target tonight and scored from it (plus a shot that came from an offside position and I thought was a certain goal but for an incredible save from Nults, plus the flag for offside). We have 6 or 7 in the second half alone, some of which were amazing saves from Carroll, and some which were shot straight at him.

We were by far the better team over the two legs, but we have not scored from open play since the break, two penalties is all we have from three games. Worrying.

Still, our first second round since 2007 so we'll take that. Pity we couldn't add a little more to the coefficient, but a win and a draw as an unseeded team isn't bad.

From a league point of view what really worries me is that only Pats (and maybe Dundalk if they dropped into it) would be seeded in the Europa League next year, unless we go on some mad run to the group stage. So even if we get back to 41st, we're likely to see some tough draws next year which will make it more difficult. Pats might not even qualify.

[Viking]

So, it became Cork-Häcken after all.

Just don't expect any big crowd, or following to Cork in the second leg. Häcken is one of the lowest-supported teams in the league, with an average of just over 3k+ link (http://svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/statistikligor/?scr=spl) (first column) The away support usually sounds way more when they play at home.

A couple of full games I found from earlier in May that might be of interest:

Cup Final: Malmö FF - BK Häcken (They actually had a decent following in Malmö this time)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HT8iHPVcf0

BK Häcken - AIK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzsfKroFr7o

More info than that, along with my previous post, and I will soon be deported... ;)

[pineapple stu]

The individual clubs performance is much more important to their seeding, both Pat and Cork have improved their rank in their indiv. seeding.
Pat's improving their individual seeding is hardly relevant given they're looking unlikely to be in Europe next year.

Also, the national coefficient is a factor in clubs' coefficients - a small one, granted, but there's small gaps between clubs at LoI level. So had Pat's won in Luxembourg, Cork would have an extra 0.05 in their coefficient I think, putting them ahead of 7 more teams.


Of course a league's rankings depends upon clubs' performance and if the LOI's rank keeps dropping it means the clubs are not performing, i'm not a complete moron, but that's not an issue
Of course it's an issue - it's a bigger issue than the seeding to be honest. It means the LoI is getting worse, and so instead of a match against a Luxembourg team being a gimme, one of our top teams is now scraping through on away goals. It means instead of beating decent Finnish teams (Drogheda beating HJK in 2006), the LoI is now going out quite weakly against a mid-table Finnish team. It means we're likely to have to put €300k on the line with a QR1 Champions' League tie in the near future. And it certainly means we're less and less likely to go on a decent run - Pat's in 2012/13 was the last one really.

This is a bad thing.

[nigel-harps1954]

So, it's about time we switched back to winter football then and forget about Europe?

[pineapple stu]

Do up a report for the FAI based on no facts or analysis at all and they might take you up on that.

[Dodge]

This is a bad thing.
For who?

Who, apart from us nerds, actually gives a ****? European results were terrific a few years ago but crowds got lower. So what's the point?

Euro money is great for the clubs, and progression is great for the clubs involved.

But whether Shamrock Rovers progress has absolutely no impact on UCD (or most clubs). None. Rovers getting to the group stages didn't help a single LOI club and Rovers getting beat this year won't hurt them either.

If anyone wants to "fix" Irish football, then European progression should be a by-product of that, not a goal.

[paul_oshea]

Hacken play hammarby this weekend, in I think 8th v 13th. They haven't lived up to the hype this year and are sitting midtable, but they have a good striker in Paulinho. Still if they dont/cant beat hammarby then Cork should be confident.

[pineapple stu]

If anyone wants to "fix" Irish football, then European progression should be a by-product of that, not a goal.
I agree with that. I'm saying European regression is a by-product of the LoI getting more broken. Which is a bad thing.

[pateen]

St Pats off to Minsk.
Very tough game but the Saints have done it before against bigger teams.

For those making the costly trip, all I can say is hats off. Enjoy the cheap beer and a the hot women (......and men, for the PC brigade).

[White Horse]

St Pats off to Minsk.
Very tough game but the Saints have done it before against bigger teams.

For those making the costly trip, all I can say is hats off. Enjoy the cheap beer and a the hot women (......and men, for the PC brigade).

Dundalk organised a charter flight to Minsk last year, a two night stay in a good hotel, transport, and match ticket for €650.

Meals and drink were cheap as chips. I think I only spend €40 when I was there.

[Dodge]

I agree with that. I'm saying European regression is a by-product of the LoI getting more broken. Which is a bad thing.

But Pats win a meaningless home leg in Inchicore. Cork do the same and Dundalk progress would see the LOI shoot up the rankings. None of those 3 results would change how strong the league is but we'd suddenly be 6 places higher. They don't mean much

[El-Pietro]

One of the things I love about following a League of Ireland club is the travel. I've had brilliant nights in Longford, Athlone, Sligo, Drogheda, Derry, Belfast, and I've been to almost every corner of the Island following City (still missing Carlow and Cavan). The European trips are an extension of that. Travelling to Belfast to play Linfield was great but I would have loved a more exotic location. I'm excited to go to Gothenburg, and I'd have been possibly more excited to go to Minsk, when are you gonna have an excuse to go to Minsk, or Riga or Tallinn. These trips can be expensive, but they are a lot of fun, and you never know, the team might win and then you get to say you were there on the night... plus the stories and memories last forever, or until alzheimers set in at least.

Best of luck to Pats, hopefully one of our clubs can win the tie, or at least pick up a a win or a draw or two to add to the leagues coefficient.

[White Horse]

One of the things I love about following a League of Ireland club is the travel. I've had brilliant nights in Longford, Athlone, Sligo, Drogheda, Derry, Belfast, and I've been to almost every corner of the Island following City (still missing Carlow and Cavan). The European trips are an extension of that.

Following your club into Europe is fantastic and is one of the few aspects of Irish football that trumps other sports in Ireland.

[osarusan]

Yeah I've had some great European nights with Limerick. Fantastic memories.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd love to say I know exactly what you mean...

[El-Pietro]

To be fair, 11 current LOI clubs, plus Fingal have played in Europe since 2005, and you can add Bray who last played in 1999. The LOI is cyclical and most teams get their chance at the top. Looks like Cobh, Wexford and Cabinteely are the only current clubs without European football in their history, and Harps have the longest wait, since 1978, Athlone and Limerick 1982, Waterford 1986 and Galway 1991.

Drogheda are a great example, forgetting the money years, they qualified again for the 2013/14 season after finishing 2nd in 2012. If they can do it anyone can in theory.

[outspoken]

I was too young for our euro adventures and I can't even use the Derry is in Europe joke anymore.

[Yossarian]

Dundalk organised a charter flight to Minsk last year, a two night stay in a good hotel, transport, and match ticket for €650.

Meals and drink were cheap as chips. I think I only spend €40 when I was there.

That was a great trip, only a one night though with the return flight straight after the match.
I'd recommend any Pats fans going, even though it's very short notice. Very friendly people and as already said, very cheap.

[sadloserkid]

Yeah I've had some great European nights with Limerick. Fantastic memories.

We'll never forget.

[El-Pietro]

We'll never forget.

You could always switch allegiance!

[GCdfc]

I was too young for our euro adventures and I can't even use the Derry is in Europe joke anymore.

It's not over yet....you can use it for about 2 more years.

[Martinho II]

maybe I missed it in the thread but I dont have time to go back thro it. tell me this who are Cork playing in the next round?

[El-Pietro]

BK Hacken, Swedish side from Gothenburg. Finished 7th last year and won the Cup to get into the Europa League. They have a player called Paulinho who everyone on here seems to be excited about. We're playing in Sweden next Thursday and at home the Thursday after.

[EatYerGreens]

You may consider yourself lucky if you were too young to recall Longford's ventures in Europe ;)

[El-Pietro]

You may consider yourself lucky if you were too young to recall Longford's ventures in Europe ;)

****ing Wales. (This applys to Bohs as well)

[outspoken]

Wales are a massive force in European football

[D24Saint]

Hope we bring something to cling on to back from Minsk even a two down would give a bit of hope.

[sadloserkid]

You could always switch allegiance!

I am semi-regular in Turners X these days given my location but I'll stick with "conceding one a game" Limerick. ;)

[oriel]

To be fair, 11 current LOI clubs, plus Fingal have played in Europe since 2005, and you can add Bray who last played in 1999. The LOI is cyclical and most teams get their chance at the top. Looks like Cobh, Wexford and Cabinteely are the only current clubs without European football in their history, and Harps have the longest wait, since 1978, Athlone and Limerick 1982, Waterford 1986 and Galway 1991.

Drogheda are a great example, forgetting the money years, they qualified again for the 2013/14 season after finishing 2nd in 2012. If they can do it anyone can in theory.

Good point on Drogs, they did very well that season v Malmo drew at home and were in the game a long time I think away eventually losing 2-0.

We had the list previously on here, loads of LOI clubs that played Euro matches not in their home ground, I wonder what ground has hosted the most 'neutral - home' games, probably Dalymount, I know Dundalk played a few there pre floodlights in oriel park (1967)

It will be a good bit of football trivia one day, Malmo played Drogs in 2012 but not in Drogs ground, and also played another European game IN Drogs in 1995, but not against Drogs!

[Longfordian]

You may consider yourself lucky if you were too young to recall Longford's ventures in Europe ;)

Bloody Carmarthen, every time I hear that name it depresses me. At least the trip to Liechtenstein was good craic apart from the game.

[nigel-harps1954]

FH conceded a 90th minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw at home to ten man Vikingur Reyjavik in the league today ahead of their CL game against Dundalk. They're still 2 points clear, albeit with a game extra played over Fjolnir in the Icelandic league, still though only one loss in 10 games. Should provide stiff competition against Dundalk.