League of Ireland in Europe 2016

**usename** · 03/08/2016, 6:53 AM

that was some performance in the second half ! only got home from training to see the second half ! but they really dominated BATE in it! congrats Dundalk

Lets hope city can do the same

Actually hope Dundalk get Celtic in the draw, it's actually possible to beat them !

**pineapple stu** · 03/08/2016, 7:07 AM

Oh, and for ****s and giggles -

Dundalk get Plzen (I think LTID is right that they're the "best" draw)

Win and get into groups.

Draw Barca.

Iniesta v O'Donnell.

Top scorer in the Champions League Dave McMillan v Messi.

Mascherano v Boyle.

The even each have a keeper I wouldn't trust.

I'd travel over for it anyway.

**White Horse** · 03/08/2016, 7:22 AM

Phew. It wasn't a dream.

**patrickccfc** · 03/08/2016, 7:47 AM

Originally Posted by White Horse

Phew. It wasn't a dream.

Ha, enjoy it. Dare to dream of the CL group stages now.

Hopefully we can join ye in dreamland tomorrow

**White Horse** · 03/08/2016, 7:52 AM

Originally Posted by patrickccfc

Ha, enjoy it. Dare to dream of the CL group stages now.

Hopefully we can join ye in dreamland tomorrow

I'll be cheering ye on Patrick.

There is nothing between Dundalk and Cork this season. If we can do it, so can Cork. The key is belief.

**Dodge** · 03/08/2016, 8:33 AM

Best ever European performance by an Irish team and, by far, the best ever result. Players like O'Donnell, McMillan and Horgan were exceptional

Already an astonishing achievement, Dundalk have now every chance of reaching the CL group stages as there isn't too much between what's left and BATE

**BonnieShels** · 03/08/2016, 8:39 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Best ever European performance by an Irish team and, by far, the best ever result. Players like O'Donnell, McMillan and Horgan were exceptional

Already an astonishing achievement, Dundalk have now every chance of reaching the CL group stages as there isn't too much between what's left and BATE

Just imagine...

**SPXcyan** · 03/08/2016, 8:52 AM

I was impressed with Cork last week, no reason as to why they can't do it, even my friend that laughs at our league enjoyed that Cork performance and was even more baffled by Dundalk last night, people will wake up and show respect to our league with these performances!

I'll be watching with a real sense of hope for Cork tomorrow, as a Waterford fan that is difficult to admit.

**poster** · 03/08/2016, 8:57 AM

How much did Shams earn for qualifying for/playing in the EL in 2011?

**Yossarian** · 03/08/2016, 9:07 AM

Well that was just fantastic. I didn't sleep a wink last night replaying it all in my head. The great thing about it was that it wasn't a fluke and we weren't hanging on. We played very well and fully deserved it.
Looking at who we can possibly draw in the play off the only team I would really want to avoid would be Olympiacos. I think most of the rest are on a par with BATE or worse.

**Hitman** · 03/08/2016, 9:17 AM

One thing we can be sure of is that Fran Given is frantically drafting new licencing rules which mandate a €100k fine for any club which fails to provide adequate crisps and minerals for away supporters.

I also sincerely hope someone in Galway is producing a high-quality commemorative dvd of Dundalk's run in time for Friday night.

**Dodge** · 03/08/2016, 9:22 AM

Originally Posted by poster

How much did Shams earn for qualifying for/playing in the EL in 2011?

€1.85 million. That includes money from their 2 CL rounds

Dundalk's participation in the CL play off guarantees €3m alone

The EL base fee has doubled from €1.2 million for Rovers in 2011 to €2.4 million now

**paul_oshea** · 03/08/2016, 9:23 AM

What do Dundalk fans think of this:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-34933844.html

I used to think these clubs should always play it in the biggest venues possible, but having seen opinions throughout the years, it should always be whats best for the players first and then the club.

I thought the real stand out, who looked a cut above all 27+ players that played last night Horgan looked a level above the rest, he had pace and skill to match both, and the fitness to keep going. The ball he chased down in the last few minutes beating their defender for pace, was brilliant, only a great McGrath style last ditch tackle from their defender stopped an inevitable goal.

They looked to be tiring on 70mins and then upped it a gear, BATE really didn't have the right temperment and I think the rain really got to them as well, they became very irratic and sloppy, and it was they who ended up looking the less fit of the two teams.

It would be interseting to see O'Neills take on events, it was mentioned on the Ireland thread by BS about McGeady going jokingly, it would be a tough one for O'Neill to get out of if he didn't pick him if/when he was playing with Dundalk in EL or Cl.

As a perrenial blow in to this thread and all things LOI in Europe, as a national team follower without any LOI club to associate with, its great to see that it was done with a group of solely Irish players. A stronger league makes for a stronger national team, or at least better structures to help with a better selection of technically able players available. I also think it helps the profile of the league, friends of mine have watched the last couple of games, and even more were interested last night than ever before, if it gets even one down to a game and then ends up going a bit more frequently then its a success in my opinion. If nothing else it will make people sit up and take notice, a more interested public regardless of attendances will also benefit the league if solely from a marketing and financial perspective.

Best of luck to Cork tomorrow night. Nice to see a Rossie doing well for himself, and JD is a top lad.

**paul_oshea** · 03/08/2016, 9:28 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Sorry Paul, I couldn't reply to this sooner. I was actually in the stadium you see.

Touche CD, Touche. Well played, its great to see you finally admitting going to games you see the game in a whole different perspective :P

**pineapple stu** · 03/08/2016, 9:30 AM

I don't know if they'd have beaten BATE in Lansdowne Road. You need to keep it LoI; let BATE know that this is not their place.

Ditto the play-off round. Celtic for example would be well used to Lansdowne Road. Keep it in a packed LoI ground, play up the atmosphere, give the opposition as few tickets as possible, let them know they're out of their comfort zone.

Depends in part on whether extra seating can be installed in Tallaght in time of course.

**BonnieShels** · 03/08/2016, 9:32 AM

I'd be worried about playing it in Lansdowne simply from a numbers POV.

A sold out rocking Tallaght would be preferable to 20k in Lansdowne. And would be more advantageous to the team you would think.

But whatever is decided long may it continue to be good news for Dundalk.

**BonnieShels** · 03/08/2016, 9:32 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

i don't know if they'd have beaten bate in lansdowne road. You need to keep it loi; let bate know that this is not their place.

Ditto the play-off round. Celtic for example would be well used to lansdowne road. Keep it in a packed loi ground, play up the atmosphere, give the opposition as few tickets as possible, let them know they're out of their comfort zone.

Depends in part on whether extra seating can be installed in tallaght in time of course.

bingo

**paul_oshea** · 03/08/2016, 9:42 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I don't know if they'd have beaten BATE in Lansdowne Road. You need to keep it LoI; let BATE know that this is not their place.

Ditto the play-off round. Celtic for example would be well used to Lansdowne Road. Keep it in a packed LoI ground, play up the atmosphere, give the opposition as few tickets as possible, let them know they're out of their comfort zone.

Depends in part on whether extra seating can be installed in Tallaght in time of course.

What do you mean extra seating, how much are yout talking about here? Are Dundalk actually allowed to switch the games now anyway if Tallaght was given as their QR3 and QR4 venues?

I think a half to 2/3s full Avivia with people who would only have a general footballing interest would be a lot worse for Dundalk, providing a flat atmosphere, than 8k Dundalk and extended LOI family in Tallaght. That shels/deportivo game in Landsdowne that time was quite flat.

The Belorussians commentators pronounciation of tallaght was like something out of Doctor who it was very funny - sorry for going off point BS ;-)

**pineapple stu** · 03/08/2016, 9:43 AM

QR4 needs an extra 2000 seats or so over QR3 I think.

So they'd have to install the same stand behind one goal that Rovers had in for the EL Group Stages.

**BonnieShels** · 03/08/2016, 9:45 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

What do you mean extra seating, how much are yout talking about here? Are Dundalk actually allowed to switch the games now anyway if Tallaght was given as their QR3 and QR4 venues?

I think a half to 2/3s full Avivia with people who would only have a general footballing interest would be a lot worse for Dundalk, providing a flat atmosphere, than 8k Dundalk and extended LOI family in Tallaght. That shels/deportivo game in Landsdowne that time was quite flat.

The Belorussians commentators pronounciation of tallaght was like something out of Doctor who it was very funny - sorry for going off point BS ;-)

I thought the atmosphere walking to Lansdowne and in the stadium that day was absolutely unbelievable. Great day.

What was flat was our game v Bulgaria a few days later... (or before)...

EDIT: A week later so it was!