LOI in Europe 2023

[DCWA]

This is madly hyperbolic and I'd have ignored it if not for the fact people are picking up on it.

I don’t have time to reply to everyone at the minute here but just wanted to address this - I can only speak from my own experiences of course but it’s not hyperbolic at all there may be a small/very small clique of fans that have or had ties with those on the board but in a wider sense I have never felt as a fan that DCFC have actually cared about fans. The effort is all one way in that relationship.

[lofty9]

This is madly hyperbolic and I'd have ignored it if not for the fact people are picking up on it.

By all means be critical, running a club and facilitating every fan are often in conflict, but the board - both now and in the recent past - have mostly featured people who are primarily fans giving up their time and would happily step aside for other people willing to give up their time.

In that respect, Derry are no different than most other clubs.



It's not that bad. Glad you enjoyed the night.

The chairman runs the club through his tried and trusted partners. Those coming from the outside wouldnt have an influence in any matters. Our chairman has the right to run the club the way he wants aw he has invested heavily in it for the benefit of the city. As a fan, I can applaud him but I'm not naive to the operation of the club and how it differs.

[SwanVsDalton]

I don’t have time to reply to everyone at the minute here but just wanted to address this - I can only speak from my own experiences of course but it’s not hyperbolic at all there may be a small/very small clique of fans that have or had ties with those on the board but in a wider sense I have never felt as a fan that DCFC have actually cared about fans. The effort is all one way in that relationship.

I think it is hyperbolic, simply because it doesn't stand to reason that people who are first and foremost fans of the club wouldn't have a single thought for fans of the club.

Now whether the club has done enough to engage with fans, be transparent, give fans more of a voice - sure, we can talk about that. And I suspect we'd have plenty of agree on. It's just about being realistic about what we're discussing.

The chairman runs the club through his tried and trusted partners. Those coming from the outside wouldnt have an influence in any matters. Our chairman has the right to run the club the way he wants aw he has invested heavily in it for the benefit of the city. As a fan, I can applaud him but I'm not naive to the operation of the club and how it differs.

If, as I suspect, what we're talking primarily is fans feeling heard and appreciated, then Derry are similar to most. And, bear in mind, my original post was directed at a comment speaking about two decades, pre POD as chair.

What you're describing is more the footballing rule than the exception imo so I don't think I'm particularly naive to "how it differs". And I'm at ease with it too, but that doesn't mean fans - like DCWA or any others - shouldn't demand more.

TBH lads, despite appearances, I don't jump out of bed in the morning busting to get on foot.ie to defend boards.

[yurt]

Now the Pats have a great chance of going into Europe as cup champions they could end up really suffering the unforseen circumstances of Dudelanges last minute winner.

Given how close it's going to end up between 32-35 the extra 0.125 could well end up being the difference between Europa or Conference League next summer for them.

[pineapple stu]

I presume the big advantage of starting off in the Europa League is that even in an expanded competition, Pat's would still get the safety net of the Conference League if they lost?

[SPXcyan]

That's a major perk in fairness.

[pineapple stu]

I suppose it depends how the format pans out. If Pat's scrape in as one of the lowest seeds, then probably they'll be up against it in the first round and end up in the second round of the Conference League anyway, same as if they'd beaten some no-mark Luxembourg team?

So obviously it'd negate the risk of being beaten by the no-mark Luxembourg side first off! That's no bad thing, though it may mean less coefficient points.

I wonder is there a separate Conference League path for Europa League drop-outs? At the moment the teams starting in the Europa League get dumped into the Conference League playoff round, which is a tougher round than the champions path of course.

[D24Saint]

Now the Pats have a great chance of going into Europe as cup champions they could end up really suffering the unforseen circumstances of Dudelanges last minute winner.

Given how close it's going to end up between 32-35 the extra 0.125 could well end up being the difference between Europa or Conference League next summer for them.

Monday afternoon conjecture can’t beat it. It’s long way to go. The draw has to be kind. I would have Bohs as the favourites this year. We got a bit of luck yesterday and held our nerve in the shootout but we have no goalscorer this year unfortunately. The return of Redmond has been crucial to us.

[2 Year Contract]

Monday afternoon conjecture can’t beat it. It’s long way to go. The draw has to be kind. I would have Bohs as the favourites this year. We got a bit of luck yesterday and held our nerve in the shootout but we have no goalscorer this year unfortunately. The return of Redmond has been crucial to us.

Massively. Haven’t conceded a goal since his return. 6 clean sheets in the 12 games he’s started this season vs 4 clean sheets in the 19 games he hasn’t started. It’s chalk and cheese at the back when he plays compared to the mess we were without him. McGrath looks a different player when playing alongside him too, having a competent leader beside him brings him on leaps and bounds compared to when he played alongside Lewis or Norman

[yurt]

Now the Pats have a great chance of going into Europe as cup champions they could end up really suffering the unforseen circumstances of Dudelanges last minute winner.

Given how close it's going to end up between 32-35 the extra 0.125 could well end up being the difference between Europa or Conference League next summer for them.

Just to correct this. 24/25 Access List is already set and we are 36th so CWs will not be starting in the conference league.

1W, 1L for the Kazakh's as expected. If they do any better than 1D, 1L then they will over take us.

HJK drawing 1-1 in Romania. Really could do with them losing there.

If Balkani get knocked out in this round it'll mean they can' pass us out.

[pineapple stu]

Another one worth noting is Breidablik won 1-0 away to Struga for 0.333 points and one foot in the group stages. We've a bit of a gap on them but with only three teams each win is worth more for them - and doubly so if they make the groups.

[ger121]

Balkani 4-1 up on BATE. They were 1 down. A shadow of their former self. Balkani on for back to back group stages and if they play like last season, they’ll take points.

[pineapple stu]

Yep - Kosovo almost certain to pass us out next week. Kazakhstan probably will too, though two away defeats to end their season isn't out of the question.

HJK were 1-0 up but lost 2-1; their fourth loss in a row, which is good for us. But they may turn that around at home.

A draw for the Faroes - arguably a bad result for us. It gives them another half a point and means they'll likely end up in the easier Conference League. A win for Iceland away from home; if they win the return as well they'd be just two group wins off us (though two group wins would mark a serious achievement). And Zrinskij only lost 2-1 in Austria - they could get a result at home too, and are guaranteed group football also.

They're the ones who could pass us out. Four other countries below them also have a team left but won't be coming close to us. And for now we still hang on to 32nd place somehow

[oriel]

Saw a Q asked on FAI Cup thread on prizemoney, so I think I have the answers.

ECL, Pats will get 250k

ECL, Dundalk will get 550k

ECL, Derry get 850k

Rovers, not sure, possibly 800K?

Those games v KA were a disaster for Dundalk, probably first time genuinely disappointed existing europe, as most other recent season we lost to a bigger name when we exited, this was a shocking waste of 300k earning, but we deserved to go out.

Still you heard b/s stats 'we had most of the play', means nothing, all that does, ball in back of the net.

[Nesta99]

The stand out issue for me with Dundalk and Rovers was how they struggled physically with the Icelandic sides. Derry werent outmuscled and didnt see enough of St Pats. Whatever about technical ability, its disappointing to see strength and conditionig being an issue. Some past Dundalk sides looked to have over done it but seeing how easily Boyle was bounced a few times and centre mid were not able to settle under minial pressure. Maybe there is a regression in using the dark arts where minimal contact used to extract a free but I think refs are more inclined to not give soft free more recently. Tactically it was almost perfect from the Icelandics in both fixtures, one with the high press and the other happy to give up the ball, sit deep, break and punish ruthlessly.

[outspoken]

Still you heard b/s stats 'we had most of the play', means nothing, all that does, ball in back of the net.

Sick to my teeth of talking about this. I'm not sure is it down to a lot of our managers being on the same coaching courses or what but far too often in this league we are looking at dour games where managers come out after and talk about playing through the third, territory, possession, it's a total cod and for me a huge part of why we struggled in Europe this year, too many teams obsessed with possession for possessions sake.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Daniel Kelly on LOI weekly talking about having better xG. Good for them.

[oriel]

Sick to my teeth of talking about this. I'm not sure is it down to a lot of our managers being on the same coaching courses or what but far too often in this league we are looking at dour games where managers come out after and talk about playing through the third, territory, possession, it's a total cod and for me a huge part of why we struggled in Europe this year, too many teams obsessed with possession for possessions sake.

I'd almost go as far as saying % as a stat of play should only be counted when you are in the opposition half, as it means nothing passing it around unchallenged in your own half, anyone can do that.

[oriel]

Daniel Kelly on LOI weekly talking about having better xG. Good for them.

Heard that, nonsense talk, he was on about the 5-3 defeat on agg to KA, again useless stat, only 8 stats mattered in these two games, and all from the AFG (actual fxxing goals)...............

[pineapple stu]

I presume he added a bit about how much worse their forwards were than KA's that they scored less from better chances?

It's a legit stat, but like a lot of these it needs to be taken in its proper context. Cos otherwise, yeah, the proper response is "So what?"