Europa League Preview: KR Reykjavík vs. Glentoran

It has been a difficult summer for Glentoran.  Only two months have passed since the East Belfast side’s Irish Cup heroics against Cliftonville, but already the team maintains a very different look to it.

Glentoran will begin their 2013/14 campaign against their Icelandic opponents without faithful servant and captain, Colin Nixon, who leaves the Glens having made just fewer than 800 appearances for the East Belfast outfit.

In addition, the summer break also witnessed Linfield raid their arch rivals for two of their most pivotal players. Last season’s top goal-scorer and Irish Cup final hero Andrew Waterworth has made the switch to Windsor Park while ex- vice captain, Sean Ward, also joins Waterworth, having spent a total of 10 seasons at The Oval.

Glentoran’s well documented financial problems have resulted in manager, Eddie Patterson, having to address the problem directly. As a result of Glentoran’s new wage structure, Patterson has had to let go of the more experienced and seasoned talent and opt for a more economically efficient strategy. And this is extremely evident in Glentoran’s new acquisitions.

Instead of poaching the league’s more established stars, the Glens have secured signings with the view of looking to the future. These include hotly tipped Jonny Addis who has signed from Carrick Rangers and ex-Portsmouth trainee and Lisburn Distillery midfielder, Jordan Hughes.

The East Belfast side will be relying on a side that has youth in abundance as they embark on their European adventure.

Their opponents, KR Reykjavík, are familiar opposition as the two sides met only three years ago in the Europa League, with the Icelandic side coming out as 5-2 winners on aggregate. KR have made a strong start to the season as they occupy top spot in the ‘Úrvalsdeild’ and have yet to lose a league game in the campaign.

It will be a tough task for Glentoran, but while the odds looked stacked against them, the East Belfast side will not need reminding how they defied the odds to clinch the Irish Cup in dramatic fashion with such a young and inexperienced side.

Glentoran will face KR in Reykjavík in the first leg of the Europa League on Thursday 4^th July (19:15 KO).