Europa League 2016/2017 (Died 8/12/2016)

[The9]

Here's the latest:

 

SønderjyskE 0-0 Sparta Praha (87)

Midtjylland 0-1 Osmanlıspor (70)

Krasnodar 4-0 Partizani Tirana (75)

Göteborg 0-0 Qarabağ (HT)

Qäbälä 1-1 Maribor (HT)

M. Tel-Aviv 1-0 Hajduk Split (HT)

Austria Wien 0-0 Rosenborg (47)

AEK Larnaca 0-1 Liberec (HT)

Slavia Praha 0-0 Anderlecht (HT)

İstanbul Başakşehir 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (28 )

 

West Ham kicking off in 10 minutes in Romania against the lot they lost to last year (Astra Giurgiu), lots of team changes.

[Pamplemousse]

Unfortunately I'm away next week so I won't be able to update my map before the draw, but you can still see it here

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=15iJR0WBjDR4BeEx7PXTsHLnjQIA&usp=sharing

[The9]

Unfortunately I'm away next week so I won't be able to update my map before the draw, but you can still see it here

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=15iJR0WBjDR4BeEx7PXTsHLnjQIA&usp=sharing

 

Aw gutted. If it wasn't for the fact I'll be spending next Thursday night and Friday checking pots, coefficients and nearest airports I'd have done it for you!

[Pamplemousse]

Aw gutted. If it wasn't for the fact I'll be spending next Thursday night and Friday checking pots, coefficients and nearest airports I'd have done it for you!

 

I'll update it as soon as I can. Although it won't be too much of an issue, since all of the possible teams are there already, it will just be with a load of teams that we won't need to bother with.

 

It may come in handy again if we qualify for the knockout stages

[The9]

I'll update it as soon as I can. Although it won't be too much of an issue, since all of the possible teams are there already, it will just be with a load of teams that we won't need to bother with.

 

It may come in handy again if we qualify for the knockout stages

 

Cool, it's been really useful in helping me track down nearby airports.

[The9]

Update with all PlayOff Round first leg results below:

 

With 3 teams already below us in the Group Stages (Konyaspor, OGC Nice and Zorya Luhansk), we need another 9 from these below:

 

5 will come from these EL Play-Off Round games where both teams are below Saints:

Midtjylland 0-1 Osmanlıspor

Astra 1-1 West Ham United

Sassuolo 3-0 Red Star Belgrade

Panathinaikos 3-0 Brondby

Qarabag 1-0 AIK Gothenburg

 

So we need another 4 to go our way from this lot (teams we want to win in Bold, results in our favour currently in GREEN):

 

Champions League Play-Off Round (losers drop into the EL Group stage)

Dundalk 0-2 Legia Warsaw

Ajax 1-1 Rostov

Celtic 5-2 Hapoel Be'er Sheva

 

Europa League Play-Off Round (winners go into the EL Group Stage)

Astana 2-0 BATE Borisov

AEK Larnaca 0-1 Slovan Liberec

Arouca 0-1 Olympiacos

Dinamo Tbilisi 0-3 PAOK

Austria Vienna 2-1 Rosenborg

Beitar Jerusalem 1-2 Saint Etienne

Lokomotiva Zagreb 2-2 Genk

Trencin 0-4 Rapid Vienna

Vojvodina 0-3 AZ Alkmaar

Qabala 3-1 Maribor

Gent 2-1 Shkendija

Slavia Prague 0-3 Anderlecht

Istanbul Basaksehir 1-2 Shakhtar Donetsk

Sonderjysk E 0-0 Sparta Prague

Fenerbahce 3-0 Grasshopper

Krasnodar 4-0 Partizani Tirana

Maccabi Tel-Aviv 2-1 Hajduk Split

 

The current total is we have exactly the 4 results we need. So Pot 3 at the moment... just.

 

First legs are all complete. You can't really argue with UEFA's coefficients based on the results so far!

 

Meanwhile over in the Champions League PlayOffs on Tuesday and yesterday, all these teams have higher coefficients than Saints, but the losers of the tie will go into the Group stages of the Europa League:

Dinamo Zagreb 1-1 Red Bull Salzburg

FC Copenhagen 1-0 APOEL Nicosia

Young Boys Bern 1-3 Borussia Monchengladbach

Steaua Bucharest 0-5 Manchester City

Ludogorets 2-0 Viktoria Plzen

Villarreal 1-2 Monaco

Porto 1-1 AS Roma

Edited 18 August, 2016 by The9

[Shroppie]

Update with latest scores and results as of 8pm

 

With 3 teams already below us in the Group Stages (Konyaspor, OGC Nice and Zorya Luhansk), we need another 9 from these below:

 

5 will come from these EL Play-Off Round games where both teams are below Saints:

Midtjylland 0-1 Osmanlıspor FT

Astra 0-1 West Ham United (75)

Sassuolo 2-0 Red Star Belgrade (HT)

Panathinaikos 3-0 Brondby (85)

Qarabag 1-0 AIK Gothenburg FT

 

So we need another 4 to go our way from this lot (teams we want to win in Bold, results in our favour currently in GREEN):

 

Champions League Play-Off Round (losers drop into the EL Group stage)

Dundalk 0-2 Legia Warsaw (played yesterday)

Ajax 1-1 Rostov (played yesterday)

Celtic 5-2 Hapoel Be'er Sheva (played yesterday)

 

Europa League Play-Off Round (winners go into the EL Group Stage)

Astana 2-0 BATE Borisov

AEK Larnaca 0-1 Slovan Liberec

Arouca 0-1 Olympiacos (34)

Dinamo Tbilisi 0-3 PAOK

Austria Vienna 2-1 Rosenborg

Beitar Jerusalem 1-2 Saint Etienne

Lokomotiva Zagreb 2-2 Genk

Trencin 0-1 Rapid Vienna (30)

Vojvodina 0-3 AZ Alkmaar (85)

Qabala 3-1 Maribor

Gent 1-1 Shkendija (49)

Slavia Prague 0-3 Anderlecht

Istanbul Basaksehir 1-2 Shakhtar Donetsk

Sonderjysk E 0-0 Sparta Prague

Fenerbahce 3-0 Grasshopper

Krasnodar 4-0 Partizani Tirana

Maccabi Tel-Aviv 2-1 Hajduk Split

 

The current total is we have exactly the 4 results we need. So Pot 3 at the moment.

 

I'll keep updating this post until the first legs are all complete.

Superb work. Thanks.

 

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

[adysaint]

The 3,800 miles to Kazakhstan suddenly seems a lot closer tonight. They better not blow that 2nd leg.

 

I'd be *disappointed* if we only get Qabala (3,100 miles) that's like popping down the corner shop for a pint of milk in comparison.

[Pamplemousse]

What are the airport options for Astana, out of interest?

[marc_saint]

What are the airport options for Astana, out of interest?

Astana airport. Currently around £320 via Kiev

 

 

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

[adysaint]

Astana is the 2nd coldest Capital City in the world after Ulan Bator in Mongolia.

 

[TABLE=class: wikitable collapsible collapsed, width: 90%]

[TR]

[TH=colspan: 14]Climate data for Astana[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Month[/TH]

[TH]Jan[/TH]

[TH]Feb[/TH]

[TH]Mar[/TH]

[TH]Apr[/TH]

[TH]May[/TH]

[TH]Jun[/TH]

[TH]Jul[/TH]

[TH]Aug[/TH]

[TH]Sep[/TH]

[TH]Oct[/TH]

[TH]Nov[/TH]

[TH]Dec[/TH]

[TH]Year[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Record high °C (°F)[/TH]

[TD=align: center]3.4

(38.1)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]4.8

(40.6)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]22.1

(71.[/TD]

[TD=align: center]29.7

(85.5)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]35.7

(96.3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]40.1

(104.2)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]41.6

(106.9)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]38.7

(101.7)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]36.2

(97.2)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]26.7

(80.1)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]18.5

(65.3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]4.5

(40.1)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]41.6

(106.9)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Average high °C (°F)[/TH]

[TD=align: center]−9.9

(14.2)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−9.2

(15.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−2.5

(27.5)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]10.9

(51.6)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]20.2

(68.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]25.8

(78.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]26.8

(80.2)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]25.2

(77.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]18.8

(65.[/TD]

[TD=align: center]10.0

(50)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−1.4

(29.5)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−8.0

(17.6)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]8.9

(48)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Daily mean °C (°F)[/TH]

[TD=align: center]−14.2

(6.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−14.1

(6.6)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−7.1

(19.2)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]5.2

(41.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]13.9

(57)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]19.5

(67.1)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]20.8

(69.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]18.8

(65.[/TD]

[TD=align: center]12.3

(54.1)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]4.6

(40.3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−5.4

(22.3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−12.1

(10.2)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3.5

(38.3)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Average low °C (°F)[/TH]

[TD=align: center]−18.3

(−0.9)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−18.5

(−1.3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−11.5

(11.3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]0.2

(32.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]7.9

(46.2)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]13.2

(55.[/TD]

[TD=align: center]15.0

(59)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]12.8

(55)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]6.6

(43.9)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]0.2

(32.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−8.9

(16)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−16.1

(3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−1.5

(29.3)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Record low °C (°F)[/TH]

[TD=align: center]−51.6

(−60.9)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−48.9

(−56)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−38.0

(−36.4)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−27.7

(−17.9)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−10.8

(12.6)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−1.5

(29.3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2.3

(36.1)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−2.2

(28)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−8.2

(17.2)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−25.3

(−13.5)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−39.2

(−38.6)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−43.5

(−46.3)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]−51.6

(−60.9)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Average precipitation mm (inches)[/TH]

[TD=align: center]16

(0.63)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]15

(0.59)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]18

(0.71)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]21

(0.83)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]35

(1.38)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]37

(1.46)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]50

(1.97)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]29

(1.14)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]22

(0.87)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]27

(1.06)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]28

(1.1)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]22

(0.87)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]320

(12.6)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Average rainy days[/TH]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]5[/TD]

[TD=align: center]9[/TD]

[TD=align: center]15[/TD]

[TD=align: center]13[/TD]

[TD=align: center]15[/TD]

[TD=align: center]13[/TD]

[TD=align: center]12[/TD]

[TD=align: center]10[/TD]

[TD=align: center]7[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]106[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Average snowy days[/TH]

[TD=align: center]25[/TD]

[TD=align: center]23[/TD]

[TD=align: center]19[/TD]

[TD=align: center]6[/TD]

[TD=align: center]1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]0.1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]0[/TD]

[TD=align: center]0[/TD]

[TD=align: center]1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]7[/TD]

[TD=align: center]18[/TD]

[TD=align: center]24[/TD]

[TD=align: center]124[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Average relative humidity (%)[/TH]

[TD=align: center]78[/TD]

[TD=align: center]77[/TD]

[TD=align: center]79[/TD]

[TD=align: center]64[/TD]

[TD=align: center]54[/TD]

[TD=align: center]53[/TD]

[TD=align: center]59[/TD]

[TD=align: center]57[/TD]

[TD=align: center]59[/TD]

[TD=align: center]68[/TD]

[TD=align: center]80[/TD]

[TD=align: center]79[/TD]

[TD=align: center]67[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH]Mean monthly sunshine hours[/TH]

[TD=align: center]103[/TD]

[TD=align: center]147[/TD]

[TD=align: center]192[/TD]

[TD=align: center]238[/TD]

[TD=align: center]301[/TD]

[TD=align: center]336[/TD]

[TD=align: center]336[/TD]

[TD=align: center]294[/TD]

[TD=align: center]230[/TD]

[TD=align: center]136[/TD]

[TD=align: center]100[/TD]

[TD=align: center]94[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2,507[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 14, align: center]Source #1: Pogoda.ru.net^[29][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 14, align: center]Source #2: NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)^[30][/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[adysaint]

I dunno why it did all those smiley faces... It looked like it did on wiki before I posted it...

 

That Record high in December is hilarious 4C - like that's the highest its EVER been.

[Pamplemousse]

That's quite some extreme differences. Boiling hot to freezing cold almost instantly.

[The9]

I dunno why it did all those smiley faces... It looked like it did on wiki before I posted it...

 

That Record high in December is hilarious 4C - like that's the highest its EVER been.

 

An 8 with an end bracket will always give you one of these: unless you put a space in between 8 ).

[The9]

That's quite some extreme differences. Boiling hot to freezing cold almost instantly.

 

We don't want to play those feckers with the weather in December or in the Round of 32 in February, that's for sure. Though as their season ends in the autumn it might give us a decent advantage in fitness terms, if not recovery...

[The9]

Incidentally, good to see the transport links to Astana are better than the ones to Kairat last season, that was nearly 24 hours with the stopover in Moscow... you had to leave on Tuesday to make the (3pm BST) kick off time.

 

Also not looking forward to getting messed around with the odd hour when we finish daylight savings.

[The9]

Now updated to embolden direct qualifiers for the group stages as they're the only ones not dependent on a result before Friday.

 

Pot 1

Schalke (GER) coefficient 96.035

Zenit (RUS) 93.216

[Porto (POR) 92.616 or AS Roma]

Manchester United (ENG) 82.256

Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 81.976

Athletic Club (ESP) 75.142

Olympiacos (GRE) 70.940

Villarreal (ESP) 60.142

[Ajax (NED) 58.112 or FC Rostov]

Internazionale (ITA) 58.087

Fiorentina (ITA) 57.087

Anderlecht (BEL) 54.000

Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) 44.585

----------------------------- Pot 2 est.

AZ Alkmaar (NED) 43.612

Braga (POR) 43.116

[RB Salzburg (AUT) 42.520 or Din. Zagreb]

Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER) 42.035

[Roma (ITA) 41.587 or Porto]

Fenerbahçe (TUR) 40.920

[sparta Prague (CZE) 40.585 or Sonderjysk E]

PAOK (GRE) 37.440

Steaua București (ROU) 36.576

[Genk (BEL) 36.000 or Lokomotiva Zagreb]

[APOEL (CYP) 35.935 or FC Copenhagen]

[bATE Borisov (BLR) 34.000 or Astana]

Standard Liège (BEL) 27.500

Saint-Étienne (FRA) 26.049

--------------------------------- Pot 3 est.

[Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 25.775 or RB Salzburg]

Gent (BEL) 25.000

Young Boys (SUI) 24.755

[FC Copenhagen (DEN) 24.720 or APOEL]

Krasnodar (RUS) 24.216

Rapid Vienna (AUT) 23.520

Slovan Liberec (CZE) 22.085

[Maribor (SVN) 21.625 or Qabala]

Celta Vigo (ESP) 21.142

[Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR) 20.225 or Hajduk Split]

Feyenoord (NED) 19.112

[Austria Vienna (AUT) 19.020 or Rosenborg]

Mainz (GER) 18.035

FC Zürich (SUI) 17.755

Southampton (ENG) 16.756

[West Ham United (ENG) 16.256 or Astra]

Panathinaikos (GRE) 14.940

----------------------------- Pot 4 (est)

Sassuolo (ITA) 14.087

[Qarabağ (AZE) 13.475 or AIK Gothenburg]

[Rosenborg (NOR) 12.850 or Austria Vienna]

[Astana (KAZ) 12.575 or BATE]

Nice (FRA) 12.049

Zorya Luhansk (UKR) 11.976

[Rostov (RUS) 11.716 or Ajax]

[Astra Giurgiu (ROU) 11.076 or West Ham]

[Hajduk Split (CRO) 10.775 or Maccabi Tel-Aviv]

Konyaspor (TUR) 6.920

Osmanlıspor (TUR) 6.920

[iFK Gothenburg (SWE) 6.475 or Qarabag]

Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) 5.875

[Lokomotiva Zagreb (CRO) 5.775 or Genk]

Trenčín (SVK) 5.400

[Qäbälä (AZE) 5.225 or Maribor]

Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) 4.725

Beitar Jerusalem (ISR) 4.225

[sønderjysk E (DEN) 3.720 or Sparta Prague]

Shkëndija (MKD) 2.950

Dundalk (IRL) 2.590

Edited 24 August, 2016 by The9

[angelman]

Is this really the most ridiculously complicated system of draw imaginable?

[CB Fry]

Is this really the most ridiculously complicated system of draw imaginable?

Not really. I think this thread is making it complicated by The9 beautifully digging into every permutation imaginable.

 

On the day we finished sixth it was pretty much nailed for us to be a pot three seed in the EL, but some still want to go on the convoluted three month journey to establish that yes we are going to be a pot three seed.

[ericb]

Quite fancy Porto for an away day, would be a great place to go on the **** and we'd get decent numbers too

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The9]

Is this really the most ridiculously complicated system of draw imaginable?

 

Nah, it's pretty simple. 48 teams into 12 groups.

[The9]

Quite fancy Porto for an away day, would be a great place to go on the **** and we'd get decent numbers too

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Braga, Porto, arguably also Vigo will give you the chance to fly into Porto. Also Arouca if they turn around the 1-0 home deficit.

[The9]

Not really. I think this thread is making it complicated by The9 beautifully digging into every permutation imaginable.

 

On the day we finished sixth it was pretty much nailed for us to be a pot three seed in the EL, but some still want to go on the convoluted three month journey to establish that yes we are going to be a pot three seed.

 

Damn right we do. It's actually a little less clear than it appeared, we only need two results to change and we're in Pot 4.

[SO16_Saint]

what does it really matter what pot we're in, we still have to play teams from pot 1,2,3,4 - it's pot luck (sorry) who we play

[marc_saint]

what does it really matter what pot we're in, we still have to play teams from pot 1,2,3,4 - it's pot luck (sorry) who we play

The9.

Do you want to tell him or shall I?

 

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

[Matthew Le God]

what does it really matter what pot we're in, we still have to play teams from pot 1,2,3,4 - it's pot luck (sorry) who we play

 

If we were in pot 1 we wouldn't have to play another pot 1 team. That would make the group easier for us, as generally the pot 1 teams are better.

[View From The Top]

what does it really matter what pot we're in, we still have to play teams from pot 1,2,3,4 - it's pot luck (sorry) who we play

 

Some sad fu_cks need something to do before they start cracking one off over a football kit again.

 

I'll just wait for the draw, see who we get and book flights. No drama, no losing sleep over what pot we are in.

[niceandfriendly]

I check this thread occasionally to see if there's anything interesting and am continually baffled at The9's posts. Nothing new there I suppose.

[adysaint]

Some sad fu_cks need something to do before they start cracking one off over a football kit again.

 

I'll just wait for the draw, see who we get and book flights. No drama, no losing sleep over what pot we are in.

 

I want to go to Kazakhstan because (to me) it represents the ultimate test of who I am as a Saints Fan to go to that game.

 

Some people may have different criteria but that is mine.

 

This involves a: Astana qualifing b: Saints getting in Pot 3 c: We actually get them

 

And even then it will be tinged with a mild disapointment that Kairat (which is just that bit further) didn't get through.

 

Saints getting in Pot 3 is IMPERATIVE

[View From The Top]

I want to go to Kazakhstan because (to me) it represents the ultimate test of who I am as a Saints Fan to go to that game.

 

Some people may have different criteria but that is mine.

 

This involves a: Astana qualifing b: Saints getting in Pot 3 c: We actually get them

 

And even then it will be tinged with a mild disapointment that Kairat (which is just that bit further) didn't get through.

 

Saints getting in Pot 3 is IMPERATIVE

 

So you want to go 3500 miles to prove your uberfandom? Weirdo.

[shurlock]

Some sad fu_cks need something to do before they start cracking one off over a football kit again.

 

I'll just wait for the draw, see who we get and book flights. No drama, no losing sleep over what pot we are in.

 

 

Agree completely.

[The9]

The9.

Do you want to tell him or shall I?

 

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

 

I'll let him work it out for himself.

[The9]

Some sad fu_cks need something to do before they start cracking one off over a football kit again.

 

I'll just wait for the draw, see who we get and book flights. No drama, no losing sleep over what pot we are in.

 

And some sad fcks don't appreciate that other people like different things to them. Well done on your amazingness, hope your travel doesn't cost sh1tloads more than people who've planned.

[The9]

I check this thread occasionally to see if there's anything interesting and am continually baffled at The9's posts. Nothing new there I suppose.

 

Must be doing something right.

[SaintRobbie]

We need to play the kids in this league and accept that our 1st team without significant reinforcement and a new manager are in a relegation battle from the start.

 

What a disappointment.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[melmacian_saint]

At least we've made it to the competition proper this time!

 

Hopefully we can visit some decent stadiums, going to Astana or Azerbaijan on a Thursday is the worse that could happen to us.

[View From The Top]

And some sad fcks don't appreciate that other people like different things to them. Well done on your amazingness, hope your travel doesn't cost sh1tloads more than people who've planned.

 

It won't. It never does. It's not rocket science finding cheap routes and it it's somewhere like Astana I wouldn't go anyway. I'll leave that to the uber freaks.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Personally I want to go somewhere where you can get a decent drink at a reasonable price , is easy to get to and play against one of the bigger European teams. This won't qualify me for hard core über fandom but will mean most of my saints mates will be there as well so will be a good crack .

[The9]

Personally I want to go somewhere where you can get a decent drink at a reasonable price , is easy to get to and play against one of the bigger European teams. This won't qualify me for hard core über fandom but will mean most of my saints mates will be there as well so will be a good crack .

 

Stuff like Astana is a bunch of hassle and most people will probably go with the club's option for that anyway (especially if it avoids an 8 hour stopover in an eastern European airport like Kiev or Moscow). I'm happy to go places I haven't been before and have a few beers and a laugh like last year. That isn't going to stop me watching the round before the group stage and the draw intently and posting a load of statty crap on this thread because I know a few people appreciate it and its exactly the right place for this kind of niche stuff.

 

We could probably dredge up my post from last year about European visa requirements too... luckily Brexit hasn't ballsed freedom of movement up for Brits yet.

[Chez]

All that matters is the number of away tickets that will be available.

[The9]

All that matters is the number of away tickets that will be available.

 

Depends where we go.

 

And FWIW the best outcome for that in terms of pot location is Pot 3 and drawing Dundalk who played their last CL PlayOff tie at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, even though Pot 3 is overall much more likely to send us to a poky Pot 4 ground.

[The9]

It won't. It never does. It's not rocket science finding cheap routes and it it's somewhere like Astana I wouldn't go anyway. I'll leave that to the uber freaks.

 

Funnily enough the opinion of pretty much everyone who I spoke to about travel plans and cost in Arnhem and Herning was that it made a massive difference how soon you booked AND how aware of the various alternatives you were. Same during the Euros...

[Marsdinho]

Remember everyone.....do all of your travel searching in incognito / private mode on your browser. That way the bots dont pick up popular routes / destinations and put the prices up.

[Whitey Grandad]

Remember everyone.....do all of your travel searching in incognito / private mode on your browser. That way the bots dont pick up popular routes / destinations and put the prices up.

 

Good advice.

[suewhistle]

Funnily enough the opinion of pretty much everyone who I spoke to about travel plans and cost in Arnhem and Herning was that it made a massive difference how soon you booked AND how aware of the various alternatives you were. Same during the Euros...

 

Yep, I thought that was a given. I hardly ever fly but you'd have to be pretty obtuse to be unaware of dynamic pricing and the fact that the airlines have dedicated staff for yield management or whatever their term now is. The software will pick up on the increased demand pattern _very_ quickly. For bigger places (Milan? :-) ) it may not initially be so obvious and alternatives would be greater, but for Astana you may be stuffed! ;-)

 

Still, only 4 days to go before we know, and I'll probably only go to one, if any, but if it's the third at least I may get a headstart on you whilst you book the first two!

[Whitey Grandad]

Yep, I thought that was a given. I hardly ever fly but you'd have to be pretty obtuse to be unaware of dynamic pricing and the fact that the airlines have dedicated staff for yield management or whatever their term now is. The software will pick up on the increased demand pattern _very_ quickly. For bigger places (Milan? :-) ) it may not initially be so obvious and alternatives would be greater, but for Astana you may be stuffed! ;-)

 

Still, only 4 days to go before we know, and I'll probably only go to one, if any, but if it's the third at least I may get a headstart on you whilst you book the first two!

You are obviously streetwise Sue but I know people who refuse to accept that these price hikes occur even when you put the evidence in front of them.

[holepuncture]

And some sad fcks don't appreciate that other people like different things to them. Well done on your amazingness, hope your travel doesn't cost sh1tloads more than people who've planned.

 

I wouldn't worry about it, life in stoke can do that to people, he's just a silly old duffer who plays the forum hard man persona.

 

I've really enjoyed your baffling posts following the early stages of the Europa, it's a true piece of nutjobbery. I now have a vague understanding of the coefficient standings, the pots, the draw, and who all these random clubs are. Then Pamplemousse tops it off by plotting the stadiums on Google maps, bravo.

 

Remember everyone.....do all of your travel searching in incognito / private mode on your browser. That way the bots dont pick up popular routes / destinations and put the prices up.

 

Good shout, I have experienced price hikes in the past, I've now wised up to this very sharp practice.

[The9]

Yep, I thought that was a given. I hardly ever fly but you'd have to be pretty obtuse to be unaware of dynamic pricing and the fact that the airlines have dedicated staff for yield management or whatever their term now is. The software will pick up on the increased demand pattern _very_ quickly. For bigger places (Milan? :-) ) it may not initially be so obvious and alternatives would be greater, but for Astana you may be stuffed! ;-)

 

Still, only 4 days to go before we know, and I'll probably only go to one, if any, but if it's the third at least I may get a headstart on you whilst you book the first two!

 

Yep, but as long as there are people who aren't...

[saints1988]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160823-europa-league-bundle-virgin-media-information-3266333.aspx

 

Great pricing by the club.

 

£48 pound for all three games is terrific really

[S-Clarke]

That is a brilliant deal to be honest, you'd be lucky to get a single game for under £50 at some of the ''bigger'' PL clubs.

 

Credit to VM, they're really helping us subsidize tickets, significantly as well.