LoI in Europe 2018

[Ezeikial]

If it wasn't for any idiot ref giving an idiotic penalty giving a penalty against Andy Boyle....

Dundalk had the measure of Legia, they are beatable. This is the chance for Cork to lay down a marker and show the wider sporting public what they are made of.

Caulfield needs to drum into them that there is no safety net. Forget the Europa League.

Go out and beat the Poles lads and do the league proud. All real LOI fans will be behind you.

Belief.

Although the budgets, heritage, history, bookmakers, media and pundits may all say it can't be done, belief is one of the big keys to overcoming what appears to be the near impossible.

Anyone who was regularly close to the Dundalk squad in their European exploits, can tell you that Stephen Kenny installed almost incredible levels of belief in his players that they could overcome teams like Bate, Macabbi, Legia, Zenit, Alkmar, Rosenborg, Alkmaar and Hajduk. The players absolutely believed that they could win against these teams home or away.

It may not have always have proved to be the case, but it always gave them a real chance.

Legia Warsaw can be beaten

[pineapple stu]

Second round draw now I presume?

[Real ale Madrid]

Cork City FC / Legia Warsaw v FC Spartak Trnava/ HSK Zrinjski

[pineapple stu]

Both easier draws than Legia. Cork probably would have been ok with that draw the other way around

[El-Pietro]

Both easier draws than Legia. Cork probably would have been ok with that draw the other way around

Mostar was my preference before the first draw happened. Looks like a gorgeous City and they are one of the lower (lowest I think) seeds. That doesn't mean they are easier to beat than TNS for example but you'd have been very happy with it. As it is we are guaranteed to reach the third round which is a bonus.

[pineapple stu]

There's part of the Europa League draw on today as well, yeah? The champions' path; not Dundalk/Rovers/Derry

[Real ale Madrid]

There's part of the Europa League draw on today as well, yeah? The champions' path; not Dundalk/Rovers/Derry

Yes, the part that City would have been in except for the bye.

3pm

[Yossarian]

With Cork going into the 3rd round of the Europa, obviously barring an upset, will Turners Cross be ok for that round?

[sbgawa]

You'd have to imagine they would.

I'd be surprised if they got the cash for the second round if the bye means they don't play/incur the costs involved but if they do that is a massive bonus....

[El-Pietro]

With Cork going into the 3rd round of the Europa, obviously barring an upset, will Turners Cross be ok for that round?

As far as we know yes. We played Genk in EL QR3 at the Cross two years ago.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd be surprised if they got the cash for the second round if the bye means they don't play/incur the costs involved but if they do that is a massive bonus....

The other side to it, Cork could potentially argue they have qualified from round 2 on a technicality.

[Longfordian]

On Twitter, Owen Cowzer of The Sun is quoting UEFA as confirming Cork do not get the second round prize money.

[johnboy]

Cant see us getting money for the bye. No big deal, Would take EL round 3 every day of the week. A round we have never got through. And probably also the same place we'd have ended up if we got a winnable CL first round draw. Todays draw has been decent.

[CorribsideSteve]

Cork slipped away quietly last year, with barely a whisper, against Limassol, so I fear for them against Legia. As bad a draw as they could have got.

[Straightstory]

Caulfield doesn't have the know-how that Kenny has in Europe.

[sbgawa]

Pity about the cash for the 2md round but I suppose 1st round teams that get a bye from the preliminary round don't get the prelim money so its consistent.
The main benefit IMO is they are in the 3rd round and close to a shot at group stages....
Rovers/Derry/Dundalk have to play and win 4 matches (on aggregate) to get that far.
Shows how important winning the league is.
The stakes for winning or coming second in the league now are huge......

[Pablo Escobar]

Cork slipped away quietly last year, with barely a whisper, against Limassol, so I fear for them against Legia. As bad a draw as they could have got.

Not this again. We beat Levadia Tallinn 6-2 and then lost to Larnaca, who are an excellent side (2nd to APOEL), 1 nil in each leg. Do you feel we should have won that tie? We probably deserved a goal over the course of the tie, but they were better than us, simple as.

[oriel]

On Twitter, Owen Cowzer of The Sun is quoting UEFA as confirming Cork do not get the second round prize money.

That would be correct, you only get money for rounds that you participate in.

[sbgawa]

With the amount of money UEFA have and how difficult they are making it for smaller leagues they could afford to throw a bone at Cork, or whomever

[CorribsideSteve]

Not this again. We beat Levadia Tallinn 6-2 and then lost to Larnaca, who are an excellent side (2nd to APOEL), 1 nil in each leg. Do you feel we should have won that tie? We probably deserved a goal over the course of the tie, but they were better than us, simple as.

I should have meant to say Larnaca. Watched both matches on stream, and it was brutally disappointing stuff to watch from Cork. They definitely should have won. Just an opinion of course.

[El-Pietro]

I should have meant to say Larnaca. Watched both matches on stream, and it was brutally disappointing stuff to watch from Cork. They definitely should have won. Just an opinion of course.
They were very good and prevented us from playing. They were extremely clever and cynical. They got through that tie without breaking a sweat. Won the next round as well and made it to the playoff round. The team that beat them made it to the last 16 of the EL where they lost in extra time to Sporting. I think because they aren't a big name side people didn't give them enough credit. They had a very good, very experienced team.

[Mr A]

Caulfield doesn't have the know-how that Kenny has in Europe.

Last 3 years:
Dundalk: Won 2 ties. Win and draw in group games.
Cork: Won 3 ties.

Not massively different records in recent times, although Kenny obviously had a previous run with Derry.

[CorribsideSteve]

They were very good and prevented us from playing. They were extremely clever and cynical. They got through that tie without breaking a sweat. Won the next round as well and made it to the playoff round. The team that beat them made it to the last 16 of the EL where they lost in extra time to Sporting. I think because they aren't a big name side people didn't give them enough credit. They had a very good, very experienced team.

That's a fair enough analysis. I do remember them being Cynical. The overriding memory was how easily they made ye run out of ideas. I would hope there were some lessons taken on board on how to outwit teams at a higher level after those ties. I am hoping that they can do well this year.

[Nesta99]

Last 3 years:
Dundalk: Won 2 ties. Win and draw in group games.
Cork: Won 3 ties.

Not massively different records in recent times, although Kenny obviously had a previous run with Derry.

I think the relative ranking of the teams played in those games need to be factored in though. Not that it changes the results in the end but beating BATE and losing to Genk (ok beating Hacken!! lol) are different prospects.

[El-Pietro]

I think the relative ranking of the teams played in those games need to be factored in though. Not that it changes the results in the end but beatin BATE and Linfield are different prospects.
I mean at least use Hacken rather than Linfield for the comparison!

We were so proud of our performance in Genk, losing 1-0 in a game against a team several levels above us but really putting in a proper performance and in a real European stadium too I came out of the stadium absolutely beaming. Felt like maybe we'd arrived. Bolger was incredible that day, so were Buckley and Gearoid. We could even have gotten a goal or two if Beattie and Maguire had better finishes on the day.

Then less than a week later Dundalk go and tear BATE apart in an amazing second half performance completely stealing our thunder. Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Probably the most accomplished performance by any LOI side in recent memory.

Genk got a bit of a scare in the previous round needing penalties to beat a Montenegrin side. So that combined with our performance in Belgium meant they had to take us seriously.

I've mentioned in this thread I think that the Swedish sides never respect us. The approach Genk took was the antitheses to Hackens approach. We had gotten a draw in Gothenburg (and we had previously beaten Malmo and DIF) but their fans came to Cork and told us they would win by 3 or 4 goals, as they had said in Gothenburg. Their captain was interviewed on the pitch talking about how they were going to beat us fairly easily. No respect, so we beat them.

Hopefully Legia will not take us too seriously, they have had decent results in Ireland in the past, but I suspect they will be a little wary of us because of Dundalks performances against them.

[Nesta99]

Fair enough! Ive edited my post :p. 2015 when we played BATE they definitely underestimated and disrespected us. Another Belarus side hockyed an Irish league side (could be bothered looking it up) and they assumed the standards would be the same. It wasnt like that 2016, it was hanging in there when under pressure especially away and then the 2nd leg well even if super respected they were well beaten. Legia will be arrogant and blazé as it is their nature as a club in general. The Aviva while needed for the game I felt didnt have any of the advantages of a 'home' leg, Turner Cross will be the opposite of that. If the tie is alive after the first leg I dont think Legia manage pressure too well. Their support is incredibly fickle and would applaud opposition in irony if they are not winning 10 nil.

[pineapple stu]

Shakhtyor Soligorsk beating Glenavon?

[Nesta99]

Thats them.

[Charlie Darwin]

They were very good and prevented us from playing. They were extremely clever and cynical.
Nothing offends the aristocratic spirit of Cork City more than players comitting fouls and other assorted sins of morality.

[johnboy]

as we used say in 2nd class, takes one to know one..

[El-Pietro]

Draw is about to start
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/draws/round=2000986/
Derry and Coleraine are in Group 4. Rovers and Cliftonville in group 5. Dundalk are in Group 9 and Glenavon are in group 1. Best of luck to each team!

[Real ale Madrid]

10 Shamrock Rovers (IRL) v 3 AIK (SWE)

[Real ale Madrid]

10 Derry City (IRL) v 3 Dinamo Minsk (BLR)

[El-Pietro]

Tough draws. Irish teams do ok in Sweden so maybe Rovers can get something from AIK but not looking great.

[Real ale Madrid]

6 Cliftonville (NIR) v 2 Nordsjælland (DEN)
6 Glenavon (NIR) v 2 Molde (NOR)

Horror all round.

[sbgawa]

AIK is a tough match, was praying for Latvia or Iceland.
At least we don't have to go as far as Belarus..

Currently undefeated after 12 rounds in the Swedish League, although they did only win 6 .....he says optimistically
When they look at us with our current record our best hope is complacency.

[Real ale Madrid]

7 Levadia Tallinn (EST) v 2 Dundalk (IRL)

[micls]

Nice easy draw for Dundalk. Tallinn is lovely.

Last year Levadia had to play the game in Parnu, because of a clash, which was about 2 hours away from Talinn.

[sullanefc]

Dundalk should hammer them given how much better at football they are than Cork City.

[bennocelt]

Tough draws for Shamrock Rovers and Derry but a nice one for Dundalk. Tallinn is a nice away day.

[pineapple stu]

Derry might have a chance if they weren't in such crap form. Minsk only beat Pat's 2-1 two years ago. But Derry are conceding way too many ahead of a European tie.

Rovers - maybe the Swedish curse will help, but it's odds against.

Dundalk should get through handy enough alright.

Probably as good as could be hoped for really.

[nigel-harps1954]

AIK just signed Sebastian Larsson from Hull as well, currently at the World Cup with Sweden. There's a chance he may sit out one, or both legs.

[Straightstory]

Legia 'played Dundalk off the park' at the Aviva, according to Caulfield.

Like Shiels with Derry's European draw last year, seems like he's already more-or-less throwing in the towel before a ball has been kicked (as well as having a dig at Dundalk).

http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21157/cork-city-to-face-legia-warsaw-in-toughest-possible-champions-league-draw/

[Real ale Madrid]

Legia 'played Dundalk off the park' at the Aviva, according to Caulfield.

Like Shiels with Derry's European draw last year, seems like he's already more-or-less throwing in the towel before a ball has been kicked (as well as having a dig at Dundalk).

http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21157/cork-city-to-face-legia-warsaw-in-toughest-possible-champions-league-draw/

Dampening down expectations is hardly throwing in the towel, its not like he is telling his players they have no chance.

[Ezeikial]

Legia 'played Dundalk off the park' at the Aviva, according to Caulfield.

Like Shiels with Derry's European draw last year, seems like he's already more-or-less throwing in the towel before a ball has been kicked (as well as having a dig at Dundalk).

http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21157/cork-city-to-face-legia-warsaw-in-toughest-possible-champions-league-draw/


Dampening down expectations is hardly throwing in the towel, its not like he is telling his players they have no chance.

It's certainly interesting to see the differences in approach between managers

I doubt that dampening down general expectations is an imperative against such an overwhelming favourite

I think that it is a very difficult job to play down your chances in public and simultaneously get your players believing that they can win.

The analysis of the Dundalk V Legia Warsaw match is just plain weird.

[swinfordfc]

Is the Europa League 2nd qualifying round draw being done today as well?

[Yossarian]

So we are copying Cork from last season then. Hopefully a better 2nd round result though

[El-Pietro]

Dundalk are seeded in that round right? Thats an unlucky draw. I'd assume there were softer draws available.

[Buller]

Dundalk / Tallinn vs Larnaca Fc (Cyprus)

Derry / Minsk vs Dunajská Streda (Slovakia)/ Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia)

Shamrock Rovers / AIK Stockholm vs Cliftonville (NI)/ Nordsjælland (Denmark)

[pineapple stu]

So that's the exact same draw for Dundalk as Cork got last year, even down to the order of the legs.

This'll be interesting!