QuoteWith all the sides so far getting logistically "okay" ties, I think we are now certs to be shafted location wise.
Tough draws all round for League of Ireland clubs. Derry to come after a while.
Wouldn't hold a huge amount of hope. Sligo and Pat's might take big scalps, but Drogs against Malmo looks one sided enough.
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With all the sides so far getting logistically "okay" ties, I think we are now certs to be shafted location wise.
Tough one. Molde are a good side, and in the middle of their season.Originally Posted by razor
Travel wise it is pretty good for the fans.
Looking at Pat's possible opponents, they'll feel a little unlucky not to get a better draw. Mind you they never seem to get a handy one in previous years and have done ok.
Cliftonville would be mad not to swtich that to Windsor Park. Would fill the place.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
I'd say that would go down an absolute treat with the locals.
Tough enough draws so far for the Irish sides. There will be WW3 in Belfast when Celtic arrive in the middle of marching season.
Hopefully they'll see sense and move it to the Aviva so all the diehard Celtic fans will get a chance to see their side in action.
It doesn't get any easier. Trabzonspor for Derry.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
If the Drogs win they play Hibs
Really tough draw for Derry. Trabzonspor are Drogheda's official sister club, of course.
Pats seem to have the best of a tough lot. Saw Zalgiris play twice this year, pretty average side, some good players but they can do them. Pyunik are a club in extreme crisis, they're owned by the President of the Armenian FA and he's in dispute with players over payments. Plus Armenian football is pretty weak at league level, and they've just played a season and a half, so it's the best time to get them.
Tough on Sligo, but this is the time to win one. Drogheda, wouldn't it be nice to get Hibs in the next round.
Pyunik knocked Derry out a few seasons ago: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...sh/6916047.stm
They weren't a bad side. Derry were in a bit of a mess at the time, mind.
Pats could easily get through those games but the travel and the fact they are concentrating on the league may play against them. No hope for the rest in my opinion.
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I thought of that possibility as well. Would make more sense financially speaking and probably safer than playing in Windsor Park, but I question if is that possible. I would definitely go for it if I were from the Cliftonville board.
Surrender home advantage and vastly reduce your chances of getting a result in order to make a few bob? Sounds sensible.
Actually, knowing how the NI teams operate, they'll probably already be on the phone to John Delaney.
Their chairman on SSN says they'll play at Solitude
With less than 500 Tickets, I doubt it
Ah yeah, tickets stop people from travelling to games. That's been proved...
****e draws for all the Irish teams. Sligo have a small chance against Molde but it'd be a huge shock. Derry got the hardest opponent of all. Drogheda are struggling in our league so you'd expect malmo to beat them (even with recent (ish) irish success v Sweden)
Pats got a tough enough game v Lithuania and then 1 of 2 horrible trips (logistically speaking) to Armenia or Macedonia.
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Crusaders played Fulham in their own ground 2 or 3 years ago. So Cliftonville will probably play in Solitude this time round. Don't think its feasible on security ground to play in at Windsor and with the disputes ongoign between the FAI and IFA I highly doubt the IFA would allow it to take place outside NI.
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