LOI In Europe 2021

[nigel-harps1954]

Scenes when Shamrock Rovers get through to the group stage..Celtic lose to Alkmaar and end up in ECL group stage...the two are drawn against each other, and Liam Scales makes his debut against his former club.

[ontheotherhand]

I'd love to be confident enough of getting to the group stage for that to play out Nigel. If we play like we have been recently we have a good shot but it's nowhere near as sure a thing as some on here seem to be suggesting. Flora aren't a bad side relatively speaking and they're in a summer league so no advantage there. They've only conceded 12 goals in 17 games domestically and had 10 clean sheets......Of course they haven't faced Gaffney the Galloping Horse yet...

They may even have a little bit of revenge on their minds from the last time we met, although hopefully that's just their support and doesn't translate to an increased performance from their players. If we play like we did against Slovan in the second leg we can do it.

A nervous night of sleep ahead.

[placid casual]

Very true.
This is not Albania's answer to Longford we're playing, it's a team who ran Ommonia very very close.
If we can come back to tallaght all square or better for the 2nd leg I'd fancy our chances.

[mcgonigle]

Very true.
This is not Albania's answer to Longford we're playing, it's a team who ran Ommonia very very close.
If we can come back to tallaght all square or better for the 2nd leg I'd fancy our chances.

Jaysus, these lads are 12 points behind a crap Levadia team. Rovers should be winning both legs

[pineapple stu]

Well they do have three games in hand in fairness.

But yeah, I certainly don't see any reason Rovers shouldn't be looking for, say, a draw there and a win at home. This season has been the easiest set of ties in Europe the LoI has ever had.

[Nesta99]

The vocal critics have most to lose when their own club is standing in the front line so nerviness is understandable!

[DCWA]

Well they do have three games in hand in fairness.

But yeah, I certainly don't see any reason Rovers shouldn't be looking for, say, a draw there and a win at home. This season has been the easiest set of ties in Europe the LoI has ever had.

To be fair we thought that last year with Dundalk and Sheriff have probably knocked that out of the park by hammering Dinamo and almost certainly progressing to the Champions League group stages this time around.

So it’s not quite as simple as that, I think this is a close but winnable tie with Rovers favourites. Maybe not as close as marginal favourites but certainly not clear favourites.

[placid casual]

Jaysus, these lads are 12 points behind a crap Levadia team. Rovers should be winning both legs
last year dundalk were in Europa League, this year they're in relegation playoff danger. Things change.

[mcgonigle]

last year dundalk were in Europa League, this year they're in relegation playoff danger. Things change.

Yep and still beat a team 12 points ahead of Rovers opponents. Sounds like you have little faith in your team and manager. A great man for making bold statements about every other club now cowering in the face of a bit of expectation and pressure

[sbgawa]

When i want to see how good or bad a chance we have in a match i go through an exhaustive analysis of 100's of different factors before finally deciding if we are favourites or not.
My analysis normally leads to me deciding we are huge underdogs with almost no chance.....Then i check with Paddy Power who are a little less emotionally involved/ scared by experience...
Paddy Power have Flora at 23/10 and Rovers at 23/20 so they make Rovers Favourites tonight.
Favourites to win away in Europe these lads havent a clue ;)

[pineapple stu]

To be fair we thought that last year with Dundalk and Sheriff have probably knocked that out of the park by hammering Dinamo and almost certainly progressing to the Champions League group stages this time around.

So it’s not quite as simple as that, I think this is a close but winnable tie with Rovers favourites. Maybe not as close as marginal favourites but certainly not clear favourites.
Hard to really compare Sheriff this year with last year as there's only one starter from the Dundalk game left at the club this time around. But yeah, there's some weird results going around, like Flora only losing on penalties to a supposedly-competent Omonia side, or indeed running Legia close the previous round.

But this year the LoI has drawn five teams from leagues ranked in the 50s (Stjarnan, Newport, FH, Flora, and Levadia). That's more than we've drawn in the previous 20 years combined, going back to when UEFA reached 50 countries in 1999. The second round draws (Dudelange, Levadia and bye) were the easiest the respective sides could have gotten (compare Sligo, who would have played Rosenborg had they gotten through) Even Flora have only ever won three two-legged ties in their history - that's what you want in a playoff round.

So I think there's a lot there to say that this year is the easiest set of European fixtures ever. I can understand Rovers fans not wanting to jinx things, but really you have to be going into a tie like this expecting a win.

[sbgawa]

The idea of winning tonight and taking a lead into the second leg is head scratching time considering its a PO round, tbh it just shows how important the Champions route is.
If Pats win the league this year they will be unseeded as were Rovers and with a great chance.
If we do get to the groups i would love to play Celtic, their fans are used to playing our under 19s and hammering them and have zero respect for us.
Unfortunately they beat AZ 2 nil last night in the first leg so it probably wont happen

[Poor Student]

If we do get to the groups i would love to play Celtic, their fans are used to playing our under 19s and hammering them and have zero respect for us.


Say what?

[ontheotherhand]

Jaysus, these lads are 12 points behind a crap Levadia team. Rovers should be winning both legs

This is the crap team European Specialists Dundalk scraped past 4-3 with a last minute winner just last month?
Flora hammered Levadia 4-2 this season as well so.....

Give me your badge and gun mcgonigle, you're off the force.

[pineapple stu]

This is the crap team relegation strugglers Dundalk scraped past 4-3 with a last minute winner just last month?
Fixed your post there :)

(Do we not have a strikethrough option on foot?)

[Dalymountrower]

If Bradley sets up THIS EVENING as he did away to Slovan, Rovers will do well to get a draw. If he sets up as he did v Slovan at home, Rovers should win. In any event, the home leg should see Rovers win the tie.

[ontheotherhand]

Fixed your post there :)

(Do we not have a strikethrough option on foot?)

Don't make me say Dundalk had their **** together and actually did well in Europe this year despite their league capitulations stu. Their run this season was a lot more impressive than last seasons cakewalk. Sheriff replacing their entire team after their disinterested display in Dundalks only tricky matchup that year tells a story.

[pineapple stu]

Don't make me say Dundalk had their **** together and actually did well in Europe this year despite their league capitulations stu.
In fairness, yeah, you're right on that one alright. One of the weirder parts of a fairly typically weird LoI season.

[mcgonigle]

This is the crap team European Specialists Dundalk scraped past 4-3 with a last minute winner just last month?
Flora hammered Levadia 4-2 this season as well so.....

Give me your badge and gun mcgonigle, you're off the force.

I tend to look at form over multiple games instead of a few Euro ties. So over the course of 20 league games you think Dundalk 7th in the LOI should be beating the leaders of the Estonian league (and will still have at least a 4 point cushion with games in hand factored in)? So either the Estonian league is awful or the LOI is very strong, either validates my point. Dundalk's and Levadia's results in Europe show that teams can certainly raise their game but ultimately fall short against stronger opponents, hence why Rovers should win both legs.

"Flora hammered Levadia 4-2 this season as well so....." Dundalk beat Rovers handily enough and ended their long unbeaten run so...

[holidaysong]

Rovers should win the tie and I believe most Rovers fans would expect to win, even if they maybe play it down a bit publicly for now.

Same way Dundalk were rigthly expected to beat Klaksvik last year.

[ontheotherhand]

Where did I say Dundalk should be beating Levadia? I said almost the opposite i.e. that Levadia aren't a "crap side" as you suggested and I based that on Dundalk barely getting by them. You could even read that as a compliment. My original post was based on the sort of form analysis you tend to look at yourself i.e. Flora have the potential to make this difficult going on their league form and games in Europe. 10 clean sheets in 17 games means they will be at least hard to break down.

Both Levadia and Flora have strong records over 20 and 17 games respectively which includes solid results against stronger opponents than they face at home, Dundalk included.

I don't completely disagree with your point that Rovers can win both legs and I think we should win the tie but if Dundalk can beat us 2-1 then anything can happen. As you've pointed out.

So I'll still have your badge and gun on my desk.

[pateen]

Didnt realise they had so many internationals

[CorribsideSteve]

Is there a way of watching this without a TV?

[holidaysong]

It's probably on the Virgin Media Player.

[pineapple stu]

Oh dear.

Rovers the better team up to now, but that's a nice finish.

Long way to go yet. No need to panic. [/cliche]

[joey B]

Scales has to get across quicker there no?

[paul_oshea]

Brutal defending.

I had a feeling this game given the favourites and expectafion and the fact bohs and Dundalk really outperformed theirs will lead to the inevitable.

[sbgawa]

**** Paddy Power anyway, should have listened to myself

[paul_oshea]

Is there a way of watching this without a TV?

A ticket?

[CorribsideSteve]

Cheers. The page doesn't even load up. I thought RTE Player was bad. Will try again.

[CorribsideSteve]

Obviously I didn't manage to get a ticket.

[Philosophizer]

Sloppy by Rovers there losing the ball in their last 3rd and paid the price.
Tallinn have caused 1 or 2 scary moments.

[2 Year Contract]

Knew I recognised the name Sergei Zenjov from somewhere. He scored against Pats at Tallaght for Karpaty Lviv in 2011

[pineapple stu]

That's exactly the sort of nerdiness we keep coming back to foot to see. I doff my hat to you!

[sbgawa]

Bizarre as it sounds i wonder were Rovers listening to the hype about being favs, no more underestimating these guys now, they are moving the ball around well.
need to dig in here

[pineapple stu]

OK, this is bad now.

[paul_oshea]

These lads are happy for rovers to Stephen Kenny around the back and middle of the pitch then catch them on the counter. Pointless play really if you're not incisive and putting pressure on yourself.

Poor fare

[Philosophizer]

FFS Rovers getting schooled here. Rovers looking vulnerable every time Flora get around the box.

[sbgawa]

****ing hell, we could lose the tie here tonight.
I'm off to the pub

[kksaints]

Rovers midfield is very open on the counter. O'Neill needs to do more.

[paul_oshea]

And there another goal!

[paul_oshea]

Damn I must be delayed on the box

[CorribsideSteve]

Got the player working just in time to see THIS. Looks very bad already unfortunately. Very soft 2nd goal there.

[Dalymountrower]

Very laboured from Rovers and when Flora get possession, 2/3 passes and they threaten up the field.
Can see Rovers scoring though, 98th minute or so.
Joey O Brien should be staying on his feet for 2nd goal, very poor.

[paul_oshea]

These lads have done their homework they know rovers are slow in defence and no communication between who stays and who goes so they've always an extra man on the counter. They also know the high press is causing rovers issues. Passing needs to be shaper from rovers , it's all slow and predictable.

[pineapple stu]

Great old-fashioned goalmouth scramble there. Worthwhile entertainment even before Burke banged it into the corner.

[paul_oshea]

Good finish.

[Philosophizer]

Rovers finally have the finger out and created 2 chances in 2 mins. Burke then buries one from edge of box. Game on. Come on lads!!

[CorribsideSteve]

Good goal there just before halt time

[ger121]

That changes the complexion of the game entirely now. Flora will be thinking do we go for a 3rd or sit tight with what we have.