What kind of results will Rovers get from their Group matches?

[legendz]

Hamstring blow for van der Vaart. Ruled out for 6 weeks.

[freewheel30]

Some of PAOK's recent goals should be visible here (http://www.goal4replay.net/VideoSelection.asp?ID=152&ID2=1348&CATID=17&VID=57200). Only checked out the ones from the Lviv tie myself, obviously they look like a decent side.

[abcd]

Rovers will do well to get any points in the group but who knows. Like Ireland the away games might suit Rovers more, they have looked more comfortable away from home in Europe to date. I think they'll be competitive in the 4 or 5 of the 6 games.

I think Rovers most pressing issue will be retaining their league title and giving them a shot at repeating their European expolits next season.

[Shelsman]

Yes we are aware. As we are of Copenhagen's result against them last year. Not that it's much use to them now. Kazan probably went into those games without fear of the opposition. That's what we have to do. Respect them certainly, but don't be frightened of them.

With the games in Tallaght, none of the opposition are going to like coming here on a tight pitch, in variable weather, against a home side with a crowd on top of them, and playing with nothing to lose. Like Copenhagen and Belgrade, Kazan failed to make the grade this year, so now they're in this. We're not going to roll over for them because they got a few good results in the other competiiton last year.

Good stuff. If the Rovers players have this attitude (and the opposition don't) then they may get a lot more points that the others in the group think.

[Shelsman]

Snap.

PAOK are a decent side from what I've heard.

Rovers are good too it seems!!!

[placid casual]

we will get all the points.
we have rohan ricketts, dontcha know.

[Charlie Darwin]

Very impressed with Ricketts. You could see when Dennehy came on that he knew his place was under threat and had to put in a performance.

[legendz]

Rovers will do well to get any points in the group but who knows. Like Ireland the away games might suit Rovers more, they have looked more comfortable away from home in Europe to date. I think they'll be competitive in the 4 or 5 of the 6 games.

I think Rovers most pressing issue will be retaining their league title and giving them a shot at repeating their European expolits next season.

I wouldn't go along with that. Rover won their first home European game, did well against Copenhagen until the goal before half time killed off the tie and the recovered well after a poor start against Belgrade where they possibly showed them a bit too much respect. The Irish national team has two cones in midfield, Rovers don't have that problem.

On your second point, Rovers won away at Dundalk tonight to go 2 points clear with a game in hand. They are in a title battle with two clubs but they seem up for the challenge and seem to have made shrewd signings to help on both fronts.

[mypost]

The active UEFA Team Ranking 2012 table has Rovers as the lowest ranked club still competing 234th, Malmo are next lowest 211th and FC København are 40th. Of Rovers group... Totthenham: 28th, Rubin Kazan: 55th and PAOK Thessaloniki: 86th.

Most of those teams have been playing European football for years. Even the ones that haven't, come from countries with good European records in recent years. We have neither.

Everyone has to start somewhere. We have played 10 European games in the past 2 years, and despite our relatively low ranking, we haven't looked out-of-place at all.

[OneForTheFuture]

I went with 1 point.

That'll be the height of it.

[HulaHoop]

I believe we will do well to get any points at all. IMO our best hope for picking up any points will be the final game of the group at home against Spurs who hopefully by that stage will already have qualified and send over a weakened side to play us. Apart from that I'm finding it hard to pick another game we could pick up points, maybe at home to PAOK but realistically all three teams are a class above us.

[Gorm agus Bán]

Unfortunately, I cannot see Shamrock Rovers accumulating more than two points. They have done brilliantly to get to this stage and it's pretty much bonus territory they are in now. Still though, you never know. Even one victory would be great

[ssmb]

The head says one the heart says four points.

The most important things are to be competitive in the home games combined with ensuring that there is a great atmosphere at the matches throughout the entire 90 mins. If that comes across well on what will be unprecedented TV/Media coverage both domestically and internationally then both Rovers and the LOI will have a decent chance at winning new fans.

[Dewie101]

3 home draws, spurs will probably have qualified by the time the last game of the group comes around in Dublin, league will be their priority if thats the case, a sneaky draw against them is well on the cards.

[thischarmingman]

Are people aware that Rubin have taken five points from Barcelona in the last two CL campaigns? Rovers realistically have no chance against them. Some way too optimistic predictions here.

Can people please make sure they've read this?

[legendz]

I believe we will do well to get any points at all. IMO our best hope for picking up any points will be the final game of the group at home against Spurs who hopefully by that stage will already have qualified and send over a weakened side to play us. Apart from that I'm finding it hard to pick another game we could pick up points, maybe at home to PAOK but realistically all three teams are a class above us.

You could be right but the first game being at home as well, despite the opposition, could be a night to pull off a shock win.

[freewheel30]

PP odds for the Kazan game

Rovers 11/2
Kazan 8/15
Draw 13/5

Good value on the draw I reckon myself.

[pineapple stu]

Are people aware that Rubin have taken five points from Barcelona in the last two CL campaigns? Rovers realistically have no chance against them. Some way too optimistic predictions here.
Ho hum.

So, any prediction revisions after the first game of the group?

[mastermind1]

Ya rovers to go 5 unbeaten, and qualify top of the group(daydreaming here at work). Ah no in fairness to rovers they gave it a good shot against Rubin but are just not at their level. Would be great if they could possibly sneak a win in the group though.

[bullit]

Too soon ?? ??