LoI in Europe 2024

[yurt]

Obviously a great night tonight, though I'm struggling to work out how much it was us finally performing or Vaduz just being abysmal

I think you can definitely look at that glass half full. Vaduz were poor in spells but no worse that any other LOI side. Pat's still had to go and capitalise on the opportunities and they did. I'd pair Vaduz closest to Vikingur, standard wise, out of the all the other opposition the LOI have faced this year and Pat's dominated them for the most part and got the result to reflect that.

The few times I've saw Pats this season Palmer has seriously impressed me. Seems like he can do an awful lot of parts to the game well. Can win the ball back, dribble and doesn't seem to lose it that often.

[Another Bohemia]

I think you can definitely look at that glass half full. Vaduz were poor in spells but no worse that any other LOI side. Pat's still had to go and capitalise on the opportunities and they did. I'd pair Vaduz closest to Vikingur, standard wise, out of the all the other opposition the LOI have faced this year and Pat's dominated them for the most part and got the result to reflect that.

The few times I've saw Pats this season Palmer has seriously impressed me. Seems like he can do an awful lot of parts to the game well. Can win the ball back, dribble and doesn't seem to lose it that often.

Vaduz' defending for Pats 2nd goal was a perfect example of this seasons LOI defending. Id say they are about the same level as an LOI side.

[2 Year Contract]

The few times I've saw Pats this season Palmer has seriously impressed me. Seems like he can do an awful lot of parts to the game well. Can win the ball back, dribble and doesn't seem to lose it that often.

Yeah he’s a serious player that shows flashes of being a level above this league. His first touch for example is absolutely top notch. He was coming off the back of a bad injury when signed so he’s been building up fitness and tends to tire late on in games but if he can get that full match fitness back he’s a massive asset if Pats can manage to sign him up on a permanent deal

[Philosophizer]

I thought the same about Palmer - very impressive. Incredible that Pats got him tbh. 2 full seasons as a starter in Championship and a season in Turkish top flight - he belongs at a level above LOI really.

[D24Saint]

I thought the same about Palmer - very impressive. Incredible that Pats got him tbh. 2 full seasons as a starter in Championship and a season in Turkish top flight - he belongs at a level above LOI really.

Id say it was his injury problems that brought him to us. He must have been given guarantees that would get time to recuperate and get his game back on track. I’m not sure if he is still in contract with the Turkish club but I don’t see him playing in the LOI next season. He could easily play SPL or championship in England etc when fully fit.

[Jack B]

I think you can definitely look at that glass half full. Vaduz were poor in spells but no worse that any other LOI side. Pat's still had to go and capitalise on the opportunities and they did. I'd pair Vaduz closest to Vikingur, standard wise, out of the all the other opposition the LOI have faced this year and Pat's dominated them for the most part and got the result to reflect that.

The few times I've saw Pats this season Palmer has seriously impressed me. Seems like he can do an awful lot of parts to the game well. Can win the ball back, dribble and doesn't seem to lose it that often.

All fair! Agree on Palmer, I'm guessing even when in match day squads he's struggled to ever be fully fit this season because otherwise I can't see why he wouldn't be one of the first names in the team. He's a good player technically and that's what his reputation was when he arrived, but I've mostly been surprised by how excellent he is at pulling out tackles from nowhere, winning duels etc. Would be happy if we could keep hold of him permanently and he was able to get up to speed.

[Buckett]

Why hasn't Kazeem featured for ye yet? Decent left back

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Why hasn't Kazeem featured for ye yet? Decent left back

Made one appearance off the bench but picked up a bit of an injury

[joey B]

Shels fined €21,250 by UEFA for fan behaviour in Gibraltar - primarily because their fans outraged the locals by singing ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’ Per Dan McDonnell …..

[holidaysong]

Derry fans were singing 'You're Spanish and you know you are' in their game over there. It came across clearly on the commentary. Strange that only one of those gets a fine.

[Acornvilla]

Half their squad was Spanish tbf :D

[Jamesie]

If Putin isn’t an obscure player that nobody has heard of then it shouldn't be discussed on the site. There is enough of this crap online these days.

Very true...I didn't bring up the topic in the first place

[ger121]

Derry fans were singing 'You're Spanish and you know you are' in their game over there. It came across clearly on the commentary. Strange that only one of those gets a fine.

They couldn’t understand what the Derry fans were saying.

[total hoofball]

This "I'm offended" era is summed up by Shelbourne the club who was subject to the opposition's cynical cheating, sabotaging of streaming for their fans and opposition players trying to disfigure Sean Boyd being the ones landed with a whopping fine but we see lunacy likes this from the FAI why would we expect UEFA to be any different or worse. It makes it even more hilarious most of the St. Joseph's players/coaches/staff are Spanish and all of them including the local players were all speaking to each other in the Spanish language

Precedent is set now for the banning of any "Northern Ireland is Irish" chants anywhere

[Philosophizer]

If St Joseph’s wanna behave like big babies then Shels should do exactly the same. I saw photos of a lad associated with the club making shooting gestures at the Shels crowd. That should be an even a bigger fine!

[Nesta99]

Inconsistency on these things is what really bugs people but maybe it was St Joesophs that complained. Ironically its Derry that get that type of abuse from visitors to the Brandywell. Maybe its unfair to to say that it is hardly a major slur, actually seems like more tongue in cheek banter. Its like Dundalk getting fined for one peron having an internationally regocnised national flag, and another club flying the other sides internationally recognised flag and was ignored. Like the PIRA highjacked the Irish tricolour and sued it over dead member coffins so shouldnt it have been a frowned upon national flag, like wise Union flag like wise any flags that are all political in some way.

[TonyD]

Vaduz' defending for Pats 2nd goal was a perfect example of this seasons LOI defending. Id say they are about the same level as an LOI side.

Nice to see n Irish team be the beneficiaries of that kind of defensive error for once, and to take advantage of it fairly clinically. It’s usually the other way around. For their goal, maybe Mason Melia could have done a bit better, but it wouldn’t really come down for him. Let’s just not give them any presents next week.

[EalingGreen]

Shels fined €21,250 by UEFA for fan behaviour in Gibraltar - primarily because their fans outraged the locals by singing ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’ Per Dan McDonnell …..

Morata & Rodri charged for 'Gibraltar is Spanish' chant

Uefa has opened "disciplinary proceedings" against Spain captain Alvaro Morata and team-mate Rodri after they chanted "Gibraltar is Spanish" during their Euro 2024 victory celebrations.

Morata and Rodri have now been charged with "general principles of conduct, violating the basic rules of decent conduct, using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature, and bringing the sport of football, and Uefa in particular, into disrepute".
More here, incl video: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c729r8py9yeo

[EalingGreen]

Inconsistency on these things is what really bugs people but maybe it was St Joesophs that complained.Or maybe someone from the Gibraltar FA?

For it was just such a protest which caused UEFA to act against Morata and Rodri in the preceeding post.

[D24Saint]

Or maybe someone from the Gibraltar FA?

For it was just such a protest which caused UEFA to act against Morata and Rodri in the preceeding post.

I’d say it was your man who heads up the GFA Llamas. I seen an interview recently with him giving off about the Spanish players.

[Another Bohemia]

I’d say it was your man who heads up the GFA Llamas. I seen an interview recently with him giving off about the Spanish players.

Could have been anyone really. Even if there was a UEFA delegate in attendance they could also raise it. I find this whole thing pretty funny. Ultimately it's a nothing offence but given how many Irish people act when the term British Isles is used or when an Irish sportsperson is claimed to be British it feels like a chickens coming home to roost moment.

[EalingGreen]

Could have been anyone really. Even if there was a UEFA delegate in attendance they could also raise it.Good point. There definitely will have been a UEFA Observer there and if they pick up on anything like that, they are obliged to report it to HQ.

And UEFA will normally feel obliged to act, since they cannot be overlooking some chants but clamping down on others, since where do you draw the line between "funny" and "offensive"? Esp since some chants could be argued to be both, depending on which end of the stadium you're in.

[EatYerGreens]

Precedent is set now for the banning of any "Northern Ireland is Irish" chants anywhere

Has anyone actually chanted this, ever?

[EatYerGreens]

Could have been anyone really. Even if there was a UEFA delegate in attendance they could also raise it. I find this whole thing pretty funny. Ultimately it's a nothing offence but given how many Irish people act when the term British Isles is used or when an Irish sportsperson is claimed to be British it feels like a chickens coming home to roost moment.

Indeed. They're would be plenty moaning if an Irish team had 'Ireland is British' etc chanted at them.

The ultimate irony in all of this is that Spain has not one, not two, but THREE of its very own versions of Gibraltar = bits of Morocco that it has held since colonial times and refuses to hand over. Yet you never hear about those amongst the Spanish wanging on about Gibraltar.

[EatYerGreens]

Good point. There definitely will have been a UEFA Observer there and if they pick up on anything like that, they are obliged to report it to HQ.

And UEFA will normally feel obliged to act, since they cannot be overlooking some chants but clamping down on others, since where do you draw the line between "funny" and "offensive"? Esp since some chants could be argued to be both, depending on which end of the stadium you're in.

I suspect it'll be beacuse the chant fell into the category of being political, not about whether it was funny or offensive. UEFA gets very antsy about political stuff in football - especially when it's about territorial claims (e.g Kosovo/Albania/Serbia).

[EalingGreen]

I suspect it'll be beacuse the chant fell into the category of being political, not about whether it was funny or offensive. UEFA gets very antsy about political stuff in football - especially when it's about territorial claims (e.g Kosovo/Albania/Serbia).Oh I agree, but it's the political element which leads to the "offensive" charge.

Still quite funny, mind.

[total hoofball]

Has anyone actually chanted this, ever?
I dunno, maybe the Derry fans will let us know if the Bruno's Magpies ultras were chanting 'Northern Ireland is British' at the Brandywell a couple of weeks ago

[TonyD]

I dunno, maybe the Derry fans will let us know if the Bruno's Magpies ultras were chanting 'Northern Ireland is British' at the Brandywell a couple of weeks ago

So what if they were ? I really think this whole thing is nonsense. I would hope that in that case Derry fans wouldn’t be clutching their collective pearls and crying about it. For Gods sake, I’ve heard “What’s it like to serve the Queen ?” Sung at Derry fans, in LOI games. There’s a clear difference between someone chanting something that’s clearly an incitement to hatred, and something which is par for the course between football supporters, i.e winding your opponents up. The day we lose that from the game will be a sad day.

Actually, I also remember Pats fans singing “What’s it like to serve the Queen ? “ at Linfield fans when we played them at Richmond in the Setanta cup many moons ago, which I think was missing the point by a few miles ;)

[EatYerGreens]

I dunno, maybe the Derry fans will let us know if the Bruno's Magpies ultras were chanting 'Northern Ireland is British' at the Brandywell a couple of weeks ago

Did they have enough fans there to even raise a chant?

[yurt]

Hard to see Rovers not conceding at least as many goals as last week and it's even harder to see them scoring given the Kenny injury.

The most optimistic view would be to get to half time scoreless and nick one down stretch and set up a grandstand finish.

A real shame they didn't stick in one of those great chances last week. Would have upped their chance from 1% to maybe 5%.

[ger121]

Hard to see Rovers not conceding at least as many goals as last week and it's even harder to see them scoring given the Kenny injury.

The most optimistic view would be to get to half time scoreless and nick one down stretch and set up a grandstand finish.

A real shame they didn't stick in one of those great chances last week. Would have upped their chance from 1% to maybe 5%.

Even a draw would be a hell of a result. Kenny a big loss for them. Think as they like to say on that Rovers Podcast, they’ll be getting a tonking. 4-0 to Sparta.

[Acornvilla]

Any sort of result for the coefficient would be amazing, but that chance really passed with the home leg. Could see Rovers rest people for the weekend. Maybe Prague will take them lightly themselves but I doubt it given what's on the line for them too. They might take it handy and Rovers keep it close, or it could be a hammering, would be pretty amazed if they even got a draw tbh.

I could see Shels being more likely of scraping a draw, just because Zurich don't need to win and I'm sure will take it handy. Huge gulf in class of course but Shelbourne have that mad almost 20 year run unbeaten at home to defend and it's such a rare occasion for them I'm sure they'll be up for it, with a fine crowd, could be a long night if they rest lads as well thou.

I'd take any sort of result that gets Pats through tbh, even thou there's probably nothing to fear and could win the away leg if they show up, we have so many LOI stories of mad away defeats, can't take anything for granted :D

[sbgawa]

Strong rovers team named. Absolute stupidity with waterford on Friday.

[ger121]

Strong rovers team named. Absolute stupidity with waterford on Friday.

Becoming a habit with your manager.

[sbgawa]

OK donthe sensible thing now and get Farrugia and Clarke off. Let's not compound the stupidity from here.

[ger121]

OK donthe sensible thing now and get Farrugia and Clarke off. Let's not compound the stupidity from here.

Or is it!

[sbgawa]

Not a chance in hell. Sparta are levels above us.

[ger121]

Maybe you’re right.

[sbgawa]

The draw for the playoff round of the conference league is Monday.
We need a win in Waterford and a decent draw in Europe for the playoff and we can try to push on.

[ger121]

Great goal by Greene none the less. He has been one of the few highlights this season for Rovers.

[Philosophizer]

Couple of very promising openings for rovers in the past few minutes. They just couldn’t get a shot off on both occasions…

[nigel-harps1954]

Think Rovers have done okay in that first half, given the obvious gulf in quality. A well taken goal and should have been 2-1 up with that Farrugia effort.

As the game goes on, Sparta will surely take the foot off the gas and Rovers might sneak an unlikely draw.

[ger121]

The draw for the playoff round of the conference league is Monday.
We need a win in Waterford and a decent draw in Europe for the playoff and we can try to push on.

I think you can really push Celje all the way. Assuming of course they don’t somehow win tonight.

[ger121]

They’ll be looking for a performance going into ELQ3 tie. Playing week in week out at a higher level stands to you and Rovers have been decent enough across the 4 games.

[joey B]

Excellent finish from Greene even if it’ll matter little…..

[ger121]

Flora going to ET against the San Marino side Virtus. They were leading twice in that one. Flora also down to 10 too.

[texidub]

what a match! :)

[dundalkfc10]

Rovers defending from set pieces has been a disgrace. Goalie doesn't give out confidence at all either

They could be well in this tie only for comical defending as they are playing well enough

[Philosophizer]

Prague could have scored 3 times there. They’ll have to settle for one.

Just goes to show they can almost raise the level at will when they need to.

[sbgawa]

Rovers defending from set pieces has been a disgrace. Goalie doesn't give out confidence at all either

They could be well in this tie only for comical defending as they are playing well enough

Pohls has been at the club 5 years its a surprise to no one he is so poor.