League of Ireland in Europe 2016

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Originally Posted by Dodge

His replacement is a better player

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I actually thought Dundalk impoved when McEleaney came on for Finn. Thought they were quite poor as a matter of fact for the first half hour. Thought Bate looked very comfortable up to then. The first goal changed everything and you could see Dundalk grow into the game. Horgan and McEleaney were superb and the whole second half performance was brilliant.

I posted here that it would be a long half hour for Dundalk after they got the second, but in fact they held out comfortably and were always a threat, which was proved with Bensons goal. Congrats to them. I agree it won't do much for Pats, unless the whole league can is in standard as a result and that's hard to see in the short term. Credit where it's due though, great result and performance.

Ian Dempsey / Today FM had Stephen Kenny on this morning for an interview - audio of the goal after..... - the aul bandwagon don't be long cranking up! Great to hear mind you.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Ian Dempsey / Today FM had Stephen Kenny on this morning for an interview - audio of the goal after..... - the aul bandwagon don't be long cranking up! Great to hear mind you.

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"They [Dundalk] have been knocking on the door for years now", thought that comment showed the level of knowledge.
Still though, nice to get some publicity.

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Originally Posted by brendy_éire

"They [Dundalk] have been knocking on the door for years now", thought that comment showed the level of knowledge.
Still though, nice to get some publicity.

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The Second Captain cnuts will be fawning over them next.

Shelbourne got to the final CL qualifying round in '04. Dundalk's achievement at the moment is the same as that.

Rightly or wrongly European results will influence people's perception of the league. One good season alone isn't enough. Needs to be at least every 2 to 3 years.

Dundalk and Cork performances are better than any marketing. They are creating positive headlines on the field of play. That's marketing without any gimmicks.

The expected positive spinoff for those clubs obviously is more support. I don't see any reason for clubs from Dublin, Galway, Derry or Limerick to be left behind. The positive spinoff I would like to see for other clubs is at least more support when Dundalk and Cork visit, possibly helping to build a connect for more people to support their local LoI team in the longterm.

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Originally Posted by White Horse

The Second Captain cnuts will be fawning over them next.

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Much as i like Ken Early, he does seem to look at the LOI through a negative lense...

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Originally Posted by Philosophizer

Much as i like Ken Early, he does seem to look at the LOI through a negative lense...

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I notice he hasn't even mentioned it or congratulated Dundalk on his twitter. Early is usually quite good but his lack of LOI knowledge is where he lets himself down.

Regarding McEleney, as brilliant he was last night as number ten, it should be noted that he was disastrous on the wing in Belarus. Hadn't a clue what he was at defensively, left Gannon hugely exposed, and the tie might have been done and dusted in that first 45 minutes had BATE made more of the chances they created down Dundalk's right.

O'Donnell was the real star for me though. He took some amount of physical punishment in there (BATE's number 77 must have committed six fouls without a card being produced). And although McMillan was hopeless before he scored, he was sensational in the second half.

Rovers got to this exact same stage a few years back but lost to FC Cpoenhagen and then beat Partizan Belgrade to get to Europa Group stage
Shamrock Rovers 0–3 Rubin Kazan
Tottenham 3–1 Shamrock Rovers
PAOK 2–1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers 1–3 PAOK
Rubin Kazan 4–1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers 0–4 Tottenham Hotspur

Great night for Dundalk & the League of Ireland.
If City can do the business tomorrow night it will have been an incredible week for the League.
Surely this will encourage other clubs to get their houses in order.

Agree fully that O Donnell had a great game, I always noticed during his season at Galway how good his ball control was, and how he was able to use his body to shield the ball/win possession. Decent header of the ball also. How he was not wanted by the big clubs in the league that year was a surprise, maybe standard was much higher then.
Also fitness level of the Dundalk players is very good after a poor/slow enough start.
Thanks for the link to the stream, best I have ever used. We will see down here in Galway if their is any bounce from all this publicity on Friday. Leaving visiting fans aside can, a home crowd of 1,500 be achieved? What do Terryland regulars think?

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Originally Posted by disgruntled

Surely this will encourage other clubs to get their houses in order.

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Nah, we're grand, thanks.

Some going by a few to try and draw negatives out of this result. It's probably the best possible thing to happen to the LOI.

Olympiakos don't seem up to much, would probably put Salzburg above them if anything but regardless, not a single team in amongst the possible candidates to really fear. Screw the Europa League :cool:

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Originally Posted by ForzaHoop

Rovers got to this exact same stage a few years back but lost to FC Cpoenhagen and then beat Partizan Belgrade to get to Europa Group stage
Shamrock Rovers 0–3 Rubin Kazan
Tottenham 3–1 Shamrock Rovers
PAOK 2–1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers 1–3 PAOK
Rubin Kazan 4–1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers 0–4 Tottenham Hotspur

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Rovers didn't make the final CL qualifying round. I'd rank Shamrock Rovers '11 a step below Shelbourne '04 and Dundalk '16.

Something about Rovers campaign in 2011 that always stuck with me. The PAOK coach at the time was very complimentary about their performances and style of Football. He had expected them to play like a 'British' Team but instead they tried to pass the ball and play in a positive manner. In fairness to them they did and it probably cost them a draw somewhere in that Group (PAOK away) and a few hammerings,but hey, that's the way they wanted to play. Was an awful Group in fairness. Top seed in Pot 1, Top 2-3? seed in Pot 2 and PAOK were no mugs either, ask Spurs.

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Originally Posted by MeathDrog

I notice he hasn't even mentioned it or congratulated Dundalk on his twitter. Early is usually quite good but his lack of LOI knowledge is where he lets himself down.

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Liked him in Silence of the Lambs though.

Request for those in the know.
Please list the financial rewards already secured by Dundalk, round by round please.
Please list the extra (minimum), assuming departure at the CL 4QR stage and entry to EL Group stage.
Any EL win/draw bonuses in the group stage matches.

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Originally Posted by Philosophizer

Much as i like Ken Early, he does seem to look at the LOI through a negative lense...

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And then you have this from one of the other ones:

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gael...time-1.2704382

Used to listen to them on OTB but gone off them since.

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Originally Posted by orielabu

Request for those in the know.
Please list the financial rewards already secured by Dundalk, round by round please.
Please list the extra (minimum), assuming departure at the CL 4QR stage and entry to EL Group stage.
Any EL win/draw bonuses in the group stage matches.

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Europa League prize money
Champions' League prize money

I'm sure you can do the maths yourself. :)

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Europa League prize money
Champions' League prize money

I'm sure you can do the maths yourself. :)

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Prize money has increased this season too although full breakdown has yet to be released.