LoI in Europe 2024

[sbgawa]

Anyone know what the Rapid manager was so mad about at the end as well?


A ball came onto the pitch in added on time and apparantly he was having a go at Bradley about why he or his staff didnt stop it as it went through them, bradley told him he wasnt a ball boy and it kicked on from there. At least thats what the aticle in the mirror said.
I think he also alledged it came from the Rovers subs but bradley was pointing at the crowd.
He was ****ed off not wining more than anything id say,

[placid casual]

Wonderfully enjoyable evening last night.
Rovers looked leggy and negative for the first half but this team has gained confidence playing in Europe, and came out in the 2nd half determined to make their mark. Absolute limbs in the away end when Jonny Kenny scored in front of us.
Ref was dire, including giving a farcical decision to award a peno, thankfully VAR put him firmly in his place.
Watts proving once again why he's the best player in LOI at the moment,and the back 3 were immense.
Memories are made of this.

[2 Year Contract]

As of right now the most likely pairings in the playoff round will be Rovers vs Borac again! Second for rovers is vs Panathinaikos. Obviously things can change but playing them in a knockout game would be a brilliant draw for rovers

https://x.com/fmeetsdata/status/1862453134347706704?s=46

[Buckett]

Congrats to Rovers, I can only imagine how much ye were buzzing after that last night.
How do ye manage off/pre season now? You'd imagine there'll be a bit of a burnout during next season at some point

[nigel-harps1954]

Congrats to Rovers, I can only imagine how much ye were buzzing after that last night.
How do ye manage off/pre season now? You'd imagine there'll be a bit of a burnout during next season at some point

2 weeks off for Christmas and straight back in to it, you'd have to imagine.

[sbgawa]

Congrats to Rovers, I can only imagine how much ye were buzzing after that last night.
How do ye manage off/pre season now? You'd imagine there'll be a bit of a burnout during next season at some point

Its a fair point but half our team has been injured for long parts of the season, McEneff has hardly played and was ruled out yesterday for the rest of the seaaon, Clarke , Farrugia, Gaffney, Burke, Byrne , Hoare all very lightly raced so it might not be as big an issue as we think.

[nr637]

What does Rovers progress in the Euro Conference Cup mean for our coefficient figure?

[Buckett]

Ya I suppose, not too much different to squads that have to deal with the majority of their players returning after a world cup or euros

[Acornvilla]

What does Rovers progress in the Euro Conference Cup mean for our coefficient figure?
A great year for the parish. We're currently 32nd overall if I'm not mistaken, Europa League qualifying spot for FAI cup winners from 2026 onwards secured in the short term. Would need a second club to start making group stages to make great lengths beyond that probably, or 1 club to do what Rovers currently are every single season. The gap from 30th or so upwards gets pretty wide, a few years of the new formats might significantly shift the meta thou, so we'll have to see.

[pesky]

Just wondering what is the minimum prize money Rovers will get this season, including additional money for winning and drawing games in the group stage ?

[Martinho II]

Delighted with Rovers performance still trying to get used to new format based on where they are what are their realistic options now?

[Buller]

Delighted with Rovers performance still trying to get used to new format based on where they are what are their realistic options now?

Just imagine it's a giant LOI table, and Chelsea are Derry City, and the top 8 spots are like European places!

[Nesta99]

Well done to rovers. It is good for the league to have glass ceilings broken. When we have clubs doing this regularly then we can have league and cup like emnity but these moments imo are rising tides can lift all boats moments and so should be lauded by all. Ive been critical of Bradley's reserved approach to Europe but credit where its due he has made the most of the group stage, pressure was off but there was expectation with TNS and Larne draw. It shows that even with lesser team ability you can get results with disciplined and calamity free performances like last night. Ifs and buts but Dundalk in 2016 dropped EL group points due to eh keeper calamity v Zenit and missing sitters, at least 2 points were let slip by silly errors that campaign, 2 points that could have meant getting out of an EL group. Rovers stood pretty much steadfast under sustained pressure and it wasnt helter skelter backs to the wall, just difficult to break down. Assuming that there isnt an unfortunate twist that keeps them out of getting through the group it is setting a new bar and with attendances, money increasingly going toward infrastructure improvement well for the worst quality league season ever it is a golden age for LoI and maybe the golden age or its beginnings. Even the new LCC CEO's background is the development and management of the National Sports Campus so maybe even County Louth could see progress on facilities in the coming years....

[LTFC]

Incredible achievement by Rovers, guaranteed to make it through group now and possible seeded. I dont know if many of lads who were with Rovers from some of their darkest days are still involved, but if they are they should take enormous pride now in where there club is today, a far cry from KRAM.

On a note of caution, I hope that their experience of group stage football before this season has tightened up the bonus system. The figure that I was reliably told that 1 Dundalk player received would give a fair indication of how quickly a large sum can be reduced, which I put down to naivety and inexperience on the clubs part.

[Calcio Jack]

Incredible achievement by Rovers, guaranteed to make it through group now and possible seeded. I dont know if many of lads who were with Rovers from some of their darkest days are still involved, but if they are they should take enormous pride now in where there club is today, a far cry from KRAM.

On a note of caution, I hope that their experience of group stage football before this season has tightened up the bonus system. The figure that I was reliably told that 1 Dundalk player received would give a fair indication of how quickly a large sum can be reduced, which I put down to naivety and inexperience on the clubs part.

My understanding is that one individual when signing up with Dundalk (when they were dicing with relegation) had a clause in his contract that guaranteed him 20% of nett European monies and that plus what the players and other staff received reduced hugely the monies earned.

Our players/staff ( deservedly) are on decent bonuses but nothing like the above .

[placid casual]

Never mind all that Nesta Rovers were lucky to get here due to vikingur missing that peno, eh stu!

[LTFC]

My understanding is that one individual when signing up with Dundalk (when they were dicing with relegation) had a clause in his contract that guaranteed him 20% of nett European monies and that plus what the players and other staff received reduced hugely the monies earned.

Our players/staff ( deservedly) are on decent bonuses but nothing like the above .

Ta Calcio, yes thats the learning that a club needs, either through being there before or from other clubs. Of course players deserve a bonus, but within reason.

Not withstanding the 2023 losses, if the prize money for this season is included in 2024 accounts Rovers will turnover close to 8m in the year. Wonder what impact on what Wilson and Desmond put in - I would impagine there long term thinking was for the club to generate its own revenues.

That 8m would be more than the 10 clubs in First Division combined!

[Nesta99]

My understanding is that one individual when signing up with Dundalk (when they were dicing with relegation) had a clause in his contract that guaranteed him 20% of nett European monies and that plus what the players and other staff received reduced hugely the monies earned.

Our players/staff ( deservedly) are on decent bonuses but nothing like the above .

Are we referring to Mr Zahibo again? Any European clause is the least baffleing of that cnut's contract, the idiocy of whomever insisted in the signing (not a football person) and the agent that saw a mug for a mug from miles off. That said the rumours are contested on this. That does not mean that a large amount of winnings did go to player bonuses. Its not unusual that there is a natural inflation of wage budgest with league winnings teams when winning year on year, its a norm and new signings demands are inflated especially if a club has banked say €3m from Europe and they know a club is flush. From what Ive heard 20% of a gross figure was divied up among the squad. The dispute with Zahibo on European bonuses is not contained to the season he played in Europe supposedly. The amount that SK alone banked in European bonuses was more than the players, 6 figures sort of stuff but nobody is able to say if that was in total from 2013 to leaving or whether it was from 2016. Imo there is some selective 'reporting' with omissions of relevant detail to spin some things retrospectively in a negative way as cover for the off field people/person that were involved pre, during and post P6 in various roles and are now ummm....estranged from the club.

It is a genuine issue for any club though. Rovers will be very attractive to players they are looking to sign, but those players will want their significant piece of the financial success. It can break wage structures and escalate costs that a season or 2 off the boil and miss Europe and a club is under pressure with multi-year contracts. Id like to see more performance related bonuses that include a wage drop for non qualification for Europe - that players arent all win win. If they sign based on top wages due to success that if they dont perform that they take responsibility in their pocket and not just roll out a few platitudes for the beneft of fans.

[Nesta99]

Never mind all that Nesta Rovers were lucky to get here due to vikingur missing that peno, eh stu!

Well it is kind of true, a sliding door moment where if that peno went in an leveled the tie (which rovers could still have won) we'd be talking about fan ownership being seriously under threat due to financial losses. But its an irrelevance and thats football, luck can win World Cups or send the best side packing so ride yer luck. Id consider BATE away in 2016 as lucky to be still in the tie but we made the luck count as Rovers have now done and that deserves credit.

[Dermobohs]

You have to get a bit of luck, not a single 90 minutes I’d decided on your own efforts, rub of the green has to go your way.
Credit to Stephen Bradley , any time shams have had a big slice of luck, he’s capitalised on it , they haven’t won 4 leagues and consistently been at the top in Ireland, competitive in their European ties on pure luck.
Very impressive imo

[pineapple stu]

Never mind all that Nesta Rovers were lucky to get here due to vikingur missing that peno, eh stu!
Is that me? You don't think there was an element of luck in Viking missing a 90th minute penalty against a Rovers side down to 10 men and losing the plot?

That said, Dundalk and Shels were similarly lucky to have their great runs in 2016 and 2004 after scraping past Icelandic sides on away goals. It doesn't diminish what happened next. It's part of the game.

The games against APOEL and Rapid do seem different to recent years though in that Rovers didn't collapse after a poor start; is Bradley's team finally finding a bit of Euro backbone?

The problem of course is this pushes the LoI dangerously close to the FAI's target of 30th in the UEFA standings - with the FAI not having done a huge amount about it. (Well, there's 3.625 points to go, but 31st is a possibility, which sounds close). Bad form there, Rovers... :p

Be interesting too to see how Shels do in this next year - and how Rovers (and Drogheda of course) do in the Conference next season. Or even how Pat's do in the CL the year after next!

[oriel]

Is that me? You don't think there was an element of luck in Viking missing a 90th minute penalty against a Rovers side down to 10 men and losing the plot?

That said, Dundalk and Shels were similarly lucky to have their great runs in 2016 and 2004 after scraping past Icelandic sides on away goals. It doesn't diminish what happened next. It's part of the game.

The games against APOEL and Rapid do seem different to recent years though in that Rovers didn't collapse after a poor start; is Bradley's team finally finding a bit of Euro backbone?

The problem of course is this pushes the LoI dangerously close to the FAI's target of 30th in the UEFA standings - with the FAI not having done a huge amount about it. (Well, there's 3.625 points to go, but 31st is a possibility, which sounds close). Bad form there, Rovers... :p

Be interesting too to see how Shels do in this next year - and how Rovers (and Drogheda of course) do in the Conference next season. Or even how Pat's do in the CL the year after next!


100% spot on, we were 2-3 down at one stage and going out v FH in 2016, ended up 3-3 and we missed a pen, lucky away goals still a thing then. Also FH was the only game that season in Europe that we were favs to win, and still didn't - it was 1-1 at home! Just shows fine margins.

Skip to BATE away, we were absolutely battered in the second half away, Rogers must had a min of 4 one on one shuts outs, seem to recall Gannon also playing a stormer with some last ditch tackles, how we only lost that 0-1 was beyond me, anyway it set it up nicely for the return leg and the 3-0 win.

[Nesta99]

Keeper 'Shut outs' Oriel? P6 influlence might be lingering more than we thought;)

[placid casual]

Excuse my obvious ignorance on this subject, in regards to next season's European games- it's been awhile since Rovers have been involved in the nether regions of European qualification , but why do the cup winner's have a "better" qualifying position than the team that finishes 2nd, or even 3rd for that matter?

[Buckett]

Because they won something

[placid casual]

A valid point. Thanks for clarifying

[pateen]

Expecting Thursdays game to go close to a sell out ... or am I way off. Tis silly season after all.

[Nesta99]

You'd hope that it would be close, its another huge game, winnable albeit needs another good performance, important to really drive home the success of this group stage, last home game of the year so party like. So yeah hopefully, but about 6-7k is probably more likely if being conservative on a school night.

[placid casual]

The normal kick off time should help numbers as the disastrous 5.45pm kick off time against TNS really hindered attendance imo.
Hopeful of getting 7.5K and if the weather is amenable it could entice a fair few walk ups.
It should be a belter of a game anyway.

[legendz]

Excuse my obvious ignorance on this subject, in regards to next season's European games- it's been awhile since Rovers have been involved in the nether regions of European qualification , but why do the cup winner's have a "better" qualifying position than the team that finishes 2nd, or even 3rd for that matter?


Because they won something

If the LoI climbs high enough for the cup winners to qualify for the Europa League, the greater reward for winning the cup should gain a higher profile.

[A N Mouse]

Excuse my obvious ignorance on this subject, in regards to next season's European games- it's been awhile since Rovers have been involved in the nether regions of European qualification , but why do the cup winner's have a "better" qualifying position than the team that finishes 2nd, or even 3rd for that matter?

Here the access list for this year
https://kassiesa.net/uefa/AccessList2024.html

As said above
If country ranking is high enough then cup winners start in EL, they would also get a second bite in the conference.

There some shuffling the deckchairs depending on where last season's European winners are. Am sure there something on Bert's sure about next year but having to allow for Russia pretty much guaranteed drogs in EL.

The downside to having team start in EL is less chance of favourable draw so could contribute zero to coefficient. But then so far season where all our teams contribute have been few and far between

[legendz]

Is the league ranked 35th on the 25/26 access list? That's the PDF that I've seen. Is the EL spot a possibility for the following season?

[A N Mouse]

Is the league ranked 35th on the 25/26 access list? That's the PDF that I've seen. Is the EL spot a possibility for the following season?

Apologies I get confused about the years. Yeah you're correct this year is based on 2023 country (2024 club), so we're 36, next year is based on 2024 we're 35. Currently sitting at 32 for this year which would mean cup winners start in EL.

I don't know if there a permutation of winners and accounting for russians that's sees 35 start in Europa League, think it's doubtful.

[pateen]

The normal kick off time should help numbers as the disastrous 5.45pm kick off time against TNS really hindered attendance imo.
Hopeful of getting 7.5K and if the weather is amenable it could entice a fair few walk ups.
It should be a belter of a game anyway.

Weather looking good now so hopefully a few more though the gate

[WeAreRovers]

The normal kick off time should help numbers as the disastrous 5.45pm kick off time against TNS really hindered attendance imo.
Hopeful of getting 7.5K and if the weather is amenable it could entice a fair few walk ups.
It should be a belter of a game anyway.

6,100 at TNS which, as you say, was a disastrous KO time - missed the first 15 minutes myself due to traffic. Over 6,000 sold already for Thursday so 7,500 not an unreasonable estimate.

[D24Saint]

6,100 at TNS which, as you say, was a disastrous KO time - missed the first 15 minutes myself due to traffic. Over 6,000 sold already for Thursday so 7,500 not an unreasonable estimate.

Good numbers considering the cold weather and Thursday not being ideal for some.

[legendz]

Good numbers considering the cold weather and Thursday not being ideal for some.
Is cold weather and being a Thursday a good reason?

[Nesta99]

No its not really but it is a reality. Rain in many other grounds too but shouldnt be for Tallaght, the bestest ground in the league. Thursday's traditionally werent an issue for Dundalk domestically, less young kids running around the place but i'd have seen that as a positive. The league domestically or in Europe unless a real top drawer oposition isnt big enough yet for relatively small issues to knock a chunk off gates. Im not sure we'd ever get to league cup on a tuesday night possibility of selling out, away sections too as can happen in England. What would have been interesting is if this was a make or break, get out of the group or not game, what the comparison would be. But we are being greedy!! If you had said 6k at a game even in Europe that isnt a bar stoolers wet dream a few years back it'd get more coverage than the game itself. Tallaght has its own little micro climate that could freeze you in July, Carlisle Grounds the same!

[legendz]

I take your point. At the same time, Tallaght should be packed to rafters celebrating Shamrock Rovers great success in qualifying beyond Christmas. Getting to 11 points should ensure being seeded for the knockout playoffs or whatever UEFA are calling that Round of 16 playoff.

[pateen]

Why is it limited to 7500? Surely they don't need to make 2000 seats unavailable if they bring 500?

[pateen]

Anyone have a link for tonight's game .... pleeease

[yurt]

Great start from Rovers. They look the better team but think they'll need to push for a second or third to put the game out of sight.

Looks to be the most evenly matched game in the league phase so far.

[Acornvilla]

They've been really good again. Sitting 7th overall on the live table which is pretty incredible at this stage.

[Nesta99]

Bradley should reframe Rovers 2024 season as working to peak for European group phase to create the war chest to refresh things, on this occasion the league would have been a bonus and they nearly pulled it off. Football genius he'd be and not a coach that couldnt get a talented squad firing for 75% of the season with a boardroom split on the future.

Impressive stuff again tonight from Rovers, maybe they can give Chelsea a bit of a rattle for a while. Keep it going, get the points, and it would be bonkers to even be in with a shout of skipping the play-off last 32 or whatever its called. Im stuck unable to go get somewhere that I could watch the second half so I'll ask for pateen again if someone has a totally legitimate live stream?!

[ger121]

2 nil now

[pateen]

Some going. Not a cracker but Rovers playing it tight

[legendz]

2-0. Rovers in the driving seat at the moment.

[texidub]

3-0 up and 6th in the table now... fantastic

[Acornvilla]

Kenny's finish for the 3rd was excellent, the defending was terrible but timed his run well, wonder where he'll end up.

[nigel-harps1954]

Brilliant from Shamrock Rovers and Johnny Kenny been superb again tonight.