Match Thread (Europa League) Maribor V Aberdeen

[strachanmcgheegoal]

 

Shite news.

Are Celtic doing a minutes silence tonight?

[gogs1958]

Sad news indeed.

[Poodler]

What minute we doing an applause in?

 

Or can we donate two youth players?

[Guest RosemountRed]

Philomena Bar between Holborn and Covent Garden for London Dons!

 

cheers

[RUL]

I hope this sad news unsettles them a lot.

[The Boofon]

I hope this sad news unsettles them a lot.

 

They should withdraw.

[reekie_dock]

The Alwyn might have it on, ask @@reekie_dock.

No game on the Dunbar, however the Borgston Dolphin does have premier sports.

 

Am sorted...

[Chewie37]

I hope this sad news unsettles them a lot.

As a club, I'm sure we'll show due respect for this. On the pitch, get stuck into them

[tup]

Bad news for them is good news for us.

[King Street Loon]

RIP foreign laddies I've never heard of before.

Your story has touched my heart.

I propose a minutes applause for the crash that has stolen these strangers from this world.

[RAZOR]

RIP foreign laddies I've never heard of before.

Your story has touched my heart.

I propose a minutes applause for the crash that has stolen these strangers from this world.

They were so brave.

[Panda]

Did anyone notice Stephen Kenny, ex-Dunfermline manager, has led Dundalk into the play-off round of the Champions League?

 

Worst case scenario, they lose and they are in the Europa League group stage, meaning they're gauranteed over £4.5m because they get something like £2.5m from losing in the Champions League playoffs plus another gauranteed windfall from the Europa groups.

 

Should they actually win and make the CL groups, then a club with an average crowd of 3,000, who can't even play their European games at their own ground, are gauranteed something like £12m and that's before you take into account ticket sales, and they would probably move games to the Aviva Stadium if the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona are visiting.

 

UEFA must be fizzing. Especially if they knock out a big club in the playoffs.

[Foster14]

Did anyone notice Stephen Kenny, ex-Dunfermline manager, has led Dundalk into the play-off round of the Champions League?

 

Worst case scenario, they lose and they are in the Europa League group stage, meaning they're gauranteed over £4.5m because they get something like £2.5m from losing in the Champions League playoffs plus another gauranteed windfall from the Europa groups.

 

Should they actually win and make the CL groups, then a club with an average crowd of 3,000, who can't even play their European games at their own ground, are gauranteed something like £12m and that's before you take into account ticket sales, and they would probably move games to the Aviva Stadium if the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona are visiting.

 

UEFA must be fizzing. Especially if they knock out a big club in the playoffs.

 

Why would UEFA be fizzing? It was only 7 years ago they introduced the champions route that has seen various "monkey" clubs (to use a Bluto phrase) to make the group stages. Taking our opposition tomorrow night, they made the 14/15 group stages having had an average attendance of 3,089 the season before.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenian_PrvaLiga

 

You do question why UEFA would ever have changed the qualification in to Champions route and League route, given what they have done to European club football. Perhaps they felt guilty that out of 32 qualifiers for the group stage, not enough were actually champions? Or maybe it was an attempt to try and broaden the possibility of other countries to get there to encourage more interest and sponsorship?

 

To compare though, between the Champions route and the League route:

 

- The last one with no champions route (2008/09) - 17 nations, and only 15 champions out of 32 participants. 2015/16 - 17 nations and 17 champions out of 32 participants

- The League route - 5 out of 15 will qualify (populated by 2nds, 3rds and 4th of nations with high coefficients). Champions Route - 5 out of 41 will qualify.

 

The cynic in me would say that the 5 out of 15 route guarantees a few more big clubs from the higher coefficient nations compared to having a 10 in 61 chance, and what was really dressed up as a ploy to get more Champions in really, was to guarantee a few bigger clubs got in, at the expense of the greater likelihood of some cannon fodder making it.

[strachanmcgheegoal]

I don't particularly mind the CL entry if they have won through to it good for them. I do object to the UEFA group stages safety net as that fucks up the domestic competition back home.

[Foster14]

When you look at it further, 10 of the 15 League route entries are guaranteed to be in the group stage of European competition compared to 10 out of 41 on the Champions route. It is a complete sham (both the Champions route and the dropping down a competition).

[Tord31]

delayed flight again?

[Guest RosemountRed]

delayed flight again?

 

Get the Mega Bus.

[Guest milne_afc]

Amateurs.

[Panda]

 

Why would UEFA be fizzing? It was only 7 years ago they introduced the champions route that has seen various "monkey" clubs (to use a Bluto phrase) to make the group stages. Taking our opposition tomorrow night, they made the 14/15 group stages having had an average attendance of 3,089 the season before.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenian_PrvaLiga

 

You do question why UEFA would ever have changed the qualification in to Champions route and League route, given what they have done to European club football. Perhaps they felt guilty that out of 32 qualifiers for the group stage, not enough were actually champions? Or maybe it was an attempt to try and broaden the possibility of other countries to get there to encourage more interest and sponsorship?

 

To compare though, between the Champions route and the League route:

 

- The last one with no champions route (2008/09) - 17 nations, and only 15 champions out of 32 participants. 2015/16 - 17 nations and 17 champions out of 32 participants

- The League route - 5 out of 15 will qualify (populated by 2nds, 3rds and 4th of nations with high coefficients). Champions Route - 5 out of 41 will qualify.

 

The cynic in me would say that the 5 out of 15 route guarantees a few more big clubs from the higher coefficient nations compared to having a 10 in 61 chance, and what was really dressed up as a ploy to get more Champions in really, was to guarantee a few bigger clubs got in, at the expense of the greater likelihood of some cannon fodder making it.

It was Platini who pushed that through. He's low gone.

 

Surely no-one would argue UEFA are the champions of the underdog. They want the big names there.

 

That's like saying Neil Doncaster treats all clubs equally.

[Foster14]

My point though is Dundalk will not be there at the expense of a big name, but rather the likes of a Malmo, BATE, Apoel and Maribor. They've let some whipping boys in for years.

[Panda]

My point though is Dundalk will not be there at the expense of a big name, but rather the likes of a Malmo, BATE, Apoel and Maribor. They've let some whipping boys in for years.

Well they could play Celtic......oh yeh, I see your point. Well played.

[fine-n-dandy]

Should we get through this game we should be prepared for a couple of suspensions (Taylor ) as this ref we have for this game averaged 5 cards a game last season & once dished out 14 yellows & a red in a real madrid v porto youth match. Last match he reffed involving a Slovenian side he dished out 11 cards.

[Lencarl]

Blow for Dons as Hayes misses Europa League second leg

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/992932/blow-dons-hayes-misses-europa-league-second-leg/

[ebbe]

Time to let Scott Wright off the lead.

[fine-n-dandy]

Time to sign Greg Stewart

[strachanmcgheegoal]

And another midfielder bites the dust. FUCK!

 

Time for a shift Niall. Prove me wrong you lazy wee feck and the streets of Torry shall be paved with sock wearing virgins.

 

Ok maybe not Torry then!

[ebbe]

Time to sign Greg Stewart

 

He wouldn't be able to play though.

[Chewie37]

Sair ane, we'll find out how strong the squad is now

[strachanmcgheegoal]

Most likely Maclean and we go 4-3-3 either with Stockley or possibly Burns.

 

Haven't seen O'Connor (too defensive) or Storey to be fair.

[fine-n-dandy]

 

He wouldn't be able to play though.

You know i'm thinking long term.

We lose Hayes & we are seriously weakened.