UEFA Cup

Thiught it might be a good idea to open a thread dedicated to the UEFA Cup. I would have opened one for the Champions league too - but Ireland's sole representatives in that (cork City) were knocked out last night, so I dont have much to say about that

As far as the UEFA goes, we have 2 teams - both still in it (I know we are only at the preliminary round 2, but for years Irish teams didn't even get this far!)

Drogheda beat HJK Helsinki 4:2 over the 2 legs (it was 1:1 in the 1st leg & again 1:1 in the second, but Drogs scored 1 in each half of the extra time - both penalties & both deserved, HJK had a player sent off for deliberate handball in the penno area for the first one - at first i thought he was their keeper because of the way he threw his hands at the ball!). Next round they meet Start from Norway - a tough ask, as Start have a lot of internationals in their squad (9, i think?)

Derry City beat IFK Gothenburg - the winners in 1987 - 2:0 on ag. 1:0 in both legs - a HUGE result for any Irish team. Next round they have Gretna to contend with - the 'Baby Abromavich' team - a real unknown quantity - first time in Europe, but LOADS of MONEY, just promoted 2 years in a row (walked both leagues TBH) & expected to cruise into the Scots Premier next year (already 11/10 favourites to win the 1st division, before a ball has been kicked!)

So, there you go - if anyone has anything to say about the UEFA Cup, this is the place to do it.

& I suppose, those of you who STILL have teams in the CL, can start a different thread for that (not jealous, no way )

A real achievement for both teams to get thus far Conrad especially Derry City with that magnificent win over Gothenburg. I actually fancy them to beat Gretna over two legs and it wouldn't surprise me to see Drogheda prevail against the Norwegians either as i think the Eircom League is much underrated outside of Ireland. Fingers crossed for them both anyhow.

John Sludden wrote: A real achievement for both teams to get thus far Conrad especially Derry City with that magnificent win over Gothenburg. I actually fancy them to beat Gretna over two legs and it wouldn't surprise me to see Drogheda prevail against the Norwegians either as i think the Eircom League is much underrated outside of Ireland. Fingers crossed for them both anyhow.

The eircom league is underated IN ireland too John!

Derry will certainly give it a good go against Gretna - & hopefully surprise a few people with the quality of their play.

IMO Drogheda have a tougher task - Paul Doolin's team are not together so long & they have a problem scoring goals - they've had a load of 1:0 wins this season (although they just brought in Eamon Zayed from Bray a couple of weeks ago & he is the real deal - quick, strong, skillful & a proven goalscorer - hopefully they can knit him into the team quickly).

CuanaD - D-plus wrote: Derry will certainly give it a good go against Gretna - & hopefully surprise a few people with the quality of their play.

I've probably put the mockers on Derry City by saying that - Gretna started their season at the weekend with a 6:0 win (against Hamilton? - not sure - dont remember - whoever, they were hammered!) - I was hoping they would be slow out of the blocks & not match fit yet.

Roll on Thursday

CuanaD - D-plus wrote:

The eircom league is underated IN ireland too John!

I've heard that Gaelic football is more popular in Ireland than football, maybe in part because it's not an English" game. Any of that true, or just a bunch of crap?

Would be great if Derry were to see off Gretna. It will he a hard task as it looks likely they will be missing their captain Peter Hutton through injury.

Shellshocker wrote:

CuanaD - D-plus wrote:

The eircom league is underated IN ireland too John!

I've heard that Gaelic football is more popular in Ireland than football, maybe in part because it's not an English" game. Any of that true, or just a bunch of crap?

Yeah that's fairly true - as far as support goes Soccer lags behind Gaelic & Hurling (both will fill out 80,000+ seats in Croke park for their biggest games, wheras the FAI Cup Final will attract about 15-30,000)

To Snoopy - Yes 'Pizza' Hutton looks like he is out - but Pat McCourt is back & should start on the wing; also Ciaran Martin is back in midfield - he's always good for a goal!

The game is being shown live on Setanta 1 in the UK - enjoy!

CuanaD - D-plus wrote:

Yeah that's fairly true - as far as support goes Soccer lags behind Gaelic & Hurling (both will fill out 80,000+ seats in Croke park for their biggest games, wheras the FAI Cup Final will attract about 15-30,000)

Interesting. Hurling too? I wonder how many countries soccer isn't the most popular sport?

Latest score 3-1 Derry. Two magnificent strikes in the space of a couple of minutes.

5-1 Derry! Missed the last 2 goals as i had to go to work. Unbelievable result. Drogheda achieved a creditable 1-0 defeat in Norway so have a fair chance of progressing aswell.

John Sludden wrote: 5-1 Derry! Missed the last 2 goals as i had to go to work. Unbelievable result. Drogheda achieved a creditable 1-0 defeat in Norway so have a fair chance of progressing aswell.

:D :D :D I'm VERY happy this morning - Derry played as well as we expect them to - but the goals were top-drawer. I mentioned that Ciaran Martin is worth a goal - he scored the final two last night - now has scored 11 in all competitions (about 25 games, less a month off injured), a good return for a midfielder! Honestly I did not expect the win to be that emphatic, but its great to finally see Irish teams playing to their potential in europe - the barstoolers here are even starting to take notice.

Drogs result wasn't too bad either - i believe they nearly snatched a draw there too. i'll be at the return in Dalymount for that one again - see if they can Finish off Start (no chance of going to Derry - the tickets sold out in 1 hour!)

Couldn't believe that result, was listening to some of on the radio. Fantastic performance from Derry

Well done, Derry :)

BBC Radio 5 Live had commentary.

Fair play for that as they could have picked the Newcastle game. They were selling it as Gretna's great step into Europe.

Listened to a bit of the first half and Derry sounded on top. Even so, was a little surprised to here the final score.

You should rest some players for the 2nd leg; you can afford to lose 4-0.

caught a bit on five live last night.

Craig Brown is hard work to listen to though.

Did you hear the Wayne Rooney interview? his favourite musical is Oliver, and he knows all the songs. very revealing interview. oh...and he hates Jonathan Woss.

J.A.K wrote:

Did you hear the Wayne Rooney interview? his favourite musical is Oliver, and he knows all the songs. very revealing interview.

Did he also reveal that all this hubhub lately with him an Ronaldo is in truth a lover's spat??

Fucking Oliver?!?!?!

AWESOME avatar john

GO IK START!!!!

Shug wrote:

J.A.K wrote: caught a bit on five live last night.

You'll be watching Liverpool on there soon if ye's play like ye's did in the first leg

And well done to Derry, couldnae believe the score when I read the Daily Record this morning!!!

you're right shug. it would be a nightmare way to start the season. Bellamy was going on about it in the paper last night, saying how it sort of ruined Newcastle's season before it had even begun, when they got knocked out at this stage, when he was there.

but we should be fitter in a few weeks.

We beat Derry 1-0 in a Friendly last season, so that would mean we would have humped Gretna 6-1

Shug wrote: Bellamy will be a great signing if he steers clear of injury.....he will score shitloads. Mind you - no-one's managed to calm that temper of his either, that could also lead to problems.

he even looked a bit bemused to be taken off the other night!

gotta keep the lad happy, or there could be trouble ahead.

top drawer signing. the coup of the summer.

why do people rave about bellamy he's a short arsed taffy tosser who has very little more than pace about him and a fucking big gob!

Bellamy is da man

C-Ro wrote: GO IK START!!!!

Are you starting?

Thin girl! (how can you say 'fat' looking at that photo????)

If anyone wants to have a look at the goals from the Derry game - its here:

Highlights Some VERY impressive goals there!

Here are the full results of the second qualifing round:

Agg. First leg Second leg OFK 2-5 Auxerre 1-0 » 1-5 »
Omonia 1-2 Litex 0-0 » 1-2 »
Ventspils 0-1 Newcastle 0-1 » 0-0 »
Sūduva 2-7 Club Brugge 0-2 » 2-5 »
Fehérvár 1-3 Grasshoppers 1-1 » 0-2 »
Mattersburg 1-2 Wisła 1-1 » 0-1 »
H. Tel-Aviv 4-2 Domžale 1-2 » 3-0 »
Start (11-10p) 1-1 Drogheda United 1-0 » 0-1 » :( Dinamo Bucuresti 2-1 Beitar 1-0 » 1-1 »
Bnei Yehuda 0-6 Loko Sofia 0-2 » 0-4 »
Flora 0-4 Brøndby 0-0 » 0-4 »
Ried 0-1 Sion 0-0 » 0-1 »
Basel (ag) 2-2 Vaduz 1-0 » 1-2 »
APOEL 1-2 Trabzonspor 1-1 » 0-1 »
Zimbru 0-3 Zaporizhya 0-0 » 0-3 »
Twente 1-2 Levadia 1-1 » 0-1 »
Artmedia 5-3 Dinamo Minsk 2-1 » 3-2 »
Molde 2-1 Skonto 0-0 » 2-1 »
Young Boys 3-3 Marseille (ag) 3-3 » 0-0 »
Chornomorets (ag) 1-1 Płock 0-0 » 1-1 »
Rubin 5-0 BATE 3-0 » 2-0 »
Roeselare 2-6 Achnas 2-1 » 0-5 »
Sarajevo 1-2 Rapid Bucuresti 1-0 » 0-2 »
Randers 3-2 Kaunas 3-1 » 0-1 »
Brann 4-4 Åtvidaberg (ag) 3-3 » 1-1 »
Tirana 1-5 Kayserispor 0-2 » 1-3 »
Karvan 0-2 Slavia 0-2 » 0-0 »
Gretna 3-7 Derry City 1-5 » 2-2 » CSKA Sofia (ag) 1-1 Kula 0-0 » 1-1 »
Hertha 3-2 Ameri 1-0 » 2-2 »
OB 6-1 Llanelli 1-0 » 5-1 »
Partizan 3-2 Maribor 2-1 » 1-1 »

Start (11-10p) 1-1 Drogheda United 1-0 » 0-1

Drogheda lost 11 - 10 on penalties ??

gutting. :(

LutonOrder wrote: Start (11-10p) 1-1 Drogheda United 1-0 » 0-1

Drogheda lost 11 - 10 on penalties ??

gutting. :(

yup, 24 pennos altogether - 3 saved. NONE missed! i was virtually behind the goal - had a perfect view & all the pennos were well taken - some crackers actually, the 3 saved were well saved by the keepers - who guessed the right side for about 18 of the 24! really was a cracker of a game, pitty anyone had to lose

blackburn are away to salzburg tonight. if our past european outings are anything to go by we will be going out 1st round

bansheeman wrote: blackburn are away to salzburg tonight. if our past european outings are anything to go by we will be going out 1st round

tough game Grant. they are loaded now. the Chelsea of Austria. Trappatoni the coach.