LOI In Europe 2025

[RealJohn91]

It'll be interesting to see how Shels get on now that they have access to the system that the likes of Brighton and Hearts use. Hearts signed a lad from the second tier in Norway and he's turned out to be one of the best players in league this season.

So there is players out there in places you wouldn't think to look in but it's probably not feasible for many clubs here.

[pineapple stu]

Being part of a link-up like that is probably the way it'd happen alright. Athlone have signed some randomers over the last while (it's not worked, granted), as have Waterford. The problem of course is the LoI tends to end up with the dregs.

[Shinkicker]

Being part of a link-up like that is probably the way it'd happen alright. Athlone have signed some randomers over the last while (it's not worked, granted), as have Waterford. The problem of course is the LoI tends to end up with the dregs.
I think this is not just an Irish problem. In 2013/14, I met and spoke to Abel Xavier who was managing in Portugal Olhanse or Farense I can't remember which. Anyway he had a similar problem most of his team were from lower league south America, mostly Brazil or north Africa Morroco etc. Wages in Portugal weren't high but were better than the players home country, most were signed on a one year contract and if they showed any promises they were scooped up for free by the larger Portuguese clubs or ended up in Europe. Unfortunately most Irish clubs don't have the resources to tap into these markets including Haiti and I'm sure Africa is awash with talent who would grace our league but finding them is the problem.

[EatYerGreens]

You've never heard of the guy who scored one of the most famous goals in World Cup history? That's on you if so

You've then selected people who almost all fall into the two categories I noted - washed-up retirees and players who couldn't wait to get out

Lots of clubs - particularly eastern European clubs with Euro money - do scour developing countries for random foreigners they can flog on at a profit. Sheriff Tiraspol's whole team tends to change from year to year. Ludogorets are almost as bad. Plenty of other clubs pillage and undermine African football. It's absolutely an option, though I wouldn't like to see the LoI go that route as I've said.

I wasn't around in the 1950s, and have no genuine knowledge of any World Cups before 1966 to be honest (when Gaetjens was dead, btw). I bet if you ask people around Europe who are into their football who that guy is, then 99%+ of them will have no idea.

It ls again telling that the only 'famous' Haitian player anyone can name is barely known and made his mark over three-quarters of a century ago.

Again - can we just agree that Haiti is extremely unlikely to be a happy hunting ground for footballers, given its past history delivering so few and its current status as a basketcase? :eek: Which is the fundamental point here.

[Nesta99]

I said Haiti but that was as much tongue in cheek, a reference to the bizzare and 'exotic' and I couldnt spell Curacao without looking it up. I dont suggest a scattergun approach. We do that, or more others use us to do that, with the loan system. But with todays scouting networks, multiclub ownership, scouting platforms, damn even just agents, well there has to be a way. We used to talk about losing Irish players to the game when they were dumped by English clubs at a young age, do we look at players released by higher level leagues as standard and I dont mean Real Madrid. A trusted EU agent network, yeah yeah I know? could be useful for both. I refuse to accept that there are just no strikers, for example, that are not technically better that what is in LoI and within reach of certainly the upper PD clubs.
We call for young Irish lads to go to Europe rather than UK to develop yet we still rely pretty heavily on the UK for players in - do we develop relationships with the European mainland system.
You will have youtube vids and Del Boy flogging his wares, but there a lot more than that messing like the often mentioned Abibi or that former La Liga joker, that was an old man American being conned. There has to be some reputable player reps, if they never deliver or overstate abilities they get cut lose league wide....let them see proper opportunity rather than a quick few quid.

[BigEars]

Famous, lads. *Famous*.

Why do you insist they're famous ?, why not players of a good enough standard to play in the League of Ireland who've come here.
Of which you've been given two examples, one of which was quite recent.

[ontheotherhand]

It'll be interesting to see how Shels get on now that they have access to the system that the likes of Brighton and Hearts use. Hearts signed a lad from the second tier in Norway and he's turned out to be one of the best players in league this season.

So there is players out there in places you wouldn't think to look in but it's probably not feasible for many clubs here.

This will be fascinating. Major issue for Dublin clubs in particular will still be the cost of living. Wages are up but you'd probably need to be offering housing in addition?

Shels have a pretty good squad already. Id imagine they are looking for a striker and centre half. When we played Celje, their striker Kovacevic, who had been bouncing around some lower leagues, looked levels above anyone else on the pitch. Signed for an undisclosed fee and now worth 600k+. If Shels can find someone like that they could really have a go.

[Nesta99]

If Dundalk got a player like that we could really have a go. Im only half joking. The league has been pretty close considering the disparate resources and a proper 20+ goal player closes gaps. You may not hold on to that player for longer than a season before the ktchen sinks come out. Its stating the obvious but the dearth of strikers with high chance to conversion rates makes it a big deal if one happens. I think the Seanie league win is the last good example where you get a striker firing it can carry a team - in that case just a half a season was enough.. Mostly we get 10-15 hit rates with goals chipped in from others, fine domestically but not Europe really where we need say 5 chances to each goal. Unless you get lucky like Rovers in Athens.

[sbgawa]

2 goals ans a red card in 25 mins.....

[ger121]

Very good point by Shels

[ger121]

I stand to be corrected but if Rovers had of won in Iceland by 1 goal they would have snuck into the PO Round.

[ger121]

I stand to be corrected but if Rovers had of won in Iceland by 1 goal they would have snuck into the PO Round.

Ignore that. I missed the late equalisers to change the positions.

[pineapple stu]

I stand to be corrected but if Rovers had of won in Iceland by 1 goal they would have snuck into the PO Round.
And I'll duly correct you - "If Rovers had won", not "had of" :p

(I think you're right, though. It was very doable)

[pineapple stu]

Ignore that. I missed the late equalisers to change the positions.
I think you missed the even later winner!

[yurt]

Rovers were pretty fortunate I though with the pen and red card decisions. Think their xG would easily be over 6 goals with all of the missed chances they had from close range. The wind did make a bit of a ****e of the game.

Finally some points to add on the co-efficient table too. Tonight they added 0.750 which is great night's work, will go a long way to securing Europa League football for our cup winners in the medium term.

[ger121]

And I'll duly correct you - "If Rovers had won", not "had of" :p

(I think you're right, though. It was very doable)

I’d never debate grammar with a student!

Crazy finish in the final moments to alter the league table positions.

Overall a good night for the 2 clubs.

[ger121]

I think you missed the even later winner!

A 115th minute winner from the penalty spot to send the Czechs out.

[ger121]

A 115th minute winner from the penalty spot to send the Czechs out.

Romanians!!! I’ve having an off night.

[placid casual]

Any remaining advocates for winter football should be made watch the game tonight in baltic tallaght on a weather affected pudding of a pitch.
Burkey now joint all-time European goals for LOI player- Heads,shoulders,knees and toes above any other player in this league.
Victor showed what he's capable of.
Great season, enjoy your Christmas folks.

[pineapple stu]

Finally some points to add on the co-efficient table too. Tonight they added 0.750 which is great night's work, will go a long way to securing Europa League football for our cup winners in the medium term.
Yep, next year is already confirmed and the year after looks pretty solid now. There's still six countries below us left in European competition -

Armenia - FC Noah into the Conference League knock-outs
Finland - KuPS Kuopio into the Conference League knock-outs
Kosovo - Drita into the Conference League knock-outs
Kazakhstan - Kairat Almaty with two Champions League group stage games to come
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Zrinski Mostar into the Conference League knock-outs
North Macedonia - Shkendija Tetovo into the Conference League knock-outs

Kairat are home to Club Brugge and away to Arsenal - they could get something from Brugge, but almost certainly nothing from the Arsenal game, after which they'll be out. The other five are all unseeded in the Conference League round of 24, but the gap means they need at least I think six wins (= 3 points) to pass us out. Maybe one of the teams could go on a great run and do that, but it's unlikely, and certainly multiple clubs doing it isn't going to happen.

Moving from our current 31st up to 30th (Bulgaria) looks a long way off still - and ironically qualifying for the Europa League groups would only hinder that, as it's the same points for much harder matches, albeit there's two extra bites at the cherry.

A decent season overall - currently ranked 24th for the year, albeit a lot of countries below us still have teams left and we will fall from there. Scotland, Austria and Israel are below us for example. But you look at the teams that have reached the knock-outs and you have to think it's a missed chance for Rovers, and with them as league champions again, it's hard to see us having two sides in the groups like this year.

[EatYerGreens]

Any remaining advocates for winter football should be made watch the game tonight in baltic tallaght on a weather affected pudding of a pitch.
Burkey now joint all-time European goals for LOI player- Heads,shoulders,knees and toes above any other player in this league.
Victor showed what he's capable of.
Great season, enjoy your Christmas folks.

Who's he joint with ?

[EatYerGreens]

Yep, next year is already confirmed and the year after looks pretty solid now. There's still six countries below us left in European competition -

Armenia - FC Noah into the Conference League knock-outs
Finland - KuPS Kuopio into the Conference League knock-outs
Kosovo - Drita into the Conference League knock-outs
Kazakhstan - Kairat Almaty with two Champions League group stage games to come
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Zrinski Mostar into the Conference League knock-outs
North Macedonia - Shkendija Tetovo into the Conference League knock-outs

Kairat are home to Club Brugge and away to Arsenal - they could get something from Brugge, but almost certainly nothing from the Arsenal game, after which they'll be out. The other five are all unseeded in the Conference League round of 24, but the gap means they need at least I think six wins (= 3 points) to pass us out. Maybe one of the teams could go on a great run and do that, but it's unlikely, and certainly multiple clubs doing it isn't going to happen.

Moving from our current 31st up to 30th (Bulgaria) looks a long way off still - and ironically qualifying for the Europa League groups would only hinder that, as it's the same points for much harder matches, albeit there's two extra bites at the cherry.

A decent season overall - currently ranked 24th for the year, albeit a lot of countries below us still have teams left and we will fall from there. Scotland, Austria and Israel are below us for example. But you look at the teams that have reached the knock-outs and you have to think it's a missed chance for Rovers, and with them as league champions again, it's hard to see us having two sides in the groups like this year.

That KuPS team from Finland were put out of Europe by Derry City just 2yrs. Now they're in the Conference League play-offs, after holding Palace to a draw at Selhurst (and being unlucky not to get the win, due to being reduced to 10 men). They must have had a load of cash put into them in the last 2 years so.

[WeAreRovers]

Who's he joint with ?

David McMillan.

[dundalkfc10]

Any remaining advocates for winter football should be made watch the game tonight in baltic tallaght on a weather affected pudding of a pitch.
Burkey now joint all-time European goals for LOI player- Heads,shoulders,knees and toes above any other player in this league.
Victor showed what he's capable of.
Great season, enjoy your Christmas folks.

Burke is head and shoulders above any player in the LOI apart from Michael Duffy imo
It's a toss up between the 2 who is the best. Apart from one bad injury when he went to Derry he is available every week and plays 90mins and is usually by far the best player on the pitch so he would just get the nod from me

[sbgawa]

Burke is head and shoulders above any player in the LOI apart from Michael Duffy imo
It's a toss up between the 2 who is the best. Apart from one bad injury when he went to Derry he is available every week and plays 90mins and is usually by far the best player on the pitch so he would just get the nod from me

Id struggle to argue with your points on Duffy but there is something about the way Burke plays though that makes him such a pleasure to watch, some of his touches and control are off the charts.
a hard call

[dundalkfc10]

Id struggle to argue with your points on Duffy but there is something about the way Burke plays though that makes him such a pleasure to watch, some of his touches and control are off the charts.
a hard call

No doubt Burke is an unbelievable player, but imo Duffy was Dundalks best player during the glory days, he replaced Horgan when he went to UK and to everybody's surprise he was actually just as good if not better

[ccity]

That KuPS team from Finland were put out of Europe by Derry City just 2yrs. Now they're in the Conference League play-offs, after holding Palace to a draw at Selhurst (and being unlucky not to get the win, due to being reduced to 10 men). They must have had a load of cash put into them in the last 2 years so.

Crystal Palace played reserves & youths as they have a league match 48 hours later & they play again on Tuesday in the League Cup quarter finals.

[EatYerGreens]

Crystal Palace played reserves & youths as they have a league match 48 hours later & they play again on Tuesday in the League Cup quarter finals.

They brought on first team subs in the second hald when they went behind and were struggling. Palace are now in the playooffs to progress in the Conference League. A win would've put them straight through, and they obviously expected to and wanted to win the game.

[geysir]

I think the LOI should have a stronger collective result next season, there will be 4 good competitive teams not 3 whose total coefficient was divided by 4, plus probably the most significant factor in that SR won't have to meet Breidablik, that particular voodoo will pass on to the following season's range of possibilities.

[brendy_éire]

That KuPS team from Finland were put out of Europe by Derry City just 2yrs. Now they're in the Conference League play-offs, after holding Palace to a draw at Selhurst (and being unlucky not to get the win, due to being reduced to 10 men). They must have had a load of cash put into them in the last 2 years so.

There's a Finnish millionaire involved in them, but I don't think they've spent all that much in recent years. Did win the double in Finland last year, but I think they just got their act together.
Their ground is pretty dated, and they have to play their European matches 300km away in Tampere.

Will be interesting to see how they get on with this extra cash now.

[ger121]

I think the LOI should have a stronger collective result next season, there will be 4 good competitive teams not 3 whose total coefficient was divided by 4, plus probably the most significant factor in that SR won't have to meet Breidablik, that particular voodoo will pass on to the following season's range of possibilities.

On the flip side you could say that Vikingur being in the Champions Path next season may result in more co-efficient points. They seem a stronger side than Breidablik. Did very well in 2024 when they made the league stage.

[Roones26]

Anyone listen to the Indo Sport take on the European Camapign ?

[Shearer]

Anyone listen to the Indo Sport take on the European Camapign ?
Meant to post this. Thought it was a good round up.

[Roones26]

Meant to post this. Thought it was a good round up.

Wasnt impressed with how dour a few bits were. "lets not kid ourselves this is the third tier of europe stuff" annoyed me and glad Dan wasnt long putting him right that actually quality wise theres little different between the Europa League and Conference League

However the Champions League stuff is probably on the money about absent a generational run now its likely just beyond the aspiration of an Irish side

[pineapple stu]

glad Dan wasnt long putting him right that actually quality wise theres little different between the Europa League and Conference League
Ooh, I'm not sure about that. There's no TNS, Hamrun Spartans, Breidablik or Larne in the Europa League. Maybe the top teams in both are similar (Palace and Forest, Strasbourg and Lyon and so on), but at the bottom - where the LoI sides get their points, like as not - there's a big difference. Utrecht, Rangers, Malmö, Maccabi and Nice without a win in the Europa this year; Red Bull Salzburg and Feyernoord with five defeats from six.

I don't see the need to be dismissive about the Conference League - it's made for the lower leagues, and it's brilliant for that, and Rovers' good results aren't any the less good for being in it rather than the Europa - but there is a step up between the two I think.

[outspoken]

Wasnt impressed with how dour a few bits were. "lets not kid ourselves this is the third tier of europe stuff" annoyed me and glad Dan wasnt long putting him right that actually quality wise theres little different between the Europa League and Conference League

However the Champions League stuff is probably on the money about absent a generational run now its likely just beyond the aspiration of an Irish side

Yeah that was a poor take from Aidan, Dan with a really good counter point

[placid casual]

Ooh, I'm not sure about that. There's no TNS, Hamrun Spartans, Breidablik or Larne in the Europa League. Maybe the top teams in both are similar (Palace and Forest, Strasbourg and Lyon and so on), but at the bottom - where the LoI sides get their points, like as not - there's a big difference. Utrecht, Rangers, Malmö, Maccabi and Nice without a win in the Europa this year; Red Bull Salzburg and Feyernoord with five defeats from six.

I don't see the need to be dismissive about the Conference League - it's made for the lower leagues, and it's brilliant for that, and Rovers' good results aren't any the less good for being in it rather than the Europa - but there is a step up between the two I think.

Yeah I agree, there is a definite gap between the two competitions.
Bradley talking about qualifying for the Europa League as a step forward is fine, but really Rovers "level" to aspire to is regular qualification OUT of the conference league, albeit not limiting oneself to only that.
The teams mentioned above who've struggled in the Europa tells a story about levels imo

[placid casual]

I listened to the podcast, fitzgypo was all over the map on his opinions about the quality of "division 3" European football.
It needed McDonnell to pull him up on his bull£hit ,but I guess he's an old hand at dealing with cretinous opinions working with that horse racing gimp

[Straightstory]

"lets not kid ourselves this is the third tier of europe stuff" - this didn't make much sense, until I realised there should be a comma in there: "lets not kid ourselves, this is the third tier of europe stuff". I presume that is what was meant.

[Roones26]

€5,916,000 for Shamrock Rovers & €4,445,000 for Shelbourne, which for context is somewhere between 4.8 times and 6.4 times Harps total spend for the year and between 10 and 13 times the harps wage bill

[EatYerGreens]

€5,916,000 for Shamrock Rovers & €4,445,000 for Shelbourne, which for context is somewhere between 4.8 times and 6.4 times Harps total spend for the year and between 10 and 13 times the harps wage bill

That's some money for Irish clubs. Will be interesting to see what Shels in particular do with it.

[CorribsideSteve]

€5,916,000 for Shamrock Rovers & €4,445,000 for Shelbourne, which for context is somewhere between 4.8 times and 6.4 times Harps total spend for the year and between 10 and 13 times the harps wage bill
10.3 million. Some figure. And Harps have been waiting 10.3 million hours for a new stadium.