European Qualifying 2013.

[nigel-harps1954]

Any highlights of Drogs v Malmo? Haven't seen a single piece of footage on the game.

[abcd]

2 good results Thursday evening, there are no handy ties this year unfortunately, Pats probably our best hope of progressing through a round or two. Looks like our co-efficient is going to decline further this year, the 29th position of a few years ago looks a distant memory but who knows a good start has been made hopefully all 4 teams can perform to their potential at least.

[Charlie Darwin]

2 good results Thursday evening, there are no handy ties this year unfortunately, Pats probably our best hope of progressing through a round or two. Looks like our co-efficient is going to decline further this year, the 29th position of a few years ago looks a distant memory but who knows a good start has been made hopefully all 4 teams can perform to their potential at least.

Same every year to be fair.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ireland would need all the teams to pick up a win each at least to make any sort of significant impact on co-efficient. A quick glance at the table and we're fast falling down it. If only Shamrock Rovers actually got a few results in the group stage of the Europa we'd be sorted.

[Dodge]

Ireland would need all the teams to pick up a win each at least to make any sort of significant impact on co-efficient. A quick glance at the table and we're fast falling down it. If only Shamrock Rovers actually got a few results in the group stage of the Europa we'd be sorted.

It doesn't really matter. Our ceiling is about 28th and our floor is about 38th. There's very little difference between those positions. Maybe the cup winner gets into QR2 instead of QR1. Is that really a positive looking at Derry's draw?

[Sean South]

It doesn't really matter. Our ceiling is about 28th and our floor is about 38th. There's very little difference between those positions. Maybe the cup winner gets into QR2 instead of QR1. Is that really a positive looking at Derry's draw?

Agree with that, and when I hear people banging on about the leagues co-efficient for a reason for a love in when other teams are playing in Europe besides your own I think yawn you super fan.

[DannyInvincible]

Agree with that, and when I hear people banging on about the leagues co-efficient for a reason for a love in when other teams are playing in Europe besides your own I think yawn you super fan.

The benefits may seem negligible on a year-by-year basis, but, long-term, surely every little helps?

[nigel-harps1954]

It doesn't really matter. Our ceiling is about 28th and our floor is about 38th. There's very little difference between those positions. Maybe the cup winner gets into QR2 instead of QR1. Is that really a positive looking at Derry's draw?

Sorry Dodge, but I disagree. It's any reason to improve the status of the League of Ireland more than anything.

To say we're 38th best league in Europe is pretty bad.

To say we're 28th best league in Europe is reasonable.

Long term, if the league keeps steadily improving, and after one or two breakthrough years, there's a possibility of reaching the top 20 in any given 5 year period.

That, to me, would be a massive boost to the League, an argument to say, we're now the 18th best League in Europe, for instance.

I know that would be 5-10 years down the line before even thinking about that, but surely we should look at this sort of thing long term rather than the next year or two?

[dantheman]

http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/...ccess2013.html

This is a summary of the benefits from continued coefficient progression. TBH it doesn't really kick in until 19th place, the real benefits are seeding for more teams in earlier rounds

[Charlie Darwin]

I wouldn't be too worried about the coefficient. The only real litmus test in European football is competing and that means getting to group stages. If clubs can do that, Ireland will be seen as a more attractive prospect for better players. The little bit of extra money it brings in would be handy for the league too. Apart from that, European results don't matter massively in the grand scheme.

Sorry Dodge, but I disagree. It's any reason to improve the status of the League of Ireland more than anything.

To say we're 38th best league in Europe is pretty bad.

To say we're 28th best league in Europe is reasonable.

Long term, if the league keeps steadily improving, and after one or two breakthrough years, there's a possibility of reaching the top 20 in any given 5 year period.

That, to me, would be a massive boost to the League, an argument to say, we're now the 18th best League in Europe, for instance.

I know that would be 5-10 years down the line before even thinking about that, but surely we should look at this sort of thing long term rather than the next year or two?

Clubs around the top 20 are all getting teams regularly in the Europa League and sometimes Champions League groups. Even thinking 20 years down the line, it's massively optimistic.

[nigel-harps1954]

Maybe top 20 is a bit of a reach, but there's no reason we shouldn't be able to have a co-efficient similar to that of Scotland or Norway.

I must be the only one here that truly believes Irish clubs severely under-perform in Europe.

Put it this way, Europa League group stage shouldn't be out of reach of one Irish club each season.

[mightaswell]

No way near Scotland in the least hahaha that was funny....maybe just maybe near Norway...i'd say we're about right considering

[Charlie Darwin]

Can't see us getting near Scotland unless we get a superclub like Celtic. In fact, all things being fair, we really should get Celtic's ranking points since they're basically Irish. And Liverpool's too.

[Schumi]

Can't see us getting near Scotland unless we get a superclub like Celtic. In fact, all things being fair, we really should get Celtic's ranking points since they're basically Irish. And Liverpool's too.

Can't see that helping much.

[nigel-harps1954]

No way near Scotland in the least hahaha that was funny....maybe just maybe near Norway...i'd say we're about right considering

Nowhere near Scotland, but maybe near Norway...that makes perfect sense, considering the two of them are one place apart.

Apart from Celtic, Scotland have nobody in Europe really, which is evident by the fact, despite Celtics run in Europe last season, Scotland only gained 4.300 points.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong..but this happens, for instance.

Pat's - win the next game, win both games in the next round against whatever armenian or such side they get, and then win one and lose the other and go out in the 3rd round. That's 4.5 points.
Sligo - Beat Molde at home and draw away, they go through, face some team they can't beat, and get a draw out of one of the games. 2 points.
Derry - draw away and win at home against Trabzonspor. They draw Stuttgart or something mental and somehow come away with a draw from one of the games. 2 points.
Drogheda - draw first game, and then they lose to Malmo in Sweden. 0.5 points.

Combined that's 9 points. Divide by four teams..we've 2.25 points

That should, in theory lift us up a few places to early 30s.

Consider a few extra shock results on top of what's there, Pat's get into group stages. Drogheda pull off a famous victory in Sweden. Sligo surprise everyone and also get to Europa League group stages through losing the Champions League qualifying round. There's potential for a few big scalps, and a big year for co-efficient points.

Another year the same next year lifts us up further in the table. All of a sudden we find ourselves not with 5.125 points, but something more like 8.500 or 9.225 or something.


I know one can dream.

[mightaswell]

well thats very likely isnt it

[ped_ped]

well thats very likely isnt it

Whoa! Cool it with the optimism there! You might actually enjoy being a football fan for a second!

[bullit]

Paddys bet -

Malmo FF 1/6 Draw 6/1 Drogs 10/1 (ko 6pm BST)

St Pats.Ath 6/5 Draw 23/10 VMFD Zalgiris 2/1 (ko 7.45pm)

http://www.paddypower.com/football/f...-league-coupon

[nigel-harps1954]

well thats very likely isnt it

Coming from the guy who said we might get near Norway but not Scotland...I'll disregard your opinion.

[mightaswell]

Pfft fine then best to leave realism at the door i see