Europa League 2011 Qualifying

dzomba · Post by **dzomba** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:38

Separate thread for EL, for first three rounds (Q1, Q2, Q3).

I prefer to have distinguished discussions (as we have last year) between competitions, without need to have separate threads for every round. Therefore i opened a new thread, which i believe is more systematic.

Starting with draw for Q1 and Q2 today.

Forza AZ · Post by **Forza AZ** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:09

Seedings Q1:

Group 1
seeded
IL Elfsborg (SWE)
Tromsø IL (NOR)
FC Honka Espoo (FIN)
KR Reykjavík (ISL)
The New Saints FC (WAL)
unseeded
FC Daugava Daugavpils (LVA)
Cliftonville FC (NIR)
JK Nõmme Kalju (EST)
ÍF Fuglafjørdur (FRO)
CS Fola Esch (LUX)

Group 2
seeded
Fulham FC (ENG)
Saint Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL)
Aalesunds FK (NOR)
BK Häcken (SWE)
FK Renova (MKD)
unseeded
Glentoran FC (NIR)
ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar (ISL)
NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
Neath FC (WAL)
UN Käerjéng 97 (LUX)

Group 3
seeded
Qarabağ FK (AZE)
FK Rabotnicki (MKD)
FK Rad (SRB)
FC Koper (SVN)
Paksi SE (HUN)
unseeded
FK Banga (LTU)
JK Trans Narva (EST)
FC Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ)
SP Tre Penne (SMR)
UE Santa Coloma (AND)

Group 4
seeded
Jagiellonia Białystok (POL)
FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
FC Minsk (BLR)
FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)
Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)
unseeded
FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)
KS Flamurtari (ALB)
Olimpik-Şüvälan PFK (AZE)
FC Irtysh Pavlodar (KAZ)
Ulisses FC (ARM)

Group 5
seeded
FC Spartak Trnava (SVK)
NK Varaždin (CRO)
Metalurgi Rustavi (GEO)
NK Široki Brijeg (BIH)
Birkirkara FC (MLT)
unseeded
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN)
KS Vllaznia (ALB)
FK Zeta (MNE)
FC Banants (ARM)
FC Lusitans (AND)

Luka · Post by **Luka** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:30

Again, no clear explanation why some teams were assigned to the groups. This time two issues:
- FK Renova (MKD) in group 2
- it would be, geogrphically better fit to switch unseeded teams between group 3 and 4

UCL_Lover · Post by **UCL_Lover** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 13:22

Luka wrote:Again, no clear explanation why some teams were assigned to the groups. This time two issues:
- FK Renova (MKD) in group 2
- it would be, geogrphically better fit to switch unseeded teams between group 3 and 4

I have the intention that, with it not had been explained even then, in the past the groups were filled more or less like that (I use an example):

40 teams, 5 groups of 8.

G1: 1, 10, 11, 20 -- 21, 30, 31, 40
G2: 2, 9, 12, 19 -- 22, 29, 32, 39
G3: 3, 8, 13, 18 -- 23, 28, 33, 38
G4: 4, 7, 14, 17 -- 24, 27, 34, 37
G5: 5, 6, 15, 16 -- 25, 26, 35, 36

Then we had some exchanges between groups (but always from a seeded position to another seeded and same for unseeded ones), so as:
- to make groups as much geographical close as possible
- to keep groups almost in the same difficulty (i.e. sums of positions to be alike)
- to prevent meetings between teams from the same country
- to prevent "dangerous meetings" (meetings from teams from "certain" countries)
- to ... (you can put your ideas here or let us imagine any undisclosed reason)
- to avoid teams from same association

ekze · Post by **ekze** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 13:39

When will Q2 draw happen? 14.00 CET?

flob · Post by **flob** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 13:42

ekze wrote:When will Q2 draw happen? 14.00 CET?

14:20 CET

Luka · Post by **Luka** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 14:05

do we already know the groups for the Q2 draw?

og2002gr · Post by **og2002gr** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 14:28

Is it the new draw system ridiculous or it is just my idea?

aekFC4ever · Post by **aekFC4ever** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 14:38

og2002gr wrote:Is it the new draw system ridiculous or it is just my idea?

It is in fact! And very confusing!!

ignjat63 · Post by **ignjat63** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 14:40

A good draw for Serbian clubs. Rad should pass the Sanmarinese FC and Vojvodina should pass Vaduz.

Rad's second opponent is a Greek club that perhaps has 60-40 chance over Rad.

But Partisan should beat the Macedonians.

So all together, quite satisfactory.

Maribor · Post by **Maribor** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 14:46

I don't know anything about the Kazakhstan team Koper drew

so i don't know what to expect but i would hope Koper are good enough to go through.

Siroki vs Olimpija revenge match

Since Olimpija new coach came they have been the 2nd Best team in Slovenia so hopefully they can get revenge this time.

Another Slovenia vs Croatia game in the 2nd Round

we never have good luck with these matches if it anyone but Hajduk Split or Dinamo Zagreb then i would like Domžale hopes to go past so chances should be higher against RNK Split.

I would expect Koper to advance to Round 2, Olimpija to do better than last season and Split to win against Domžale.

UCL_Lover · Post by **UCL_Lover** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 16:48

og2002gr wrote:Is it the new draw system ridiculous or it is just my idea?

I haven't watched the draw. Just saw the result.
Why do you find it ridiculous?
Have they changed something since last year?
Probably yes, but I can't imagine what!

Luka · Post by **Luka** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 16:54

The drawing system is the same as last year. In fact, I don't have anything against drawing group of teams instead of a single team - that makes the entire procedure much easier and faster. Now that said, the drawing is very unclear if you do not know the rules for grouping the teams before the draw (Q1 draw) or do not know the grouping at all (Q2 draw). Btw., I still can't find the groupings for the Q2 draw.

og2002gr · Post by **og2002gr** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 17:08

I didn't watch last years draw.

But draws like "8 vs 3" meaning a dozen of teams meet another dozen of teams lacks the magic of team names coming out of balls.

UCL_Lover · Post by **UCL_Lover** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 17:28

og2002gr wrote:I didn't watch last years draw.

But draws like "8 vs 3" meaning a dozen of teams meet another dozen of teams lacks the magic of team names coming out of balls.

I understand now.
This though happens because the draw of Qr2 is done before Qr1 is actually played.

The same stands for the draws of Qr3, since they take place before Qr2 is finished. Of course CL Qr3 for League Route (a.k.a. Non Champions) will be unaffected, since there are no previous such rounds.

Orestis, you may see in CL Qr3 Champions Route a draw like:

Skenderbreu / APOEL - Maribor / Santa Coloma or Dudelange

Santa Coloma and Dudelange enter Qr1.
The winner of them will play Maribor that enter Qr2.
Also APOEL will play Skenderbreu (both enter Qr2).

For Qr3, we will not be quite sure if APOEL (seeded in Qr2 and in Qr3) or Skenderbreu will go through.
The same for Maribor (seeded in Qr2 but not in Qr3) or either Santa Coloma or Dudelange.
But we will know at Qr3 draw time who of Santa Coloma and Dudelange will have qualified and will have met Maribor on 1st leg!

Thus, for Qr3 draw it is assumed that all seeded teams in Qr2 qualify, leading into draw results like the ones you mentioned.

Thankfully, play-off draws are held after both Qr3 legs are played.