LOI in Europe 2022

[EatYerGreens]

What time does the draw start tomorrow ?

[Asterix]

Group 3Seeded
Qarabağ (AZE)
Sheriff (MDA)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Shamrock Rovers (IRL)

Unseeded
Zrinjski (BIH)
Lech Poznań (POL)
Hibernians (MLT)
Shkupi (MKD)
Dinamo Batumi (GEO)

Not the nicest group for rovers. Hopefully draw hibernians.

[D24Saint]

Group 3

Seeded
Qarabağ (AZE)
Sheriff (MDA)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Shamrock Rovers (IRL)

Unseeded
Zrinjski (BIH)
Lech Poznań (POL)
Hibernians (MLT)
Shkupi (MKD)
Dinamo Batumi (GEO)

Not the nicest group for rovers. Hopefully draw hibernians.

Poznan the one to avoid. I wonder are Dinamo Batumi a dark horse , their stadium is very impressive.

[D24Saint]

What time does the draw start tomorrow ?

Afaik it’s 2 bells CET start for all draws.

[joey B]

Sligos opponents from:

Bala Town (Wal)
Breidablik (Ice)
Europa FC (Gib)
FC DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda (Slk)
CS Fola Esch (Lux)

Derry s opponents;

Flora Tallinn (EST)
Pogoń Szczecin (POL)
Crusaders (NIR)
HB Tórshavn (FRO)
Riga FC (LVA)

[pineapple stu]

One horrible team in each group. Would be doing well for all three to avoid them

[sbgawa]

Sligos opponents from:

Bala Town (Wal)
Breidablik (Ice)
Europa FC (Gib)
FC DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda (Slk)
CS Fola Esch (Lux)

Derry s opponents;

Flora Tallinn (EST)
Pogoń Szczecin (POL)
Crusaders (NIR)
HB Tórshavn (FRO)
Riga FC (LVA)

If Sligo dont get through the first round they need shooting

[sbgawa]

Group 3

Seeded
Qarabağ (AZE)
Sheriff (MDA)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Shamrock Rovers (IRL)

Unseeded
Zrinjski (BIH)
Lech Poznań (POL)
Hibernians (MLT)
Shkupi (MKD)
Dinamo Batumi (GEO)

Not the nicest group for rovers. Hopefully draw hibernians.

Avoid Poznan and we are in with a decent shout against any of the others . Hibs probably the best draw

[Jd2793]

sligo arent any good. unless they get the welsh fodder i wouldnt be confident in them progressing at all.

[ontheotherhand]

Avoid Poznan and we are in with a decent shout against any of the others . Hibs probably the best draw

Wouldn't exactly fancy Batumi or Zrinjski either based on their recent european results. The rosary beads will be worn thin before the draw.

[EatYerGreens]

If Sligo dont get through the first round they need shooting

They don't exactly have the greatest European record in the land though, and are far from consistent in how they're playing this season too. Pray they get Bala Town, as the rest could prove tricky for them.

[Nesta99]

That Sligo pot is as good as you'll get, sketchy league form and always seeming to make life hard for themselves in Europe aside, they have a chance to progress. Others its about some luck initially. It's disaster or laughing for Rovers especially.

[D24Saint]

Tweet from the league page saying the Rovers draw is in fifteen minutes.

[Nesta99]

Coverage just starting but all the housekeeping to be done before the real business

[Nesta99]

Ah Shamrock Rovers, the leagues lucky club!

[Real ale Madrid]

Shamrock Rovers v Hibernians

[nigel-harps1954]

First name out of the hat and all. Lucky barstewards

[nigel-harps1954]

Bala Town (WAL) v Sligo Rovers

Derry City v Riga FC (LAT)

[Jd2793]

Great tie for Sligo, Welsh sides are dirt. Wouldn't be so confident about derry

[pineapple stu]

We've been blessed with the Euro draws the last couple of years all the same. If FK Riga is as tough as it gets, we've done very well.

Also, I love that there's a team called Bruno's Magpies in Derry's pot. Wiki says "The club was formed in 2013, initially as a group of friends who drank at the Bruno's Bar & Restaurant (A bar in Gibraltar)."

[2 Year Contract]

Dream draws for Sligo and Shams. Derry's one a tougher draw but not impossible.

Que Pats drawing some reincarnation of the 1970 Brazil squad that play in Outer Mongolia tomorrow

[2 Year Contract]

Also, I love that there's a team called Bruno's Magpies in Derry's pot. Wiki says "The club was formed in 2013, initially as a group of friends who drank at the Bruno's Bar & Restaurant (A bar in Gibraltar)."

Club crest even has a cocktail glass on it which there can’t be too many of in club crests around the world. Surely the best ‘pub team’ in world football :D

[pineapple stu]

I missed that that's what that is.

http://www.footballlogosandkits.com/images_esc3/UEFA/GIBRALTAR/escudos_jpg/logo-fc%20bruno%27s%20magpies.jpg

They've drawn Crusaders - that's almost worth a trip for the occasion :p

[Philosophizer]

What a draw for Rovers. Blessed!

[sbgawa]

Happy days and home first.
Be really interesting to see the crowd.
Can we sell 7k tickets to play a Malteese team.
The scale of what a first round win means (3 more rounds guaranteed) means we should be building this up as a massive game for the club regardless of opposition.

Great draw for Sligo as well , minimal travel costs too.
Wishing Derry luck as we could do with a Euro run for the title chalengers :eek:

[yurt]

This is a huge opportunity for all 3 of these teams to get through. As we always say a run in Europe is mostly down to luck of the draw and none of the teams can feel that hard done by today.

Sligo should be absolutely winning home and away.

All that's important for Shamrock Rovers is that they get through but if they've real designs on going on a good run this year they should be winning both legs too.

Derry's form is worrying coming into this but given their squad and manager I'm hopeful they'll do the business. If Derry manage to get through this round as well it'd likely be enough to ensure that they would be seeded for this round next year should they qualify.

I enjoy keeping an eye on the co-efficient table to see where we are and it's this initial draw which has the largest baring on how many points we can pick up. In the ECL2 there is very few winnable ties on paper for the unseeded teams.

I think the FAI stated they wanted the league to be in the top 30 within 5 years or something non-sensical like that. I'm sure they were hoping that they could point to bad luck in the draws as the reason we don't reach this but if we keep going the way we're going with these draws there'll be no excuses :p

[A N Mouse]

Great tie for Sligo, Welsh sides are dirt. Wouldn't be so confident about derry

I mean it could have been worse. Tight but winnable.

There will be a few boys with fond memories of Riga. But Skonto were on the wane, Pat's just didn't get the memo, these are on bit of a dip domestically but used to europe - and have something to prove after blowing it, at champion's path Playoff stage, against team from Gibraltar last season.

Questions remain over which Derry show up, and how badly the club have shot themselves in the foot with tickets.

[sbgawa]

Bohs decide to release a jersey today with Dublin Bus made out of recycled Dublin Bus seat covers..if you fancy looking like a Dublin Bus seat while walking around
The proletariat aren't happy unless they are in the news and its not really all about actual football you know ;)

Considering all the Irish clubs have winnable ties the second round draw tomorrow is going to be interesting for sure.

[Nesta99]

The funniest thing that could happen in football would be John Sheridan taking the Bruno's Bar job. I'd not be too worried about Derry even with their current domestic form. If they can cobble together any type of form they are well in that tie. A number of players who'd have played in Riga before and while teams change year on year Hibs Malta and Lincoln Red Imps took them to extra time last year with the Gibraltar side going through, Derry have the players so they just need the belief imo.

Sligo, well on paper should be winning both legs but Sligo in Europe has been a conundrum. They could miss the experience Buckley has in Europe.

Rovers got the plum draw and 1st leg at home, since away goals were done away with having the home leg first I think is now an advantage. Put the tie to bed before facing the heat and its a holiday id nearly go on myself. It should sell out Tallaght, neutrals would take in the game and no matter who the draw is games in Europe should never be taken for granted.

For the auld co-efficient we could be looking at 6wins as a possibility, 4 minimum + another 8(?) games at least. Definitely positive and we should make some hay with this set of draws. Being seeded is important but in QR1s its not the be all when a bunch of the seeded sides are ranked from wins in preliminary rounds and just qualifying. Of course they will all be saying the same drawing LoI opposition. No travel headaches for clubs(with cost) or fans is a bonus - wouldnt have fancied the hassle of Belarussian opposition currently never mind the football side of going there.

I am thoroughly jealous and p!ssed at how Dundalk's former owners messed up what should be annual trips abroad for us. Money isnt as huge an issue for Rovers or Derry as it would for a Sligo or Dundalk. So progression in Europe might level the playing field domestically a bit for the mid table budgets and small squads - scant conciliation unless it turns out to be the difference in European qualification come 2023.

[Nesta99]

Bohs decide to release a jersey today with Dublin Bus made out of recycled Dublin Bus seat covers..if you fancy looking like a Dublin Bus seat while walking around
The proletariat aren't happy unless they are in the news and its not really all about actual football you know ;)

Considering all the Irish clubs have winnable ties the second round draw tomorrow is going to be interesting for sure.

There has to be a bunch of jokes/puns/headlines in this 'Bohs go Route 1...etc'

[joey B]

I am thoroughly jealous and p!ssed at how Dundalk's former owners messed up what should be annual trips abroad for us. Money isnt as huge an issue for Rovers or Derry as it would for a Sligo or Dundalk. So progression in Europe might level the playing field domestically a bit for the mid table budgets and small squads - scant conciliation unless it turns out to be the difference in European qualification come 2023.

The rest of leagues collective hearts break for youse Nesta,a tough last decade youse have had alright !!;);)

[Nesta99]

Lol Whats seldom is wonderful I know but breaking a habit is tough!

[Calcio Jack]

There has to be a bunch of jokes/puns/headlines in this 'Bohs go Route 1...etc'

“Bohs park the bus..”

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

We haven’t been able to beat UCD at home or away this season so I wouldn’t be putting any money on us

[Kiki Balboa]

FC Riga are in Fourth place, 7 points off top. 13 points ahead of fifth place. It would be hard to imagine much depth to the Latvian league, and my guess is it would be a way weaker team than faced Dundalk in 2019.

Bala Town finished second and 21 points behind league winners TNS. Welsh football has certainly come on in the last couple of years, but with them being in pre-season and way off winning their league, hard to imagine Bala being any good. Massive oppoutunity for Sligo. Getting through a round is more money than winning the league, and could get them back on track for next year.

Both very winnable games. It is a pity both are not in form. Sligo in particular has massively underperformed anytime they played in Europe in recent memory too. Hopefully their squads can come together.

Really expect all three teams to progress.

[ger121]

Bohs decide to release a jersey today with Dublin Bus made out of recycled Dublin Bus seat covers..if you fancy looking like a Dublin Bus seat while walking around
The proletariat aren't happy unless they are in the news and its not really all about actual football you know ;)

Considering all the Irish clubs have winnable ties the second round draw tomorrow is going to be interesting for sure.

Got you talking about it. The only bad news is no news.

[2 Year Contract]

Is it not a bit mad that Bala Town are seeded despite only winning 1 round in Europe in their history?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bala_Town_F.C.

Have Welsh clubs done something of note in Europe in recent years that I’ve missed? Surely not to the level of last seasons 7 (I think) wins that LOI sides got, not to mention Dundalk's qualification the year before

[sbgawa]

There has to be a bunch of jokes/puns/headlines in this 'Bohs go Route 1...etc'

Bohs Board in Terminus decline.

[sbgawa]

Got you talking about it. The only bad news is no news.

Laughing about it , not the same thing :)

[EatYerGreens]

Got you talking about it. The only bad news is no news.

Terrible cliché/myth. Try telling that to Prince Andrew, Gary Glitter, Jimmy Saville etc

[EatYerGreens]

Great tie for Sligo, Welsh sides are dirt. Wouldn't be so confident about derry

Try telling that to Bohs and Longford :p

[EatYerGreens]

Great draw for Rovers (the Shamrock varierty). They should get at least 4pts out of the 2 games, with a home win..

Sligo probably won't get a draw that combines location and ease so perfectly. They should be banned from Europe if they lose either game, and should be aiming for 2 wins here.

Derry's draw is the toughest, but not unwinnable. Their problem is scoring though, so if Derry can stop Riga scoring then they should go through themselves - presumably by narrow win(s). So I'll go with a low-scoring home win and an away draw.

[redarmyfaction]

Looks like we will be playing in TNS ground in Owestry. I believe Bohs played there a few back, what was it like to get tickets does anybody know, it only seats 1K.

[Nesta99]

Is it not a bit mad that Bala Town are seeded despite only winning 1 round in Europe in their history?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bala_Town_F.C.

Have Welsh clubs done something of note in Europe in recent years that I’ve missed? Surely not to the level of last seasons 7 (I think) wins that LOI sides got, not to mention Dundalk's qualification the year before

TNS were a peno shoot out from ECL groups. But yeah its a system that punishes a competitive league and helps perpetuate dominance by 1 or 2 clubs (which was fine when Dundalk were dominant by the way!). I wouldnt want our ranking to drop to preliminary rounds but it does give a leg up for individual clubs. Co-efficient points and money should be added for the rounds prior to entry. Lucky Rovers should have gotten points/money for the 2nd ECL round they skipped last year (Cork also got a buy not so long ago?). I dont think you should be disadvantaged in ranking or money because of the draw or becase you've earned the right to enter a competition at a later stage, maybe with the exception of clubs going straight in to groups or are above some financial threshold. Small margins are big for small leagues.

[EatYerGreens]

Looks like we will be playing in TNS ground in Owestry. I believe Bohs played there a few back, what was it like to get tickets does anybody know, it only seats 1K.

That will obviously depend on the demand, but I suspect you'll be fine. Bala's average attendance last season was only 292. I'm pretty sure that Bohs game there didn't sell out.

[paul_oshea]

Derry , sligo Rovers have to be very happy with that all 3. Great draws.

[paul_oshea]

Sligo probably won't get a draw that combines location and ease so perfectly. They should be banned from Europe if they lose either game, and should be aiming for 2 wins here.

.

And that's the truth! You joke but the FAI and league of Ireland should ban any team from first re-entry and in their place goes the last best in Europe not in Europe, who embarrass themselves and the league :D

[D24Saint]

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaconferenceleague/news/0276-15572508ca8a-7ef4a2cdcd36-1000--second-qualifying-round-draw/

No pots yet but the majority of the teams in the seeded side represent a big ask for our current team.

[sbgawa]

Olympiacos (GRE)
Ludogorets (BUL) / Sutjeska (MNE)
Zrinjski (BIH) / Sheriff (MDA)
Pyunik (ARM) / CFR Cluj (ROU)

1 of these for Rovers if we beat Hibs.
I guess Sheriff is the best (assuming they win) tough though

[D24Saint]

I’d like to avoid Slavia Prague.

Slavia Praha
Suduva
Spartak Trnava
Winner of Sfîntul Gheorghe v Mura
Winner of Buducnost v Llapi