Uefa draws

[Steve Bruce]

you still don't get it!

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

We've beaten Shelbourne in their ground and in ours. They where the strongest team in the EL in recent history(since your good days in Europe). We finished undefeated against them. The Best LOI side their was

We have beaten Derry City and are still undefeated.

We've beaten Cork(We might have been outplayed, but we stuck the ball in the net and that's all you need to do) Still Undefeated.

The only team down south to give us trouble has been Drogheda and we've beat them as well.

So if all these teams are world beaters in Europe, then Linfield have every chance. Or do them results not count because it doesn't suit your arguement?

PS We have never played Dungannon in the Setanta

[refjohn]

[QUOTE=Steve Bruce;713346]They have one good season in Europe and now they are masters

QUOTE]


I think if Stephen Kenny had still been at the Brandy - or even an effective Fenlon - then we would have been hoping for Linfield. In the summer a 2004-06 Derry team would have beaten then easy because Linfield out of season. The 2007 Derry team will struggle against anyone from Linfield up in the seedings.

Linfield will have more than 2 friendlies - they are on a training camp this weekend - in DERRY of all places - and play Newbuildings United on Saturday,

[Dodge]

Didn't see anyone say they expect Derry to get through 2 rounds but as the seeded teams they should have a more than evens chance of progressing past the first round. They'll need to be very lucky to get past two rounds. If they don't win the first round it'll be a massive disappointment. Jeez, you're not seede and think something similar about LInfield's chances.

The seeds in the UEFA Cup vary massively so if Drogs, or better still Pats get a decent draw they have excellent chances of progressing. Unless Glentoran or Dungannon strengthen their squads considerably or get very lucky with the draw, they may struggle

[Steve Bruce]

[QUOTE=refjohn;713358]

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

QUOTE]


I think if Stephen Kenny had still been at the Brandy - or even an effective Fenlon - then we would have been hoping for Linfield. In the summer a 2004-06 Derry team would have beaten then easy because Linfield out of season. The 2007 Derry team will struggle against anyone from Linfield up in the seedings.

Linfield will have more than 2 friendlies - they are on a training camp this weekend - in DERRY of all places - and play Newbuildings United on Saturday,

No point in even arguing with that one because it's something no one will ever know.

Although at that time Portadown and Glentoran where winning the league and Linfield where struggling, so you could be right. Saying that I think Linfield vs Derry City will always be a tight affair no matter when it is played as their is so much pride at stake.

[ifk101]

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.

There's a 40% chance that Derry will draw a team from either the Faroes, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, Andorra and Montenegro. They should be able to beat these teams and as a seeded team they should be confident of progression. Plus it looks likes Ciaran Martyn is on his way back to Derry so that's probably a boost to their chances.

[BohsFans]

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.

Blind optimism?

May I remind you that Derry's coef is 3.145 and Linfield's is a meagre 0.715!

btw I'm actually not too optimistic about Derry chances at the moment for obvious reasons, so blind doesn't even come into it!

Struck a nerve there did I?

You can preach once you've got results on the board, that's the only way people will take notice.

[Steve Bruce]

Didn't see anyone say they expect Derry to get through 2 rounds but as the seeded teams they should have a more than evens chance of progressing past the first round. They'll need to be very lucky to get past two rounds. If they don't win the first round it'll be a massive disappointment. Jeez, you're not seede and think something similar about LInfield's chances.

The seeds in the UEFA Cup vary massively so if Drogs, or better still Pats get a decent draw they have excellent chances of progressing. Unless Glentoran or Dungannon strengthen their squads considerably or get very lucky with the draw, they may struggle

My responses are more to do with people writing off Linfield because we are an IL team. Linfield might be an IL team, but we are by far the strongest and we have proven time and time again that we can compete at a much higher level(setanta). I'm not suggesting Linfield are certs, I am saying we have a good chance. Listening to Bohsfans, Linfield have no chance and might as well not show up.

I hope both Linfield and Derry City progress. It is good for this island of local football.

I agree with Glentoran and Dungannon. Both are too weak and unless they get a very lucky draw, I think both will go out with a wimper.

[Steve Bruce]

There's a 40% chance that Derry will draw a team from either the Faroes, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, Andorra and Montenegro. They should be able to beat these teams and as a seeded team they should be confident of progression. Plus it looks likes Ciaran Martyn is on his way back to Derry so that's probably a boost to their chances.

I stand to be corrected here, but isn't this Montenegros first year in Europe? If so they are very much unknown entities and would probably be best to avoid them in case their standard is higher than expected)

If you get any of them teams noted, then Derry will go through, I would expect Dungannon to put them teams out.

[Steve Bruce]

Blind optimism?

May I remind you that Derry's coef is 3.145 and Linfield's is a meagre 0.715!

btw I'm actually not too optimistic about Derry chances at the moment for obvious reasons, so blind doesn't even come into it!

Struck a nerve there did I?

You can preach once you've got results on the board, that's the only way people will take notice.

All it takes is Linfield to get the luck of the draw and have one good season in Europe to get a score like that. Their really isn't much in it. I expect Linfield to be seeded in the not so distant future. Our squad will be getting closer to full-time and our squad is getting bigger and better.

[BohsFans]

PS We have never played Dungannon in the Setanta

I know. What's that got to do with this?

[BohsFans]

All it takes is Linfield to get the luck of the draw and have one good season in Europe to get a score like that. Their really isn't much in it. I expect Linfield to be seeded in the not so distant future. Our squad will be getting closer to full-time and our squad is getting bigger and better.

OK David!

[Steve Bruce]

I know. What's that got to do with this?

I was talking about performances in the Setanta, you brought Dungannon into it. So you tell me

[BohsFans]

I was talking about performances in the Setanta, you brought Dungannon into it. So you tell me

Did you not play Dungannon in the Irish League?
Did you not play Dungannon in the Irish Cup final?

[BohsFans]

My responses are more to do with people writing off Linfield because we are an IL team. Linfield might be an IL team, but we are by far the strongest and we have proven time and time again that we can compete at a much higher level(setanta). I'm not suggesting Linfield are certs, I am saying we have a good chance. Listening to Bohsfans, Linfield have no chance and might as well not show up.

I'm saying that based on current evidence and past results at that level you have no bases for being so optimistic/cocky!

Prove me wrong. You don't break Europe overnight though!

[Steve Bruce]

Did you not play Dungannon in the Irish League?
Did you not play Dungannon in the Irish Cup final?

Do Derry, yourselves, St Pats etc etc play UCD?

I wasn't talking about Irish League, I was talking about Setanta, so I still don't get your point?

I was talking about Linfield being able to compete with better calibre of teams thats why I mentioned teh Setanta cup.

[Steve Bruce]

I'm saying that based on current evidence and past results at that level you have no bases for being so optimistic/cocky!

Prove me wrong. You don't break Europe overnight though!

We got through to the 2nd round 2 seasons ago. Last season we played the VERY TOP seed and where unfortunate to lose.

So yeah, we haven't lit up Europe in recent times, but we are moving towards the right direction.

SO that is why I am optimistic. Not cocky, I do not expect to go through, I hope and optimistic we will.

[Dodge]

Do Derry, yourselves, St Pats etc etc play UCD?

I wasn't talking about Irish League, I was talking about Setanta, so I still don't get your point?

I was talking about Linfield being able to compete with better calibre of teams thats why I mentioned teh Setanta cup.

UCD are miles better than Dungannon, and are nowhere near European qualification, so your point doesn't really make sense

[Steve Bruce]

UCD are miles better than Dungannon, and are nowhere near European qualification, so your point doesn't really make sense

This is what I laugh at. How could you possibly make that assertation?

Going by this site, you would think if we had a 16 team league on this island, it would be full of LOI teams and maybe Linfield.

I bow down to your superiority, Man Utd, Chelsea and the rest of the Premiership watch out, UCD is about

[Dodge]

YOu seem to forget that Pats have played Dungannon twice already this season, and at a time when Dungannon were in good form. They were one of the worst sides I've ever seen Pats play.

UCD, on the other hand, are a strong decent team.

UCD are one of the top 6/7 sides in the LOI, and IMO are better than Dungannon. I didn't sya naything else about the relevent strengths of the leagues so get down off your high horse and stop making out like everyone is out to dismiss you.

[Flexy]

We got through to the 2nd round 2 seasons ago. Last season we played the VERY TOP seed and where unfortunate to lose.

So yeah, we haven't lit up Europe in recent times, but we are moving towards the right direction.

SO that is why I am optimistic. Not cocky, I do not expect to go through, I hope and optimistic we will.

I do hope Linfield get a good draw this time, eg the teams from Finland, Iceland and Cyprus are all beatable and much cheaper and easier to get to for everyone. Even though we play in two different leagues I hope they get through as do Derry. Even though we all have our differences who's better etc, we should be cheering on our friends from either leagues. I myself would rather see Linfield do well as a derry fan, than Tampere or Tampax United from Finland.