LoI in Europe 2024

[Stuttgart88]

Can’t say how much I enjoyed Thursday but the two daft goals still really frustrate me. I got down to Putney Bridge area, as kindly suggested here, at around 6 to see the Rovers fans being escorted en masse over the bridge towards Chelsea. I presume they walked the whole way to the stadium. The police presence was very heavy all night, probably rightly so. I still wore my colours though - but zipped up my coat in the stadium area. I was in the home section.

Got the tube back from Putney Bridge to Fulham Broadway where we had a couple of pints before going in. The Rovers fans were being escorted into the ground at this point, greeted by F the IRA chants from the home fans in the concourse area.

I took my seat in the East Lower in the section beside the Rovers end. Both defensive calamities happened just in front of me as did the bogroll barrage at the corner flag. I couldn’t help go “Yes” when Poom scored and immediately two stewards quite forcefully reprimanded me. Lovely Chelsea fella in front of me told them to chill, nobody cared and it’s only football etc.

Atmosphere was pretty tasty though. Republican chanting isn’t to my taste but at the same time I loved how the Rovers fans showed no respect for who they were playing or where.

I hope many more nights at places like this lie ahead, for all Irish teams.

My photos are on X if anyone cares.

[EatYerGreens]

What are the dates for the 2 Molde games, and are they confirmed now?

[sbgawa]

13th and 20th Feb. The aviva match against bohs is the 16th

[EatYerGreens]

13th and 20th Feb. The aviva match against bohs is the 16th

Thanks. Home or away first?

[sbgawa]

Away first, benefit of finishing top sixteen

[Acornvilla]

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.
Rover's can definitely take them, but I'd be worried in the off season that one squad will improve and one will really struggle to stay at its current level.

[Knocklyonhoop]

Based on quality of opposition, ease of access to away leg, cost of trip to away leg, attractiveness of town for away leg…… all point to very disappointing draw on what was a 50/50 hit.

only positive is that they’re out of season too but think it’s gonna be v tough. Need to manage 1st leg

[pateen]

17.45 kick off. Not too bad

[ger121]

If Rovers still had a few of the big hitters they lost, you would fancy them over the 2 legs.
No idea what state Molde would be in pre-season,so very hard to gauge. They did lose to Pat’s of course but could have had the tea-lady starting in that game for all we know. All I can say is they were really poor in the League stage and snuck in at the end.
If the tie is still in the balance for the 2nd leg then there is a chance as Rovers do a have a good home record.

[oriel]

PP have Molde as 1/3 odds on to qualify, not sure I`d agree those odds, would make Molde slight favs though, but Rovers still have a good chance i think.

We played them in 2020, went 1-0 up or back to 1-1 in Tallaght, but lost both games ,they were big lads I remember that.

[TonyD]

If Rovers still had a few of the big hitters they lost, you would fancy them over the 2 legs.
No idea what state Molde would be in pre-season,so very hard to gauge. They did lose to Pat’s of course but could have had the tea-lady starting in that game for all we know. All I can say is they were really poor in the League stage and snuck in at the end.
If the tie is still in the balance for the 2nd leg then there is a chance as Rovers do a have a good home record.

Just on the Pats match v Molde. I’d be surprised if they didn’t have pretty much their first 11 out. I’m assuming the whole purpose, from their point of view, was to play an Irish side before playing Rovers. In that context it really wouldn’t make sense for them to play a seriously weakened team. So I would take the result as a positive omen for Rovers.

[pineapple stu]

Bit mad that Molde are seven weeks out from the start of their league campaign still. There's pre-season and there's six week out.

[oriel]

Seems a long way out alright, not sure where most Norwegian clubs based but Molde in Central Norway, I'd say their league starting is due to climate.

Looked it up, avg temp is still only 0c in March !:cold:

[sbgawa]

Been a very poor off season for us. No idea what to expect tbh

[EatYerGreens]

Bit mad that Molde are seven weeks out from the start of their league campaign still. There's pre-season and there's six week out.

Makes sense with their weather though. I've just checked and every night this week has below zero temperatures, with daytimes not much higher. Plus Molde are only a quarter of the way up the country in terms of latitude. There are 4 teams located further north than them - 2 of which are in the far north, inside the Arctic circle (Bodo/Glimt and Tromso/TIL). So you can see why they leave it until the Spring to start their season.

[Martinho II]

See that shamock rovers are above the club rankings than molde. If rovers had their same squad from end of last season I would give them a chance. Now Im not sure on what to predict.

[yurt]

Looks like we may to have to name next years thread 'LOI in Europe 25/26'.

I was more confident about this tie a month ago from a Rovers perspective. Part of me feels Molde will be much more used to this off-season approach so will know how to approach it. The other part of me thinks that if it's both teams first game this season the rust will favour the away team if they can sneak out with a clean sheet.

[Kingswood Rover]

Not sure what will happen up there on Thursday. On paper i think we are weaker this season coming but lots of our so called big names were weapon for most of Last Season. Mandriou now needs to step up and show us all the promise from a few years back. Jack needs to get back to the player he was when in the Ireland squad, you would hope/think Matthews at the back is a step up from Sean Hoare, Danny Grant not sure what to expect and Michael Noonan 10 novenas being done each night to make him as good as young kenny.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

9/1 to win seems pretty big all the same

[ger121]

9/1 to win seems pretty big all the same

Rovers not one for the away wins in Europe, so I am not surprised they are out to 9/1. A draw would be an excellent result.

[sbgawa]

We are the same team as last year minus Kenny, Farrugia and Burns basically all the players with a bit of pace in the team.
9/1 looks poor odds to me particularly as as per ususal we start with Gaffney, Clarke, Jack Byrne and Nugent all injured and unavailable before we even start playing games.

I'll still be hoping for a win , but its the hope that kills you :)

[Martinho II]

I would be sceptical of Rovers getting a result as Molde have played Rovers before and also played Dundalk in the last few year. Temperatures are also very cold too.

[Jack B]

What on earth are Molde doing with some of these challenges.

[joey B]

Big opportunity for Rovers now

[2 Year Contract]

Such a strange atmosphere in that ground. About 2 thirds empty, not much of an atmosphere at all. Even the Molde performance itself looks like they’re not arsed. I know it’s 2 teams that haven’t played competitively in months and it’s -2 degrees over there but it just doesn’t have the feel of a game that’s as big as it actually is. Strange game

[yurt]

Once Pico actually gets there first that chance at the end of the half is a big one.

I only saw the last few minutes of the half and it was all Rovers. Although I don't think that was the case for the majority of the game.

Wonder what the approach from both teams will be now. I guess both will probably be relatively happy with a 0-0 draw.

Playing a full half with 10 men in your first competitive game of the season is a nightmare situation for Molde though. Rovers should really be able to make some hay.

[joey B]

Some story for young Noonan,goal on his debut at 16 in European knockout football….

[2 Year Contract]

Some proper LOI in Europe defending from Molde for that goal. Rovers look far fitter than Molde here

[ger121]

Vinkingur 2 up against Panathinaikos and Celje 2-1 up against APOEL. Rovers did play and beat some decent sides

[Dermobohs]

Fair play to the horrible ****ers, they’re proving we are not the third rate league RTÉ and the FAI and the epl and Celtic travel to Britain every two week brigade would have it.
Said it before, I can’t bring myself to actually cheer another club on, not publically anyhow, but it’s lovely to see the suprise on the ****ers faces in work when one of ours does well.
Have to have a great shout at going through now

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

At least I made a bit of money

[pateen]

Some result. Was a Norwegian Club ever beaten by a LOI side? I'm not sure

[Longfordian]

Fair fooks to Rovers. And what an incredible story for Noonan. His transfer fee just went up. Hopefully they finish the job next week.

[2 Year Contract]

Some result. Was a Norwegian Club ever beaten by a LOI side? I'm not sure
Yes, Drogheda beat IK Start 1-0 at home in 2006, Sligo beat Rosenborg 2-1 away in 2014

[pateen]

Of course, remember both.

[pineapple stu]

Plenty of others - Sligo beat Viking Stavanger in 2022 (having lost 5-1 away), Rovers knocked out Brann in 2019 (arguably Bradley's only other good European result), Dundalk took Rosenborg to extra time after two draws in 2017, and Athlone beat Valerenga in 1975 to set up that tie with AC Milan.

Technically, UCD beat Molde 2-1 in European competition too in 2017, losing by the same score in Molde and going out on penalties (Haaland scoring one)

Great result for Rovers though. Not the first time a nicely-timed red card has helped either - Pat's were facing ten men in the first half in Azerbaijan too. The goal was a complete mess - seems to be happening more often at the other end lately though.

Are we allowed say it's Legia Warsaw or Cercle Brugge next?

[ger121]

That 9/1 price for the win looks a very good bet now.

Hopefully they get the job done next week and rest a few people for Sunday of course.

[yurt]

Does anyone know how much these co-efficient points are worth in this round? We go ahead of Moldova into 31st again this evening. This whopper score for the season should mean we are in contention for the top 30 for the next 5 years at least.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Loathe do I am to give them any credit - the was a very good result for Shamrock Rovers and they deserve credit for it.

[pineapple stu]

Some story for young Noonan,goal on his debut at 16 in European knockout football….
Youngest scorer in the history of European club football. That's a serious record to break

[2 Year Contract]

Youngest scorer in the history of European club football. That's a serious record to break

That’s been debunked on Twitter already. https://x.com/irish_pics/status/1890128720163402105?s=46

He'll have to settle for being only the *Father Ted style* SECOND youngest scorer in the history of European club football

[geysir]

Vikingur Rvk had to play their 'home' game in Helsinki against Panathinaikos because of weather concerns, ironic that it was -5C in Helsinki and +5C in a balmy Reykjavik.

[pineapple stu]

Nii Lamptey - there's a blast from the past!

Wonder how reliable his date of birth was? There was all sorts of shenanigans with Ghana underage squads in particular back then I think. Wasn't it because of them FIFA brought in bone scanning to age players?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

That’s been debunked on Twitter already. https://x.com/irish_pics/status/1890128720163402105?s=46

He'll have to settle for being only the *Father Ted style* SECOND youngest scorer in the history of European club football

Youngest in a group stage then will have to do him

[pineapple stu]

Well - we're gone beyond the group stage now!

[dundalkfc10]

Does anyone know how much these co-efficient points are worth in this round? We go ahead of Moldova into 31st again this evening. This whopper score for the season should mean we are in contention for the top 30 for the next 5 years at least.

Just seen the coefficient there and technically we are 30th now, as Russia are in 30th place and can't see their teams playing in Europe for a long time

[CorribsideSteve]

What to say that hasn't been said already, but, WHAT a story! Congrats Rovers. Job half done only but what a strong position to be in going to Tallaght.

[Longfordian]

That’s been debunked on Twitter already. https://x.com/irish_pics/status/1890128720163402105?s=46

He'll have to settle for being only the *Father Ted style* SECOND youngest scorer in the history of European club football

Fabrizio Romano said it, so it doesn't matter if it's actually true or not. Much like with Trump or Musk, people will just believe it.

[placid casual]

Great bit of business Rovers did getting Noonan for nothing. Hopefully last night is a sign of things to come and not just a one off, albeit he still is only 16.
Looked to me like 2 teams still in pre season last night,but we'll take an away win in Europe thanks very much.
Should be a good game on Sunday.

[WeAreRovers]

We are the same team as last year minus Kenny, Farrugia and Burns basically all the players with a bit of pace in the team.
9/1 looks poor odds to me particularly as as per ususal we start with Gaffney, Clarke, Jack Byrne and Nugent all injured and unavailable before we even start playing games.

I'll still be hoping for a win , but its the hope that kills you :)

Hope you were on that 9/1! Four new signings started last night and all played a part, not bad for 'the same team as last year'. Healy and McGinty are serious upgrades, Grant coped well in a new position and nothing more to add re Noonan that hasn't been said already.

The injured players listed above - Gaffney, Clarke, Jack Byrne and Nugent - were never going to start last night even if fit so the point made about their unavailability is moot but they will add to squad depth when they are back (or when signed in Gaff's case)