LOI in Europe 2022

[Asterix]

The fixtures on the Europa League Conference website had the Pats game down as Tallaght and Sligo in the showgrounds.

[Nesta99]

UEFA generally don’t allow temporary stands but we’re in discussions with them

They are reasonable enough about it as long as the stand is built on a concrete base/foundation. Not sure about tarmac but could be capacity based on that. I know Richmond isnt available in the next round but if it did meet all the other criteria they would most likely be able to use the 'temporary' stand behind the goal.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

The fixtures on the Europa League Conference website had the Pats game down as Tallaght and Sligo in the showgrounds.

I see Dan McDonnell confirming it. Don’t even need the temporary stand. Great news.

[joey B]

Great for Sligo,some common sense for a change!

[pineapple stu]

Kind of sad that the league has to scramble so much for a third qualifying round game, but great to see it going ahead in Sligo alright.

[D24Saint]

Kind of sad that the league has to scramble so much for a third qualifying round game, but great to see it going ahead in Sligo alright.

Local authorities should take the blame on that one. The SDCC have shown what can be achieved when a council shows a bit of interest in creating facilities.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Local authorities should take the blame on that one. The SDCC have shown what can be achieved when a council shows a bit of interest in creating facilities.

I think the blame is'nt just with local authorities , the FAI have a lot to answer for too

[Nesta99]

Kind of sad that the league has to scramble so much for a third qualifying round game, but great to see it going ahead in Sligo alright.

I do agree, but I doubt there are plenty of options for clubs in a number of similarly ranked/size leagues. Some obviously have incredibly good infrastructure but it not unusual for games to be moved to national stadiums either. Its is great that UEFA are willing to work with clubs that just do not have or need the same scale of criteria that bigger leagues have. As long as the facility is safe, can be televised to sufficient standard etc. who cares about a load of seats for dignitaries or UEFA sponsors or hundreds of media positions.

[D24Saint]

I think the blame is'nt just with local authorities , the FAI have a lot to answer for too

I expect nothing from them , the Church of Scientology is less crooked.

[SligoGlens]

Has anyone ever seen a better free kick by a central defender than the one Shane Blaney scored last night?

[ontheotherhand]

Yep. If it was the other Rovers, you'd think it was a decent result but not much more than that. But I think even Sligo fans will acknowledge they're crap this year - getting past Bala on penalties, taking two points from three games against UCD...and then beating Motherwell home and away?

That's Motherwell's problem though. The next round against Viking will be interesting and might help answer the question of which is the real Sligo. If it's Bala Sligo, then Viking should win home and away handy enough. If it's Motherwell Sligo, well then you'd have to imagine an upset isn't impossible at all.

Don't think I'd hold out much hope for Pat's in Bulgaria, but feck it, it's a free shot.

But they are crap relative to what's in our league stu and apparently not relative to what's in the SPL. Now we have good European results, as we did last year bar Rovers v Flora (which if played 10 times would come out in Rovers favour I think). Could it be that the league isn't really regressing as much as you think or even at all? Or do we need at least one club to be getting into the EL groups to prove that? Or is it all just random chance in Europe?

[legendz]

Kind of sad that the league has to scramble so much for a third qualifying round game, but great to see it going ahead in Sligo alright.It is kind of sad alright. In UEFA speak it is damaging the LoI brand.

[Nesta99]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0729/1313010-motherwell-sack-boss-in-wake-of-sligo-humbling/

[pineapple stu]

But they are crap relative to what's in our league stu and apparently not relative to what's in the SPL. Now we have good European results, as we did last year bar Rovers v Flora (which if played 10 times would come out in Rovers favour I think). Could it be that the league isn't really regressing as much as you think or even at all? Or do we need at least one club to be getting into the EL groups to prove that? Or is it all just random chance in Europe?
I thought results didn't matter otoh? :)

Rovers v Flora wasn't last year's only bad result. Sligo losing to FH home and away and Dundalk scraping by Levadia Tallinn with a 92nd minute winner were both poor.

But bigger picture is we're up to 40th in the rankings, which still isn't great - and that takes account getting unexpectedly good teams and teams in crisis and should balance out fairly well (whereas you before were trying to focus just on getting teams who turned out to be good). But last night's results were definitely good and it'd be nice if they could become a regular thing. Whatever about the SPL (which is a weird league in many ways), we should be able to compete against countries Slovenia but we only had one draw from seven matches before this week.

I think it's clear though we've regressed since the peak of the 00s and I still think we've dropped a bit in the intervening decade too (I think the overview of results hints I posted earlier hints at that)

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0729/1313010-motherwell-sack-boss-in-wake-of-sligo-humbling/

The only time the Motherwell fans were heard was when they sang “you’re getting sacked in the morning” a couple of times

[ontheotherhand]

I thought results didn't matter otoh? :)

Rovers v Flora wasn't last year's only bad result. Sligo losing to FH home and away and Dundalk scraping by Levadia Tallinn with a 92nd minute winner were both poor.

But bigger picture is we're up to 40th in the rankings, which still isn't great - and that takes account getting unexpectedly good teams and teams in crisis and should balance out fairly well (whereas you before were trying to focus just on getting teams who turned out to be good). But last night's results were definitely good and it'd be nice if they could become a regular thing. Whatever about the SPL (which is a weird league in many ways), we should be able to compete against countries Slovenia but we only had one draw from seven matches before this week.

I think it's clear though we've regressed since the peak of the 00s and I still think we've dropped a bit in the intervening decade too (I think the overview of results hints I posted earlier hints at that)

I'm only poking the bear stu. I still don't think European results tell us much but wanted your take after the recent results. Reading back over the thread you'd actually swear all the clubs were knocked out weeks ago given the level of analysis and negativity around the leagues current state but here we are. When all 3 clubs are sent packing in the next round maybe we can just delete this current section of positivity.

[sbgawa]

bradser made a good point after the 2 to 1 win over Ludugrets that people base there naratives off results and noy performances. Rovers shoukd have come away friom the first leg 2 nil ezcept for Lee Grace last minute brain fart (could even have nicked 1) but it was 3 nil and the world is ending. sligo were awful against Bala but made it through, Pats could have lost last night.
im probably in the camp fot getting hung up on results myself but its hard not to be

[Nesta99]

I expect nothing from them , the Church of Scientology is less crooked.

He listened to them if the report is accurate that he was the one who called the meeting - maybe for once mutual consent was actually mutual. No matter how confident a coach is that they can turn bad performances around and want to stick, you'd have it in yer head that a torrent of vile abuse is heading your direction and family in the social media age are on the front line now also. That or the fact Motherwell was that poor that he gave up on them and cut his losses. Be interesting to see their domestic form.

[yurt]

Is Tallaght the only LOI ground which can host ECLQ3 games? Turners Cross too I'd guess?

Clubs are going to be reaching this round with regularity given that ECLQ1 is going to be between the weakest 20 leagues going forward. It hasn't seemed like too big a deal for Dundalk and Bohs to play games in different stadiums given the proximity but for Sligo to have to travel 2/3 hours to get to a facility good enough to host their game is a scandal. I wonder if them getting permission to go ahead in Sligo will be worse in the long run given the backlash will never arrive like it really should have.

[brendy_éire]

Is Tallaght the only LOI ground which can host ECLQ3 games? Turners Cross too I'd guess?

Is that Category 3?
If so, it's really just Tallaght. Lansdowne and Windsor would be the only other grounds here that would meet the criteria (both are category 4).

Turners Cross would have the required 4.5k seating capacity, but things like car parking, I presume not?

As we've seen with the Showgrounds, and Tallaght, UEFA seem to have a bit of flexibility in how rigidly they apply the rules.
Considering that, you would imagine Turners Cross and the Brandywell should be fine.

With the extra stand in Tallaght, it should be category 4 handy enough.

[Martinho II]

Delighted for Sligo Rovers and St Pats. Before the news that the showgrounds is hosting the next round at one stage a Sligo Rovers fan I work with had said to me that she had heard that our ground Bishopsgate was linked with hosting the next round along with Tallaght. I thought UEFA were strict on seats I thought Im a bit surprised!

[El-Pietro]

Not sure if the requirements have changed but we've gotten away with hosting third round qualifiers in the somewhat recent past, Genk being the most recent I think. But we were always aware that UEFA could decide Turners Cross wasn't suitable. A playoff would have been a step too far from what I recall, and there was lots of debate about where a playoff would be held, would Pairc Uí Caoimh be oen to us, or would we have to go to Dublin or Limerick (Thomond). I think the RSC would meet more of the requirements than the Cross, partically parking, access and media facilities.

[CorribsideSteve]

Sligo have secured the Showgrounds for their ECL 3rd tie https://twitter.com/sligorovers/status/1553029434260717570. These next couple of years are the time to step up and improve stadiums. Hopefully LOI teams making it to latter rounds will help force the issue. The lack of viable stadium capacity and facilities is going to keep repeating itself till there's a worthy resolution from the Government and sports bodies .

[kksaints]

Is Thomond a Category 3 stadium? I know that even if the GAA allowed their stadium to be used a lot of them wouldn't be Category 4 because of the terraces.

[Asterix]

Is that Category 3?
If so, it's really just Tallaght. Lansdowne and Windsor would be the only other grounds here that would meet the criteria (both are category 4).

Turners Cross would have the required 4.5k seating capacity, but things like car parking, I presume not?

As we've seen with the Showgrounds, and Tallaght, UEFA seem to have a bit of flexibility in how rigidly they apply the rules.
Considering that, you would imagine Turners Cross and the Brandywell should be fine.

With the extra stand in Tallaght, it should be category 4 handy enough.

Tallaght will be category 4 by next summer. Theres work going to be done in the main stand to get it to cat 4 as well as the new stand being built.

[brendy_éire]

Is Thomond a Category 3 stadium? I know that even if the GAA allowed their stadium to be used a lot of them wouldn't be Category 4 because of the terraces.

Category 4? I don't think the terraces matter, since they're not used anyway.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_stadium_categories

I doubt a lot of the Category 3/4 requirements are enforced though.
Things like car parking, for example. Does Lansdowne have any, never mind 150 spaces?

[nigel-harps1954]

Category 4? I don't think the terraces matter, since they're not used anyway.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_stadium_categories

I doubt a lot of the Category 3/4 requirements are enforced though.
Things like car parking, for example. Does Lansdowne have any, never mind 150 spaces?

There's an underground carpark in Lansdowne I think

[El-Pietro]

Category 4? I don't think the terraces matter, since they're not used anyway.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_stadium_categories

I doubt a lot of the Category 3/4 requirements are enforced though.
Things like car parking, for example. Does Lansdowne have any, never mind 150 spaces?
Yeah stadiums can have terraces, they just aren't allowed to be used. Genk is another example of this. Genk away they closed the two huge terraces behind the goals and had fans in the upper section where it was seated.
LOI fans always overlook the non capacity requirements. UEFA are less likely to overlook them if the opposition is a big draw.

[sbgawa]

There's an underground carpark in Lansdowne I think

Massive underground car park, easily couple of hundred spaces

[El-Pietro]

Is Thomond a Category 3 stadium? I know that even if the GAA allowed their stadium to be used a lot of them wouldn't be Category 4 because of the terraces.

Honestly, I'd be shocked if Thomond wasn't cat 4. It has 15k seated capacity, and regularly hosts high profile tv games so surely it has the media requirements.

[Asterix]

Yeah stadiums can have terraces, they just aren't allowed to be used. Genk is another example of this. Genk away they closed the two huge terraces behind the goals and had fans in the upper section where it was seated.
LOI fans always overlook the non capacity requirements. UEFA are less likely to overlook them if the opposition is a big draw.

Its being changed, dortmund have said they will be allowed to have standing in their champions leauge games this year.

[nigel-harps1954]

Honestly, I'd be shocked if Thomond wasn't cat 4. It has 15k seated capacity, and regularly hosts high profile tv games so surely it has the media requirements.

Not just about media requirements. Floodlight requirements, TV studios, VIP carpark spaces, commentary positions, TV camera positions, media with desks, and a whole heap of other requirements to meet Cat 3 standard.

[D24Saint]

I just don’t get the no standing rule by uefa. They should make teams get an assessment on what the safe standing amount in a ground is, end of. Everything uefa rule tends to be elitist towards wealthier clubs.

[joey B]

I just don’t get the no standing rule by uefa. They should make teams get an assessment on what the safe standing amount in a ground is, end of. Everything uefa rule tends to be elitist towards wealthier clubs.

The Premier league are introducing safe standing again,UEFA will follow suit in no time id say!

[El-Pietro]

Not just about media requirements. Floodlight requirements, TV studios, VIP carpark spaces, commentary positions, TV camera positions, media with desks, and a whole heap of other requirements to meet Cat 3 standard.

Yeah, thats my point, Thomond hosts high profile tv games regularly. I'd be surprised if it didn't meet cat 4 requirements. I don't know how to verify it one way or the other

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2022/07/29/uefa-announce-a-trial-of-safe-standing-for-first-time-since-1988/

[legendz]

Yeah, thats my point, Thomond hosts high profile tv games regularly. I'd be surprised if it didn't meet cat 4 requirements. I don't know how to verify it one way or the other Definitely category 4. 15,000 seated, all the other niggly criteria met as well, not a problem. The best Sligo can hope for is that Connaught Rugby get a decent stadium sorted.

[nigel-harps1954]

Definitely category 4. 15,000 seated, all the other niggly criteria met as well, not a problem. The best Sligo can hope for is that Connaught Rugby get a decent stadium sorted.

Definitely remember reading that Thomond doesn't meet Cat 4 standard.

Lansdowne and Tallaght the only Cat 4 stadia we have.

[D24Saint]

Managed to find a way to Sofia next week. The first transfer is a tad tight but hopefully all goes smooth. Organising these things last minute is tough going.

[legendz]

Definitely remember reading that Thomond doesn't meet Cat 4 standard.

Lansdowne and Tallaght the only Cat 4 stadia we have.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_stadium_categories
Where is it falling short of Category 4 status?

[redobit]

The best Sligo can hope for is that Connaught Rugby get a decent stadium sorted.

Or we build our own. The Showgies masterplan is for a Cat. 3. Some of the money earned in Europe will be earmarked to progress infrastructure. It all won't be put into wages.

[pineapple stu]

Worth noting there's three more draws on Tuesday so. Bit of fun even if Pat's/Sligo don't actually get there. Villarreal, West Ham, Fiorentina and Köln are the only known seeds as yet. There's plenty of teams that could drop into the EL play-off round for Rovers (if they win) and Gent, Hearts, Austria Wien, Omonia Nicosia, Sivasspor, Dnipro and Silkeborg all enter at this stage. If Rovers lose, they'd be seeded in the Conference League play-off round and would play one of the teams knocked out in the first round of the Champions League - looking at the draw (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_UEFA_Europa_Conference_League_qual ifying_phase_and_play-off_round_(Champions_Path)#Summary_2), you'd reckon the possible opponents would be Lech Poznan, CFR Cluj (both bad), RFS of Latvia, Ballkani of Kosovo (both reasonable) or Tobol of Kazakhstan/Zrinskij of Bosnia (I really have no idea)

[sidewayspasser]

Kazakhstan would be a nightmare to get to, with Russian and Ukrainian airspace closed. So Tobol would be a bad draw from that point of view.

[D24Saint]

Worth noting there's three more draws on Tuesday so. Bit of fun even if Pat's/Sligo don't actually get there. Villarreal, West Ham, Fiorentina and Köln are the only known seeds as yet. There's plenty of teams that could drop into the EL play-off round for Rovers (if they win) and Gent, Hearts, Austria Wien, Omonia Nicosia, Sivasspor, Dnipro and Silkeborg all enter at this stage. If Rovers lose, they'd be seeded in the Conference League play-off round and would play one of the teams knocked out in the first round of the Champions League - looking at the draw (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_UEFA_Europa_Conference_League_qual ifying_phase_and_play-off_round_(Champions_Path)#Summary_2), you'd reckon the possible opponents would be Lech Poznan, CFR Cluj (both bad), RFS of Latvia, Ballkani of Kosovo (both reasonable) or Tobol of Kazakhstan/Zrinskij of Bosnia (I really have no idea)

I’d hate to get West Ham. The media would get whipped into a frenzy and it would take away from the tie ahead.

[pineapple stu]

Kazakhstan would be a nightmare to get to, with Russian and Ukrainian airspace closed. So Tobol would be a bad draw from that point of view.
You'd probably fly via Turkey anyway, so probably not that much of an issue.

[El-Pietro]

Definitely remember reading that Thomond doesn't meet Cat 4 standard.

Lansdowne and Tallaght the only Cat 4 stadia we have.
Do you believe Croke Park wouldn't meet Cat 4 status if required? I'm sure it's just that as they aren't football stadiums they haven't gone through a checklist but they definitely have the requirements.

[sbgawa]

Not being cat 4 is a pain but it's obtainable it just needs expensive temporary work.

[legendz]

Do you believe Croke Park wouldn't meet Cat 4 status if required? I'm sure it's just that as they aren't football stadiums they haven't gone through a checklist but they definitely have the requirements. Exactly. Thomond Park should have hosted Barcelona and had no problems hosting the Republic of Ireland and a few Premier League teams.

[nigel-harps1954]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_stadium_categories
Where is it falling short of Category 4 status?

Does it have 150 VIP carparking spaces? I've only ever been around the outside of Thomond, but I don't remember there being much in the way of a carpark there? Has to have a pretty significant outside broadcast area too.

They need to have a stupid amount of fixed camera positions, no idea whether Thomond has all of those, or the TV studios. Media area doesn't look massive in it either.

I can't say for sure,

Do you believe Croke Park wouldn't meet Cat 4 status if required? I'm sure it's just that as they aren't football stadiums they haven't gone through a checklist but they definitely have the requirements.

No idea on Croke Park. You'd presume it would meet requirements, but GAA are less likely to put emphasis on anything other than capacity.


Exactly. Thomond Park should have hosted Barcelona and had no problems hosting the Republic of Ireland and a few Premier League teams.

Each of the games you've mentioned are friendlies. Finn Harps has hosted 8,000 people watching Celtic, doesn't make it Cat 4.

[legendz]

Each of the games you've mentioned are friendlies. Finn Harps has hosted 8,000 people watching Celtic, doesn't make it Cat 4.
https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/uefa-green-light-to-bring-soccer-stars-to-thomond-26498537.html
Thomond Park hosted Inter Milan c Celtic in 2016. Granted another friendly but it would seem Thomond Park management will easily work with UEFA should any wrinkles need to be ironed out. When Treaty United qualify for Europe, they can look forward to big European nights in Thomond Park!