Bohs 1-0 Gent

[cabo2005]

First of all welll done Bohs! But this result is expected.... We, especially on this site, sell the standard of the eircom league short. We are much better than our UEFA ranking suggests and Bohs should finish the job in Belgium...



Don't think so. LOI us one of the worst leagues in europe and the quality of football is nothing short of shocking. Would be suprised if Bohemians go through

[pete]

Would be suprised if Bohemians go through

Considering eL sides have gone past the 1st round in last 3-4 seasons history would suggest Bohs would go through.

[Éanna]

Don't think so. LOI us one of the worst leagues in europe and the quality of football is nothing short of shocking. Would be suprised if Bohemians go through
:rolleyes: When you haven't a clue what you're talking about, its usually a good idea to keep your mouth shut :rolleyes:

[el punter]

Does anyone know where we can view UEFA's rankings of the European leagues? Does it stand up to rational any better than the FIFA rankings?

If Cabo believes the league is 'shocking' why he register with a forum and post over 40 times?

[superfrank]

Don't worry bout cabo lads. This is a common misconception by Italians that the eircom League isn't any good. Many of them I've met, I used to work in an Italian restaurant, think they could take to the field and do much better than any other eL star.

[pineapple stu]

Does anyone know where we can view UEFA's rankings of the European leagues?
This (http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/) site is excellent.

[el punter]

Good man Stu, that Dutch site is top quality. Although it doesn't do a lot to counter Cabo's argument that this is one of the worst leagues in Europe (40th of 52 in last seasons rankings).

I don't accept that the standard is shocking though; the media coverage is shocking. The lack of support for the league in a football loving country is shocking. The behaviour of some individuals and groups associated with the league is shocking.....but the football's not bad.

Not to start an argument, this is genuine interest. Cabo, what games have you been to or watched on tv that you thought were shocking? You must accept that some games are damn exciting?

I'm seldom one to pat Rovers on the back for anything, but the McCourt display a few weeks ago was enough to make any football fan tingle, and again at the weekend they put a lovely move together to score on Shels. Shocking footballers don't do those things.

[BohDiddley]

Good man Stu, that Dutch site is top quality. Although it doesn't do a lot to counter Cabo's argument that this is one of the worst leagues in Europe (40th of 52 in last seasons rankings).

I don't accept that the standard is shocking though; the media coverage is shocking. The lack of support for the league in a football loving country is shocking. The behaviour of some individuals and groups associated with the league is shocking.....but the football's not bad.

Not to start an argument, this is genuine interest. Cabo, what games have you been to or watched on tv that you thought were shocking? You must accept that some games are damn exciting?

I'm seldom one to pat Rovers on the back for anything, but the McCourt display a few weeks ago was enough to make any football fan tingle, and again at the weekend they put a lovely move together to score on Shels. Shocking footballers don't do those things.

I used to be a Cabo.
For most of my life, I believed the 'gulf in class' guff. Then, quite by accident, I learned the error of my ways. I was playing in a 7-a-side knockabout, and someone who I had never heard of (how would I?), and whose name I still don't know, turned up.
He wasn't a big star or anything. He was recovering from serious injury and was totally unfit, but he made a show of everyone. Not just me: that wouldn't be hard. He hardly moved, but, spreading it from the back, he had every one of us, including one or two who I thought previously had a bit of talent, running around in frantic circles.
That's when the penny started to drop. Since then, whenever I hear some barstooler talk about EL being a bunch of disorganized hoofers (as opposed to us calling Shels a bunch of disorganized hoofers!) I wonder how they would fare against an unfit, anonymous EL player hobbling gingerly onto the astro.

[el punter]

Yeah, I've got some similar anecdotal testimony Boh. I played ball for my older brother's team for a while, you can imagine the scene on a Sunday morning, 15 mins before kick off and there's 9 players showed up, so I'm quickly 'signed up' as I'm 16 and could probably hold me own against lads in their mid 30's! Yeah right!

Anyway my brother was a decent enough player, Leinster Senior League for a while. But there was a lad on the team who was mustard. Give him the ball, we scored. I was amazed at how he ran rings around the opposition. So afterwards I was talking to the brother and asked if the guy had ever played League of Ireland or anything. He laughed and shook his head, he said that guy was easily an excellent footballer, but my bro' had played a little with Pat Kelch (ex Pats full back) and one or two other LOI players and said they were just different class altogether.

They are big, and fit and physical and generally dont do stupid things with the ball. Being very good isnt enough. The Eircom League is football at a very high level - despite the historical litany of European failures of our clubs.

[superfrank]

I used to be a Cabo.
For most of my life, I believed the 'gulf in class' guff. Then, quite by accident, I learned the error of my ways. I was playing in a 7-a-side knockabout, and someone who I had never heard of (how would I?), and whose name I still don't know, turned up.
He wasn't a big star or anything. He was recovering from serious injury and was totally unfit, but he made a show of everyone. Not just me: that wouldn't be hard. He hardly moved, but, spreading it from the back, he had every one of us, including one or two who I thought previously had a bit of talent, running around in frantic circles.
That's when the penny started to drop. Since then, whenever I hear some barstooler talk about EL being a bunch of disorganized hoofers (as opposed to us calling Shels a bunch of disorganized hoofers!) I wonder how they would fare against an unfit, anonymous EL player hobbling gingerly onto the astro.
Who was it?

[cabo2005]

Good man Stu, that Dutch site is top quality. Although it doesn't do a lot to counter Cabo's argument that this is one of the worst leagues in Europe (40th of 52 in last seasons rankings).

I don't accept that the standard is shocking though; the media coverage is shocking. The lack of support for the league in a football loving country is shocking. The behaviour of some individuals and groups associated with the league is shocking.....but the football's not bad.

Not to start an argument, this is genuine interest. Cabo, what games have you been to or watched on tv that you thought were shocking? You must accept that some games are damn exciting?

I'm seldom one to pat Rovers on the back for anything, but the McCourt display a few weeks ago was enough to make any football fan tingle, and again at the weekend they put a lovely move together to score on Shels. Shocking footballers don't do those things.


Ive actually been to quite a few, mostly Bray Wanderers one's and have seen a bit of Shelbourne this season.
I think that the support is terrible,the stadiums are poor and the football is dreadful to watch. 9 times out of ten all that they do is hit long balls. For Shelbourne being a good side in Ireland, how many times have they got to the group stage of the european cup? Any irish team?
The closest they came was being destroyed by an average at best Deportivo side.
I think it's mostly because of the facilities in the country and not enough has been done. Im afraid there won't be an irish team in the champions league for a long long time.


As for this Bohemians, ok maybe they will go through but to think they will get anywhere decent in the uefa cup is very wishful thinking. Very bad team.

[ThatGuy]

Well whether or not I agree with you about Bohs being a bad team is irrelevant.

However, how good a team is has nothing to do with whether or not you should support them.

By the way, how many times have Aston Villa, Birminghmam, Bolton, Charlton, Everton, Fulham, Manchester City, Middlesborough, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, West Ham or Wigan qualified for the Champions League group stages?

Who gives a damn?

[cabo2005]

Well whether or not I agree with you about Bohs being a bad team is irrelevant.

However, how good a team is has nothing to do with whether or not you should support them.

By the way, how many times have Aston Villa, Birminghmam, Bolton, Charlton, Everton, Fulham, Manchester City, Middlesborough, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, West Ham or Wigan qualified for the Champions League group stages?

Who gives a damn?


Im talking about the standard of the league. Irish champions=SHELBOURNE, Didnt qualify for the european cup.
English champions=CHELSEA,Semi-finalists.and a team who came 5th in the league won it.
So you really have not helped your case.

And who said anything about supporting teams?

[dancinpants]

Im talking about the standard of the league. Irish champions=SHELBOURNE, Didnt qualify for the european cup.
English champions=CHELSEA,Semi-finalists.and a team who came 5th in the league won it.
So you really have not helped your case.

And who said anything about supporting teams?

I think his case was that the majority of the Premierships teams haven't ever qualified for the Champions League. So he actually did help his case.

[cabo2005]

I think his case was that the majority of the Premierships teams haven't ever qualified for the Champions League. So he actually did help his case.


And that's because the league is too strong for them.

And Shelbourne are nowhere near those teams

[dancinpants]

And that's because the league is too strong for them.

And Shelbourne are nowhere near those teams

I wouldn't say that its because the LEAGUE is too strong for them, but more Chelsea, Arsenal, and ManUtd are too strong for them. Take those 3 teams out of the EPL and you have a very ordinary league by European standards. (I'm leaving Liverpool out because they are a very ordinary team that was lucky enough to get the breaks and win the CL - certainly a one off.)

[cabo2005]

I wouldn't say that its because the LEAGUE is too strong for them, but more Chelsea, Arsenal, and ManUtd are too strong for them. Take those 3 teams out of the EPL and you have a very ordinary league by European standards. (I'm leaving Liverpool out because they are a very ordinary team that was lucky enough to get the breaks and win the CL - certainly a one off.)


But all the teams in the league are alot better than any irish team. Alot better.

And i disagree with what you said about Liverpool. They won the european cup,no luck involved. Destroyed Leverkusen,battered Juveentus at home and were brilliant in the 2nd leg,superb to stop Chelsea to score in 180 minutes and were the better team and came back from 3-0 down to beat Milan. So to win that competition makes them the best in europe. Chelsea won the league so their the best in england but Liverpool are the best in europe.


Anyway didn't Shelbourne lose to Hibs of Malta a few years ago?

[dancinpants]

But all the teams in the league are alot better than any irish team. Alot better.

I didn't say they weren't...but in terms of European competition, they are definitely beatable.


And i disagree with what you said about Liverpool. They won the european cup,no luck involved. Destroyed Leverkusen,battered Juveentus at home and were brilliant in the 2nd leg,superb to stop Chelsea to score in 180 minutes and were the better team and came back from 3-0 down to beat Milan. So to win that competition makes them the best in europe. Chelsea won the league so their the best in england but Liverpool are the best in europe.

I'm sorry but going by your rationale Chelsea CAN'T be the best team in England as long as Liverpool are the best in Europe


Anyway didn't Shelbourne lose to Hibs of Malta a few years ago?

Yes. Chelsea lost to israeli opposition a few years ago too. Whats your point?

[cabo2005]

Why not? Chelsea are the best in one competition, Liverpool in another?

israeli opposition and maltese opposition. Not the same class really

[Buller]

Why not? Chelsea are the best in one competition, Liverpool in another?

israeli opposition and maltese opposition. Not the same class really
Go back home to engeland and get off this forum, its people like you who help ruin the league of ireland's reputation which should be better... If people like you supported your domestic league, make no mistake, it would be up there with the best in europe... just look at our International teams success...

[cabo2005]

Well whether or not I agree with you about Bohs being a bad team is irrelevant.

However, how good a team is has nothing to do with whether or not you should support them.

By the way, how many times have Aston Villa, Birminghmam, Bolton, Charlton, Everton, Fulham, Manchester City, Middlesborough, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, West Ham or Wigan qualified for the Champions League group stages?

Who gives a damn?


Actually this is how, the english teams came up :)

[A face]

WUM Alert !!

[Dazzy]

They all have nothing to do now that there season of watching footall in a bar in a Sunday afternoon is over.

[dancinpants]

Irish Club Results in Europe (http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier-ec.html)

This is savage interestin'. There's some great results from the past in here....some awful ones too.

[Buller]

And what league do they play in by the way?
Well they would be playing here if it wasnt for barstoolers like yourself, dumbass...

[crc]

Irish Club Results in Europe (http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier-ec.html)
I got excel to calculate the average points per game. Here are the top 5 clubs:

1. Athlone Town - 0.75 pts per game (Athlone get no.1 slot because they've played more games)
2. UCD - 0.75
3. Cork City - 0.64
4. Shamrock Rovers - 0.58
5. Bohemians - 0.54

=====

I'd give Cabo a wide berth on this one, lads - only a knob would attempt to compare England (pop. 50 million, everyone loves football) and the Republic of Ireland (pop. 4 million, football has two or three serious rivals).

Cabo suddenly woke up and found that it was the summer time, that he didn't, in fact, live in Bethnal Green. He saw that there was football on show, but not wishing his loyalty to the Premiership Gods be challenged, he tries to reassure himself with myths that the Eircom League is substandard to 'The Real Thing' and that the stadiums couldn't be used in an Albanian horror film, and that a football fan can say that he has achieved something when he still finds the courage to support Man United even after a trophee-less season! :rolleyes:

[pete]

MODERATOR WARNING This thread is getting out of control. Any more personal attacks & i'll close it.

[superfrank]

Why not? Chelsea are the best in one competition, Liverpool in another?

israeli opposition and maltese opposition. Not the same class really
Chelsea have also lost to Swiss opposition before. And if you are one to believe Sweden and the Netherlands are better leagues, Cork proved you wrong. Bohs did the same against Kaiserslautern and Aberdeen, both from "stronger" leagues.

In fact Germany must be a better league cos they get three CL places and we only get one.

Cabo, it's funny what you choose to ignore, isn't it?

[Schumi]

I got excel to calculate the average points per game. Here are the top 5 clubs:

1. Athlone Town - 0.75 pts per game (Athlone get no.1 slot because they've played more games)
2. UCD - 0.75
3. Cork City - 0.64
4. Shamrock Rovers - 0.58
5. Bohemians - 0.54
Must frame that. :D

[superfrank]

Mods, seriously, would yez keep him off the thread? He's p!ssing everyone else off and he's just insulting our league.

[Slash/ED]

We are the champions of europe. Are any of your teams? no haha

I decided around five minutes ago I was a Liverpool fan, so yeah my team is. Isn't it super!?

[Buller]

I decided around five minutes ago I was a Liverpool fan, so yeah my team is. Isn't it super!?
I wouldnt even bother replying to him Slash... he is just trying to annoy us for some idiotic reason, could someone please ban him?!

[sonofstan]

I wouldnt even bother replying to him Slash... he is just trying to annoy us for some idiotic reason, could someone please ban him?!

because that's the Rovers way

[Gerrit]

wrote a small report myself to be published on my soon to be launched personal site... anyway, enjoy :)



18/06/2005 : BOHEMIAN F.C. - KAA GENT : 1-0



We've had the Champions League final hardly past us, and the new European season is already starting again... Before the main participants start their campaign (UEFA Cup and Champions League) we already get the Intertoto Cup, offering teams that nearly missed European football an alternative way to get into the actual European scene.

Especially for Bohs this was the case. The North Dubliners finished at third spot behind champions Shelbourne and runners-up Cork City last season, and as Longford Town claimed the second UEFA Cup spot via their FAI Cup triumph, the traditional top club from Dublin just missed a European ticket.

KAA Gent on the other hand finished only at sixth spot, 20 points behind champions Club Brugge, but because Standard Liege and Charleroi (the numbers 4 and 5) did not feel like such an early start of the season, Gent was allowed to enter the Intertoto Cup once again. The Ghent team are familiar with the tournament, last year they eliminated Reykjavik side Fylkir in the first round, then to go out on penalties versus Macedonian giants Vardar Skopje. Only three seasons ago Gent even had another Dublin team as opposition. Gent eliminated St-Patrick's Athletic back then, losing 3-1 in Inchicore but winning 2-0 at home. It was close back then, and it should even be closer right now: Gent just returned from a very short holiday and have had few or no trainings (their goalkeeper Herpoel was even absent due to... holidays) while Bohs are in the middle of the season. The FAI changed from a winter league into a summer league two seasons ago ; playing from March to November would not only attract bigger crowds but would also allow Irish sides to enter the European tournaments fit and well prepared. This idea didn't miss its effect, as Shelbourne and Cork last year both had an impressive European run (impressive according to Irish standards, that is !). Bohs happened to be the one Irish club that had a disappointing run in Europe last year, as they were eliminated by Estonian amateur side Levadia Tallinn (much to the laughter of the support of rivals Shelbourne, who meanwhile reached the last qualifying stage of the Champions League where they played Deportivo La Coruna for a packed Lansdowne Road).



Bohemians, the Republic of Ireland's oldest club (founded in 1890 - only Northern Irish nationalist club Cliftonville FC is older), has its home in the Dalymount Park stadium in Phibsborough, North Dublin. The church of Phibsborough is right across the stadium. It's a quite old stadium, about as old as the club itself. While two stands were modernised and one side of the ground was broken down and replaced by a new smaller stand and a parking space, one big stand (a no-seater) behind the one goal reminds of the age and glorious past of the stadium. However, note that this stand is no longer open for public due to safety reasons, it is now hosting the many banners from Bohs fans.

Bohs is currently at the fifth spot in the Eircom League's top division. They started off in disaster. The club had to sell three out of their 4 star players to Dublin rivals Shelbourne (only Kevin Hunt stayed loyal to his beloved club) because of financial troubles, and even now the financial worries are not all over yet. The club had a dramatic run in the early season and was at the last spot but one after approx 6 games. Then suddenly, after their coach was sacked and replaced by player-coach Farrely, Bohs started to actually win games and climbed to the 5th spot in a rush. The club is now suddenly looking up to the European spots again instead of down to the threatening relegation spots.

The game against Gent was played with only two stands open: the main Jodi Stand along the pitch (home to Bohs' fanatical support, and this time also to the travelling Ghent fans) and the Des Kelly Stand behind the goal. The stand normally used for visiting fans was not used this time, as there was no seggregation between the two clubs' support. Surprising, because Bohs is known to be one of the few Irish sides with a sometimes violent support. The minority of riotting Bohs fans even made the news only 2 weeks before this game, when they went into a fight with the hools of the one other 'risky' Irish side: Shamrock Rovers (also playing at Dalymount by the way this season !).

The Jodi Stand was nice and full for this European game, approx 3000 fans according to official sources. Approx 150 fans had travelled from Belgium. Remarkably was also that fans of other Irish clubs put aside the rivality with Bohemians for a day and came to Dalymount Park to cheer on their fellow Eircom League side. There were even fans of big rivals Shelbourne (including me) and Cork.

[Gerrit]

(part II)



The game started off in a very slow rhythm, it seemed Bohs (who had slightly more possession) lacked creativity to force openings in the Ghent defense, while Gent clearly lacked training to already dominate a competitive game at this very early stage of the season. Especially Nordin Jbari, once a very big talent but then he got on the dole, gave a very unfit impression and even the Gent supporters after a while got very frustrated with their striker not winning a single duel and screwing every attack in which he got involved. A yellow card for protest was his only succesful action.

The first chance was a rather weak shot from distance from Bohs, easily caught by Zlatko Runje. Runje, whose brother Vedran is the goalkeeper of fellow Belgian top-flight side Standard, gave a very solid impression as replacement of the absent goalkeeper Herpoel. The second chance was a lot better, as Foley slipped through the offside trap on a long pass from player-manager Farrelly and came face-to-face with Runje, then to half miss his shot and see the ball bounce just past the far post. The best chance of the game at that moment, without any doubt. Just before half-time then, Zlatko Runje assured Gent reached half-time with a draw on the imaginary board: a shot from distance from Ward was brilliantly saved out of the upper corner of the goal.

0-0 at half-time after a rather boring first half, with Bohs creating the only two good opportunities and being unlucky not to have scored at least once. Gent didn't create a single chance, which may not be that unnormal though after only 3 days of training.

Half time gave the fans the opportunity to get the obligate drink and fish and chips (the bar was closed during the game for safety reasons) and gave me and other Belgian expats in Ireland the chance to socialise with some of the Gent fans. Not that they were behaving that nicely, a few stewards had to stop some Gent "fans" from venomously taunting Bohs players coming back on the field, and some Gent fans used foul language towards the players a bit too often to be good. Luckily we're talking about a minority here. The Bohs fans by the way, usually very loud (they are, along with Cork and Shamrock Rovers, the biggest and most fanatic support in the ROI), were more silent than for the average Eircom League game, but they did behave very well.



Just after half time, while the crowd was just re-installing itself in the stand, suddenly Bohs succeeded in their chase of a goal. Foley delivered an excellent cross from the right, and Tony Grant headed the ball by the first post. The ball, slightly deflicted at Ghent defender Stephen Laybutt's body, seemed to go over the goal but then falled right under the bar, over the surprised goalie Runje. 1-0 for Bohs and the Jodi Stand, including this one-day Bohs fan, exploded from joy.

This meant that Gent was now more or less obligated to leave their defensive play behind and chase a goal. It was rather ununderstandable that manager Georges Leekend did not replace the weak striker Nordin Jbari. Gent tried to attack, but this left space in the back and thus counter options for Bohs. Bohs did try to chase a second goal, but everytime they seemed to take advantage of the space in the Ghent defense, their crossed missed direction. Only one time Bohs came really close to a second goal: again a cross from the right, this time a header came at the second post ; it seemed like the striker didn't hit the ball rightly, but it did fall right towards the corner of the goal, were Runje had to make a spectacular save to prevend a second Irish goal.

Then suddenly out of the blue, Ghent got their first true chance. It was substitute Tim Matthijs, who made one of his final appearances for Ghent before starting the new season with his new club Zulte-Waregem, who suddenly managed to head towards the goal after a long ball, he pushed the two Bohs defenders away but then, with only goalkeeper Matt Gregg in front of him, he shot over the bar. The first chance for the Belgian visitors, the first time Bohs' English-born goalkeeper was in serious danger. It was the sign for Gent to push through any further, without being too dangerous though. Bohs seemed to be satisfied with the 1-0 and didn't really chase a second goal no more. One of the Ghent players slipped through the Bohs defense again, but then eye in eye with Gregg he decided to pass the ball towards the centre of the box rather than shooting himself ; two Ghent players were running into the ball, but the Bohs defenders were back just in time to clear the ball. This was serious mayhem for the Dubliners, and maybe this was even the best chance of the game. Bohs, who -apart from the two headers- only tested Runje via some weak long distance effords, consolidated the 1-0 lead succesfully despite Ghent having more possession now. In the very last minute though one of their defenders made hands just out of the box. Free kick for Gent from less than 20 meters, with only a minute of injury time to go. One last scary moment for the Irish fans, but the free kick went over the wall and over the goal, which was also the last action as the referee finished it off.

1-0, a narrow but well-deserved win for Bohs over a Belgian side who never impressed but can use the only three days of training as an excuse. The return game will be played next Saturday in Gentbrugge, where Bohs hopefully will not have to regret for not having chased a second goal. However, one Irish goal and Gent should be over and out. Bohs supporters announced over 400 fans will follow the team to Belgium to chase another European success for an Eircom League side. Gent will have to force a win at their own Ottenstadion in order to avoid a very fast European elimination, which would mean the players returned from holiday so soon for nothing and leave a big disappointment. The winner of the tie will play a Czech or Belaruse side, with at stake a third round clash against Spanish giants Valencia CF.




(c) Gerrit ;)

[eirebhoy]

Nice one Gerrit!

[Buller]

Very licid and descriptive piece... well done!

[superfrank]

Whats the site goin to be called Gerrit?