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Hopefully Rovers put in a decent performance but focus appears to be on drogs on Sunday.
Jack Byrne should start, so that combined with hopefully a relaxed attitude from the opposition will hopefully see a tight enough game.
Great experience for the young lads in the squad to be playing at this level of competition.
I expect a strong starting 11 for 45 minutes then at least 3 subs at half time and 2 more at 60 minutes or so. Bradley held towell back from the first leg so he could play high against Dundalk so I would expect him to start this time and miss out against drogs.
I'd take a respectable loss tonight and a win against Drogs but tbh I'm not that bothered. Looking forward to the draw tommorow morning and hoping it's not a damp squid of tough unattractive ties
Couldn't care less what happens tonight, the tie is over & the rest is window dressing. With the group qualification assured its crucial now that thoughts turn to domestic competition with the Drogheda game, lose that and there's no safety net of other games to fall back on in that competition. Drogheda have already beaten us up there & beaten the next best team there twice (IIRC) so they are most definitely to be taken seriously. I suspect sbgawa is spot on re: loads of subs to allow the squad time to recuperate for Sunday. No point going gung ho & winning tonight, losing the tie & then getting knocked out of the cup on Sunday, yes we could win both games but IMO the chances of defeat on Sunday are increased if we overcommit to winning a dead rubber tonight.
Byrne still needs minding yet, it'd make sense tome to bring him on for a last 20-25 mins regardless of whats gone on, and then start him v Drogs for 60-70mins. Small pitch so not much stretching the legs but theres real guile meeded to crack the Drogs defence at home. They are well fit for the battering ram approach or balls in over the top, and there's limited chances to really use the wing backs effectively. So centre-mid creativity beside someone who will do the leg work tracking back. Drogs can smother and kill a game when they are really up for it at home and its not just Dundalk that have struggled there. The cup is all thats left to them so could be prepped for having a damn good go on Sunday. I would normally say that under the circumstances going out of the cup would be no disaster with ECL games - but to make life a bit easier on the stress levels in the run in we want the top three to progress. Just have a feeling this could be a real banana skin for Rovers.
Kenny's Dundalk were bold and ambitious. Do Rovers have the ambition to qualify from their ECL group? A difficult task for sure but tonight is an opportunity to try and setup for those difficult challenges coming down the track.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peaky Blinder
Presume it's more VIP areas, hospitality areas, extra media desks and more commentary positions, second TV studio needed for cat 4 as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
Since Shams game is a dead rubber, the Linfield game might be more interesting. Live on BBC 2 NI.
The group games are a different kettle of fish, though the group dynamic will be key to realistic ambition. The draw tomorrow will be very interesting as the teams drawn from pots 2 & 4 are key to how realistic qualification is. Either way I'd be hopeful we'll not go into the groups happy to make up the numbers and will try to be at least competitive.Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
Tonight's game is a dead rubber though, there is simply no way a 4-0 deficit will be overturned, and that's got nothing to do with ambition, that's just professional practicality. Avoid total embarrassment whilst giving yourself the best chance to win in the cup on Sunday in a game that is far more winnable in terms of progression. We have injuries and despite what some like to think here the squad isn't 'that' strong so resources need to be managed. I think the vast majority of Rovers fans respect that.
Is the league season going to have to finish on the Sunday because of Rovers in Europe?
I think its sold out as anecdotally i have been hearing that there are plenty of Ferncavaros fans working in Ireland you might see a degree of mixing in the East especially.
I remember when Ireland hosted the u17 Euros in 2019 there was a TON of Hungarian fans at each game, possibly the most followed side in the tournament. Hungary might not be necessarily our largest diaspora but it definitely seems to be the one that comes out in force when their nation or club sides play.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingswood Rover
All sounds a bit GAA.Quote:
Originally Posted by joey B
Would have thought soQuote:
Originally Posted by joey B
Rovers last Match is at home to UCD.
If the title and relegation play off positions were settled Rovers and UCD might be happy enough to play on the Friday assuming the Thursday match was at home or maybe just the Rovers UCD match could go back to the Sunday.
Ludogorets gone to ET with Zalgiris. They haven’t been that good since the 1st leg vs Rovers. Maybe they are not as good as that 3-0 result suggested.
Shkupi with a player sent off in the first minute in Kosovo. They're 2-1 down from the home leg and that's probably tie over. A strongly-worded internet post is on its way no doubt
Sure you're basically Hooperman at this point Nesta.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
Yeah I'd agree with all that. It's basically a training match. Should see something different in midfield and up top but I'd say it will look close to first choice at the back.
Or we were just awful in the first half of the first leg.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
Probably a little of both.Quote:
Originally Posted by ontheotherhand
And CSKA who got past Pats by the skin of their teeth are still leading Basel with about 25 mins to go in the tie. Every match is different.