I see the Irish League will be back to four teams in Europe from the 2021/22 season seemingly based on results from this season .. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...-38369111.html
I see the Irish League will be back to four teams in Europe from the 2021/22 season seemingly based on results from this season .. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...-38369111.html
Interersting to see the actual figs, thanks for posting. I think there is one item missing, for teams who start in CL and miss out on the play off, they also get an addtional 260K, hence Dundalk are on 280K + 380K (then 260K bonus added) = 920k, then 280k for EL r3 = 1.2M
That rises to 1.5M if they make it to play off. Some drop though for any team missing out even at EL play off stage, the diff between 1.5m and almost 3m.
The CL group stage 'hello fee' is just ridiculous, you can see now where likes fo BATE / Qarabag etc all got their funds for the new stadia / improvements. Any team would be happy to finish bottom of a CL group for that type of pay out. 2.7M for a play off win also is an eye opener.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
Greeks just gone 2-1 up v Ajax. Interesting for when we dispatch Bratislava!! ;p
Huge banner on the status of the name 'Macedonia', be interesting also to see if UEFA bite on that!?
Last edited by Nesta99; 06/08/2019 at 5:45 PM.
Qarabag 1 up away to APOEL after 70 mins.
Make that 2 nil. Maybe Dundalk not as bad as some presume.
0-2 up now
APOEL pulled one back in the 95th minute but they are really up against it. Makes Dundalk’s result at home that bit more impressive.
Linfield holding their own in Montenegro. 1-1 there early in the 2nd half. These guys knocked out Slovan so I do think Dundalk have a chance tomorrow in Bratislava. They need to start finding the net better than they have to date. One goal in four matches is a poor return. Score draw would be an excellent result and not beyond Dundalk.
2-1 now to the Blues!!
Linfield in with a big chance of the play offs after that win tonight.
To clarify, when I stated “not as bad as some presume” I was referring to general comments I’ve seen online based on the result last week. Mainly from those that may not know the League or European qualification rounds and the clubs involved as well as many posters on this site. I think a lot of us know that Dundalk are a better team than the 3-0 scoreline suggested but just met a superior side at this stage of the competition. We also know that while not favourites in the tie versus Slovan, that the level of opposition is not the same as Qarabag and if Dundalk can play to their potential over the 2 legs, than they are capable of going through.
Hery's got player of the season in the bag already up there,raving about him they are, shame a player of his quality left the league
Its a great opportunity for Linfield now, also shows how important the draw is if favourable and progression to the play-off rounds is possible. It's utilising the spoils of getting that far to be less reliant on a couple of good draws out of the hat that is how we (and similar small leagues lik N.I) will improve, stating the obvious lol. Getting more than 1 club consistantly getting through a few rounds is where we need to be at, stating the obvious again.
Looking at results and performances in other games tonight puts things in a better context overall. Riga while drawing at home to HJK are in with a good shout of a play-off round as they were the better side so that tie is far from done; HJK themselves pushed Red Star beating them at home in the process. Riga knocking out the Polish champions. Linfield with the chance of play-off round currently leading Sutjeska after the away leg, Sutjeska putting Slovan out of CL. Apart from it being a shot in the arm for the Irish League its a reason for us to believe that Slovan are beatable however tenuous these links are.
Qarabag were by far the better side in Nicosia and while they were very much superior to us we were in the tie with 15 minutes to go. If's and buts are pointless...buuut Hoban's chance could have really affected the way that tie panned out. We wouldnt have had to change from playing it tight to go at them and leave ourselves so open. I think we were starting to play ourselves up a level but got sucker punched. People look at the 3-0 results and shrug with a load of negative assumptions without proper context - some people who should know better commenting in the media on that result being a disaster without considering things likee relative resources, CL pedigree of Qarabag etc! Similar to Rover's performances and that they could or should be still in the EL. It's results that count but unless a LoI fan the same type of negativity lingers there also without realising how Rovers pulled themselves from behind in Brann, and seriously rattled Apollon and were the better side. Progress is being made I feel even just on the level of hope that LoI fans have. It may not show dramatically in rankings but even considering that the changes to the competition formats that has made it practically a closed shop for small leagues but yet we are past the days of European games as a trip away on the beers and the football is a side event. I dont even think Joe 'Barstooler' Public realises that the likes of Espanyol, Wolves, Ajax, RedStar, Celtic and so on are kicking off at the same point as we are.
Anyway on the game this evening I feel its a big opportunity again for Dundalk (and by extension the League). The fear is of course always there that we will flatter to decieve but Slovan are a bit of a mess with chopping and changing managment. There isnt the issues of heat playing a big part. We will have played against European sides that sit in and attack at pace in the last 4 weeks so should be up to speed whichever way Slovan set up. We are still due that big performance both as a team and from individuals. Yes they have spent a couple of mil on players but going by media reports they are not a team in the way that there has been stability and continuity at Dundalk. We havent been lucky with injuries, with the loss of Benson a lot will depend on the likes of Murray's fitness holding out. Duffy and McEleney have to show what they are about and this would be a nice time for it. If Murray starts then I hope he is on set piece duty especially corners as Duffy has been poor in that area imo. Playing in a fancy new national stadium gives the sense of a real occasion for the players so hopefully the performance will be fitting for the surroundings!!
These are the rambles of a nervous fan that is daring to hope.....
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