This thread has a tough act to follow after the LOI's best ever season in Europe last time out. Hard to see us getting anywhere near as much joy this year but hopefully we won't be lamenting the league going too far backwards if we don't have any representation in the league phase.
We're 12 weeks away from the draws for the first rounds of European competition and Bert has updated his website for next seasons projected seedings.
https://kassiesa.net/uefa/seedcl2025.html
Shels being unseeded is a minefield but there are a chunk of winnable ties in there already. I'm sure the Shels fans will be monitoring the leagues around Europe hoping some non-traditional champions come through in places like Hungary, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan and that the usual champions come through in Gibraltar and Andorra.
Rovers will be seeded all the way through qualifying but it won't be much use to them after the first 2 rounds in the ECL.
Pat's will likely only be seeded in the first round, but a run in Europe could be big for Pat's if they are hoping to go down the champions route in 2026. If they could get to the playoff round once again it gives them at least a chance of being seeded in the CL next year.
Drogs unseeded too but will most likely be favourites for their round 1 tie given the amount of part time and out of season teams in the draw.
Drogs go in at round 2 with a lower coef than Pat's so will surely be unseeded?Originally Posted by yurt
If I had to have guessed I'd have thought Pat's would just about squeeze in to being seeded for rnd 2 themselves, won't be a ton in it either way I'd imagine given how many small clubs will get through a round.
Last edited by Acornvilla; 26/03/2025 at 7:12 PM.
Complete list of seeded teams that Shels can face in round 1:
Ludogorets Razgrad
FCSB
Olimpija Ljubljana
Malmö FF
Žalgiris
RFS
KuPS
Lincoln Red Imps
The New Saints
Drita
Breiðablik
Linfield
Budućnost Podgorica
Winners of the 2024–25 Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina
TNS or Linfield would be the ideal draw. Are the unofficial geographical groupings a thing in the UCL? Or just the conference league where's there's far more teams?
Not saying im not glad we are seeded but there are landmines all over the place and aftwer round 3 i dont think we will be seeded and will be playing the likes of Newcastle, Lyon 6th 8th and 5th place finishers from Italy Spain and Germany as well as the losers from the 3rd round of the EL.
I’m pretty sure you are forecasted to be seeded all the way up to and including the PO Round.
That was my understanding too and was thinking good damn job considering the sides that will be in the various rounds of UCL. No champions pathway will make it tough especially if there is the traditional slow start by Rovers seeded or not. From a few things Ive heard said Shels badly need to win that 1st round tie or finances come in to play end of this or next season - everyone needs a good run in Europe but this sounds a little more than keeping the wolves from the door.
https://m.independent.ie/sport/socce...100859369.html
Yes and Dundalk have had 60 years or something left on the Oriel lease. 'investment' in an academy doesnt necessarily mean day to day finances are covered at sustainable levels. Unless one of the academy kids get sold on for a proper fee and/or the 1st team can be filled with academy players that still need to be paid at a rate agents will set. So from a 1st team perspective, owners looking more at youth development doesnt necessarily mean no trouble at senior levels, in the short term anyway. But hey maybe a win or 2 in July will keep all things good. If not then owners willingness to sontinue to subsidise (possibly a midtable side) will be tested.
If their current financial circumstances are "more than keeping the wolves from the door", would the shareholders be making a significant investment in training facilities?
27 underage teams? Is that right?
9 girls teams and 18 boys teams, 450 players.
https://shelbournefc.ie/teams/academy/
7 teams in National League so 20 in other leagues.
Whats not to love about that, but club winning league, getting its best ever attendances and still losing 1m a year. Expenditure at 150% of income. Fkit , but I think I've seen this movie too many times.
It wouldnt be unusual for a club, or ther investors to prioritise one area of a club over another, ask a Bohs fan. Anyways it was a Shels person, a classic ITK, that said that the growing cost of the 1st team is a concern to some money men and that a win in CL QR1 is important or spending will be capped or cut. A couple of wins and the costs will be absorbed if there is another qualification for Europe and preferably CL so there is a limit to the financial pain. Investment in an academy and training facilities is prudent spending and hoefully promtes sustainability so of course finances could be easier to squeeze on a fixed asset but is initially costly and maybe both academy growth/training facility and 1st team costs cant always be done side by side unless there is a sugar daddy (rather than investor) or European money so one or other gets the nod in the near term. Wolves from the door may have implied risk to clubs future which isnt what I meant, more 1st team calibre, not club developed players, marquee type signings etc. But taking what was said at face value its a pivitol season for Shels and how competative they may be next season is dependant on the luck of the draw this season or finding form in a ridiculously congested top 4. Sounded more sensible than doom merchant to me. If a membership or fan shareholders try to invest heavily in a large academy, training facilities and are losing significant money on the 1st team then they need to have a chat to Sligo for the right reasons or Cork for the opposite. Tbh its really a stating the obvious rather than inside info or rumour but this is LoI and magic money trees are as real as the tooth fairy in some minds especially some Dundalk fans.
Last edited by Nesta99; 23/05/2025 at 3:51 PM.
I see in the CO re-balancing that the Finnish(34) team have been promoted to EL-Q1 (from CO-Q2), but the other spot has been filled by promoting the Danish cup winner from EL-Q1 to EL-Q2, meaning that Drogheda United just missed out.
I'd expected Drogheda & Ilves Tampere to both be promoted.
What's CO?
What position in the rankings would the LOI have to reach for the league runner-up to qualify for Europa League?
I presume Conference.
Cup winners have priority over league runner up.
Country in 33rd location gets Europa League spot, so this season's cup winners will get this spot in 2026/27.
In the event of a league & cup double, the team finishing 2nd gets this spot.
Thanks ccity.
I knew the Cup winners would get Europa League. I probably should have phrased my question better. At what position in the co-efficient rankings would we have to get to so that our League runner-up gets a place in the EL along with our Cup winner?
I see this morning that Drogs participation in Europe is no longer a formaility due to Silkeborg also qualifying yesterday meaning Trivela may have to choose which of their clubs compete in the conference. If an arrangement cant be agreed with UEFA for some exemption then Truvela would surely opt for the club that would bring the greatest return, progress further - is that Silkeborg or Drogheda then?
I don't think trivela get to choose I think uefa decides based on the competition and countries coefficient. I don't see it being an issue though. Red bull and City Group (Man City & Girona) have both had teams in the same competition before so unless UEFA are going to start upsetting the billionaire apple cart (highly unlikely) there will probably be some trivial changes to Drogheda or Silkeborgs board and structures and that will be that
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