The Almighty Hibernian FC’s European Tour 2021/22

[Les Cabbage]

[Lyle Lanley]

Shame the SG won’t let fans travel abroad for this historical run. 

[Les Cabbage]

I was reading today there’s a chance we can draw Hibernians of Malta, if that happens and we can’t go then I don’t think it’s worthwhile us ever qualifying for Europe again, what could possibly be the point?

[Lofarl]

So this is still confusing.  If we win the cup we go into the play off round of the Europa league.  If we lose that we drop into this new conference league.  But if we lose the cup the winners will get the same thing regardless of table position?

 

Do we then just go through some qualifying rounds of this conference thing?  This is due to St Johnstone throwing a tractor sized spanner into the works.

[G51]

2 hours ago, Lofarl said:

So this is still confusing.  If we win the cup we go into the play off round of the Europa league.  If we lose that we drop into this new conference league.  But if we lose the cup the winners will get the same thing regardless of table position?

 

Do we then just go through some qualifying rounds of this conference thing?  This is due to St Johnstone throwing a tractor sized spanner into the works.

Yes, that’s about the size of it.

If Hibs don’t win the cup, they’re in the Conference League qualifiers, where they’ll almost certainly get bodied. If they do win it, they’re guaranteed Conference League group stages, and if they fluke a win in their one-round qualifier they’re in the Europa League groups.

Basically, whoever wins the cup gets group stage football until Christmas. Whoever doesn’t gets humiliated in the qualifiers like every other season, except the qualifiers are for an even worse competition this time.

[Crawford Bridge]

15 hours ago, G51 said:

Yes, that’s about the size of it.

If Hibs don’t win the cup, they’re in the Conference League qualifiers, where they’ll almost certainly get bodied. If they do win it, they’re guaranteed Conference League group stages, and if they fluke a win in their one-round qualifier they’re in the Europa League groups.

Basically, whoever wins the cup gets group stage football until Christmas. Whoever doesn’t gets humiliated in the qualifiers like every other season, except the qualifiers are for an even worse competition this time.

[The Other Foot]

Ah well, thank God for unrestricted international travel. It doesn't really matter if we get dumped out early, at least we'll have the chance to go to some amazing places.

Right? 

[tarapoa]

On 26/04/2021 at 22:51, G51 said:

Basically, whoever wins the cup gets group stage football until Christmas. Whoever doesn’t gets humiliated in the qualifiers like every other season, except the qualifiers are for an even worse competition this time.

Being humiliated in the qualifiers would involve going out to a side you are seeded to knock out - especially from a country ranked below 30.

McInnes' AFC never did this in seven seasons - and I think Hibs last two efforts produced decent efforts against Brondby and Asteras - before losing to comfortably Molde, who have a good pedigree.

They wouldn't have been seeded against Malmo either - but it's hard to argue that wasn't a bit of a embarrassment, due to the arse collapse at Easter Road rather than the quality of opponent.

In terms of real humiliations in recent times that would be Hearts v Birkirkara, Kilmarnock v Connahs Quay, Motherwell v Stjarnan, St Johnstone v Alashkert/Trakai and Sevco v Progres Niederkorn. 

The Red Final turd-o-meter explains things.

 

 

 

 

[G51]

2 minutes ago, tarapoa said:

Being humiliated in the qualifiers would involve going out to a side you are seeded to knock out - especially from a country ranked below 30.

McInnes' AFC never did this in seven seasons - and I think Hibs last two efforts produced decent efforts against Brondby and Asteras - before losing to comfortably Molde, who have a good pedigree.

They wouldn't have been seeded against Malmo either - but it's hard to argue that wasn't a bit of a embarrassment, due to the arse collapse at Easter Road rather than the quality of opponent.

In terms of real humiliations in recent times that would be Hearts v Birkirkara, Kilmarnock v Connahs Quay, Motherwell v Stjarnan, St Johnstone v Alashkert/Trakai and Sevco v Progres Niederkorn. 

The Red Final turd-o-meter explains things.

 

 

 

 

Saving this for Aberdeen 0-2 Inter Turku

[DMCs]

On 26/04/2021 at 22:51, G51 said:

Yes, that’s about the size of it.

If Hibs don’t win the cup, they’re in the Conference League qualifiers, where they’ll almost certainly get bodied. If they do win it, they’re guaranteed Conference League group stages, and if they fluke a win in their one-round qualifier they’re in the Europa League groups.

Basically, whoever wins the cup gets group stage football until Christmas. Whoever doesn’t gets humiliated in the qualifiers like every other season, except the qualifiers are for an even worse competition this time.

The Cup winners will supposedly actually be seeded for the playoff round so getting Europa League group stage football is actually a decent shot. Some very tough draws but seem teams like Dudelange from Luxembourg too.

[Les Cabbage]

So, the draw is the 16th of June for the Intertoto Cup 2nd qualifying round and here’s an indication of who we could get, it’s not fully up to date but it’s a fair indicator,

I expect they’ll regionalise the pots so we’ll be looking at the clubs from Faroes, Finland, Norway, possibly Sweden, Iceland, NI or Wales in all likelihood.

You’ve got to expect us to win this round, it’s the next round it gets tricky

46	Klaksvík	Far3	5.250
47	Servette	Sui2	5.245
48	Aris	Gre2	5.200
49	Ararat-Armenia	Arm3	5.000
50	KuPS	Fin3	5.000
51	Dinamo Brest	Blr4	5.000
52	Dunajska Streda	Svk2	5.000
53	Neftci	Aze	5.000
54	Hafnarfjordur	Isl2	5.000
55	Ashdod	Isr3	4.875
56	Ironi Kiryat Shmona	Isr4	4.875
57	Sutjeska	Mne2	4.750
58	FC Santa Coloma	And2	4.500
59	Partizani	Alb3	4.250
60	Valerenga	Nor3	4.200
61	Djurgarden	Swe4	4.100
62	Hacken	Swe3	4.100
63	Elfsborg	Swe2	4.100
64	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	Bul2	4.075
65	Arda	Bul4	4.075
66	Piast	Pol4	4.000
67	Laci	Alb4	4.000
68	Liepaja	Lat5	4.000
69	Hibernians	Mal2	3.750
70	Levadia	Est3	3.750
71	Sepsi	Rom4	3.640
72	Sumqayıt	Aze	3.375
73	Zira	Aze	3.375
74	Stjarnan	Isl3	3.250
75	Tobol	Kaz2	3.125
76	Shakhter Karagandy	Kaz4	3.125
77	Puskas Academia	Hun2	3.100
78	Paks	Hun4	3.100
79	Torpedo Zhodino	Blr3	3.050
80	Pogon	Pol2	3.025
81	Rakow	Pol3	3.025
82	Mura	Slo3	3.000
83	Petrocub	Mol2	3.000
84	Shkupi	Mac2	3.000
85	NSI Runavik	Far2	3.000
86	Coleraine	Nir2	2.750
87	Tre Penne	Sma3	2.750
88	Zilina	Svk3	2.725
89	Bala Town	Wal3	2.500
90	Gzira United	Mal3	2.500

[FortescueFotheringhamSmyth]

UEFA are strange with the regional thing. Some countries get "moved" due to politics. Kosovo teams might not be welcome in some other ex-Yugoslav states. Teams from some ex-Soviet states that have problems with each other are also "moved" from their natural geographical position.

I stand to be corrected, but I think a couple of random "Central" section countries usually get "moved" to our "North-West" section to "even things up", because the majority of countries up here have very low national and club coefficients. The four Scandinavian countries, Scotland and Belarus might be respectable. Luxembourg clubs are much improved, though Luxembourg isn't always in our section, but the rest of the British Isles, other North Sea islanders and the Baltics are crap! Slovenia and Hungary were "moved" up here last year. The three Slovenian clubs in the Europa League last season went to Iceland, Estonia and Norn Iron in the opening round. ("Slayers of the Scots" Maribor lost to Coleraine!... Doubtless to Motherwell's relief.) The three Hungarian clubs went to Sweden, Finland and Dublin. 

Since the Sheep went to Yugoslavia and Sainties went to look at Mount Ararat in 2015, all the Scottish clubs in the Europa League qualifiers have been drawn against "North-West" section opponents in Q2. (The "British" club has not been drawn in that section. I'd guess political reasons apply to that situation.)

The weekend results across Europe confirm that Hibs are seeded for the Q2 draw. 

Some of the qualifiers from the summer leagues that ended last November are doing shite this year. Notably Dundalk (7th of 10 after 12 games in Ireland, but seeded, so can't play Hibs), Shakhtar Karagandy (12 of 14 after 12 games in Kazakhstan), Hacken (16th and bottom in Sweden after 8 games), Stjarnan (winless,12th and bottom after 5 games in Iceland) and Honka (4 losses in the first 5 games and 10th of 12 in Finland)

Personally, I do not want to go to anywhere Nordic and I don't really want to go to any of the Baltic capitals. I'd prefer watching goats being sacrificed in Karagandy.

 

[St. Jude]

On 24/05/2021 at 09:19, Les Cabbage said:

So, the draw is the 16th of June for the Intertoto Cup 2nd qualifying round and here’s an indication of who we could get, it’s not fully up to date but it’s a fair indicator,

I expect they’ll regionalise the pots so we’ll be looking at the clubs from Faroes, Finland, Norway, possibly Sweden, Iceland, NI or Wales in all likelihood.

You’ve got to expect us to win this round, it’s the next round it gets tricky

46	Klaksvík	Far3	5.250
47	Servette	Sui2	5.245
48	Aris	Gre2	5.200
49	Ararat-Armenia	Arm3	5.000
50	KuPS	Fin3	5.000
51	Dinamo Brest	Blr4	5.000
52	Dunajska Streda	Svk2	5.000
53	Neftci	Aze	5.000
54	Hafnarfjordur	Isl2	5.000
55	Ashdod	Isr3	4.875
56	Ironi Kiryat Shmona	Isr4	4.875
57	Sutjeska	Mne2	4.750
58	FC Santa Coloma	And2	4.500
59	Partizani	Alb3	4.250
60	Valerenga	Nor3	4.200
61	Djurgarden	Swe4	4.100
62	Hacken	Swe3	4.100
63	Elfsborg	Swe2	4.100
64	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	Bul2	4.075
65	Arda	Bul4	4.075
66	Piast	Pol4	4.000
67	Laci	Alb4	4.000
68	Liepaja	Lat5	4.000
69	Hibernians	Mal2	3.750
70	Levadia	Est3	3.750
71	Sepsi	Rom4	3.640
72	Sumqayıt	Aze	3.375
73	Zira	Aze	3.375
74	Stjarnan	Isl3	3.250
75	Tobol	Kaz2	3.125
76	Shakhter Karagandy	Kaz4	3.125
77	Puskas Academia	Hun2	3.100
78	Paks	Hun4	3.100
79	Torpedo Zhodino	Blr3	3.050
80	Pogon	Pol2	3.025
81	Rakow	Pol3	3.025
82	Mura	Slo3	3.000
83	Petrocub	Mol2	3.000
84	Shkupi	Mac2	3.000
85	NSI Runavik	Far2	3.000
86	Coleraine	Nir2	2.750
87	Tre Penne	Sma3	2.750
88	Zilina	Svk3	2.725
89	Bala Town	Wal3	2.500
90	Gzira United	Mal3	2.500

Really wouldn't fancy us against Djurgarden or Elfsborg who are doing well in the Swedish league, Hacken are bottom. Valerenga sitting 6th in the Norwegian league would be a tough tie. 

Coleraine would be an interesting trip in July.......

[FortescueFotheringhamSmyth]

I've just done another nerd stat check. Looking at the clubs who enter in Q2 & those seeded to get there from Q1 and checking their results v. non-Glesca Scots over the past 20 seasons. We don't come out too well.

Even against clubs entering at Q1 next month, the comfortable tankings of diddies have been tempered by a few embarrassments. The Gunts losing to Birkakara is the most glaring, but the Sheep have lost to Bohemians and Dundee lost to Vlaznia Shkoder.  The Arabs lost to Slask Wroclaw in 2011. Scotland's coefficient may have plumbed the depths quite recently, but Poland dropping to 29th took some doing and means Slask are in Q1.

Of 18 knockout ties v. this year's probable Q2 field, Scottish "provincials" (in Recordspeak) have won only 5. The Sheep & Gunts have both beaten Siroki Brijeg, the Sheep have beaten Rijeka, Sainties beat Rosenborg and Motherwell ousted the mighty Breithablik, who are the lowest ranked of this year's Q1 seeds.

Steaua, Stjarnan and Hapoel Be'er Sheva have all despatched 'Well. AEK Athens have papped-out the Gunts & Arabs in addition to Hibs - and beaten Celtic too. Maribor have KO'd Hibs & the Sheep... and both erse cheeks. The Sheep have also lost to Rijeka & Apollon. The Pars lost to Hacken in their last Euro foray. Trnava beat Sainties. Hibs are 0-3, with Molde joining AEK & Maribor. 

There were a couple of wins from 3 games in the "5 teams / 4 games" UEFA Cup groups. Feyenoord beat the Gunts 3-0, but the Sheep beat Copenhagen 4-0 and the Gunts beat Basel 2-1. Both were almost out by the time of those games (the Gunts having their elimination confirmed by a Denes Rosa winner for Ferencvaros at Tynecastle in the final fixture.)

The erse cheeks are far from unblemished v. the Q2 field either. The Harland & Wolff Works XI is 8-2, losing to Maribor & Feyenoord. The Romish Ragamuffins' Relief Fund XI is 12-4, losing to Basel, AEK, Maribor and Copenhagen. They were also "doubled" by Molde in a group and lost group games to Copenhagen & Rosenborg.

It's a shite state of affairs. I wouldn't be booking any time off in the first half of August just yet.

 

 

[FortescueFotheringhamSmyth]

The pots for today's Q1 draw look standard. Most Northwest Zone teams are in mainly northwestern groups, but there are a few Central and Balkan sides in there.

Bala Town are guaranteed northwestern opponents. TNS could go to Andorra and Newtown could go to Slovakia but their other possible opponents are all northwestern.

Coleraine could go to Bosnia, Malta or Gibraltar. Larne sort of guaranteed a northwest tie - but "northwest" includes southern Poland, as Slask Wroclaw are in there. Sligo are in the Larne hat. Bohemians & Glentoran are also in the same hat and could go to Gibraltar or Malta. Dundalk could go to Macedonia.

The pots for Q2 should be released about an hour after today's Q1 draw - so maybe just before 3 o'clock.

 

[Lyle Lanley]

GROUP 5

Seeded:

1 Gent (BEL) 
2 AGF Aarhus (DEN) 
3 Dudelange (LUX) 
4 Hibernian (SCO) 
5 Santa Clara (POR) 

Unseeded: 

6 Shkupi (MKD) / Llapi (KOS) 
7 Vålerenga (NOR) 
8 Stjarnan (ISL) - Bohemians (IRL) 
9 Mons Calpe (GIB) / FC Santa Coloma (AND) 
10 Bala Town (WAL) / Larne (NIR)

[Ray Patterson]

Bala Town or Larne/ or the Team 9 would surely be the must have's in that draw. Vålerenga would be the must avoids.

[Lyle Lanley]

39 minutes ago, ArabAuslander said:

Bala Town or Larne/ or the Team 9 would surely be the must have's in that draw. Vålerenga would be the must avoids.

A trip to North Macedonia/Kosovo would have been amazing if fans were allowed. 

[betting competition]

51 minutes ago, Lyle Lanley said:

A trip to North Macedonia/Kosovo would have been amazing if fans were allowed. 

One of my favourite football trips was Macedonia - so cheap hardly spent a penny for the 3 nights we was there. 

[FortescueFotheringhamSmyth]

52 minutes ago, Lyle Lanley said:

A trip to North Macedonia/Kosovo would have been amazing if fans were allowed. 

An acquaintance who is a staunch follower of a British team went to Shkupi a few years back. Some restless natives blighted his trip. We can't go, but the utter Balkan bollocks that reared its head yet again in the Austria v North Macedonia game this week isn't something I have a lot of time for. I'd seal off the Balkans from the rest of Europe... but I'd send a couple of Arsenal players back "home" first. The erse cheeks are bad enough, but this "Albanian community" shite that defines Shkupi/Sloga belongs in the 1300s. As Mark Renton says of Mikey Forrester, I'd want nothing to do with the cnuts! Kosovo would be even worse... and we'd have maybe a 45% chance v. Shkupi/Sloga. Less than that as a percentage chance v. Valerenga, even though 11 points from 7 games is only a steady start in Norway this season.

Gibraltar/Andorra is a bye. Larne/Bala would be hard to shag up. Bohs should best Stjarnan and I'd not be overly confident of our chances at Dalymount. Cannot complain about the selection of possible opponents though. Sheep could go to Sweden, Belarus or Kazakhstan, which are all at least as hard as Shkupi. Might get Sligo (nice town) or a bye in Lithuania.