LOI in Europe 2023

[cláirseach]

Thought Dundalk were the better team and found a way to play through them a few times. They'll be favourites next week.

Derry match very slow to get going here.

[cláirseach]

Not sure how the commentator came to expect a crowd of seven or eight thousand in a six plus thousand seater ground in the Faroe Islands where they have a total population of 52odd thousand. Good craic but.

They're starting to play a wee bit now.

[SPXcyan]

I'm thinking he meant 7-800 hundred considering their average gate.. I really hope that he didn't mean the 7-8k.. shocking comment if so.

[cláirseach]

Ah its got to be hard enough doing commentary without clowns like me jumping on to everything.

A quiet game so far.

[pineapple stu]

Welsh side Penybont score their first ever European goal, at home to Santa Coloma of Andorra

Penybont is a great name :)

[joey B]

1 goal in 7 halfs of football from LOI sides,thats fairly grim....

[holidaysong]

Few comments I can find online suggest Dundalk were the better team but the old Euro failing of sloppy finishing cost them, plus they had to clear off the line too.

We were fortunate to come away with a 0-0 to be honest. They had at least 3 clear cut chances that should have been finished. We had a couple of good chance ourselves, but certainly not the better of the chances. On another night it could have been a 3-0 defeat, so we'll take the draw and move on to next week.

[ger121]

Glens 2-1 down now. Who might the winners of this tie play again?

Finished 2-2 so that tie very much in the balance. 3 very good away results for the Irish League sides.

[ontheotherhand]

Again, no panic stations just yet but that's obviously a poor round of results. Lot's of factors mentioned earlier but I'd add another - the league is far more competitive this season. We are possibly just seeing the effects of every fixture being a bit of a battle. Outside of UCD (sorry stu) there isn't really a fixture where we've been able to rest anybody. Injuries are mounting up for every team. When we'd all want to be fresh coming into Europe, we all look a bit banjaxed instead. Sometimes it's the teams with less to play for domestically who end up doing well in Europe because it's a free hit they can give their all in.....this season we've almost every team in the mix for the title....

[pineapple stu]

I don't know if that really holds up. You're taking the main selling point of summer soccer - the advantage it gives our Euro teams - and suddenly turning it into a negative. There's even been a mid-season break a few weeks back.

I think the points Philosophiser looked at earlier - plus the lack of investment in coaching - are more to blame. It was only two bad results then but it's four bad results now. The Gibraltar and Luxembourg teams are in pre-season too - that's supposed to be our big advantage.

I know you mentioned Crues lost to Bruno's Magpies last year out there, but it was pre-season for them. Dundalk scraping a draw when they're in mid-season is just a bad result to be honest. I think they'll progress still - and whoever gets through may improve like last year - but I don't think you can use the competitiveness of the league as an excuse tbh

[outspoken]

Dundalk probably shaded first half on chances but second half was very hairy. Maybe it's total arrogance but I still expect them to pump this lot next week. Derry should be going through too. Still think Pats can do it. Rovers goose is cooked though judging by Tuesday.

[ger121]

I saw someone post something on Twitter last week that they thought the Irish League clubs would do better than the LOI clubs. I laughed when I read it. Not so funny now. Crusaders drawing 2-2 away in Finland and the Glens winning in Malta.

Linfield 2 nil up at home against that Albanian team who did their best to lose to Sligo.

3-0 now. So much for drawbacks of Winter Football.

[Nesta99]

Again, no panic stations just yet but that's obviously a poor round of results. Lot's of factors mentioned earlier but I'd add another - the league is far more competitive this season. We are possibly just seeing the effects of every fixture being a bit of a battle. Outside of UCD (sorry stu) there isn't really a fixture where we've been able to rest anybody. Injuries are mounting up for every team. When we'd all want to be fresh coming into Europe, we all look a bit banjaxed instead. Sometimes it's the teams with less to play for domestically who end up doing well in Europe because it's a free hit they can give their all in.....this season we've almost every team in the mix for the title....

Such balance in yer analysis is laudable, but the likes of CJ may disown you calling the league competitive on the biggest bestest club in the league, where every side only turns up against the bigest bestest club and why the champions are not yet champions elect.

I dont fully subscrie to teams being rested and fresh going in to a heavy schedule of games - imo momentum is as important as 'rest. If a side is winning say 3 games in a week scheduling isnt such an issue. Ive seen Dundalk have a break in the past and look really rusty domestically or in Europe but yet the busy schedule we just seemed to go from game to game with and intensity and purpose. We could even thank Cork for keeping us honest and in a winning grove. Ive said it before but I think the European qqulaifiers have lacked that itensity domestically to take them in to Europe on song.

Im blaming the heat and artificial pitch for Dundalks credible draw away from home, 2nd leg at home to finish the tie off.

Reading some of Bradley's post matcn platitudes were inciteful yesterday. Taking responsibility for the slow start etc. well thats a common feature of performances in the league and now in Europe. Where was the intensity of play needed in the 1st half, why the upturn 2nd 45 rather than 'giving them too much respect' or what has happened previous years.

Over to Derry then!

[Philosophizer]

1 goal in 7 halfs of football from LOI sides,thats fairly grim....
Make that 8 halves!
God they’d really wanna get their acts together for the second legs. The results, and performances by all accounts, have been pretty terrible all round.

[ontheotherhand]

I don't know if that really holds up. You're taking the main selling point of summer soccer - the advantage it gives our Euro teams - and suddenly turning it into a negative. There's even been a mid-season break a few weeks back.

I think the points Philosophiser looked at earlier - plus the lack of investment in coaching - are more to blame. It was only two bad results then but it's four bad results now. The Gibraltar and Luxembourg teams are in pre-season too - that's supposed to be our big advantage.

I know you mentioned Crues lost to Bruno's Magpies last year out there, but it was pre-season for them. Dundalk scraping a draw when they're in mid-season is just a bad result to be honest. I think they'll progress still - and whoever gets through may improve like last year - but I don't think you can use the competitiveness of the league as an excuse tbh

Not quite what I'm saying stu - of course summer football is an advantage although not for us this season. We shoould all be in better shape than teams in pre-season but this season is particularly competitive domestically in a way we haven't seen for quite. Every team is having to put out their strongest 11 for every game. Jack has played way more minutes than I'm sure was intended. Mind you some of that is down to recruitment as I said earlier.

I didn't mention Crusaders result, that was Ger I think?

[legendz]

A summary of a disappointing week in Europe:
Shamrock Rovers' hopes in Europe's premier competition took a major hit as they were contained with relative comfort by Breidablik.
Mark Doyle salvaged St Patrick's Athletic's European hopes with a crucial late goal, the Saints, who failed to impress their plans on this game.
Dundalk survived the heat and a number of major scares to claim a scoreless draw.
The Candy Stripes were disappointing for long periods and never really got going. Their tempo for much of this first leg encounter was slow.

[ontheotherhand]

Such balance in yer analysis is laudable, but the likes of CJ may disown you calling the league competitive on the biggest bestest club in the league, where every side only turns up against the bigest bestest club and why the champions are not yet champions elect.

I dont fully subscrie to teams being rested and fresh going in to a heavy schedule of games - imo momentum is as important as 'rest. If a side is winning say 3 games in a week scheduling isnt such an issue. Ive seen Dundalk have a break in the past and look really rusty domestically or in Europe but yet the busy schedule we just seemed to go from game to game with and intensity and purpose. We could even thank Cork for keeping us honest and in a winning grove. Ive said it before but I think the European qqulaifiers have lacked that itensity domestically to take them in to Europe on song.

Im blaming the heat and artificial pitch for Dundalks credible draw away from home, 2nd leg at home to finish the tie off.

Reading some of Bradley's post matcn platitudes were inciteful yesterday. Taking responsibility for the slow start etc. well thats a common feature of performances in the league and now in Europe. Where was the intensity of play needed in the 1st half, why the upturn 2nd 45 rather than 'giving them too much respect' or what has happened previous years.

Over to Derry then!

Well of course I'd still agree with that. Just because you're all putting in a bit more effort against each other doesn't mean we aren't still your collective cup final.

[DCWA]

Derry pretty dominant 2nd half and should have the beating of that crowd at home you’d think. Still no glossing over 4 poor results.

[EalingGreen]

Welsh side Penybont score their first ever European goal, at home to Santa Coloma of Andorra

Penybont is a great name :)AKA "Bridgend": Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just Pen-y-bont, meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore".

Bridgend is a reasonably big town - 39k - midway between Cardiff and Swansea. The town always had an extremely strong rugby tradition, though the WRU's botched regionalisation policy hurt them badly.

As for football, I'd never heard of Pen-y-Bont FC. Googling tells me that it is an amalgamation in 2013 of two Bridgend clubs, Bridgend Town and Bryntirion Athletic, so that by moving in to Athletic's ground, the new club could benefit from nearly £1m as a result of Town selling their ground to ASDA:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/amateur-football/bridgend-town-bryntirion-athletic-merge-4035685?service=responsive

I'd say that £1m is a lot of money in Cymru League terms, and tbf they probably spent it wisely, seeing as the new club subsequently got promotion and last season finished 3rd in the top flight, hence European qualification. Obviously.

Mind you, imo a home draw with Andorran opposition isn't much, really.

[EalingGreen]

I know you mentioned Crues lost to Bruno's Magpies last year out there, but it was pre-season for them.Crues lost 2-1 out there, but won the home tie 3-1 a week later - maybe the "warm-up" out in Gib, plus a couple more training sessions in the meantime, helped them turn it round?

More importantly, with Crues players then being mostly part-time, in the first leg they were without two or three big players who have to take their family holidays in July/August, but (I think) were available for the return. (Meanwhile Crues have recently beefed up their Hybrid model to allow more full-timers.)


Dundalk scraping a draw when they're in mid-season is just a bad result to be honest. I think they'll progress still - and whoever gets through may improve like last year - but I don't think you can use the competitiveness of the league as an excuse tbhIn fairness, I shouldn't have thought the Gib league is too competitive.

[EalingGreen]

Linfield 2 nil up at home against that Albanian team who did their best to lose to Sligo.

3-0 now. So much for drawbacks of Winter Football.Vllnazia pulled one back with 5 minutes to go to make the final score 3-1.

I suppose I should want all IL teams to go through, but I hope that they at least get to sh1t themselves heavily during the return.

Hell scrap that, I hope they soil themselves AND go out.

And yes, I'm a bad man. A very bad man.

[sbgawa]

Well at least dundalk made us look a bit better......in all seriousness can the mods close this thread and we just start again next year like this didn't happen......like Bobby Eweing waking up in the shower

[ger121]

Well at least dundalk made us look a bit better......in all seriousness can the mods close this thread and we just start again next year like this didn't happen......like Bobby Eweing waking up in the shower

If Bradley is still in charge it could be more like Groundhog Day :-)

[sbgawa]

If Bradley is still in charge it could be more like Groundhog Day :-)

Ummm . The water is lovely and warm.

[Nesta99]

Well of course I'd still agree with that. Just because you're all putting in a bit more effort against each other doesn't mean we aren't still your collective cup final.

I get this completely as it was the same or Dundalk and the champions always have a target on their back - champions rather than Rovers. I probaly rolled out similar comments to wind up rivals but t is a legitimate issue for ant current top side in any league across the contenent. Burke and take your pick of the Brennans were re


Well at least dundalk made us look a bit better......in all seriousness can the mods close this thread and we just start again next year like this didn't happen......like Bobby Eweing waking up in the shower

None of our sides are out of the competitions, all within a goal of either being on terms or to go in front. The games the 1st legs will focus the efforts and all sides can raise their game especially in the home fixtures. Next week we could have completely forgotten about the concerns in the 1st legs.

Rovers going away from home now is a bit tough needing to level te tie but they cant be as poor as Tuesday again. Byrne with a full start under his belt and Burke probably starting. Crowds in Iceland are relatively small and quiet so a decent travelling Rovers support will be more than heard.

Pats are still favourites at home - it is one ground that being compact, partizan sell out crowd with a red hot atmosphere, it wont be comfortable for Dudelange.

Dundalk likewise will be more comfortable at home even if its just the cooler weather. Both sides had chances but there was enough on show to be optomistic, good chances ceated so being a bit more clinical and now that we know more about them and less need to conserve energy due to heat, well again we have enough to get the win.

Didnt see the Derry game but Faroe sides are not that great at carrying results through away from home. so in the Brandywll Derry should seize the initiative.

If all sides struggle and go out I think it will confirm that this seasons league is the worst standard ever, any has been in decline for last 3 or 4 seasons. I dont think im being too optomistic and letting hope rule the head - well all acknowledged that performances were poor rather than just being inferior, and half decent performance and i'll be fine. I really do believe that clubs have to play their way in to European level form and early on if clubs hang in in ties there are incremental improvements, with momentum and confidence building. We will see!

If Rovers progress and Derry and Pats, in particular, dont, it could be a key influence on the league title race.

[MichaelCherrito]

We all hoped, given the record from the last few years, we’d get some brilliant results in the first round but statistically, it’s impossible to do well year after year.

Another factor everybody seem to forget is that clubs in Ireland don’t prepare the season focusing on reaching peak form when playing the early European rounds, a thing clubs from other countries do, Icelandic and Faroes certainly do. Perhaps a Rovers team, in September and being in full flow, would run away easy winners against any Icelandic team.

Maybe if you put the Galway United or the Watetford sides from two months ago to play HB from the Faroes, they’d give a good account of themselves. Maybe…

[Jd2793]

people will laugh but derry will have a tough tie over there. its very hard to get a result in faroes, wouldnt surprise me at all if they lost.

thought derry did a bit better than expected, did well 2nd half imo. will win at home without much fuss. not losing in faroe is a decent outcome.

[pineapple stu]

Another factor everybody seem to forget is that clubs in Ireland don’t prepare the season focusing on reaching peak form when playing the early European rounds, a thing clubs from other countries do, Icelandic and Faroes certainly do. Perhaps a Rovers team, in September and being in full flow, would run away easy winners against any Icelandic team.
I have to disagree with that. We changed our season specifically so we could be in full flow when the European games came around, and our clubs will now have league games off (which most leagues don't offer) to let them focus on the next game and the round after, for those who get there.

The Faroese and Icelandic leagues are 15/16 games in. We're 25 games in. Why do you think the former are better set up now, having played fewer games, but Rovers would be better later in the season when they've played more games? That doesn't make any sense.

[MichaelCherrito]

The Faroese and Icelandic leagues are 15/16 games in. We're 25 games in. Why do you think the former are better set up now, having played fewer games, but Rovers would be better later in the season when they've played more games? That doesn't make any sense.

The truth is that any physio can agree with his manager to prepare the team to be physically at peak at any particular time of the season. I’m not sure that clubs from the League of Ireland have done that this season.

But two of the teams have played their games at terribly hot conditions. Let’s wait until next Thursday evening to make a completely real assesment of the clubs’ position.

[pineapple stu]

I don't think you've any real basis for that though? LoI clubs have always had a big focus on Europe.

I think there's lots of excuses going around from all corners - the league's not competitive enough, it's too competitive, we need to have played more games, we've played too many games. I don't think there's any merit in them to be honest. It's as poor a week's work as I can recall in Europe in many years, and yet you'd still expect Dundalk and Derry to progress at the very least, and Rovers of course will have another tie regardless of what happens next week.

I still think Philosphiser's earlier post, maybe with general coaching weaknesses added in, is far closer to the truth this week.

[MichaelCherrito]

I still think Philosphiser's earlier post, maybe with general coaching weaknesses added in, is far closer to the truth this week.

General coaching weakness and poor individual decision-making. It’s awful to see Kavanagh receiving the ball on the left, then cutting inside and shooting ten yards off target. You need to make the most of that sort of chances.

[EalingGreen]

The four LOI clubs had (generally) poor results, while the four IL clubs had (generally) good ones.

What can you tell from that? Well imo nothing much actually. We might know a bit more after the return legs, when who knows, the LOI teams could turn things round and/or the IL teams could stumble. But even then you might just be misled by a couple of teams which "deserved" to go through but somehow didn't, or teams which didn't deserve it who sneaked it.

For football is the most random of games, meaning four matches is far too small a sample size to reach any firm conclusions, one way or another.

I'd take much more notice of, say, a review of 10 or 15 seasons' European results, both in absolute terms and also relative to other comparable countries, before tending towards firm conclusions.

Anyone?

[EatYerGreens]

Welsh side Penybont score their first ever European goal, at home to Santa Coloma of Andorra

Penybont is a great name :)

The Welsh name for Bridgend in south Wales (translates literally as 'head of the bridge').

Though they had to come from behind to draw at home against an Andorran team, which is no great shakes.

Looking at the overall results this week, there do seem to be far fewer ass-whippings handed out than there used to be. Club football seems to have improved in a lot of what would previously have been considered very weak places.

[sbgawa]

If only the legendary Sligo team from the 28th April 2023 could have represented us all

[ontheotherhand]

If only the legendary Sligo team from the 28th April 2023 could have represented us all

Or Drogheda.

[dundalkfc10]

Just back from Gilbratar this evening. Great trip, terrible game. Should have scored in 1st half and should have conceded in 2nd half. The heat was ridiculous and our players really struggled with it. Id fancy us knocking a few past them next week in Oriel then a trip to Iceland it looks

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

If only the legendary Sligo team from the 28th April 2023 could have represented us all

Thought the Icelandic team first half were even better then us that night. High praise I know

[holidaysong]

My prediction for this week would be Dundalk and Derry to go through with home wins. St. Pat's to maybe go to extra time but scrape through. Rovers to draw away but drop down to the Conference League.

[oriel]

Few comments I can find online suggest Dundalk were the better team but the old Euro failing of sloppy finishing cost them, plus they had to clear off the line too.

Another poor result alright but it sounds like they should finish the job in Oriel at least. Shadows of Drogheda drawing in San Marino all those years ago?

Only got home at midnight last night, we had a long trip Gib - Gat then 3.5 hours there, and then delayed by 1.30 or so.

Great trip and such an interesting place to see, tour of the Rock was amazing, mostly based in La Linea Spain, but Gib was better than expected to be fair. As for the match, thought we edged it, and prob should have won but they had a great to score too, look it wasn't easy it was 33c at kick off, had to be a massive factor.

Be amazed if we dont win by 2 goals or so on Thurs, big wide spaces at oriel park, should be able to open them up, but need to get the job done first and foremost, they were well organised.

[dundalkfc10]

I notice BT Sports 1 on Tuesday are showing Struga v Zalgiris at 4pm and Maccabi Haifa v Hamrun at 6pm
On Weds they are showing Valmiera v Olimpija at 4pm and Swift Hesper v Slovan Bratislava at 7pm with Dinamo Tbilisi v Astana at 5pm (on BT3)

I find it strange they would show all these games and not one from any of the Welsh, N Irish or Irish champions games.

[joey B]

I notice BT Sports 1 on Tuesday are showing Struga v Zalgiris at 4pm and Maccabi Haifa v Hamrun at 6pm
On Weds they are showing Valmiera v Olimpija at 4pm and Swift Hesper v Slovan Bratislava at 7pm with Dinamo Tbilisi v Astana at 5pm (on BT3)

I find it strange they would show all these games and not one from any of the Welsh, N Irish or Irish champions games.

Its probably cheaper,they'd have to pay for the production of them games whereas they can just link in a production from the other countries......

[ger121]

My prediction for this week would be Dundalk and Derry to go through with home wins. St. Pat's to maybe go to extra time but scrape through. Rovers to draw away but drop down to the Conference League.

Could go down like that alright.

[Calcio Jack]

Byrne and Farrugia both out injured so very little chance of Rovers winning tomorrow

[ontheotherhand]

It's the hope.......it just kills you.

[TonyD]

The four LOI clubs had (generally) poor results, while the four IL clubs had (generally) good ones.

What can you tell from that? Well imo nothing much actually. We might know a bit more after the return legs, when who knows, the LOI teams could turn things round and/or the IL teams could stumble. But even then you might just be misled by a couple of teams which "deserved" to go through but somehow didn't, or teams which didn't deserve it who sneaked it.

For football is the most random of games, meaning four matches is far too small a sample size to reach any firm conclusions, one way or another.

I'd take much more notice of, say, a review of 10 or 15 seasons' European results, both in absolute terms and also relative to other comparable countries, before tending towards firm conclusions.

Anyone?

Would agree with most of that. No denying Pats were poor. Bit ropey defensively for the goals, and no real threat going forward. No reason to think we can’t turn it around though. The late goal was huge, and a good crowd at Richmond roaring the team on could be a factor. What we absolutely don’t want to do is concede first. Game over if that happens in my view. Big performance needed.

Are you optimistic about going through Ealing ? Pats v Glens could be “interesting”.

[Stuttgart88]

Byrne and Farrugia both out injured so very little chance of Rovers winning tomorrow
I've a good feeling about tonight!

[sidewayspasser]

Does anyone know where to watch it if you're abroad? The stream on LOI TV seems to be Ireland and UK only. Icelandic TV?

[sbgawa]

The iceland team are 6/5 with paddypower, has to be the best value bet ive seen in months.
No Byrne, no Farrugia, no Clarke, no pace , never been so pessimistic about a Rovers match, our form is beyond awful and we were lucky to only lose 1 nil in the first leg at home.
Pray for a Miracle

[Stuttgart88]

What's the story with Ferizaj?

[sbgawa]

Scored for the under 19s last weekend but doesnt seem to be getting a look in around first team....dont know why