Drawing Manure or the likes will surely mean Aviva. Although it could be a disaster if they're pitted with more obscure teams.
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Drawing Manure or the likes will surely mean Aviva. Although it could be a disaster if they're pitted with more obscure teams.
Gutted for Dundalk, gave it everything, legs were gone with 15 to go, what galls me is the likes of Celtic fall over the line into the group stages given the gulf in resources. Still group stages of the Europa is no bad thing to fall back on. Hopefully they can draw the likes of United in their group.
Legia Warsaw should have had a penalty when it was still 1-0.
So that cancels out the decision given against Dundalk in the Aviva.
Referee was good I thought.
Some ball by McEleney and sublime weighted cross by Horgan in the build up to that overhead kick that went over the bar.
I think Dundalk can be reasonably pleased with the account they gave of themselves; they carved out a few decent chances.
Think they will get some points off the board in the EL unlike Shamrock.
And hopefully more to add come the EL group.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Dundalk were unlucky not to convert a second but did the league proud. I really thought it was on there after Legia got the man sent off. Unfortunately, Dundalk were too tired to really capitalise.
That €7,005,000 that Dundalk are going to take in, will go an awful long way. It's the little extras that really make the difference.
Were the players guaranteed a 6 figure payment of they qualified today?
Oh I was looking at that over the week and seeing who was where. It's an absolute minefield to figure out who are the big guns and who you would like. 22 qualified so far. 26 places still up for grabs between the 5 remaining CL playoffs and 22 el playoff matches left.Quote:
Originally Posted by redarmyfaction
Some tricky away teams to get too. And we certainly will be the team with the lowest coefficient providing partizani Tirana don't overturn a 4 goal 1st leg defeat.
We will pick up points but the league is gone now for this season.
I saw cork at the weekend, your reserves would beat that lot to the title. They are awful. Dundalk will win the titleQuote:
Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite
Fair point re the squad size but how do you keep a squad of around 24 happy when games are trickling by in march and April. Also results could of gone the other way and we could be out at the FH round. (Jesus how long ago that seems )Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
We had them on the racks prior to the sending off but we had nothing left mentally or physically to move the ball and threaten them. Literally ran out of steam
No qualms about the result. Terrific performance and we left it all out there tonight.
Maybe it is an inferiority complex we have against c class European teams like bate and legia. I was fearing both would turn the notches up against us in the 2nd legs. It never happened. Maybe we are not as far off as we think we are. Just possie with a stronger league and if we were in more of those positions we might of been able to dig deep.
But what a team and squad and manager we have. I do lament that we only avg 2500 this year. This team deserves more
Have to say, Legia were the better team over two legs and deserved to go through.
But jaysus - take down that fella in the last minute in Lansdowne and suddenly you don't need to press forward for a late winner; you sit back, take it to extra time and tire the ten men out.
There's a serious amount of passive goodwill amongst the Irish barstool public towards Dundalk; it really does feel like a time to invest in and drive the LoI on. Would be great to see it happen, but...
Oh - and Benson.... :love:
Dunno about that, I followed a link to that Joe.ie tonight and when I was there, clicked on the football tab and of course there was nothing about tonights game, and its places like that Barstoolers consume their football.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
You forgot,Quote:
Originally Posted by redarmyfaction
West Ham United vs Astra Giurgiu
Shaktar Donetsk vs Istanbul Basaksehir
Rapid Wien vs Trencin
Just going by the comments down the pub really. Seriously impressed by Benson's goal, and a fair few taking real interest in the match, though professing they knew bugger all about the league. Of course, a long way to go to turn that into bums on seats, but far from the dismissive attitude you often get.Quote:
Originally Posted by redarmyfaction
I've noticed it a lot more this year. Even more than other high watermark years; 2004, 2011. I mean my Dad has watched some of the matches on his own and he has zero interest in Sport, never mind the LOI. Was talking to me about the 1st leg when we were out on Saturday. I thought I was in some parallel Universe!Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Europa league money will be great for dundalk but won't make them automatic league winners for t ge next few years like champions league money would have. Competitive league and hopefully others stepping up. Good times for the league
Every manager before Kenny (with the possible exception of Baraclough) in the last 15 years has done it though. If anything, the stupidly short season should make it easier to keep a big squad happy. Although it must be said Dundalk have done an incredible job dominating with a small squad.Quote:
Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite
All in all, I think it was a chance missed for Dundalk and it all goes back, as PStu says, to not taking out the Legia lad in injury time last week. Like BATE, they were really rocked tonight and without the injuries and suspensions I think you'd have got the job done. Europa League will be interesting now - you'll definitely put up a better fight than we were able to.
Dundalk's EL group could contain at least two teams better than Legia. I think Legia finished last in their EL group last year with a win and a draw. Dundalk will be doing well to pickup a win and a draw. Rovers didn't get any points.
It has taken 5 years for a champion to get past their first qualifying round and also to make the EL group stage. With the knockout nature of the qualifying rounds, it could be at least another 2 or 3 years before the league's champion get through their first CL qualifying round.
Fantastic effort by Dundalk. Never thought I would see the days when a LOI team was pushing on for a 2 goal away win in Poland in a Champions League qualifier. More than that they looked and played like they believed they were on a level with the teams they've played this year. A win or two in the Europa league would be a massive leap forward for the domestic game and should put one or two of their players in the shake up for the international squad. Sadly it will also mean a few of the team heading across the water but Stephen Kenny deserves huge praise for what he has achieved
There's no reason Dundalk cannot go on and strengthen their squad from here and push for CL group next season. They could well set aside 500k of the money for next seasons playing budget amd have one year to push at it. They'd have to spend wisely though.Quote:
Originally Posted by RiffRaff