LOI in Europe 2011

[born2bwild]

I'm not generally that nosey, but im intrigued to know what you work at that has you in these parts.

So if Pats progress who are they likely(can like is there 14/8 teams possible) to get?

Organ theft and smuggling (includes murder)

[Dodge]

According to a fella on Bert Kassies forum, the groups for the draw will be this:


I don't understand this though, I thought they dont divide the teams into groups til just before the draw, so how is it decided how to group them or is yer man wrong?

If there's no regionalistion, then they rank everyone and put them into groups that way. Thats definitely how it happened when we drew hertha and Steau previously

[PartySaint]

According to a fella on Bert Kassies forum, the groups for the draw will be this:


I don't understand this though, I thought they dont divide the teams into groups til just before the draw, so how is it decided how to group them or is yer man wrong?

The year we got Steaua, There was strong rumours we were going into a very nice group including teams like Lazio, Wasn't true tho so will just have to wait and see

[Spudulika]

I'm not generally that nosey, but im intrigued to know what you work at that has you in these parts.

So if Pats progress who are they likely(can like is there 14/8 teams possible) to get?

Contrary to Cornflakes idea (or is that dream job) no, but not too far off it :-) Sports basically. Also some consultancy work with clients (from previous projects) and family.

In terms of visas for a trip like that's it's fairly okay - just lots of bribes at borders. You only have to deal with (best case) Belarus and Russia before you hit Kazakhstan (that'd be the best way to go), though for a trip that long you'd need 7-10 days. I did a couple of mega long trips up and down to Saudi before and while I was able to speed along, the roads were all good (for the most part except for Bulgaria and a patch of Turkey). Kazakhstan is a good country to visit, people are sound, women are good looking, and the beer is good and cheap. Food is so so, but if you stick to local fare (rice based dishes) after your first dose you pick up resistance.

[Hibs4Ever]

The year we got Steaua, There was strong rumours we were going into a very nice group including teams like Lazio, Wasn't true tho so will just have to wait and see

We went into nice group with AC Milan instead

[Dodge]

No, that was the time we got Hertha. Milan was one of the options

[PartySaint]

No, that was the time we got Hertha. Milan was one of the options

And came out 1 before us

[Hibs4Ever]

No, that was the time we got Hertha. Milan was one of the options

What was the other teams when we got Steau?

[Dodge]

Honestly can't remember

[PartySaint]

What was the other teams when we got Steau?

I seem to remember out of the 5 Steaua was the second or third best option, Odense were definitely in there, Zenit St Petersburg also, Zilina maybe?? and maybe even a trip to your hometown of Prague

EDIT, Odense, Zenit, Villa, Sparta Prague (you should have known that ) and Steaua

[sligoman]

Our European game will be at the Showgrounds.

[Ezeikial]

St. Patrick’s Athletic league match with Bohemians, due to take place next weekend has been postponed to facilitate travel and preparation for Europa League fixtures.

[Ezeikial]

Our European game will be at the Showgrounds.

Congratulations to all at Sligo for making this happen. Credit also to the FAI for promoting and supporting this at UEFA level

PRESS RELEASE
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
Friday, July 8, 2011

UEFA approve The Showgrounds for Sligo Rovers Europa League tie

UEFA has today informed the Football Association of Ireland that approval has been granted to Sligo Rovers to host their forthcoming Europa League Third Qualifying Round at the Showgrounds.

Following an inspection from UEFA officials at the ground, the FAI has been informed that Sligo Rovers must implement a number of minor upgrades to the facilities at the venue.

There will also be a requirement to increase the size of the playing area by extending the south side of the ground and to add additional seating which will bring the seated capacity up to over 3,600.

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney commented: “I recently pledged to make a personal contribution to Sligo Rovers to help with the ground improvements at the Showgrounds as I felt it was vital for football in the area that this game be allowed take place in Sligo.

“I am delighted to hear the news from UEFA today and will be glad to honour my commitment to the club as it is a great day for Sligo football.”

Sligo Rovers Chairman Michael Toolan is similarly pleased that the efforts of the FAI and the club have paid off.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to the FAI and the Club Licensing Department and John Delaney in particular for the amount of work that was put into securing this game for the people of Sligo,” said Toolan.

“This occasion will be very important for the football community in Sligo and for Paul Cook and his squad in particular it was crucial that the game took place at The Showgrounds.”

Sligo Rovers will learn their Third Qualifying Round opponents after the completion of the Second Qualifying Round over the next two weeks. Potential opponents could include Atletico Madrid, Stoke City, Sparta Prague, Red Star Belgrade or Palermo.

[legendz]

The draw for the third qualifying round takes place next Friday July 15th. They'll learn their opponents or one of two possible opponents then.

Seeded teams
Atlético Madrid
AZ Alkmaar
Winners of match 13 Fulham or Crusaders
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Club Brugge
Sparta Prague
Palermo
Dinamo Bucureşti
Winners of match 25 Red Bull Salzburg or Liepājas Metalurgs
PAOK
Stoke City
Rennes
Winners of match 32 Austria Wien or Rudar Pljevlja
Young Boys
Winners of match 30 Anorthosis or Gagra
Levski Sofia
Winners of match 18 Žilina or KR Reykjavík
Winners of match 36 Nacional or FH
Mainz 05
Mladá Boleslav
Bursaspor
Vitória Guimarães
Helsingborg
Karpaty Lviv
Winners of match 10 Vorskla Poltava or Glentoran
Brøndby
Winners of match 5 Sheriff Tiraspol or Željezničar
Red Star Belgrade
Alania Vladikavkaz
Winners of match 2 Elfsborg or Sūduva Marijampolė
Winners of match 9 ADO Den Haag or Tauras Tauragė
Winners of match 3 Lokomotiv Sofia or Metalurg Skopje
Hearts
Winners of match 7 Gaziantepspor or Minsk
Winners of match 26 Olympiakos Volou or Rad

[DaveyCakes]

If the groupings were to work out like that...

AZ Alkmaar: would be a great draw
Rudar Pljevlja or Austria Vienna: Montenegro might be nice for a few days, Vienna would be handy, although I'm not mad keen on the place.
Levski Sofia: meh
Zeljeznicar or FC Sheriff: Transdniester!!
Suduva or Elfsborg: either would be fine (and you'd hope Rovers would give a good account of themselves)

[bennocelt]

AZ would be a good away trip, but Elfsborg would be a team that Sligo would def have an outside chance of doing over.

As for the Pats game - was at it, great fun, pats were in total control for most of the game and it would be unlucky if they went out on an away goal. Longest second half imaginable though!
Another good Euro crowd from the Pats faithful - after one of the goals a fella near fell right under the stand!!!! Was lucky he didnt have a serious injury.

[legendz]

The Pat's commentary on some ustream link was hilarious. "Finally they're taking off someone who's name we can pronounce"... "He can throw the ball where the sun don't..."

[SkStu]

[Dodge]

Congratulations to all at Sligo for making this happen. Credit also to the FAI for promoting and supporting this at UEFA level

I only realised that Pats played Krylia in this round 2 years ago? Is the Showgrounds really worse than Richmond that it needed all that work?

Regardless, good luck to them

[Spudulika]

Imagine, in 2009 Pats played great football in Europe, beating a quality Valletta side plus a solid Samara team. Just imagine what would have happened had Dublin City Council launched over $50million into the club as happened with Samara. Makes FCC looks positively stingy!