Maccabi Tel Aviv v Dundalk

[legendz]

Dundalk are still in with a good shout of making the Round of 32.

Tel Aviv will have done their homework like AZ. Depending on injuries clearing up I'm hopeful Dundalk will have another great away day. The group stage format affords them an opportunity to quickly learn and apply lessons learned.

Dunkalk to win. Hopeful Zenit can claim at least a point.

MOD EDIT: Keep this thread to discussion of the match please. No need to revisit this Dundalk's team's place in history.

[ger121]

Not this **** again:soldier:

[Mr A]

Lads- we ARE NOT going down this rat hole again! Seriously.

[pateen]

This discussion is very quite.
Massive massive game for Dundalk. Really hope the shock can happen

[swinfordfc]

I think this will suit Dundalk - they under pressure but The home side has to win so will come on to Dundalk which will suit them. The only problem I think is Dundalk might have to scored two to win the game! I think they get one but will it be enough - think it be 1-1 but will Zenit then beat AZ?

[Real ale Madrid]

I'm quite sure it’s quiet for a good reason. Hopefully Dundalk are quietly going about their business and they’re going to gain quite a magnificent result for the league.

[White Horse]

Travelling to Tel Aviv today. I'm really looking forward to the game but am still worried by the rustiness that was evident in the AZ game.

Dundalk have had four good performances in the group stages. Make it five tomorrow and they stand a very good chance of going through.

It is hard to know what to make of all the transfer speculation but this could be the last game for this particular side.

[legendz]

Teams can train to negate the rustiness. It's not like they haven't played a competitive game for 3 months. It'll be interesting to see what Dundalk have learned from 2 weeks ago. Tel Aviv know more about them as AZ did. Dundalk are capable of winning tomorrow night. Hopefully the other game will go in their favour as well.

[bluewhitearmy]

Teams can train to negate the rustiness. It's not like they haven't played a competitive game for 3 months. It'll be interesting to see what Dundalk have learned from 2 weeks ago. Tel Aviv know more about them as AZ did. Dundalk are capable of winning tomorrow night. Hopefully the other game will go in their favour as well.

You can do all the training in the world and you will never get up to match fitness. You will just never train to the levels of a real game no matter how much you try. Same goes for friendlies nothing replaces the level of competitive games especially not at the level Dundalk faced against AZ and will tomorrow.

[Acornvilla]

As far as Zenit goes, reckon Witsel is off to Juve, so it'll be his last match, so chances are he'll score a few to say goodbye.

[nigel-harps1954]

As much as I'd love to see Dundalk through to the next round, tomorrow night is likely to be their 'cheerio' to the Europa League Group stage.

[patrickccfc]

I reckon it could be difficult for dundalk tonight. That's not to say they don't have one more big performance in them to get the job done.

[Longfordian]

Someone remind me, if Dundalk win do they still need a favour from Zenit?

[JC_GUFC]

Someone remind me, if Dundalk win do they still need a favour from Zenit?

Yes. If AZ win they qualify regardless.
If Dundalk win they need Zenit to get a result in Holland.
If Zenit beat AZ then Dundalk would qualify with a score draw.

[Duffman]

As much as I'd love to see Dundalk through to the next round, tomorrow night is likely to be their 'cheerio' to the Europa League Group stage.

It'll definitely be their cheerio to the group stages!

[nigel-harps1954]

It'll definitely be their cheerio to the group stages!

There was alcohol consumed.

[sparky12345678]

Yes. If AZ win they qualify regardless.
If Dundalk win they need Zenit to get a result in Holland.
If Zenit beat AZ then Dundalk would qualify with a score draw.

Its head to head tie breakers though right?
If its head to head AZ beat out Dundalk but Dundalk beat out Maccabbi who beat out AZ (classic rock paper scissors)
If it comes down to simply goal difference. Dundalk is the best of the lot..
why a score draw?

[sbgawa]

There was alcohol consumed.


been there done that : )

[jinxy lilywhite]

Its head to head tie breakers though right?
If its head to head AZ beat out Dundalk but Dundalk beat out Maccabbi who beat out AZ (classic rock paper scissors)
If it comes down to simply goal difference. Dundalk is the best of the lot..
why a score draw?

It goes on away goals scored before overall gd

[pateen]

Travelling to Tel Aviv today. I'm really looking forward to the game but am still worried by the rustiness that was evident in the AZ game.

Dundalk have had four good performances in the group stages. Make it five tomorrow and they stand a very good chance of going through.

It is hard to know what to make of all the transfer speculation but this could be the last game for this particular side.

Who did they play in the interm, I read somewhere they were heading to the UK for a game or two?

[dundalkfc10]

Who did they play in the interm, I read somewhere they were heading to the UK for a game or two?

Barnsley U-19 (maybe U-21) before the AZ game.

Played Warrenpoint last Thursday

[Philosophizer]

Barnsley U-19 (maybe U-21) before the AZ game.

Played Warrenpoint last Thursday

Before the AZ game they played a Brentford B selection. Mainly bench players who hadn't played much recently and u23s etc.

[eamoss]

Stream for anyone who is interested http://www.vipbox.nu/football/417781/1/dundalk-fc-vs-az-alkmaar-live-stream-online.html

[bennocelt]

failed to score in 8 out of their last 11, thats a pretty good stat

[nigel-harps1954]

AZ 1-0 Zenit within 5 minutes.

[bennocelt]

ffs Gartland again

[nigel-harps1954]

Gartland again...

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Why does Kenny persist with him?

He is clueless.

[osarusan]

****ing Gartland.

Actually, how many goals have given Dundalk given away through really sloppy play at the back? Quite a few.

[bennocelt]

brilliant, thats the goal they needed, come one Petersburg

[nigel-harps1954]

That's more like it. Great goal

[ToberonaTornado]

Think that's 5 or 6 presents we've given away to the opposition in Europe!! Frustrating as hell but we need to plough on.

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! DUNDALKKKKKK 1-1

[bennocelt]

fffffffsssss, why are they always fannying around in their defence

[nigel-harps1954]

Rogers..holy f**k

[patrickccfc]

AZ 2 up now. That's curtains you'd imagine

[ToberonaTornado]

New contract and he screws us.
AZ lead by 2-0 in Holland.
Miracles needed!!

[Straightstory]

You'd think Gartland would have learned his lesson after his howler against Zenit. What was he thinking of?!?! Kenny must be furious with him.

[ger121]

It's about getting something out of this game now. Money, co-efficient points. Zenit won't score 3. Where would Dundalk be if they hadn't of made so many mistakes. Whatever about costing them progression but should be as equally ****ed off if it costs them seeding next year.

[ger121]

Just to let legendz know, Dundalk would have gone through on away goals in the pre group stage format ;) Opens can of worms...

[legendz]

Hard luck Dundalk. Superb European effort. League Champions to be proud of.

1 point from the 4 games against the top 2 seeds made qualification from the group difficult.

Maccabi having picked up 4 points against AZ are unlucky Zenit couldn't at least draw.


Just to let legendz know, Dundalk would have gone through on away goals in the pre group stage format ;) Opens can of worms...True but Maccabi would have been unseeded so they both would have been drawn against the likes of Zenit and AZ.

Back on topic, Dundalk were desperately unlucky at the end not to get a draw. They have been involved in 10 quality games from BATE away to Maccabi tonight.

[The Donie Forde]

Hard luck Dundalk. Superb European effort. League Champions to be proud of.

1 point from the 4 games against the top 2 seeds made qualification from the group difficult.

Maccabi having picked up 4 points against AZ are unlucky Zenit couldn't at least draw.

True but Maccabi would have been unseeded so they both would have been drawn against the likes of Zenit and AZ.

Back on topic, Dundalk were desperately unlucky at the end not to get a draw. They have been involved in 10 quality games from BATE away to Maccabi tonight.

They were indeed, if you just look at Kilduff's miss. If you look at the whole game, most particularly the second half, they were lucky not to be about 1-5 down at that stage.
Stuck in there right to the end, to be fair, but bad finishing by Maccabi was all that prevented a thumping.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Maybe so but the scoreline still says 2 1.

Terrific campaign. Immensely proud of the boys and its the end of a fantastic side.

Preseason in 4 weeks for the #greatestleagueintheworld

[geysir]

I don't know how Kilduff missed it, that would have added a consoling last chapter to an already honourable campaign.

Total coeff earned. 5.5 points. Not much gained considering the run they had and all the overtime work they had to do.
Cl qual 1 win 3 draws = 2.5 points . EL group stages 1 win 1 draw = 3 points

They'll be seeded next year and will avoid the high risk potential of the doughty Icelanders.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't know how Kilduff missed it, that would have added a consoling last chapter to an already honourable campaign.

Total coeff earned. 5.5 points. Not much gained considering the run they had and all the overtime work they had to do.
Cl qual 1 win 3 draws = 2.5 points . EL group stages 1 win 1 draw = 3 points

They'll be seeded next year and will avoid the high risk potential of the doughty Icelanders.
They'll be unseeded I'm fairly sure. A draw or win would have tipped them over.

[jinxy lilywhite]

5.5 is very dodgy territory.
We need a lot of suprise league winners I feel to scrape through.

[ger121]

They'll be unseeded I'm fairly sure. A draw or win would have tipped them over.

Depends on how a lot of Leagues around Europe finish. Think their current co-efficient,would have seen them sneak into last 2-3 seeded sides this season. Agree though, that a win or indeed a draw would have made it a lot more certain.

[ger121]

5.5 is very dodgy territory.
We need a lot of suprise league winners I feel to scrape through.

5.8ish actually but yeah, could be a tall order. Time will tell!

[JDsJocks]

Two great gifts from Rogers and Gartland tonight. Christmas came early for Maccabi but still didn't get through.

Dundalk showing signs of rustiness throughout, those mistakes wouldn't have happened a few weeks ago.

Still to come close in the last few games shows the quality they possess even off season.

[sbgawa]

Harsh judgement on dundalk finishing bottom of the group when you consider how close many of the matches were. Just shows how competitive European games are. Hopefully next season the league can push on. I really don't believe it will be another 5 years before the loi produces another group stage team. Onwards and upwards

[seand]

The coefficient we've ended with leaves us just fractionally behind FH and Zalgiris (and Skenderbeu if they win Albania again), so it's extremely unlikely that we'll sneak into the seeds now. One more point would probably have been enough to make the difference. Small margins at this level.