LOI in Europe 2023

[paul_oshea]

Watched 6(5-6 two eyes) of the 8 games and its the poorest fare I've seen from a collective set of teams in a long while. It wasn't like the 00s though, that story was quite different 60-70 mins of good organised and disciplined football until the inevitable lapse of concentration or dopiness from one player causing a goal then finishing with a 2 or 3 goal loss. This year was not like that, those lapses were happening from fairly early on.

Rovers performances were insipid and uninspiring they look totally flat and out of ideas. A tired team with tired ideas. That has to come down to the Manager and coaches. What's happening with the underage structure and the conveyor belt of talent coming through. Those Icelandic players looked fitter, stronger, better conditioned and technically superior to anything Rovers could offer.

The less said on Derry and less so Dundalk the better. But both were unbelievably bad and I have high hopes for O'Donnell.

Pats played good football and really should have won last night, Lux players were looking out on their feet as early as the 75th minute. A lot of poor balls by mulraney and a lot of hit and hope crosses into the box.

Out of any players across the teams and games Curtis looked like a good prospect out of all the young(er) players on show but he's too slow same as Ferizaj last year with Rovers and its no surprise to not see him involved this year based off what I said last year. He got so badly exposed by an average dutch striker for that last goal and yes I'm aware hes only 17 but it wasnt just the early sell it was the lack of pace injection that stood out after more.

Finally that back pocket excuse thrown up here for years about budget, resources, conditioning etc can blown out of the water. When theres a co-ordinated push in footballing structures to lobby the government into fundamental investment into the game in Ireland the government are going to look for a bang for their buck. Where's the value in what's being offered? The rest of Europe has caught up and passed LOI out wheres the guarantee to government its going to pay off.

[geysir]

Dundalk play our old friends - KA. There are 2 clubs in Akureyri, it was 2nd division Thor who hammered Bohs, KA are the other club, they are Thor’s bigger brother.
KA are currently in the bottom third of the league, there’s much of a muchness betweeen them and Dundalk but KA are more structured in their play. The game will be played in Reykjavik as KA’s ground is being rebuilt anew. KA will be up for this game as not much else of note happens in their football competitive life and their support will travel in expectation.

[pineapple stu]

If it's a European defeat, it must be time for Paul O'Shea to drop by.

Welcome back Paul! :)

[DCWA]

If it's a European defeat, it must be time for Paul O'Shea to drop by.

Welcome back Paul! :)

Unfortunately everything he said there is spot on.

[pineapple stu]

I think so too. But it's just a foot.ie ritual - the only time of year Paul leaves the Ireland forum here.

[pineapple stu]

Is there some new rule in penalty shootouts which means that teams don't go through all 11 players before a player takes a second penalty?
I didn't think so? Didn't happen in that game last night. Where are you thinking that from?

[joey B]

Unfortunately everything he said there is spot on.

Everything apart from 'Pats should have won' they absolutely shoud not have won,they were blessed to be still in the game in the second half and 1 of their goals was a complete freak,the Luxembourgers were full value for their win....

[DCWA]

Everything apart from 'Pats should have won' they absolutely shoud not have won,they were blessed to be still in the game in the second half and 1 of their goals was a complete freak,the Luxembourgers were full value for their win....

Ah sorry I didn’t question that part as I didn’t see the game and seen Pat’s were 2-1 up at one stage so made sense that maybe they should’ve won but fair enough.

[paul_oshea]

Everything apart from 'Pats should have won' they absolutely shoud not have won,they were blessed to be still in the game in the second half and 1 of their goals was a complete freak,the Luxembourgers were full value for their win....

I probably should have said "could" there yesterday. Bar the first 20 mins Pats had most of the ball and most of the chances. That Dutch guy was the difference between the two teams really and that proved in the end. They had more than enough of the ball and with a bit more composure and accuracy of delivery they would have. They should have gone ahead(on the night)through Carty he had a free header 6 yards out and no man near him. That goes in there was only going to be one winner - so call it could or should up to you.

[ger121]

There are 2 clubs in Akureyri, it was 2nd division Thor who hammered Bohs, KA are the other club, they are Thor’s bigger brother.
KA are currently in the bottom third of the league, there’s much of a muchness betweeen them and Dundalk but KA are more structured in their play. The game will be played in Reykjavik as KA’s ground is being rebuilt anew. KA will be up for this game as not much else of note happens in their football competitive life and their support will travel in expectation.

Ah ok. Thanks for clarifying. Impressive there are 2 clubs in a small place like Akureyri.

[ger121]

I think so too. But it's just a foot.ie ritual - the only time of year Paul leaves the Ireland forum here.

Sounds like what happens in the real world too. Some Irish fans who only turn their gaze upon the LOI during Europe and then criticise it when it doesn’t live up to their expectations.

[patsdad]

I was at our game home and away. Dudelange deserved to go through, they were the stronger team over the two legs especially in attack.
The big frustration for Pats fans is that after we levelled the tie in the second half last night we had them under the cosh and it was very much in our own hands to go through. Then we gifted it back to them through a double mistake by a centre half playing his third game for us. Their injury time goal is neither here nor there, we were practically playing one at the back at that stage as we had to go for broke.

Mistakes in central defence have been killing us all season. Our first choice centre halves are Joe Redmond and Tom Grivosti, both out injured for the past few months. We have missed them badly.

[pineapple stu]

"All four"?
Are you winding me up?
Should have been Kazakhstan - mis-scanned the line. Aoologies - no back-door return for Glens I'm afraid!

[yurt]

Have to say I really, really enjoyed watching the Pat's game. It was end to end with pieces of quality from both sides and even more mistakes from them too. Dudelange were clearly the better team over the 2 legs but they tried their best to give it to Pat's with the state of the goalkeeping for all 3 goals. When Pat's went 2-1 up on the night I thought there was only one winner from there. That didn't turn out to be the case and in that context I think it is fair to say Pat's should have went through even if I don't think they were the better team.

The last minute winner was such a killer too for those of us who love following the co-efficients like a league table.

Even though the results and performances haven't been good in Europe so far I've never been more bullish on the future of the league. Europe used to be in my be the be all and end all for the LOI. It would be how I would measure the quality of our league and how I would try and ligitimise the league to the barstoolers. But post covid and the attendance boost I don't feel like I need to try and argue the LOI case anymore, Europe is just a fun side-show to me now.

I think it's clear to everyone (including now eventually the FAI which is the main thing) that the biggest thing holding back football in this country is facilities and coaching. Now that there's an actual plan in place to improve on that front I'm more hopeful for the futures than previously hoping than that a club reaching the group stages will somehow fix everything. We already know it won't when Dundalk got there twice and still play in the same Oriel.

[ontheotherhand]

And yet, here you are!

Not for long Ger!

[ontheotherhand]

Finally that back pocket excuse thrown up here for years about budget, resources, conditioning etc can blown out of the water. When theres a co-ordinated push in footballing structures to lobby the government into fundamental investment into the game in Ireland the government are going to look for a bang for their buck. Where's the value in what's being offered? The rest of Europe has caught up and passed LOI out wheres the guarantee to government its going to pay off.

So we shouldn't fund and improve the game because you weren't satisfied with a few European performances? Good stuff. Great to have you contributing again.

[mypost]

Shocking by the VAR team that the ref was required to have a look. It was peno all day long.

What is shocking is that it is the first time a LOI club has had a VAR decision for them. Just 7 years after it was first introduced in the game.

The ref has every right to see for himself what you saw, to help make his decision. Sadly in the LOI, he wouldn't get the opportunity.

Despite the result, Bradley is safe as long as he wins us the league.

[CSAD]

What is shocking is that it is the first time a LOI club has had a VAR decision for them. Just 7 years after it was first introduced in the game.

The ref has every right to see for himself what you saw, to help make his decision. Sadly in the LOI, he wouldn't get the opportunity.

Despite the result, Bradley is safe as long as he wins us the league.

And that’s why it would almost be a good thing in the long run if Rovers don’t win the league. This team needs a clear out and we all know Bradley won’t do that.

[oriel]

Dundalk made quite hard work of that last night, but end of day the outcome was the most important part by miles, get to R2. €550k now min, Derry will get the same.

Europe really is so important for clubs in the absence of any TV deal or govt support.

[oriel]

Watched 6(5-6 two eyes) of the 8 games and its the poorest fare I've seen from a collective set of teams in a long while. It wasn't like the 00s though, that story was quite different 60-70 mins of good organised and disciplined football until the inevitable lapse of concentration or dopiness from one player causing a goal then finishing with a 2 or 3 goal loss. This year was not like that, those lapses were happening from fairly early on.

Rovers performances were insipid and uninspiring they look totally flat and out of ideas. A tired team with tired ideas. That has to come down to the Manager and coaches. What's happening with the underage structure and the conveyor belt of talent coming through. Those Icelandic players looked fitter, stronger, better conditioned and technically superior to anything Rovers could offer.

The less said on Derry and less so Dundalk the better. But both were unbelievably bad and I have high hopes for O'Donnell.

Pats played good football and really should have won last night, Lux players were looking out on their feet as early as the 75th minute. A lot of poor balls by mulraney and a lot of hit and hope crosses into the box.

Out of any players across the teams and games Curtis looked like a good prospect out of all the young(er) players on show but he's too slow same as Ferizaj last year with Rovers and its no surprise to not see him involved this year based off what I said last year. He got so badly exposed by an average dutch striker for that last goal and yes I'm aware hes only 17 but it wasnt just the early sell it was the lack of pace injection that stood out after more.

Finally that back pocket excuse thrown up here for years about budget, resources, conditioning etc can blown out of the water. When theres a co-ordinated push in footballing structures to lobby the government into fundamental investment into the game in Ireland the government are going to look for a bang for their buck. Where's the value in what's being offered? The rest of Europe has caught up and passed LOI out wheres the guarantee to government its going to pay off.

Why? Both went through, plus do you not think teams from Faroes and Gibraltar are not going to have a go at trying to earn 500k +

Who cares about a performance, its all about the results at this stage.

[ontheotherhand]

What is shocking is that it is the first time a LOI club has had a VAR decision for them. Just 7 years after it was first introduced in the game.

The ref has every right to see for himself what you saw, to help make his decision. Sadly in the LOI, he wouldn't get the opportunity.

Despite the result, Bradley is safe as long as he wins us the league.

We disagree on a lot but I genuinely can't believe you'd want VAR in the LoI. I'd rather Sean Grant ref every game than ruin the entire sport.

[Dermobohs]

We disagree on a lot but I genuinely can't believe you'd want VAR in the LoI. I'd rather Sean Grant ref every game than ruin the entire sport.
100%.this all day, I’d never go to a game where the fans can’t celebrate a goal until the tv says it’s ok.if you want var, stay in the pub watching epl or cl or worse again the farce that international rugby has become.

[mypost]

You can celebrate a goal whenever you want. You can even celebrate getting a penalty that is not scored, happens in 1 in every 5 penalties.

What I want is justice on a pitch, not headlines about the wrong decision made by the ref. The officials deserve to be informed about the details of an incident, as much as everyone else. Every serious club and international competition these days has VAR available, so that justice is done when it's supposed to be done. And I'm delighted we got the chance to use it in our European tie. Without it, the result would have been even worse.

[Nesta99]

Glens 10-10 in their shoot-out. Every kick scored so far

Edit - the keepers score too. Has there ever been a shootout where all 22 players scored?

Aaron McCarey scored for Glentoran - ex Dundalk keeper

Drogheda v IK Start(?) I think. It amused at the time when Graham Gartland, Drogs designated penalty taker, missed both his penos.

*misread the above on ALL players scoring rather than the amount of penos needed.

[Dermobohs]

You can celebrate a goal whenever you want. You can even celebrate getting a penalty that is not scored, happens in 1 in every 5 penalties.

What I want is justice on a pitch, not headlines about the wrong decision made by the ref. The officials deserve to be informed about the details of an incident, as much as everyone else. Every serious club and international competition these days has VAR available, so that justice is done when it's supposed to be done. And I'm delighted we got the chance to use it in our European tie. Without it, the result would have been even worse.
Don’t care I’ll never agree that var has a place in football, absolutely robs the tempo .
And the uncertainty is part of the game. As is being on either side of a dodgy call.
Var arrives in loi I’m off.

[pineapple stu]

Drogheda v IK Start(?) I think. It amused at the time when Graham Gartland, Drogs designated penalty taker, missed both his penos.
Well even that didn't have all 22 players score though. It ended 11-10

Edit - an old (2014) Guardian article gives 29 successful kicks as the record, with the 30th missed.

This, with 27 successful kicks in a row, would go in at joint second best of all time in that regard

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/24/epic-penalty-shootouts-longest-most-scored

[Nesta99]

Watched 6(5-6 two eyes)......
Finally that back pocket excuse thrown up here for years about budget, resources, conditioning etc can blown out of the water. When theres a co-ordinated push in footballing structures to lobby the government into fundamental investment into the game in Ireland the government are going to look for a bang for their buck. Where's the value in what's being offered? The rest of Europe has caught up and passed LOI....

You make it sound like LoI was ever ahead of the rest of Europe and been overtaken. Its stating the obvious that there has been chronic neglect of the domestic game here and that has allowed the likes of Icelandic teams to not be underdogs v LoI sides. In that regard your point may be valid. We have seen improvement irrespective of underinvestment imo. That it was generally felt that the draw was favourable for all is based on being closer to European sides is indicative of this rather than arrogance. The leagues ranking hovers around the same yearly bar exceptions but having clubs seeded in early rounds also counters the argument that there is significant disimprovement rather than fairly much things being par for the course.

I dont really know why Rovers underperformed in europe previously bar maybe a conservative tactical approach, but I dont think they were incapable of progressing through the 1st round, they just didnt turn up and looked like they were in preseason and that could be due to them not needing to be sharp and on song week in week out domestically to top the league.

[Nesta99]

Well even that didn't have all 22 players score though. It ended 11-10

Edit - an old (2014) Guardian article gives 29 successful kicks as the record, with the 30th missed.

This, with 27 successful kicks in a row, would go in at joint second best of all time in that regard

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/24/epic-penalty-shootouts-longest-most-scored

Yup, copped the error before reading this post.

[mypost]

Don’t care I’ll never agree that var has a place in football, absolutely robs the tempo .
And the uncertainty is part of the game. As is being on either side of a dodgy call.
Var arrives in loi I’m off.

Everyone says that, and then everyone goes straight back. VAR is essential in football, it is in use in over 100 national competitions, and fans still go to watch them.

Results pay the bills, and it's an outrage that a team's entire season can be destroyed, because the ref didn't have the chance to see what he needs to see, to correct a clearly wrong decision. Unfortunately that's still the case in this league.

[TonyD]

Don’t care I’ll never agree that var has a place in football, absolutely robs the tempo .
And the uncertainty is part of the game. As is being on either side of a dodgy call.
Var arrives in loi I’m off.

Thankfully that day is a long long way in the future. I expect to be pushing up daisies before it arrives (if ever). Absolutely agree with you. I’d rather take my chances on dodgy calls.

[EalingGreen]

I've seen a lot of VAR in English club football, European games and Internationals. During that time, I've seen interventions which have helped my team and those which have helped the opposition. Some decisions rectify a referee's error - occasionally a blatant one - but others overturn what still seems to have been the correct decision by the ref. A percentage of VAR decisions are technically correct, esp with offside, in that they demonstrate that the striker was on or off, if only by a fraction that no on-pitch official could have been expected to detect.

Aside from offside, handball is the other situation where VAR is most prominent. If you look at this in isolation, the recent controversies have not actually been with the technology itself, which almost always tell you whether contact has occurred and usually whether the ball has struck the hand/arm versus the shoulder/back etc. Rather the controversy derives from the rule and (more so) the guidelines issued to assist in the interpretation of the rule eg was the defender adopting "an unnatural body position" etc?

But if you look at this, and VAR generally, in the round, this too is a consequence of the introduction of VAR. For as long as football has been played, we've always demanded greater "consistency" from our refs, by which is meant certainty. Yet the problem is that you can never have complete consistency/certainty while officiating requires an element of judgement on the ref's part eg did the player really mean to foul his opponent or was it a genuine accident? Or did the defender really mean to handle the ball, or did it just hit him and he couldn't get out of the way?

VAR can tell you if and when contact was made eg boot to shin or ball to arm, but it still cannot get inside a player's head, to determine whether he meant to foul or not. Meaning that in the end, it still boils down to human judgement, only judgement is now exercised by some former referee in a studio, rather than the one on the ground.

And after 5(?) years of VAR, I still do not accept that the standard of decision-making is that much better than before it was introduced, or even if it is, that such a marginal gain is worth it when set against the disruption, controversy and delay which follows its operation.

In fact, I absolutely hate it, and consider that whoever thought it up should be shot with a ball of his own dung (as my dear oul dad would have said).

Here endeth the rant for today.

[TonyD]

I've seen a lot of VAR in English club football, European games and Internationals. During that time, I've seen interventions which have helped my team and those which have helped the opposition. Some decisions rectify a referee's error - occasionally a blatant one - but others overturn what still seems to have been the correct decision by the ref. A percentage of VAR decisions are technically correct, esp with offside, in that they demonstrate that the striker was on or off, if only by a fraction that no on-pitch official could have been expected to detect.

Aside from offside, handball is the other situation where VAR is most prominent. If you look at this in isolation, the recent controversies have not actually been with the technology itself, which almost always tell you whether contact has occurred and usually whether the ball has struck the hand/arm versus the shoulder/back etc. Rather the controversy derives from the rule and (more so) the guidelines issued to assist in the interpretation of the rule eg was the defender adopting "an unnatural body position" etc?

But if you look at this, and VAR generally, in the round, this too is a consequence of the introduction of VAR. For as long as football has been played, we've always demanded greater "consistency" from our refs, by which is meant certainty. Yet the problem is that you can never have complete consistency/certainty while officiating requires an element of judgement on the ref's part eg did the player really mean to foul his opponent or was it a genuine accident? Or did the defender really mean to handle the ball, or did it just hit him and he couldn't get out of the way?

VAR can tell you if and when contact was made eg boot to shin or ball to arm, but it still cannot get inside a player's head, to determine whether he meant to foul or not. Meaning that in the end, it still boils down to human judgement, only judgement is now exercised by some former referee in a studio, rather than the one on the ground.

And after 5(?) years of VAR, I still do not accept that the standard of decision-making is that much better than before it was introduced, or even if it is, that such a marginal gain is worth it when set against the disruption, controversy and delay which follows its operation.

In fact, I absolutely hate it, and consider that whoever thought it up should be shot with a ball of his own dung (as my dear oul dad would have said).

Here endeth the rant for today.

Spot on in my view. The real culprit I think is the endless analysis of the TV pundits. They led the charge for this, demanding “greater consistency”. It just gave them talking points to fill in airtime around the games. Of course now they spend as much time debating VAR decisions as they ever did Refereeing decisions. And are no happier with decisions in general.

One of the few advantages of being an impoverished league such as we are is that, as I said earlier, this is highly unlikely to be pointed on us for the foreseeable future.

[EalingGreen]

Spot on in my view. The real culprit I think is the endless analysis of the TV pundits. They led the charge for this, demanding “greater consistency”. It just gave them talking points to fill in airtime around the games. Of course now they spend as much time debating VAR decisions as they ever did Refereeing decisions. And are no happier with decisions in general. There's no doubt that TV pundits, and the media generally, get great mileage out of all this VAR controversy, but I also think we should look towards the role of managers. Think back to the days eg of Sir Alex Ferguson, when he, Wenger and Moyes etc were forever blaming referees after the game for a defeat, safe in the knowledge that the referee could never answer back in public. In particular, they would bang on about the need for "consistency" from referees i.e. "Why was that penalty given today, when another one last week wisnae?" - conveniently overlooking that it was a different incident, involving different players and a different referee in a different game! (But apart from that...)

Oh for the days of the late. great Brian Clough, who always declared: "It was a penalty because the referee said it was" - even when the penalty was given against his team! And it is hardly coincidental that his "Don't argue with the ref/Get on with the game" mantra meant that referees universally agreed that Clough teams* were by far the easist and most enjoyable ones to referee. Which when you consider Cloughie used to employ players like (the notoriously physical) Kenny Burns, or the (notoriously argumentative) Martin O'Neill, is all the more remarkable!


* - Not that their sportsmanship made them any less succesful, it might be noted.

[mypost]

Thankfully that day is a long long way in the future. I expect to be pushing up daisies before it arrives (if ever). Absolutely agree with you. I’d rather take my chances on dodgy calls.

You won't be telling us that when you lose the league/cup/relegated, due to said call.

As for it never to be used here, we were told 10 years ago when Platini ran the sport that we would never have technology available at all. Then he got kicked out of football, and now every major competition has it as standard.

The cup final should have VAR available every year, Lansdowne Road is already fully set up to use it, so there's no excuse not to. As seen during the past couple of weeks, Tallaght is as well. So if the will is there, we can keep up with leagues in other countries or if it's not there, we can fall further behind them.

[mypost]

Spot on in my view. The real culprit I think is the endless analysis of the TV pundits. They led the charge for this, demanding “greater consistency”. It just gave them talking points to fill in airtime around the games. Of course now they spend as much time debating VAR decisions as they ever did Refereeing decisions. And are no happier with decisions in general.

One of the few advantages of being an impoverished league such as we are is that, as I said earlier, this is highly unlikely to be pointed on us for the foreseeable future.

Cawley is one of the many pundits on TV to tell us how much he hates VAR. When analysing one of our live LOI games this season, he complained that a goal that stood should not have been given, as it may have been a tight offside call, telling the viewers that we don't want VAR. 10 seconds later, he berates the officials for rejecting a penalty appeal by the opposition.

That's what happens when you don't have VAR. Wrong decisions happen in almost every single game, and it's just not good enough that with everything at stake, that nothing can be done to make sure the major decisions are correct.

[TonyD]

Cawley is one of the many pundits on TV to tell us how much he hates VAR. When analysing one of our live LOI games this season, he complained that a goal that stood should not have been given, as it may have been a tight offside call, telling the viewers that we don't want VAR. 10 seconds later, he berates the officials for rejecting a penalty appeal by the opposition.

That's what happens when you don't have VAR. Wrong decisions happen in almost every single game, and it's just not good enough that with everything at stake, that nothing can be done to make sure the major decisions are correct.

But there are still plenty of controversial calls made by VAR, so it’s never going to be perfect. I still maintain I’d rather take my chances as it is now.

[Dermobohs]

Everyone says that, and then everyone goes straight back. VAR is essential in football, it is in use in over 100 national competitions, and fans still go to watch them.

Results pay the bills, and it's an outrage that a team's entire season can be destroyed, because the ref didn't have the chance to see what he needs to see, to correct a clearly wrong decision. Unfortunately that's still the case in this league.
No no, you’re not getting me, I me I and I, am not attending any game featuring that ****e.
It’s a personal abhorrence of eliminating human error . Sport, FOR ME, has to be based on spontaneity and a flow to a game. That’s it.

[ontheotherhand]

You won't be telling us that when you lose the league/cup/relegated, due to said call.


This is a League of Ireland forum........

[joey B]

Potentially Club Brugge for Dundalk and FC Basel for Derry if they get through their next round,tough draws ….

[pineapple stu]

You really do hit a wall in the third round alright. Very hard to go further than that - and of course there's still one more tie to win to get into the groups

Winners of Dinamo Tbilisi/Hamrun Spartans for Rovers if they can beat Ferencvaros (which seems unlikely). LoI has never played Georgian opposition before.

[cláirseach]

Well not since independence. They have pre-91. Would be some trip. Tbilisi looks great.

[pineapple stu]

Oh you're right - Waterford v Dinamo Tbilisi in 1980 alright.

Was in Georgia last year; can't recommend the place highly enough. Tbilisi is great, food and wine is lovely, and the countryside is jaw-dropping.

Alas, hard to see Rovers getting there this year, but you never know.

[ger121]

Rovers very unlucky that one of the highest seeds gets dumped out of CL qualifiers and they are drawn to face them. The 2nd round tie is way harder than the 3rd round potential opponents. Just shows you the importance of winning your 1sr round match in CL if you are seeded.

[ontheotherhand]

Rovers very unlucky that one of the highest seeds gets dumped out of CL qualifiers and they are drawn to face them. The 2nd round tie is way harder than the 3rd round potential opponents. Just shows you the importance of winning your 1sr round match in CL if you are seeded.

We made out own bad luck to be fair. But yeah it's a proper kick in the face. And they'll have a new manager bounce as well! What a month.

[pineapple stu]

Swings and roundabouts to an extent - the last time Rovers got knocked out in the first round of the CL, they got one of the two byes at this stage.

[mypost]

No no, you’re not getting me, I me I and I, am not attending any game featuring that ****e.
It’s a personal abhorrence of eliminating human error . Sport, FOR ME, has to be based on spontaneity and a flow to a game. That’s it.

Spontaneity doesn't score a goal or get results. Decisions do, therefore the decisions must be correct, and it can't be denied that there is a better chance of them correct when VAR is available. Diving to win penalties and wrong offside calls have been all but eliminated in the competitions with it. In the LOI though, it hasn't been. 7,000 went to our European game in Tallaght with it. Lansdowne Road is sold out for Ireland games with it. So people will go, as success is more important to them than spontaneity.


This is a League of Ireland forum........

This thread is about the LOI in Europe, where VAR is, (or was in Rovers case) available, of which the benefits of using it were seen for the first time ever, for a LOI club.

[ontheotherhand]

Spontaneity doesn't score a goal or get results. Decisions do, therefore the decisions must be correct, and it can't be denied that there is a better chance of them correct when VAR is available. Diving to win penalties and wrong offside calls have been all but eliminated in the competitions with it. In the LOI though, it hasn't been. 7,000 went to our European game in Tallaght with it. Lansdowne Road is sold out for Ireland games with it. So people will go, as success is more important to them than spontaneity.



This thread is about the LOI in Europe, where VAR is, (or was in Rovers case) available, of which the benefits of using it were seen for the first time ever, for a LOI club.

You're telling LoI fans they will be so upset by a bad decision someday that they will want VAR as if we haven't all already had those bad decisions.

[Hitman]

I for one would love to see controversy completely removed from our game by VAR decisions based on footage from a single Pixellot camera.

[ontheotherhand]

I for one would love to see controversy completely removed from our game by VAR decisions based on footage from a single Pixellot camera.

"it certainly looks like his hand makes contact with the ball, or possibly the bald referee"

[thebronze14]

Well not since independence. They have pre-91. Would be some trip. Tbilisi looks great.

Been there 3 times with Ireland...it's class! I would take seeing Harps play Ballinamallard in Europe or Elgin in the Tunnocks Wafer Cup in my lifetime tbh!!