Europa League 2009

**TheFingallian** · 13/05/2009, 5:27 PM

Originally Posted by Flexy

Id take anybody from estonia upwards forget the rest of them

I wouldn't rule out Montenegro. They seem to be setting themselves up as a summer tourist destination.

**A N Mouse** · 13/05/2009, 5:46 PM

Originally Posted by TheFingallian

I wouldn't rule out Montenegro. They seem to be setting themselves up as a summer tourist destination.

Aye, no doubt, would be a nice place to go.

But, as has been pointed out elsewhere, their co-efficient is not necessarily a true reflection of the standard their top teams are playing at. Its a recently formed league, teams previously competed in Serbian (and Montenegran?) league.

**OneRedArmy** · 14/05/2009, 9:31 AM

Montenegro is lovely. But been there already in the last 12 months!

Unfortunately none of the coastal teams have qualified, but an easy enough journey in from the riviera to Niksic or Podgorica.

Main problem for any of the southern European places will be flight prices. Savagely expensive at a week's notice.

**A N Mouse** · 15/05/2009, 4:53 PM

What are the chances of any of our teams home games being broadcast?

My understanding is that, unlike in previous years, tv rights are centrally distributed, qualifying rounds and all, and the Irish rights were awarded to tv3 and Setanta.

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/...5_download.pdf

**CuanaD** · 15/05/2009, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by A N Mouse

qualifying rounds and all,[/url]

- that's the bit that needs to be clarified - I think in previous years the centralisation started at either the group stages or 'round one proper' & didn't include the 'qualification' rounds. Where does it say (explicitly) that that has now changed?

Would be great to have all LOI Europa games shown live - especially if any of our teams could be shown winning comfortabally against 'lesser' opposition.

**Steve Bruce** · 15/05/2009, 5:21 PM

The best I could hope for is Sligo or the Scottish team. Not nesserily to get through a round, just these are the most accessible in such a short space of time.

Although I would expect Linfield to beat Sligo over 2 legs. But you never can tell.

**A N Mouse** · 15/05/2009, 9:34 PM

Originally Posted by CuanaD

- that's the bit that needs to be clarified - I think in previous years the centralisation started at either the group stages or 'round one proper' & didn't include the 'qualification' rounds. Where does it say (explicitly) that that has now changed?

Would be great to have all LOI Europa games shown live - especially if any of our teams could be shown winning comfortabally against 'lesser' opposition.

My bad
Knew they kept on about greater centralisation of media rights as a benefit, just got confused.

Confirmed starts from group stages

There will be full centralisation of media rights from the UEFA Europa League group stage, involving non-exclusive presenting sponsor plus a centralised match ball for the group stage and full sponsorship centralisation (as for the UEFA Champions League) from the Round of 32 onwards.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uef...id=788365.html

damn,we'll force them to show an irish team yet.

**MariborKev** · 23/05/2009, 10:05 AM

"The Europa League cup-holder spot will not be used because Shakhtar Donetsk already qualified for the Champions League. It is assumed that with the new format UEFA will make similar changes as with the old format (with priority to cup winners). This may be implemented such that the 4th qualifying round is extended with an extra match. This is accomplised when the cup winners of the 16th and 17th countries on the ranking list (Switzerland and Bulgaria) have direct access to the 4th qualifying round, the cup winners of the 28th and 29th countries on the ranking list (Cyprus and Slovenia) have direct access to the 3rd qualifying round, and the runners-up of the 35th and 36th countries on the ranking list (Ireland and Macedonia) and the cup winners of Andorra and San Marino have direct access to the 2nd qualifying round of the Europa League.

However, the details of not using the title holder spots in the access list are not written in the regulations. And because this is the first year with the new format there is some uncertainty about the method UEFA will use to fill the empty title holder spots. This is especially the case with the Europa League cup-holder spot. UEFA might decide to give one team of the 4th qualifying round (playoff round) direct access to the group stage. In that case the cup winners of Bulgaria and Slovenia and the runners-up of Ireland and Macedonia would not be promoted to the next qualifying round. "

Update from Bert's site......

Might see Derry in the second round.

**holidaysong** · 24/05/2009, 4:30 PM

Originally Posted by Maribor

Update from Bert's site......

Might see Derry in the second round.

Bert is usually spot on with this stuff so good news for Derry there, especially as they will be seeded in EL QR2.

**HarpoJoyce** · 24/05/2009, 6:14 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

According to this page, Derry and Sligo will be seeding in QR1 and St. Pat's will be seeded in QR2. Also, if they get through the first round Derry will be seeded in QR2 but Sligo might not.

And according to this page Bohemians won't be seeded in QR2 of the CL (although it's effectively the same round as last year's QR1).

Originally Posted by holidaysong

Bert is usually spot on with this stuff so good news for Derry there, especially as they will be seeded in EL QR2.

Sorry holiday, dont mean for you to have to defend any website or anything.
But you're presenting two different situations on the same thread and then desribe the website as 'spot on'.
If 'the bertmeister' has to wait in line for the information from UEFA along with everyone else, that's fine. UEFA is the source.
Let's not pretend anyone else has special powers.

**holidaysong** · 24/05/2009, 6:54 PM

Originally Posted by HarpoJoyce

Sorry holiday, dont mean for you to have to defend any website or anything.
But you're presenting two different situations on the same thread and then desribe the website as 'spot on'.
If 'the bertmeister' has to wait in line for the information from UEFA along with everyone else, that's fine. UEFA is the source.
Let's not pretend anyone else has special powers.

That first post that you quoted from me is almost a month old this stage. In the time since then we've found out that the title holder spot for the Europa League won't be needed as Shakhtar Donetsk have qualified for the CL through their league place. Surely you can accept that the information on that particular website can be updated accordingly?

**Rory H** · 25/05/2009, 11:57 AM

It's been mentioned that with the draw on 22 June that it doesn't leave much time for booking flights etc with a game on July 2 or 9. But the second round draw will probably be on the 10th so that may only leave six days again to book travel for Pat's and Derry (and maybe us).

**Rovers Maniac** · 25/05/2009, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Rory H

It's been mentioned that with the draw on 22 June that it doesn't leave much time for booking flights etc with a game on July 2 or 9. But the second round draw will probably be on the 10th so that may only leave six days again to book travel for Pat's and Derry (and maybe us).

What's this maybe rubbish ?

**MariborKev** · 25/05/2009, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Rory H

It's been mentioned that with the draw on 22 June that it doesn't leave much time for booking flights etc with a game on July 2 or 9. But the second round draw will probably be on the 10th so that may only leave six days again to book travel for Pat's and Derry (and maybe us).

Welcome to the perils to European football......

**Dodge** · 25/05/2009, 12:21 PM

It could be even worse if you're away for the 2nd leg of the first round, and then away for the first leg of the 2nd round (and that reads like a riddle, which it isn't...)

You might be travelling home when the draw is made and lose out on any potential cheap flights

We were kinda lucky lat year that all 3 away legs were first, and all 3 could be easily reached by ryanair/aer lingus

**DaveyCakes** · 25/05/2009, 1:38 PM

The first and second rounds are both drawn on June 22nd

**dcfcsteve** · 25/05/2009, 1:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

It could be even worse if you're away for the 2nd leg of the first round, and then away for the first leg of the 2nd round (and that reads like a riddle, which it isn't...)

You might be travelling home when the draw is made and lose out on any potential cheap flights

We were kinda lucky lat year that all 3 away legs were first, and all 3 could be easily reached by ryanair/aer lingus

It is daft - almost as if UEFA didn't want fans to travel, or didn;t care if they couldn't.

I would hope that the various fan bodies in Europe at least, if not the FA's themselves. will make representations to UEFA about this. Only problem is -the countries with the best established fan groups tend not to be the ones who are in the earlier rounds (e.g. England, Germany).