European Season 2006

[Gareth]

Ok lads, Cork City in the Champions League, Derry City and Drogheda United in the UEFA and Shelbourne in the Intertoto. I think this is our best four options for Europe at the moment. All the teams are top of the table teams. What do you think about our chances for the season in Europe next year. I know its a mile off but I think we are set up well? With Cork winning the league and Drogs the cup, its two regions that will now hopefully get even bigger crowds and profile.

[thejollyrodger]

the only complaint is Shelbourne in the inter to to . UEFA Cup would be a lot fairer

[Gareth]

Unfortunately we didn't get ourselves into a position to merit a UEFA spot but hey e have another season to gve it a go.

[Speranza]

the only complaint is Shelbourne in the inter to to . UEFA Cup would be a lot fairer

A lot fairer? What would you do, throw us or Drogs out to allow $hels who don't deserve the spot as they haven't qualified?

[Gareth]

Speranza, Derry earned their position and so did Drogs. I am not sure what was meant by a lot fairer.

[superfrank]

I agree Gareth, our four best teams in Europe.

[Speranza]

Fair enough. Our four best teams are in Europe. Nothing stopping $hels going very far in the inter-toto. Our team are really young and most have never played in Europe before, I just hope we can get through at least one round.

I just want us to win the Setanta more than anything next year. Payback time for us against the I.F.A. Can't wait.

[thejollyrodger]

We'll see lads... It could go belly up for Derry or Drogs. Shelbourne FC have proven themselves in Europe.

[Speranza]

But we are a better team. The league table doesn't lie therefore we are better equipped for the UEFA.

[pineapple stu]

Shels and Cork will do well - hopefully building on the last couple of years. Stephen Kenny has turned Derry into a great team and they should get past a round with an any way decent draw. Drogheda haven't impressed me at all this season - with a full-time team, they should be doing a lot better than 26 points off the champions. I can see a first-round exit for them. Still, if we can match last season's exploits - which didn't even equate to all three teams winning both their first round ties and losing both their second round ties - we'll be doing very well.


the only complaint is Shelbourne in the inter to to . UEFA Cup would be a lot fairer
What a remarkably stupid comment. You sound like a Cork fan...

Edit- In fact, that's probably unfair to Cork fans...

[Poor Student]

Am I right in thinking that the Inter Toto will be restructured to put 11 teams into the 2nd qualifying round of the UEFA Cup now and that there will only be three rounds? I'd have faith in Shels to have a chance of causing an upset or two and doing this if they can carry on recent form.

I expect Derry to make it to the 2nd qualifying round and possibly Drogs. I don't expect them to make it any further but wouldn't be surprised to see Derry go a round further.

I also expect Cork to go to the 2nd qualifying round of the CL but think they probably won't make it any further, would love to see them hit the safety net of the third round though.

I think all we can realistically hope for is that all sides negotiate their first rounds and hopefully one of the bunch cause a further upset.

[pineapple stu]

Incidentally, where are Drogheda going to play their UEFA Cup games? Tolka?

[higgins]

Best 4 teams in Europe but the Intertoto doesnt count for anything so really we have our 1st 2nd and 4th best in europe.

I dont think Drogheda are up to much but then I didnt see the Cup Final. Maybe after a year of up's and down's they are ready to do something but they will be unseeded and I wouldnt hold out much hope of them going through.

Derry I dont know what to make of. Every week during the season I was expecting them to start falling down the table and it never happened. On paper they dont appear too strong and I dont think they will repeat this years form unless they add a couple of players so it all depends on how they go from here.

Cork are in the champions league which is a different story to the UEFA in the early rounds. You can get very unlucky in the draw so its too hard to predict. If they can avoid 2 or 3 teams then they should win one round. I cant see them getting past any of the second round teams unless they draw a near bottom seed.

[thejollyrodger]

if i were a betting man i would only put money on

CCFC to do well IF they get a 1/2 decent draw.

Shels to get to the 2nd or 3rd round of the most meaningless competition.

Derry scrape into 2nd round.

Drogs are a total unknow quality. 1 draw and 1 lose. Out in the 1st round

[Roverstillidie]

if i were a betting man i would only put money on

CCFC to do well IF they get a 1/2 decent draw.

Shels to get to the 2nd or 3rd round of the most meaningless competition.

Derry scrape into 2nd round.

Drogs are a total unknow quality. 1 draw and 1 lose. Out in the 1st round

hold on, shels have had one good season in europe EVER.

cork had a great intertoto run and the next season a very credible UEFA one.

how are they less well equipped than shels?

more ****e form olly's stable.

[Speranza]

On paper they dont appear too strong and I dont think they will repeat this years form unless they add a couple of players so it all depends on how they go from here.

Once again we are under-rated. The reason we did and will do so well is because what you precieve to "not looking strong on paper" is just our squad being hard work and youthful not ****ing prima-dona fairies a la $hels and Cork.

2-0, 2-1, 2-1 That's how we beat you three times this season. We drew once so run along with your idea of us having a fluke season.

[Gareth]

hold on, shels have had one good season in europe EVER.

cork had a great intertoto run and the next season a very credible UEFA one.

how are they less well equipped than shels?

more ****e form olly's stable.

I did comment on the original comment being silly. Being a Shels fan which clearly is your idea of being in Ollies Stable, you should really take a balanced view from the fans and not just one and then tar us all? As a Rovers fan, I'd have expected you to be sick of people doing that to you?

[thejollyrodger]

At the end of the day, Derry have no record in Europe, either have Drogs. I just pray for the 1.666. To be honest it could be 0.666

What are you on about Roverstillidie , what will you be doing next season when were playin in the inter to bob :D :D :D

[sfc red]

Thejollyrodger, please stop posting on this topic, you are making all Shels fans out to be as thick as you.
I wholeheartedly agree that Cork City are the team most equipped to do well in Europe this season. Their approach to European games is very admirable IMO as they play them like any other EL game, going out to attack the opposition and try to win the game.
Shels on the other hand are dire to watch in Europe as Fenlon continuously employs a stupid4-5-1 in the hope of merely keeping the score down which is why we didn't do ourselves justice against Steaua, Lille etc.

[sligoman]

At the end of the day, Derry have no record in Europe, either have Drogs.At the end of the day, records stand for nothing! You can have a poor season and there is nothing to suggest that Shels, Cork, Derry or Drogs will or wont do well next season, simple as that.

[EnDai]

At the end of the day everyone should stop listening to thejollyrodger! :) I think 99.99999% of Shels fans would genuinely disagree with his off-the-cuff remarks!

[sligoman]

I think 99.99999% of Shels fans would genuinely disagree with his off-the-cuff remarks!Good, ye were starting to sound like the Cork fans there for a sec:D.

[EnDai]

We couldn't have that now, could we?! ;)

[dancinpants]

At the end of the day, records stand for nothing! You can have a poor season and there is nothing to suggest that Shels, Cork, Derry or Drogs will or wont do well next season, simple as that.

What that man said. Well said that man!!!!

[Gareth]

I think after one whole page of response we can safely say the original comment has got zero other shels fans support. Now can it be considered an indiviuals thought rather than a shels fans stance :)

[Dazzy]

If Derry did have a record in Europe it wouldnt matter, We have a young team and most of them havent played in Europe! We need to experienced players to be brought in and then a few younger talents and we'll be doing well in Europe!

[Schumi]

Does anyone know who's likely to be seeded? I'dguess that Cork and Shels will be (for what it's worth in the InterToto) and Drogs and Derry won't be. Anyone know for sure?

[OneRedArmy]

Derry will be unseeded in the UEFA Cup & their chances will largely depend on the draw.

We have no recent European form of note and most of our players have little or no European experience, but I think its a given that Kenny will have the team better prepared for Europe than ever before (ie we won't be playing a high profile friendly 2 nights before the away leg this time).

Cork and Shels have upped the level of expectation and I would like to think we could get through one round. Anything else would be a huge bonus.

I wouldn't write Drogheda off either. If they continue to throw the cash around like they have been doing they could be a formidable team.

[MrJoeSoap]

I think 99.99999% of Shels fans

Hehehe, surprised no-one has used this as a chance to slag us yet! :D

[dcfcsteve]

I'm nervous about how we'll do in Europe, but if there's one man in the League who I trust to approach it in the right way it's Kenny.

As ORA suggested, we effectively need to get 3 results to get through the first round - with the most important result being the draw for our UEFA opponents. Give us a Welsh, Norn Irish or possibly even a Scottish club, and I think we'll be alright.

I expect Cork and Shels to both do us proud in Europe next year. Particularly Shels, as they'd be our strongest Inter-Toto entrants for years.

Drogheda are a completey unknown quantity in Europe, but I'm not expecting much from them. Their football is u-g-l-y, and they ain't got no alibi (just an FAI Cup for it... :eek: :) )

[pineapple stu]

Does anyone know who's likely to be seeded? I'dguess that Cork and Shels will be (for what it's worth in the InterToto) and Drogs and Derry won't be. Anyone know for sure?
Cork - no. Shels were only seeded because of their draw against Lille, and Cork have no club points.

Shels - very hard to tell. I saw somewhere the seedings for last year's InterToto and Bohs were ranked in the lower top-half of the clubs, but for some reason, some of the lower top-half and upper bottom-half teams were switched. I've no idea how the seeding in that competition works.

Derry and Drogs - possibly not. Longford and Cork were border line last season - Longford seeded and Cork not - and we've dropped two places in Europe this season.


At the end of the day, records stand for nothing! You can have a poor season and there is nothing to suggest that Shels, Cork, Derry or Drogs will or wont do well next season, simple as that.
Don't agree fully. Yes, it's irrelevant that Drogheda's only previous European campaign resulted in the single heaviest two-leg defeat ever suffered by an Irish team. However, you can look at how far off the pace Drogs were this season despite a full-time squad, how they don't have Cork's or Shels' European experience, how Doolin's got a poor record in the transfer market and giving him another E100k isn't going to transform the team and reasonably conclude that they are the weakest of the four teams and the ones least likely to progress.

[thejollyrodger]

At the end of the day, records stand for nothing! You can have a poor season and there is nothing to suggest that Shels, Cork, Derry or Drogs will or wont do well next season, simple as that.

At the end of the day Drogs have it all to prove. Its as simple as that. Shelbourne were really firing on all cylinders for a few seasons there and the results in europe werent a massive shock.

[thejollyrodger]

At the end of the day everyone should stop listening to thejollyrodger! :) I think 99.99999% of Shels fans would genuinely disagree with his off-the-cuff remarks!

WEll all im saying is that Drogs and Derry have it all to prove next year and I wouldnt be getting carried away.

As for George O callagahan. I wasnt particlularly impressed by his comments about shels and I dont really care what you agree with EnDai

[EnDai]

Thats good. I don't care that you don't care! :rolleyes:

[higgins]

Does anyone know who's likely to be seeded? I'dguess that Cork and Shels will be (for what it's worth in the InterToto) and Drogs and Derry won't be. Anyone know for sure?

No Irish team will be seeded...
That was the point I was trying to make a few months ago when there was so much crap like "I hope shels get thumped" "I hate those Cork ...bla bla". A rise in tide lifts all boats and sadly the tide didnt go up too far but we have a very good base now so olets hope all three teams can grab some more points.

As for Derry getting a Welsh, Northern Irish, or Scottish team !! :confused:

You are unseeded along with Wales and Northern Ireland so dont have a hope of getting them and Scotland wont be in the 1st Qualifying Round of the UEFA Cup for another couple of seasons :)

Actually you can see some possible teams you may face already in leagues that have finished.

[monkey magic]

so realsitically, what are we sayin here? what will it take to bring our co-efficient up?

the only realistic scenario i can see is cork, drogs, and derry getting through one round of their compettions, and shels, with a bit of luck having a decent run in the inter-toto, maybe two or three rounds...

what would it take to move us up a few places in the rankings?

[EnDai]

Nevermind getting through rounds, games have to be won.

[monkey magic]

is that how it works?

[lefty]

New inter toto sounds like a load of bolox. 3 rounds and your in the 2nd qualifying round uefa cup. That means that there are going to be a lot more good teams in the second qualifying round

[hoopy]

Shels on the other hand are dire to watch in Europe as Fenlon continuously employs a stupid4-5-1 in the hope of merely keeping the score down which is why we didn't do ourselves justice against Steaua, Lille etc.

Very honest and well said. Pity a lot of your other fans are blinkered to this fact

[monkey magic]

in fairness, from uefa's point of view that makes sense, ur hardly suggesting they should lower the standard of compettion so irish teams would have a better chance...

[EnDai]

Very honest and well said. Pity a lot of your other fans are blinkered to this fact
I think most people will agree with what he said, its painfully obvious and to suggest otherwise would be moronic. Hopefully this year with nothing to lose/gain so to speak, we'll utilise our preferred 4-4-2.

[pineapple stu]

What will it take to bring our co-efficient up?
We're dropping 0.666 next year. So anything over that will bring our coefficient up. It'll depend on what other countries get as well, obviously, but if the results are the exact same as last year, we'd move up to 37th. We'd then have our two worst years in ages to drop - 0.166 and 0.333 with a very good chance of solidifying our first round seeded status for many years to come and work towards the next stage, which would be a bye to round 2. That's optimistic, obviously, but that's where we stand.

[pete]

City & Shels are clearly the best equiped to perform in Europe due to their experience of recent years. Derry & Drogs qualified for their Uefa spots but i feel Inter Toto is best route to give new teams experience.

I believe now that every team in Europe is expected to progress to the 2nd qualifying round. I don't care for excuses or moral victories. The eL expects the 2nd round & anything less is failure.

I am not optimistic about Derry & especially Drogs performances.

Every a relatively poor set of results such as :

Derry - 1 win, 1 loss
Drogs - 1 win, 1 loss
City - 1 win 1 draw 2 loses.
Shels don't matter as no ranking points.

would mean 1.166 ranking points.

I haven't check the seedings fully but i believe Cork City could get Ekranes & Djungardens in CL round 1 & 2 next season.

[sfc red]

Hopefully this year with nothing to lose/gain so to speak, we'll utilise our preferred 4-4-2.


Wouldn't be too optimistic about that at all. Still feel that CCFC are by far the most equipped to progress in Europe with the way they play football regardless of opposition

[SPXcyan]

Yes your right..ccfc are well equiped and we all expect them to progress a round or 2 nowadays which is great to hear:D I do think Shels can get threw 2 rounds of inter toto cup.. I have to say..I think Derry are a good enough side to get through 1 round at least.. but not Drogheda:eek:

Overall.. I think the el clubs will do well in next years European competition:D

[Bluebeard]

I wouldn't write-off the Drogs at all. A lot of the players have a fair amount of European experience, money is being spent, and that number of experienced players will only expand over the close season. They are in the top four teams in the league (tempted to say island, but never mind for now). The one thing that they don't have going for them is their manager's inexperience in managing in Europe, but that might change yet;)

[pineapple stu]

A lot of the players have a fair amount of European experience
Who? Gartland, Webb, Lynch, Riistila (?) They don't have much experience at all really.

money is being spent
Yeah, on very average players like Damien Lynch, Mark Rooney, Glen Fitzpatrick... Doolin's record in the transfer market is woeful, and I wouldn't expect that to change over the winter.

They are in the top four teams in the league (tempted to say island, but never mind for now).
I would doubt they are one of the top four teams on the island when you consider Linfield won the Setanta. The fact remains they were 26 points off the top - and 19 off third - and even fourth was only secured with a late run of form. They're no better than Longford over the last couple of years. Except Longford do have European experience...

[diamond]

im glad someone is not writing off the drogs. we have plenty of players with european experience. not at our club obviously but at others at players that layed at a decent level abroad.
the drogheda team you all predicted would be walked all over by cork on sunday didnt show up and i expect the same to happen in europe. doolin will have money to spend and i think that the idea that he is no good in the transfer market is unfair
lynch
webb
gartland
whelan
bradley
sami ristela
all good signings and could all do a job in europe
add hunt and jason byrne and we might do alright. thats the rumour anyway!!
i'd say shels will do well and with the rest its the luck of the draw.
the setanta will be the most interesting competition coz one of the irish teams will win it this year.
feel our league is stronger this year. european spots to four best teams at least so anything can happen

[diamond]

cop on stu with your "i hate doolin" propaganda
anyone can see through your sh**e