LoI in Europe 2024

[kksaints]

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

Excellent value for European league stage (hate that expression, group stage sounds a lot better) it has to be said.

[2 Year Contract]

Yeah very good value there, less than half the €27 Pats were charging for the 3rd QF round game against Sabah

[sbgawa]

To be fair this is where having a strong Fan representation at Board level helps.
Most of the inititives around practically free kids Season tickets going back a few years and reducing ST prices were driven by the Members Board representatives over the last few years.

[Acornvilla]

UCD's game is on tonight right? Big chance for a wee run with the way the draw has fallen

[pineapple stu]

Yep - 7:30 in the Bowl

[pineapple stu]

1-0 good guys!

Looking the better team so far, but not so much better that it's a forgone conclusion at all

[pineapple stu]

2-0 now, and it should be more tbh.

They've a lad up front who was 15 in June and has already played first-team - wouldn't take much for him to pull on back and make this nervy again.

But great chance for us to have this wrapped up ahead of the second leg in two weeks

[pineapple stu]

3-0 now. Looking good!

[ger121]

3-0 now. Looking good!

Beating Stjarnan 3-0. Now that rings a bell.

[pineapple stu]

Just as well we don't have TNS next!

Goals from last night are up (and indeed the full stream of the match is there too)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJVjR2zC5Y

[ger121]

Just as well we don't have TNS next!


Goals from last night are up (and indeed the full stream of the match is there too)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJVjR2zC5Y

Still too soon PS.

[sbgawa]

When is the next leg for UCD ?

[pineapple stu]

Next Wednesday

[pateen]

Are the Rovers games been televised? Apoel next week is a big one.

[placid casual]

All the games are on Premier Sport, wherever you can find that.
I'm sure there'll be a dodgy stream somewhere showing it, they are 10 a penny on the internet

[ger121]

All the games are on Premier Sport, wherever you can find that.
I'm sure there'll be a dodgy stream somewhere showing it, they are 10 a penny on the internet

Part of my Sky Sports package on Nowtv. Plenty of deals knocking around.

[placid casual]

Nice one. Enjoy watching us play in Europe.:)

[ger121]

Nice one. Enjoy watching us play in Europe.:)

Oh I will indeed. Larne and TNS wins would make it all the sweeter.

[placid casual]

Oh I will indeed. Larne and TNS wins would make it all the sweeter.
I completely agree, although Im also hoping we can get some points against Apoel.
Cheers for the support!

[pineapple stu]

I'm not sure you read that properly :p

[Calcio Jack]

I'm not sure you read that properly :p

An example of : Eats shoots and leaves

[ccity]

The more results (either wins or draws) Rovers get, the better for all. I expect nothing from 4th & 6th match, but I'd be hopeful that something can be achieved from the other 4 games.
Staying in the top 33 countries is the primary target and with co-efficient points living for 5 years, it is important to garner as many points as feasibly possible.
From 32nd down, 10 teams are still alive, but none of these will be expected to survive to the knockout stages. I suspect that most points earned will by these teams will be from matches against each other.
With RFS (from Latvia) in the Europa league, their task is more difficult, but they do have the comfort of playing 2 of their away matches in neutral venues (no games in Ukraine or Israel) and they have an extra 2 matches. Even still, I suspect that they will not garner many points.

[pateen]

A result against Apoel would be great. Maybe Jack Byrne can raise his game.

[sbgawa]

The more results (either wins or draws) Rovers get, the better for all. I expect nothing from 4th & 6th match, but I'd be hopeful that something can be achieved from the other 4 games.
Staying in the top 33 countries is the primary target and with co-efficient points living for 5 years, it is important to garner as many points as feasibly possible.
From 32nd down, 10 teams are still alive, but none of these will be expected to survive to the knockout stages. I suspect that most points earned will by these teams will be from matches against each other.
With RFS (from Latvia) in the Europa league, their task is more difficult, but they do have the comfort of playing 2 of their away matches in neutral venues (no games in Ukraine or Israel) and they have an extra 2 matches. Even still, I suspect that they will not garner many points.

I wouldnt rule out us getting something at Chelsea, its their last game and they will likely be safe and sound in the top 8.
19th December is the begining of a very busy Christmas period for Chelsea, i could see them not being that bothered and playing a weak team.
Clubs are allowed add anyone to the squad 24 hours before kick off that was born after Jan 1st 2003 and has been at the club for 2 years. With a bit of luck we could be playing the Chelsea under 20s.....still tough but not impossible.

[outspoken]

I wouldnt rule out us getting something at Chelsea, its their last game and they will likely be safe and sound in the top 8.
19th December is the begining of a very busy Christmas period for Chelsea, i could see them not being that bothered and playing a weak team.
Clubs are allowed add anyone to the squad 24 hours before kick off that was born after Jan 1st 2003 and has been at the club for 2 years. With a bit of luck we could be playing the Chelsea under 20s.....still tough but not impossible.

Any of our teams at their best aren't anywhere near Chelsea's third team even, let's not kid ourselves. It's the same sh*te talk we kidded ourselves with before the england game.

[sbgawa]

Jeez I said we could be playing their under 20s and it would be tough but not impossible, that's hardly bullish talk. Anyway my point is I would not be going to Chelsea expecting to see anything like a first second or even 3rd team
...hopefully anyway

[nr637]

Shamrock Rovers UEFA Conference League Phase fixtures


3rd October 2024, 20:00 – APOEL FC, Cyprus (Home)

24th October 2024, 17:45 – Larne FC, Northern Ireland (Away)

7th November 2024, 17:45 – The New Saints FC, Wales (Home)

28th November 2024, 20:00 – SK Rapid, Austria (Away)

12th December 2024, 20:00 – FK Borac, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Home)

19th December 2024, 20:00 – Chelsea FC, England (Away)

[Martinho II]

Shamrock Rovers UEFA Conference League Phase fixtures


3rd October 2024, 20:00 – APOEL FC, Cyprus (Home)

24th October 2024, 17:45 – Larne FC, Northern Ireland (Away)

7th November 2024, 17:45 – The New Saints FC, Wales (Home)

28th November 2024, 20:00 – SK Rapid, Austria (Away)

12th December 2024, 20:00 – FK Borac, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Home)

19th December 2024, 20:00 – Chelsea FC, England (Away)

Just wondering if you wanted to go to any of the Europeans in Tallaght can u still buy a ticket 4 it?

[joey B]

Just wondering if you wanted to go to any of the Europeans in Tallaght can u still buy a ticket 4 it?

Tickets for the first game available on their website for 20 quid…..

[placid casual]

And tickets for all 3 matches are available as a package for €50 or €60 depending on where you sit.
Last I heard there was around 5,000 sold for Apoel game so I'd imagine walk-ups would be available, the likelihood of those being weather dependent I'd say.

[pateen]

I wouldnt rule out us getting something at Chelsea, its their last game and they will likely be safe and sound in the top 8.
19th December is the begining of a very busy Christmas period for Chelsea, i could see them not being that bothered and playing a weak team.
Clubs are allowed add anyone to the squad 24 hours before kick off that was born after Jan 1st 2003 and has been at the club for 2 years. With a bit of luck we could be playing the Chelsea under 20s.....still tough but not impossible.

No a hope but no harm dreaming

[Buckett]

In another thread he's worried about Pat's tonight but thinks they could get something off Chelsea!

[sbgawa]

Chelsea under 19s or 20s and I was right to be worried about Pats 1 down already.

[Buckett]

Chelsea's 20's would still be a level above Pat's!
Ye should have equalised , great chance.
The Waterford v Galway Utd stream still isn't working

[pineapple stu]

You have to declare a squad for the group though, don't you? You can't just go and play the U19s for the final round (unless they were named in the squad from the start, which is unlikely).

Arsenal didn't play close to a full team against Dundalk and Dundalk couldn't get near them in the away game.

2-0 Pat's now. Good prep for the Chelsea game. Which I think could also be 2-0 this early :)

[sbgawa]

No you can name anybody 24 hours before the match if they were born after Jan 1st 2003. Its called an extended list. Anyone post Jan 1st 2003 that has been with the club for 2 years qualifies.

Maybe they will play the 17s ?
What age group do you reckon we could beat or is it just anyone in a Chelsea Jersey? Based on tonight the 13s maybe

[Nesta99]

You have to declare a squad for the group though, don't you? You can't just go and play the U19s for the final round (unless they were named in the squad from the start, which is unlikely).

Arsenal didn't play close to a full team against Dundalk and Dundalk couldn't get near them in the away game.

2-0 Pat's now. Good prep for the Chelsea game. Which I think could also be 2-0 this early :)

Best stat from that game was not conceding a free!

[pineapple stu]

And getting what - €150k for it? (Or so a couple of Dundalk fans believed for a long time!)

[2 Year Contract]

interesting developments in Wales with the Welsh clubs playing in the English football leagues (Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Newport) looking at giving up potential European qualification via the English leagues and cups in order to have the right to play in Europe for Wales via winning three Welsh league cup. That’d be a massive boost for their league’s coefficient having clubs with the resources of Cardiff or Swansea (or even Wrexham the way they’re going) competing in Europe every year. There’s precedent there with Vaduz playing for Liechtenstein as their cup winners despite playing in the Swiss league system

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cwyl0r8d81lo (https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cwyl0r8d81lo)

[pineapple stu]

That's interesting. They used to be able to qualify via the Welsh Cup (rather than the League Cup), but that route was closed off by UEFA I think. What's changed now to have (effectively) the exact same idea on the cards again? Is it as simple as declaring themselves ineligible to reach Europe through the English system?

[sidewayspasser]

But there's no European qualification through the Welsh league cup (same as our league cup winners didn't qualify for Europe). :confused: Do they want to change that?

[EatYerGreens]

That's interesting. They used to be able to qualify via the Welsh Cup (rather than the League Cup), but that route was closed off by UEFA I think. What's changed now to have (effectively) the exact same idea on the cards again? Is it as simple as declaring themselves ineligible to reach Europe through the English system?

It was the Welsh FA who stopped Welsh clubs competing in the Welsh FA Cup. That was back in the days when there was beef between everyone as the WFA wanted the exiled clubs to play in its new/relatively new League of Wales. So it did things like scheduled the Welsh FA Cup fixyures on the same day as the English FA Cup fixtures, with both associations having a rule that clubs had to play their main/strongest team. That forced the Welsh clubs to choose between entering one or other of the cups, and they chose the Englsih one. I think there's been a formal rule change since on it all, but that's how the FAW effectively pushed them out of the Welsh Cup back in the day..

What's changed nopw is basically a lot regarding Welsh football. Despite being a bit of a lick-spittle under John Delaney, Noel Mooney has actually turned out to be a fairly good CEO for the Welsh FA. They've done a complete review of the club game and are implementing a number of changes - including increased prize money and expanding their top tier to 16 clubs. This League Cup move is part of that, and seems designed primarily to boost the Welsh coefficient. There's also a mechanism within it whereby money from it will be shared across all clubs.

What is potentially most interesting for me is the impact it has upon the smaller Welsh clubs - Newport and particularly Merthyr, who as a non-league club in Tier 7 in England are not part of this proposal. Newport were the most beligerent against the FAW when cliubs were forced to play outside of Wales by them, so there is still a lot of bad blood between them. But if they continue to just make up the numbers in League 2/National League then they may over time start to consider the benefits of playing in Wales instead (Colwyn Bay made the move a few years ago and it's bene broady positive for them). I suspect Merthyr will feel very left out of all of this as a Welsh club playing in England but not invited to the LC party. It could well give them an added incentive to genuinely consider a shift to the Welsh structure rather than remaining in the lower non-league reaches.

[EatYerGreens]

But there's no European qualification through the Welsh league cup (same as our league cup winners didn't qualify for Europe). :confused: Do they want to change that?

There is now.

It's up to each Footbal association how it wants to alocate its Europen places beyond the league and main cup winners.

Will be interetsing to see how all tios pans out in Wales - and for how long it lasts.

[holidaysong]

What is the appeal for a club like Merthyr to play in the lower leagues of England rather than play in the Welsh system?

I assume it is based more on the potential to rise further in England rather than current pros vs cons.

[Buckett]

Wales could have a decent league if all those clubs returned, the FAW would need to really increase prizemoney to entice them. Could raise the standards in other clubs too and raise interest levels throughout Wales

[EalingGreen]

Wales could have a decent league if all those clubs returned(Barringly possibly Merthyr or Newport?) Cardiff, Swans and Wrexham won't, simple as.


... the FAW would need to really increase prizemoney to entice them. Could raise the standards in other clubs too and raise interest levels throughout WalesAnd where are they going to get that prize money from?

And even if they could increase it eg tenfold, it still wouldn't even come close to one season in the Premier League. Swansea had a good run there and Cardiff managed a season fairly recently, while Wrexham probably have aspirations too.

I don't know a huge amount about the Cymru League, but having been to TNS and Carmarthen, I can state with confidence that standards-wise, it is some way below the LOI, or even the IL.And that attracting Merthyr, even Newport, isn't going to change that.

P.S. I think I'm right in saying that the 5 x Welsh clubs who play in the English system still retain the mebership of the FAW, which may assist in any effort to switch from the EFL League Cup to the Welsh League Cup?

[Buckett]

I'm just an ideas guy, I'm not the money guy.

[pineapple stu]

What is the appeal for a club like Merthyr to play in the lower leagues of England rather than play in the Welsh system?

I assume it is based more on the potential to rise further in England rather than current pros vs cons.
I don't really know, but there was nearly civil war when Colwyn Bay moved in 2019. Talk of fans not supporting the club any more and boycotting games. Strange stuff from a club that uses the Welsh language in a lot of its social for example.

They were one of the best-supported sides in Wales last year so they must have gotten over themselves (though still got relegated)

[TonyD]

Wales could have a decent league if all those clubs returned, the FAW would need to really increase prizemoney to entice them. Could raise the standards in other clubs too and raise interest levels throughout Wales

They won’t do it voluntarily, that’s for sure (Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham I mean) but I kind of feel that they should be forced to, if Wales wats to keep its National team. One of those teams would probably be champions every year too, with consequent entry into the Champions league qualifiers. Wouldn’t that be better than hoping for a year in the Premier league sun every few decades ? I know if it was me I’d prefer my team to have a decent chance of winning trophies every year. I get that there’s more money in the English game, but surely those three I mentioned would do okay, and would still get good crowds if they were actually challenging for titles. Then there is the European money, and possibly a decent TV deal.

[EatYerGreens]

I don't really know, but there was nearly civil war when Colwyn Bay moved in 2019. Talk of fans not supporting the club any more and boycotting games. Strange stuff from a club that uses the Welsh language in a lot of its social for example.

They were one of the best-supported sides in Wales last year so they must have gotten over themselves (though still got relegated)

Ahh it really wasn't that bad to be honest. Just a few loudmouths gave off when the decision was made. Crowds went up essentially immediately after the move happened, so it's been a success overall. They'll be back in the top tier soon enough, ad qualifying for Europe in a few years. They were THE best supported team in the Welsh structure last year btw.