League of Ireland in Europe 2016

**White Horse** · 21/07/2016, 8:52 AM

Originally Posted by patrickccfc

Absolutely delighted for dundalk. Definitely could've made it easier for yourselves tonight, think hanging on at the end could've been avoided. But bringing Benson on at half time really changed the game. Great to have the cushion of a Europa league play off but hopefully ye can have a good go off BATE now. Very impressive away support there tonight also very vocal, unlike the home fans.

Fingers crossed another two, or at least one of us or pats can get through tomorrow. Feeling very confident about us so here's hoping we can deliver. Tickets are selling fast by the sounds of it so should be a very healthy crowd at it and the same in Inchicore from what I've heard

Robbie Benson changed the game. Not only is he a class player but it allowed Finn to play further up the field. It has taken a while for Benson to attain the required level of conditioning. Now that he has he needs to play in our midfield.

Best of luck to Cork and Pats, it won't be easy in either case. These games never are.

**Burnsie** · 21/07/2016, 9:02 AM

is it too soon to ask about ticketing arrangements for the home leg v BATE in Tallaght? Would people expect a sell-out?

**legendz** · 21/07/2016, 9:02 AM

Getting through the round is like a badge of honour. Dundalk join the list of being a higher level of champion like Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers.

For teams in the Europa League the bar should be getting to playoffs as well. If Cork and/or Pat's get through two rounds to Q3, it'll be a decent achievement. Going one step further and reaching the playoffs would be great.

**D24Saint** · 21/07/2016, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

Getting through the round is like a badge of honour. Dundalk join the list of being a higher level of champion like Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers.

For teams in the Europa League the bar should be getting to playoffs as well. If Cork and/or Pat's get through two rounds to Q3, it'll be a decent achievement. Going one step further and reaching the playoffs would be great.

sounds delusional that our bar should be set so high when our opposition has international players & have qualified for the group stages the two previous season.

**paul_oshea** · 21/07/2016, 9:12 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Hang on... hang on.

Are you saying you talked up Icelandic football without actually being at a game to judge for yourself?

Well youre always the one saying you dont need to go to games. I saw a few on TV from the last few years, thats always enough for you to comment in the Ireland forum. ;-)

**kksaints** · 21/07/2016, 9:12 AM

€15 for adults into Richmond this evening same as the prices for leagu matches.

**legendz** · 21/07/2016, 9:18 AM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

sounds delusional that our bar should be set so high when our opposition has international players & have qualified for the group stages the two previous season.

You're entitled to your opinion. Getting to the EL playoffs via whatever route is what I have respect for from any of the league's representatives.

**disgruntled** · 21/07/2016, 9:25 AM

Originally Posted by White Horse

Robbie Benson changed the game. Not only is he a class player but it allowed Finn to play further up the field. It has taken a while for Benson to attain the required level of conditioning. Now that he has he needs to play in our midfield.

Best of luck to Cork and Pats, it won't be easy in either case. These games never are.

Benson made a huge difference & when Dundalk were coming under pressure late in the game Shields came on to protect the back four.
Dundalk were excellent & well deserved to go through.

**El-Pietro** · 21/07/2016, 9:28 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

Getting through the round is like a badge of honour. Dundalk join the list of being a higher level of champion like Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers.

For teams in the Europa League the bar should be getting to playoffs as well. If Cork and/or Pat's get through two rounds to Q3, it'll be a decent achievement. Going one step further and reaching the playoffs would be great.

We have to win 3 rounds to get that far. If we win tonight we will have beaten a team with a budget over 16 times bigger than ours. Then we will have to Beat Genk. Genk haven't qualified in a couple of years and its hurting their coefficient but when they were in they were consistently qualifying for group stages.
2011/12, CL group Stage, drew their three home games, lost their away games to Chelsea, Lerverkusen and Valencia.
2012/13 EL Last 32, unbeaten with three wins and three draws in the group against Sporting, Basel and Videton. Beaten 3-1 by Stuttgart on agg.
2013/14 EL Last 32 unbeaten with four wins and two draws in the group against Dynamo Kyiv, FC Thun and Rapid Vienna. Beaten 2-0 on agg by Anzhi Makchachkala.

Pats will probably need to knock out a team who last year knocked out Samdoria, winning 4-0 in Italy.

Also, Cork City won a round in the CL in 2006, why aren't we on your arbitrary list of "higher level of Champion". Dundalk have literally won a single tie, they will get to the EL Playoff because its designed to get Champions League teams there, same as Rovers. Its incredibly difficult to do so from the first round of the Europa League, especially as an unseeded side.

**legendz** · 21/07/2016, 9:53 AM

What were Cork's results in 2006? Was it the year they missed out on playing Milan?

**geysir** · 21/07/2016, 9:55 AM

Originally Posted by Pablo Escobar

KR were no great side last year either. They were a side that we should have put out, and on this years performances in Europe, we would. There's no reason to fear these guys whatsoever.

You mean to say that Cork who went a goal up early on, who decided to defend en masse around their goalmouth for the rest of the game (incl.ET) against 10 men, deserved to go through?
A 10 man KR dominated the 2nd leg, Cork were a cowardly, negative embarrassment that night, in complete contrast to Dundalk yesterday.

Last evening was great game to attend between league champions who gave their all, with a cup tie rocking atmosphere all the way through. The Dundalk fans were brilliant. The first 20 minutes of the 2nd half Dundalk really upped the tempo and caught FH cold. This was a hard earned and totally deserved victory. it was easy to see that FH were out on their feet in the 2nd half, they had a tough away game last Sunday. The LOI rescheduling makes total sense.

One factor against Dundalk is that Bate pretty much know what they are facing and that they won't stroll the game.

**El-Pietro** · 21/07/2016, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

What were Cork's results in 2006? Was it the year they missed out on playing Milan?

Beat Apollon Limassol 1-0 in Cork, Drew 1-1 in Cyprus. Lost 1-0 at home and 3-0 away to Red Star Belgrade. Would have played Milan in the next round.

**El-Pietro** · 21/07/2016, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

You mean to say that Cork who went a goal up early on, who decided to defend en masse around their goalmouth for the rest of the game (incl.ET) against 10 men, deserved to go through?
A 10 man KR dominated the 2nd leg, Cork were a cowardly, negative embarrassment that night, in complete contrast to Dundalk yesterday.

He never said we deserved to go through. he said we should have been able to knock KR out. If we had played the way we can then we would have done. If we played like we have done in Europe this yearthen we would have.

**Dodge** · 21/07/2016, 10:15 AM

Current club co-efficients

Dundalk 4.040
Pats 4.040
Sligo 3.040
Rovers 2.790
Derry 2.040
Cork 1.790
UCD 1.540
Bohemians 1.290
Drogheda 1.290
All others 1.040

The national coefficient is 5.075 and we're ranked in 41st place

**legendz** · 21/07/2016, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Beat Apollon Limassol 1-0 in Cork, Drew 1-1 in Cyprus. Lost 1-0 at home and 3-0 away to Red Star Belgrade. Would have played Milan in the next round.

Yeah sure look Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers stand out in the memory. I remember that good Cork side alright. After winning in Cyprus two good players got suspended for indiscipline in the tunnel after the game. I always saw that as what costed Cork the opportunity of a glamour tie against the might Milan.

The Drogheda side that came within a whisker of knocking out Dynamo Kiev is another fine champion that I'd rate.

My top 5:
1. Shelbourne
2. Shamrock Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. Drogheda
5. Cork City

**pineapple stu** · 21/07/2016, 10:23 AM

Dodge - I'm sure I could look this up, but bit trickier on mobile - but what's the general score needed to be seeded?

**Yossarian** · 21/07/2016, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

is it too soon to ask about ticketing arrangements for the home leg v BATE in Tallaght? Would people expect a sell-out?

I would say you'll not have any issues getting a ticket. There are already complaints from people as to why the game will be in Tallaght, and most of these complaints are from people who don't bother going to Oriel for league games.
BATE will have virtually no fans at the second leg and the key for us is to make sure the tie is not over after the first leg to ensure a decent turnout.

**El-Pietro** · 21/07/2016, 10:25 AM

3.7ish should get you seeded in the EL First round.

**pineapple stu** · 21/07/2016, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by White Horse

It has taken a while for Benson to attain the required level of conditioning. Now that he has he needs to play in our midfield.

I know there's a jump to full time (as I presume Benson is now), but given he was controlling midfield in European matches last year, did he really need four months to be ready to do it again this year?

Is it not more likely than Kenny just has too much choice in midfield?