Shamrock Rovers v Liverpool

[Ezeikial]

Nobody knows the exact circumstances of how the friendly came about and what how extensivsie a role the FAI had in its organisation so it's a bit much to be alleging favouritism.

Is that like an Al-Qaeda terrorist cell where no one person knows all the details?

Or like the late Ollie Byrne - where only one person knows all and tells no one else?

Either way it is a stroke of genius!

[Charlie Darwin]

Is that like an Al-Qaeda terrorist cell where no one person knows all the details?

Or like the late Ollie Byrne - where only one person knows all and tells no one else?

Either way it is a stroke of genius!
No, it's more like a business deal where all the details haven't been announced in the newspapers.

[Ezeikial]

No, it's more like a business deal where all the details haven't been announced in the newspapers.

Thats a relief - at least somebody knows the details!

[Dalymountrower]

I am not sure it was always Shamrock R who got special treatment; I remember Roddy Collins saying in his newspaper column a few years ago that Bohs were getting certain advantages when the money from Zurich Bank and the property developers was wining LoI titles for them. Everyone likes a winner so decisions from refs, blind eye turned to certain rule infringements often happen. The big Dublin clubs (whoever they may be at the time) also benefit, which again in natural. Other clubs just have to try harder and when it is blatant highlight it and fight it. There is a cost of fielding a B team this year for Rovers so this friendly income should go and cover that. We couldn't have a 7 team First Division.
But sometimes picking winners is not that easy and Fran Gavin and the FAI may get it wrong, which is why it would be better to have the clubs themselves in charge of running the league, rather than the FAI. Then there would be less chance of blatant unfairness happening.
Yep , a lot of clubs including mine know that spending money that you borrow gives you a short term advantage and then you reap the whirlwind. On the other hand your club getting thinly veiled handouts from the state and the governing body is a tad different , no?. Anyway congrats on the the April Fool jape of quoting Roddy to support an argument, any argument, priceless!

[Charlie Darwin]

Rovers, homeless, model club, etc. Can we skip all the tired arguments and leave this thread until some real facts come out?

[Ezeikial]

Rovers, homeless, model club, etc. Can we skip all the tired arguments and leave this thread until some real facts come out?

And go against all the time-honoured traditions of foot.ie ?

[GypsyBlackCat]

It could be true about Warrior arranging the game. Courtney is trying to get the Warrior brand into Ireland and Warrior are also trying to break the European market. Plus rumour has it Warrior are interesting in taken over from Umbro when the FAI's contract with them is up. Most clubs in England are at the mercy of their sponsors. That's why so many clubs travel to Asia, Africa or America for pre-season. Emirates did something similar with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain out in Qatar.

[Charlie Darwin]

The idea that the small Dublin office of a relatively minor kit manufacturer jumped over the heads of every event promoter in Ireland, some of which the FAI has contracts with, to arrange a fixture was always a bit fanciful. As Dodge says, Warrior in Ireland is just Jomathan Courtenay, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a role behind the scenes bringing the two sides together and bagged himself a consultancy fee, but this would be the first time I've ever heard of Warrior arranging a fixture. It would make far more sense that either one of the clubs, the FAI or a company like Platinum One made this happen.

[Dodge]

It could be true about Warrior arranging the game.
It's not


Plus rumour has it Warrior are interesting in taken over from Umbro when the FAI's contract with them is up
The current deal runs until 2020

[GypsyBlackCat]

The idea that the small Dublin office of a relatively minor kit manufacturer jumped over the heads of every event promoter in Ireland, some of which the FAI has contracts with, to arrange a fixture was always a bit fanciful. As Dodge says, Warrior in Ireland is just Jomathan Courtenay, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a role behind the scenes bringing the two sides together and bagged himself a consultancy fee, but this would be the first time I've ever heard of Warrior arranging a fixture. It would make far more sense that either one of the clubs, the FAI or a company like Platinum One made this happen.

Why not? Warrior might only have a 12x12 office in Dublin but they are a big brand in the US and are trying to break the European market. They signed a £300m deal with Liverpool and I'd imagine they have a few clause in there like playing friendlies. It would make sense for Warrior to arrange a match between two of it's clients in a country were Liverpool have a big fan base.

[Mr A]

Plus rumour has it Warrior are interesting in taken over from Umbro when the FAI's contract with them is up



The current deal runs until 2020

Whoever signed that deal was a visionary.

[BonnieShels]

Is the 2020 deal not just with TopLion? Given that Umbro has lost a rake of teams over the last year since the Nike divestment and we remain relatively in unscathed in Ireland with our LOI teams constantly churning out templates from them.

With a lot of international teams, WCQ and not changing kits from umbro this time round I wouldn't be surprised if we landed with Warrior.

Equally. They may not.

[Charlie Darwin]

TopLion was just Courtenay again I think. It's reverted to Umbro Ireland now.

[SkStu]

I support Bohs and Everton.

[wonder88]

This could be a good opportunity for LoI clubs if they could get the assistance of their kit suppliers in arranging glamour friendlies, which would bring in vital revenue. Warrior should get a spike in sales for the Liverpool jersey in Ireland as all their fans will want to look their best at the game in Lansdowne.

[Charlie Darwin]

Anybody know how this is selling? Rovers were making out like the tickets would be golddust and you'd have to hang onto your Sligo stub to buy one, but I've seen a few times over the past couple of weeks they're still pushing tickets on Facebook. Going by Ticketmaster, most of the cheap seats are gone and there seems to be a couple of thousand still on sale but you don't know how many they're holding back from that.

[vinnie]

Anybody know how this is selling? Rovers were making out like the tickets would be golddust and you'd have to hang onto your Sligo stub to buy one, but I've seen a few times over the past couple of weeks they're still pushing tickets on Facebook. Going by Ticketmaster, most of the cheap seats are gone and there seems to be a couple of thousand still on sale but you don't know how many they're holding back from that.


Kids tickets are sold out, only €30 tickets left from what I was told

[Charlie Darwin]

Just saw an ad on Setanta saying they'll be showing this game. It's not on their TV schedule so not sure what channel yet but presumably the free one.

[Martinho II]

Just saw an ad on Setanta saying they'll be showing this game. It's not on their TV schedule so not sure what channel yet but presumably the free one.
I saw some ad on BT earlier advertising the game so assume its them thats showin it!

[Charlie Darwin]

I saw some ad on BT earlier advertising the game so assume its them thats showin it!
Yeah it's on their site now. Annoying for those without subscriptions!

[gufcfan]

Yeah, BT Sport 1.

[Predator]

Interview with Luke Byrne ahead of the game http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/ireland/2014/05/13/4815810/league-of-ireland-goalmouth-liverpool-shamrock-rovers

[wonder88]

Is the game sold out? some achievement by all involved if they fill all the seats for an exhibition game in midweek.

[Dodge]

Is the game sold out? some achievement by all involved if they fill all the seats for an exhibition game in midweek.

No, its not sold out. I presume as a Shamrock Rovers fan, you're heading along?


Still 4-5,000 left

http://www.ticketmaster.ie/liverpool-v-shamrock-rovers-dublin-05-14-2014/event/18004C649A9E162D?artistid=36088&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=741

[Bray Head]

There will be a lot of unhappy Liverpool fans there based on the team.

The Reds' starting XI: Jones, McLaughlin, Kelly, Paez, Smith, Lucas, Allen, Coady, Ibe, Borini, Aspas.

Substitutes: Ward, Dunn, Williams, Peterson, Lussey, Randall, Teixeira, Trickett-Smith, Brannagan.

[desaintsno.12]

ha , brilliant

[Longfordian]

They don't even have the PL trophy to cheer them up either. Is Rodgers there himself?

[PartySaint]

There will be a lot of unhappy Liverpool fans there based on the team.

The Reds' starting XI: Jones, McLaughlin, Kelly, Paez, Smith, Lucas, Allen, Coady, Ibe, Borini, Aspas.

Substitutes: Ward, Dunn, Williams, Peterson, Lussey, Randall, Teixeira, Trickett-Smith, Brannagan.

Nah the Irish Liverpool fans will somehow see themselves as more hardcore fans for paying to watch these players.

[nigel-harps1954]

Rovers are making themselves look absolutely awful at the back today. Holding onto absolutely everything and trying to pass the ball along the backline is madness. They'd save themselves a lot of blushes if they'd learn to clear their lines.

Never even mind how utterly s**t their passing has been so far.

[nigel-harps1954]

Also, was this a joke, or a genuine mistake? Cornuala?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/q71/s720x720/10361029_10154095548535858_3366199048554478058_n.j pg

[pineapple stu]

Squad number 61?!

Wow.

[Nesta99]

Rovers struggling to play a passing game as it is without trying it on with a epl reserve side. Was the league fixture against Athlone moved to facilitate this friendly? If so I hope a precedence is now set for those sides in Europe that may be scheduled to play on a Friday after mid-week European tie. Surely this match should have been between the champions and english club-Pats could have sold 4000 tickets too! These have probably already been discussed but couldnt be bothered looking back over the thread. Didnt even know it was on tonight. A Liverpool reserve side will probably get a crazy appearance fee, Shams coffers might have been getting a bit low so needed a boost from Abbotstown :p

[Nesta99]

0-4 so far. I suppose its experience for Shams players to play on front of 40,000 crowd. Doing a lot of chasing so even with an extra days rest Athlone could exploit a bit of fatigue.

[avvenalaf]

So when Liverpool play Shamrock Rovers in the Aviva they can only pull in 4000 more than The BitoRed do when they play Shams there?

[Missing Links]

Also, was this a joke, or a genuine mistake? Cornuala?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/q71/s720x720/10361029_10154095548535858_3366199048554478058_n.j pg

Special souvenir programme!

[Charlie Darwin]

Godawful match but money in the bank and no injuries so no complaints. Thought Brennan looked very good and Luke Byrne was very tidy but it was obvious the Liverpool players are all bigger, stronger, quicker and fitter as well as being more talented. The first half was reasonably OK but the second half Rovers threw on the B team and it was just a case of running the clock down. Had to laugh at the Liverpool fans giving a standing ovation to the unused squad players warming up, though to be fair they were probably the only ones they recognised. Borini for Liverpool is a very good player, McLaughlin looks a talent to and Ibe's movement caused the Rovers defence all sorts of problems. Good to see Osam getting a run out too.

[outspoken]

Actually thought rovers did themselves proud overall. Brennan must have tought he had scored when that ball hit the inside of the post and zayed should have buried that chance he had in the 90th minute. Fitness levels really told in the 2nd half and the likes of Ibe punished Rovers for that. Agree with the lads above, Rovers don't play from the back any other day so why try against top class opposition, crazy stuff then again may as well try it out in a friendly if your going to try it at all. Brennan and Byrne were impressive.

[Charlie Darwin]

Actually thought rovers did themselves proud overall. Brennan must have tought he had scored when that ball hit the inside of the post and zayed should have buried that chance he had in the 90th minute. Fitness levels really told in the 2nd half and the likes of Ibe punished Rovers for that. Agree with the lads above, Rovers don't play from the back any other day so why try against top class opposition, crazy stuff then again may as well try it out in a friendly if your going to try it at all. Brennan and Byrne were impressive.
Rovers play from the back more often than not, they only revert to more direct football when Croly ****s the bed, such as the Setanta game in Oriel. They played today the way they should have played in Oriel - pass the ball around and, if it you lose it, trust you have the shape to get it back. By and large, it worked. It would have been silly to play any other way - it was a chance for the players to test themselves against a team with recent Brazil, Italy, England, Wales and Australia internationals. They got caught out a lot, especially early on, but they got more comfortable in possession as the game went on.

[Nugget]

I cringed

2080

[Real ale Madrid]

Giggs 13
Gerrard 0

Could easily be referring to the number of family members' Giggs has done the dirt on.

[eitoof]

Giggs 13
Gerrard 0

Could easily be referring to the number of family members' Giggs has done the dirt on.
Hmm, could be but Gerrard would definitely have more than 0 then!!

[redarmyfaction]

I cringed

2080

Was this flown over the Avia?

[Mr A]

Yep.

Ireland's mancs taunting Ireland's scousers.

FFS.

[thischarmingman]

Cringe.

[redarmyfaction]

Wow! Ireland's shame. I am not (this time at least) going to get into the post colonial semantics of that photograph, but if Umberto Eco is still posting on the Junior League forum here, he might oblige and fill in for for me, for truly it is signs about signs. But em' until Um, as we call him in the post modernism game gets around to it, I have to say there is a very serious want in us a nation.

Is this 'Mancs' and 'Scouse' terminology a recent addition to the local idiom, the first time I heard it was this year on one of the occasions I used that league, for an alibi, for a beer soaked afternoon. As much as I love to hate Shamrock Rovers, it must have been hard lines, revenue aside to go to that stadium, and see the FAI and the collective Irish sporting public bend their knee to eleven whoevers representing the Liverpool brand.

[Charlie Darwin]

Scouse and manc has been around for ages. These people genuinely think that supporting a football team makes them the same as people from those cities.

[gufcfan]

Be nice if they were. From there, I mean. They might bloody stay there the next time they go then!

[redarmyfaction]

Scouse and manc has been around for ages. These people genuinely think that supporting a football team makes them the same as people from those cities.

Around for ages? the *******s have been talking behind my back, but seriously, I doubt the vicarious tribal affiliation with an English region but more our innate, desire for conformity and the centre, take for example as a counterpoint, the following film directors,very near if the not the best, still making movies in England, all are mavericks and are broadly speaking of the left, but I think their approach to supporting clubs is reflected in their movies.

Director - Supports - World view
Shane Meadows- You Pies - Resigned stoic, a once proud people ground down by history.

Ken Loach- Bath - Progressive, everything, no matter how bad the present, is possible in the new Jerusalem.

Terence Davies- Hates football. Ecstatic visionary, football is a vulgar dishonesty, sing for pure joy, , 'I could have been Tranmere, I could have been Tranmere'.

Red Faced Mick- Brand FC - Consumerist, i'm loving it.

Umberto Eco- Pikey Rovers - Wilful obscurantism, you wouldn't understand even if I explained.

[Mr A]

Around for ages? the *******s have been talking behind my back, but seriously, I doubt the vicarious tribal affiliation with an English region but more our innate, desire for conformity and the centre, take for example as a counterpoint, the following film directors,very near if the not the best, still making movies in England, all are mavericks and are broadly speaking of the left, but I think their approach to supporting clubs is reflected in their movies.

Director - Supports - World view
Shane Meadows- You Pies - Resigned stoic, a once proud people ground down by history.

Ken Loach- Bath - Progressive, everything, no matter how bad the present, is possible in the new Jerusalem.

Terence Davies- Hates football. Ecstatic visionary, football is a vulgar dishonesty, sing for pure joy, , 'I could have been Tranmere, I could have been Tranmere'.

Red Faced Mick- Brand FC - Consumerist, i'm loving it.

Umberto Eco- Pikey Rovers - Wilful obscurantism, you wouldn't understand even if I explained.

Well I'm glad that that's been cleared up.

[RiffRaff]

Richard Sadliers take on the match makes depressing reading for Eircom league fans. Pretty clear he doesnt rate the league so maybe he should stick to writing about the Premiership and Champions League instead of writing dismissive articles like this http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/the-only-surprise-is-that-people-are-still-surprised-30282650.html