Shelbourne v Steaua

[EnDai]

They were all guilty of it.

[thejollyrodger]

in fairness if shels got a 1-0 lead they would have went to romania trying to defend it. one goal isnt much, if shels score one out there i will consider the first leg a good result.

Steaua threw the kitchen sink at shels and we did very well AFAIK. Fair enough the pitch is going to be a lot wider out there but if we can hit them on the break and there is going to be more space for our players.

If Steaua were down 1 nill they might crack a bit. Nutsy has to put out our best 11 though and a proper formation to get a scoring draw or even a win.

What is the story with Ndo. He has been off injured in one form since last years champions league games

[Slash/ED]

Well the great thing about 0-0 is we wont panic if they score over there. If anything, conceding first could in a funny way may help us. If they get the first goal they may sit back and all it takes is one moment for us to nick a goal and that could be us through on away goals.

[Schumi]

I'm surprised by some of the comments in this thread. I thought Steaua were a class above Shels for most of the game and had they taken more shots, I'd say they would have likely scored. Shels defended well, especially Rogers who I thought was brilliant. Crawford, Baker and Cahill were poor I thought, especially Baker. The crossing from both wings was really bad, they didn't give Crowe a chance at all.

Playing 1 up front didn't work because the midfield were incapable of holding onto the ball so Steaua were able to put Shels under pressure at will. With another option up front it would have been easier for Shels to get the ball forward (other than by aimless hoofs) and hold onto it rather than have Crowe surrounded by three defenders whenever the he got the ball. Harris did well I thought. Given the 'tactics' (i.e. long hoofs), his heading and strength with the ball was much more useful up front.

If Shels bring Ndo and Hoolahan (unwell according to the radio) into the midfield, play two up front, hold onto the ball in midfield and stop whacking the ball aimlessly upfield they have a chance of nicking a goal in the away leg but I think Steaua will be too strong. They were very impressive at times last night and at home and with a bit more urgency, it's difficult to see Shels holding them. Hope I'm wrong though!

[fosterdollar]

Crawford, Baker and Cahill were poor I thought,
None of the shels support seem to think Ollie had a bad game. I certainly did. I was beginning to think i had seen it from the wrong perspective or something until you posted. The incident at the end where he stopped chasing a ball (presumably because he thought he heard a whistle) summed up his game. He seemed edgy and nervous and made a lot of 'unforced errors'.

[Anto McC]

None of the shels support seem to think Ollie had a bad game. I certainly did.

I did too

[Slash/ED]

He was better than he usually was. I think with more bodies in the box he could have created something, he was one of the few pushing forward even in injury time he was beating their full back and trying to create something.

[Slash/ED]

So what about this leg then lads?

Not confident at all, looks like the same team again. That means Cahill and Baker as our main creative outlets, that means no chance barring a miracle.

Hoolahan will come on with 20 minutes to go apparently, I hope it's mind games from Fenlon and he's not injured at all (How can a stomach bug make you miss a full week of football!?) as if it's not we're in for a rough time. We'll need somehow to be level of 1 down when he comes on to try and change the game for us.

Looks like Ndo will once more be ignored with no explanation given whatsoever. Sure why not, when you've quality like Richie Baker you can afford to leave someone like Ndo out :confused:

[Poor Student]

I would certainly not play Baker again. His marker was a big lad who won everything sent out to him. I'd have played Ndo. I remember with your 1-1 draw with us in Belfield he drifted out to the wide right for about 20 mins and was devestating. He'd certainly have more of a chance of receiving passes out to the wing.

[harry crumb]

Id say the talk of leaving wes on the bench is mind games.

[Slash/ED]

I would certainly not play Baker again. His marker was a big lad who won everything sent out to him. I'd have played Ndo. I remember with your 1-1 draw with us in Belfield he drifted out to the wide right for about 20 mins and was devestating. He'd certainly have more of a chance of receiving passes out to the wing.

Ndo has disappeared off the face of the planet, Fenlon just wont pick him, lunacy.

I hope the Wes thing is mind games, it wouldn't be the first time Fenlon has done something like that.

[swinfordfc]

Hope i'm wrong here but just cant see shels beating that team out there. and another thing that left back crawley want to look up with he hoots the ball down the wing and try to pick some one out any more :D

[Slash/ED]

People have said it for years, that's all he's capable of doing.

[pete]

I'd like Shels to do well but i don't give them any hope tonight.

Last season Shels played better than Deportivo in Dublin only to lose 0-3 away. This season Steaua outplayed Shels for long periods in Dublin so by same logic shouldn't have many problems in Romania.

[Slash/ED]

The main reason they 'outplayed' us was we got increasingly negative as the game went on. The first half we were the better team if anything.

[Number 4]

I'd like Shels to do well but i don't give them any hope tonight.

Last season Shels played better than Deportivo in Dublin only to lose 0-3 away. This season Steaua outplayed Shels for long periods in Dublin so by same logic shouldn't have many problems in Romania.

I agree Pete. I think Steaua looked much classier in Tolka but played well within themselves. They will be a totally different proposition at home tonight. Shels could ship another 3 tonight.

[pete]

The main reason they 'outplayed' us was we got increasingly negative as the game went on. The first half we were the better team if anything.

The problem is Shels will have to adopt those negative tactics tonight too.

[dcfcsteve]

I got Soccernet.com (world's most popular football website) to run with a story on the Steau game (and our European results to-date) :

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=338013&cc=5739

Any feedback to the address at the end of the article greatfully received (even if it is negative !), as it encourages them to think there's interest in covering more Irish football.

Thanks.