Coming upon ITV just now...Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
(Was at the game. Fantastic stuff).
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Coming upon ITV just now...Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
(Was at the game. Fantastic stuff).
Dundalk trending was 10th in the WORLD on Twitter. Amazing really.
Probably worth missing out on the CL group stages for?
Is it bugging anyone else or just me that BT Sport keep referring to Dundalk as semi pro, and throw in comments like they will need to book time off work for their long trip to zenit? The top players are surely getting a decent wage 1000 per week? Training full time?
I know they're not on ludicrous wages like some prem or liga players. But it's not like they are postmen, teachers and milkmen - they are football players for a living, give them a bit more respect!
Might be just because of my wiki battles trying to convince LoI is fully pro to justify the players having their own articles. But it bugs me.
Reminds me of how Gretna described Derry as a pub team and then Derry went over there and knocked 5 goals past them...
GREAT To See this result. This was exactly what we had been talking about looking at the draw. Dundalk have built the right momemtum. Sure the next two games will be the hardest but the first game is at home, a draw cant be beyond the realms of possibility and ok the away game will be tough but you have to lose one (right?), plus the Alkmaar Home game which again a draw is also possible... leading into the final/showdown game away to Maccabi which will also be tough but if Dundalk have more to play for than Maccabi at that stage...?
Tel Aviv didn't squander any chances. They had none. ????Quote:
Originally Posted by redarmyfaction
Yes! Look at Legia Warsaw now!Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
That was unreal.
Over the week I was feeling a little insulted from irish media claiming that Maccabi were royalty compared to us but they are poor.
Kenny keeps taking us further and further. With this man at the helm who knows where we will go. The national team can stay the **** away if they want him :) :) :).
4 points out of 6 is amazing.
We are the greatest loi team of all time.
Of course you would, you're from Limerick.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
Great performance by Dundalk again. They've raised the bar and their calmness is something all teams can learn from in this league. Killer has two Europa League goals... I can't get my head around that.
Only home now after a couple of post match refreshments, I still can't get over that game. I thought we deserved it, we had more chances and looked a lot more interested.
Even if we lose the next two games I think 2nd place is still there for us as Zenit will probably win all their games. 7 points might even be enough. I've my trip already booked for Tel Aviv and it's great now that there could be something riding on the game.
Marvellous stuff from Dundalk who thoroughly deserved to win. They're tearing it up and showing the world us backwater gombeens can play a bit of ball.
Now, do overdo the celebrations and forget all about Sunday lads. That'd be just grand.
Bloody work, missed the game but well done Dundalk, the whole league is behind you.
Or maybe we are just very very good ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite
Dean Shiels is nice and fresh for Sunday! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
I'm not surprised they are referring to them as semi-professional. A lot of international media will be mentioning that to put their achievements in context. The BBC match report also mentioned they are semi-professional.Quote:
Originally Posted by davidatrb
If ye are level on points with AZ when they come to Tallaght, ye'll go into the game knowing a win will put ye through.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yossarian
There'll be a lot of extra interest now for the Zenith game - a 'top of the table clash'.
Can they/should they/are they even allowed to put stands behind the goal which Rovers had in place when they were in the Europa? What would that bring the capacity up to?
I can't be the only one starting to suspect Stephen Kenny has cracked the secret of making life into Football Manager and every time they screw up he just kills the program and replays the game.
No, they're not allowed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Straightstory
No doubt it was mentioned earlier in this thread but I only read last night that Maccabi led Zenit 3-0 going into the last 13 minutes before losing 4-3. Dundalk can surely take something from that in light of how ordinary they made the Israelis look last night. The biggest concern would probably be Zenit having top spot secured when they travel to play Alkmaar on match day 6.Quote:
Originally Posted by sparky12345678
Other way of looking at it is Zenit beat Maccabi 4-0 in the space of 15 minutes (granted, against ten men) and beat Alkmaar 5-0 last night - so they're well able to rack up the goals when they want.
If Dundalk were going to qualify from this group, it was always going to be with one team (probably Zenit) winning all six, and the runner-up qualifying on a low points tally. And so far, that's what's happening.
Quote:
Originally Posted by redarmyfaction
Agreed, we'll have to bear that in mind when we find a technically superior team to play against ;)
Unbelievable night, unbelievable performance. Just wish we had Horgan on a 5 year contract. Kenny's team just keep exceeding expectations. Hard to believe Chris Shields captained Dundalk to a 7-0 loss at the same venue four year and one day before. Now he looks comfortable in EL groups, likewise the likes of Gartland, Massey, Gannon and Boyle who nobody else in the league wanted in 2013.
And Dundalk have now won as many European games at Tallaght as Shamrock Rovers!
A sell-out crowd of 5,543 crowd in Tallaght Stadium last nights according to BBC Sport News.
Why is that - if Rovers could do it a few years ago?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
And the coefficient..... Ireland are up to 37th from 41st. Unlikely that Dundalk will drag Ireland up any further but no country below 37 is still active, so we won't drop from there.
Dundalk's provisional coefficient is up to 5.815- potentially enough to be seeded in our first game in the CL next season, if we qualify.
Oh yeah, for sure, I was just looking at the fact that a relatively ordinary side went into a 3-0 lead against them. In that context maybe a draw isn't out of the question, in the home game anyway. Dundalk should probably try to go up 4-0 though just to be sure. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Dundalk have already asked for dispensation to play in a stadium with less than 8,000 seats so apparently they can't ask for another dispensation for temporary seatingQuote:
Originally Posted by Straightstory
They are very expensive too. It'd just about cover it's cost if the sold it
For Dundalk to qualify it certainly does not require Zenit to win all of their six matches - winning the four against Maccabi and Alkmaar would be fine though.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Couldn't get to see it last night and all I was thinking of was Dunny as the result came through.Quote:
Originally Posted by ToberonaTornado
RIP lad and thanks to the town for this European journey!
Effectively the same thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
But while Dundalk keep on exceeding expectations, it's hard to see how they'll take a point off Zenit, who are a serious step ahead of either AZ or Maccabi (as their results have shown)
Fine yes, but also impossible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
I presume he means Zenit to win all four v Maccabi and Alkmaar, which is possible.
They don't have to win their two against Dundalk, as I'd added.
Dundalk were the technically superior team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jofspring
I think Dundalk have taken in just over 6M to date from the euro run, 6.2M is the figure I heard after last nights 360k was added in. The most interesting part of the windfall is the club have taken in almost half a million from two games in the group (so far) compared to 100k for winning the 2014 league, I think that's increased to 120k now, still an incredible figure.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Based on the first two performances there is scope to collect even more money from this group, qualifying in second place is achievable but it will still be very difficult.
On the match itself, there were fantastic performances all over the park, McEleney and Finn were excellent and Shields was just superb in O'Donnell's role, and still he isn't guaranteed a first team spot. The defence is looking rock solid, and Rogers wasn't really troubled that much last night as a result.
Bit of a break now, next EL match not for 3 weeks, home to Zenit, now that will be a tasty one.
I was working through the night and never got to see the game and only heard the result when I finished work. massive congrats to dundalk what a performance. really looking forward to seeing the game on sky+ over the coming days.
I only found out at my Wedding last night. This is some serious team. To be doing this on 3 fronts is quite simply, phenomenal.
Dundalk are better than I had given them credit for and they are still improving with every game at this level.
Previous to Dundalk in the EL group stage, did no LOI club ever actively apply for a dispensation from Uefa to use their home ground even if it fell short of the written criteria for category 3 and category 4?
Rovers enquired about a dispensation and were told it wasn't possible. They got a dispensation for a temporary stand instead on the understanding a permanent one would be installed. Not sure why Dundalk were allowed a dispensation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
There is scope alright. At the same time, good teams learn and improve. AZ and Tel Aviv will naturally know a lot more about Dundalk when they meet later in the group. Both took Dundalk for granted. After a period of Dundalk pressure in the first half that led to a corner, some of the Tel Aviv players seemed to have a hissy fit. They were not expecting such a difficult night. Turning up at Tallaght probably reminded them of playing in stadia when they were U16's. Zenit will test weaknesses of Dundalk. AZ and Tel Aviv will be watching with interest. There's still obviously a lot to play for and the final group table will tell a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Rovers were the first Irish club to make the group stage. It would appear lessons were learned from that occasion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Are there a number of that Rovers team in the current Dundalk team?
I would still rate Shelbourne '04 as a better team and better European performance. They lost out in the final CL qualifying round to a recent semi-finalist. There was no champions route at the time. In the first round proper of the UEFA Cup Shelbourne arguably had a tougher opponent than AZ or Tel Aviv.
The 12 years it took for another LoI team to make the final CL qualifying round and the fact that only 2 champions in the past 8 attempts have made CLQ3 are reasons for nights like last night to be enjoyed. It could be another 3 or 4 years before there is a European run like this.
I'm enjoying the positive reaction to the league from those around me. It will take consistent progress in Europe, which generate positive gimmick-free headlines for the league, to partly help improve the perception of the league. Not much changed after Shelbourne's run in '04.
I know of a few who arranged a work night out to take in the league cup final in the Market's Field. They are talking of more night in the Market's Field when Dundalk and Cork City visit next season. Limerick's return to the Market's Field has helped to build a connect. The respect earned by Dundalk and Cork then is adding to that. It's a positive development for the league's crowds if more people start to see the league as a good night out.
Four: Finn, O'Donnell, Kilduff and Gannon. The first three all played in the Europa League and Gannon was in the squad.Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
Dundalk should be hoping for 2 draws or one win for each team in the Alkmaar / Macaabi games. They'll be second going into the last 2 games then no matter what happens against Zenit.
Great occasion out there last night. Really impressive performance. A pleasure to be at.