League of Ireland in Europe 2016

[Hitman]

Made ridiculously hard work of it, Carroll made some fine stops (and looked like he nearly kept the penalty out), but we squandered some absolute sitters on the break. We were much better last week, while Linfield really only threatened from set pieces again their fitness did look markedly improved.

[orielabu]

What would the effect on the co-efs of say a win and a draw from Dundalk.

[geysir]

Yup. Though Ireland have dropped now to 46th, a new record low. It's quite close around us, granted. But there's some countries there it's quite worrying to be behind - Estonia's attendances would be crap in the First Division here for example.

Rank    Country            Total
 40     Latvia             5.625 
 41     Macedonia     5.000 
 41     Montenegro     5.000 
 43     Armenia             4.875 
 44     Luxembourg     4.750 
 44     Estonia             4.750 
 46     Ireland             4.700 
 47     N Ireland     4.500 
 48     Lithuania     4.000 
 49     Wales             3.750 
 50     Faroe Islands     3.500

The country's rank is not important, the LOI will have 3 entries into the EL first round for the foreseeable future unless there will be a string of atrocious results over the next 3 years. It's much more important for the clubs get the results to boost their coefficient in order to be seeded in the early rounds.
Pats winning 2 games and a win and draw for an unseeded Cork is a very good return.

[nigel-harps1954]

The country's rank is not important, the LOI will have 3 entries into the EL first round for the foreseeable future unless there will be a string of atrocious results over the next 3 years. It's much more important for the clubs get the results to boost their coefficient in order to be seeded in the early rounds.
Pats winning 2 games and a win and draw for an unseeded Cork is a very good return.

Pats only won one game.

[patrickccfc]

That should've been a lot easier. Apart from their goal, there wasn't too much from them bit nerves were always there when a goal would've knocked us out. Carroll made some fine saves to be fair to him and he's the reason it was close score wise.

Also, never seen a minutes applause have to be repeated before. First one strangely started as the players were shaking hands.

Happy to be through anyway, now let's have a go off these swedes

[pineapple stu]

The country's rank is not important...It's much more important for the clubs get the results to boost their coefficient in order to be seeded in the early rounds.

The country's rank is a function of the clubs' results - so if it's dropping, it means results are getting worse, which means clubs are less likely to be seeded in future Europa Leagues (a big issue), and the possibility of starting out in QR1 of the Champions' League (you would hope a small issue against San Marino/Andorra/Malta opposition, but it does give the possibility of losing in that round and missing out on €300k)

[geysir]

The country's rank is a function of the clubs' results - so if it's dropping, it means results are getting worse, which means clubs are less likely to be seeded in future Europa Leagues (a big issue), and the possibility of starting out in QR1 of the Champions' League (you would hope a small issue against San Marino/Andorra/Malta opposition, but it does give the possibility of losing in that round and missing out on €300k)

The individual clubs performance is much more important to their seeding, both Pat and Cork have improved their rank in their indiv. seeding. It's totally irrelevant that the LOI might have dropped a place or two in the league rankings.

Of course a league's rankings depends upon clubs' performance and if the LOI's rank keeps dropping it means the clubs are not performing, i'm not a complete moron, but that's not an issue (the LOI dropping as opposed to my moronicity) nor is it likely to be an issue because LOI clubs are winning/drawing games and ther LOI is well ahead of the drop zone to just having 2 EL entrants.

[Charlie Darwin]

Pats only won one game.

I think you'll find they lost both games.

[Pablo Escobar]

Oh, for sure. But we ended last season in 41st - so we'd only be getting back to where we started!

Can't see Pat's getting anything off a side who made the group stages last year. Don't know what to make of Cork's performance - seemed to be the better team but only won 2-1 on aggregate. As you say, really hope Dundalk get by the Icelandic side!

Over the 2 legs Roy Carroll stopped about 4/5 goals that would have been had a LOI keeper been playing. He'll win them that league on his own.

[El-Pietro]

Linfield had one shot on target tonight and scored from it (plus a shot that came from an offside position and I thought was a certain goal but for an incredible save from Nults, plus the flag for offside). We have 6 or 7 in the second half alone, some of which were amazing saves from Carroll, and some which were shot straight at him.

We were by far the better team over the two legs, but we have not scored from open play since the break, two penalties is all we have from three games. Worrying.

Still, our first second round since 2007 so we'll take that. Pity we couldn't add a little more to the coefficient, but a win and a draw as an unseeded team isn't bad.

From a league point of view what really worries me is that only Pats (and maybe Dundalk if they dropped into it) would be seeded in the Europa League next year, unless we go on some mad run to the group stage. So even if we get back to 41st, we're likely to see some tough draws next year which will make it more difficult. Pats might not even qualify.

[Viking]

So, it became Cork-Häcken after all.

Just don't expect any big crowd, or following to Cork in the second leg. Häcken is one of the lowest-supported teams in the league, with an average of just over 3k+ link (first column) The away support usually sounds way more when they play at home.

A couple of full games I found from earlier in May that might be of interest:

Cup Final: Malmö FF - BK Häcken (They actually had a decent following in Malmö this time)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HT8iHPVcf0

BK Häcken - AIK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzsfKroFr7o

More info than that, along with my previous post, and I will soon be deported...

[pineapple stu]

The individual clubs performance is much more important to their seeding, both Pat and Cork have improved their rank in their indiv. seeding.

Pat's improving their individual seeding is hardly relevant given they're looking unlikely to be in Europe next year.

Also, the national coefficient is a factor in clubs' coefficients - a small one, granted, but there's small gaps between clubs at LoI level. So had Pat's won in Luxembourg, Cork would have an extra 0.05 in their coefficient I think, putting them ahead of 7 more teams.

Of course a league's rankings depends upon clubs' performance and if the LOI's rank keeps dropping it means the clubs are not performing, i'm not a complete moron, but that's not an issue

Of course it's an issue - it's a bigger issue than the seeding to be honest. It means the LoI is getting worse, and so instead of a match against a Luxembourg team being a gimme, one of our top teams is now scraping through on away goals. It means instead of beating decent Finnish teams (Drogheda beating HJK in 2006), the LoI is now going out quite weakly against a mid-table Finnish team. It means we're likely to have to put €300k on the line with a QR1 Champions' League tie in the near future. And it certainly means we're less and less likely to go on a decent run - Pat's in 2012/13 was the last one really.

This is a bad thing.

[nigel-harps1954]

So, it's about time we switched back to winter football then and forget about Europe?

[pineapple stu]

Do up a report for the FAI based on no facts or analysis at all and they might take you up on that.

[Dodge]

This is a bad thing.

For who?

Who, apart from us nerds, actually gives a ****? European results were terrific a few years ago but crowds got lower. So what's the point?

Euro money is great for the clubs, and progression is great for the clubs involved.

But whether Shamrock Rovers progress has absolutely no impact on UCD (or most clubs). None. Rovers getting to the group stages didn't help a single LOI club and Rovers getting beat this year won't hurt them either.

If anyone wants to "fix" Irish football, then European progression should be a by-product of that, not a goal.

[paul_oshea]

Hacken play hammarby this weekend, in I think 8th v 13th. They haven't lived up to the hype this year and are sitting midtable, but they have a good striker in Paulinho. Still if they dont/cant beat hammarby then Cork should be confident.

[pineapple stu]

If anyone wants to "fix" Irish football, then European progression should be a by-product of that, not a goal.

I agree with that. I'm saying European regression is a by-product of the LoI getting more broken. Which is a bad thing.

[pateen]

St Pats off to Minsk.
Very tough game but the Saints have done it before against bigger teams.

For those making the costly trip, all I can say is hats off. Enjoy the cheap beer and a the hot women (......and men, for the PC brigade).

[White Horse]

St Pats off to Minsk.
Very tough game but the Saints have done it before against bigger teams.

For those making the costly trip, all I can say is hats off. Enjoy the cheap beer and a the hot women (......and men, for the PC brigade).

Dundalk organised a charter flight to Minsk last year, a two night stay in a good hotel, transport, and match ticket for €650.

Meals and drink were cheap as chips. I think I only spend €40 when I was there.

[Dodge]

I agree with that. I'm saying European regression is a by-product of the LoI getting more broken. Which is a bad thing.

But Pats win a meaningless home leg in Inchicore. Cork do the same and Dundalk progress would see the LOI shoot up the rankings. None of those 3 results would change how strong the league is but we'd suddenly be 6 places higher. They don't mean much