The atmosphere sounded electric but very little sectarian chants. Quite rightly it's a massive UEFA fine for that these days, so would basically wipe out any prize money for either side if it happened.
Scott, you might have started and ended your Champions League article with the word ‘money’ but instead you taught yours truly a lot I didn’t know (or had forgotten) about it. And here’s a thought… who’s to say we can’t win it someday, with Isak and Etitike leading the line?
I've been looking at this with some interest to see who we might end up against.
As it stands, we seem to be ranked 84th in the UEFA list (83rd on Wikipedia for some reason), we're the lowest ranked of the 29 confirmed automatic group stage qualifiers, we'll be in pot 4, Union Saint- Gilloise are the last pot 3 qualifier, ranked 57, we'd have to have had at least another season's qualification for Europe to make pot 3 I reckon.
There are 19 teams ranked higher than us in the qualifying rounds, its likely we're going to be the lowest ranked team in the group stage.
No bones about it, we're going to get a bloody hard draw and will get 2 from the following in pot 1: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter, PSG, Leverkusen, Dortmund & Barcelona.
From pot 2 we'll get 2 from: Atleti, Eintracht, Atalanta, PSV, Sporting Lisbon, Juve.
In a one off game, anything is possible, but I don't think the 'big' clubs are going to be naive like they were last season with the new format, I think they're going to ensure they're qualified as early as possible, not leaving it to the last round of matches like Man City did
Bring ‘em on, to the home of the disruptors of SJP, who might, through shrewd and brilliant management, have a better team even on paper this time! After getting Elanga (who is brilliant around the team straightaway) our front and middle three frightened me already and if we do get Hugo the sky’s the limit! Real Madrid don’t know we’re here yet. Anyway we’re fighting on four fronts this season, and I fancy wa chances.
I love that you’ve drawn attention to that Scott, lovely competitive summer or autumn nights under the floodlights. There’s something poignant about Irish football too, like a Roddy Doyle book, and the other countries you mention too. The spirit of football.
I remember playing a dark game in my old home Whickham just before we were playing Halmstadts BK (anyone?) I think Les Ferdinand scored. (In the Newcastle game obviously, not my one:) Coz whether or not anyone scored in our game is still open to conjecture!:) I did.
I don’t wanna misplace me excitement about (I’ll just call him Hugo), coz it may be a case of slightly bigger clubs/agents flushing us out, but blimey he doesn’t half look skilful. I thought three and a half years ago he had potential, but now… if we can get him… eeh son…
Thanks for the comments it's appreciated.
The atmosphere sounded electric but very little sectarian chants. Quite rightly it's a massive UEFA fine for that these days, so would basically wipe out any prize money for either side if it happened.
This week could be different I fear.
Scott, you might have started and ended your Champions League article with the word ‘money’ but instead you taught yours truly a lot I didn’t know (or had forgotten) about it. And here’s a thought… who’s to say we can’t win it someday, with Isak and Etitike leading the line?
Really enjoyed this and Linfield managed by wor Jackie many years ago.
I've been looking at this with some interest to see who we might end up against.
As it stands, we seem to be ranked 84th in the UEFA list (83rd on Wikipedia for some reason), we're the lowest ranked of the 29 confirmed automatic group stage qualifiers, we'll be in pot 4, Union Saint- Gilloise are the last pot 3 qualifier, ranked 57, we'd have to have had at least another season's qualification for Europe to make pot 3 I reckon.
There are 19 teams ranked higher than us in the qualifying rounds, its likely we're going to be the lowest ranked team in the group stage.
No bones about it, we're going to get a bloody hard draw and will get 2 from the following in pot 1: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter, PSG, Leverkusen, Dortmund & Barcelona.
From pot 2 we'll get 2 from: Atleti, Eintracht, Atalanta, PSV, Sporting Lisbon, Juve.
In a one off game, anything is possible, but I don't think the 'big' clubs are going to be naive like they were last season with the new format, I think they're going to ensure they're qualified as early as possible, not leaving it to the last round of matches like Man City did
Bring ‘em on, to the home of the disruptors of SJP, who might, through shrewd and brilliant management, have a better team even on paper this time! After getting Elanga (who is brilliant around the team straightaway) our front and middle three frightened me already and if we do get Hugo the sky’s the limit! Real Madrid don’t know we’re here yet. Anyway we’re fighting on four fronts this season, and I fancy wa chances.
I love an obscure ground bag in a foreign country. Great story. How spicy was the crowd atmosphere; inside and outside?
I love that you’ve drawn attention to that Scott, lovely competitive summer or autumn nights under the floodlights. There’s something poignant about Irish football too, like a Roddy Doyle book, and the other countries you mention too. The spirit of football.
I remember playing a dark game in my old home Whickham just before we were playing Halmstadts BK (anyone?) I think Les Ferdinand scored. (In the Newcastle game obviously, not my one:) Coz whether or not anyone scored in our game is still open to conjecture!:) I did.
I don’t wanna misplace me excitement about (I’ll just call him Hugo), coz it may be a case of slightly bigger clubs/agents flushing us out, but blimey he doesn’t half look skilful. I thought three and a half years ago he had potential, but now… if we can get him… eeh son…
An excellent article. Very entertaining, a quality that is essential.