LOI in Europe 2023

[oriel]

Fair point, but in that run ye needed injury time winners against Drogheda and Cork and couldn't beat a Shels side down to 10 men for 80 minutes. It's not great form.

Ah i think in hindsight its probably a fair shout, this season's Dundalk is a mixed bag, performances can go from brilliant in one half, playing ok yet winning 5-0 (Pats at home) to playing poor yet still somehow winning games (Drogs H+A, and possibly Sligo A are 3 examples) to being pure awful (Derry away).

God knows what europe will bring, should be strong enough to get to round 2, then if no big injury list should be in with a decent chance in R2, but that's prob our limits all of course draw dependent.

Then again also all depends on what type of Dundalk turns up too.

[Real ale Madrid]

Maybe. Last year, 41st and above got into the 2nd round. Could have something to do with who wins the competitors this year, and whether they need the tournament holder spots.

Russia and Liechtenstein could skew things too? Wiki is saying Cup winners from 20-39 and up start in the second round too though.

Anything to do with Ukraine not holding a cup competition this year - I see that nearly everyone is up a spot in the Seedings page but Bert Kassies doesn't comment.

[EalingGreen]

Taken from another site:

https://www.irishleaguesupporters.co...6&d=1685393292

Sorry about the need to click (can't upload image itself), but assuming that is correct and up-to-date, then Dundalk (and Linfield and Crusaders) are seeded, while St.Pats and Derry (and Glentoran) are unseeded.

[brendy_éire]

Anything to do with Ukraine not holding a cup competition this year - I see that nearly everyone is up a spot in the Seedings page but Bert Kassies doesn't comment.

Their cup slot is being moved to the league.

Read that if Roma win the EL tonight, and finish sixth or above in Serie A, we get bumped up a round. Not particularly hopeful of that happening, mind.
@irishuefacoeff has the info on twitter.

[TonyD]

pats are such a dark horse in Europe its hard to know what to expect from them- for me the were the most impressive LOI team in Europe last year, based on their opposition

I think an awful lot depends on us getting some defenders back from injury, particularly Joe Redmond. I’d also be worried about a lack of real firepower upfront, though we do have a bit of pace with Jake Mulraney and Serge. We did do well last year, still feel hard done by with the penalty decision that put us out.

[Philosophizer]

Pats were excellent last year in Europe. When you have a team like CSKA giving an exhibition in time wasting for the last 10 mins of a tie you know you’ve given them a game.

[Philosophizer]

But I suspect it will be a tougher task this year for them with the defensive injury crisis. Hopefully Daly will be able to bring in some reinforcements during the break.

[Philosophizer]

Vinny Perth was talking on OTB and mentioned how in previous years the league winners usually had about 38-40 points at this stage.
It’s not a great sign going into Europe that our top teams have all had patchy form so far this year but hopefully they can still pull some form out of the bag for the European ties.

[TonyD]

But I suspect it will be a tougher task this year for them with the defensive injury crisis. Hopefully Daly will be able to bring in some reinforcements during the break.

And we had another centre back go off injured last night (Jay McGrath) It’s getting worrying. We may need to bring in bodies during the break, but that’s always a bit of a shot in the dark.

[Dave77]

Is draw for europe today?

[sbgawa]

Yes the draw is today. 1pm Irish time
Rovers are seeded with the following possible draws

Ki Klaksvik (Faroes)
Preliminary round winner
BK Hacken (Swedan) PLEASE AVOID
Balkani (KOS)
FC Struga (North Macedonia)

Apart from Hacken where we would be big under dogs the rest all look like ties we have a chance in

[MichaelCherrito]

Derry City’s potential rivals in today’s draw:

Riga, Crusaders, KF Shkendija, Levadia Tallin or HB Torshavn.

Dundalk’s potential rivals:

Vikingur, FCB Magpies, Vllaznia, Akureyri or SC Gjilani.

Draw is at 14.00.

[sbgawa]

Conference League draw in at 2pm Irish time
Groups for the Irish teams below

Seeded
1 Linfield FC (NIR)
2 Dundalk FC (IRL)
3 Connah's Quay Nomads FC (WAL)
4 FC Progrès Niederkorn (LUX)
5 Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND)
Unseeded
6 KA Akureyri (ISL)
7 Víkingur (FRO)
8 SC Gjilani (KOS)
9 KF Vllaznia (ALB)
10 FCB Magpies (GIB)


Seeded
1 Riga FC (LVA)
2 KF Shkëndija (MKD)
3 FC Levadia Tallinn (EST)
4 HB Tórshavn (FRO)
5 Crusaders FC (NIR)

Unseeded
6 MŠK Žilina (SVK)
7 FC Haka Valkeakoski (FIN)
8 Derry City FC (IRL)
9 Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL)
10 Haverfordwest County AFC (WAL)



Seeded
1 F91 Diddeleng (LUX)
2 FC Shkupi 1927 (MKD)
3 B36 Tórshavn (FRO)
4 G?ira United FC (MLT)
5 Europa FC (GIB)
6 FC Santa Coloma (AND)

Unseeded
7 Paide Linnameeskond (EST)
8 Saint Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL)
9 KF Dukagjini (KOS)
10 Glentoran FC (NIR)
11 FC Hegelmann Litauen (LTU)
12 Penybont FC (WAL

[Jack B]

Would rather not have the North Macedonian or Faroe sides.

So I look forward to have to play one of them.

[sidewayspasser]

Could be Faroese opposition for all four clubs

[pineapple stu]

It's hard to find a tough draw for anyone in those tbh.

The unseeded pot in Derry's pool in particular is stronger than the seeded pot

[sbgawa]

Would rather not have the North Macedonian or Faroe sides.

So I look forward to have to play one of them.

We played FC Skupi last year and one thing i can tell you from having been in North Macedonia is you will enjoy the beer at €2 a pint and taxis where a 15 minute ride costs 3 or 4 euro........plus they are very beatable

[pineapple stu]

Struga is a great spot - Lake Ohrid is beautiful and a stay in Ohrid town is well worth it. Plus an airport right on the door. There's far worse places to go.

[sbgawa]

This draw is so important , avoid Hacken and we have a real chance ..its night and day and so important.
The first round that guarantees you 3 more rounds with a win is the single biggest game in the season..

[culloty82]

After Ballkani's run last season, was expecting them to have beaten stronger opponents, but seems they only had to get past teams from the Faeroes, San Marino and Shkupi of Macedonia.