Who fancy's shels??

[Munchie]

does any one think that shels ave a realisteic chance of getting through 2 the next round?? i'd liked to see them do it but i think bucharest r to strong!! any opinions??

[thecorner]

but i think bucharest r to strong!!

hopefully

[kenbo]

yeah i think bucharest are a top notch team but if shels played as well as they did against glentoran i can see them havin a realistic chance of progression

[ThatGuy]

I wish no success on Shelbourne but...

As for the next leg, Steau are favourites, without a shadow of a doubt, and I fully expect them to win.

But while it pains me to say this, in Glen Crowe they bought an absolute class act. As far as I am concerned he is the best striker in Ireland, and he gradually seems to be finding his feet at Shelbourne. With Jason Byrne beside him they have the league's two best forwards, and providing that they gel (it is looking increasingly likely that they will) they will always have a great chance of scoring against any side that they come up against.

The problem with Shels is that Steau could dominate from start to finish and even if Shels had Shevchenko and Ibrahimovic up from it probably wouldn't make a difference. But with class strikers there is always a chance if the rest of the team is solid.

Crowe is a still a ******** for what he did to Bohs though! I think he and Foley could have been a spectacular partnership in time, and with his goals Bohs certainly would be real title contenders right now. Alas we will never know.

[kenbo]

glen crowe- As far as I am concerned he is the best striker in Ireland,.

did ya hear that munchie!!!! :)

[Munchie]

in Glen Crowe they bought an absolute class act. As far as I am concerned he is the best striker in Ireland, .

he is in his arse the best in the league!! wat bout zayed,byrne nd farren!!!! u clearly no nothin bout the league!!best in the league, give over!!

[ThatGuy]

he is in his arse the best in the league!! wat bout zayed,byrne nd farren!!!! u clearly no nothin bout the league!!best in the league, give over!!
Ah yes the logic that if I think Crowe is good then I think Zayed, Byrne and Farren are crap :rolleyes:

[superfrank]

I think Byrne's the best in the league, then Crowe. Then there's a bunch of potentially really good strikers but aren't like Farren, Zayed, McHugh, Doyle, O'Flynn.

Forward who tries the most has to be Tarzan. ;)

I do think Shels can do it.

[dfx-]

I don't think they have chance, in all honesty.. :o

[De Town]

I don't think they have chance, in all honesty.. :o
have to agree, fancy a comfortable 2 goal win on aggregate for Steaua.

[sligoman]

I would love to see them get through but I honestly cant see them getting past Bucharest unfortunately,:(.

[A face]

Why are people rating Steaua Bucharest so highly ..... far enough a few years back .... but now ??? It wont be easy but ....

I think Shels have a great chance if they play to their full potential .... that is their biggest worry to be fair .... Bucharest are in this qualiting round for a reason, and it didn't happen over night. Its all very well living on you past exploits but that'll only get you so far .... they still have to play Shels and beat them to warrant getting all the praise you are giving them.

Shels have a good start to this ... more time to prepare for the away leg (the leg where they'll have to score goals, if they need to avail of away goals rule) and with a game under their belt, they'll be in a better position. Shels will have to come out, all guns a blazing but thats no secret to anyone.

If Shels can keep a clean sheet in the home leg then you'd have to rate their chance alot higher.

[Anto McC]

The odds are against Shels but if Steaua were that good they wouldn't be in the second round and trying to qualify against Shels

[dfx-]

But Shels have to play to their full potential and then upset the odds...

There's a reason why Steaua don't need to go through the first round - they may not be successful anymore but they do advance to 'big' rounds of European competition... :(

[Slash/ED]

They're favourites but so were Split. It all depends on the home leg, we either have to keep a clean sheet or concede only once while scoring at least as many as that ourselves. The way our attack is starting to play I would go into the away leg confident of getting a goal or two, so if we go there with the tie still very much alive we could nick an away goal or two. I think our attack is, now that it's hitting form, better than last years espically in a European environment so we're capable of getting goals. So it all depends on the first leg really, it's far from the mission impossible that, say, facing Rosenborg during our off season or games like that were for us.

[mypost]

if Steaua were that good they wouldn't be in the second round and trying to qualify against Shels

Exactly.

I consider Split to be a better team than Steaua, but the fact that Shels are at home first, with their high fitness levels gives them an advantage, which could decide the tie. Steaua are good, but hardly invincible. The worst thing Shels can do during the week before it, is talk them up, and tell us how wonderful they are. (A uniquely Irish trait :rolleyes: ). When Rovers went to play Liberec in the Intertoto in 2003, Bucko spent the whole week lauding Liberec, and scared his players stiff about the opposition's "qualities". Result: We were 2 down after 20 minutes, and had lost the tie before it had hardly begun. It finished 0-4 on aggregate. :(

If Shels are not overawed by Bucharest's reputation, and get stuck in at home, they are very capable of taking a lead to defend in Bucharest. But do they really believe they can beat Steaua?? That is the key question.

[pete]

What have Steau's record been in Europe recently?

I don't remember them in CL group stages but have they been getting to 3rd round consistently?

[tiktok]

Steaua will be hot favourites, but it's all based on winning the European Cup Twenty Years ago, would you be giving Nottingham Forest as much respect? :D

I think Shels have a decent chance of causing an upset and will have a good go at Steaua, I agree with the Comment that Hadjuk are a better side though.
I'm going to throw a few quid on Shekls winning in Tolka anyway.

[Cosmo]

I think I heard on the radio lastnight that bucaharest dumped valencia out of europe last season (only think though, cos I was only half listening).

With Summer football, you'd have to fancy shels to give anyone a game thats just in their preseason.

Anyone know what way bucharests league works? ie are they only in preseason or what?

[Kingdom]

Steaua made it through the Group stage of the Uefa Cup in a group containing Parma, Besiktas , Bilbao and Standard Liege. Thye knocked Valencia out on penalties, but were knocked out by Villareal in the last 16.

[garykelly]

To knock Steau Bucharest out would have to be the greatest European acheivement by an Irish team in Europe. Steau are indeed a class act, but Shel's could knock them out. There's no point being involved if they dont think that themselves. You never know. Not that I support any other teams in the league, but i always wish the best for teams playing in Europe becuase it's has a knock on effect in benefiting the league.

[hoops1]

Sorry have to say Shels will go no further this year
These boys have a good european pedigree even last year
they beat CSKA Sofia,Standard Liege and Valencia and a couple more
They are well into their season no fitness,match sharpness advantage for
Shels and are top of the league.They are not the shambles that Split were last year and the Shels back 4 dont look like a strong unit(still not convinced delaney is better than williams or hawkins/rodgers is stronger than harris/rodgers) i think Steaua might just be to strong and the fact Shels are home first leg might be the differance this year

[EnDai]

Since their European run last year, they nearly threw away a lead similar to what Cork have now, with only about 7 games remaining. They're also out of season, they have played 5 friendlies against lower division sides, and conceeded at least 1 goal in 4 of them (at home too)!

2-1
2-1
2-1
3-0
5-2

All I'm saying is don't write us off just yet! :)

[Drumcondra Red]

No reason why not, its still a game of football, but it all depends on what we can do at tolka!!!

[CuanaD]

Steaua won the Romanian league with 63 points from 30 games 1 ahead of Dinamo & 4 ahead of Rapid. They won their last 3 games & are hard to score against (18 goals against in 30 league games). Their last game was only in mid-June, so I doubt they are too far off full-fitness. This is a big ask for Shels, but we will be able to gauge how far eircom teams have progressed - a home win would be exelent, but a home draw would be far more realistic. Never say never though - they are still beatable - everyone is!

[bluemovie]

To knock Steau Bucharest out would have to be the greatest European acheivement by an Irish team in Europe.

By a long shot. They're a much bigger club than Split, Kaiserslautern, Malmo etc. European Cup winners in 86, finalists in 89.

You don't mess with those fellas either....in 86 the keeper Ducadam or something phenomenally saved 4 penalties in the shoot-out v Barca (Steaua won 2-0). I think the story goes that he was presented with a BMW (I read this before, but am a little hazy on the details), but being the army team for Teauscescu's Communist state, it was felt Ducadam was getting a little too big for his boots........so they broke both his hands and he never played football again!!

Just a warning to that fool who threw a bottle at a Glentoran player...don't try that against these fellas!

[patsh]

By a long shot. They're a much bigger club than Split, Kaiserslautern, Malmo etc. European Cup winners in 86, finalists in 89.

You don't mess with those fellas either....in 86 the keeper Ducadam or something phenomenally saved 4 penalties in the shoot-out v Barca (Steaua won 2-0). I think the story goes that he was presented with a BMW (I read this before, but am a little hazy on the details), but being the army team for Teauscescu's Communist state, it was felt Ducadam was getting a little too big for his boots........so they broke both his hands and he never played football again!!

Just a warning to that fool who threw a bottle at a Glentoran player...don't try that against these fellas!
Not quite accurate, but you have the gist right.
A Real Madrid fan presented him with a Mercedes for his performance in the final and denying Barca the trophy.
One of Ceaucescu's sons wanted the car and asked the keeper for it. When the keeper refused, he had the Secret Police pay the keeper a visit, and they smashed his fingers and wrists with hammer's, and they took the car.

[TheOwl]

Not quite accurate, but you have the gist right.
A Real Madrid fan presented him with a Mercedes for his performance in the final and denying Barca the trophy.
One of Ceaucescu's sons wanted the car and asked the keeper for it. When the keeper refused, he had the Secret Police pay the keeper a visit, and they smashed his fingers and wrists with hammer's, and they took the car.

I know I shouldn’t laugh at that story but it was the way you told it!

Reminded me of that great Simpson quote when they were watching that film about Jebediah Springfield.

“Well, I hope they show the time where they traded guns to the Indians for corn, and then the Indians shot them, and took the corn.”

I think it will be a massive ask for us to beat Steaua, and I think their results in Europe last year shows that they are better than Split. However, we do have a chance, albeit a small one. I’m hopeful that maybe we can nick a 1-0 win at Tolka next week, which would leave us in great shape going over to Romania where I’d fancy us to nick an away goal.

Remember the big difference between Shelbourne in Europe this year will be that we will be playing with two strikers up front (neither of which will be Glenn Fitzpatrick), and while of course this will have its downsides too, I feel this will give us a greater chance to get the goals needed to progress.

Having said all this, the fact that we are even having a discussion as to whether Shels can knock out as big a club as Steaua just goes to show how far EL football has come on these last few years.

[gustavo]

good luck to shels and i hope they do get through but i cant see it . i hope people arent on here after if they do lose and berate them . i dont see them getting a thrashing though.

[manic da hoop]

By a long shot. They're a much bigger club than Split, Kaiserslautern, Malmo etc. European Cup winners in 86, finalists in 89.

!

Who knocked out Kaiserslautern?

[Slash/ED]

Having said all this, the fact that we are even having a discussion as to whether Shels can knock out as big a club as Steaua just goes to show how far EL football has come on these last few years.

Exactly.

And someone talked about belief, the players will certinaly believe they can beat them, that's the kind of team they are. Our attack is alot better than last years due to the addition of Crowe and Hoolahan has continued to improve into a quality player, we can score goals against them at least.

They are a better team than Split, but if we play to our best we're a better team than the one who knocked Split out last year imo. It would be some upset but it's not impossible.

[bigmac]

I think it's definitely doable if Shels get the breaks. In saying that, there's a reason that they're in this round and Shels were in the first - their performance in Europe last year was pretty good, how would we rate Shels chances for example if they were playing one of Steaua's opponents from last year - would we be talking about possibly knocking out Parma or Villareal or Valencia?

I'd love to see Shels go as far as possible in Europe, but I'd settle for Shels getting a result in one of the games and adding to the coefficient.

[superfrank]

Who knocked out Kaiserslautern?
Bohs beat them in Germany but went out on away goals.

[drinkfeckarse]

I think it might be too much for them but they're not without a chance, hopefully they can do it.

[jorge]

I would'nt be suprised to see Shels win the first leg but they must take their chances and learn from the Bohs game.

[Dyl10]

If they can stop bucharest from scoring over here they definatley have an outside chance but i think because Shells won in the previous round 4-1 I doubt Bucharest will take us for granted as a walkover

[Schumi]

we will be playing with two strikers up front (neither of which will be Glenn Fitzpatrick)
:D :D

[ger121]

Think it could be a similar result to the Bohs/Gent game, i.e a slim win at home (1-0) due to being mid season for Shels and confidence will be good, also Steaua not at full fitness. But the return leg will be a different story. 3-1 to Steaua winning 3-2 on agg. Would not be a disgrace and the home win will add to co-efficient.

[robbieos88]

$hels are gonna get stuffed and i cant wait , Ollie Byrne doesnt deserve to get to the next round

[kenbo]

$hels are gonna get stuffed and i cant wait , Ollie Byrne doesnt deserve to get to the next round


wait and see there robbie!! bit 2 muck talk there from a pats fan!!

[GavinZac]

wait and see there robbie!! bit 2 muck talk there from a pats fan!!

wait, youre a shels fan. shels have fans?

oh its a european thread. once off thing. carry on.

[thejollyrodger]

the amount of anti shels felling is a disgrace !! Were doing the whole league a favour here FFS. It looks increasingly likely that the village will be in the Champions league qualifiers next season and I wouldnt be surprised if they got knocked out in the first leg losing both games.

Shels have every chance to beat Steau. Every time we play an oppostion we always build them up. We did the same against Israel, Deportivo, Lille, even Cyprus and Glentorian FFS. It always hurts us. A clean sheet at home and a 1 or 2 goal lead going into the second leg and we would be flying. I think we will defintely score but its our back 4 that worries me. Nutsy will have to do some more shopping for next season. Its pratically cost us the league and Champions league football for next season already FFS.

[GavinZac]

the amount of anti shels felling is a disgrace !! Were doing the whole league a favour here FFS. It looks increasingly likely that the village will be in the Champions league qualifiers next season and I wouldnt be surprised if they got knocked out in the first leg losing both games.
its only a bit of slagging kid, calm down. thanks for the 0.666 co-efficient points but if you didnt beat the glens the league would have been disgraced. they were shocking; shels dispatched them in suitable style but Steaua Bucharest are a different kettle of fish. every eL fan (yes, except you corner ;) ) will be cheering them on but "doing the league a favour" has yet to be achieved. as to whether Cork would do better in the CL than shels... ask yourself which team is in better form and who would have beaten glens by more.


Shels have every chance to beat Steau. Every time we play an oppostion we always build them up. We did the same against Israel, Deportivo, Lille, even Cyprus and Glentorian FFS. It always hurts us. A clean sheet at home and a 1 or 2 goal lead going into the second leg and we would be flying.

you would indeed, but did deportivo or Lille really need building up? they are better clubs than shels, fact. they are better teams than shels, fact. and performance wise, they beat you. im all for positive thinking but realistically you were never going to knock out deportivo, and bucharest are also a stronger team. please prove me wrong, but the very fact that we would all celebrate a shels 0-0 draw at home is an indication that this is an uphill battle and we need heros. beating a half hearted, poor qualtiy glentoran team is not heroics. dont get on other fans case's for seeing reality and not blind belief.

[thejollyrodger]

well did Deportivo really go at Shels in lansdowne ? no, they sat back and look fragile for the 90 mintues. Shels should have went at them. We could have got a 1-0.

I rate Steau better than Spliit but not as good as Lille or Deportivo.

CCFC should win the 2nd leg and we'll see how well they do in the second round :D :D

[CollegeTillIDie]

Shels need to tighten up defensively to stand any chance against Steaua Bucuresti. Assuming they do that, then by drawing 0-0 at home and a score draw away then they can go through on the away goals rule.

Qualification by any other route is highly unlikely in 2005.