LOI in Europe 2022

[EatYerGreens]

Objectively speaking from an LOI perspective would it be a good thing for Rangers to qualify from the group stages? I would think so.

Scotland being a top 8 league and consistently having UCL money coming into their league means that in turn it could end up here via transfer fees in a trickle down affect.

Obviously the impact would be fairly negligible in the short term. But basically a strong English and Scottish leagues could help us improve assuming that we can sort out the issues in terms of contract release clauses.

I think that's a pretty weak argument to be honest.

The smaller the gap between British and Irish football the better IMO. As whetrhr we like it to not, it's the yardstick by which we inevitably get measured. So there is no genuine benefit to us in our neighbours to the East being much better.

[EatYerGreens]

Our team will respond like lions to this provocation

Like Three Lions, perhaps ?

[ger121]

“Shamrock Rovers represent unpleasant, British style, physical football" says Ferencváros‘a sporting director!!!

https://mobile.twitter.com/ulloi129/...65216492068864

I suppose it is an improvement on being called evil, in the last round. God knows what they’ll be accused of in the Group Stages.

[paul_oshea]

He moved to the Claddagh Ring in Hendon, though not sure if he is still there. Was in Tl.

Ya that's what i thought.

[culloty82]

Interesting looking at Bødo-Glimt's stadium tonight, has a capacity of 8,250 and now meets UEFA category 4 standards thanks to a new 2,000-seater stand after receiving a derogation for last year's campaign - you've guessed it, a mixture of investment between the club and the municipal council!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspmyra_Stadion

[paul_oshea]

Good article today about that exact thing by cummiskey in the Irish times. Even pointing to ludogorets about capacity not being the main thing https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soc...the-dark-ages/

Sidenote the watt has his fingers in many pies. Will he bridge the gap between health and government. Could be a good soccer/sport story to come out of that

[legendz]

Are Rovers better off in the Conference League? 3rd in the Europa group stage will take on second in the Conference group stage in the playoff before the round of 16.

[pineapple stu]

Are you trying to work out which group will be easier to qualify from?

I don't think it's pessimistic to suggest that's getting way ahead of yourself

[brendy_éire]

Are you trying to work out which group will be easier to qualify from?

I don't think it's pessimistic to suggest that's getting way ahead of yourself

Or in terms of picking up a few points?

Hard one to call. There's a bit more cash on offer in the EL, but being realistic, you would expect to lose every game.
The ECL would more likely have a team in the group you could expect to take points off. Still not enough to qualify out of the group, mind.

By way of comparison, Ludogorets got two points in last year's EL group stage. The lowest third placed team had six points.

[joey B]

We’re running out of winnable games and with Rovers and Pats away after this I suppose we have to look at tomorrows game as one,can’t see us get anything though,we’re just not good enough….

*edit ,I’ve posted this in the wrong thread,could somebody move it?

[EatYerGreens]

We’re running out of winnable games and with Rovers and Pats away after this I suppose we have to look at tomorrows game as one,can’t see us get anything though,we’re just not good enough….

There's obviously never a good time for a team to be performing badly. But with the fundraiser for the stadium, Harps could obviously have really done with a better vibe/results around the place

[paul_oshea]

Or in terms of picking up a few points?

Hard one to call. There's a bit more cash on offer in the EL, but being realistic, you would expect to lose every game.
The ECL would more likely have a team in the group you could expect to take points off. Still not enough to qualify out of the group, mind.

By way of comparison, Ludogorets got two points in last year's EL group stage. The lowest third placed team had six points.

wouldnt a laddered affect be better? Build on something, get the experience and learn from it and use it for the following year. Steady increments. Building up co-effs.

I don't think theres any point any Irish team going into a group where the goal or aim is to limit the number of goals scored against them, which is what the EL would realistically be.

[pateen]

Are you trying to work out which group will be easier to qualify from?

I don't think it's pessimistic to suggest that's getting way ahead of yourself

I'm asking the same question, in terms of winable games and prize money?

[pineapple stu]

I'm asking the same question, in terms of winable games and prize money?

That's certainly a more reasonable question.

I can't find this year's prize money online for some reason; maybe someone else can?

Last year (when the ECL was also about), EL group stage qualification was €3.63m, and each point was €210k (here). The Conference League seems to be €2.94m for the group stages, and €167k per point (here).

So let's say they get to EL groups and get one point - that's €3.84m. Five points in the ECL is worth €3.77m - so you'd be looking at 5/6 ECL points as being equal to 1 EL point, purely in terms of prize money. And ignoring extra gate receipts which you might get in the EL from presumably higher-profile opponents.

[brendy_éire]

wouldnt a laddered affect be better? Build on something, get the experience and learn from it and use it for the following year. Steady increments. Building up co-effs.

I don't think theres any point any Irish team going into a group where the goal or aim is to limit the number of goals scored against them, which is what the EL would realistically be.

Wouldn't be great, I agree. Though to extend that argument, are Rovers best ensuring that they lose tonight? Very much head over heart stuff, if so.

[sbgawa]

That's certainly a more reasonable question.

I can't find this year's prize money online for some reason; maybe someone else can?

Last year (when the ECL was also about), EL group stage qualification was €3.63m, and each point was €210k (here). The Conference League seems to be €2.94m for the group stages, and €167k per point (here).

So let's say they get to EL groups and get one point - that's €3.84m. Five points in the ECL is worth €3.77m - so you'd be looking at 5/6 ECL points as being equal to 1 EL point, purely in terms of prize money. And ignoring extra gate receipts which you might get in the EL from presumably higher-profile opponents.

The other reason why conference league could be better result is two wins and a draw in Conference league would equate to 5 extra coefficient points for Rovers giving us a club coefficient next year of 14 which would almost be enough to be seeded in the second round Champions league next year. (assuming you won the first round).

On balance i think other than the potential for a money spinning game against Man Utd or Arsenal (1 in 4 chance) in EL or West ham 1 in 8 chance in Conference which could be worth a chunk of change while having the revolting sight of Irish people coming to cheer against an Irish team the Conference is better for Rovers.

I'm never going to be able to wish Rovers lose so im basically ambivalent tonight

[sbgawa]

Team announced 5:30 pm kick off
Manus
Lyons, Grace, Cleary, Hoare, Gannon.
Kavanagh, o Neill, Watts
Gaffney, Greene

The bench shows our problem over the next 11 weeks...
8 players with only Byrne (injured) and Towell and Farrugia that could be called senior Pros.
Would love to see Michael Leddy come on, been watching him since under 13s for Rovers, i could be wrong but i think he has been top scorer at every age group for us since then...think he's 17 now. Time for some of the kids to show what they can do maybe

[paul_oshea]

Wouldn't be great, I agree. Though to extend that argument, are Rovers best ensuring that they lose tonight? Very much head over heart stuff, if so.

Maybe not tonight, but I think so overall, but if they beat them over the two legs then they'll have justified their place.

[paul_oshea]

That's certainly a more reasonable question.

I can't find this year's prize money online for some reason; maybe someone else can?

Last year (when the ECL was also about), EL group stage qualification was €3.63m, and each point was €210k (here). The Conference League seems to be €2.94m for the group stages, and €167k per point (here).

So let's say they get to EL groups and get one point - that's €3.84m. Five points in the ECL is worth €3.77m - so you'd be looking at 5/6 ECL points as being equal to 1 EL point, purely in terms of prize money. And ignoring extra gate receipts which you might get in the EL from presumably higher-profile opponents.

So what youre saying is, if you get to the group stage and you dont win a game it actually costs you money. And each game effectively costing you a lot of money.

[paul_oshea]

On balance i think other than the potential for a money spinning game against Man Utd or Arsenal (1 in 4 chance) in EL or West ham 1 in 8 chance in Conference which could be worth a chunk of change while having the revolting sight of Irish people coming to cheer against an Irish team the Conference is better for Rovers.

I really dont think West Ham would be a big draw, and moving it to the aviva wouldnt really make much sense to get well beaten and only a few thousand more.