LOI In Europe 2025

[Nesta99]

I think Derry City's multi-billionaire Chairman might have something to say about that :confused:

Desmond has shown that he will only put in limited sums of money to Rovers, and in return for shares. And presumably he's at or close to the limit shares-wise for what the supporters will want him to have? He's no benefactor.

Sorted!

[Nesta99]

If Hadjuk Split dominate Croatian football, why haven't they won the league in over 20 years !!

Out of 34 years since the Croatian league began, Dinamo have won 25, and you might have missed this, but in the last 10 years, they've qualified for the Champions League Group stage 5 times !

Rovers have more money than other clubs, they've more fans than other clubs, they've more capacity in their ground to grow attendances than other clubs, they've currently a considerably stronger squad than any other club.
Yes when Bradley goes, there is the potential for them to fall back, but if they manage that period right, and get European Group stage money for another few years, they'll become a train which won't be derailed.

Ill be really worried!

[ontheotherhand]

Ok you dont have wealthy backers that put money in annually or at any time for no return. But what you do have is wealthy backers that are a safety net if things every went bad financially. Say a fall off in league fortunes, no Europe for a number of years, no transfers out and a lost of costs. It might be a bitter pill to dilute fan shares but if it boiled down to existing or not the options are there. Most other clubs dont have that, its accumulated loss making until a benefactor, big fundraiser, all fans to the pump, new sucker thinking they can make money starting from scratch. It suits the Wlson/Desmond camp not to bail out things until they are the last resort and then pounce for full control. In a long game it can happen.


That's not really what we're talking about though. The point being made was whether Rovers have more money or not. We do. But it's not down to wealthy backers. It's down to prize money, player sales and the MC keeping the show on the road when it's had to. Having a (bad) fall back option is what every club ultimately has, whether its a Desmond taking full control or a sucker taking over from the last sucker. As you put it. Although I'd rather have a vote in the matter than not.

[Dermobohs]

Ah but that’s the beauty of what rovers have built, and credit where it’s due because Bradley could’ve easily been given the boot early on.
They now have thanks to their benefactor(Wilson) and investor(Desmond) a stream of income from academy lads.
They have euro money which is huge and allows assembly of the biggest and arguably great mix of experience and a couple of good young lads.
Big big backroom team, lots of coaches physios s and c and it shows,
Then there’s the fact there is zero upkeep on the stadium, pay your rental and forget it.
Huge credit due also that the members still seem to wield a C lot of say so about the running of the club.

[ontheotherhand]

Ah but that’s the beauty of what rovers have built, and credit where it’s due because Bradley could’ve easily been given the boot early on.
They now have thanks to their benefactor(Wilson) and investor(Desmond) a stream of income from academy lads.
They have euro money which is huge and allows assembly of the biggest and arguably great mix of experience and a couple of good young lads.
Big big backroom team, lots of coaches physios s and c and it shows,
Then there’s the fact there is zero upkeep on the stadium, pay your rental and forget it.
Huge credit due also that the members still seem to wield a C lot of say so about the running of the club.

That's certainly a way to spin things.

Bohs have performed zero upkeep on a stadium while also paying no rent. A far more impressive feat really.

[seand]

A number of good points made there, people.
Rovers marketing is frankly woeful for the success we've had and there's one glaring issue there at the club that needs to be pushed aside,but I'll leave it at that.
If/when Bradley goes it will result in Rovers being back in the pack again for sure as any manager will find it hard to replace the current mgmt team.
I wouldn't fancy Rovers to get more than 4 points against briedablik and hamrun,we may even have to settle for only 2.
That being said, this is best season by a LOI team ever and anyone who doesn't agree is kidding themselves.

It's up for debate whether its the best season by a LOI club in the 3 year history of the third tier competition.

[Jamesie]

That's certainly a way to spin things.

Bohs have performed zero upkeep on a stadium while also paying no rent. A far more impressive feat really.

Don't pay rent? And who do you think paid for the Mono Stand

[Dermobohs]

Any countless other jobs , the council do **** all, every lick of paint , every electrical, every running repair has to be done by volunteers dcc are useless.
Rovers don’t know how lucky they are with sdcc they have really pushed on with great work.

[ontheotherhand]

Don't pay rent? And who do you think paid for the Mono Stand

The away fans buying tickets to stand in a glorified shed have more than covered the cost.

[ontheotherhand]

Any countless other jobs , the council do **** all, every lick of paint , every electrical, every running repair has to be done by volunteers dcc are useless.
Rovers don’t know how lucky they are with sdcc they have really pushed on with great work.

How much are DCC paying to rescue dalymount from the state it's been left in?

Sounds like they are being more than accommodating tbh. Aren't you involved in the decision making process for the new stadium? SDCC don't give rovers much at all tbh. The upkeep is great but we pay rent for that. We can't do anything creative. We have the shop and the use of the bar before and during games, and that's about it. Don't forget, we started the stadium and put a lot of money in before they took it over. It wouldn't be there if not for Rovers and probably would've ended up as a multi sport site as well.

Anyway, great to have some bohs lads active on the Europe thread. You're very welcome.

[sbgawa]

How much are DCC paying to rescue dalymount from the state it's been left in?

Sounds like they are being more than accommodating tbh. Aren't you involved in the decision making process for the new stadium? SDCC don't give rovers much at all tbh. The upkeep is great but we pay rent for that. We can't do anything creative. We have the shop and the use of the bar before and during games, and that's about it. Don't forget, we started the stadium and put a lot of money in before they took it over. It wouldn't be there if not for Rovers and probably would've ended up as a multi sport site as well.

Anyway, great to have some bohs lads active on the Europe thread. You're very welcome.

Also it was Rovers members club board that got the money for the East stand from the Government AFAIR Eamon O Cuiv although i cant remember why...., SDCC werent up for the expansion at the time and would have left it.

[ontheotherhand]

Also it was Rovers members club board that got the money for the East stand from the Government AFAIR Eamon O Cuiv although i cant remember why...., SDCC werent up for the expansion at the time and would have left it.

The Rovers podcast did a great episode (or maybe two) on the whole saga. It was grueling. I wasn't aware of 3/4s of it.

[Roones26]

Also it was Rovers members club board that got the money for the East stand from the Government AFAIR Eamon O Cuiv although i cant remember why...., SDCC werent up for the expansion at the time and would have left it.

I thought it was later to be disgraced John O'Donoghue as Sports Minister

[Buckett]

Looks like there'll be some trouble at the Shelbourne v Crystal Palace game

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/06/crystal-palace-fans-are-literally-fighting-each-other-how-has-it-come-to-this

[Calcio Jack]

I thought it was later to be disgraced John O'Donoghue as Sports Minister

You are correct

[sbgawa]

You are correct

It was the members board who broughtbhim to the table

[pateen]

Decent amount of Palace fans here at Stansted today

[EatYerGreens]

Decent amount of Palace fans here at Stansted today

Were they fightong and falling out with each other? :D

[ger121]

2-1 down now. Breidablik have been clinical.

[pineapple stu]

3-1. One (slightly lucky) point for Rovers in the groups this year. They'll be disappointed with that after last year's performance, even if it was a tougher set of fixtures this year

Not expecting anything from Shels this evening - could be the two LoI clubs 35tht and 36th by close of business tonight

[ger121]

Feel Rovers blew that game by conceding so soon after going 1 up.

[geysir]

Yes Ger but Rovers had plenty of time after that equaliser to make good but truth be told they only had their 15 minutes of fame in that first half. The conditions were very much against good football which strange enough affected Breidablik worse as their talented attacking wingers struggled to make impact. Burke is an outstanding player at this level, if Breidablik had him in their team they would be in the upper half of this table. Apart from that 15 minutes Rovers huffed and puffed to make inroads.

[pineapple stu]

Shels will end this game with a right hammering if they keep defending like that. I think it's fair to say there's a big gulf in class here

[joey B]

A matter of how many for Palace…

[joey B]

Shels not parking the bus looks a really bad decision!

[total hoofball]

I don't understand that setup from O'Brien tonight with two up top against a side 4th in Premier League with no defensive midfielder policing the centre of the park asking for trouble and they have got it

[ger121]

When you look at the results from similar & lower ranked leagues in Europe, 2 draws out of 10 matches is a very poor return. Could we lose the EL spot I wonder.

[pineapple stu]

Said as Lincoln Red Imps go 2-1 up on Sigma Olomouc...

I think EL spot is confirmed for next season anyway, based on last season's rankings. 34th was the first place that doesn't get EL next season - we're nearly 3 points clear of that at the moment. It's a lot with just one group game left. Breidablik unlikely to qualify for example - they need a result (maybe a win) away to Strasbourg next week. Don't get it, and Iceland don't finish ahead of us.

[CorribsideSteve]

Rovers and Shels ended last season's League campaign with averages of 1.5 and 1.33 goals per game respectively, and both their top scorers combined to get a grand total of 18 goals (9 each). Its impossible to get a foothold in Europe when you're barely scoring a goal a game in your domestic league. Its not like these sides haven't had chances in their European games, they just don't have the composure needed to be lethal when it matters. Many rightly talk about how good Burke is, but he still only scored 8 goals last season. If one of the best players in the League for at least a decade sets the bar at 8 league goals, it really highlights the absolute dearth of top goal scorers and leaves teams impoverished of goals when it comes to Europe in particular.

[sbgawa]

To be fair to burke he doesnt start a lit of matches
Across 39 appearences he scored 15 goals rhis season which isnt bad tbf

[Nesta99]

Never mind Europe, any club that finds or develops a consistant 20+ striker, keep them fit, hold on to them, with others chipping in now and again and not a basketcase in defence or in goal (even with Abibi and Nattestad levels) and European qualification is a pretty good bet. Its been an achiles heel for LoI for a long time where pure clinical goal scorer not padded by penos are like hens teeth. Hoban was as close as we were getting for a while. Fit and Firing Seanie is a no brainer to try and prise away from Cork, Maybe we need to change how we set up in general to generate ruthless attacking effort
Rovers with Burke especially score scorchers or they go through the motions. Its an old nugget but if Derry had been closer on GD going in to the last few games so Rovers just didnt need to be beaten by 13 or 13 agg, were properly under pressure at home, they'd have had a better European campaign even after the cup final. Its been a poor run end of league and in to Europe bar the solid draw in Athens for Rovers. Records wont talk qualty of opposition or tough draw, 2024 will show that good wins almost skipping a round are doable and after they went on a hot streak of league form. Opposite 2025 an its done with the Maltese just needing to be well beaten to retain some credit at that level.

A few of our clubs have the resources to scout exotic leagues and have the money to offer deals. Solid Spanish lads that go to Cyprus, maybe a few nordics ,2nd tier Balkans, takig punts on US or Canadian. Suss out Haitain players,

[ontheotherhand]

3-1. One (slightly lucky) point for Rovers in the groups this year. They'll be disappointed with that after last year's performance, even if it was a tougher set of fixtures this year

Not expecting anything from Shels this evening - could be the two LoI clubs 35tht and 36th by close of business tonight

Slightly unlucky not to get 3 points in that one stu. Most would say anyway.

Not too disappointed outside of the game last night where we were poor on balance. Really missed Josh and Mandriou. Great performance against Shakhtar despite the loss, great point in Athens that could have been more if not for a harsh peno. VAR (or it not even being used in the Shakhtar game for the more obvious peno) hurt us where it's been good to us previously. Finish it off with a win against Hamrun and it's an ok campaign. The real win was getting there at all while completing a double. And for the league the win was having two clubs there.

[Kiki Balboa]

For all of their achievements on paper in Europe under Bradley, Rovers have been fairly disappointing and limp in the majority of their European games.

You could make the argument that they are the biggest beneficiary of the UEFA competition changes (outside of the super clubs).

[pineapple stu]

Slightly unlucky not to get 3 points in that one stu. Most would say anyway.
In the game where it was 30-1 in terms of shots and 80-20 in terms of possession or something like that? I get that it was a harsh last-minute penalty, but overall I don't think ye can really feel too aggrieved there.

[ontheotherhand]

In the game where it was 30-1 in terms of shots and 80-20 in terms of possession or something like that? I get that it was a harsh last-minute penalty, but overall I don't think ye can really feel too aggrieved there.

30 shots mostly from distance. I wasn't too worried. We did our job. They weren't scoring without the peno.

When Rovers used to go out and play our normal game in Europe, people said, be pragmatic and defend. When we do that, against a big club, and get a result, people say it's lucky. It was a great result that was as likely to have been a win as a draw.

Hopefully finish on 4 points now, which, given the draw and schedule, wouldn't be too bad.

[Nesta99]

You are combining the observations oth. The comments were about Rovers being to cautious against in and around similar standard sides and even lower ranked saids and should show more self belief - a good few games and good scalps were left behind over the last number of years. Last year was damn close to finising in a qualifying round, ET ,missed peno stuff (?). I dont think anyone was saying go out against Barce and go toe to toe, have belief and take them on. This seasons draw was a back to the wall albeit calm defensive performance, pragmatic, got the goal and sat in facing wave afte wave attack with occasional and composed relief. When the penalty came it was one you could see coming, or just that one bit of quality that resulted in a goal. There was no criticism, I dont think Rover were lucky in that game to get a result but they werent unlucky not getting 3. They arguably deserved 3 for being so well organised and hard to break down and getting ahead with so little of the ball.

[ontheotherhand]

You are combining the observations oth. The comments were about Rovers being to cautious against in and around similar standard sides and even lower ranked saids and should show more self belief - a good few games and good scalps were left behind over the last number of years. Last year was damn close to finising in a qualifying round, ET ,missed peno stuff (?). I dont think anyone was saying go out against Barce and go toe to toe, have belief and take them on. This seasons draw was a back to the wall albeit calm defensive performance, pragmatic, got the goal and sat in facing wave afte wave attack with occasional and composed relief. When the penalty came it was one you could see coming, or just that one bit of quality that resulted in a goal. There was no criticism, I dont think Rover were lucky in that game to get a result but they werent unlucky not getting 3. They arguably deserved 3 for being so well organised and hard to break down and getting ahead with so little of the ball.

The point made by stu was that we were lucky to get a draw. I wasn't too aggrieved about the result. It was a great result. We weren't lucky tho. As you say, you could argue we deserved 3 points and imop on firmer footing than you could that we deserved to lose.

We've changed how we've played in Europe over the years. Which you'd expect from a manager in his first job. Even now we set up differently against different opposition depending on how Bradley sees the route to a win. Backs to the wall against Vikingur but toe to toe with Shakhtar would be an example. Shakhtar the better team of the two but the approach was to be more aggressive because that's how he felt we could get a result. We were damn close in that game too.

[2 Year Contract]

30 shots mostly from distance. I wasn't too worried. We did our job. They weren't scoring without the peno.

When Rovers used to go out and play our normal game in Europe, people said, be pragmatic and defend. When we do that, against a big club, and get a result, people say it's lucky. It was a great result that was as likely to have been a win as a draw.

Hopefully finish on 4 points now, which, given the draw and schedule, wouldn't be too bad.

Whereas rovers on the other hand…

[ontheotherhand]

Whereas rovers on the other hand…

Was waiting for that! We scored early away from home. Not crazy to expect us to sit back against a side like that. And it almost worked.

[sbgawa]

Dissapointing loss particularly as it means it will likely be a small crowd next week for the season ending match.
The club should get behind the match now with a "come and celebrate a double with the players message" " advertise a round the pitch parade post match with both cups etc etc
The players deserve a big crowd and a good finish plus as Dan McDonnell said there are 400,000+ reasons to still take this match seriously

[ger121]

Dissapointing loss particularly as it means it will likely be a small crowd next week for the season ending match.
The club should get behind the match now with a "come and celebrate a double with the players message" " advertise a round the pitch parade post match with both cups etc etc
The players deserve a big crowd and a good finish plus as Dan McDonnell said there are 400,000+ reasons to still take this match seriously

Plus money and points based on league ranking.

[ontheotherhand]

For all of their achievements on paper in Europe under Bradley, Rovers have been fairly disappointing and limp in the majority of their European games.

You could make the argument that they are the biggest beneficiary of the UEFA competition changes (outside of the super clubs).

Well.....we did plan for it as we knew it was coming. Dundalk took a different approach of course. :)

Haven't found anything too disappointing myself. Few sloppy performances were hard to watch, and a few where we sacrificed the result for the league. But that is as it should be when you know you can qualify for another group much easier by being the champions again. Plenty of results that are up there with the best ever by an Irish side too. It's been fantastic.

[EatYerGreens]

Never mind Europe, any club that finds or develops a consistant 20+ striker, keep them fit, hold on to them, with others chipping in now and again and not a basketcase in defence or in goal (even with Abibi and Nattestad levels) and European qualification is a pretty good bet. Its been an achiles heel for LoI for a long time where pure clinical goal scorer not padded by penos are like hens teeth. Hoban was as close as we were getting for a while. Fit and Firing Seanie is a no brainer to try and prise away from Cork, Maybe we need to change how we set up in general to generate ruthless attacking effort
Rovers with Burke especially score scorchers or they go through the motions. Its an old nugget but if Derry had been closer on GD going in to the last few games so Rovers just didnt need to be beaten by 13 or 13 agg, were properly under pressure at home, they'd have had a better European campaign even after the cup final. Its been a poor run end of league and in to Europe bar the solid draw in Athens for Rovers. Records wont talk qualty of opposition or tough draw, 2024 will show that good wins almost skipping a round are doable and after they went on a hot streak of league form. Opposite 2025 an its done with the Maltese just needing to be well beaten to retain some credit at that level.

A few of our clubs have the resources to scout exotic leagues and have the money to offer deals. Solid Spanish lads that go to Cyprus, maybe a few nordics ,2nd tier Balkans, takig punts on US or Canadian. Suss out Haitain players,
This honestly sounds like a fairly farcical approaxch to player recruiment for clubs the size of our's. It has real '"This guy in DurkahDurkastan looked great on his You Tube reel" relying on the word of grifting international agents' vibes to it.

Haiti in particular is just a hilarious suggestion to be honest. The place is an absolute basketcase. Do you think kids of promise there are getting anything resembling a decent grounding in football skills/education from a young age? Whilst their country is run by competing brutal gangs? It's the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and its facilities are probably somewhere between awful and completely absent as a result. If you sent a scout or cub official there there'd be a reasonable chance they'd wind up kidnapped or dead.

Can anyone name me a famous Haitain footballer ? With or without Googling it :D

[cláirseach]

Pascal Millien of course.

[culloty82]

This honestly sounds like a fairly farcical approaxch to player recruiment for clubs the size of our's. It has real '"This guy in DurkahDurkastan looked great on his You Tube reel" relying on the word of grifting international agents' vibes to it.

Haiti in particular is just a hilarious suggestion to be honest. The place is an absolute basketcase. Do you think kids of promise there are getting anything resembling a decent grounding in football skills/education from a young age? Whilst their country is run by competing brutal gangs? It's the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and its facilities are probably somewhere between awful and completely absent as a result. If you sent a scout or cub official there there'd be a reasonable chance they'd wind up kidnapped or dead.

Can anyone name me a famous Haitain footballer ? With or without Googling it :D

There was the guy who was at Athlone and Drogheda in recent years, Frantz Pierrot. More nerdily, Gaetjens who scored the winner for the USA against England in 1950 was born there.

[EatYerGreens]

There was the guy who was at Athlone and Drogheda in recent years, Frantz Pierrot. More nerdily, Gaetjens who scored the winner for the USA against England in 1950 was born there.

Famous, lads. *Famous*.

[pineapple stu]

Larry Gaetjens isn't famous?

Anyway, how many famous players have played LoI? Excluding washed-up retirees and young players looking to get out asap. Haiti are going to the World Cup so assuming none of their players are famous, that's a fairly high bar you're setting.

That said, the LoI would lose a lot of what makes it unique if it just became a breeding ground for random foreigners who get sold on or dumped each year, with clubs having a new squad each season

[CorribsideSteve]

To be fair to burke he doesnt start a lit of matches
Across 39 appearences he scored 15 goals rhis season which isnt bad tbf
Its okay at best. Less than 1 in 2 for a guy so talented (starter or not). Not picking in HIM really, but there's a real lack of out and out goalscorers coming from these shores and its been going on for decades with no end in sight. Euro teams see that theyre scheduled to play an LOI team, and one of their first thoughts is "well that should be an easy enough clean sheet, and if they DO score, it'l be from their one shot on target"

[EatYerGreens]

Larry Gaetjens isn't famous?

Anyway, how many famous players have played LoI? Excluding washed-up retirees and young players looking to get out asap. Haiti are going to the World Cup so assuming none of their players are famous, that's a fairly high bar you're setting.

That said, the LoI would lose a lot of what makes it unique if it just became a breeding ground for random foreigners who get sold on or dumped each year, with clubs having a new squad each season

Well if you're picking a random no-one's heard of from the 1950s as an example of a famous Haitian player, then we can point out a load of genuinely famous players who've been in the LOI in much more recent decades. Roy Keane, Johnny Giles, Paul McGrath, Steve Staunton, Ronnie Whelan (Jnr), Kevin Moran and Damien Duff for starters. Then there are also the likes of imports (however brief) like George Best, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Charlton, Trevor Brooking, Denis Tuert, Jimmy Johnstone, Alan Sunderland, Billy Hamilton.

Can we all agree that the idea of the LOI seeing Haiti as a promising place for player recruitment is just bonkers?

[pineapple stu]

You've never heard of the guy who scored one of the most famous goals in World Cup history? That's on you if so

You've then selected people who almost all fall into the two categories I noted - washed-up retirees and players who couldn't wait to get out

Lots of clubs - particularly eastern European clubs with Euro money - do scour developing countries for random foreigners they can flog on at a profit. Sheriff Tiraspol's whole team tends to change from year to year. Ludogorets are almost as bad. Plenty of other clubs pillage and undermine African football. It's absolutely an option, though I wouldn't like to see the LoI go that route as I've said.