LoI in Europe 2024

[Calcio Jack]

Mansplaining and gaslighting? I do apologise for not consdiering your to your sensitive inner lady parts CJ!

As per usual QED….

[2 Year Contract]

Interesting that 4 of the 6 fixtures are post LOI season. I had assumed they’d be similar timings to the last time rovers reached the competition in 2022 with most being during the season. With that in mind, the league really could’ve still been possible for them had they not dropped 5 points in the last 2 games

[Calcio Jack]

Interesting that 4 of the 6 fixtures are post LOI season. I had assumed they’d be similar timings to the last time rovers reached the competition in 2022 with most being during the season. With that in mind, the league really could’ve still been possible for them had they not dropped 5 points in the last 2 games

Totally agree especially when you consider it’s 7 points dropped from last 3 games…. Hopefully we’ll manage to secure a European spot ….. also has anyone heard when the result of our cup appeal will be made public ?

[pateen]

Rovers Fixtures, starting in October

v Nicosia (h)
v Larne (a)
v TNS (h)
v Vienna (a)
v Borac (h)
v Chelsea (a)

Any dates MP

[pineapple stu]

They're up on the wiki page - last game is 19 December

[ger121]

They're up on the wiki page - last game is 19 December

Pre-Christmas in London. Sounds like it could be a Xmas Movie. “No Love Actually!”

[pineapple stu]

UCD's pot in the Youth League draw tomorrow morning -

1) NK Maribor (SVN)
2) FC 2 Korriku (KOS)
3) UCD AFC (IRL)
4) FC Progrès Niederkorn (LUX)
5) Havnar Bóltfelag - HB (FRO)
6) Stjarnan (ISL)
7) FK Bylis (ALB)
8) Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)

They've actually marked Maribor as Slovakian, which is a strange mistake. And they have us in as UCD AFC, though the club seem to be going with UCD FC lately for some reason. Kudos to UEFA for that! :)

Maribor the only club seeded higher than us - and I suspect they've a proper academy in place. But really I know nothing at all about any of those.

[Acornvilla]

UCD's pot in the Youth League draw tomorrow morning -

1) NK Maribor (SVN)
2) FC 2 Korriku (KOS)
3) UCD AFC (IRL)
4) FC Progrès Niederkorn (LUX)
5) Havnar Bóltfelag - HB (FRO)
6) Stjarnan (ISL)
7) FK Bylis (ALB)
8) Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)

They've actually marked Maribor as Slovakian, which is a strange mistake. And they have us in as UCD AFC, though the club seem to be going with UCD FC lately for some reason. Kudos to UEFA for that! :)

Maribor the only club seeded higher than us - and I suspect they've a proper academy in place. But really I know nothing at all about any of those.

My vague assumptions would be that Maribor and Stjarnan would have decent academies, and you'd probably have a decent shot against anyone, especially any team from the microstates.

[pineapple stu]

Stjarnan it is. First leg at home.

The draws for rounds 2 and 3 being made shortly as well, just in case.

[pineapple stu]

Winners to play the winners of Bylis/Korriku (Albania/Kosovo). That's quite winnable for whichever teams get there - the only tie involving two first round winners.

[pineapple stu]

Dynamo Kyiv/Lincoln Red Imps/Maribor if we can get to round 3 - which again isn't impossible.

[Acornvilla]

It's a pretty nice opportunity for the kids it must be said, I've no clue of the levels of anyone involved of course :D

[Acornvilla]

Took a few minutes to look at the Rovers group this morning.

I reckon even with Rovers shaky form, 6 points is the minimum, for pride alone, they need to beat TNS and Larne. Maybe the Bosnians are crap, but I doubt many of us have an in depth knowledge, while with the Cypriot's, I'd expect them to be relatively strong despite a shaky enough start to the season. 7/9 is definitely achievable, but a point against the other sides would be doing well.

7 might qualify them, 10 points is probably the absolute ceiling if everything goes right.

Larne/ TNS and Borac have all been moving a ton of games to navigate qualifying, so already have a lot of league games to catch up on. It will be interesting to see how badly this effects them as the year goes by. I think it's likely enough that teams from very small nations who have an extended period in Europe end up not retaining their title. The new format actually suits our summer league quite a bit, in the league stage at least, Rovers having the bulk of their league season out of the way.

Our off season is too long anyway, so I don't think them extending their own footballing year will be an issue.

Would feel relatively optimistic about them making the knockout round, the draw has been much kinder than it could have been, and of the league finishing the season in 32nd/33rd.

[pineapple stu]

It's a pretty nice opportunity for the kids it must be said, I've no clue of the levels of anyone involved of course :D

I think you're right to call Stjarnan out as potentially decent in fairness - but yeah, I've no idea. Maybe they've a couple of decent players but no strength in depth.

Getting a low seed in round 2 makes things interesting. Dynamo Kyiv, for all their troubles, will probably **** on us if we get there

But a bit of fun all the same

[sbgawa]

Took a few minutes to look at the Rovers group this morning.

I reckon even with Rovers shaky form, 6 points is the minimum, for pride alone, they need to beat TNS and Larne. Maybe the Bosnians are crap, but I doubt many of us have an in depth knowledge, while with the Cypriot's, I'd expect them to be relatively strong despite a shaky enough start to the season. 7/9 is definitely achievable, but a point against the other sides would be doing well.

7 might qualify them, 10 points is probably the absolute ceiling if everything goes right.

Larne/ TNS and Borac have all been moving a ton of games to navigate qualifying, so already have a lot of league games to catch up on. It will be interesting to see how badly this effects them as the year goes by. I think it's likely enough that teams from very small nations who have an extended period in Europe end up not retaining their title. The new format actually suits our summer league quite a bit, in the league stage at least, Rovers having the bulk of their league season out of the way.

Our off season is too long anyway, so I don't think them extending their own footballing year will be an issue.

Would feel relatively optimistic about them making the knockout round, the draw has been much kinder than it could have been, and of the league finishing the season in 32nd/33rd.

With 14 wins 11 draws and 21 defeats in all Comps this season. I 100% agree the draw could not have been kinder to us, we got the 3rd wordt and the worst teams according to the Stats but 6 points is a stretch based on any form lines at all.

I just noticed the home game against TNS is a 5:45pm kick off,,,,,,,,,record low attendance incoming.
Also the away game in Larne is 5:45 bit of a pain i will have to take a half day off work as opposed to just disapeering around 4 or 4:30 :) that was my plan

[EalingGreen]

Also the away game in Larne is 5:45 bit of a pain i will have to take a half day off work as opposed to just disapeering around 4 or 4:30 :) that was my planNever mind travelling fans, for whom it must be a bugger, that k.o. time isn't esp good for home fans either, seeing as it's at Windsor rather than Inver.

Though that makes it slightly more accessible for Shamrock fans - do you reckon you'll take many for the game?

[ger121]

I think you're right to call Stjarnan out as potentially decent in fairness - but yeah, I've no idea. Maybe they've a couple of decent players but no strength in depth.

Getting a low seed in round 2 makes things interesting. Dynamo Kyiv, for all their troubles, will probably **** on us if we get there

But a bit of fun all the same

Wonder how good Stjarnan are at youth level. Least it is a tie that could be winnable and maybe even a winnable one in Round 2. I was gonna go to the home match but I think that UCDFans group on SM had UCD down as home first - Week 16th September so I’ll be away.

[sbgawa]

Never mind travelling fans, for whom it must be a bugger, that k.o. time isn't esp good for home fans either, seeing as it's at Windsor rather than Inver.

Though that makes it slightly more accessible for Shamrock fans - do you reckon you'll take many for the game?

I'd say we will bring minimum 500.
It should be more but the numbers are dropping all the time . We had 3100 for a home game with Galway that was a bug game league wise and this is Belfast on a Thursday at 5:45

[EatYerGreens]

Mansplaining and gaslighting? I do apologise for not consdiering your to your sensitive inner lady parts CJ!

Combines as 'man-lighting'. Which sounds like what I used to do with my farts as a druken party piece.

[EalingGreen]

Combines as 'man-lighting'. Which sounds like what I used to do with my farts as a druken party piece."Man-lighting"? Surely those antics were the exact definition of "gas lighting", no?

[EatYerGreens]

"Man-lighting"? Surely those antics were the exact definition of "gas lighting", no?

You're on fire...

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Great win for Peamount

[Acornvilla]

Great win for Peamount
Seems like they'll probably play a Croatian team in the next round. Wouldn't have a clue of the levels but assume Pea's will be underdogs. Still great to get any win!

[Buckett]

Is there much prizemoney on offer?

[Acornvilla]

I seem to remember Wexford having to fundraise 20 grand to be able to travel and play their match in recent times, so I doubt it. I think they need to navigate 3 rounds to reach the group stages. Seems far tougher to reach a group stage in women's than men's football thou, only 16 spots if I'm not mistaken. Some really big clubs lose out every year. I think they could probably do with at least a 2nd tier tournament.

[ForzaForth]

Last year, if I'm right, Peamount would have got 65 grand just for turning up but it's more to cover the cost of getting there such as travel, accommodation, etc. rather than prize-money. For finishing at least runners up last year, Peamount would have got another 10 grand. The relatively big money started if the club could get to Round 2.

A copy of the 2023 UEFA circular is attached and hopefully I'm reading it correctly.

20230717_circular_2023_40_en.pdf (uefa.com) (https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0283-18835367d96a-5ea9f8b19994-1000/20230717_circular_2023_40_en.pdf)

[Acornvilla]

Last year, if I'm right, Peamount would have got 65 grand just for turning up but it's more to cover the cost of getting there such as travel, accommodation, etc. rather than prize-money. For finishing at least runners up last year, Peamount would have got another 10 grand. The relatively big money started if the club could get to Round 2.

A copy of the 2023 UEFA circular is attached and hopefully I'm reading it correctly.

20230717_circular_2023_40_en.pdf (uefa.com) (https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0283-18835367d96a-5ea9f8b19994-1000/20230717_circular_2023_40_en.pdf)
So, they're going to get 75k at a minimum now. 220k total if they win the next match and lose the playoff. Over 500k for actually qualifying the whole way.

[wonder88]

Great result for Peamount Utd. When you consider that they are mid-table at present it shows the quality there is in the league this year (increase in the number of foreign players helps as well). Very few one-side games compared to past years. With the talent in the county it is a pity that there is no LoI team in Donegal, with Waterford supposed to be joining next year.

[sbgawa]

I think peamount winning proves how bad the other team were. The standard here is awful and I've watched a few games before anyone asks

[nigel-harps1954]

Great result for Peamount Utd. When you consider that they are mid-table at present it shows the quality there is in the league this year (increase in the number of foreign players helps as well). Very few one-side games compared to past years. With the talent in the county it is a pity that there is no LoI team in Donegal, with Waterford supposed to be joining next year.

I believe it's in the pipeline in the next few years.

[Nesta99]

As per usual QED….

You'd be a shoe in at Fox News if eVer out of a job CJ!

[Joe Strummer]

Do Rovers have a fans forum anymore?

Yep, here is the link
https://wearerovers.proboards.com/

[JC_GUFC]

I think peamount winning proves how bad the other team were. The standard here is awful and I've watched a few games before anyone asks

That's very harsh.

It's an incredibly young league, even more so than the men's league, and there are regularly players leaving for English football.

It's now quite a competitive Division and even though Sligo haven't won in the league all season a GD of -21 for 14 games isn't bad for the team at the bottom.

[EatYerGreens]

Great win for Peamount

This is probably a daft question, but how did Peamount end up being such a big name in the wome's game here? Is it a simple case that they took it seriously before a lot of others did?

Is there a mens' Peamount Uniited team?

[yurt]

I hadn't realised just how much the new european formats would shake up the co-efficient scoring. We've seen this in recent seasons where the new formats lead to a co-efficient inflation by virtue of there being more games.

Previously the aim for leagues our size was to get to the groups and anything from there is a bonus, now playing a team from each of 6 pots it means everyone has at least one game they'll expect to be pretty competitive in.

These group stage points are worth double what the qualifying rounds are so it means so it means the new currency of success to try and stay inside the top 32 (Cup winner gets Europa league) will be groups stage wins. It's hard to know how the points will balance out generally for a couple of season's but I'd estimate that we'll need to get in the region of 3.000 - 3.500 co-efficient points in order to consider it a successful LOI in Europe campaign. To put that in perspective we scored 2.625 in Dundalk's first group stage qualification season.

[joey B]

1834279681060921816

Larne have to travel to Azerbaijan to play Dinamo Minsk ! What a bizarre choice of country,not exactly that close to Belarus !

[brendy_éire]

1834279681060921816

Larne have to travel to Azerbaijan to play Dinamo Minsk ! What a bizarre choice of country,not exactly that close to Belarus !

They've chosen Azerbaijan before. They're a little bit stuck for countries that will host them, and I suppose it makes it more awkward for the away team.

[pineapple stu]

Do Minsk get to choose? Seems a strange one.

[Acornvilla]

Could be down to other countries not being willing to host them?

[pineapple stu]

I'd say because it's a group stage match it's harder to get a venue for too. Extra licensing requirements (hence Larne now moving to Windsor) really reduces the number of grounds available. They played in a 4,000-seater ground in Hungary this year, which clearly isn't suitable for the groups (even if the games being behind closed doors makes it moot in a way)

[JC_GUFC]

This is probably a daft question, but how did Peamount end up being such a big name in the wome's game here? Is it a simple case that they took it seriously before a lot of others did?

Is there a mens' Peamount Uniited team?

Yes and Yes.

They have a team in the Major 1 Sunday of the Leinster Senior League (6th tier).

As to why they chose to focus on women's football I'm not so sure. Maybe it was just that there was very little strength-in-depth so they just naturally rose to the top level and that became their focus.

When Shamrock Rovers were re-joining the Women's League of Ireland a couple of years ago there was talk that they were trying to take over Peamount. I've no idea how true or not that was, they ended up just signing most of their best players though, and then Peamount won the League!

[dundalkfc10]

Any Rovers fan know what kind of allocation they will get for Windsor Park

Just noticed im working in Belfast that day and wouldn't mind heading along. As much as I hate Rovers I'd prefer to sit with them than Larne supporters

[outspoken]

Any Rovers fan know what kind of allocation they will get for Windsor Park

Just noticed im working in Belfast that day and wouldn't mind heading along. As much as I hate Rovers I'd prefer to sit with them than Larne supporters
Same lol

[sbgawa]

Havent heard what the allocation is but given Larne are probably paying a pretty penny id say they will hardly limit our numbers.....
The KO time will probably reduce the number of people traveling so i doubt there will be a problem with tickets

[outspoken]

Havent heard what the allocation is but given Larne are probably paying a pretty penny id say they will hardly limit our numbers.....
The KO time will probably reduce the number of people traveling so i doubt there will be a problem with tickets

Any word on Rovers home games? The last time they were in the groups they sold a three march package

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

3 match bundle on sale at the moment. General sale next week.

[placid casual]

€50 for most parts of the ground,for 3 game package ,€60 in middle of West stand . Great value imo

[sbgawa]

Club doing its best to fill the place against teams that don't have much attraction for casual fans. Right move. Our crowds are a worry only 4500 at the sligo game on our traditional Friday. We are seeing what happens when w won't win the league. Our bandwagoners are dissapearing

[Buckett]

It shows how far the league has come when you hear people complain about only 4,500 showing up to a game

[placid casual]

Tickets for Rovers games in the Conference league are now on general sale.
€60 for Category 1 and €50 for Category 2