Are Shamrock Rovers over bothered about making the Europa League over the Conference League? A few years back at the EL playoff stage, they didn't seem over concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
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Are Shamrock Rovers over bothered about making the Europa League over the Conference League? A few years back at the EL playoff stage, they didn't seem over concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Ouchie. That might be the toughest tie as well as the least attractive financially?Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
Pyunik won their tie with a very late goal in the 2nd leg against Struga, after losing the 1st leg.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
Ordabasy won on penalties vs Differdange. They also lost first leg away in Luxembourg. Seen the highlights of that game and they looked ordinary enough.
Pyunik well beaten by Slovan 6-3 in CLQ1. Ordabasy lost 1-0 agg to Petrocub.
Both clubs would be another bit down from Celje but if I was picking one to face I’d be leaning towards Pyunik.
Either Iberia Tbilisi or Istabul Basaksehir if Pats can manage to beat Sabah. Another long trip if they do it. Almost certain to be Turkey, you'd think.
I personally thought 3 of the ties were tougher. Petrocub, Ballkani and HJK in that order. Unless of course the non-seeded sides win but unlikely. Petrocub of all the unseeded sides in CLQ2 did the best and ran APOEL very close. Ballkani and HJK despite surprise losses in CLQ1 have decent European pedigree and plenty of recent group stage experience. The easiest one on paper was probably Vikingur or Flora and maybe more so if the Estonians win that tie.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Could have been a lot worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
I actually forgot that you would draw the loser of Petrocub and TNS. That really was the one to get then.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
The set-up of the Conference League draw means that Vikingur need to win 2 more ties vs Estonian and probably Andorran opposition to make the group stage, while Rovers while having two bites of the cherry have Celje and either Pyunik or Ordabasy.
Is there not more money in the EL route?Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
€700k more for getting to Europa League group stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
€130k extra for winning a match in EL group stage versus ECL
€50k extra for a draw in EL group stage
It's an interesting question.
You get 700k more for qualifying but uou very probably got more of a chance of a win and extra money in the conference. Tbh we need groups of any description
Finish 3rd in the Europa League group and you get into ECL knockout round.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
That's not the case anymore. With the change in format to a single league there's no backdoor into the Conference League. There's two extra games in the Europa League version compared to the Conference now so that's extra revenue for whoever gets there.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Maybe with the new format a LOI club could conceivably get a result or two in the Europa league, where as before they'd be bottom seed only and playing some pretty strong clubs. For that reason I'd lean conference league, but we'll need to actually see the new format play out first and see
Well at €130k extra per win, and €700k more just for qualifying, you'd have to be doing extremely well in the Conference Group stages to be better off financially than in the Europa groups. Which seems extremely unlikely for Irish clubs.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
I'd say ye should ask a mechanic to take a look at that bus there BendyQuote:
Originally Posted by brendy_éire
Kenny has always been a whinger this isnjust par for the course for him. Galway are 100% right to say no. Pats are a potential rival for a European place. This level of whinging from Kenny shows he is under pressure to make Europe. Not sacking type pressure but just living up to expectations of owner type pressure
Not so sure about the schedules in USA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
For NFL at least, the regular season consists of just 17 games. Thereafter those teams which make the play-offs play 3 more games (max) to make the Superbowl. And remember, with all the stoppages etc, it generally takes them 3 hours to complete a 60 minute game (good for sales of beer and hotdogs, mind!) While I'm not aware of any equivalent to Cup games, whether domestic or Continental. Plus the teams are divided geographically into two Conferences.
Major League Baseball teams do play tons of matches, but there's nowhere near the same physical demands on them. Ditto Basketball (obv).
The NHL guys do play loads of games, mind - it's a helluva tough game, but I'm not sure how they cope?
Meanwhile, I can't comment on the demands which GAA games make on their participants, but Rugby, while an incredibly tough sport, is not quite as you describe it (imo). For one thing, they aren't actually "crashing into each other full pelt for 80 minutes" - what with all the scrums, lineouts and restarts etc, the ball is only actually in play for around half that time (Or 38 minutes in the English Premiership last season, to be precise). And that actuallyrepresents an increase in recent years - in the 1995 World Cup, it was just under 26 minutes!
Then add in the ever increasing use of substitutes, which must relieve the burden on struggling players.
Again, can't comment on LOI players, but Football everywhere, and esp so at the higher levels, requires ever higher levels of fitness if players are to perform to their maximum over the course of a season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
Granted you don't get the same physical contact, but the ball is in play for much longer on average, the distances being covered are getting ever longer, while crucially, there are more high intensity sprints than ever before. This last makes them ever more prone to injury, esp in the latter stages of games, so that even if a player is physically "fit" to play the next game, very often he's carrying minor knocks and strains into each game.
Which is not to feel "sorry" for them - most players can physically cope with 50+ games a season, but it is impossible to maintain optimum fitness and sharpness over that period - esp when the off-season break is getting ever shorter.
I'll be disappointed if Kerry ever agree to postponing a game to suit a club in Europe. The positive for clubs in Europe is the potential for making big money. The flip side is they still have domestic responsibilities and must use their squads. If that works in favour of their domestic rivals, so be it. Extra games are part and parcel of being successful.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
Clubs playing Tuesday - Tuesday in Europe should be able to play domestically on Friday. Saturday if Wednesday - Wednesday and Sunday if Thursday - Thursday. If a situation ever arises where a club has to play in Europe on Wednesday - Tuesday, a postponement should be automatically arranged where the gap between European games is less than seven days.
Projected Pots for Conference League. Rovers no longer included. Has Celje and Pyunik in Pots 6 and 4. Lot of bridges to cross yet and it changes constantly over time.
Be some group stage for Rovers to make because they were always projected to be in Pot 4 but they could even scrape Pot 3 if they make it.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GUPQUw0W...jpg&name=large
Rovers have drawn a stinker, there's no 2 ways about it. The less difficult way forward is to go all out and beat Celje, ditch the ultra defensive away inferiority complex, the alternative loser conference play off tie looks to be between a rock and a hard place.
On Vikingur Reykjavik's draw v Flora (who were trashed by Celje), the winner likely plays an Andorran side in the play off , that draw couldn't have been bought for Eur2m.
Not saying VR will prevail v Flora.
I had a look over the first round Conference qualifiers and noted that more lower seeded teams that played at home first, prevailed over those that were higher seeded in the draw. It's not a scientific evaluation not least because there are many different factors involved into why a lower seed might prevail in a tie other than travel related, nevertheless it's a curiosity.
Looks like we might have been better off if they had scored that Peno in Tallaght after all.
They play Flora a team beaten 5 nil by the team we have to play and then have Andoran opposition to make Groups while we have to fly to the ends of the earth .....if it wasnt for bad luck we wouldnt have any luck at all
I was thinking of NHL mainly, the better hald being Canadian Iv little choice. I was being a tad basic on my rugby description but I wont be convinced that the toll taken due to the physicality of thats sport is not greater than soccer irresepctive of ball in play times. I take the point on subs ut thats a more recent development. LoI and the British type game is faster and more physical than many other leagues but intensity differs albeit the high press of todays game does make a difference compared to the possession based slow build of say Italian football past and the same arguments on scheduling were made. Recent Euros a lot of made of English fatigue yet player for player they had less minutes than 4 or 5 other countries. You could look at tennis, cycling tours et where day after day the participants are dealing with high loads. Anyway I think too much is made of the issue - if the argument was more about preparing tactically than recovery, Id have a greater acceptance.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
For what it's worth, Rovers wouldn't have drawn Flora in the 3rd qualifying round of the Conference League, as Rovers would have been seeded. In an alternative universe, they'd have been able to draw one of these four;
FC Ballkani
Decic Tuzi
Larne
Ordabasy Shymkent
They might still have had to face Ordabasy Shymkent in both timelines... #Destiny
Just to expand a little - the NFL play 17 regular season games over 18 weeks (each team has a bye-week) and can play up to four games in the play-offs (if you have to play in wild-card weekend). The also play 4-5 pre-season games but the regular starters usually only play about 1 1/2 to 2 of those games. There is constant conflict between the NFL team owners and the NFL players union over the number of games played - because of the high volume of serious injuries that occur in the NFL - it is by far the most physical team sport in the world (much more physical than rugby because of the explosive power of the players in the NFL - rugby is more of a grinding game based on endurance - only a handful of rugby players have ever made an NFL roster and they haven't lasted long).Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
The NHL plays 82 regular season games plus play-offs - and while fast and there are fights, its not in any way as physical as the NFL. The NBA is actually quite physical and the injuries in the NBA come second to the NFL - the NBA also has 82 regular season games. The MLB has 162 regular season games played over six months - it is quite a laid back sport with pitchers suffering more injuries than other players.
IMO the GAA makes way too many demands on their players - while amateurs, the are effectively training as professionals. Furthermore, the GAA is increasing the number of games being played for TV money. I think what the GAA are doing at the moment is unsustainable - something will have to give at some stage.
Ealing is correct about the changing nature of soccer - current players have to be a lot fitter than players 50 years ago - but these days professional footballers have a huge support network around them (particularly the higher up the food chain you go) - trainers, physios, dieticians etc etc and each player has their own personal programme that they must follow. The LOI is at the lower end of the professional ladder and as a result LOI players would not have the same level of back-up support (it is something that LOI clubs should focus far more on) - the less support, the less individualised programmes for players and the more potential for injuries. The increased use of substitutes is a welcome addition that will help players avoid injuries and reduce the risk of exacerbating an injury (the first time subs were allowed was in 1958 and for a couple of decades generally only happened because of injury - two were allowed in 1994, because of PL, and it increased to 3 in 1995 and to 4 in 2016).
The injuries suffered by rugby players are different to those suffered by soccer players - rugby players suffer more injuries and they are generally contact injuries (injuries of the head, neck, shoulder, and upper extremity). In soccer 65% of all injuries are to lower limbs and soccer players tend to have a higher injury rate in training.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
Going back to my complaint about the GAA - GAA players are up to 2.6 times more likely to be injured than soccer players but slightly less than rugby - however GAA players are significantly more likely to be injured in training than rugby players.
Morata & Rodri banned for 'Gibraltar is Spanish' chant, following a complaint by the Gibraltar FAQuote:
Originally Posted by joey B
One game ban (NL vs Serbia next month), for:
"[Leading the chanting] in front of tens of thousands of Spain fans in Cibeles Square, Madrid on 15 July as players celebrated their 2-1 Euro 2024 final victory over England."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/c8xle8e7ngno
I may have missed the reasoning, but I'm surprised that St Pats will be using Tallaght given the change in the UEFA ground criteria regs for Q3 this season. Can anyone explain?
Not sure what's to explain? Richmond doesn't meet the standard but Tallaght does. There's a step-up at the third round, and it catches quite a lot of clubs. UCD had Tallaght booked in 2015, Derry played there last year, Dundalk have played there too.
Yes I understand what happened in previous years, but this season UEFA relaxed the requirements considerably. E.g. Larne are playing their Q3 game at their home ground tomorrow night, and had any other Irish League teams had progressed they too could play at their home venue. In previous years they would have had to use Windsor Park.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I think your general point (relaxation) is correct, but as a Category 2 Stadium, Larne expected to be able to use Inver Park last time round.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Parker
However the artificial pitch, not the stadium generally proved inadequate:
https://larnefc.com/european-home-fixtures-set-to-move/
Iirc, although the pitch was still relatively new, they had overused it so much that it failed the "bounce test" (or somesuch).
Didn’t know they had relaxed the rules this year. In my view they are still way too strict. For instance I don’t see why we couldn’t have used the terraces in Richmond in the last round. It’s a nonsense in my view. I’d much rather be playing this round in Richmond, with the use of the standing areas. Would give us a much better chance of getting a good result. Honestly would love someone to explain the need for these rules at this stage in the competition. OK, if it was the group stages I could understand it, especially if it was a big foreign team involved. It’s difficult enough as it is for our clubs. Our record is not good in Tallaght, so I’m not optimistic about tomorrow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Parker
Pretty horrendous pitch that Rovers will be playing on in Slovenia tomorrow
https://x.com/freewheeler12/status/1...592983234?s=46
How do they always get away with this ****e in Europe.
Jaysus, it's been a while since I saw a pitch that bad.
You are correct as to why Larne could not use their ground last year due to the pitch, but even if their pitch was fit, they could have only used their ground up to Q2 in the Conference League. For Q3 last year, they then would had to go to Windsor Park.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
This year is different. The relaxation meant they, and other clubs, with some minor requirements can now use their stadiums for Q3. Cliftonville, had we got through from Q2 last week, were able to use Solitude for Q3 this week.
Pitch looks awful alright for the Rovers match.
Makes you wonder can Celje be that much of a good footballing team if they let their pitch get into that state.~
Hope Rovers dont do to much playing out from the back tonight based on that pitch, bobble central
Looking into the draw in a bit more detail, and I see that if Larne can beat Ballkani then they'd likely play Lincoln Red Imps in the playoff round.
You'd expect the Gibraltar side to lose against Dinamo Minsk in their Europa League 3rd round tie.
LoI grounds are generally ****e though. I'm presuming there's some uplift between Q2 and Q3 in terms of licensing that's done for Pat'sQuote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Parker
Pyunik won 1-0 away to Ordabasy.