Maccabi Tel Aviv v Dundalk

**The Donie Forde** · 08/12/2016, 8:10 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

Hard luck Dundalk. Superb European effort. League Champions to be proud of.

1 point from the 4 games against the top 2 seeds made qualification from the group difficult.

Maccabi having picked up 4 points against AZ are unlucky Zenit couldn't at least draw.

True but Maccabi would have been unseeded so they both would have been drawn against the likes of Zenit and AZ.

Back on topic, Dundalk were desperately unlucky at the end not to get a draw. They have been involved in 10 quality games from BATE away to Maccabi tonight.

They were indeed, if you just look at Kilduff's miss. If you look at the whole game, most particularly the second half, they were lucky not to be about 1-5 down at that stage.
Stuck in there right to the end, to be fair, but bad finishing by Maccabi was all that prevented a thumping.

**jinxy lilywhite** · 08/12/2016, 8:32 PM

Maybe so but the scoreline still says 2 1.

Terrific campaign. Immensely proud of the boys and its the end of a fantastic side.

Preseason in 4 weeks for the #greatestleagueintheworld

**geysir** · 08/12/2016, 8:43 PM

I don't know how Kilduff missed it, that would have added a consoling last chapter to an already honourable campaign.

Total coeff earned. 5.5 points. Not much gained considering the run they had and all the overtime work they had to do.
Cl qual 1 win 3 draws = 2.5 points . EL group stages 1 win 1 draw = 3 points

They'll be seeded next year and will avoid the high risk potential of the doughty Icelanders.

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/12/2016, 8:48 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I don't know how Kilduff missed it, that would have added a consoling last chapter to an already honourable campaign.

Total coeff earned. 5.5 points. Not much gained considering the run they had and all the overtime work they had to do.
Cl qual 1 win 3 draws = 2.5 points . EL group stages 1 win 1 draw = 3 points

They'll be seeded next year and will avoid the high risk potential of the doughty Icelanders.

They'll be unseeded I'm fairly sure. A draw or win would have tipped them over.

**jinxy lilywhite** · 08/12/2016, 9:02 PM

5.5 is very dodgy territory.
We need a lot of suprise league winners I feel to scrape through.

**ger121** · 08/12/2016, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

They'll be unseeded I'm fairly sure. A draw or win would have tipped them over.

Depends on how a lot of Leagues around Europe finish. Think their current co-efficient,would have seen them sneak into last 2-3 seeded sides this season. Agree though, that a win or indeed a draw would have made it a lot more certain.

**ger121** · 08/12/2016, 9:06 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

5.5 is very dodgy territory.
We need a lot of suprise league winners I feel to scrape through.

5.8ish actually but yeah, could be a tall order. Time will tell!

**JDsJocks** · 08/12/2016, 10:47 PM

Two great gifts from Rogers and Gartland tonight. Christmas came early for Maccabi but still didn't get through.

Dundalk showing signs of rustiness throughout, those mistakes wouldn't have happened a few weeks ago.

Still to come close in the last few games shows the quality they possess even off season.

**sbgawa** · 09/12/2016, 12:21 AM

Harsh judgement on dundalk finishing bottom of the group when you consider how close many of the matches were. Just shows how competitive European games are. Hopefully next season the league can push on. I really don't believe it will be another 5 years before the loi produces another group stage team. Onwards and upwards

**seand** · 09/12/2016, 8:25 AM

The coefficient we've ended with leaves us just fractionally behind FH and Zalgiris (and Skenderbeu if they win Albania again), so it's extremely unlikely that we'll sneak into the seeds now. One more point would probably have been enough to make the difference. Small margins at this level.

**geysir** · 09/12/2016, 11:58 AM

Since the CL qual format was changed 2009/10, 5.8 would have a team seeded in the 2nd rd qual in all seasons except for 2014/15.
Probably next season the stakes will be higher.

**oriel** · 09/12/2016, 2:13 PM

It was great to see Dundalk finish so strong in the last 15 mins, pity we couldn't have got an equaliser but overall Macabi were much the better side. The AZ home match was where the main damage was done, still it was a great campaign, to get 4 points was pretty decent, and the biggest defeat was only 2-1.

Great effort guys and thanks for all the big nights, it seems a very long time ago that we just squeezed past FH in mid July.

**holidaysong** · 09/12/2016, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by JDsJocks

Two great gifts from Rogers and Gartland tonight. Hanukkah came early for Maccabi but still didn't get through...

Careful now.

**White Horse** · 10/12/2016, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by JDsJocks

Two great gifts from Rogers and Gartland tonight. Christmas came early for Maccabi but still didn't get through.

Dundalk showing signs of rustiness throughout, those mistakes wouldn't have happened a few weeks ago.

Still to come close in the last few games shows the quality they possess even off season.

Rogers and Gartland have been responsible for most of Dundalk's self inflicted wounds.

Gartland has struggled with the step up to Europa Leagues games. They don't compare to domestic football, where Brian excels.

**ger121** · 10/12/2016, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by White Horse

Rogers and Gartland have been responsible for most of Dundalk's self inflicted wounds.

Gartland has struggled with the step up to Europa Leagues games. They don't compare to domestic football, where Brian excels.

Strangely they've both had games when they have played very well. Rogers vs.AZ in Tallaght springs to mind as a good example but no doubt, it is those 2 players who most spring to mind when you think of the defensive errors that resulted in goals scored.

**Charlie Darwin** · 12/12/2016, 10:44 PM

Gartland was having a super game in Zenit before he gave away the first goal. It's unfortunate he made those mistakes because it makes him look like a poor player when he's anything but.

Anyway, Dundalk did brilliantly across the six games and, though I think they were the weakest side in the group, they could have qualified with a slice or two of luck. It just goes to show how difficult it is to compete at this level - and how much harder it must be in the Champions League.

**Ezeikial** · 13/12/2016, 8:10 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Gartland was having a super game in Zenit before he gave away the first goal. It's unfortunate he made those mistakes because it makes him look like a poor player when he's anything but.

His star as lost some of its shine as a result of the high profile errors in European games. I know he was devastated as a result of the Maccabi goal in particular and he has a long time to dwell on it before the new season comes around.

Brian Gartland was not highly rated or well sought after when he made to move to Dundalk in July 2013 from Portadown. He has made incredible progress since and has been one of the top centre backs in the league over the last number of season. He also has tremendous character and will bounce back easily

**sbgawa** · 13/12/2016, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

His star as lost some of its shine as a result of the high profile errors in European games. I know he was devastated as a result of the Maccabi goal in particular and he has a long time to dwell on it before the new season comes around.

Brian Gartland was not highly rated or well sought after when he made to move to Dundalk in July 2013 from Portadown. He has made incredible progress since and has been one of the top centre backs in the league over the last number of season. He also has tremendous character and will bounce back easily

Yeah was super in the league and I don't buy the reason for the gaffs in the euro games was about the standard being higher I think sometimes **** just happens at the wrong time. you can be unlucky same mistakes in the league and no one would have noticed. He's a goal scoring centre half whats not to like and Hoare will be a great replacement for Boyle. Dundalks defence isn't going to be the problem next year.