League of Ireland in Europe 2016

**White Horse** · 14/09/2016, 8:02 PM

A few words from the opposition manager from the press conference.

"Thursday night 's opponent are different from British and Irish football , Van den Brom . "Dundalk is not a typical British opponent , the so-called kick and rush football , but rather looking for the combinations and passing"

http://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieuws...medium=twitter

**nigel-harps1954** · 14/09/2016, 8:38 PM

Dundalk might have dodged a bullet in the CL

**White Horse** · 14/09/2016, 8:53 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Dundalk might have dodged a bullet in the CL

There would be nothing more deflating that getting to the groups stages and being hammered 6-0 at home.

I hope we are competitive in the Europa League.

**ger121** · 14/09/2016, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Dundalk might have dodged a bullet in the CL

You read my mind. The gulf in class between the top sides and the rest is getting bigger and bigger each year. I hate to say it but you can see the argument for having more top ranked teams in the CL to make it more competitive. Yes the money is great but wtf are Legia & Celtic going to learn from getting thumped 6 & 7 goals respectively.

**ger121** · 14/09/2016, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by White Horse

There would be nothing more deflating that getting to the groups stages and being hammered 6-0 at home.

I hope we are competitive in the Europa League.

There's a damn sight more chance of it anyway, than in the CL.Some of the teams are frightening to watch.

**patrickccfc** · 15/09/2016, 8:14 AM

The very best of luck tonight to dundalk.. No one expecting dundalk to get anything but maybe that could work in their favour? I'm sure alkmaar are thinking 3 points.

Don't think there's any hope of any bars here in Liverpool showing the game though

**paul_oshea** · 15/09/2016, 9:57 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Dundalk might have dodged a bullet in the CL

Some big scores going in, if they can get back to where they were again next year to a play-off playing in the Europa league would be a far better stepping stone.

But still some big cricket scores going in the last couple of days, which only strengthens the bigger clubs argument, and uefas cause too.

Bruge only had 29k last night, parkhead would sell out, the question for me is whats the bigger draw, supporters/viewers wise, thats who should be going through. Leicester v Brugge is never going to be a big draw, but Celtic v Leceister would be. MOst people complain based on scorelines, I'd base it on interest and supporters.

**paul_oshea** · 15/09/2016, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by sparky12345678

one of the lower ranked clubs from Bulgaria doing well against Basel apparently, cause for hope?

Ludogrets have a mutil-millionaire running their club and backing them financially.

**Dodge** · 15/09/2016, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Ludogrets have a mutil-millionaire running their club and backing them financially.

What do you know of Dundalk's ownership POS?

**pateen** · 15/09/2016, 11:27 AM

Looking forward to dis.

best fo luck to de Town. Do our league proud

**oriel** · 15/09/2016, 11:50 AM

I think we will score tonight, we might have a chance of a draw, but it's going to be very tough.

Team selection will be key, 8 definite starters should be Rogers and the back 4 of Gannon, Boyle, Gartland & Massey, O'Donnell in the middle, Horgan maybe deployed similar to Legia away, then McMillan up front.

Leaves 3 spots up for grabs, probably Mountney on the right, then Finn and McEleneny, but this means no place for Chris Shields and Benson in MF, and Barrett in defence.

From the rest, I think Kilduff, Sava (GK) Dean Shiels or Michael O'Connor will not expect to start.

**jinxy lilywhite** · 15/09/2016, 12:07 PM

Don't know if we will win. Talking to a few alkmaar fans and they are really talking us up and very complimentary about our performances v bate and legia.

What a city I have never been in a more friendly city

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/09/2016, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Some big scores going in, if they can get back to where they were again next year to a play-off playing in the Europa league would be a far better stepping stone.

But still some big cricket scores going in the last couple of days, which only strengthens the bigger clubs argument, and uefas cause too.

Bruge only had 29k last night, parkhead would sell out, the question for me is whats the bigger draw, supporters/viewers wise, thats who should be going through. Leicester v Brugge is never going to be a big draw, but Celtic v Leceister would be. MOst people complain based on scorelines, I'd base it on interest and supporters.

What on earth are you talking about?

**sparky12345678** · 15/09/2016, 1:04 PM

sure, the gulf between dundalk and every other club is clear. I was just noting that while Celtic got hammered as did Legia and also Brugge i suppose; a lower ranked club did do well (it was a draw in the end... which I assume most of us will take tonight as a good result for dundalk tonight).

**Straightstory** · 15/09/2016, 3:02 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

What on earth are you talking about?

Yes - I read it twice and it's still a puzzler.

**sparky12345678** · 15/09/2016, 3:57 PM

http://www.ad.nl/buitenlands-voetbal...odem~acfb0e3e/
google translate gives some interesting tidbits:

"AZ never played against Dundalk but have played an Irish opponent once before. In the season 1982/83 Alkmaar were drawn to play Limerick in the eighth finals (?) Thanks to a 1-0 home win and a draw in Ireland (1-1) AZ went further. Jos Jonker scored both goals for AZ. "