LOI in Europe 2022

[EatYerGreens]

We’re running out of winnable games and with Rovers and Pats away after this I suppose we have to look at tomorrows game as one,can’t see us get anything though,we’re just not good enough….

There's obviously never a good time for a team to be performing badly. But with the fundraiser for the stadium, Harps could obviously have really done with a better vibe/results around the place

[paul_oshea]

Or in terms of picking up a few points?

Hard one to call. There's a bit more cash on offer in the EL, but being realistic, you would expect to lose every game.
The ECL would more likely have a team in the group you could expect to take points off. Still not enough to qualify out of the group, mind.

By way of comparison, Ludogorets got two points in last year's EL group stage. The lowest third placed team had six points.

wouldnt a laddered affect be better? Build on something, get the experience and learn from it and use it for the following year. Steady increments. Building up co-effs.

I don't think theres any point any Irish team going into a group where the goal or aim is to limit the number of goals scored against them, which is what the EL would realistically be.

[pateen]

Are you trying to work out which group will be easier to qualify from?

I don't think it's pessimistic to suggest that's getting way ahead of yourself

I'm asking the same question, in terms of winable games and prize money?

[pineapple stu]

I'm asking the same question, in terms of winable games and prize money?

That's certainly a more reasonable question.

I can't find this year's prize money online for some reason; maybe someone else can?

Last year (when the ECL was also about), EL group stage qualification was €3.63m, and each point was €210k (here). The Conference League seems to be €2.94m for the group stages, and €167k per point (here).

So let's say they get to EL groups and get one point - that's €3.84m. Five points in the ECL is worth €3.77m - so you'd be looking at 5/6 ECL points as being equal to 1 EL point, purely in terms of prize money. And ignoring extra gate receipts which you might get in the EL from presumably higher-profile opponents.

[brendy_éire]

wouldnt a laddered affect be better? Build on something, get the experience and learn from it and use it for the following year. Steady increments. Building up co-effs.

I don't think theres any point any Irish team going into a group where the goal or aim is to limit the number of goals scored against them, which is what the EL would realistically be.

Wouldn't be great, I agree. Though to extend that argument, are Rovers best ensuring that they lose tonight? Very much head over heart stuff, if so.

[sbgawa]

That's certainly a more reasonable question.

I can't find this year's prize money online for some reason; maybe someone else can?

Last year (when the ECL was also about), EL group stage qualification was €3.63m, and each point was €210k (here). The Conference League seems to be €2.94m for the group stages, and €167k per point (here).

So let's say they get to EL groups and get one point - that's €3.84m. Five points in the ECL is worth €3.77m - so you'd be looking at 5/6 ECL points as being equal to 1 EL point, purely in terms of prize money. And ignoring extra gate receipts which you might get in the EL from presumably higher-profile opponents.

The other reason why conference league could be better result is two wins and a draw in Conference league would equate to 5 extra coefficient points for Rovers giving us a club coefficient next year of 14 which would almost be enough to be seeded in the second round Champions league next year. (assuming you won the first round).

On balance i think other than the potential for a money spinning game against Man Utd or Arsenal (1 in 4 chance) in EL or West ham 1 in 8 chance in Conference which could be worth a chunk of change while having the revolting sight of Irish people coming to cheer against an Irish team the Conference is better for Rovers.

I'm never going to be able to wish Rovers lose so im basically ambivalent tonight

[sbgawa]

Team announced 5:30 pm kick off
Manus
Lyons, Grace, Cleary, Hoare, Gannon.
Kavanagh, o Neill, Watts
Gaffney, Greene

The bench shows our problem over the next 11 weeks...
8 players with only Byrne (injured) and Towell and Farrugia that could be called senior Pros.
Would love to see Michael Leddy come on, been watching him since under 13s for Rovers, i could be wrong but i think he has been top scorer at every age group for us since then...think he's 17 now. Time for some of the kids to show what they can do maybe

[paul_oshea]

Wouldn't be great, I agree. Though to extend that argument, are Rovers best ensuring that they lose tonight? Very much head over heart stuff, if so.

Maybe not tonight, but I think so overall, but if they beat them over the two legs then they'll have justified their place.

[paul_oshea]

That's certainly a more reasonable question.

I can't find this year's prize money online for some reason; maybe someone else can?

Last year (when the ECL was also about), EL group stage qualification was €3.63m, and each point was €210k (here). The Conference League seems to be €2.94m for the group stages, and €167k per point (here).

So let's say they get to EL groups and get one point - that's €3.84m. Five points in the ECL is worth €3.77m - so you'd be looking at 5/6 ECL points as being equal to 1 EL point, purely in terms of prize money. And ignoring extra gate receipts which you might get in the EL from presumably higher-profile opponents.

So what youre saying is, if you get to the group stage and you dont win a game it actually costs you money. And each game effectively costing you a lot of money.

[paul_oshea]

On balance i think other than the potential for a money spinning game against Man Utd or Arsenal (1 in 4 chance) in EL or West ham 1 in 8 chance in Conference which could be worth a chunk of change while having the revolting sight of Irish people coming to cheer against an Irish team the Conference is better for Rovers.

I really dont think West Ham would be a big draw, and moving it to the aviva wouldnt really make much sense to get well beaten and only a few thousand more.

[pineapple stu]

So what youre saying is, if you get to the group stage and you dont win a game it actually costs you money. And each game effectively costing you a lot of money.

No? If you get to the EL groups and lose all your games, that's still better than getting four points in the ECL, which is far from a gimme, even if Rovers are third seeds.

It's effectively win-win for Rovers at this stage.

The bench shows our problem over the next 11 weeks...
8 players with only Byrne (injured) and Towell and Farrugia that could be called senior Pros.

Any sign of Simon Power as yet?

[yurt]

I really dont think West Ham would be a big draw, and moving it to the aviva wouldnt really make much sense to get well beaten and only a few thousand more.

I think the West Ham fans alone would come close to selling out the Aviva (minor hyperbole). An away European tie in Dublin is something I'd imagine would be appealing to 10s of 1000s of Londoners.

If Rovers do make the EL I would see each of their 3 group games getting 30k+. I think they'd be similar events in terms of profile to the cup final .

[paul_oshea]

Nice to see an Irish team playing a game that has a feel to it like a big European Wednesday or Thursday night game.

[paul_oshea]

No? If you get to the EL groups and lose all your games, that's still better than getting four points in the ECL, which is far from a gimme, even if Rovers are third seeds.

It's effectively win-win for Rovers at this stage.


Any sign of Simon Power as yet?

No that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying the costs of going to each venue and playing is costing them money

[paul_oshea]

I think the West Ham fans alone would come close to selling out the Aviva (minor hyperbole). An away European tie in Dublin is something I'd imagine would be appealing to 10s of 1000s of Londoners.

If Rovers do make the EL I would see each of their 3 group games getting 30k+. I think they'd be similar events in terms of profile to the cup final .

Ya hadn't factored in more than 5k west ham fans. You might be right but spurs brought few over that time back. They hadn't much interest.

30k to me seems like an awful lot for EcL games