Uefa draws

[Steve Bruce]

The most up to date UEFA rankings;

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/...crank2007.html

LOI - 35th, IL - 45th, LOW 47th

LOI should definatly go further up the rankings. Unless something disastrious happens this year.

IL has an opportunity to increase our Co-efficients as well. If all our teams are able to win 1 game and possibly Linfield and Glentoran get through(i think it would be a step too far for dungannon, but would love to be proved wrong) then it would be a big success for IL football. Although it would be a big ask as we where far from successful last season.

[Steve Bruce]

I expect us to get Zagreb. We got the highest seeds last year. UEFA like to rape us every year.

I'm expecting Zagreb, we always seem to draw the highest seeds.

At least if we pull off a massive shock we would be seeded for the 2nd round

[Graemerz]

I don't think we would embarrass ourselves or the Irish League against Zagreb but I very much doubt we'd win. APOEL need to be avoided too...

CROATIA: NK Dinamo Zagreb http://www.nk-dinamo.hr/ Season to begin
CYPRUS: APOEL FC http://www.apoelfc.com.cy/ Season to begin
SWEDEN: IF Elfsborg http://www.elfsborg.se/ Currently 1st out of 14 after 12 games.
LATVIA: FK Ventspils http://www.fkventspils.lv/ Currently 4th out of 8 after 14 games.
SLOVAKIA: MSK Žilina http://www.mskzilina.sk/ Season to begin
SLOVENIA: NK Domžale http://www.nogometniklub-domzale.si/ Season to begin
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: FK Sarajevo http://www.fcsarajevo.com/ Season to begin
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Derry City FC http://www.derrycityfc.net/ Currently 8th out of 12 after 15 games.
ICELAND: FH Hafnarfjarðar http://www.fhingar.is/ Currently 1st out of 10 after 7 games.
LITHUANIA: FBK Kaunas http://www.fbk.lt/ Currently 1st out of 10 after 17 games.
FINLAND: Tampere United http://www.tampereunited.com/ Currently 1st out of 14 after 10 games.
MOLDOVA: FC Sheriff http://www.fc.sheriff.md/ Season to begin
GEORGIA: FC Olimpi Rustavi http://www.fctbilisi.ge/ Season to begin
FYR MACEDONIA: FK Pobeda http://www.fkpobeda.com.mk/ Season to begin

[Shelsman]

Think he meant fans that blow not fans that chant

Sick.

[Mr A]

MOLDOVA: FC Sheriff

Some great opportunities for newspaper headlines there if Derry or Linfield get them.

[Shelsman]

Way to twist what I said to use it as a derogatory comment. We'd be a lot more competitive if this competition came a month later-you only have to look at our UEFA and Champions' League performances, which while not great are a heck of a lot more competitive than our intertoto performances.

I'm really not going to rise to this blatantly obvious attempt at baiting, so suffice to say you completely missed the point of my post. Congrats.

Relax man. Yes, you would be more competitive during your season -why not change to a summer season like we did then? I'm all for a strong Welsh league and for ye to do well in Europe -I always look for the Welsh results.

I would love to see ye in the Setanta cup ( ideally the top three welsh teams in the English Leagues and the top team in Wales, or maybe 2+2 to be fair ).

I do genuinely think that eL teams would beat Welsh League teams 80% of the time, maybe more but there's only one way to find out ( Setanta Cup or Europe, or both -lets hope both come about ).

[BohsFans]

LOI should definatly go further up the rankings. Unless something disastrious happens this year.

IL has an opportunity to increase our Co-efficients as well. If all our teams are able to win 1 game and possibly Linfield and Glentoran get through(i think it would be a step too far for dungannon, but would love to be proved wrong) then it would be a big success for IL football. Although it would be a big ask as we where far from successful last season.

I can maybe sorta see where your optimism is coming from as regards Linfield,
but Glentoran are muck and any of the seeded teams would easily beat them.
Take off the goggles for a sec.

btw I know you support Linfield.

[ifk101]

I suspect that both Glentoran and Dungannon will struggle in their ties, regardless of who they are drawn against. All the seeded teams are well into their respective seasons and that extra bit of fitness is usually a deciding factor over two legs.

Linfield would have more than a decent chance against some of the seeded teams in the Champions League draw especially those that haven't started their seasons.

There is one team Linfield would do well to avoid and that is Sheriff Tiraspol. The area of Moldova that Tiraspol lies in is not "visitor-friendly".

[BohsFans]

Linfield would have more than a decent chance against some of the seeded teams in the Champions League draw especially those that haven't started their seasons.

How do you reckon?
Linfield won't have started their season either (only 2 friendlies).
The majority of their squad is also part-time (7 full-timers?).
They're in a rubbish part-time league.


I'm not Linfield bashing here, just don't see where this blind optimism is coming from!

[ifk101]

How do you reckon?
Linfield won't have started their season either (only 2 friendlies).
The majority of their squad is also part-time (7 full-timers?).
They're in a rubbish part-time league.


I'm not Linfield bashing here, just don't see where this blind optimism is coming from!

I don't think there's a massive (if any) gap in quality between Linfield and the teams from Latvia, Iceland, Lithuania, Finland, Georgia and Macedonia. I sure Linfield would also fancy their chances against Derry.

[BohsFans]

I don't think there's a massive (if any) gap in quality between Linfield and the teams from Latvia, Iceland, Lithuania, Finland, Georgia and Macedonia. I sure Linfield would also fancy their chances against Derry.

The only teams I'd expect them to beat are the one's below them.


Linfield Belfast Nir 0.715
--------------------------------------
The New Saints Wal 0.660
HB Torshavn Far 0.550
F91 Dudelange Lux 0.550
Marsaxlokk Mlt 0.550
Ràngers FC And 0.000
Murata Sma 0.000
Zeta Golubovci Mon 0.000

[ifk101]

The only teams I'd expect them to beat are the one's below them.


Linfield Belfast Nir 0.715
--------------------------------------
The New Saints Wal 0.660
HB Torshavn Far 0.550
F91 Dudelange Lux 0.550
Marsaxlokk Mlt 0.550
Ràngers FC And 0.000
Murata Sma 0.000
Zeta Golubovci Mon 0.000

I never said I expect them to beat certain seeded teams. I said I reckon they have more than a reasonable chance against some of the seeded teams. Linfiled have beaten the Latvian representatives before so if we take the seeding system as a barometer of quality, Linfield should have a more than reasonable chance of progression against a lot of the seeded teams. I'd expect Zagreb and Elfsborg would blow them away though

[Steve Bruce]

I can maybe sorta see where your optimism is coming from as regards Linfield,
but Glentoran are muck and any of the seeded teams would easily beat them.
Take off the goggles for a sec.

btw I know you support Linfield.

I'm hoping Glentoran sign some good players. I don't think Glentoran will go through, I just hope they can win their home tie. That would at least give us some points.

[Steve Bruce]

How do you reckon?
Linfield won't have started their season either (only 2 friendlies).
The majority of their squad is also part-time (7 full-timers?).
They're in a rubbish part-time league.


I'm not Linfield bashing here, just don't see where this blind optimism is coming from!

We more than compete against the LOI. We haven't failed to top our group and we have been in 2 of 3 finals. That's why we are optimistic.

We have also been very unlucky in recent seasons, if we could just get a bit of luck on our side we could very well go through.

[Steve Bruce]

I don't think there's a massive (if any) gap in quality between Linfield and the teams from Latvia, Iceland, Lithuania, Finland, Georgia and Macedonia. I sure Linfield would also fancy their chances against Derry.

We would fancy our chances against any teams from them countries. We would definately fancy our chances against Derry. We are undefeated against them so far.

[Steve Bruce]

The only teams I'd expect them to beat are the one's below them.


Linfield Belfast Nir 0.715
--------------------------------------
The New Saints Wal 0.660
HB Torshavn Far 0.550
F91 Dudelange Lux 0.550
Marsaxlokk Mlt 0.550
Ràngers FC And 0.000
Murata Sma 0.000
Zeta Golubovci Mon 0.000

I am not saying we expect to beat anyone. But every seeded team is beatable although the two top sides would take a massive amount of effort. I do not see how people can write off Linfield but expect Derry to go through.

[Steve Bruce]

I never said I expect them to beat certain seeded teams. I said I reckon they have more than a reasonable chance against some of the seeded teams. Linfiled have beaten the Latvian representatives before so if we take the seeding system as a barometer of quality, Linfield should have a more than reasonable chance of progression against a lot of the seeded teams. I'd expect Zagreb and Elfsborg would blow them away though

We'll not get disgraced by any team in the draw that much I know. But I agree that I think we could beat certain seeded teams(nearly them all)

[BohsFans]

I am not saying we expect to beat anyone. But every seeded team is beatable although the two top sides would take a massive amount of effort. I do not see how people can write off Linfield but expect Derry to go through.

because they've proved themselves in Europe and Linfield haven't.

[BohsFans]

We more than compete against the LOI. We haven't failed to top our group and we have been in 2 of 3 finals. That's why we are optimistic.

We have also been very unlucky in recent seasons, if we could just get a bit of luck on our side we could very well go through.

you still don't get it!

Europe is a COMPLETELY different ball game.
It's a huge step up from playing Dungannon at Windsor.

[Steve Bruce]

because they've proved themselves in Europe and Linfield haven't.

They have one good season in Europe and now they are masters

We'll see tomorrow who we both get and then we can guage each others chances.

If we get Ventspils, Linfield have a great chance of winning as we have already PROVED we can beat them as we done it 2 seasons ago.

LOI supporters blind optimism is laughable when it comes to Derry City at the moment. They are struggling big time and yous still EXPECT them to go through a round or two in Europe.

For your sakes, lets hope Derry City and the rest of the teams competing in Europe do not share your arrogance.