European Football 2012

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FOLLOWING the international team's disappointing displays in the European Championship finals, the spotlight last week turned to the League of Ireland to restore some pride to the Irish soccer scene.

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Ah, if only our clubs were cast in the positive spotlight... What an insincere level of responsibility to place on League of Ireland clubs.

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It took a 2-0 home win for Pat's to advance last year, but all they could manage last Thursday was 1-0.

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That sentence is just disingenuous to the point of weird.

So if Pats don't lose on Thursday will he say its been a success?

What's the logic behind judging the league's european campaign a quarter the way though the minimum amount of games?

I think Sean Ryan is dead right, two matches played (Richmond and Dalymount) and not one rendition of 'the Fields of Athenry' was heard at either venue. No facepaint at either ground no 'mexican wave' and rumour has it (although this is not confirmed) that some supporters actually turned up sober for the match:confused2:


No 'best fans in the (insert competition of choice)' award for these part time supporters.:rolleyes:

Dead right, MB. In fact, the fans were so pathetic that even Roy ":mad:" Keane did not deem them worthy of his ire! 3,000 people at two grounds, actually watching football? God help us, what's the fanworld coming to?:D

it is negative and certainly premature... at least wait and see whether Shamrock Rovers can beat a seeded team... but he does have a point. Whatever about St. Pats a win is a win, fair enough, and not conceding very important. But Bohs at home after beating Shamrock Rovers 4 nil, should have done better., if Bohs can score 4 goals against former champions, they surely should be aiming to score at home against a second division icelandic side... Bohs have disappointed in Europe recently and have to do better...
That said in the article he implies a massive gulf between us and Iceland which is unfair on Iceland.

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Originally Posted by sparky12345678

it is negative and certainly premature...

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So Sean Ryan suffers from premature speculation... snigger...:D

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Originally Posted by sparky12345678

But Bohs at home after beating Shamrock Rovers 4 nil, should have done better., if Bohs can score 4 goals against former champions, they surely should be aiming to score at home against a second division icelandic side...

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I was at the game with a friend, and we both thought that Thor had a big size and age advantage over Bohs and played what can charitably be described as industrial football. My friend hadn't been to a game in ages and credited Bohs for playing the better football, but their inexperience was obvious.

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Originally Posted by sparky12345678

it is negative and certainly premature... at least wait and see whether Shamrock Rovers can beat a seeded team... but he does have a point. Whatever about St. Pats a win is a win, fair enough, and not conceding very important. But Bohs at home after beating Shamrock Rovers 4 nil, should have done better., if Bohs can score 4 goals against former champions, they surely should be aiming to score at home against a second division icelandic side... Bohs have disappointed in Europe recently and have to do better...
That said in the article he implies a massive gulf between us and Iceland which is unfair on Iceland.

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I think that says more about how bad Shams were against Bohs then anything else

Based on the highlights shown earlier, looks like McMahon's goal for Bohs should definitely have stood. Bookies making both Irish clubs favourites to win the actual second leg matches on Thursday anyway.

Linfield are just after beating B36 Tórshavn 3-4 on penalties in the Faroe Islands after a second 0-0 draw.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Linfield are just after beating B36 Tórshavn 3-4 on penalties in the Faroe Islands after a second 0-0 draw.

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Well done Linfield. They usually dont get past the first round. Great result for the Irish League. Cliftonville are 1 nil up from their first leg so hopefully they will go through aswell on Thursday.

Actually they usually lost in the 2nd round every time did they not? and thats the reason NI ranking dropped so low as for them to have to play in round 1. Losing in the 1st round would be a disgrace.

A first qualifying round proper in name only, it was more a preliminary qualifying round featuring the winners of the six worst-ranked leagues in Europe; Malta, NI, the Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Andorra and San Marino. Drawing with Faroese opposition 0-0 twice and making it through on penalties is more cause for blushing than celebration.

Great result for Portadown, they were 1 down to Shkendija 79 from Macedonia after 4 minutes tonight but went on to win the game 2-1 to go through.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Drawing with Faroese opposition 0-0 twice and making it through on penalties is more cause for blushing than celebration.

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Relieved to get through in the end.

Tough test in the next round lies ahead v Limmasol.

Result worth a few quid to the Club, which will help ease the blushing.

Great win for Portadown tonight.

Here's hoping Cliftonville can progress later in the week too.

That penalty win earned Linfield €130,000 in prize money.

Good to see Linfield finally get a break on the financial front.

Well done to Linfield and Portadown tonight .... fair play

Should ensure they're not in the preliminary rounds next year?

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Should ensure they're not in the preliminary rounds next year?

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For the moment there up to #46 out of 53, so yeah if nothing below them changes.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Should ensure they're not in the preliminary rounds next year?

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Well two to watch out for :

Luxembourg are closest to them and should have two sides playing another 2 games.

Wales - TNS start in next round of the cl, and the teams in the el are up against it, but conceivably (its a long shot) all three could through.

That said Linfield, and the NI co-efficient, would be better off if they had played in the preliminary round the last few years. Everyone shuffling up meant they got to play in the second qualifying round and each time got one of the top seeds.

Welsh champions will be in the first qualifying round next year and i think they will be likely to get two wins

another thing, unless our results improve in Europe we will have all three Europa league spots in the first round, rather than one in the second round and possibly seeding's.

Are either of the games tomorrow night being streamed online ?

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Relieved to get through in the end.

Tough test in the next round lies ahead v Limmasol.

Result worth a few quid to the Club, which will help ease the blushing.

Great win for Portadown tonight.

Here's hoping Cliftonville can progress later in the week too.

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Two very important results for Linfield & Portadown getting through, very impressive considering both are part time and wont play a competitive domestic game until next month. I think a lot of fans all over Ireland fail to realise how hard it is to progress in europe (north and south)

No game is easy at this level, getting any win is an achievement and progessing through one round is a huge effort, I can tell you from watching Dundalk lose a 2 goal lead in Lux back in 2010 in 30c heat, it was just a great feat going through that round, even if they were meant to be 'rubbish'

We were the rubbish team next round.................

Goals from the Portadown game, its a fix!!

http://www.u.tv/utvplayer/video/1455...1-c7c5ead52ccc

2nd goal is laughable

Comedy hour. Portadown's stadium is like an eerie cauldron - intimidating only for of the total lack of people.

Very dodgy goals those, what is the story about those stands? they look newly built, but look to be angled away from the pitch, not as if there is space issue.

No sponsor on the shirts of either team:confused: Give Betfair a ring there commericial managers :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by sheao

Are either of the games tomorrow night being streamed online ?

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Bohs game will be here http://www.thorsport.is/tv/

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Originally Posted by Acornvilla

Goals from the Portadown game, its a fix!!

http://www.u.tv/utvplayer/video/1455...1-c7c5ead52ccc

2nd goal is laughable

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If it's a fix, the Albanians have at least learnt to be disappointed with conceding since playing Sligo.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

If it's a fix, the Albanians have at least learnt to be disappointed with conceding since playing Sligo.

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Aren't Shkendija from Macedonia ?

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Originally Posted by A N Mouse

Well two to watch out for :

Luxembourg are closest to them and should have two sides playing another 2 games.

Wales - TNS start in next round of the cl, and the teams in the el are up against it, but conceivably (its a long shot) all three could through.

That said Linfield, and the NI co-efficient, would be better off if they had played in the preliminary round the last few years. Everyone shuffling up meant they got to play in the second qualifying round and each time got one of the top seeds.

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What I forgot to say is that's for 2014, they'll still be in the preliminary round next year - unless everyone shuffles up again.

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Originally Posted by citybone

Welsh champions will be in the first qualifying round next year and i think they will be likely to get two wins

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The Welsh champions will definitely start next year in the second qualifying round.

NI were 6th last and Wales two place above them in 2012 rankings, used for next years access list

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Originally Posted by citybone

another thing, unless our results improve in Europe we will have all three Europa league spots in the first round, rather than one in the second round and possibly seeding's.

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On that list for 2012 we finished 33rd, so going by this year's access list all three el teams would start in the first round next year - unless there's some shuffling up. This is not necessarily a bad thing. All 3 should be seeded. And should all 3 progress, relatively unscathed, it would go some way toward replacing the large amount of points we'd be losing from 08/09.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Aren't Shkendija from Macedonia ?

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The Macedonians consider them an Albanian club for some reason. Macedonian dude told me as much.

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Originally Posted by cornflakes

Bohs game will be here http://www.thorsport.is/tv/

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Thanks for that, any link for the Pats one anywhere?

Good luck to both tonight. Very very important both go through. Our Country ranking is slipping and I think our league has the quality to be in the top 30 rather than the top 40.

We got 4 wins and 4 draws last year making a country ranking of 1.500 (then added to previous 4 years, average of the 5 is country rank)

Two wins tonight will set us on course to level last year or even better it.

cliftonville 3-0 down before HT

Crusaders holding Rosenborg in Norway 0-0 too. Great result there if they can hold onto that.

Rosenborg missed a peno.

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Originally Posted by cornflakes

Bohs game will be here http://www.thorsport.is/tv/

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Anyone having any joy with this link?

Bohs match here

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/thorsport-is