Champions League draw

**Colbert Report** · 19/06/2006, 8:32 AM

anyone know when it is and what Irish teams will be in it? also what round do they go into it? thanks

**Poor Student** · 19/06/2006, 8:36 AM

The draw for the first qualifying round is this Friday the 23rd of June. The only Irish entrant is the champions Cork City and they go into the first qualifying round, unseeded.

This site has all you ever wanted to know about these things and much much more:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/...eedcl2006.html

**bohsmug** · 19/06/2006, 9:45 AM

I can't believe they're unseeded for this. An Irish team has only failed to progress to the second qualifying round once this century! I was thinking maybe it was Corks own co-efficients that let them down? Even still I find that surprising given their efforts in the UEFA cup last year!

**Pablo** · 19/06/2006, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by bohsmug

I can't believe they're unseeded for this. An Irish team has only failed to progress to the second qualifying round once this century! I was thinking maybe it was Corks own co-efficients that let them down? Even still I find that surprising given their efforts in the UEFA cup last year!

its Longfords fault obviously

**bohsmug** · 19/06/2006, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Pablo

its Longfords fault obviously

Probably feckin' is! I noticed Shels co-effecients are fairly healthy.

**pete** · 19/06/2006, 11:39 AM

If we had got a draw at home to Slabvia Prague last season Cork City would have been seeded this year.

Big opportunity for all 3 irish sides to progress to the 2nd qualifying rounds this season.

**Colbert Report** · 19/06/2006, 5:32 PM

Thanks for the replies. So the winnner of the Eircome League goes into the Champions League first qualifying round and who goes into the UEFA Cup? Runner up in the league and winner of the League Cup?

**Poor Student** · 19/06/2006, 5:59 PM

Originally Posted by vega007

So the winnner of the Eircome League goes into the Champions League first qualifying round and who goes into the UEFA Cup? Runner up in the league and winner of the League Cup?

Runner up in the league and winner of the FAI Cup (that's not the League Cup).

**OneRedArmy** · 19/06/2006, 7:20 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Big opportunity for all 3 irish sides to progress to the 2nd qualifying rounds this season.

Exactly how big Pete given 2 of the teams Derry and Drogs can draw are IFK Gothenburg and Brondby?!

There's a reason why we are unseeded and its not all Longford's fault.

Given a favourable draw (eg Atvitabergs or Randers, or the Baltic teams) Drogs and ourselves have a good chance. Fingers crossed.

**David** · 20/06/2006, 6:44 AM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Exactly how big Pete given 2 of the teams Derry and Drogs can draw are IFK Gothenburg and Brondby?!

There's a reason why we are unseeded and its not all Longford's fault.

Given a favourable draw (eg Atvitabergs or Randers, or the Baltic teams) Drogs and ourselves have a good chance. Fingers crossed.

Is that not what Pete is saying?

**higgins** · 20/06/2006, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by pete

If we had got a draw at home to Slabvia Prague last season Cork City would have been seeded this year.

Big opportunity for all 3 irish sides to progress to the 2nd qualifying rounds this season.

IF !!

We are very very close to being seeded every season for the next 5 years.

As for it being Longfords fault it's mostly their fault.

They have had the two easiest draws of recent times and failed to take the advantage. Not only did they fail to beat the FC cakemakers crowd but Vaduz also gave them the run around and as a result got themselves seeded.

If they had of got results in those games we would all be seeded now and not have to pray for a good draw next Friday. Cork Derry and Drogheda could face some difficult teams.

**Pablo** · 20/06/2006, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by higgins

IF !!

We are very very close to being seeded every season for the next 5 years.

As for it being Longfords fault it's mostly their fault.

They have had the two easiest draws of recent times and failed to take the advantage. Not only did they fail to beat the FC cakemakers crowd but Vaduz also gave them the run around and as a result got themselves seeded.

If they had of got results in those games we would all be seeded now and not have to pray for a good draw next Friday. Cork Derry and Drogheda could face some difficult teams.

yes, death to Longballford!

**JC_GUFC** · 22/06/2006, 1:19 AM

In the UEFA Cup realistically Drogheda and Derry should be confident of beating most of their possible opponents.

Brondby who have just finished 2nd in the Danish league would be too tough. Lyn Oslo of Norway and Brann Bergen who are currently top of the league would be bad draws too as would IFK Gothenborg. Kaunas are also walking the Lithuanian league and are probably too good. So that's 5 out of 14 who I couldn't see Derry & Drogheda beating. The 2 Finnish teams and Skonto Riga are probably about the same level - the rest should be beatable.

In the CL the obvious draw to want is Birkirkara from Malta, there are a lot of nasty trips to Eastern Europe but apart from maybe against the Cypriots and Slovenians, Cork should qualify.

**David** · 22/06/2006, 6:44 AM

Originally Posted by JC_GUFC

In the UEFA Cup realistically Drogheda and Derry should be confident of beating most of their possible opponents.

Brondby who have just finished 2nd in the Danish league would be too tough. Lyn Oslo of Norway and Brann Bergen who are currently top of the league would be bad draws too as would IFK Gothenborg. Kaunas are also walking the Lithuanian league and are probably too good. So that's 5 out of 14 who I couldn't see Derry & Drogheda beating. The 2 Finnish teams and Skonto Riga are probably about the same level - the rest should be beatable.

In the CL the obvious draw to want is Birkirkara from Malta, there are a lot of nasty trips to Eastern Europe but apart from maybe against the Cypriots and Slovenians, Cork should qualify.

The problem with Cyprus is the heat. We played there a few years ago and even though it was a 8pm kick off the heat was stifling, not helped by the Cypriots putting on the heating in the away dressing room. We got stuffed 5-1 out there and managed to beat them 5-3 at home which shows how major a factor the heat was.

**Poor Student** · 22/06/2006, 7:24 AM

David, what are Linfield's plans for this summer? Do you intend to prepare better than Glens last season?

**David** · 22/06/2006, 7:28 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

David, what are Linfield's plans for this summer? Do you intend to prepare better than Glens last season?

Linfield have already started training and have a friendly game next Saturday away to Harlow Town and one on 6 July against Rangers. With the first game being so early it is difficult to do much more than that.

**Poor Student** · 22/06/2006, 7:36 AM

Originally Posted by David

Linfield have already started training and have a friendly game next Saturday away to Harlow Town and one on 6 July against Rangers. With the first game being so early it is difficult to do much more than that.

Are all the players back? It's an awkward situation alright. Whichever one of you is in the UEFA seems to do better with the longer time to prepare. Still, you'd expect Linfield to have a decent enough stab at it if the draw was right.

**David** · 22/06/2006, 8:07 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Are all the players back? It's an awkward situation alright. Whichever one of you is in the UEFA seems to do better with the longer time to prepare. Still, you'd expect Linfield to have a decent enough stab at it if the draw was right.

Yes all the players are back. Not really longer to prepare as both first legs are same week. For UEFA though there is two weeks between the two matches instead of one. Also lower standard of opposition in UEFA Cup obviously. If the draw is right I think we can get through at least one round.

**Raheny Red** · 22/06/2006, 8:26 AM

Who do the Cork/Derry/Drogs fans want to be paired with in the draws?

**David** · 22/06/2006, 8:49 AM

Originally Posted by Raheny Red

Who do the Cork/Derry/Drogs fans want to be paired with in the draws?

I know you did not mention us but I would like us to get the Latvian team. We beat a Latvian team last year, easy enough country to get to and a great place for an away trip.