Europe 2011

**pineapple stu** · 19/11/2010, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by gspain

Technically one of the Cork Hibs v Pezoporikos games in 1972 was the away tie but both played at Flower Lodge. Hibs were getting big crowds at the Lodge in those days so probably more than 3,000.

On that, I see Bohs played Omonia Nicosia in Cork in 1978/79. Anyone (i.e. gspain!) know what the story with that one was?

**legendz** · 19/11/2010, 3:03 PM

I think Shamrock Rovers are capable of matching the run of Bohemians conquerors and make the Europa League play-offs. Depends on the draw of course. Hopefully Sligo will enjoy some success as well and get by two rounds.

**marinobohs** · 19/11/2010, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

On that, I see Bohs played Omonia Nicosia in Cork in 1978/79. Anyone (i.e. gspain!) know what the story with that one was?

Cant remember for sure offhand but think it may have been a result of our "encounter" with Newcastle Utd at Dalymount which resulted in our next european home game having to be played a certain distance away from Dublin. Open to correction on this one if anyone else knows exactly.

**thischarmingman** · 19/11/2010, 3:48 PM

So much depends on the draw but I could see Sligo doing well in Europe next season if they hold onto their team. They remind me of ourselves in 2005-6 and there seems to be the same belief around the team as there was with us then.

**sligored** · 19/11/2010, 5:24 PM

dodge , if sligo get seeded to the 3rd round , does that mean we would get 90,000 x 3 rounds or is it 90k for each round played in.

**Dodge** · 19/11/2010, 7:17 PM

Originally Posted by sligored

dodge , if sligo get seeded to the 3rd round , does that mean we would get 90,000 x 3 rounds or is it 90k for each round played in.

You'd only get the 90k afaik.

**Rasputin** · 20/11/2010, 8:57 AM

Looking at the calibre of teams in the second qualifying round it will not be easy to get through it.
But if we keep our team and play like we did against Bohs in the semi final then we could very well get some decent results.
Anything to gain some credibility after losing to that pub team from Albania (great trip all the same).

**MariborKev** · 20/11/2010, 12:21 PM

We took 4 to FK Lynn in the 60s. Including one lad who flew from Saudi Arabia!

**The Lep** · 20/11/2010, 2:37 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

You'd only get the 90k afaik.

Plus 10k training money. Sligo will be in the second qualifying round as cup winners. Unseeded. If they beat a seeded side then they get that side's points and possibly be seeded in the next round depending on the strength of the side they beat.

**Dodge** · 20/11/2010, 4:54 PM

Originally Posted by The Lep

Plus 10k training money. Sligo will be in the second qualifying round as cup winners. Unseeded. If they beat a seeded side then they get that side's points and possibly be seeded in the next round depending on the strength of the side they beat.

Only on the basis that the 3rd QR draw is made before the 2nd QR is complete (as this year)

**The Lep** · 25/11/2010, 1:02 AM

With League of Wales having gone to a shortened 12 team league this year this is how the 3rd euro spot gets decided.

"Next year, under the league's new fixture format, the third Europa League spot will be determined by a play-off involving the clubs finishing in third to seventh places (or eighth if the Welsh Cup winners finish in one of those positions). "

Would you support that format if our Premier Division went to a 12 team or more league?

**Louth4sam** · 25/11/2010, 9:04 AM

Originally Posted by The Lep

With League of Wales having gone to a shortened 12 team league this year this is how the 3rd euro spot gets decided.

"Next year, under the league's new fixture format, the third Europa League spot will be determined by a play-off involving the clubs finishing in third to seventh places (or eighth if the Welsh Cup winners finish in one of those positions). "

Would you support that format if our Premier Division went to a 12 team or more league?

No way. You would have had both us and UCD competing for the spot when Fingal, Pats and Sligo were more deserving of it. The third best team in the league deserves to play in Europe not the seventh.

**osarusan** · 25/11/2010, 9:11 AM

Agreed with Louth4sam.

I'm against playoffs of any kind, so I don't see the point of this.

**Dodge** · 25/11/2010, 9:21 AM

Might as well go the US route and make everything playoffs.

League placing only dictates seeding (and home advantage).

Play offs to decide every position. Can you imagine the exictement of the 7th/8th place play off?!

**BonnieShels** · 25/11/2010, 9:23 AM

Is third to seventh not 5 teams?
Id be more inclined to give that 3rd spot to the league cup winners.

**paudie** · 26/11/2010, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Is third to seventh not 5 teams?
Id be more inclined to give that 3rd spot to the league cup winners.

Don't agree. a Setanta place is enough for the LC winners.

Teams don't take the LC seriously enough for it to merit a place in europe.

**sligoman** · 26/11/2010, 9:13 PM

Originally Posted by paudie

Don't agree. a Setanta place is enough for the LC winners.

Teams don't take the LC seriously enough for it to merit a place in europe.

That's the clubs problem though. If there was a place in Europe on offer, you can be sure clubs would be going all out to win it. I still don't agree that LC deserves a Euro spot though.

**legendz** · 29/11/2010, 10:42 AM

That's it, if their is a European place available for the LC and even a final at the Aviva, it would be taken more seriously.
I don't have the problem with play-offs others seem to have. They create excitement and avoid dead rubbers. It can also be viewed as a seperate competition for Europa League qualification. As long as the Champions League is based on league placing, I don't see the problem.
I think the LoI should bring in the play-offs. Everyone will know the rules before the beginning of the season. Win the league, win the cup and/or finish second in the league, qualification is guaranteed for Europe, unless of some licensing issue.
Have four teams play-off then for the last Europa League place. It's been run very successfully in the Dutch league.
This year it would've been:
Sporting Fingal v UCD
St. Pats v Dundalk
Winners then play in the final. Highest ranked side from the league always has home advantage in the second leg. It would not work in a league where teams play 4 times. In a league where sides only play once at home and once away, it'd work best.

There's another play-off system which would also be worth looking at as well. This would involve 8 teams, one off games and is run successfully in the AFL.
It'd work that teams ranked 1-4 would play against each other and sides ranked 5-8 would play each other. The two winners of 1-4 would advance to the semi's while the two loser of 1-4 would play the two winners of 5-8 in the quarters. The winners of the quaters would then naturally advance to the semi's and so on. This play-off system will work in a 16+ team Premier, giving sides 3rd to 10th something to play for while the advantage still does lie with finishing as high up the table as possible. Sometimes a fresh approach has to be taken.
This is how it works in the AFL:

**pineapple stu** · 29/11/2010, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

Sometimes a fresh approach has to be taken.

And sometimes it doesn't. That AFL system looks daft. And the Dutch league play-off system has been pared down drastically after complaints that it was stupid.

If you get third in the league, you deserve Europe, end of story.

**marinobohs** · 29/11/2010, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

And sometimes it doesn't. That AFL system looks daft. And the Dutch league play-off system has been pared down drastically after complaints that it was stupid.

If you get third in the league, you deserve Europe, end of story.

+ 1. Dont see much wrong with current allocation, so if it aint broken..........