League of Ireland in Europe 2017

[Real ale Madrid]

You can't beat the day of the European draws - been building up to this for months.

Good luck to everyone.

[bennocelt]

im waiting to see who Vaduz get, if i get a pass from wifey id go:)

[Real ale Madrid]

Dundalk v Rosenborg

[Straightstory]

Would Rosenberg be better/worse than Bate?

[Straightstory]

Potentially Linfield v Celtic. Should be fun!

[El-Pietro]

Dundalk have to be happy enough with that. Their options weren't great, Rosenborg would be preferable to most of the other teams most likely? After FH would this be the next best option? Plus, who doesn't want to visit Norway?

[swinfordfc]

Dundalk v Rosenborg

If Dundalk lose this game, are they completely out of Europe?

[Real ale Madrid]

Would Rosenberg be better/worse than Bate?

Hard to know - they beat IFK Norkopping in the Champs league last year and were pretty close to knocking out APOEL before conceding 3 goals in injury time in Cyprus. They then lost 4-2 on agg to Austra Vienna in EL P/O. Currently top of the league albeit not by much. Outside chance at best but a better draw than Malmo / Celtic / Warsaw.

[Real ale Madrid]

If Dundalk lose this game, are they completely out of Europe?

YES..

[Real ale Madrid]

Levadia Tallinn v Cork City

[Nesta99]

Cork should go through on that! Ouch for Derry.

[Real ale Madrid]

FC Midtjylland v Derry City

[Real ale Madrid]

Shamrock Rovers will play Stjarnan (Iceland) away first

[swinfordfc]

Cork and Rovers good draw ..... Ouch for Derry!

[Nesta99]

Draw could have been better and worse all round. Derry have had the tough one this year but then you dont know what you get with Rovers. Rosenburg is going to be tough but not as tough as BATE and Legia. If we can lift our general form we can have a chance.

[patrickccfc]

Pretty confident with that one, home in the second leg is good. Not bad for rovers either. Tough one for derry though

[Real ale Madrid]

We will still need to be at our best against this team - only knocked out by Slavia Prague on away goals last year and unbeaten in the league this year.

[Candystripe]

Well feck that for a draw ��

[Bunny Kelly]

Draw could have been better and worse all round. Derry have had the tough one this year but then you dont know what you get with Rovers. Rosenburg is going to be tough but not as tough as BATE and Legia. If we can lift our general form we can have a chance.


I follow a good bit of Norwegian football & Rosenborg nowhere near as good as last season, def beatable but then that's very much the case with Dundalk too

[Straightstory]

Pretty good all round. Derry the unluckiest.

[**FrOsTy**]

Slightly off topic... but, has anyone ever been to Bangor in Wales and what is the best way to get there?

[Nesta99]

Slightly off topic... but, has anyone ever been to Bangor in Wales and what is the best way to get there?

Ferry, and the train - stops in Bangor - only railway line on the way to Chester. Nice wee Univeristy town, the football ground is shocking and makes Oriel look like Old Trafford!

[Nesta99]

The dates of the 2nd round 1st leg game with (probably) Linfield and Celtic are a tad unfortunate. Id say the fixture wuld be reversed to be in Glasgow on the 11/12th not that it would make much difference.

[geysir]

Now it's Shamrock Rovers' turn to come a cropper in Iceland.

[historynut]

The dates of the 2nd round 1st leg game with (probably) Linfield and Celtic are a tad unfortunate. Id say the fixture wuld be reversed to be in Glasgow on the 11/12th not that it would make much difference.

Are you talking about the old ground Farrer Road short walk from station or new ground out of town.

Apologies pressed wrong response
This is reply to Nesta's statement about Bangor's ground.

[DannyInvincible]

Balls of a draw for Derry. Couldn't have been worse out of the opponents that could have been drawn by considerable distance.

Good draw for Cork. Surely Rovers have a decent chance of progression too. Not the worst of draws for Dundalk, although knocking out Rosenborg will be a tough ask.

[sparky12345678]

so of the 4 teams. 2 are up against tough seeds and 2 against beatable seeds. Rosenburg and Midtjylland on paper are a big ask, but its always the case that clubs need to step up; like Dundalk against BATE... Hopefully Dundalk can do it, pity Rosenburg are in season... Hard to see Derry pulling off something special...

[Real ale Madrid]

AEK Larnaca (Cyp) / Lincoln (Gib) v Levada Tallinn (Est) / Cork City (Irl)

[Real ale Madrid]

Stjarnan (Isl) / Shamrock Rovers (Irl) v FK Mlada Boleslv (Cze)

[Real ale Madrid]

Ferencvaros (Hun) / FK Jelgarva (Lat) v FC Midtjylland (Den) / Derry City (Irl)

[Nesta99]

Are you talking about the old ground Farrer Road short walk from station or new ground out of town.

Apologies pressed wrong response
This is reply to Nesta's statement about Bangor's ground.

2010/11 I was based there so Farrer Rd i am talking about. They were debating a move for the Honka match and i couldnt believe that the old ground was considered at all before the game was moved to Wrexham. Farrer Road was like United Parks poor cousin! Not seen the University Ground since any work was finished.

[ger121]

My view on the draw.

Dundalk - Aren't as good as last year as we all know but Rosenborg not as good as some of the other sides in that draw. Dundalk have a chance I think.
Cork - Very lucky with the draw again this year. I'd have them as favourites in that one.
Rovers - Hard to know really. Stjarnan went to PO round a few years ago beating Motherwell along the way. Maybe not as good as that team. Rovers bar 2011, generally bang average in Europe. 50/50
Derry - very difficult draw but I think Derry won't lose both legs.

Considering all teams unseeded, it's not the worst draw at all. Points towards Co-efficient possible for all 4 sides.

[sparky12345678]

I see Bert (https://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method5/trank10-2018.html)has the new system up and collated. Interestingly Red Star have their 4 points for winning in 1990 but Partizan are still higher on the list due to decent performances over the last 10 years. And notably in Ireland St. Pats are the highest ranked Irish club at the moment followed by Dundalk and then Rovers. It will be interesting to see how this would have affected seeding for example this year... ?

[brendy_éire]

Derry - very difficult draw but I think Derry won't lose both legs.

I think we will, comfortably.
Within the last two years, Midtjylland have beat Southampton, Brugge, Legia Warsaw, and beaten Manchester United at home.
On the other hand, we can't defend set pieces. Could be a right hammering.

[legendz]

I'd rate chances of progression to their respective next round as follows:
Dundalk 33%
Cork City 51%
Shamrock Rovers 49%
Derry City 17%

Qualification knockout rounds are fraught with danger. Hopefully at least one club will be involved for at least 3 rounds but it'll be tough.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd rate chances of progression to their respective next round as follows:
Dundalk 33%
Cork City 51%
Shamrock Rovers 49%
Derry City 17%

Qualification knockout rounds are fraught with danger. Hopefully at least one club will be involved for at least 3 rounds but it'll be tough.

I'd really love to know how you came up with those percentage chances.

[El-Pietro]

City have clearly a much better chance of winning than Rovers.

[legendz]

I'd really love to know how you came up with those percentage chances.I'd see Dundalk having a 1 in 3 chance of going through. Cork marginally more than 50-50. Shamrock Rovers marginally less than 50-50. Derry City 1 in 6.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

I'd rate chances of progression to their respective next round as follows:
Dundalk 33%
Cork City 51%
Shamrock Rovers 49%
Derry City 17%

Qualification knockout rounds are fraught with danger. Hopefully at least one club will be involved for at least 3 rounds but it'll be tough.

Id bump them all up 10-15% and cork by 25%.

[seand]

Dundalk 22.8%
Cork 70.1%
Rovers 41.1%
Derry 7.8%

This is fun, we should do this more often

[EatYerGreens]

City have clearly a much better chance of winning than Rovers.

No way. Derry's chances are much worse than Rovers.

Cork's chances, on the other hand, are probably better ;)

[nigel-harps1954]

Dundalk 22.8%
Cork 70.1%
Rovers 41.1%
Derry 7.8%

This is fun, we should do this more often

This could become a predictions league in it's own right.

[sbgawa]

This could become a predictions league in it's own right.

Good idea

Dundalk 1 Norway 4
Cork 3 Estonia 1
Rovers 4 Iceland 1
Derry 1 Denmark 3

Over two legs and bringing the international flavour to it + saves me trying the spelling

[Pablo Escobar]

I get the impression that Rovers fans are underestimating Icelandic football. KR were better than us 2 years ago. Dundalk barely got passed FH last year before they beat BATE. If it was us, I'd be nervous. It's winnable, but I won't be putting a bet on it.

[placid casual]

Dundalk 15%
Dundalk look like an old man being forced to go back into war- they won't last.
cork 55%
Bearing in mind corks exploits in Europe, they could royally f##k this up
Rovers 33.3333%
Rovers can't defend, and don't have a clinical striker. Don't even mention discipline.

Derry 10%
Crazy Kenny keeps telling us his team are young and inexperienced. Might cost them here.

[nigel-harps1954]

Good idea

Dundalk 1 Norway 4
Cork 3 Estonia 1
Rovers 4 Iceland 1
Derry 1 Denmark 3

Over two legs and bringing the international flavour to it + saves me trying the spelling

https://media4.giphy.com/media/SDxzM5LAVq5Tq/giphy.gif

[ToberonaTornado]

I'd really love to know how you came up with those percentage chances.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjOZtWZ56lc

[Pablo Escobar]

Dundalk 15%
Dundalk look like an old man being forced to go back into war- they won't last.
cork 55%
Bearing in mind corks exploits in Europe, they could royally f##k this up
Rovers 33.3333%
Rovers can't defend, and don't have a clinical striker. Don't even mention discipline.

Derry 10%
Crazy Kenny keeps telling us his team are young and inexperienced. Might cost them here.

Our exploits in Europe? Is this another myth? You could argue that 2 years ago, but that KR side were the better side (marginally) over the 2 legs. I'd back us if we played them now. But when we've played in Europe over the past 13 years we've done very well. Better than most actually.

[sbgawa]

I get the impression that Rovers fans are underestimating Icelandic football. KR were better than us 2 years ago. Dundalk barely got passed FH last year before they beat BATE. If it was us, I'd be nervous. It's winnable, but I won't be putting a bet on it.

Just the usual optimism ......... I wouldn't underestimate the task at hand but better to live in hope than despair ;)

[sbgawa]

https://media4.giphy.com/media/SDxzM5LAVq5Tq/giphy.gif

That's vaguely disturbing...