Drogs vs Kiev the match part

[Straightstory]

It IS strange how Irish League teams don't take Europe seriously. (Players going on holiday during European matches! - incredible!) Surely they could go full time and make a serious attempt at Champions League qualification? The fan base seems to be there.

[Straightstory]

That's Linfield I'm talking about, by the way. (Don't think Dungannon Swifts could be ever one of the European giants...)

[brianw82]

I don't think any neutral, barstooler, part-time fan, call them what you will, could fail to have enjoyed the game and been impressed with the manner in which Drogheda played.

Absolutely. It was a genuinely exciting game. Fair play to Drogheda for giving it a right go.

Lots of complimentary press in the Independent today, too.

[pete]

It IS strange how Irish League teams don't take Europe seriously. (Players going on holiday during European matches! - incredible!) Surely they could go full time and make a serious attempt at Champions League qualification? The fan base seems to be there.

Reflected in the fact NI is ranked below Wales & level with the Faroes. I know the LOI is stronger but NI not that poor.

[Steve Bruce]

I too don’t understand why we don’t take it seriously. There is little/no difference between the LOI top teams and Linfield, yet we fail every season in Europe. (although in the last 3 seasons we have played one of the top seeds eg Gorica, Elfsborg & Zagreb, which I think every team on this island would find difficult to get past).

The difference is most certainly preparation and full-time football. The LOI is light years ahead when it comes to preparation and professionalism. Irish League clubs need some fresh investment, new innovative people with new ideas. I do think the IL is starting to slow turn around back into a positive direction with this invitational league though and I hope in 2/3 years time we will be close to the position the LOI finds themselves in, in regards to funding, tv exposure, more full-time & European progress.

[Dodge]

(although in the last 3 seasons we have played one of the top seeds eg Gorica, Elfsborg & Zagreb, which I think every team on this island would find difficult to get past).


Neither Gorica nor Elfsborg were anywhere near the top seeds and Irish teams have beaten Swedish teams the last 3 times we've played them.

[Steve Bruce]

Neither Gorica nor Elfsborg were anywhere near the top seeds and Irish teams have beaten Swedish teams the last 3 times we've played them.

Elsfborg where 2nd or 3rd seeded team last year and Gorica 3rd or 4th highest seen as well the year before.

Elfsborg went onto the Group stages of the UEFA cup as well.

So I still think ANY team would struggle to get past any of these teams. (doesn't mean it is impossible).

[Dodge]

Elsfborg where 2nd or 3rd seeded team last year

4th, 2 places ahead of Derry City

Gorica were top seeds (and I apologise)

[Steve Bruce]

4th, 2 places ahead of Derry City

Gorica were top seeds (and I apologise)

No probs,

Well Elfsborg has still got to the group stages of the UEFA cup, something no team on this island has able to achieve.

[Dodge]

Well Elfsborg has still got to the group stages of the UEFA cup, something no team on this island has able to achieve.

But we've been close a couple of times. And I'm not saying we'd easuly beat them but the facts are there. last three times Swedish league meat LOI, LOI has won

[CuanaD]

Unfortunately the 2 steps taken are a lot easier than the 2 steps to go. That is not to take away from the progress that has been made. Although the first 2 steps are a lot easier, it is still very difficult and you managed to do it. This is something that the Irish League is still trying to achieve and still a very long way away from achieving.

I think the 2/3 years to regularly qualify for 3rd round is unrealistic. I think 5 to 7 years would be a bit more realistic if not still a bit optimistic. Shelbourne are the only side to reach the 3rd round and that was a few years ago. So I think regularly qualifying for the 3rd round is still a bit away as the next level of football is a considerable gap to the level we have been competing at.
I agree Steve, the steps become harder each level.
But, Derry have also gone 3 rounds in the past few years so 2 teams out of our 12 attempts in the past 4 seasons - 1 every second season isn't bad - i just feel that 2-3 years from now that could be at least 1 each season - sounds achievable when put like that.

[Steve Bruce]

I agree Steve, the steps become harder each level.
But, Derry have also gone 3 rounds in the past few years so 2 teams out of our 12 attempts in the past 4 seasons - 1 every second season isn't bad - i just feel that 2-3 years from now that could be at least 1 each season - sounds achievable when put like that.

I was more refering to CL 3rd round, but if you mean both tournements then 3rd round is definately acheivable each year.

[HarpoJoyce]

Neither Gorica nor Elfsborg were anywhere near the top seeds and Irish teams have beaten Swedish teams the last 3 times we've played them.

I know Hammarby/Cork City last year temporary slipped your mind. But your point is still valid about closing the gap.

Good luck to yourselves and Cork City tomorrow.

[oriel]

Shelbourne are the only side to reach the 3rd round and that was a few years ago.

We played in 3 rounds of the european cup in 1979, this was when only 32 countries existed, a far harder competition than today with only one preliminary round (dundalk v linfield actually)

[HarpoJoyce]

How relevant is the Third Qualifying Round draw on Friday (13:00?)....
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=551134.html

....for Drogheda Utd. fans and then other LoI supporters. I know me I would want my club associated with as many other bigger clubs as possible and eventually identified with a specific large club "Drogheda Utd. or Dynamo Kiev and ....."

[barney]

Was at the game last night. Heard Roddy say this morning that Drogheda deserved to be beat and he talked about how bad they were. Sadly he was right.

When people say they don't watch the EL because it isn't proper football, last night proved their argument. Kiev were leagues ahead of Drogheda and could have won 5 or 6. Furthermore, it highlighted how Drogheda are a really badly coached team.

First ten minutes it was obvious that Drogheda were 5 yards too deep. Kiev's sweeper was an out for them every time they had the ball because Zayed was never near him. The number 5, in front of the defence, also had acres of space every time he got the ball. Doolin did nothing till half time.

Watching Kiev making angles for passes, have two options for a pass and attacking with more than one option at a time showed the eL up for what it is. The prime example for me was that every time Kiev attacked they had a man hugging the touchline, a player coming short at the edge of the box and one in behind. They dragged Drogheda's defence all over the place and had two to three options each time.

In contrast, Hughes picked a ball up in a good position in their half at one stage in the second half and every Drogs player charged for the box like schoolboys. Box was crowded. The obvious ball played in was easily dealt with. That was just one example of the brainless football they played. There were countless more.

We aren't talking rocket science here lads, all it takes is a couple of players to move a couple of yards into a position to receive a ball with some sort of idea where he going to play a five, ten yard pass. Drogs had no idea what they were at for the most part.

If they were going to be that clueless, they should have played five yards higher up the pitch, bombarded Kiev with long balls and hoped to turn them or pick up the second ball.

It just shows how bad coaching is in this country. Last week I was at the Pats-Rovers game and the kids played at half time. The fella coaching Rovers instructed his defenders and keeper, every time, to launch the ball long every time they got it. It made me laugh in one way but sad in another because I love the el but that's where we are at and that's where we will stay.

Drogs will be battered next week if Kiev have the inclination to put them to the sword. They have no hope of keeping it tight at the back.

[Sheridan]

Was at the game last night. Heard Roddy say this morning that Drogheda deserved to be beat and he talked about how bad they were. Sadly he was right.
Aside from the fact that you don't have a ****king clue what you're talking about, using "I agree with Roddy Collins" as an opening gambit kills any credibility you might aspire to stone dead.

I've been in love with the Soviet/Russo-Ukrainian style of football ever since I was a kid. It's based on fast, fluid counter-attacking and relies on every member of the team being technically adept. The rationale is that since an attack can break down anywhere on the field, every player has to be capable of immediately instigating a counter-attack. As a result the average technical ability of a player in the Russian (if not Ukrainian) league is the highest in the world.

Some people will tell you that this style was invented by Valeri Lobanovksy during his time in charge of Dynamo (they're wrong, as Lobanovksy's blueprint was a more defensive refinement of the Russian style which classically involved more dribbling.)

If they could marry this style with a matching temperament, they'd dominate world football. Unfortunately, players from the region typically lack self-confidence and often fall to pieces at the vital moment (Dynamo's shots-to-goals ratio against Drogheda was about par for the course for a Ukrainian team.) Also, defenders tend to be picked for their passing ability rather than their defensive skills, which means they can be vulnerable to sustained pressure and counter-counter-attacking (the best counter-attack of the match was the one which involved Kendrick slicing Dyanmo open down the left and sliding a beautiful ball inside the full-back which Cahill skewed over from a great position.)

When it comes off, though, it's spectacular and irresisitble. Here's an example of a non-proper football team being destroyed by the Russo-Ukrainian style of play: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=1LEtfMHlO6g

[Saint_Charlie]

When people say they don't watch the EL because it isn't proper football, last night proved their argument.

*Dons tin hat*

*Finds cover*

[Blue-Army]

It IS strange how Irish League teams don't take Europe seriously. (Players going on holiday during European matches! - incredible!) Surely they could go full time and make a serious attempt at Champions League qualification? The fan base seems to be there.
I take it your talking about Glenn Ferguson?

He was behind me in a queue at Seaworld in Orlando 2 days before they played Zagreb! :rolleyes::D

[barney]

Aside from the fact that you don't have a ****king clue what you're talking about

Care to tell me why?

[Rovers Maniac]

Was at the game last night. Heard Roddy say this morning that Drogheda deserved to be beat and he talked about how bad they were. Sadly he was right.

When people say they don't watch the EL because it isn't proper football, last night proved their argument. Kiev were leagues ahead of Drogheda and could have won 5 or 6. Furthermore, it highlighted how Drogheda are a really badly coached team.

First ten minutes it was obvious that Drogheda were 5 yards too deep. Kiev's sweeper was an out for them every time they had the ball because Zayed was never near him. The number 5, in front of the defence, also had acres of space every time he got the ball. Doolin did nothing till half time.

Watching Kiev making angles for passes, have two options for a pass and attacking with more than one option at a time showed the eL up for what it is. The prime example for me was that every time Kiev attacked they had a man hugging the touchline, a player coming short at the edge of the box and one in behind. They dragged Drogheda's defence all over the place and had two to three options each time.

In contrast, Hughes picked a ball up in a good position in their half at one stage in the second half and every Drogs player charged for the box like schoolboys. Box was crowded. The obvious ball played in was easily dealt with. That was just one example of the brainless football they played. There were countless more.

We aren't talking rocket science here lads, all it takes is a couple of players to move a couple of yards into a position to receive a ball with some sort of idea where he going to play a five, ten yard pass. Drogs had no idea what they were at for the most part.

If they were going to be that clueless, they should have played five yards higher up the pitch, bombarded Kiev with long balls and hoped to turn them or pick up the second ball.

It just shows how bad coaching is in this country. Last week I was at the Pats-Rovers game and the kids played at half time. The fella coaching Rovers instructed his defenders and keeper, every time, to launch the ball long every time they got it. It made me laugh in one way but sad in another because I love the el but that's where we are at and that's where we will stay.

Drogs will be battered next week if Kiev have the inclination to put them to the sword. They have no hope of keeping it tight at the back.

Good post, Drogs were destroyed last night. I see Kaunas drew with Rangers at Ibrox now that is a good result. Anorthoisis beat Rapid Vienna 3-0 another good result, what do we get super Drogs losing at home we are a million miles away from the group stages of these tournements.

[Saint_Charlie]

Good post, Drogs were destroyed last night. I see Kaunas drew with Rangers at Ibrox now that is a good result. Anorthoisis beat Rapid Vienna 3-0 another good result, what do we get super Drogs losing at home we are a million miles away from the group stages of these tournements.

Do you ever post anything positive? I'm not saying your wrong in this thread but every post i've seen from you on this site seems to make out you think the sky is about to fall on the LOI...

[Sheridan]

He's a pathetic troll, ignore him. He'll get bored or banned soon enough.

Barney, there's a master-class for you on the previous page, thank me later.

[Rovers Maniac]

Do you ever post anything positive? I'm not saying your wrong in this thread but every post i've seen from you on this site seems to make out you think the sky is about to fall on the LOI...

God sorry but there has been nothing to positive to speak of late, i am not normally to be honest but you would be correct in what you say and will get no arguing from me. But honestly i found the whole thing about Super Drogs quite condescending. Yes they had a go 2nd half but they were out of their depth big time.

I also thought Doolin had a poor game last night in the way he set up his team as well as the changes he made.

[barney]

He's a pathetic troll, ignore him. He'll get bored or banned soon enough.

Barney, there's a master-class for you on the previous page, thank me later.

I don't think anything you've written there is anything I would disagree with or contradicts what I've posted to be honest. Maybe you can point out exactly where it does.

Maybe the non-proper football jibe gave rise to your initial response. Well it's time to get real in that sense. I'm a big eL fan but if you compare the football Drogheda played last night, it was completely brainless, to how Kiev play then it shows the eL in a bad light. Remember this is a Kiev side that lost all their games in the group stages of the CL last season. I'm not saying I expected Drogs to beat them but the contrast in football styles was embarrassing.

The eL is struggling for attendances. We can bury our heads in the sand and say 'well people are idiots for not going'/'they are barstoolers and don't know anything' but that simply isn't true. The level of football is very, very poor. Yes the atmosphere of live football is great and following your team from your town cannot be replaced by anything else but some people don't really want that from their football; they want a bit of quality as well as something they can identify with. Hence the 'barstooler' phenomenon.

I'm not claiming I know more about football than Paul Doolin, Johnny Mac or whoever but watching last night you had to wonder what Doolin was at and what he does with his professional players all week.

[sonofstan]

I take it your talking about Glenn Ferguson?

He was behind me in a queue at Seaworld in Orlando 2 days before they played Zagreb! :rolleyes::D

Clearly, you don't take the league seriously.....

[Rovers Maniac]

He's a pathetic troll, ignore him. He'll get bored or banned soon enough.

Barney, there's a master-class for you on the previous page, thank me later.

Pathetic? You can't even make keep the reply on football, now that is pathetic :)

[Saint_Charlie]

But honestly i found the whole thing about Super Drogs quite condescending. Yes they had a go 2nd half but they were out of their depth big time

But everyone knew before the game they were outclassed. When a team you are playing can spend more money on one player than it takes to run your entire club for a season (or more) than you're not really on a level playing field are you?

Drogheda did themselves proud last night.

[higgins]

Anyone who has read my european posts in the past will know I'll always support the Irish team. I watched the Drigheda Kiev game and wanted Drogheda to do well but I don't know how Kiev didn't get 5 or 6 to be honest.

They had 20+ goal chances!!
That's crazy stuff.

Some people compare it to Deportivo and say we have progressed ?? Facts are Shels were the better team the night we played Deportivo, kept chances to a minimum and looked stronger as the game went on.

Drogheda last night gave the ball away over and over and over and over. Ollie Cahill putting his head down and running fast into the corner is not MOTM stuff. I'm sure Kiev were delighted to see that type of player. He lost the ball and left too much room for them on nearly every run he made.

I'm sorry but as much as I like to praise the LOI I just can't say that we did ourselves proud last night. We can do a lot better than that. It was only pure luck that had Kiev miss sitter after sitter. Wasn't expecting Drogheda to win the game but they just didn't seem capable of holding onto the ball for longer than 3 passes.

[Big Ears]

Good post, Drogs were destroyed last night. I see Kaunas drew with Rangers at Ibrox now that is a good result. Anorthoisis beat Rapid Vienna 3-0 another good result, what do we get super Drogs losing at home we are a million miles away from the group stages of these tournements.


What did you realistically expect when a team currently 5th in our league played a side who will either finish first or second in Ukraine this season ?

A side that has only twice failed to qualify for the Champions League proper in the last 16 years btw .

[ciaraa]

What did you realistically expect when a team currently 5th in our league played a side who will either finish first or second in Ukraine this season ?

A side that has only twice failed to qualify for the Champions League proper in the last 16 years btw .

most sensible post so far.

FAO barney, have you been to a drogs match recently or seen them on tv? they struggled to beat UCD a couple of weeks ago doing exactly the same stupid things you're saying they did against kiev. They're not going to become some super euro team capable of challenging kiev overnight. Not too sure what people expected them to do but anyone who knows anything about football can see this drogs team have many weak areas as I'm sure the kiev backroom staff identified straight away.
The positive feeling people have for drogs is that they took care of tallinn (winning away to boot) and gave kiev a bit of a game. For a mid table premier team which is capable of playing some truly awful stuff I would consider the representation of Ireland in european football a success.
people can harp on all they want about kiev should have murdered them or ireland is so off the pace in europe but most people who have a basic knoweldge of the domestic game already knew this.
I would also say that with the exception of Fenerbache Kiev were probably the strongest side in there .... maybe Pana too.

[swinfordfc]

most sensible post so far.

FAO barney, have you been to a drogs match recently or seen them on tv? they struggled to beat UCD a couple of weeks ago doing exactly the same stupid things you're saying they did against kiev. They're not going to become some super euro team capable of challenging kiev overnight. Not too sure what people expected them to do but anyone who knows anything about football can see this drogs team have many weak areas as I'm sure the kiev backroom staff identified straight away.
The positive feeling people have for drogs is that they took care of tallinn (winning away to boot) and gave kiev a bit of a game. For a mid table premier team which is capable of playing some truly awful stuff I would consider the representation of Ireland in european football a success.
people can harp on all they want about kiev should have murdered them or ireland is so off the pace in europe but most people who have a basic knoweldge of the domestic game already knew this.
I would also say that with the exception of Fenerbache Kiev were probably the strongest side in there .... maybe Pana too.

Lads,
if Drogs got Anderlecht or SK Brann Bergen, they would beat them and even give Glasgow Ragers a run for their money based on last night result!

[Duggie]

might not beat them but would have a better chance. these are still huge clubs in fairness compared to our teams.

[thischarmingman]

Jesus Christ, what the hell were some of you expecting? Seriously?


Kiev were leagues ahead of Drogheda and could have won 5 or 6. Furthermore, it highlighted how Drogheda are a really badly coached team.



what do we get super Drogs losing at home we are a million miles away from the group stages of these tournements.


I'm not saying I expected Drogs to beat them but the contrast in football styles was embarrassing.


Seriously? Some of these comments are laughable lads, you surely cannot be for real. What were you expecting to happen; a draw was about the best thing we could have hoped for, they almost got it. Will you get some perspective ffs, you know they were playing Dynimo Kiev, yeah?

[barney]

Jesus Christ, what the hell were some of you expecting? Seriously?







Seriously? Some of these comments are laughable lads, you surely cannot be for real. What were you expecting to happen; a draw was about the best thing we could have hoped for, they almost got it. Will you get some perspective ffs, you know they were playing Dynimo Kiev, yeah?

If you ignore Kiev's performance for a minute and ignore the result and look at how Drogs played then you'll see what I mean. The result was far from embarrassing, I expected nothing less, but the way Drogheda played was awful at times.

I'll give you another example of what I mean. Hughes played a ball to Keegan in the first half in the middle of the park and charged past him into a position where Keegan couldn't pick him out for a return pass. No one else moved, Keegan lost the ball.

If Hughes had a brain in his head, he'd have just stopped, looked for the return ball and a Zayed or Baker would have moved into positions to receive a pass. That's just basic football. Drogs, at times, played like schoolboys and, to me, that's down to bad coaching.

We can dress it up how we like but if we are looking to progress and eventually reach the group stages of a European competition, then the ethos and level of coaching has to change.

[Dodge]

We can dress it up how we like but if we are looking to progress and eventually reach the group stages of a European competition, then the ethos and level of coaching has to change.
Or the level of players. Without being unkind, we simply aren't as good as Kiev. Drogheda played as well as could be expevcted but the fact is they aren't good enough. No disgrace, and no real need for tribunals to find out why. The best team in Ireland (last year by a stretch) but not a top class european side. Anyone who was embarressed by that performance is either an idiot or detached from reality. Possibly both

[pete]

While I don't agree with Barney Rubble I do think it is worth debating the tactics of LOI teams. In the long term it would be good if we could attract coaches from foreign countries (not just the UK) to offer something different.

[gspain]

In some ways the criticism of Drogheda is in reality a compliment. Yes Dyanmo Kiev are a better team. I thought Drogheda were worth a draw on Tuesday night and the goal was a bad one to concede however they did ride their luck on occasions.

However it is nice to be even comparing our champions with the likes of Dynamo kiev who have won 2 ECWCs and a Super Cup and reached the semi finals of the EC/CL on 3 occasions. They expect to at least reach the Group stages and normally do. They are a much bigger club and hence can afford to spend €8 million on a player.

Our league is currently ranked 32nd of 53 in Europe. Ukraine are 11th. They do benefit from the fact that Shaktor and D. kiev are significantly better than the other clubs (like Rangers and Celtic in Scotland) coefficient wise. We suffer a little coefficient wise from not having the same 2-3 clubs dominate but it does make our league a better league from a competitive point of view.

The standard is going up and hopefully will continue to do so.

[bigmac]

Drogs were unlucky not to get the draw, but by no stretch of the imagination did they deserve it. If you were a Kiev fan would you be saying that a 2-1 win flattered Dinamo? Of course not, you'd be saying that they were lucky not to pay a higher price for missing so many chances.
I think Drogs can be proud of the effort they put in, clearly they didn't play football as well as they can, or some others in the league can, but it was good to see them play with confidence and have a real go at attacking a dodgy defence. Let's also remember that the simple option against better teams isn't always a simple option. It may be easy against a team at the bottom of the EL to pass your way forward, but at this level, if you don't get forward quickly then the opposition is too organised to break down. Drogs did well, any barstoolers watching the game will have found it end to end and a good spectacle, and it is a good advertisement for the league.

[Straightstory]

'Drogs, at times, played like schoolboys and, to me, that's down to bad coaching'.

Great! So it's just bad coaching. Get in Jose Mourinho and Drogs can win the Champions' League.

Even by the standards of Foot.ie, Barney, your post reaches new depths of mean spiritedness, gracelessness, vindictiveness, begrudgery, spitefulness, small mindedness and petty abuse. Why do you go and watch a 'standard of football' which you obviously despise? I can only presume you're a GAA bigot in disguise.

By the way, Kiev might have had 22 shots at goal, but only 8 were on target (due to some heroic blocking efforts by Gatland and Ewing, who should be given some credit). Drogheda had 5 shots on target and managed 48 per cent of the possession... and lost by a margin of ONE goal.

[barney]

'Drogs, at times, played like schoolboys and, to me, that's down to bad coaching'.

Great! So it's just bad coaching. Get in Jose Mourinho and Drogs can win the Champions' League.

Even by the standards of Foot.ie, Barney, your post reaches new depths of mean spiritedness, gracelessness, vindictiveness, begrudgery, spitefulness, small mindedness and petty abuse. Why do you go and watch a 'standard of football' which you obviously despise? I can only presume you're a GAA bigot in disguise.

By the way, Kiev might have had 22 shots at goal, but only 8 were on target (due to some heroic blocking efforts by Gatland and Ewing, who should be given some credit). Drogheda had 5 shots on target and managed 48 per cent of the possession... and lost by a margin of ONE goal.


Oh my….

Begrudgery? Could you tell me how I'm begrudging Drogheda anything when I was there supporting them? Could you tell me how I'm being vindictive? Drogheda have done nothing to me and I have no inclination to get any sort of revenge on them. No neutral was happier than me when they beat Talinn.

Obviously there is a ceiling to what any side can achieve so Mourinho wouldn't win them the CL. You're deliberately missing my point. Drogheda didn't do many of the basics right the other night and that's indicitive of eircom League football. You can get defensive and stick your head in the sand and pretend we are on the right road. Like the ceiling I spoke about earlier in relation to coaches, there is a ceiling you will hit playing like Drogs did on Tuesday. If we want to eventually progress to the group stages or look like we could, we need our sides doing the basics better. If they don't, we will continue to see people supporting the English sides and languish where we are.

I don't despise the EL at all. I am a season ticket holder and contribute to my local club. I love going to the games and watching the team from my town play senior football. There are some harsh realities that have to be faced though and saying "Drogheda lost 2-1 so they were unlucky and put up a good fight. Well done to them" is not good enough in my book.

BTW I've no affiliation or affinity for the GAA. Interesting to see you made that assumption though.

[pineapple stu]

I'm confused. So because Drogheda were beaten by a vastly superior side, we should all give up the ghost?

Should all football fans just follow Man U or Real then?

Or do you have any sort of idea what being a football fan is about?

[paul_oshea]

Or the level of players. Without being unkind, we simply aren't as good as Kiev. Drogheda played as well as could be expevcted but the fact is they aren't good enough. No disgrace, and no real need for tribunals to find out why. The best team in Ireland (last year by a stretch) but not a top class european side. Anyone who was embarressed by that performance is either an idiot or detached from reality. Possibly both

EL supporters?! No way :shocked:

[barney]

I'm confused. So because Drogheda were beaten by a vastly superior side, we should all give up the ghost?



Is that what I said?

[TheBoss]

People can be too harsh at times, Drogheda got the best possible result they could of hoped for, nothing really more you can say.

[Sheridan]

EL supporters?! No way :shocked:
Except that idiotic quip doesn't ***king work on any level in the context of the post it was quoting, does it? Why not read the post instead of trying to be clever (never a good idea.)

[pineapple stu]

I'm confused. So because Drogheda were beaten by a vastly superior side, we should all give up the ghost?



Is that what I said?
I don't know; that's why I said I was confused.

Should we be expecting to match Kiev technically? Should we only be happy if the result is indiciative of the gap between the teams? Should we be embarrassed if the result is more than was possibly deserved? Do you think no other team in history has managed a late defeat when possibly they deserved to lose 3-0 or so?

I really don't know how you can think a 2-1 defeat against a team in the CL group stages ten times of the past 11 isn't a good result. Everyone knows Drogs are limited in the world view, everyone knows Doolin is a rubbish manager in the eL view, but ultimately, Kiev couldn't score more than the two and needed a last minute winner, so it's a good result compared to what was expected.

[passinginterest]

I think barney makes a few valid points about the style of play and standard of coaching in Ireland. At almost every level of the game her emphasis is place on pressurising the ball, making hard tackles, getting forward quickly, not passing in the back four. The continental style seems to place more emphasis on passing, ball retention and creating chances through individual skill and stretching defences by passing the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Coaching kids to be more comfortable on the ball, more patient and more expressive couldn't be a bad thing. I think the changes are being made, although the emphasis on winning matches is still too much in the younger age groups.

It's quite impressive that Drogheda had 48% of the possession and that chances on target was 5 - 8. Kiev had a load of pot shots that brought their number of chances artificially high. I still wouldn't argue that with the theory that Drogheda were outclassed, but it wasn't nearly as bad as some would seem to suggest.

[pineapple stu]

I think barney makes a few valid points about the style of play and standard of coaching in Ireland.
Course he does. But his conclusion drawn from this (that all this back patting is ridiculous, and that the result wasn't a good one) is nonsense.

[Dodge]

EL supporters?! No way :shocked:

Have an ifraction for WUMing

I'd give you another one for completely missing the point too if it was my site...