LOI In Europe 2025

[oriel]

It would make sense for Shels as they won't be playing in their own ground either way, I personally couldn't see anything close to 40k there, but maybe I underestimate how thick as pig$hit the Irish sacar public generally are

Not a chance 40k, this would be a 20k, max 25k crowd all day long, Palace would not be a big attraction even as a PL established club / fa cup winners. They would travel in big numbers 'Daaaablin' always a treat for UK visitors, but wouldn't think Shels would muster up more than a cup final crowd, 10k max maybe, then you are depending on floating fans. If i was them i'd stick to Tallaght. There is also a UEFA rule I think, you need to nominate and stick to the ground in most cases.

Dundalk played one game at the Aviva in 2020 EL group v Arsenal but that was due to Tallaght not available, no fear on crowds going that day, attendance was zero - covid.

[Nesta99]

Im not sure how the rule works tbh but we played in Oriel, Tallaght and the Aviva in 2016 so maybe its the groups you have to nominate and stick?

[total hoofball]

If the Shels/Palace game was held in October I reckon with competent marketing/pricing that 25k-30k attendance at the Aviva would be achievable, but on a bitter freezing Thursday night in mid-December at the Aviva as the 5th game that has a dead rubber risk a 20k attendance would be questionable

Anyway as I already posted before barring some unexpected Gardai security intervention the game will be in Tallaght

[oriel]

Im not sure how the rule works tbh but we played in Oriel, Tallaght and the Aviva in 2016 so maybe its the groups you have to nominate and stick?

Its the group stages, where you need to nominate a ground, 2016 v Legia (Aviva) was a play off for CL group stages, all 3 EL group games in 2016 were at Tallaght, 2 of the 3 EL group games at Tallaght in 2020, one exception was Arsenal due to Tallaght not available.

Dundalk were generally permitted to play 2 rounds at Oriel Pk only, all qualifying games.

[2 Year Contract]

Its the group stages, where you need to nominate a ground, 2016 v Legia (Aviva) was a play off for CL group stages, all 3 EL group games in 2016 were at Tallaght, 2 of the 3 EL group games at Tallaght in 2020, one exception was Arsenal due to Tallaght not available.

Dundalk were generally permitted to play 2 rounds at Oriel Pk only, all qualifying games.

Other way around. Dundalk’s nominated venue for the group stages was the Aviva and their first game of the group vs Molde was played in Tallaght as the Aviva was being used for rugby. The Rapid Vienna and Arsenal games were both in the Aviva.

[pineapple stu]

Shels v Rabotnicki (North Macedonia) is the UEFA Youth League draw - games on 17th Sept and 1st Oct. Means Shels have two games in North Macedonia in October, with the Conference League game against Shkendija too.

Winners to play Zilina (Slovakia) on 22nd Oct and 5th Nov. Winners of that against Banik Ostrava or Red Star Belgrade in the third round on 26th Nov and 10th Dec

For some reason the wiki page isn't updated at all, but that's from the Bert Kassies forum. They should get through the first round I'd say. Zilina probably the favourites in the second round though.

[geysir]

The Breidablik v Rovers game will be played at the national stadium which is in the early process of a major renovation. The first stage has been completed with a newly laid hybrid pitch and under soil heating, officially designated as being "all season". “All Season” is applicable i.e. until the first blizzard happens to pass. I was there on Friday eve and the pitch did look magnificently green. Tickets should be available for all Rover's fans who dare to travel, very different to the 100 or so quota last time Rovers played at Breidablik's home ground.

[placid casual]

Think the Briedablik Rovers game will be crucial for Rovers,and maybe Briedablik to qualify.
A lot can happen before then, of course.
I won't be braving the cold in December myself

[SRFC]

Meh - he's bucked up the last 12 months for sure. But the McGinty save shows you the importance of a good keeper, which lots of people here pointed out the start of last season when Pohls was preferred as number 1. That decision arguably cost Rovers the league (and let's be honest, they didn't lose it because anyone else was particularly good), so it's a recent black mark against him, but at least he's learned his lesson. It very nearly cost Rovers group stage football this year though - they got a bit lucky with the draw (missing Brondby and the Ukrainian side to get Ballkani instead in the third round, and missing Servette/Legia Warsaw in the playoffs), but that's football. The group stage draw is tougher than they might have expected (AEK as fourth seeds in particular), so swings and roundabouts.

The Sparta Prague tie will give an indication of how much progress has been made from last year (when they were comfortably beaten 6-2 on aggregate) - and let's be honest, with unprecedented money coming in, there really should be further progress.

So last 12 months an improvement, but I don't think the questions around him have been fully resolved.

So the team who came 5th in the Polish league are better than the team who came 5th in the Portuguese league?

3 groups stages and 3 leagues in 4 years. 1/6th of the current Irish squad have him as a large part to thank in their development. Not to mention Pico who is on the cusp of world cup qualification.

Turned Josh Honohan, Pico and Lee Grace, amongst others into all time League of Ireland players.

Just curious what exactly does he have to do for you to rate him? Take Finn Harps to the Champions League?

[Nesta99]

Getting Finn Harps promoted and etablished as a PD side is would be a bigger achievement than 4 in a row against the likes of Derry also rans! Proving himself abroad and he might rank up there. Taking a second LoI club to a title would pit him in the same conversation as McLaughlin, Kenny and Collins after getting Harps promoted!

[pineapple stu]

So the team who came 5th in the Polish league are better than the team who came 5th in the Portuguese league?

Yes, I've would consider Legia a better side than Santa Clara. Four group stages in the past five seasons (none for Santa Clara) and they've gotten out of two of them (and will expect to get out of this one too). Conference League quarter-finalists last year. 67th in the UEFA rankings compared to 142nd. They've beaten Leicester, Alkmaar, Villa, Brondby, Betis and Chelsea in that time. They're a good side. Santa Clara hitting a record league position in an uneven league doesn't trump Legia finishing a near record low in a much more even league when it only happens once.

I don't know why you think Bazunu playing a handful of games a few years back or Pico playing for the Cape Verde Islands in any way reflects on Bradley's management. It's a really weak argument that undermines your position really. And I don't know what an

What you've ignored in your post is so the question marks around him. Not just last year, when losing the league was criminal (because (a) everyone could see Pohls wasn't up to it and (b) Shels won the title with such a low points really), but because of the millions he's cost the club missing out on groups by losing home and away to Breidablik and Flora, because he was making no challenge to or inroads on Dundalk/Cork until both went bust, because he's allowed the closing pack get closer and closer since than excellent unbeaten season (culminating in last season), and so on. And that with by far the biggest budget in the league

It's harder now for Rovers to miss out on the groups than to qualify (though Legia did it the hard way each time as non-champions)

As I say, the last year has been an improvement. But one swallow doesn't make a summery. Would you not say those are big question marks?