LoI in Europe 2024

[DCSIL]

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[pateen]

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Top man DCSIL ... and Clair

[yurt]

Looks like it'll be a long night.

At least they've made it 13 minutes without conceding. Although it seems like it's minutes away

[pineapple stu]

Fairly young team from Chelsea - Acheampong (18), Casadei (21) and George (18) haven't played a league game all season, while Guiu (18) has played once. A lot of similar players (Rak-Sakhi, Dyer, Vale) on the bench. 9 changes from the last league game (Madueke and Cucurella the only two left) - but it's a similar enough sort of Chelsea team to their last Conference League game in Astana.

[yurt]

Wow. Kenny fluffed a massive chance with what seemed like the first time Rovers had possession in the Chelsea half.

Hard to see them creating any better chances this evening.

[pineapple stu]

Livescore showing 87% possession for Chelsea. That's hardly right, is it?

(Not expecting Rovers to get much of the ball, but more than 13% all the same!)

Edit - TNS take the lead away to Celje in a battle of Rovers' former opponents this campaign.

[pineapple stu]

1-0 down. Guiu with the goal - scored within 23 seconds of his Barcelona debut last year when still only 17. Also scored in the Champions League for them last season, and that's his fourth goal in the Conference League for Chelsea. Just shows you what you're up against even against Chelsea's kids.

[DCSIL]

Get in!

[pineapple stu]

Jaysus - Poom equalises within minutes!

[Calcio Jack]

Jaysus - Poom equalises within minutes!

Both Burns and Cleary should be flogged and incarcerated for their crimes tonight… utter idiots

[nigel-harps1954]

Proper LOI in Europe behaviour

[Calcio Jack]

Both Burns and Cleary should be flogged and incarcerated for their crimes tonight… utter idiots

Update add Pohls to the above

[passinginterest]

Update add Pohls to the above

I’d put a lot of the Burns one on Pohls too. No idea where Pohls thought he was going. Burns really headed it to exactly where you’d expect him to but Pohls ran into no man’s land.

Rovers have defended the box well other than those mistakes. Makes it all the more frustrating. Mad thing is despite hardly having the ball Rovers almost scored twice and managed to equalise.

It’s looking likely to get messy with that third though.

[brendy_éire]

Proper LOI in Europe behaviour

It is. Such poor stuff. Otherwise, Rovers have been decent. Must be so frustrating.

[DCSIL]

Oh well was interesting for a few mins. Hope they can do a Southampton v Spurs second half

[pineapple stu]

First half goals. Touch of the Phil Babbs of the opener. And yeah, you can't be gifting Chelsea of all teams goals like the first and the third.

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[Calcio Jack]

Update add Pohls to the above

And another error from Cleary…

[MoydowMonty]

Just like what happened against Spurs in 2011. Scored a deflected goal and then conceded 3 straight after. Ah well

[cláirseach]

Cleary is miles off it, which isn't surprising to anyone who watches him regularly. All of the flaws are visible in his domestic performances too whether he gets punished for it or not.

Burns playing everyone onside for no reason other than ballwatching at the third too.

[ger121]

Cleary always has it in him to do a clanger in Europe.

[MichaelCherrito]

At this point, if either Jagiellonia or Heidenheim concede a goal, Rovers are on the top eight.

With no more goals from the teams behind them(Cercle B. Apoel or Olimpia).

[pineapple stu]

Looking at the draw for the next round, and with Rovers in 10th, they'd face either Mlada Boleslav or Omonia Nicosia next, with the second leg in Tallaght.

If they drop a place, they face either Istanbul BFK (who beat Pats) or Borac (I don't see any mention on wiki that they can't draw them again having met in the league stage)

Edit - Istanbul concede and Celje score, so it's now Celje/Borac if Rovers drop a place to 11th (or even 12th)

[pineapple stu]

At this point, if either Jagiellonia or Heidenheim concede a goal, Rovers are on the top eight.

With no more goals from the teams behind them(Cercle B. Apoel or Olimpia).

They'd need both to concede surely?

[MichaelCherrito]

Currently ninth ahead of Apoel on goals scored, I think. Both +3 on GD.

[MichaelCherrito]

Now that Cercle B. have scored they need both to concede(The Poles & the Germans)

[pineapple stu]

Yes, but they're in tenth so need two teams to drop points to get to eighth?

Edit - Jagellonia are playing Olimpia Ljubljana, who would move ahead of Rovers if they took the lead, so Rovers can't come top eighth I think

[rebelmusic]

We'd take Borac again surely? Looking at the table and Chelsea's goal difference it does seem a bit ridiculous that they're allowed in this league considering it's their second string team that's been playing. I know there's probably no way around it but surely half of the europa teams would be less competitive than them

[2 Year Contract]

Larne beating Gent is a mad one. A win for Gent would’ve put them in the top 8. They’re currently 17th now

[pineapple stu]

Looking at the table and Chelsea's goal difference it does seem a bit ridiculous that they're allowed in this league considering it's their second string team that's been playing. I know there's probably no way around it but surely half of the europa teams would be less competitive than them
Not really ridiculous? Betis and Heidenheim are both going to be in the round of 24 along with Rovers. Chelsea finished last season very strongly (one defeat in their last 15, to reach the European spots for the first time on the penultimate day), and they've kept that form going this season, so it's just a case of a top side in a top league being in with lesser sides from top leagues and top teams from lesser leagues. Don't see any issues with that.

All change in the standings again - it's now Molde or TSC (Serbia) for Rovers next. Molde would be an interesting one given they met only a couple of years ago and I think Molde won very handily in Norway (and was it a draw in Dublin?)

Hearts going out on goals scored as it stands; they're drawing at home to the Moldovan side bottom of the whole table with one draw before today.

[ger121]

Molde have been very iffy in the league phase.

[legendz]

The current live table has Rovers in line to face Molde or TSC. The winners to take on Legia or Cercle Brugge.

[ger121]

Larne beat Gent and Hearts messed up at home to bottom side Petrocub and are out.

[pineapple stu]

Larne beat Gent and Hearts messed up at home to bottom side Petrocub and are out.
The Conference League is great. Far more interesting than the more predictable Champions League. And the league phase rather than groups has worked well I think. Lot of change to the standings even into the last few minutes. Hearts being one example with that late penalty they conceded

[Buckett]

Second greatest league in the world

[ger121]

The Conference League is great. Far more interesting than the more predictable Champions League. And the league phase rather than groups has worked well I think. Lot of change to the standings even into the last few minutes. Hearts being one example with that late penalty they conceded

Very exciting.

[MichaelCherrito]

Yes, but they're in tenth so need two teams to drop points to get to eighth?

Edit - Jagellonia are playing Olimpia Ljubljana, who would move ahead of Rovers if they took the lead, so Rovers can't come top eighth I think
Completely agree. Hadn't realised Jagiellonia were playing Olimpia so, whoever scored were overtaking Rovers in the table.

[legendz]

For Rovers playing nearly 6 weeks into the off season, is nearly like players going to the World Cup for seasons that finish in May. Next round in the middle of February. The Europa League will be more taxing when LoI clubs qualify for that! While also more rewarding! With 2 more league phase rounds at the end of January, it'll be early in preseason. Munster clubs are thinking ahead by being familiar with Munster Senior Cup rounds in January.

[ger121]

The current live table has Rovers in line to face Molde or TSC. The winners to take on Legia or Cercle Brugge.

Think you would want TSC. They were dead and buried at 3-1 after 75 minutes against Noah but turned it around to slip through in 24th.

[legendz]

Knockout phase playoffs: TSC or Molde
Round of 16: Cercle Brugge or Legia Warsaw
Quarter finals: Chelsea or Vitória de Guimarães
The shape of Rovers quadrant of the draw. Having fully deserved being seeded for the knockout phase playoffs, hopefully they can make it count. Get to the Round of 16 and they could be playing to setup a tie with Chelsea again. The season opener against Bohs could be useful for familiarity with the Aviva! ;)

[redobit]

Seems a bit mad to have a pot with just two teams in it. Its almost like doing a draw just so they can do a draw. You would have thought for fairness that 9th plays 24th, 10th v 23rd, etc.

[sbgawa]

Seems a bit mad to have a pot with just two teams in it. Its almost like doing a draw just so they can do a draw. You would have thought for fairness that 9th plays 24th, 10th v 23rd, etc.

Thats what i was thinking.
Maybe they wan to have the ability to avoid problems the way they do in the bigger draws by keeping teams apart where there could be troublle, Serbia/Croatia maybe.
If it was just 9th plays 24th they cant interfere for better or worse.
TSC definitly the easier of the two options for Rovers.

Will be awkward now with the Bohs match in the Aviva in between the two legs of the playoff.
I suppose the team will be rested by then.

[pineapple stu]

I don't think they do that from the knockout stages anyway, do they?

Though granted you don't usually get Spain v Gibraltar or Armenia v Azerbaijan in the knockout stages.

I guess clubs just want a jolly in Zurich. Draw's today isn't it?

[A N Mouse]

I don't think they do that from the knockout stages anyway, do they?

Though granted you don't usually get Spain v Gibraltar or Armenia v Azerbaijan in the knockout stages.

I guess clubs just want a jolly in Zurich. Draw's today isn't it?

1300 CET

So about an hours time

[2 Year Contract]

Rovers get Molde, away first. Tough game, Molde beat them 5-0 over two games in 2022 but both teams appear to be in different places since then. I’d say it’ll be a more even match up than a few years ago

[Nesta99]

I would not fear that draw! Yup the seeded side should be favourites but we know how it can be for LoI in Europe but its a chance and Rovers should have belief after the group. Not sure there'd have been worry about pre or early season rustiness in Europe when switching to summer season. Soooo crowds up, sell-out signs happen, 1m people through the gates, 30k+ at cup finals in the national stadium, 8 figure grant for league ground development, real knockout football not this preliminary stuff, GLITW alternative reality....

[legendz]

9 points was a fair expectation after the league phase draw. Rovers in fairness delivered and picked up 2 bonus points along the way.
Molde were in pot 2 when the league phase draw was made. Higher than APOEL and Rapid Vienna. Molde beat Larne 3-0 (H), lost 2-1 to Gent (A), lost 3-0 to Jagiellonia Bia?ystok (A) ranked lower than Borac, lost 0-1 to APOEL (H), drew 2-2 with HJK (A) and beat Mladá Boleslav 4-3 (H) ranked lower than Rovers. No world beaters on that form but will be a tough test.
Rovers have already done great. Getting to the Round of 16 would cap it off and reflect well on the league around Europe.

[Buckett]

Molde will be out of season too, so fair game

[CorribsideSteve]

It seems so obvious to say it, but, none of the recent feel-good vibe, being a couple of bends in the road away from a complete paradigm shift, would have occurred under Saint John. Shams at last look like they know how to handle Europe now after years of very poor defeats and lukewarm performances. It's a steep learning curve, but it looks this season that they've really learned something invaluable for the most part. Now it must be qualified that Rovers were absolutely losing the plot early on in the EURO campaign against the Icelandic crowd, with them missing a tie-winning penalty, but they've improved so much since then. The propensity for gifting soft, no work required, goals away like Santa Claus, will always be in LOI sides in Europe, but Shams really stepped up this Euro season. It's not a bad time to be alive as an LOI fan.

[Stuttgart88]

I’ve already bought tickets for Bohs v Rovers on 16th. I might extend my trip home now. A House are playing in Whelan’s on 22nd too. This’ll require serious negotiations with Mrs. Stutts.

[Nesta99]

I’ve already bought tickets for Bohs v Rovers on 16th. I might extend my trip home now. A House are playing in Whelan’s on 22nd too. This’ll require serious negotiations with Mrs. Stutts.

That is an endless art for sure but there should be no more apologies when it comes to football and good live tunes!