European performances

[Paddyfield]

Why was this thread by The Sheliban moved to the Rubish bin?

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=67347

Agree or disagree with him, he has made a few interesting points. The botom line is that Irish Clubs have not upped the ante this year following the memorable results from the last few years.

Dermot Keely claims that summer soccer is not the soloution to Irish clubs progressing in Europe but professionalism is.

The Drogs are our only Club left in Europe and I hope they advance.

[Philly]

I don't see why that was removed either? Says alot about the mods on here.

Unfortunately yes, we have failed to meet any sort of standard in Europe this year. I was at the Drogs game and I must say I think they'll have a tough task in the next round but hopefully they will get through and continue to carry the flag for the eL this year. Derry must be very upset with how things turned out, but I think the timing was bad for them. Pat's showed us that the league isn't where we think it is. Cork at least made it through one round.

All the best Drogs. Your fans deserve a good European run from what I saw in Dalymount.

[dcfcsteve]

On the question of why it was moved ? No idea - seems silly.

On the issue itself - of us allegedly not progressing in Europe this year - we need a reality chech here.

Firstly - we have progressed. Our co-efficient score to-date for this year is higher than that for the 2002/3 season (0.16666), which is the figure that this year will replace in the 5-year rolling average. Our co-efficient score and strength has therefore improved overall, so we have progressed.

Secondly - we can't expect to blaze a trail in Europe each and every year. Last year was a particularly successful year - the like of which we'll be lucky to repeat once or twice in every 5 year cycle. We are very much dependent upon the luck of the draw - and for City and Pats it certainly wasn't a good draw this year.

So no need for panic or mourning yet. We'll have our good years and our bad years in Europe - that is inevitable. Just so long as the 5 year rolling average is tracking upwards, then we're making progress. Keep the faith people....

[Cymro]

I know this is probably not the best place to say this Steve, but you have noticed that your coefficient is the same as Wales's for this year and you have less wins, haven't you?

I suppose I should wait and see what Drogheda do in the second round yet, but I just couldn't resist having my moment.

[dcfcsteve]

I know this is probably not the best place to say this Steve, but you have noticed that your coefficient is the same as Wales's for this year and you have less wins, haven't you?

I suppose I should wait and see what Drogheda do in the second round yet, but I just couldn't resist having my moment.

Even a stopped clock gets it right twice a day Cymro...

Welsh clubs have picked up a couple of wins this year against unspectaular opposition. Though it did the likes of TNS and Rhyl no good, as they still went out over the 2 legs.

And then there was the farcical performance of Camarthen....! Losing 14:3 to Brann was a pure joke - and by all accounts they only got their 3 consolation goals because Brann were so far ahead by that stage that they really just didn't care any more. That was the biggest spanking a club has taken in Europe in some time - it even made Glentoran look good.

The days of EL clubs getting spanked like that in the first round of any European competition are long over - so if you find some scant consolation in a handful of single-leg wins in Europe amidst the ongoing car crash of Welsh participation in Europe then you really must be desperate for good news.

And at least we still have a rep flying the flag for us in the next round....

[OneRedArmy]

Shels imploded, 10-15 top players left the League, Doolin is a very poor manager and Kenny clearly had Derry punching above their weight.....

Its hardly rocket science ffs.

[pineapple stu]

Hard to argue with that, to be honest.

As financial reality catches up with clubs, we'll do poorer in Europe. Our level, sadly is not what we've set in the past couple of years. Proper progress, and not Shels/Drogs/Pat's progress, is what's needed.

[Cymro]

Even a stopped clock gets it right twice a day Cymro...

It does indeed. How perceptive of you.

Welsh clubs have picked up a couple of wins this year against unspectaular opposition. Though it did the likes of TNS and Rhyl no good, as they still went out over the 2 legs.

On away goals. Which is a bloody annoying rule. Either way, at least our CL reps won their home leg, eh? Puynik are also no better than Ventspils, before you counter. The away leg defeat was easily explainable by the vast distance between Northern Ireland and Armenia, but you should really have put the tie to bed before you went there anyway.

And then there was the farcical performance of Camarthen....! Losing 14:3 to Brann was a pure joke - and by all accounts they only got their 3 consolation goals because Brann were so far ahead by that stage that they really just didn't care any more. That was the biggest spanking a club has taken in Europe in some time - it even made Glentoran look good.

St. Pats fared worse the other night than Caerfyrddin. That's about as close to a comeback as you'll get from me here, though it is notable that Carmarthen finished 7th last year, sacked the boss that got them into Europe for the 3rd year running and lost their two best players to full time clubs. And they were playing a damn good side in Brann-probably the best side I'll watch this year in the flesh, since I never go to Premiership matches and the national side is rather poor at the moment.

The days of EL clubs getting spanked like that in the first round of any European competition are long over - so if you find some scant consolation in a handful of single-leg wins in Europe amidst the ongoing car crash of Welsh participation in Europe then you really must be desperate for good news.

Would you not consider 5-0 a bit of a spanking? It's not 14-3, but hey, let's not discount the importance of summer football in keeping the scores down. If carmarthen had been match fit, it might have been at least somewhat respectable, and vice versa for St. Pats.

And at least we still have a rep flying the flag for us in the next round....

Right. I forgot about Drogheda's awe-inspiring victory over Libertas. How foolish of me.

[A face]

Dermot Keely claims that summer soccer is not the soloution to Irish clubs progressing in Europe but professionalism is.

On the professionalism he is right, he is bang on the money there, across all of the clubs.

But if he is saying summer soccer isn't the answer and is suggesting that a return to winter football is then is is back to his normal ludicrous statements. The problem i have with Keely is than since his spell at Shels (pre Fenlon era remember) he has been one of the most negative outspoken commentators of our league on a consistent basis so its hard to take any of his comments with any great weight.

He is whiney and morbid and someone that should not speak for the league in any capacity imo. The FAI should actually be clamping down on people like him (feic it, they are clamping down all over the place with anyone who dares to speak out against them) so they cant damage things further.

Bare in mind i am saying all this with the last five years in mind. If anyone says that we have not improved then they should not be in a position to voice their opinion because it would be displaying a complete lack of knowledge for the domestic game and again shouldn't be in a position to voice their opinion.

[half_full]

While St.Pat's and Derry's results were poor this year, at least both got draws. A poor year whatever way you look at it, but who knows Drogheda for the group stages?

[bennocelt]

Derry didnt get a poor draw, they got a very weak team which they were unable to beat

St. Pats did get a tough one, and people should know that Odesne are a quality team and them and Fc Copenhagen are putting a lot of money into their squads for europe this year, so it wasnt a shock that Pats didnt beat them at all, and for them to get a draw was better than nothing

Drogheda did mess up out in san marino but there are through to the next round and might have a chance against helsingsborg (but I doubt it)

A bad year? yeah but not awful and our co efficient is better than years ago

[Saint Tom]

as bad as it is to be beaten five nil you got to look at the draw Pats got. Odense have beaten osasuna, hertha berlin in the past few years. They won the intertota cup last year (ie progressed to the uefa cup) only to be knocked out in the group stages on goal difference. There set up is far superior to anything any irish side have. impressive stadium, solid fanbase, youth academy.

Not excusig the fact that we were beaten five nil but we drew the highest ranked team available in the draw, and I have no doubt OB will be stringer this year than last.

[DmanDmythDledge]

howd odense get in the first qualifying round anyway????

Denmark's co-efficient. As it stands after this year Denmark's cup winner (Odense last year) would qualify straight for the second qualifying round.

[pineapple stu]

But if he is saying summer soccer isn't the answer and is suggesting that a return to winter football is then is is back to his normal ludicrous statements. The problem i have with Keely is than since his spell at Shels (pre Fenlon era remember) he has been one of the most negative outspoken commentators of our league on a consistent basis so its hard to take any of his comments with any great weight.

He is whiney and morbid and someone that should not speak for the league in any capacity imo. The FAI should actually be clamping down on people like him (feic it, they are clamping down all over the place with anyone who dares to speak out against them) so they cant damage things further.

Bare in mind i am saying all this with the last five years in mind. If anyone says that we have not improved then they should not be in a position to voice their opinion because it would be displaying a complete lack of knowledge for the domestic game and again shouldn't be in a position to voice their opinion.

You realise that you've just gone on a three paragraph rant on Keely without once trying to raise a counter argument against his point? If you were replying to a poster, that post would have been put to rubbish.

[pete]

Derry were seeded, not a reasonable draw but because their form is so poor they got poor results.

If you take away the 0-5 loss Pats results were ok as at least they got a draw at home.

Drogs may have progressed but anything less than two wins has to be deemed a failure.

[TonyD]

If you take away the 0-5 loss Pats results were ok as at least they got a draw at home.

Yeah, if you take away the 5-0 (Please) then Pats were just as good as Odense

[Drogman.]

Proper progress, and not Shels/Drogs/Pat's progress, is what's needed.

FFS, I know Shels went to the wall, but (so far) it looks like Pats and us have money pumped into the clubs by money men but also there is something in the background to keep it going, ie. New stadium for us.

I don't see what's wrong with having Drogs/Pats progress if it improves the clubs.

Clearly attempting to develop players in this country hasn't worked as they just get snapped up by English and Scottish clubs when they are young. Once every EL clubs is fully pro is when we will see the benefits of more homegrown talent staying and improving the league.

In the meantime, why should the Drogs or Pats have to wait for the rest to catch up? It's not really fair on them having other clubs holding progress back.

[pineapple stu]

FFS, I know Shels went to the wall, but (so far) it looks like Pats and us have money pumped into the clubs by money men but also there is something in the background to keep it going, ie. New stadium for us.

I'll believe the ground when I see it.

We can't guage our European progress with clubs who are racking up losses of a million a year is my point. They're simply unsustainable, as Shels and Dublin City showed. So this season's results, while disappointing compared to previous seasons, aren't really surprising.

[kdjaC]

I'll believe the ground when I see it.

We can't guage our European progress with clubs who are racking up losses of a million a year is my point. They're simply unsustainable, as Shels and Dublin City showed. So this season's results, while disappointing compared to previous seasons, aren't really surprising.

So we base the leagues euro progress on UCD the only club who dont lose money?


kdjac

[pineapple stu]

Where did I say that?