LoI in Europe 2018

**El-Pietro** · 20/06/2018, 4:10 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Luck of the draw is definitely a huge factor, Dundalk drawing FH in 2016 was certainly good fortune, anyone else and we could have gone out at that stage. Granted we had to be beat BATE in the 3rd round but FH were probably the weakest of the seeded sides in the CL 2nd round that year.

Amazing we get the exact same two as Cork got last year, Larnaca will be tough but was never going to be an easy draw in the second round.

Agree with all of that. You got the lucky draw vs FH, and probably vs Rosenborg too. There just aren't that many week seeded teams in the CL, even with the new format.
Its mental that you got the same teams we got even though we were unseeded. I'm genuinely shocked Larnaca aren't seeded in this round given that they were last year.

For anyone traveling, Larnaca is a nice little beach resort but its crazy hot there. Its ok on the beach front with the wind blowing in, but the stadium is a couple of km inland. Our game was at 6pm or 7pm I think so only just starting to get dark around kick off time. That was a big factor for us. Theres no cover in the away end either so no protection from the sun.
Aside from the football it was a good trip. I don't usually do resort holidays so it was a nice break for a change.

**Ezeikial** · 20/06/2018, 7:51 PM

Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

And that's why you are posting here and not a double winning LOI manager!

Ahem, there's probably a few other reasons too.

BTW are you in the same boat, or are you a double winning LOI manager?

**oriel** · 20/06/2018, 8:59 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Agree with all of that. You got the lucky draw vs FH, and probably vs Rosenborg too. There just aren't that many week seeded teams in the CL, even with the new format.
Its mental that you got the same teams we got even though we were unseeded. I'm genuinely shocked Larnaca aren't seeded in this round given that they were last year.

For anyone traveling, Larnaca is a nice little beach resort but its crazy hot there. Its ok on the beach front with the wind blowing in, but the stadium is a couple of km inland. Our game was at 6pm or 7pm I think so only just starting to get dark around kick off time. That was a big factor for us. Theres no cover in the away end either so no protection from the sun.
Aside from the football it was a good trip. I don't usually do resort holidays so it was a nice break for a change.

I'm taking one round at a time, Dundalk will be favourites to advance to round 2, but need to get there first. On the 2016 campaign, drawing FH was definitely the key, good luck for us, but bad for them drawing probably the strongest of the non seeded teams (Dundalk), amazing really when you consider we didn't even beat FH yet played another 10 games in Europe after and into early December.

Could say the same for Ireland re luck of the draw for the Euro 2012 play off, everyone wanted Ireland and we got Estonia. I don't think we would have qualified had we got anyone else.

**brendy_�ire** · 21/06/2018, 9:39 AM

Pretty disappointed with our draw now.
I really can't see anything other than a very handy win for Dinamo. If we were able to defend, we might give ourselves a chance. But we can't, so we won't.

Not even fun from a travel perspective. Minsk is new, well designed and pleasant. But that's all it is. There's nothing to do, and it's not even that cheap by eastern standards. Added to that the match will basically be over as a contest by the time we get there, makes for a fairly rubbish away trip.

**osarusan** · 21/06/2018, 9:58 AM

That's the spirit.

**sbgawa** · 21/06/2018, 1:20 PM

Originally Posted by brendy_�ire

Pretty disappointed with our draw now.
I really can't see anything other than a very handy win for Dinamo. If we were able to defend, we might give ourselves a chance. But we can't, so we won't.

Not even fun from a travel perspective. Minsk is new, well designed and pleasant. But that's all it is. There's nothing to do, and it's not even that cheap by eastern standards. Added to that the match will basically be over as a contest by the time we get there's, makes for a fairly rubbish away trip.

That kind of optimistic talk belongs on the Rovers forum

**johnboy** · 21/06/2018, 2:38 PM

That will make the unlikely win all the more satisfying.

**Dundalk daz** · 21/06/2018, 8:43 PM

Originally Posted by brendy_�ire

Pretty disappointed with our draw now.
I really can't see anything other than a very handy win for Dinamo. If we were able to defend, we might give ourselves a chance. But we can't, so we won't.

Not even fun from a travel perspective. Minsk is new, well designed and pleasant. But that's all it is. There's nothing to do, and it's not even that cheap by eastern standards. Added to that the match will basically be over as a contest by the time we get there, makes for a fairly rubbish away trip.

Kenny u ok hun??

**seand** · 21/06/2018, 9:09 PM

On paper it looks like a fairly benign draw for Dundalk, but that's only cos we're seeded. Levadia are the joint highest ranked of all the non-seeds, so theoretically the worst possible draw of all 47 possible opponents. Then in round two we get AEK, the joint third highest ranked non-seeds of 37 possible opponents. So that's opponents ranked #1 of 47 and #3 of 37!

**micls** · 21/06/2018, 9:28 PM

Originally Posted by seand

On paper it looks like a fairly benign draw for Dundalk, but that's only cos we're seeded. Levadia are the joint highest ranked of all the non-seeds, so theoretically the worst possible draw of all 47 possible opponents. Then in round two we get AEK, the joint third highest ranked non-seeds of 37 possible opponents. So that's opponents ranked #1 of 47 and #3 of 37!

Definitely a harsh draw since we got the same unseeded.

Ye're comfortably better than Tallinn though. Larnaca will depend on how they've progressed in the last year.

**ToberonaTornado** · 21/06/2018, 9:45 PM

Think Larnaca have basically kept the same team from last year.
But as Oriel said above,not getting ahead of ourselves,get past Levadia first then concentrate on Larnaca.

**johnboy** · 22/06/2018, 8:44 AM

Dundalk Larnaca will be very interesting. Was torture watching them stifle us over 2 legs, I hope ye give them a right go.

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/06/2018, 9:13 AM

Originally Posted by ToberonaTornado

Think Larnaca have basically kept the same team from last year.
But as Oriel said above,not getting ahead of ourselves,get past Levadia first then concentrate on Larnaca.

With McEleney, Horgan and Boyle back you'll win easy.

**Candystripe** · 22/06/2018, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Agree with all of that. You got the lucky draw vs FH, and probably vs Rosenborg too. There just aren't that many week seeded teams in the CL, even with the new format.
Its mental that you got the same teams we got even though we were unseeded. I'm genuinely shocked Larnaca aren't seeded in this round given that they were last year.

For anyone traveling, Larnaca is a nice little beach resort but its crazy hot there. Its ok on the beach front with the wind blowing in, but the stadium is a couple of km inland. Our game was at 6pm or 7pm I think so only just starting to get dark around kick off time. That was a big factor for us. Theres no cover in the away end either so no protection from the sun.
Aside from the football it was a good trip. I don't usually do resort holidays so it was a nice break for a change.

When we played Apoel Nicosia in 2004 the game wasn't allowed to kick-off until the sun had set, the temperature was 32c.

180 of us stayed in Ayia Napa, wasn't a bad trip. We lost 2-1 though.

**ToberonaTornado** · 22/06/2018, 2:39 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

With McEleney, Horgan and Boyle back you'll win easy.

Jaysus,wish we could afford to bring them all back,but we're no Galway Utd!!

**ToberonaTornado** · 22/06/2018, 2:53 PM

�28 to watch Derry in Europe

https://www.derrycityfc.net/2018/06/...keting-update/

**micls** · 22/06/2018, 2:55 PM

Thats ridiculous pricing.

**oriel** · 22/06/2018, 4:01 PM

Dundalk charge €20 into the stand for domestic games, granted some tickets are available for concession at reduced prices, and most who go to the stand are ST holders, but it’s still the most expensive in the league for anyone wanting to pay on the night.

Also, I`m almost sure it was €25 into the stand for the Rosenborg game last year, and €20 into the ground.

**Ezeikial** · 22/06/2018, 4:22 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Dundalk charge �20 into the stand for domestic games, granted some tickets are available for concession at reduced prices, and most who go to the stand are ST holders, but it�s still the most expensive in the league for anyone wanting to pay on the night.

Also, I`m almost sure it was �25 into the stand for the Rosenborg game last year, and �20 into the ground.

Reduced capacity and additional costs provide reasonable grounds for a moderate increase in ticket prices for a European fixture

**brendy_�ire** · 22/06/2018, 6:23 PM

Plenty of complaints about the pricing from Derry fans. It's a big increase.
Even over last year, it's a 25% increase, and that's when we played in Sligo, with whatever extra cost that brought.
It'll be a small home crowd now, difficult to attract neutrals at that price.

KO is set for 18:00 as well. Presumably it's for Belarusian TV.