LOI in Europe 2011

[dfx-]

Would this be the majority opinion on Gary in Tallaght?

I wouldn't be surprised. Been overshadowed by Dennehy and even Sheppard when he has played on his wing - like last night and in Bray a few weeks ago - and perhaps even Dean Kelly too.

Taking out the goal against Sligo and Partizan..

[redobit]

Most of us were puzzled as to why McCabe was on the pitch in the first place. Useless.

Definetly talented but sometimes seem more concerned on his image of being a footballer - the stupid hair, tatts and most important, the strutt. :confused:

[Charlie Darwin]

First off, the PAOK fans were incredible. Best fans I've seen in Tallaght by a mile. I'd be delighted if they won the group.

Rovers were abysmal in the first half. Dozens of unforced errors. To be honest, I got the impression they'd been celebrating a bit too much and not preparing themselves for the game, but the second half showed I'd been unfair. It was just a bad day at the office, to put it in FC Sion's terms.

McCormack had a stinker - I rate him very highly but nothing went right for him and Rice should have been on a lot earlier (from the start, really). I felt sorry for Sheppard because he was putting in all the effort but couldn't take on four defenders on his own.

The team had no shape first half. I almost always defend MON's cautious team selection but last night I just couldn't understand only playing one attacking player at home. Then in the second half, I thought the formation was too attacking and would leave us exposed. It kind of did in terms of the chances PAOK created but overall we were much more solid.

Twigg played well in the second half but I think the game confirmed that he can't really start in Europe any more. He reminds me a lot of Robbie Keane - bags of talent, but he's not quick or strong enough to get scoring opportunities at this level. He'll be a useful sub but I think it's Sheppard and Killer from hereon in. I really hope Kilduff stays next season - he hasn't got half as many chances as he should've this season and I hope he doesn't get the hump.

I can't be too critical of the team. Every game it's the same thing - sloppy early goals given away, naive defending around the box and wasteful in attack - but they're at the end of their longest ever season and have taken massive steps forward already. I still think we'll get a result from the two remaining games. After the third goal went in last night I couldn't have said that.

dfx, have to disagree on McCabe. I think he's a wonderful footballer but he's not suited to the wide attacking role O'Neill plays him in. I think he's been brilliant any time he plays in a midfield three.

[hoopy]

Would this be the majority opinion on Gary in Tallaght?

Well I've never heard anyone shout 'bring on McCabe' if he's on the bench! He won't go by anyone on the outside and to me he's one of many footballers down the years who think they've 'made it' joining us(or whoever the top side is at that time), not realising the hard work still has to be put in. I'm sure he's strutting around Tallaght like a Lord though.

[mypost]

We're not making a show of ourselves in it though.

They didn't qualify for the competition on the pitch, like everyone else did.


You're making a show of the league as I predicted. Zero points on the way.

On a squad budget of 600k, we're facing the tournament's highest seed and a side that recently beat Barcelona in their own ground. That's the level of opposition we're facing. But we're enjoying the challenge, despite the results. There will be 23 other clubs watching the rest of the European competitions from the couch next February, Celtic may well join us. Some of them actually will have disgraced themselves, and fired their coaches as a result. We'll just prepare for another title defence and CLQ attempt.

[bennocelt]

I was bored today, what can i say,lol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_UEFA_Europa_League
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_UEFA_Champions_League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_UEFA_Europa_League)

[born2bwild]

Weather in Kazan tonight says minus 4 "feels like minus 10"....will go down to -7 tomorrow night.

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/27595.html

(http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/27595.html)Hope Rovers have a decent hotel.

[born2bwild]

http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/95259/1/watch-rubin-kazan-vs-shamrock-rovers.html
(http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/95259/1/watch-rubin-kazan-vs-shamrock-rovers.html)
Before anyone asks....

[pineapple stu]

1-0. Early goal again. Ho hum. Fairly poor from Oman.

[Real ale Madrid]

Goal!

[pineapple stu]

1-1! Oman! Equaliser within 90 seconds.

Actually, looks like it's in off the defender's hand, and the keeper was slow to react (though it was very close to him). Oman'll claim it though.

Super ball in.

[born2bwild]

1-1 ha ha ha.

[CrowdedHouse]

Fair dues Shams !

[BonnieShels]

Brilliant. Just logged in thinking that they would have conceded. Delighted they got the equaliser early.

Come on Rovers.

[DannyInvincible]

Fair play to Oman. Making amends right away. He was caught a bit flat-footed for their goal. I missed the Rovers goal as my Sopcast stream got caught in a repetitive loop. Argh!

[legendz]

Good stuff to equalise so soon! Forgot ko was so early, decent 3e stream at work!

[pineapple stu]

Unlucky there. Ridiculous handball when the goal was gaping. If he'd controlled that properly, it was 2-1 Rovers.

(Don't think he was offside)

[peadar1987]

Edit: Too late

[born2bwild]

Fair play to Oman. Making amends right away. He was caught a bit flat-footed for their goal. I missed the Rovers goal as my Sopcast stream got caught in a repetitive loop. Argh!
Ironic. I saw the standard issue early goal because Rovers are caught in a repetitive loop.

[El-Pietro]

should have been a red card for the Kazan defender

[pineapple stu]

Was wondering how you'd work out which of them to book in that case actually. Can you book two people for the same foul?

Rovers competing well though. What have they been doing since the end of the season? Just training or have they played any friendlies?

[DannyInvincible]

Ironic. I saw the standard issue early goal because Rovers are caught in a repetitive loop.

What's the score with you? I've lost count, but I think it's about 21-0 to Rubin by now with me. Nightmare.

[pineapple stu]

Far bloody post, Dennehy!!

[born2bwild]

Rovers are four early goals down (over the course of the group!). I wonder why that happens so often for them in Europe.
Dennehy.....nearly scored.

[DannyInvincible]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; Thompson is an absolute lunatic.

[pineapple stu]

Ryan Thompson is like a footballing version of Cool Runnings.

[born2bwild]

Holy Christ almighty. Talk about repetitive loops. Ryan Thompson is the worst goalkeeper I have ever ever seen.

[pineapple stu]

2-1 Kazan. Decent strike in fairness.

[MeathDrog]

Thompson is surely the worst keeper to have ever played proper European football.

I'd have him at fault for the 2nd goal aswell.

[born2bwild]

Thompson is surely the worst keeper to have ever played proper European football.

I'd have him at fault for the 2nd goal aswell.
He's also the worst keeper I've ever seen in Hunky Dory's. Who would you want under a corner? Him or Trimble?

[born2bwild]

Listening to the half time commentary on Russian TV. They're breaking their holes laughing at RT.

[DannyInvincible]

Was that definitely onside?

[pineapple stu]

WTF was Murray at there?! Rovers looking a shambles at the back at times.

[pineapple stu]

4-1. Looks like this'll be the hammering that's been hinted at all campaign really. Thompson reckons the ball had gone out of play maybe?

He has a point. Blatantly out of play. Ridiculous that neither the ref, the linesman or the goal-line ref didn't see it.

[DannyInvincible]

The entire ball was clearly well out of play. No ambiguity there. Disappointing.

[born2bwild]

4-1. Looks like this'll be the hammering that's been hinted at all campaign really. Thompson reckons the ball had gone out of play maybe?

He has a point. Blatantly out of play. Ridiculous that neither the ref, the linesman or the goal-line ref didn't see it.
Hope not, but it's looking like it.

The fifth (?) official was two metres from the play. Didn't get a good look at him - not Richie Winters by any chance?

[pineapple stu]

Dolan on commentary actually made a decent point that maybe both looked across the goal at the potential offside when the player put in the shimmy (or trip), and so weren't looking at the ball when it went out of play. But you'd imagine the two would prioritise - linesman looks for offsides and fouls; fourth official looks for stuff the lino might miss (like the ball going out of play)

Killer on; Finny off. Another non-UCD sub too.

[Charlie Darwin]

Fifth officials are useless. He knew it went out of play, they're just not allowed make decisions.

The defending has been very poor, unfortunately. Rubin are a quality side but they're average enough at the back. A bit more composure at both ends and Rovers could have given them a real scare.

[Spudulika]

I think you and I are watching the same feed b2w on NTV plus. I was in Kazan last week and they were saying how they figured Rovers would freeze after half time, literally. You can't understand how cold it is down there, and I see some of the Rovers lads not wearing gloves! If they can pull a goal back then pick up the pity point against Spurs next week, all is good. Rubin ARE that good, they don't get players in the Russian team because Advocaat doesn't pick the national team, if only we could get a couple of them to join the Irish side.

One thing, WTF is THomson doing even playing LOI, worst keeper I've seen ever.

[born2bwild]

Dolan on commentary actually made a decent point that maybe both looked across the goal at the potential offside when the player put in the shimmy (or trip), and so weren't looking at the ball when it went out of play. But you'd imagine the two would prioritise - linesman looks for offsides and fouls; fourth official looks for stuff the lino might miss (like the ball going out of play)

Killer on; Finny off. Another non-UCD sub too.
O'Donnell went to the 'university' of Falkirk.

[Charlie Darwin]

One thing, WTF is THomson doing even playing LOI, worst keeper I've seen ever.
He's had a bad game but he's the best shot-stopper in the league (though not the best goalkeeper all-round).

[born2bwild]

I think you and I are watching the same feed b2w on NTV plus. I was in Kazan last week and they were saying how they figured Rovers would freeze after half time, literally. You can't understand how cold it is down there, and I see some of the Rovers lads not wearing gloves! If they can pull a goal back then pick up the pity point against Spurs next week, all is good. Rubin ARE that good, they don't get players in the Russian team because Advocaat doesn't pick the national team, if only we could get a couple of them to join the Irish side.

One thing, WTF is THomson doing even playing LOI, worst keeper I've seen ever.
'sport plus' it says down the bottom. How did you get to Kazan? Car? Platskart? Yakolev?

[pineapple stu]

Rovers off the bar.

The Kazan keeper is actually having as much a mare as Thompson. He's just not been tested as much.

[Spudulika]

b2w - it's the same, good quality and they did their best to talk up Rovers, and at least they're giving them respect. I went to Ulyanovsk (platzkart), we drove up to Kazan and back, then platzkart back to Moscow. I was going to fly back to Moscow but then I figured, I'd spent a week working non-stop and trudging around teh Volga region, so 16hours lying listening to music and reading was just the tonic I needed.

CD - he might stop shots, but he has no command of his area, gets lost when he moves off the line and a keeper like that is a liability (imo). If Rovers are to continue progressing next year they need to invest in a quality keeper, centre back and at least one more centre mid. They have to go outside of Ireland though, and not to the UK looking for rejects. They have to speculate a little.

[legendz]

The entire ball was clearly well out of play. No ambiguity there. Disappointing.

Terrible decision. For those who see no use for the officials behind the goal, a clip of that can be used as a case in point. Disgrace.

[Charlie Darwin]

CD - he might stop shots, but he has no command of his area, gets lost when he moves off the line and a keeper like that is a liability (imo). If Rovers are to continue progressing next year they need to invest in a quality keeper, centre back and at least one more centre mid. They have to go outside of Ireland though, and not to the UK looking for rejects. They have to speculate a little.
He has been commanding his area well all year, apart from his first few games when he was shaky. I think you might be basing too much on a game played in conditions nobody should really be asked to play a football match in. Remember he's only played 20 odd games of first team football in his career - it's not as if there are loads of great goalkeepers floating around to replace him.

[askmehoop]

He has been commanding his area well all year, apart from his first few games when he was shaky. I think you might be basing too much on a game played in conditions nobody should really be asked to play a football match in. Remember he's only played 20 odd games of first team football in his career - it's not as if there are loads of great goalkeepers floating around to replace him.

Thompson should be nowhere near our starting 11. FACT. the guy is dirt, people say he pulls off great saves, but usually they only make up for the complete f**k ups he makes. Brush is a far better option then him until we can get a bit of quality between the posts

[born2bwild]

b2w - it's the same, good quality and they did their best to talk up Rovers, and at least they're giving them respect. I went to Ulyanovsk (platzkart), we drove up to Kazan and back, then platzkart back to Moscow. I was going to fly back to Moscow but then I figured, I'd spent a week working non-stop and trudging around teh Volga region, so 16hours lying listening to music and reading was just the tonic I needed.

CD - he might stop shots, but he has no command of his area, gets lost when he moves off the line and a keeper like that is a liability (imo). If Rovers are to continue progressing next year they need to invest in a quality keeper, centre back and at least one more centre mid. They have to go outside of Ireland though, and not to the UK looking for rejects. They have to speculate a little.
Thought you were an 'SV' kinda bloke ;). Maybe after Friday everyone will have to know the difference.

Thompson has to go, though. Deffo a platskart keeper.

[ger121]

Maribor have just blown a 3 goal lead against Brugge. They've pulled 3 back in an 8 minute spell. Good news for the co-efficient rankings, as I think Slovenia may have overtaken us with a win.

Edit... make that four goals in 16 minutes. What a turnaround!!

[poster]

My Dan was a class above this evening.