League of Ireland in Europe 2018

Paz-CCFC

The Europa League play-off draw takes place at 12.30pm here. Cork City or Rosenborg will face one of the below sides. There are three seeded and five unseeded sides. The three seeded teams (in bold) are drawn against unseeded teams and the two remaining unseeded teams are then drawn against one another. So, if we beat Rosenborg, we could play anyone on the list.


Salzburg (AUT) - Shkëndija (MKD)
FK Crvena zvezda (SRB) / FC Spartak Trna
Astana (KAZ) - Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Legia (POL) - Dudelange (LUX)
Alashkert (ARM) - CFR Cluj (ROU)
Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) - HJK (FIN)
Cork (IRL) - Rosenborg (NOR)
H. Beer-Sheva (ISR) - APOEL (CYP)

ShamoBuc

City will probably have F.C Salzburg IF they go through.

Corholio

ShamoBuc wrote: »

City will probably have F.C Salzburg IF they go through.

They'll play the losers of that match, Salzburg will beat Shkendija pretty handy.

ShamoBuc

Corholio wrote: »

They'll play the losers of that match, Salzburg will beat Shkendija pretty handy.

Yeah, meant to say the losers of FC Salzburg game..but I was looking at how to spell the other teams name and got confused :pac::pac:

wadacrack

If Cork got past Rosenborg, group stages would be a real possibility

ShamoBuc

True but I don't think we will get past them. We need to go for the win on Thursday but we will probably defend resolutely and still end up losing,it's the JC way unfortunately.

Corholio

ShamoBuc wrote: »

True but I don't think we will get past them. We need to go for the win on Thursday but we will probably defend resolutely and still end up losing,it's the JC way unfortunately.

Had a good few chances against Legia over the two legs, if our forward players could have actually finished them it wouldn't come down to our defence conceding as the difference. We'd have to defend resolutely regardless.

I wouldn't be too confident either, likes of Cummins just doesn't make himself threatening enough.

joeysoap

Good luck to City tonight.

Ragnar Lothbrok

I watched both of Rosenborg's games against Celtic, and they left me feeling very underwhelmed. It will be tough for City, no doubt, but I'm certainly not worried that Rosenborg will be too big a mountain to climb.

City's performances have improved massively over the last few games and I'm hopeful that continues over the two games against Rosenborg.

Eod100

Ragnar Lothbrok wrote: »

I watched both of Rosenborg's games against Celtic, and they left me feeling very underwhelmed. It will be tough for City, no doubt, but I'm certainly not worried that Rosenborg will be too big a mountain to climb.

City's performances have improved massively over the last few games and I'm hopeful that continues over the two games against Rosenborg.

Obvious thing is we need to score. Haven't scored in last 4 games in Europe (including last 2 last season)

Paz-CCFC

Not sure if it's been mentioned already, but the match is live on RTÉ (as is the away leg next week). 7.45 pm kick off.

ShamoBuc

Really looking foward to the game now. They are a big enough name but are not playing great football. We gave a chance if we play very well and actually take our chances. We have to score at least 1 tonight.

Eod100

Paz-CCFC wrote: »

Not sure if it's been mentioned already, but the match is live on RTÉ (as is the away leg next week). 7.45 pm kick off.

Is the away one too? That's great. Not only for City but for the league. Even if it is in Europe

davycc

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Really looking foward to the game now. They are a big enough name but are not playing great football. We gave a chance if we play very well and actually take our chances. We have to score at least 1 tonight.

Best of luck from a shels fan hopefully you can nick a couple of goals and ease past into the final el group, going to be watching it live on rte two

major bill

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Really looking foward to the game now. They are a big enough name but are not playing great football. We gave a chance if we play very well and actually take our chances. We have to score at least 1 tonight.

Nowhere near the team they were a decade ago, really hope Cork don't give them too much respect. They are beatable in the cross.

Think Cork will score so 1-0 narrow win.

Eod100

major bill wrote: »

Nowhere near the team they were a decade ago, really hope Cork don't give them too much respect. They are beatable in the cross.

Think Cork will score so 1-0 narrow win.

I'll take that all day! Can't play like we did against Legia

Mr.Crinklewood

Cork one down.

Poor goalkeeping.

kksaints

That's poor from Mcnulty. Pity as Cork were playing fairly well.

major bill

Terrible keeping!!

Griffin starting to get found out too

davycc

Unlucky Delaney

major bill

Good goal!!

Game over

BOHtox

Mark McNulty isn't a great keeper

kksaints

Fantastic passing for that goal. That's Cork done for anyway.

MD1990

Tie over.

Griffin awful

BOHtox

MD1990 wrote: »

Tie over.

Griffin awful

In no man's land for the second and beaten very easily for the first.

A real shame because Cork had chances in the first half

tayto lover

Cork all huff and puff with no end product.

Corholio

Griff should have been dropped months ago. Had another shocker tonight.

Eod100

Reality is we will get nowhere without scoring goals. Add to that conceding goals and this result was written on the walls

LuckyLloyd

Slightly sobering experience in Europe this year all round.

MD1990

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Slightly sobering experience in Europe this year all round.

It is a probably a fair enough reflection of the league this season.

Its been a poor year.

Can't remembember being at too many games that were really enjoyable.

NIMAN

Minsk beat Zenit 4-0.....puts our victory over them into a little bit of context.

farna_boy

Ffs, Caufield take off Keohabe or Cummins, not Sheppard.

Playing better the last bit, would be nice to get a goal back

Eod100

farna_boy wrote: »

Ffs, Caufield take off Keohabe or Cummins, not Sheppard.

Playing better the last bit, would be nice to get a goal back

Just can't seem to finish. And they've load of players back

Corholio

Just weren't good enough, too many players playing average and poor tactics, especially when going behind. Griffin remaining in that team will cost us points in the remainder of the season.

farna_boy

Eod100 wrote: »

Just can't seem to finish. And they've load of players back

Still don't understand what Keohane offers. From what I saw, he offered nothing all night.

Some good performances overall, Beattie and Sheppard played particularly well, but Griffin had a bit of a nightmare. He looks good going forward but was poor for both goals.

It was nice to see City try to play positively, just think they need better than Cummins to lead the line.

Corholio

Corholio wrote: »

Griff should have been dropped months ago. Had another shocker tonight.

and they left a perfectly good replacement in Danny Kane to go to England on loan.....griffin must have something on caulfied

city badly need a left back and a striker (poacher type)

ShamoBuc

Griffin, oh my, awful.
Thought Buckley was poor too.
McNamee should never be played on the wing, only central or not at all.
Sadlier was very lively when he came on.
McNukty at fault, big time tonight.
At least we had a go, played quite well in parts and created a few chances.

joeysoap

Cypriot sides not half bad this year. AEK Larnaca win 2 -0 away, Appolon 4- 0T home.

AEK full of Spanish players this year and the are nobody’s fool.

joeysoap

Cypriot sides not half bad this year. AEK Larnaca win 2 -0 away, Appolon 4- 0 at home.

AEK full of Spanish players this year and they are nobody’s fool.d

Omackeral

Said this before but it's a pity they don't show LOI sides in action in the winnable ties in previous rounds too. Would look better for our image.

legia apparently lost 2-1 at home to some team of luxembourg

bot43

major bill wrote: »

Griffin starting to get found out too

Starting to be? He has been a liability all season and the more clever teams target him.

farna_boy wrote: »

Still don't understand what Keohane offers. From what I saw, he offered nothing all night.

Keohane breaks up play and is willing to take the ball and run with it. He does a very good job. Surprised people are refusing to see that.

The McNamee experimnet has to end. He has had his chances through the middle as and he has been poor there as well. I hope he isnt with us next season.

On last night, we were utterly outclassed. Rosenborg played for a total of about 3 minutes last night and got 2 goals. if they wanted to have scored 5 last night they would have. Instead they just had a pre season run about.

5 games in Europe without a goal. Not a good look.

Ferris_Bueller

That was a very disappointing performance from Cork last night, they were on the attack for most of the second half but really did not look like scoring, it was just long balls int the box and shots from distance. 0-2 down going over to Norway is a really poor result, I don't think Cork will ever amount to anything in Europe under Caulfield. Poor year for Irish clubs in Europe especially when there have been a lot of shocks from other small clubs.

Eod100

Omackeral wrote: »

Said this before but it's a pity they don't show LOI sides in action in the winnable ties in previous rounds too. Would look better for our image.

Ah Eir had Rovers match and Dundalk. Rte didn't step in until last night as far as I'm aware, when only 1 Irish club was left

major bill

Ferris_Bueller wrote: »

That was a very disappointing performance from Cork last night, they were on the attack for most of the second half but really did not look like scoring, it was just long balls int the box and shots from distance. 0-2 down going over to Norway is a really poor result, I don't think Cork will ever amount to anything in Europe under Caulfield. Poor year for Irish clubs in Europe especially when there have been a lot of shocks from other small clubs.

+1 on this, bar the Hacken result they have generally been poor. Thought they played some nice stuff last night at times but never really looked like scoring, one decent effort by Sadlier that forced the keeper into a great save but the game was comfortable for Rosenborg. 2-0 was ok considering Rosenborg couldve and shouldve got another 2.

Paz-CCFC

What exactly does "amount to anything in Europe" actually mean? If it means group stages, then it's unlikely. But then again, it's only happened twice to League of Ireland sides in twenty odd years of group stage football in Europe (discounting the Intertoto Cup, where teams started off in the groups). And it's only getting harder, as more automatic spots are being given to the big leagues, leaving more teams competing for fewer spots in the qualifiers.

If it means we'll never progress in Europe or do reasonably well under Caulfield, well...we have. When he took over as manager, we were a mid-table side, nowhere near the European spots. He got us challenging for titles on a small budget and got us back into Europe in the first place after seven years out of it. Since he took over the club, he has never failed to qualify for Europe and is on the verge of qualifying for the 5th season on the trot.

2015 was a disappointing year against KR. 2016 was a great run, where we won through two rounds for the third time in the club's history and the first time in over a decade. We were knocked out that year by a team that made it to the quarter-final. 2017 was a decent year, winning one round, before going out to a very good Larnaca side, as Dundalk discovered last week. This year has been disappointing, but we did get two of the highest seeded teams we could've gotten (although, we also got lucky with the bye). But the Champions League isn't meant to be easy. There's a reason that in the ten years since the new format, the CL representative has failed to win a tie in eight of those years.

A bit of perspective is needed, the two teams we've faced/are facing have stadiums, fanbases and resources that League of Ireland sides could only dream of. Yes, you could point to the solitary result of Legia losing to a Luxembourg side, but that is clearly the exception - just like results such as Dundalk beating BATE or Shels beating Hajduk. The team with the most money generally wins, as has proven the case for all the ties this year for LoI sides.

It should also be noted that every single European tie we've played under Caulfield, we've been unseeded. Yet, we've still won three ties out of seven (soon to be eight). That's not a bad record for an unseeded team. And next season, if we're in the EL, we stand a good chance of being seeded for the first time in the club's history. If we qualify again for 2020, we'll almost certainly be seeded and would even be in with a shout of being seeded in the CL first round.

It's clear that we're showing progress in Europe. Even if it's not necessarily every single year (which is very unlikely to happen, since infinite exponential growth is pretty much impossible), we're on an upward trend. Maybe that's not "amounting to anything", but one thing is crystal clear - every club but one over the last five years in the League of Ireland would absolutely love if they had achieved the success that City have under Caulfield, both domestically and in Europe.

ShamoBuc

Looking foward to seeing City shortly. Sadlier and Morrissey starting will certainly shake things up. Hopefully Griffin doesn't see a lot of ball. Being 2-0 up they will probably not be so gung ho which should allow for a closer type game. Rosenborg should still win but I would like City to compete more and of course score.

joeysoap

Good luck to City tonight, the players will enjoy the big occasion whatever happens.

major bill

Griffin starting

Best of luck Cork anyway! Tough ask but get a fecking goal

ShamoBuc

Third foul and still no yellow, Shep doing well.