eircom League in Europe - 2008

**LeixlipRed** · 07/08/2008, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Read the post above that (last line). I made the same mistake...

Ahh, missed that

**pineapple stu** · 07/08/2008, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Leixlip Red

Aren't they still in the 2nd division after being relegated a few years back?

Yup.

Nearly got promoted last year, but fell just short.

**pete** · 07/08/2008, 1:00 PM

Originally Posted by finnpark

Ive heard from a good source that one of the Elfborg players said, to local press there, that he seen a video of pats and that a few of the players looked like overweight women. He also said that they hoped to put the tie dead in Sweden and that Pats cannot play decent football.

Arrogant Swedes?

That said they always have a good excuse when they lose. Even after Malmo beating them 3-1 at home in the Inter Toto they expected to win 4-0 in Sweden & local bookies had City at 12/1. When we got past Djungardens their excuse was we played too slow for them.

**Torn-Ado** · 07/08/2008, 1:04 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

Was the Dubliner sold recently or just a change in managment?

No. Neither.

**Torn-Ado** · 07/08/2008, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

Elfsborg are favourities to win the tie but "far more superior"?

They have a decent mix of international players and up and coming youths. They're far more technically gifted than anything in the league of Ireland. From 04-06 Irish teams faired really well against the Swedish league but since last year the Swedish league got its act together and their performances in Europe dwarfed anything produced from Ireland. Even last night IFK G�teborg were extremely unlucky to be knocked out in Basel with some disgraceful refereeing

Don't see why. They did reach the UEFA Cup group stages last season but were hockeyed by the teams they played. Their away match against Valencia was what I'd expect a match between Brazil and the Faroe Islands would look like.

They reached the group stages because in the first place they got to the third qualifying stage of the CL where understandably Valencia beat them with ease. They're obviously a different kettle of fish from anything in Sweden and Ireland. And despite their shortcomings in Europe last season they'll probably take a glance at St Pats performances against Odense at the same time and be confident.

Hopefully not but Elfsborg are very defensive even at home so I think the odd goal or away goals will decide this tie.

As I said playing away first, like Cork did in Stockholm and Derry did here, could be a huge advantage to Pats. Elfsborg may be shaky and not know what to expect from Pats. Helsingborg had the Drogheda tie sewn up at full time in Dublin last year when they got a score draw with the home leg to come. Hopefully Pats can grind out a result in Bor�s and leave the Swedes needing a win in Ireland.

Yeah good luck Pats. Hope the Swedes come out with a few comments. Usually helps to drive on our club teams.

They've done it already.

My answers in bold...

**bigmac** · 07/08/2008, 1:25 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Yup.

Nearly got promoted last year, but fell just short.

Guess I'm showing my lack of knowledge of Hungarian football so!

**bennocelt** · 07/08/2008, 2:17 PM

Originally Posted by CuanaD

They were ranked 6th of last years teams:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/...ccoef2008.html

thanks for answering my last question
and now for another one

if kaunaus takes rangers co efficients now, if they lose the next game and are put into the uefa cup do they still keep rangers co efficients. If they did then i would imagine they would be well seeded?

**holidaysong** · 07/08/2008, 2:21 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

if kaunaus takes rangers co efficients now, if they lose the next game and are put into the uefa cup do they still keep rangers co efficients. If they did then i would imagine they would be well seeded?

Their own seeding would be used in that scenario. They only 'take' Rangers' seeding as the draw for QR3 is done before QR2 is finished. Therefore it is assumed the higher seeded club will win through and it is their seeding that is used for the purposes of the draw.

**finnpark** · 07/08/2008, 9:00 PM

Hopefully the Irish media will have the Swedes boasted up well to feed their arrogance. Its a tough match for Pat so hopefully the media can do their best to motivate the Saints

Pats should have a few photographers and autograph hunters at the airport to meet the Swedes

**higgins** · 08/08/2008, 12:06 AM

I'd fancy Pats to get more points in their game than the two Bosnian sides. Certainly got the better draw and even if Pats grab a draw at home I think it's more than Bosnia are getting!
If Pats get a draw then Hungary need two wins, looking at the teams they face I can't see that happening either.

Would be a great season if we hold onto 32nd. Even if we don't we'll have two of our three UEFA Cup teams getting a bye to QR2 in 2010.

27th is our next aim

**pete** · 08/08/2008, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by higgins

Would be a great season if we hold onto 32nd. Even if we don't we'll have two of our three UEFA Cup teams getting a bye to QR2 in 2010.

With summer football almost better to start in the QR1 as could get easy draw & rack up some points but we lose that eventually if we to improve. Next year could shake up a lot as no more easy draws for some of the seeded countries ahead of us.

**bigmac** · 08/08/2008, 9:09 AM

Originally Posted by higgins

27th is our next aim

Although Cup Winners into Q3 will not be seeded at that. It all depends on the regionalisation now. With 50 teams in the first round they may either not regionalise, or split into 2 regions instead of 3. Looking at the other northern teams in Q1 we have Faroes (2), Wales (2), N Ireland (2), Estonia (2), Lithuania (1), Latvia (1), Finland (1), Sweden (1) and there will be 3 fair play places as well. Hopefully both teams should be seeded in Q1 but probably not in Q2, again it depends on regionalisation. By my calculations, if it was a European-wide open draw, then the top 30 countries will have seeded teams.

**ifk101** · 12/08/2008, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

My answers in bold...

I've done a little bit of digging after Michael Keane's wages emerged. Keane was on �3,250 a week which is approximately SEK 117,000 a month. Aftonbladet recently reported (May 2008) that the average wage paid in Allsvenskan is SEK 61,000. I don't know if Michael Keane's wages were the highest at Pats but I'd guess that there are a number of players in their squad that would be on something similar. Based on wages, I'd imagine that Pats would be competing with the upper tier of league clubs in Sweden.

**ifk101** · 12/08/2008, 12:17 PM

Some interesting comments from the official Elfsborg website;

According Elfsberg's "scout"; "Pats play a direct style of football, with a lot of cross balls and heading".

On describing the match between Pats and Drogheda;

"It was like a match from 15 years ago - simple and fast".

Other observations,

"(Pats) had a useful right winger and the team is big, physical and strong. Balls in the air will be difficult".

**finnpark** · 12/08/2008, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

Some interesting comments from the official Elfsborg website;

According Elfsberg's "scout"; "Pats play a direct style of football, with a lot of cross balls and heading".

On describing the match between Pats and Drogheda;

"It was like a match from 15 years ago - simple and fast".

Other observations,

"(Pats) had a useful right winger and the team is big, physical and strong. Balls in the air will be difficult".

Yes, he was right.

**finnpark** · 12/08/2008, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

Based on wages, I'd imagine that Pats would be competing with the upper tier of league clubs in Sweden.

Which means that they are over paying the players.

2 rules Pats should adapt and any other club;

1. Never sign a player that has had a bad injury in the past 12 months.

2. Never sign a player that is just out of prison

**Torn-Ado** · 12/08/2008, 1:47 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

I've done a little bit of digging after Michael Keane's wages emerged. Keane was on �3,250 a week which is approximately SEK 117,000 a month. Aftonbladet recently reported (May 2008) that the average wage paid in Allsvenskan is SEK 61,000. I don't know if Michael Keane's wages were the highest at Pats but I'd guess that there are a number of players in their squad that would be on something similar. Based on wages, I'd imagine that Pats would be competing with the upper tier of league clubs in Sweden.

Keane was on �3,250 a week which is approximately SEK 117,000 a month.

Are you sure thats right?

**ifk101** · 12/08/2008, 2:06 PM

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

Are you sure thats right?

Michael Keane's wages are correct AFAIK (see the Pats subforum and relevant thread)

�3,250 - forex �1 euro equals approximately SEK 9, that gives SEK 29,250 per week (3250*9) and SEK 117,000 per month (29250*4).

And here's the article about the Swedish wages if you want to read it yourself

http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportblade...icle2382292.ab

**soccerc** · 12/08/2008, 2:12 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

Some interesting comments from the official Elfsborg website;

According Elfsberg's "scout"; "Pats play a direct style of football, with a lot of cross balls and heading".

On describing the match between Pats and Drogheda;

"It was like a match from 15 years ago - simple and fast".

Other observations,

"(Pats) had a useful right winger and the team is big, physical and strong. Balls in the air will be difficult".

Now that's why Johnny Mac messed about with the tactics and formation against Drogs so as to lure Elfsborg into a false sense of how Pats play.

Dunno what right winger he was talking about as being useful as Ryan Guy hugged the line in that game and couldn't cross himself in a church.

**ifk101** · 12/08/2008, 2:18 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

Dunno what right winger he was talking about as being useful as Ryan Guy hugged the line in that game and couldn't cross himself in a church.

It was probably Ryan Guy he was talking about. Roughly translated he said Pats' right winger was useful and had a lot of "go" about him but that Pats physic and size were the things that worried him most.