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A great night to be a Pats fan. Really professional, controlled performance, and lovely to get the win. I know we got the breaks in the tie, with them having a man sent off in both legs, but even at 11 v 11 we were more than holding our own. Dreaming of the group stages now ! Probably not likely, but you never know.
Glad to hear from those "in the know" that Rovers will "break even" this season - I best put the Bollinger back in the fridge eh!!.
The 1st page of this thread mentions about possible teams Rovers could face in 1st round of ECL, and Celje were marked as one to avoid- I can now quite confidently outline to all and sundry on here that Celje were absolutely woeful,and I mean WOEFUL!
You just never know with European football these days, there's no certainties about any team you may face.
Drogs last Sunday were better organised than them ,and despite Rovers best efforts to make a sows ear from a silk purse we just about managed it and ensured football till Christmas. Thanks to all for their kind words,for Rovers fans like me it was painful to watch at times.
Anyone know the times of flights to farranfore on Sunday?
I think the euphoria is going to your head. Celje rightly beat you last week and could have easily put you out tonight. You needed a LOI-worthy howler from their keeper and plenty of last ditch blocks and saves to go through.Quote:
Originally Posted by placid casual
You must have been asleep in your metaphysics lectures philosophizer.
How would they rate on the Breidablik scale?Quote:
Originally Posted by placid casual
Slightly better, but not by much Nesta ,they really were that poor.
Rovers were very, very average tonight but got the job done,just about:)
I think Rovers were good tonight Clarke and Hoonahan missed gilt edged chances and the rovers goal ruled out for offside was marginal. Celje were good I think they were smelling themselves a bit and expecting to win. A great night and at least 8 more games a d football up to Christmas week
Sums up the last 4 years of LoI quite well too and I dont mean that in a snide way, you only have to be as good as you need to be. Rovers, imo, have been more like what would be expected in Europe this season, last tie in particular. Playing less withing themselves, is it a coincidence that they have been under pressure domestically properly for the first time in the last few? Genuine question. Reading Celje prematch comments they sounded more arrogant than auld bluster, nice to burst a bubble! It shouldnt be a thing but its good to benefit from a clanger in Europe than the usual self inflicted -1 goal handicap.Quote:
Originally Posted by placid casual
You’ve been good in Europe this year. Mixed it up when needed and kept it tight when you needed. The proverbial free hit against PAOK but as seen this week, the Greeks are beatable.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
Just a correction here; 33rd is the place that's enough for the cup winner to go into the Europa League, so we're already where we need to be at it stands. And that's regardless of Russia remaining suspended.Quote:
Originally Posted by yurt
https://rankinguefa.pl/wp-content/up...st-2024-25.pdf
5th and 7th going well in Europe. If they miss out on Europe, are any of the others likely to have an impact on Europe?
Derry are obviously hurting after an embarrassing exit. Shels had a tough draw in Q2.
I watched both games and I'm struggling to recall two better results on the same night for our clubs in recent memory.
St Pat's defended well and were solid and played the circumstances very well. Anang would give you a heart attack though. I watched an hour of the Basaksehir match between the two games and unfortunately they do look a level above. Hopefully they're still in the tie after the first leg and send the kids to Oriel Park next Sunday.
Rovers really dominated the match, had much the better chances and the game really shouldn't have went to extra time. Funny that Rovers also played PAOK after getting to the EL group stages in their 2011 campaign (things coming full circle).
Galway, Waterford and Shelbourne of the likely European qualifiers would very likely be unseeded next year. Could still get lenient enough draws if they play teams from weak nations who are in Europe every year, which I think is what happened to Shelbourne this time around and Pat's being unseeded v Vaduz was about as good a draw as they could have hoped for. Could be far worse in the CL where Rovers and before them Dundalk are often seeded in rnd 1, it probably won't be ideal from a coefficient perspective if all 3 make it.Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
Strictly from a coefficient/seeding perspective, Rovers,Pats,Derry and then probably Dundalk/Sligo/Bohs could all be seeded in 1st rounds, but only Rovers in the CL, anyone else will be unseeded next year probably?
Rovers would also be seeded in ECL Rnd 2. Rnd 3 is probably a stretch, I doubt anyone else would be close. Pat's will make a big jump in their rankings, but probably still only enough to guarantee ECL Rnd 1 seeding, and them making Europe next year is a stretch. Looks like they've turned a corner and play Drogheda/Dundalk next in the league. How they handle the next fortnight will be massive.
There are a lot more lenient draws than a decade ago because of the Conference League. With so many added teams, there is a dilution of standard, which is great for us.
Fantastic results for Rovers and Pats. Really, our league Champions should be expected to get to the group stages every year. Hopefully, with how the league is growing , two teams qualifying is not beyond a possibility that we might see. Would love to see some big scalps too, at least to keep those fawning over the early 2000s quiet.
On a side note, Russia is ahead of us in the rankings. The longer they are out, the more forgotten they are, the harder it is for them to rejoin. Just can't see them ever returning in the current Russian form. No loss to European football - but still an usual situation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa
Interesting point and the longer they are out the lower their 5 year coefficient becomes which wont help them although could make their teams dangerous unseeded teams
It's doubtful that Russia, a European country, will ever return to European football given the current situation. Meanwhile a Middle Eastern country, Israel, is allowed to compete in UEFA comptetions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa
The mind boggles indeed.
You might have to rename the thread Stu
Assuming we lose to PAOK the Conference time table is
October 3rd, 24th, November 7th, 28th, December 12, 19th
Then the top 24 out of 36 play in 2025.
Top 8 directly through to "round of 16" and the next 16 play off for a spot in the last 16 on the 13th and 20th Feb
Last 16 round is the 6th and 13th March.
It would be realistic to hope to finish in top 24 of 36 in Conference.
In the event we beat PAOK unlikely i know but the League phase of Europa gos all the way through to 30th Jan.
Looks like No off season or a very limited one for Rovers one way or the other.
Ineteresting to see how that plays out
Given the fact that we (Waterford) haven't played European football since the 1986-87 ECWC, we will take any round as long as we are back in Europe. Although the priority for us this season is survival, Keith Long has been doing an impressive job. Our best hope for European football still remains via the FAI Cup. Just can't see us finishing higher than 5th.Quote:
Originally Posted by Acornvilla
Which is better for Rovers in your opinion? Conference or Europa League?Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
The qualifiers are fraught with danger. Group stage football at least every two years for the champions is probably more realistic. The league needs to be at a level where at least two clubs are getting to the playoffs consistently. Often for the non champions we've seen a Q1 exit, a Q2 exiQuote:
Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa