LOI In Europe 2020

[Nesta99]

Whaaatt? You doubting the long term committment of the owners...

Cash reserve or P6 'investment' I think they would keep with it for another bit under a new management team imported before quits. But you could well be right.

[mcgonigle]

Well what else have we to go on?

They won the league because Olimpija threw it away (2 points from the final 12). How strong is the Slovenian league? I don't know what state Maribor have been in recently. People can say it's the toughest possible draw from the 4 in the pot, but it's still alright.



We have the present to go on and that's all, nothing in the past matters. Not sure I buy the argument that they only won the league because another team lost, is that not every league? The best team wins the league end of. Lets hope they are not that strong but if we are going down the route of looking at the past we should only look at the fact that the Slovenian league is historically stronger than Ireland and they are the champions

[pineapple stu]

Whaaatt? You doubting the long term committment of the owners...

Cash reserve or P6 'investment' I think they would keep with it for another bit under a new management team imported before quits. But you could well be right.


In the LoI? Doubt everything :)

Other factor is when will crowds be let back in? Covering the gate is a cost Peak6 can't have envisaged. If fans can't come in, any club is surely a lot less investable?

[pineapple stu]

Not sure I buy the argument that they only won the league because another team lost, is that not every league? The best team wins the league end of.
The point though is they could be a bit weaker than previous years' champions if Maribor and Olympija were in transition. Certainly they won with a relatively low total.

[nigel-harps1954]

There is social distancing at grounds in Hungary but will fans be allowed travel from either club. No trip back to the the spot where Ricky McEvoy got our hopes up (only to be dashed at home by a multi deflected goal) with that ground recently gone i think.

All games up until the play-off round, at least, are behind closed doors.

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025e-0fac7ce8f2d4-6d86444e8807-1000--2020-21-all-you-need-to-know/

[mcgonigle]

The point though is they could be a bit weaker than previous years' champions if Maribor and Olympija were in transition. Certainly they won with a relatively low total.

Yeah I get that to be fair, it's not exact science but a much better indicator than a clubs past finishes and European results. We all know clubs can come into wealthy owners and come out of nowhere, they might be gone just as quick but doesn't mean they can't take some scalps along the way.

[holidaysong]

Europa League seeding groups involving LOI clubs:

Group 2

Seeded
1 Žalgiris Vilnius (LTU)
2 Riteriai (LTU)
3 Budapest Honvéd (HUN)

Unseeded
4 Derry City (IRL)
5 Paide Linnameeskond (EST)
6 Inter Turku (FIN)

Group 7

Seeded
1 Shamrock Rovers (IRL)
2 AGF Aarhus (DEN)
3 FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL)

Unseeded
4 Honka Espoo (FIN)
5 Ilves Tampere (FIN)
6 Dunajská Streda (SVK)

Group 10

Seeded
1 Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
2 Nõmme Kalju (EST)
3 Fehérvár (HUN) 

Unseeded
4 Mura (SVN)
5 Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)
6 Bohemian (IRL)

[holidaysong]

Even for the unseeded teams, none of those teams look particularly daunting. I think you'd have to be reasonably happy with those options overall.

[sbgawa]

The one leg nature makes home draw massive.
All rovers opponents are on the green list so we could play at home.

[holidaysong]

And for UCL Q2:

Group 2

Seeded
Legia Warszawa (POL)/Drita (KOS)/Linfield (NIR)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)/Riga (LVA)
Molde (NOR)/KuPS (FIN)

Unseeded
Celje (SVN)/Dundalk (IRL)
Flora Tallinn (EST)/Sūduva (LTU)
Ararat-Armenia (ARM)/Omonia (CYP)

[Nesta99]

We have the present to go on and that's all, nothing in the past matters. Not sure I buy the argument that they only won the league because another team lost, is that not every league? The best team wins the league end of. Lets hope they are not that strong but if we are going down the route of looking at the past we should only look at the fact that the Slovenian league is historically stronger than Ireland and they are the champions

There is the off chance of a Leicester City example. Champions but would have been the preferred draw over possibly the 3 other CL qualified. Maybe a bit grasping at straws.

[Nesta99]

And for UCL Q2:

Group 2

Seeded
Legia Warszawa (POL)/Drita (KOS)/Linfield (NIR)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)/Riga (LVA)
Molde (NOR)/KuPS (FIN)

Unseeded
Celje (SVN)/Dundalk (IRL)
Flora Tallinn (EST)/Sūduva (LTU)
Ararat-Armenia (ARM)/Omonia (CYP)

Nothing to fear so!

[kksaints]

It's gonna be Legia again, isn't it?

[holidaysong]

Home to Molde or KuPS in Q2. And both are on the green list so will be in Ireland presumably. Couldn't really have asked for much better.

[Yossarian]

Aside from the fact that we are muck at the minute, I wouldn’t fear that draw in the second round. It could have been a lot worse and it is a great incentive to get past the first round and then have a winnable second round tie. We just have to learn how to play football again.

[The Lilywhites]

Great draw. It's as good as you're going to get at that stage of the competition.

With the amount of investment in the squad it's time to actually make an impact in Europe this year or else stop talking about it in the way the club have been in recent seasons.

[paul_oshea]

That's it. I actually thought the Finnish were tougher possible opponents - they ran Legia Warsaw close last season and Copenhagen the season before.

People seem to be basing NK Celje's strength purely on them winning the Slovenian league a couple of weeks ago, finishing above Maribor. They finished 5th in the previous 4 seasons, so maybe there has been a big squad overhaul?

No European pedigree at all. If we're serious about group stage football, and that's why the owners are here and what the club keep talking about, then we should be winning this tie, no excuses.

The actual draw isnt so bad through to the 3rd round, they are the kind of ties you would expect Dundalk to be confident in winning kicking on from previous years. But yer current form doesn't look too good or promising heading into Europe. Hopefully the neutral tie works in Dundalks favour. IT could be a strange few weeks of results.

[paul_oshea]

all 3 winnable ties in europe, europa league. but the way this year has gone i can see only one team going through.

[2 Year Contract]

Quick look there, Bohs opponents have 13 full internationals in their squad, Derry and Rovers opponents have 4 full internationals each

[brendy_éire]

The away draw is a pain, but Riteriai are in brutal form.
They've one win in the last 14 games, and are bottom of the six team league they're in. It's certainly winnable.

[placid casual]

Decent draw for Rovers, certainly being at home should help.
Just hope the Finns don't come here and play for penos.

[paul_oshea]

"Bohemians face a trip to Hungary against Fehérvár, formerly known as Videoton.

They were runners-up in their league last year and will represent a big test of Keith Long's side. Their new season begins on Saturday.

Derry City will travel to Lithuania to meet Riteriai, who were knocked out of the competition at the first hurdle last year against a side from the Faroe Islands.

They are currently sixth in A Lyga in a disappointing league season in which they've won won of their last 14 matches, after finishing third last year."


Actually at least 2 should go through in Europa League, I revise my statement :D

[Sonny]

Quick look there, Bohs opponents have 13 full internationals in their squad, Derry and Rovers opponents have 4 full internationals each

Rovers have 6 full internationals in the squad.

[EatYerGreens]

Rovers have 6 full internationals in the squad.

According to Bohs, Danny Mandroiu is 'full' as well.

[2 Year Contract]

According to Bohs, Danny Mandroiu is 'full' as well.

Ah I’d take no notice of what they say, he’s also missing games due to being gargled according to them :cool:

[Sonny]

According to Bohs, Danny Mandroiu is 'full' as well.

Yeah, I hear he's a big player on the national and international club scene 😂

[DCSIL]

The away draw is a pain, but Riteriai are in brutal form.
They've one win in the last 14 games, and are bottom of the six team league they're in. It's certainly winnable.

Wish i could go as flights to Vilinus are cheap. Wanted to go to Minsk for the last European game but couldn't justify £500 for a one-off trip.

Still, i remember Maribor on DCC saying it could have been our last euro game for a while... Deccy has turned it around

[Bucket]

I think that went over some people's heads

[paul_oshea]

Given the lack of money circulating in UEFA at the moment, if a team gets a bye do they also get the money? Or is it split or is the money not even paid out?

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0811/1158666-dundalk-preparing-as-normal-as-covid-claims-celje-games/

A week is a long time in football, so it could bite back on Irish teams yet, be nice to knock out a few higher up the co-effs countries teams along the way :D

[pateen]

When will we know the date for the Dundalk game?

[Yossarian]

When will we know the date for the Dundalk game?

It’s on next Wednesday with a 6:00 Irish time KO.

[pateen]

It’s on next Wednesday with a 6:00 Irish time KO.

Thanks Yos, hopefully it's been televised too.

[Yossarian]

Thanks Yos, hopefully it's been televised too.

I believe it is being shown by a Slovenian channel so hopefully RTÉ or eirsports pick it up.

[Martinho II]

I believe it is being shown by a Slovenian channel so hopefully RTÉ or eirsports pick it up.

Thats if Eirsport can afford it after the shambles with Virgin Sport!

[kksaints]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0815/1159354-dundalks-champions-league-tie-to-be-screened-on-rte/

Dundalk's CL tie against Celje is to be shown live on RTE on Wednesday.

[The Lilywhites]

Story seems to be that Perth is lucky to still be in charge for tomorrow and if we're knocked out of the CL he's gone before Sligo at the weekend.

Huge pressure on the game from every point of view.

[pineapple stu]

There would seem to be a fair bit of pressure internally in Dundalk if that's the case, given his first season saw him win four trophies and reach the final of the FAI Cup.

The Euro tie against Riga wasn't great, but Qarabag and Slovan were top sides and no particular shame in losing to either of them.

Even the league isn't going that badly and in a regular season you'd say that if they could tighten up the defence, they'd still be well in the title hunt.

To me, "Win Europe or you're gone" would indicate that winning in Europe is something Dundalk really need to keep the numbers ticking along.

[D24Saint]

To me, "Win Europe or you're gone" would indicate that winning in Europe is something Dundalk really need to keep the numbers ticking along.

Never the best policy for clubs as we have seen previously.

[paul_oshea]

Story seems to be that Perth is lucky to still be in charge for tomorrow and if we're knocked out of the CL he's gone before Sligo at the weekend.

Huge pressure on the game from every point of view.

That kind of mentality is a recipe for disaster. What happens if he wins one round? OR what happens if they lose but then went on a good Europa League run.

[Yossarian]

Story seems to be that Perth is lucky to still be in charge for tomorrow and if we're knocked out of the CL he's gone before Sligo at the weekend.

Huge pressure on the game from every point of view.

Where exactly has this “story” come from. I haven’t seen it anywhere bar your post and haven’t heard anything like this in the town.
Of course there is pressure, but I don’t believe he’ll be gone if we lose, considering we’ll still be in the Europa league qualifiers.

If it looks like we may miss out on Europe next season then it may happen.

[Nesta99]

I havent heard it myself bar here and the 'lose Wednesday VP gone Thursday'. Far too much kneejerk stuff from the league restart!

[Candystripe]

@derrycityfc Europa League qualifier in Lithuania next Tuesday is in doubt after the Lithuanian Government today announced a 14-day quarantine to visitors from the UK and Ireland. Get reaction from chairman Philip O’Doherty on The Breakfast Show tomorrow morning from 7 am.

[pineapple stu]

Surely that just means the game is played at a neutral venue?

[D24Saint]

@derrycityfc Europa League qualifier in Lithuania next Tuesday is in doubt after the Lithuanian Government today announced a 14-day quarantine to visitors from the UK and Ireland. Get reaction from chairman Philip O’Doherty on The Breakfast Show tomorrow morning from 7 am.

Is it not on the Lithuanian's to nominate a neutral venue.

[Candystripe]

That was on the Radio Foyle Twitter account.

The way I see it UEFA will either have it played at a neutral venue switch it to the Brandywell or Derry city go through to the next round automatically without the game getting played.

[pineapple stu]

Is it not on the Lithuanian's to nominate a neutral venue.
Just thinking about that actually, while I think it'd be on UEFA to nominate rather than the Lithuanians, another problem is have Derry booked hotels and flights?

[swinfordfc]

Dynamo Brest into 2nd round by hammering FC Astana! ... Still can't see Dundalk winning tomorrow night though ... Form not great at present.

[Candystripe]

Just thinking about that actually, while I think it'd be on UEFA to nominate rather than the Lithuanians, another problem is have Derry booked hotels and flights?

I've heard that it's the home team who have to organise bus and hotels.
Derry city have organised a chartered flight from city of Derry airport so it probably won't make much difference as to where it's played.

[refjohn]

Just thinking about that actually, while I think it'd be on UEFA to nominate rather than the Lithuanians, another problem is have Derry booked hotels and flights?

Based on this rule in UEFA annex does it not sound like Derry win by forfeit



I.1.6 Restrictions imposed by the national/local authorities of either club in a tie after the deadline for the clubs to inform the UEFA administration in accordance with paragraph I.1.1 shall, in principle, not be taken into account. In such cases, the club whose national/local authorities have imposed restrictions preventing the match from taking place as scheduled will be held responsible and the match will be declared by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body to be forfeited by such club, which will be considered to have lost it 3-0.

[pineapple stu]

It does, yeah

That has the potential to turn things into an absolute farce tbh.