LOI In Europe 2025

[placid casual]

Shels will play in tallaght.
Rovers should hopefully get 10 points which will be enough.
Can't see Shels getting many points tbh.

[geysir]

Far from the worst draw Breidablik could get. Yet another Iceland trip for Rovers who were about the best option from pot 2.
The weather should be suitably wicked.
Let the hunt for 7 points begin.




Shamrock Rovers (H)
Shakhtar Donetsk A
KuPS Kuopio (H)
Strasbourg -A
Samsunspor (H)
Lausanne - A

[Roones26]

Shels will play in tallaght.
Rovers should hopefully get 10 points which will be enough.
Can't see Shels getting many points tbh.

As Dan McDonnell pointed out, a lot will depend on the interpretation of "in principle" in the regulation that all 3 games be played in the same venue

[ger121]

Far the worst draw Breidablik got. Yet another Iceland trip for Rovers who were about the best option from pot 2.
The weather should be suitably wicked.
Let the hunt for 7 points begin.




Shamrock Rovers (H)
Shakhtar Donetsk A
KuPS Kuopio (H)
Strasbourg -A
Samsunspor (H)
Lausanne - A

Some points to be targeted at home for sure. Turks may not fancy that Icelandic winter.

[sbgawa]

Funny enough this is one where the maximum away ticket price will hurt Shels....they can only charge Palace fans 20 so unless they charge their own fans more i dont know how the aviva could work in termns of making a big killing.

[placid casual]

As Dan McDonnell pointed out, a lot will depend on the interpretation of "in principle" in the regulation that all 3 games be played in the same venue
If Shels were to play their game against palace in landsdowne pk it wouldn't sell out imo. And they'd have to play all 3 games there.
games will be in tallaght anyway I would imagine.

[D24Saint]

Funny enough this is one where the maximum away ticket price will hurt Shels....they can only charge Palace fans 20 so unless they charge their own fans more i dont know how the aviva could work in termns of making a big killing.

Would Tallaght not satisfy demand for the Crystal Palace game ? Id imagine there would be maximum amount of away tickets they could sell in any venue. Would the public run to the Aviva on a Thursday evening to watch them play. Id have doubts about the maximum numbers of tickets that could be shifted.

[Roones26]

If Shels were to play their game against palace in landsdowne pk it wouldn't sell out imo. And they'd have to play all 3 games there.
games will be in tallaght anyway I would imagine.

This is what there is a potential discussion around

[Martinho II]

And for Shels it's -

Alkmaar (A)
Palace (H)
Drita (H)
Celje (A)
Hacken (H)
Shkendija (A)

Damien Duff back as Shels manager according to the host (whose voice I recognise - but can't place the name...?)

That was Matt Smith of ITV football fame Stu!!

[yurt]

Would Tallaght not satisfy demand for the Crystal Palace game ? Id imagine there would be maximum amount of away tickets they could sell in any venue. Would the public run to the Aviva on a Thursday evening to watch them play. Id have doubts about the maximum numbers of tickets that could be shifted.

I reckon that fixture would get near 40k+ if it was in the Aviva. It's Palace's first away tie in Europe for how long (ever)? I would say they'd bring 10k travelling support if that was allowed.

I'd kind of respect the ambition if Shels were to go for the Aviva although I can't actually see getting more than 10k for the other games, particularly if there's a second Irish team playing at home on the other weeks.

[placid casual]

It would make sense for Shels as they won't be playing in their own ground either way, I personally couldn't see anything close to 40k there,but maybe I underestimate how thick as pig$hit the Irish sacar public generally are :)

[Dermobohs]

You know i was thinking the same?
Shels have a fanatical but small base, poss poor cup final turnout for example.
Tallaght be perfect, really bring the noise.

[Dermobohs]

Tallaght ve just about right, no chance shels get over ten at a game, none.
Aviva is massively expensive.
Plus your owner s a multi millionaire, what’s the problem ffs 😂😂😂😂

[pineapple stu]

I reckon that fixture would get near 40k+ if it was in the Aviva. It's Palace's first away tie in Europe for how long (ever)? I would say they'd bring 10k travelling support if that was allowed.
Well, since yesterday :p They were in Norway in the playoff round.

Not sure it'd get 40k though, but Palace could have a big away support if let for sure. But obviously Drita and Hacken would be ridiculous in Lansdowne

[D24Saint]

I’d say the cops will have a say in the away ticket allocation. They would no doubt play it safe and want a manageable number. Would they be able to manage 10k English away fans id have doubts. I know things have changed drastically in fan culture in England but the more tickets sold the more chance of a large number of trouble makers coming to Dublin.

[CorribsideSteve]

Late to the party, but with Shels and Rovers both making the group stages, this is surely one of the best moments we've had for LOI clubs in Europe. As someone posted earlier in the thread, this is going to force broadcasters and news reporters to focus on the League of Ireland now to an increasing level. Big ties to look forward to, money in the bank, league moving forwards. Positive vibes, a rare sensation in the GLITW. One swallow doesnt make a summer though. We're going to need to string together successive seasons of at least one team making the conference group stages. Particularly happy for Shels though. The real reward for winning the league last November. Their first group stage, and it makes you think about what Ollie Byrne would make of it all.

[2 Year Contract]

I’d say the cops will have a say in the away ticket allocation. They would no doubt play it safe and want a manageable number. Would they be able to manage 10k English away fans id have doubts. I know things have changed drastically in fan culture in England but the more tickets sold the more chance of a large number of trouble makers coming to Dublin.

Palace average 24k at home games. I don’t there’s a chance they’d bring anything close to 10k to Dublin to watch a weakened side play shels in the middle of December, European game or not

[sbgawa]

A bit of googling shows thay bring around 2500 to away premier league matches so hard to see 10000 traveling to Dublin for two days off work for a second string side.

[pineapple stu]

I see the order of games has been confirmed now. For Rovers, it's Sparta (A), Celje (H), AEK (A), Shakhtar (H), Breidablik (A) and Hamrun (H). Puts more pressure on the Celje game at home knowing they could be almost out after four rounds.

Then for Shels it's Hacken (H), Shkendija (A), Drita (H), AZ (A), Palace (H) and Celje (A). So from their point of view they'll want early points or they could be going to Celje trying to avoid bottom of the table.

[D24Saint]

A bit of googling shows thay bring around 2500 to away premier league matches so hard to see 10000 traveling to Dublin for two days off work for a second string side.

I never thought they would tbh but was just responding to a previous comment on the thread. There is no need for the games to be held anywhere but Tallaght.

[SRFC]

I see the order of games has been confirmed now. For Rovers, it's Sparta (A), Celje (H), AEK (A), Shakhtar (H), Breidablik (A) and Hamrun (H). Puts more pressure on the Celje game at home knowing they could be almost out after four rounds.

Then for Shels it's Hacken (H), Shkendija (A), Drita (H), AZ (A), Palace (H) and Celje (A). So from their point of view they'll want early points or they could be going to Celje trying to avoid bottom of the table.

Do you rate Bradley yet?

[total hoofball]

UEFA app lists the three Shels home Conference League games being held at Tallaght Stadium so barring something extraordinary like a Gardai request that will be the venue for the Palace fixture in December

[EalingGreen]

I’d say the cops will have a say in the away ticket allocation. They would no doubt play it safe and want a manageable number. Would they be able to manage 10k English away fans id have doubts. I know things have changed drastically in fan culture in England but the more tickets sold the more chance of a large number of trouble makers coming to Dublin.Not too familiar with the Palace fanbase, but I'd be surprised if there was any trouble from them (at least like you might get with a few other clubs).

My guess (emphasise) is that they'd more likely be up for a big party/****-up in Dublin, as part of their first ever European campaign, esp if results are going well.

[pineapple stu]

Do you rate Bradley yet?
Meh - he's bucked up the last 12 months for sure. But the McGinty save shows you the importance of a good keeper, which lots of people here pointed out the start of last season when Pohls was preferred as number 1. That decision arguably cost Rovers the league (and let's be honest, they didn't lose it because anyone else was particularly good), so it's a recent black mark against him, but at least he's learned his lesson. It very nearly cost Rovers group stage football this year though - they got a bit lucky with the draw (missing Brondby and the Ukrainian side to get Ballkani instead in the third round, and missing Servette/Legia Warsaw in the playoffs), but that's football. The group stage draw is tougher than they might have expected (AEK as fourth seeds in particular), so swings and roundabouts.

The Sparta Prague tie will give an indication of how much progress has been made from last year (when they were comfortably beaten 6-2 on aggregate) - and let's be honest, with unprecedented money coming in, there really should be further progress.

So last 12 months an improvement, but I don't think the questions around him have been fully resolved.

[EalingGreen]

A bit of googling shows thay bring around 2500 to away premier league matches so hard to see 10000 traveling to Dublin for two days off work for a second string side.Don't imagine it would be 10k either (that's if it were at the AVIVA).

But that 2,500 figure is misleading, since under PL Rules, away allocations are set at a minimum of 3k seats if the home team's capacity is greater than 30,000, or 10% of capacity for sub-30k capacities. But when it says "minimum", in practice that is all clubs ever give i.e a maximum. This is because they'd rather fill their stadium with home fans; while there is also a £30 cap on away fans' tickets, a proportion of which goes to the away club. (Clubs can normally charge more than £30 to home fans.)

[KianD]

Not too familiar with the Palace fanbase, but I'd be surprised if there was any trouble from them (at least like you might get with a few other clubs).

My guess (emphasise) is that they'd more likely be up for a big party/****-up in Dublin, as part of their first ever European campaign, esp if results are going well.

They've a bunch of loud teenagers who dress in all black and act like hard men; and then the rest are very bland and boring.#

Which sounds like a description of lots of clubs, really.

[nigel-harps1954]

They've a bunch of loud teenagers who dress in all black and act like hard men; and then the rest are very bland and boring.#

Which sounds like a description of lots of clubs, really.

Thought you were referring to Bohs there for a minute.

[outspoken]

They've a bunch of loud teenagers who dress in all black and act like hard men; and then the rest are very bland and boring.#

Which sounds like a description of lots of clubs, really.

Selhurst Park probably one of the best atmospheres in the sanitised EPL

[EatYerGreens]

Selhurst Park probably one of the best atmospheres in the sanitised EPL

Though it's in a pain in the arse location to get to.

[Nesta99]

There is a couple of hacks like getting the underground to a south side station and then a bus, ye kind of need to know where ye are going though so the overground is the most straight forward, but no matter what it will take an hour so for London yeah its a bit of a trek but by Dublin standards its a doddle. Fly in to Gatwick and its a straight run. They do like their bikes, and are a bloody menace!

[oriel]

It would make sense for Shels as they won't be playing in their own ground either way, I personally couldn't see anything close to 40k there, but maybe I underestimate how thick as pig$hit the Irish sacar public generally are :)

Not a chance 40k, this would be a 20k, max 25k crowd all day long, Palace would not be a big attraction even as a PL established club / fa cup winners. They would travel in big numbers 'Daaaablin' always a treat for UK visitors, but wouldn't think Shels would muster up more than a cup final crowd, 10k max maybe, then you are depending on floating fans. If i was them i'd stick to Tallaght. There is also a UEFA rule I think, you need to nominate and stick to the ground in most cases.

Dundalk played one game at the Aviva in 2020 EL group v Arsenal but that was due to Tallaght not available, no fear on crowds going that day, attendance was zero - covid.

[Nesta99]

Im not sure how the rule works tbh but we played in Oriel, Tallaght and the Aviva in 2016 so maybe its the groups you have to nominate and stick?

[total hoofball]

If the Shels/Palace game was held in October I reckon with competent marketing/pricing that 25k-30k attendance at the Aviva would be achievable, but on a bitter freezing Thursday night in mid-December at the Aviva as the 5th game that has a dead rubber risk a 20k attendance would be questionable

Anyway as I already posted before barring some unexpected Gardai security intervention the game will be in Tallaght

[oriel]

Im not sure how the rule works tbh but we played in Oriel, Tallaght and the Aviva in 2016 so maybe its the groups you have to nominate and stick?

Its the group stages, where you need to nominate a ground, 2016 v Legia (Aviva) was a play off for CL group stages, all 3 EL group games in 2016 were at Tallaght, 2 of the 3 EL group games at Tallaght in 2020, one exception was Arsenal due to Tallaght not available.

Dundalk were generally permitted to play 2 rounds at Oriel Pk only, all qualifying games.

[2 Year Contract]

Its the group stages, where you need to nominate a ground, 2016 v Legia (Aviva) was a play off for CL group stages, all 3 EL group games in 2016 were at Tallaght, 2 of the 3 EL group games at Tallaght in 2020, one exception was Arsenal due to Tallaght not available.

Dundalk were generally permitted to play 2 rounds at Oriel Pk only, all qualifying games.

Other way around. Dundalk’s nominated venue for the group stages was the Aviva and their first game of the group vs Molde was played in Tallaght as the Aviva was being used for rugby. The Rapid Vienna and Arsenal games were both in the Aviva.

[pineapple stu]

Shels v Rabotnicki (North Macedonia) is the UEFA Youth League draw - games on 17th Sept and 1st Oct. Means Shels have two games in North Macedonia in October, with the Conference League game against Shkendija too.

Winners to play Zilina (Slovakia) on 22nd Oct and 5th Nov. Winners of that against Banik Ostrava or Red Star Belgrade in the third round on 26th Nov and 10th Dec

For some reason the wiki page isn't updated at all, but that's from the Bert Kassies forum. They should get through the first round I'd say. Zilina probably the favourites in the second round though.

[geysir]

The Breidablik v Rovers game will be played at the national stadium which is in the early process of a major renovation. The first stage has been completed with a newly laid hybrid pitch and under soil heating, officially designated as being "all season". “All Season” is applicable i.e. until the first blizzard happens to pass. I was there on Friday eve and the pitch did look magnificently green. Tickets should be available for all Rover's fans who dare to travel, very different to the 100 or so quota last time Rovers played at Breidablik's home ground.

[placid casual]

Think the Briedablik Rovers game will be crucial for Rovers,and maybe Briedablik to qualify.
A lot can happen before then, of course.
I won't be braving the cold in December myself:)

[SRFC]

Meh - he's bucked up the last 12 months for sure. But the McGinty save shows you the importance of a good keeper, which lots of people here pointed out the start of last season when Pohls was preferred as number 1. That decision arguably cost Rovers the league (and let's be honest, they didn't lose it because anyone else was particularly good), so it's a recent black mark against him, but at least he's learned his lesson. It very nearly cost Rovers group stage football this year though - they got a bit lucky with the draw (missing Brondby and the Ukrainian side to get Ballkani instead in the third round, and missing Servette/Legia Warsaw in the playoffs), but that's football. The group stage draw is tougher than they might have expected (AEK as fourth seeds in particular), so swings and roundabouts.

The Sparta Prague tie will give an indication of how much progress has been made from last year (when they were comfortably beaten 6-2 on aggregate) - and let's be honest, with unprecedented money coming in, there really should be further progress.

So last 12 months an improvement, but I don't think the questions around him have been fully resolved.


So the team who came 5th in the Polish league are better than the team who came 5th in the Portuguese league?

3 groups stages and 3 leagues in 4 years. 1/6th of the current Irish squad have him as a large part to thank in their development. Not to mention Pico who is on the cusp of world cup qualification.

Turned Josh Honohan, Pico and Lee Grace, amongst others into all time League of Ireland players.

Just curious what exactly does he have to do for you to rate him? Take Finn Harps to the Champions League?

[Nesta99]

Getting Finn Harps promoted and etablished as a PD side is would be a bigger achievement than 4 in a row against the likes of Derry also rans! Proving himself abroad and he might rank up there. Taking a second LoI club to a title would pit him in the same conversation as McLaughlin, Kenny and Collins after getting Harps promoted!

[pineapple stu]

So the team who came 5th in the Polish league are better than the team who came 5th in the Portuguese league?
Yes, I've would consider Legia a better side than Santa Clara. Four group stages in the past five seasons (none for Santa Clara) and they've gotten out of two of them (and will expect to get out of this one too). Conference League quarter-finalists last year. 67th in the UEFA rankings compared to 142nd. They've beaten Leicester, Alkmaar, Villa, Brondby, Betis and Chelsea in that time. They're a good side. Santa Clara hitting a record league position in an uneven league doesn't trump Legia finishing a near record low in a much more even league when it only happens once.

I don't know why you think Bazunu playing a handful of games a few years back or Pico playing for the Cape Verde Islands in any way reflects on Bradley's management. It's a really weak argument that undermines your position really. And I don't know what an

What you've ignored in your post is so the question marks around him. Not just last year, when losing the league was criminal (because (a) everyone could see Pohls wasn't up to it and (b) Shels won the title with such a low points really), but because of the millions he's cost the club missing out on groups by losing home and away to Breidablik and Flora, because he was making no challenge to or inroads on Dundalk/Cork until both went bust, because he's allowed the closing pack get closer and closer since than excellent unbeaten season (culminating in last season), and so on. And that with by far the biggest budget in the league

It's harder now for Rovers to miss out on the groups than to qualify (though Legia did it the hard way each time as non-champions)

As I say, the last year has been an improvement. But one swallow doesn't make a summery. Would you not say those are big question marks?

[pateen]

Anyone have the fixtures handy for both teams?

[culloty82]

Wikipedia has the schedule for each round here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_UEFA_Conference_League#Results

[pateen]

Wikipedia has the schedule for each round here:6

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_UEFA_Conference_League#Results

Cheers Culloty

[pineapple stu]

Shels v Rabotnicki tonight at 7:45 in Tolka in the Youth League

[ger121]

Shels v Rabotnicki tonight at 7:45 in Tolka in the Youth League

1 up at HT.

[pineapple stu]

5-0 result

It's interesting to see the LoI academies perform consistently quite well in this, in the context of how we just can't seem to get the players to move on to senior international standard

[ger121]

5-0 result

It's interesting to see the LoI academies perform consistently quite well in this, in the context of how we just can't seem to get the players to move on to senior international standard

Jesus that is a good win.

[Buckett]

They would have been expected to dominate that game and win comfortably, and they delivered. Fair play to them for not " having a Macedonia "

[placid casual]

Have heard shels are doing well selling good numbers for their tallaght ECL games, is it a mixture of novelty of competition and a chance to see an EPL team maybe?