Champions League/Europa League draws 2010

[Cymro]

Looks like Dundalk have wasted much needed cash getting their stadium up to the minimum specifications set down by UEFA - other clubs have been allowed to simply not comply with the same regulations but allowed to participate...

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The GenQuip - even with all those improvements and investments still falls short of the minimum seating requirement for that competitions by 500 seats (or a whole one-third)

Maybe the officials at Oriel Park should request a cheque from UEFA to cover the unnecessary expenditure they've incurred in installing those extra seats

Well, if you ask me (and I know it's not the point you're making) the regulations are unnecessary. Many of the games at this level will have crowds of less than a thousand, some less than 500. Port Talbot might be expecting around 900 for their game against the Finns (901 if I decide to pop down) and TNS would be expecting the same if it were anyone but Bohemians they were playing. Welsh clubs are already hard-pressed for cash, so UEFA coming in late in the day saying 'oh, by the way guys, we need you to triple your seating capacity, but no pressure or anything' is not exactly very smart thinking. Seems reasonable to allow these teams to play their games at home, even if Dundalk have essentially been screwed.

[Dodge]

so UEFA coming in late in the day saying 'oh, by the way guys, we need you to triple your seating capacity, but no pressure or anything' is not exactly very smart thinking. Seems reasonable to allow these teams to play their games at home,

Except it isn't late in the day as Irish clubs have needed 3,000 seats for the past number of years.

[galwayjames]

i was browsing through the europa league and ended up on the settings for the 2011-12 edition and i found that if ireland moves up one place in the co-efficient table, the teams in the 2nd qual round of the europa league will be seeded.

that's a big enough incentive in itself i would imagine.

[A face]

i was browsing through the europa league and ended up on the settings for the 2011-12 edition and i found that if ireland moves up one place in the co-efficient table, the teams in the 2nd qual round of the europa league will be seeded.

that's a big enough incentive in itself i would imagine.

All the hard work that was put in over the last few years might actually pay off. It would be unreal if it did, and this is the last hurdle. It would just give clubs a bit of breathing space, even a psychological advantage

[abcd]

i was browsing through the europa league and ended up on the settings for the 2011-12 edition and i found that if ireland moves up one place in the co-efficient table, the teams in the 2nd qual round of the europa league will be seeded.

that's a big enough incentive in itself i would imagine.

Itll probably need an unreal year to move us up one place though. If we managed it it'd be great but with 3 teams essentially making their european debuts its asking a lot. With the demise of Derry, Cork and Drogheda its difficult for our new representatives to get seeded. The big dissapointment is that Pats aren't in the Europa, the points they have built up in the past two seasons would have put them in a strong position with regard to seeding and may next year as well.

Good luck to Dundalk anyway, hopefully they can get the LOI european challenge off to a good start

[Schumi]

Hoping for all Irish clubs to do well in Europe to improve this co-efficient and getting us all further and further each year. Dont think the game is live anywherebut local paper Dundalk Democrat is going to have regular updates if they have internet access at the stadium!

Will the radio loonies be covering it?

[Charlie Darwin]

The big dissapointment is that Pats aren't in the Europa, the points they have built up in the past two seasons would have put them in a strong position with regard to seeding and may next year as well.

Pity, but they'll have to get something spectacularly wrong not to make it next season.

Best of luck to Dundalk!

[Dillonman]

Will the radio loonies be covering it?

Nobody is too sure, there was a mention of it but it doesnt seem likely!

On a another note, how much more do Ireland have to move up in that table to get an extra European place?

[Dodge]

Pity, but they'll have to get something spectacularly wrong not to make it next season.

We're only 4 points away from being in 6th in the league. hardly a spectaculur fall needed

[Finlay Harp]

Meanwhile the Irish league is taking European competition as serious as always!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...sh/8777648.stm

[Dalymountrower]

Three players on holiday on Euru dates that have been known for 6 months, disgraceful.
BTW Good Luck tonight Dundalk

[cob655]

Meanwhile the Irish league is taking European competition as serious as always!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...sh/8777648.stm

what a joke of a league,and every year its the same!
its like their trying to loose these games...

[HarpoJoyce]

i was browsing through the europa league and ended up on the settings for the 2011-12 edition and i found that if ireland moves up one place in the co-efficient table, the teams in the 2nd qual round of the europa league will be seeded.

that's a big enough incentive in itself i would imagine.

All the hard work that was put in over the last few years might actually pay off. It would be unreal if it did, and this is the last hurdle. It would just give clubs a bit of breathing space, even a psychological advantage

Itll probably need an unreal year to move us up one place though. If we managed it it'd be great but with 3 teams essentially making their european debuts its asking a lot. With the demise of Derry, Cork and Drogheda its difficult for our new representatives to get seeded. The big dissapointment is that Pats aren't in the Europa, the points they have built up in the past two seasons would have put them in a strong position with regard to seeding and may next year as well.

Good luck to Dundalk anyway, hopefully they can get the LOI european challenge off to a good start

Well it's not quite seede, although clubs at 28th place do enter at a later stage.
Access for the current season 2010/11.
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague...ist/index.html
As can seen IRL is currently at 30th spot (they are expected to move up a place to 29th next year 2011/12).
This puts them on a borderline with the upper group. If UEFA winners of 2011 come from a probable Champions League Group qualifer, it will have a 'knock-on' effect. Benefiting around 3 or 4 teams on the borderline of upper groups.

Because of the vast increase of games (points available) since the founding of the Europa League groups, Leagues have to increase their points gained just to stand still.

Regarding the spread of representative clubs per year.
It's good that a few clubs took the initiative and went high above the IRL average. But, as with Development, it's necessary to spread the knowledge around. So other clubs get to be familiar with certain routines and learn to understand other challenges.
But you can't beat experience. With all the talk of the disruption to the domestic programme, Bohemians negotiated Tues. and Tues. dates and their domestic programme remains unaffected.
I do believe part of the recent success 40th (2006/07) - 35th (2007/08) - 35th (2008/09) -30th (2009/10) - 30th (2010/11 - 29th? (2011/12) is down to the number of representatives and the shallow ramp those clubs took in gaining co-efficient points.

Whether it's better and a 'presentation of success' to have IRL teams with a chance of winning an early round and then meeting a bigger club, or alternatively as a cup competition entering as high as possible and taking it from there.
The same argument goes for a yo-yo domestic club in anywhere in Europe. Getting promoted, but then relegated every few years.

[marinobohs]

what a joke of a league,and every year its the same!
its like their trying to loose these games...

Northern ireland obviously dont take european participation as seriously as we do (most years stories appear of players on hols up to and including match day.). The winter football season does not help their participation in europe but they obviously feel it cmpensates in other ways.
BTW best of luck to Dundalk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pineapple stu]

Time of the year to start getting envious at other clubs again... (Although the way this season is going for us, it could be our year next year - you never know! )

Best of luck to Dundalk anyways.

Interesting that Ciarán Martyn is one of those on holidays for Glentoran; you'd have thought he'd played often enough in Europe to not have that attitude towards it.

[Dodge]

What time does the Dundalk game kick off at tonight?

[pineapple stu]

6:30 Irish time.

[Schumi]

On a another note, how much more do Ireland have to move up in that table to get an extra European place?

To 15th place, not going to happen.

[Acornvilla]

anywhere to hear or watch the game?

[Cymro]

I'm rather confused as to why I keep hearing these stories about Northern Irish clubs letting their players go away for holidays during their European seasons. It doesn't make any sense.

I've read here that Champions' League money is approximately £300k for taking part, and £100k for each round of qualifiers you progress in. Taking away let's say £15k for travel and research for the away leg, plus whatever policing costs are necessary for the home leg, that still leaves the club with a basic incentive of about £90k to progress to the next round, and that's not even counting gate money or any money which might be recieved if the game is shown on TV. Why don't they just say, 'alright lads, if you win this tie you all get a £1,000 bonus' or whatever, and make sure their best players are there and motivated, to give them a fighting chance.

OK, I realise the money is less for the Europa League but it is not insignificant either. In any case, you never hear of this elsewhere so is it just something peculiarly related to Northern Ireland? Seems strange anyhow.