League of Ireland in Europe 2017

[legendz]

Honestly, I don't see Dundalk getting too far this year. They're absolutely miles away from where they were last year. League hopes rest with Cork this season. If we get one team through one round, that'll be the height of it.You might not be too wide of the mark. I think the stat is that the league's champion has gotten through CLQ2 in 2 out of 8 seasons.

Depending on seeding and draw, I'd be hopeful the experience within the Dundalk camp will see them past the first hurdle.

If ELQ3 and the EL playoff round becomes the norm for the top 2 in the league it'll mark good and respectable progress. Naturally very difficult in the seeded knockout format of the qualifiers.

[Charlie Darwin]

The latter being prime example of getting your co-efficient in good order means you don’t have to be relying on other leagues to have league winners with clubs with lower co-efficient.
Luckily cup specialists Shamrock Rovers are back to help with this effort.

[EatYerGreens]

Ah stop teasing me with all this European talk. I feel like a poor boy looking in the window of a wealthy persons house on Christmas morning!

Surely you've got used to it by now though ? ;)

[EatYerGreens]

The richest clubs want to exclude lower league champions altogether. Not just happy to have 4 automatic places for the top 4 leagues, they want to reduce the Champions League from 32 to 24 so they have to share less of the big money pot.

It's the slow march towards a European Super League, which kind of feels inevitable.

UEFA's strategy is to essentially delay it happening, by continually conceding more and more to the bigger clubs until we get there by default anyway. At which stage their main focus will be on trying to run/control it themselves, as without jurisdiction over it they'd lose a massive slice of their relevance (and income).

[brendy_éire]

Derry playing EL games in Oriel?

https://www.derrynow.com/soccer/derry-city-set-play-europa-league-games-dundalk-fcs-oriel-park-season/156210

No quotes, so would maybe take that article with a pinch of salt.
How do the trust that own the Sligo Showgrounds operate? Do they set their own prices, or take the lead from the football club?

[oriel]

This seems to have come right out of the blue, that website/link is generally not too reliable though, and they have in the past just re-ran stories from other sources. I did a quick google, the difference in distance is 138k to Sligo v 157k to Dlk, actually thought it would be longer. If there is anything in this, two key points, not that it should be an issue, but capacity will be limited to 3.2k seating, and assuming Derry start in round 2, they will be able to play two matches only at this venue.

If Dundalk chose to play their CL round 2 game in OP they would be getting the ground ready anyway, but the EL games will be a month earlier in June. I actually hope this is true, be nice to see another euro match. I`ll wait for a more trusted source though.

[brendy_éire]

If there is anything in this, two key points, not that it should be an issue, but capacity will be limited to 3.2k seating, and assuming Derry start in round 2, they will be able to play two matches only at this venue.

We'll be in the first qualifying round, as will be Cork and Shamrock Rovers. http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/qual2017.html

I wouldn't be all that pleased with Oriel myself. I'd almost gaurantee that the club hasn't considered any IL venue either. I think Riverside can't be used, but Mourneview, Seaview, Solitude and the Oval would all be options (assuming we wouldn't use Windsor).

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Derry playing EL games in Oriel?

https://www.derrynow.com/soccer/derry-city-set-play-europa-league-games-dundalk-fcs-oriel-park-season/156210

No quotes, so would maybe take that article with a pinch of salt.
How do the trust that own the Sligo Showgrounds operate? Do they set their own prices, or take the lead from the football club?

I would imagine that it's the club you're dealing with. From what I know the trust is set-up to ensure that the grounds are used for sport etc but Rovers pretty much run it and develop it etc.

Strange one.

[oriel]

We'll be in the first qualifying round, as will be Cork and Shamrock Rovers. http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/qual2017.html

I wouldn't be all that pleased with Oriel myself. I'd almost gaurantee that the club hasn't considered any IL venue either. I think Riverside can't be used, but Mourneview, Seaview, Solitude and the Oval would all be options (assuming we wouldn't use Windsor).

You can still only play two rounds then there, OP can host up to R2 in both EL and CL then. I would have thought Belfast would have suited you better, but then that probably wasn't looked into as Sligo was considered first?

[nigel-harps1954]

Whether or not the IFA and/or UEFA would allow use of a stadium in a different jurisdiction is the real question there. It might well be the case that Oriel is the only option.

[brendy_éire]

Whether or not the IFA and/or UEFA would allow use of a stadium in a different jurisdiction is the real question there. It might well be the case that Oriel is the only option.

You need agreement from UEFA to play outside your 'home' country, but if that applies, it wouldn't be an issue.
Much more likely the club just didn't even contemplate using an IL ground.

Rumours at this stage, but Sligo ones were looking €30k, Dundalk then offered Oriel for free (presumably cost-price really). No brainer.

[El-Pietro]

Handier for Derry fans in Belfast and Dublin too.

[Viking]

We're definitely not seeded in the EL this year anyway. Needed another point at least for that. Some interesting seeds in the Northern region though as things stand. Linfield, Cliftonville Aberdeen and Rangers all in there. I'd fancy a cut off any of those. But on the other end of the scale, Legia Warsaw, AIK Solna and IFK Gotenburg terrify me.

Well... as it turned out, you'll don't have to worry about IFK Göteborg. They're not in this year.

It's AIK & IFK Norrköping as seeded in the first round you might face. Two teams with different kind of style of play. AIK 3-5-2/5-3-2 and usually rock solid defensively, but so so offensively, a bit Italian with defense first attitude and lots of ball-possession these days. Norrköping is a more traditional 4-4-2 team with some variations when they attack. And a team that put more pressure on the opponents and thrive on a fast-paced football. Usually very succesful against lesser opponents, but can have trouble against skilled teams/tactics.
Both teams ended up with 60 points last year in a 30 game schedule. (6 points behind the champs Malmö)

The last team in Europa League will be Östersunds FK who won the cup today, by defeating Norrköping with 4-1. But they will enter in the second round of EL and be unseeded. So I would guess, not a likely opponent for your teams. (if you don't take over a high seed in the first round) A 3-5-2/3-4-3 team with lots of ball-possession. Skilled in the passning-game and have come quite far in just a couple of seasons. 8 in the league last year. Will probably do even better this year.

And since you guys (Cork City) beat Häcken last season, i can't see why you should be out of a chance against any of these teams. Not the way Cork is doing in the league this year. OK, Häcken has in many years been known for their somewhat shady defense (new directions this year and new coach as well) but still. Sure, all of your teams will probably be underdogs, but also as someone mentioned; Irish teams have fared well against Swedish opponents in the past. And not so past as we all saw last year. I sure hope for an other opponent than an Irish one in the first round. Well, travel-wise it sounds good though...

[EatYerGreens]

Handier for Derry fans in Belfast and Dublin too.

And for away fans, no matter who the fixture is against.

[Charlie Darwin]

Hypothetically, if all teams get through a couple of rounds, could we be looking at Cork in Thomond and Derry, Dundalk and Rovers across two days in Tallaght and the Aviva?

Obviously Rovers will be knocked out in the first round, but hypothetically.

[brendy_éire]

Hypothetically, if all teams get through a couple of rounds, could we be looking at Cork in Thomond and Derry, Dundalk and Rovers across two days in Tallaght and the Aviva?

You can switch matchdays, so Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday could be done in Tallaght.
Very hypothetical though, aye.

Just on that note, when Pats had their matches switched to Tuesday last year, was it with the agreement of both clubs or how did it work?
Was it known before the draw was made that Jeunesse Esch had to play Tuesdays?

[El-Pietro]

Well... as it turned out, you'll don't have to worry about IFK Göteborg. They're not in this year.

It's AIK & IFK Norrköping as seeded in the first round you might face. Two teams with different kind of style of play. AIK 3-5-2/5-3-2 and usually rock solid defensively, but so so offensively, a bit Italian with defense first attitude and lots of ball-possession these days. Norrköping is a more traditional 4-4-2 team with some variations when they attack. And a team that put more pressure on the opponents and thrive on a fast-paced football. Usually very succesful against lesser opponents, but can have trouble against skilled teams/tactics.
Both teams ended up with 60 points last year in a 30 game schedule. (6 points behind the champs Malmö)

The last team in Europa League will be Östersunds FK who won the cup today, by defeating Norrköping with 4-1. But they will enter in the second round of EL and be unseeded. So I would guess, not a likely opponent for your teams. (if you don't take over a high seed in the first round) A 3-5-2/3-4-3 team with lots of ball-possession. Skilled in the passning-game and have come quite far in just a couple of seasons. 8 in the league last year. Will probably do even better this year.

And since you guys (Cork City) beat Häcken last season, i can't see why you should be out of a chance against any of these teams. Not the way Cork is doing in the league this year. OK, Häcken has in many years been known for their somewhat shady defense (new directions this year and new coach as well) but still. Sure, all of your teams will probably be underdogs, but also as someone mentioned; Irish teams have fared well against Swedish opponents in the past. And not so past as we all saw last year. I sure hope for an other opponent than an Irish one in the first round. Well, travel-wise it sounds good though...
Thats good to hear. We have a very good record against Swedish teams but in general we've beaten them when they haven't respected us. Hacken took it for granted that they would win in Cork, even after the game in Gothenburg. The same thing happened with Malmo and DIF. The only Swedish team that respected us and took the game seriously was Hammarby and they beat us. I think if Genk had taken the sane attitude as Hacken we would have beaten them in Cork, but they learned from the first leg and stepped up their game. Thanks for the team information though!


Hypothetically, if all teams get through a couple of rounds, could we be looking at Cork in Thomond and Derry, Dundalk and Rovers across two days in Tallaght and the Aviva?

Obviously Rovers will be knocked out in the first round, but hypothetically.
We can play at home until the Third round, and might get away with it in the Playoff round with dispensation. Group stages would definitely be elsewhere, we are hopeful that if we get that far we might be able to play at Pairc Uí Chaoimh but that would be a real long shot. Cork GAA are the most anti football County board outside of Ulster.

You can switch matchdays, so Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday could be done in Tallaght.
Very hypothetical though, aye.

Just on that note, when Pats had their matches switched to Tuesday last year, was it with the agreement of both clubs or how did it work?
Was it known before the draw was made that Jeunesse Esch had to play Tuesdays?
I think its down to the fact that you can only have one game in a city or a certain distance on the one evening. It was understood that one of the three Lux teams would have to move their game after the draw but it wasn't certain who it would be.

[Ezeikial]

I think its down to the fact that you can only have one game in a city or a certain distance on the one evening. It was understood that one of the three Lux teams would have to move their game after the draw but it wasn't certain who it would be.

While UEFA can change their criteria to suit their own agenda, the guideline is that the lower ranked team must move their fixture when this occurs

When Dundalk drew Grevenmacher in the Europa League qualifier in 2010 the draw threw up a clash with Dudelange also scheduled to be at home at the same time. As Dudelange had finished 2nd in the Luxembourg league ahead of Grevenmacher they were the higher ranked team. Hence the original draw was reversed for Dundalk- Grevenmacher

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Derry playing EL games in Oriel?

https://www.derrynow.com/soccer/derry-city-set-play-europa-league-games-dundalk-fcs-oriel-park-season/156210

No quotes, so would maybe take that article with a pinch of salt.
How do the trust that own the Sligo Showgrounds operate? Do they set their own prices, or take the lead from the football club?

Looks like The Showgrounds it is

http://leagueofireland.ie/index.php/2017/04/28/derry-city-now-play-european-games-showgrounds/

[brendy_éire]

Looks like The Showgrounds it is

http://leagueofireland.ie/index.php/2017/04/28/derry-city-now-play-european-games-showgrounds/

Happy enough with that now.

[oriel]

Showgrounds probably will suit Derry better, its 20k closer and a much better ground with seating on 3 sides. If the reported fee of 5k has been agreed that seems fair enough.

I did hear Dundalk were offering OP for cost price, ie pay all extras, but I think 5k still a better option to use Sligo’s ground.

[Charlie Darwin]

Is Sligo all that easier than Dundalk to get to from Derry? As somebody pointed out, Derry would have a decent support base in Belfast and Dublin where Dundalk would be more accessible. I do think it's good to keep it in the north(ish) west though.

[Nesta99]

Showgrounds is a much better venue and i'd say it will sellout with local interest too. Capacity of 3000 approx at Oriel is small as Derry fans alone would hit that figure. A sell-out in Sligo would be a lot more of a 'home' atmosphere imo. Though i'm a little disappointed as i'd loved to have been able to go to the game, if there were tickets available in Dundalk as the atmosphere created by a good Derry support is hard to match.

[Charlie Darwin]

What's the capacity of Sligo seated? Wikipedia says 4,000. Not sure if Derry would get that outside Derry but depends what the tie is I suppose. Either way it'd be good I'd say. I couldn't make it to either on an evening when Rovers aren't playing, but hopefully the neutrals in Sligo would get out too.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

3,800 I think

[DannyInvincible]

'DERRY CITY: City CEO 'delighted' to secure Sligo Showgrounds for Europa League qualifier': http://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/derry-city-city-ceo-delighted-to-secure-sligo-showgrounds-for-europa-league-qualifier-1-7940002


Derry City CEO, Sean Barrett insists there was 'never any doubt' the club would be playing its UEFA Europa League qualifier home leg at the Sligo Showgrounds this summer. Commenting for the first time since the decision was confirmed on Friday, Mr Barrett said he was 'delighted' the club had managed to secure the Showgrounds which was always the 'preferred' location.

"We're delighted as it's a great facility there," he told BBC Radio Foyle during half-time in Derry City's 2-2 draw with St Patrick's Athletic at Maginn Park on Friday night. "We were obviously looking at all our options and we're delighted to be playing the game at the Showgrounds which is a great venue and a super surface and we're absolutely delighted Sligo will help us on our European adventure." Mr Barrett admitted there was several options considered, which included both Oriel Park in Dundalk and Tallaght Stadium, home of Shamrock Rovers. However, given the distance from Derry, Sligo Showgrounds made logistical sense for the Candy Stripes.

[pineapple stu]

Worth noting UCD are still in with a reasonable shot of making the UEFA Youth League this year. We need 8 clubs to qualify for the Champions' League group stages and to win their domestic underage league. At present, there's about 20 countries where the Champions' League qualifiers (including those starting in, say, round 2) are also in with a chance of winning their underage league.

Barca just got knocked out of the Spanish underage league this morning, but Celta, Atletico and Real are all still in, and are in with a shot of being in the CL group stages next season (Celta by winning the Europa League)

Anderlecht won their underage league this weekend and are leading the Belgian league too. Chelsea are top of the English league; FC Basel are the best team in Switzerland (though the title is decided by play-off, which makes it that bit more unpredictable). Dinamo Kiev, Ajax and Sporting Lisbon are almost certain to win their underage leagues, but their senior teams look like starting in the third round of the CL. Then there's APOEL, Copenhagen and Ludogorets, all on course for the double and all quite capable of qualifying from the second round.

Monaco, Juve, Bayern, Dortmund and Roma all still in underage contention too.

Think it's slight odds against at this stage, but given we're 41st in the rankings, slight odds against is quite positive.

Cork qualified last year from 40th - 41st did get through as well. The year before, 37th was the cut-off.

The winners of the league this year will be almost assured a spot for the 2018/19 competition as Dundalk have hefted us up to 37th in the rankings.

[pineapple stu]

Real Madrid win the Spanish underage league, so that's one of the 8 UCD need.

Next, Chelsea need to beat Arsenal on Tuesday

[Charlie Darwin]

Would be mad if UCD got into the UEFA Youth League after sacking the manager who got them there.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, was surprised to see a change of manager alright. Was he sacked or is it just that underage managers change a lot anyway? Do a lot of them take the role to get badges?

[Charlie Darwin]

Told he wasn't required by all accounts.

[brendy_éire]

The goldmine of Bert Kassies's site has been updated with the seedings for the Europa League draw.
Derry and Cork definitely unseeded, as expected. Shamrock Rovers are borderline.
https://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/seedel2017.html

[redobit]

Is Sligo all that easier than Dundalk to get to from Derry? As somebody pointed out, Derry would have a decent support base in Belfast and Dublin where Dundalk would be more accessible. I do think it's good to keep it in the north(ish) west though.

I've never driven Derry to Dundalk but the Bogside/ Brandywell is on the Sligo side of the City. Could of minutes drive and youre out from the city on the road to Sligo.

[DannyInvincible]

Getting on to the Letterkenny or Buncrana Roads for Sligo from any point in the city isn't that much of a ball-ache, even from the Waterside. Similarly, getting on to the Strabane Road for Dundalk from any point in the city isn't that big a deal either. It would only take a few minutes at most from any point in the city really. It's not like you'd be talking about anywhere near even a half an hour or anything like that.

[sbgawa]

The goldmine of Bert Kassies's site has been updated with the seedings for the Europa League draw.
Derry and Cork definitely unseeded, as expected. Shamrock Rovers are borderline.
https://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/seedel2017.html

What has to happen for rovers to be seeded ?

[nigel-harps1954]

What has to happen for rovers to be seeded ?

Everyone else to spontaneously combust in the heatwave.

[sbgawa]

Everyone else to spontaneously combust in the heatwave.

Excellent. .the weather outside is heating up.

[El-Pietro]

Theres a near zero chance Rovers will be seeded. Its currently mathematically possible but it won't happen.

[pateen]

Like it was asked above, considering Cork came second last year why would Rovers be seeded.
Previous European runs?

[Real ale Madrid]

Dublin bias - they are ahead of Derry as well.

[El-Pietro]

Like it was asked above, considering Cork came second last year why would Rovers be seeded.
Previous European runs?

League form has nothing to do with it. Rovers have been seeded for the past several seasons based on their European results. Including the year they reached the Group Stages. That season is no longer counted and so they will be unseeded - thuogh the rumour is that it will be included again from next year as UEFA change to a ten year period rather than the current 5 year period.

[Charlie Darwin]

League form has nothing to do with it. Rovers have been seeded for the past several seasons based on their European results. Including the year they reached the Group Stages. That season is no longer counted and so they will be unseeded - thuogh the rumour is that it will be included again from next year as UEFA change to a ten year period rather than the current 5 year period.
More Shamrock Rovers bias from UEFA.

[El-Pietro]

More Shamrock Rovers bias from UEFA.

Our last year in Europe before this current run was 2008. We lost heavily in the first round and based on current coefficient calculations would receive 0.25 towards our coefficient for next season. If they were to include 10 years this season we would have had 0.75 - probably not enough for us to be seeded though. But last year would have been interesting, we would have had 1.75 or 2.75 depending on how they calculate CL points back then. So we might have been seeded last season. Of course, other teams would also have additional points so the limits will be increased.

Basically the 10 year switch will have unfortunate consequences for Cork City for the first couple of years, but will benefit us long term IF we can keep qualifying. Ridden Rock Solid(TM).

[sbgawa]

Seeding doesn't guarantee an easy match ROPS last year for us when we were seaded was a bad draw. Cork were unseaded and got linfield ! . Luck has a big part to play........I'd still rather be seeded though : )

[Nesta99]

]Seeding doesn't guarantee an easy match ROPS last year for us when we were seaded was a bad draw[/B]. Cork were unseaded and got linfield ! . Luck has a big part to play........I'd still rather be seeded though : )

Lol it wasnt a bad draw, Fenlon had lost it by then and Rovers were in disarray. There are not too many easy matches in Europe but the tie handed to Rovers last season was a lot more winnable than the majority of other possiblities!

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah, it wasn't a difficult draw at all. With all due respect to them, their striker was a guy Rovers turned away after one trial game.

[sbgawa]

They were poor but fenlon had reached the end of his rope and we were playing dreadfully. My point was they were unseeded and linfield were seeded.

[oriel]

Seeding doesn't guarantee an easy match ROPS last year for us when we were seaded was a bad draw. Cork were unseaded and got linfield ! . Luck has a big part to play........I'd still rather be seeded though : )

You can of course get lucky in the draw, Dundalk were fortunate last year to get FH of Iceland the 2nd round of the CL, although they were seeded it was the one you wanted. (mind you they would have said the same)

Also after the first leg and 1-1 home draw, there was a fair chance the return leg could be our last of that season in Europe, and more so after going 0-1 down over there.

[El-Pietro]

Seeding doesn't guarantee an easy match ROPS last year for us when we were seaded was a bad draw. Cork were unseaded and got linfield ! . Luck has a big part to play........I'd still rather be seeded though : )

You should have beaten ROPs easily. We got a relatively lucky draw in the first and second rounds last year but we could easily have drawn a monster team in the first round. We could draw some very tough teams this year as well. Being seeded is massively important. If you are seeded there are much fewer teams you are worried about facing. If you are unseeded you are hoping to get one of a small number of teams.

[oriel]

I'd say Cork's first round draw last year was more than relatively lucky, you didn't have to leave the Island and up against a side barely back in pre season training !

Still I think they gave you a fair old game in TC?