League of Ireland in Europe 2016

**Nesta99** · 27/05/2016, 12:21 PM

Not beating a team that were trying to throw the match!?

**pineapple stu** · 27/05/2016, 12:26 PM

Tee hee!

Up there with Shels losing to Hibs of Malta as my favourite LoI in Europe defeat.

I hope all LoI clubs do well in Europe, but if they're going to fail, I hope they do it in hilarious fashion.

**Dodge** · 27/05/2016, 1:27 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

What's a "European nightmare"?

losing 5-0 home and away

**Nesta99** · 27/05/2016, 1:41 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Tee hee!

Up there with Shels losing to Hibs of Malta as my favourite LoI in Europe defeat.

I hope all LoI clubs do well in Europe, but if they're going to fail, I hope they do it in hilarious fashion.

I enjoyed that one too but purely to see the look on Pat Fenlon's face. Wasn't it a David Crawley moment of madness that gifted an away goal?

**El-Pietro** · 27/05/2016, 3:39 PM

Originally Posted by patrickccfc

Losing 4-0 to FC Haka

Being a goal up in Iceland in the second leg with the opposition down to ten men at half time and somehow finding a way to lose. I was close to calling home to have someone book my flights to Norway.

**legendz** · 27/05/2016, 5:09 PM

My usual hope for LoI teams is for the champions to make the EL play-offs and at least one of the other teams to make EL Q3.

**patrickccfc** · 27/05/2016, 6:29 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Being a goal up in Iceland in the second leg with the opposition down to ten men at half time and somehow finding a way to lose. I was close to calling home to have someone book my flights to Norway.

I was going to say that game alright as it was very bad that we threw that one away. Haka was just embarrassing though. Hopefully we fair a bit better this year

**Yossarian** · 29/05/2016, 10:52 PM

So unfortunately TNS will not be seeded in the Champions League thanks to Sheriff winning the league in Moldova. Looks like the best outcome for Dundalk in the draw would be FH from Iceland. As long as we avoid BATE and any of the other former Soviet teams. Though if we play the way we played today against Wexford then it will make no odds who we draw.

**TheBoss** · 30/05/2016, 1:29 AM

Originally Posted by Yossarian

So unfortunately TNS will not be seeded in the Champions League thanks to Sheriff winning the league in Moldova. Looks like the best outcome for Dundalk in the draw would be FH from Iceland. As long as we avoid BATE and any of the other former Soviet teams. Though if we play the way we played today against Wexford then it will make no odds who we draw.

I mentioned previously but the pitch at Oriel seems to be a major issue for Dundalk. Check out this season so far, they have have gotten a decent return playing at Home but performances have been OK in general but it is clear to see the away record is much much better.

HOME	5-1-1	11-5
AWAY	7-0-0	24-2

Also in addition to that, Dundalk are currently 26 league games unbeaten away from home and they scored in every single one of them. Last league away defeat was in September 2014 when Pats won 1-0.

**White Horse** · 30/05/2016, 7:15 AM

Originally Posted by TheBoss

I mentioned previously but the pitch at Oriel seems to be a major issue for Dundalk. Check out this season so far, they have have gotten a decent return playing at Home but performances have been OK in general but it is clear to see the away record is much much better.

HOME	5-1-1	11-5
AWAY	7-0-0	24-2

Also in addition to that, Dundalk are currently 26 league games unbeaten away from home and they scored in every single one of them. Last league away defeat was in September 2014 when Pats won 1-0.

The pitch is a major issue for the club. However, it isn't the reason for Dundalk's better away form. You have to bear in mind that many away games are played on horrific surfaces.

The tactics away teams employ at Oriel is the significant factor for the stats you quote.

**Dalymountrower** · 30/05/2016, 7:35 AM

Pats and Rovers are awful, Dundalk inferior to last season
.Cork , the only representative that can hope to progress beyond a round.

**PartySaint** · 30/05/2016, 8:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Pats and Rovers are awful, Dundalk inferior to last season
.Cork , the only representative that can hope to progress beyond a round.

During our horror season under Jeff Kenna we managed to get through 2 rounds in Europe before losing to Steaua, maybe we can do the same again this season*

*I fully expect us to be smashed in the first round if we get anyone even half decent

**Ezeikial** · 30/05/2016, 8:20 AM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Pats and Rovers are awful, Dundalk inferior to last season
.Cork , the only representative that can hope to progress beyond a round.

You might be right that Cork have the best chance of progress - it really depends on the luck of the draw.

Dundalk are not playing the same flowing football as consistently as last season (a title that was won at a canter, with 11 points to spare), but the league table evidence does not support your "inferior" statement:

After 14 games this season the league table shows 37 points with a goal difference of plus 28 (F - 35, A - 7) as opposed to 38 points last season with the same goal difference (F - 33, A - 5)

With O'Donnell, McEleney and Kilduff all returning from injury, I expect Dundalk to recover that single point deficit shortly

**El-Pietro** · 30/05/2016, 8:22 AM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

You might be right that Cork have the best chance of progress - it really depends on the luck of the draw.

Dundalk are not playing the same flowing football as consistently as last season (a title that was won at a canter, with 11 points to spare), but the league table evidence does not support your "inferior" statement:

After 14 games this season the league table shows 37 points with a goal difference of plus 28 (F - 35, A - 7) as opposed to 38 points last season with the same goal difference (F - 33, A - 5)

With O'Donnell, McEleney and Kilduff all returning from injury, I expect Dundalk to recover that single point deficit shortly

The draw will play a big role in how any teams do. Pats and Rovers are seeded in the Europa League so have to be considered favourites to progress. But who knows, this time last year who would have thought UCD would do what they did.

As an unseeded team we have a massive spread of possible opponents. We could draw AIK and get absolutely tonked, or draw Linfield and have a decent chance of progression.

**gufcfan** · 30/05/2016, 5:11 PM

Originally Posted by PartySaint

*I fully expect us to be smashed in the first round if we get anyone even half decent

The gormless "I don't know how we did that" face he had on him in the post-match interview was priceless.

**placid casual** · 30/05/2016, 6:28 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Pats and Rovers are awful, Dundalk inferior to last season
.Cork , the only representative that can hope to progress beyond a round.

I'd expect Rovers & pats to go though the 1st round,based on the seeding.
Success for Cork will depend on their managers philosophy.
Dundalk , no matter who they play , will have to face considerably better oposition than they have had to face for the past 12 months so personally I don't fancy their chances.

Nothing for Baez fans to worry their head over anyway