Showing posts with label COYGIG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label COYGIG. Show all posts

Friday, 24 October 2025

Episode 93 - Mathematically Uncertain

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland Mens National Team's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia - did we deserve anything from the defensive performance, or did spending 90 minutes not trying to create a goalscoring opportunity mean Hallgrímsson's side came away from Lisbon with exactly what they deserved? Armenia came to Dublin looking to finally leave Aviva Stadium with three points, but the team seem to have lucked into a new tactic at home - getting an opposition player sent off!

The Mens Under-17 side kicked off their qualification campaign for the 2026 UEFA Under-17 Championship in Austria, facing the hosts, the Faroe Islands, and Kosovo, and came away with a 100% record without conceding a goal - what did we think of the performance of the team under interim coach Paul Osam and can this side emulate the 2025 squad and qualify for the 2026 Under-17 World Cup?

Finally, Carla Ward has named her squad for the Womens' National Team Nations League promotion play off against Belgium. Without their first choice goalkeeper, and following another retirement, can the team win promotion to League A next year, and what bearing does the result of the tie have on qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup?

Friday, 31 May 2024

Episode 73 - 2023/24: A season review

Myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football look back at the positives and negatives for Irish players over the 2023/24 season - what players impressed us, what events could shape the future of the game here, and what needs to be improved on?

Tuesday, 29 November 2022

Episode 50 - Norway, Malta, and Morocco

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the end of year friendlies for the Republic of Ireland men's team against Norway and Malta, and the women's friendly against Morocco as their preparation for the World Cup in 2023 begin

Friday, 27 November 2020

Episode 22 - Unwanted Records

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to review the three games played by the Republic of Ireland senior men's team in November, the U21's final two qualifiers for the 2021 UEFA U21 Championship and preview the senior Women's qualifier against Germany in December.

Wednesday, 9 September 2020

2021 UEFA U17 and U19 Championship Qualification

While looking into the qualifying groups for the UEFA 2021 Under 17 Championship(for players born on or after Thursday, 1st January 2004), and Under 19 Championship(for players born on or after Tuesday, 1st January 2002), I read that the elite round for all underage tournaments (male and female) have been abolished, and that the qualifying rounds for next years' tournaments has been postponed until February and March 2021. The dates, and locations, for all fixtures have yet to be announced.

It was decided by UEFA that, for the U17 Championships, the winners of each qualifying group will go straight to the finals in Cyprus in May 2021. Top seeds Spain and the Netherlands, who would have joined the group winners and runners up from the Qualifying Round in the Elite Round, have been granted a bye to the finals. Ireland's Under 17s have been drawn against Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Estonia in Group 3, and will host the group in March 2021.

For the Under 19 Championships, the winners of each qualifying group, along with top seed Portugal, will be drawn in a play off to determine the seven qualifiers for the finals in Romania. The Republic of Ireland's under 19 team has been drawn against Poland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Estonia, and will also host the group.

The group winners, and two best runners up, from the twelve Under 17 qualifying groups for the Women's Under 17 Championship will be drawn in a play off to determine the seven qualifiers that will join hosts the Faroe Islands at the finals in May 2021. Ireland will face group hosts Portugal, Wales, and North Macedonia in their group, which will take place in February 2021.

Qualification for the Women's Under 19 Championship final in Belarus is similar to the new format for the male tournament, only the best runner up in the twelve groups will make it to the play offs, where they will be joined by top seed Spain and the group winners. Ireland will be going to Greece to face the hosts, England, and Kosovo in February 2021.

Further Reading
UEFA postpones youth national team competitions
2021 UEFA European Under 17 Championship Qualification
2021 UEFA European Under 19 Championship Qualification
2021 UEFA Women's Under 17 Championship Qualification
2021 UEFA Women's Under 19 Championship Qualification

Tuesday, 18 February 2020

Team of the Round FAQ

Team of the Round FAQ

How is a "round" of fixtures defined?
There are two rounds in a week with games - Friday to Monday and Tuesday to Thursday (inclusive). For the most part this covers one game per team per round, although there have been occasions where one team has played twice in the same round.

Does this mean a player could be selected twice?
That is possible, yes. Andy Keogh played on a Friday and the following Monday recently. He wasn't selected for the team of the round for either performance, but it could have happened.

How are players selected?
The same rules as the Premier League's fantasy football game are being loosely applied - a starting player gets two points, an introduced substitute gets one point, then bonuses are applied for goals, assists, and clean sheets, and deductions applied for conceding, bookings, and red cards.

Are there any other criteria?
Each players points is multiplied by a rating, based on the level of the competition, to give a final points total.
e.g. a starting goalkeeper in the Championship who concedes twice earns 6 points (2 points for starting, multiplied by 3 - the rating for the Championship - equals 6)
a starting goalkeeper in League One who keeps a clean sheet earns 12 points (2 points for starting plus four bonus points = 6 multiplied by 2 - the rating for League One - equals 12).

What are the possible formations for the team?Again, the rules for fantasy football are being followed, so a minimum of three defenders, three midfielders, and a maximum of three strikers
The available formations are
  • 3-4-3
  • 3-5-2
  • 4-3-3
  • 4-4-2
  • 4-5-1
  • 5-3-2
  • 5-4-1
For each possible formation, the top point scoring players in each position are selected, then the team with the maximum total points is selected as the Team of the Round.

Player X appeared in midfield in this round, but had been selected in defence in the team
The positions of the players are predetermined by their position on their player page on the site, so Enda Stevens will always be selected in defence despite playing wing back for Sheffield United. This is similar to fantasy football, where John Lundstram is designated as a defender, even though he plays further forward for the Blades.

What leagues are used for selection
Players are selected from the competitions where we provide live updates
  • Senior international games
  • Underage qualifiers
  • All four divisions in England
  • PL2 Division 1 and 2
  • U18 Premier League
  • U18 Premier League Cup
  • League Cup
  • FA Cup
  • FA Trophy
  • The top two divisions in Scotland
  • Scottish Cup
  • Scottish League Cup
  • Scottish Challenge Cup
  • Polish Ekstraklasa
  • Australian A-League
  • Indian Super League
  • Asian AFC Champions League
  • MLS
  • CONCACAF Champions League
  • FA Women's Super League

Will other leagues be added?
Underage friendlies are a possiblity, but other than that, it's being limited to the list above until the selection criteria is finalised.

Why was player X selected but player Y was omitted?
If two players earn the same points, then the competition ranking of the respective games were played in is used to select a player, so a player in a higher ranked competition is selected
If two players finish on the same points in the same competition, then the result is used to select the player (Wins > Draws > Losses).

Will you release the points earned by each player in the team?
If people ask for it, they will be added to the "notes" images, next to the player name.

What about the total points for each player, regardless if they're selected or not? 
If there's enough interest, the points for each player will be included in a blog post around the same time as the "Round Up" post.

Will you release the competition ratings
They are being tweaked to improve the final selection of players, once they are finalised, they will be released.

When a player is selected from a clubs U18 or U23 side for the team of the week, why doesn't it say that beside their name
It's on the notes images, we'll consider adding it to the player's name on the main image.