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That’s been debunked on Twitter already. https://x.com/irish_pics/status/1890...163402105?s=46Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
He'll have to settle for being only the *Father Ted style* SECOND youngest scorer in the history of European club football
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.
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?
Youngest in a group stage then will have to do himQuote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Well - we're gone beyond the group stage now!
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 timeQuote:
Originally Posted by yurt
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
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)
Great win for Rovers. Molde sending-off was extremely harsh, I thought. I remember Pats had a great win in Bulgaria a couple of years ago - and completely messed up the second leg. I think Rovers are made of sterner stuff. Shame about the suspensions for the second leg. It won't be easy.
Ah it was a stone wall red tbf. There was no stopping Noonan and the covering player only caught up once he hit the deck.
I could be wrong, but I feel that this achievement is not getting the due plaudits from the wider public and media. Maybe due to Rovers' excellent run we have become desensitised to these impressive results, but this was an away win against a good club in a European knockout stage. Completely unprecedented.
Obviously counts for nothing if they don't get the job done in the second leg, but still a massive achievement.
Fantastic result. They managed the tie really well. The new players already look settled, very impressed with Healy in particular. A fully fit Mandriou will be huge for Rovers this year.
we've moved ahead of Moldova in the co-efficient rankings, into 32nd.
There's a big gap to the next country up. I would have said that it's unlikely Russia will be adding to their score any time soon, but these days who knows
Still think it's mad that the FAI's 5 Year Plan aimed for Ireland to break the top 30. It must have bene a typo
Into 31st, no?
You never know what'll happen with Russia the way Trump is going...
But for the moment I guess we can assume (as someone else pointed out earlier in thread) that they'll get the 4.333 again this year, so really it's Slovenia we're chasing next, who are 4.093 ahead of us. Not going to catch that this year.
Hard to see this year being as good with Shels in the CL and Drogheda in the Conference. But you never know. Drogheda can't do much worse than Derry did this time I guess.
I think what this year has really shown with so many poor teams being in the new league format is that groups stage wins are the new currency. Rovers have accounted for 2 thirds of our points this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
If we don't have a team in the conference league picking up a few points we're going to end up way back the rankings. Based on vibes at this point, I'd give Shels a 40% chance and Rovers a 25% of making the groups from their respective paths.
Rovers will at least be seeded the whole way through qualifying but there will be a lot of land mines, going to take a lot of luck to not draw some random unseeded team from a big league. Could definitely see no one making the groups in 2025, but Shels/Pats/Rovers all making a 3rd round of some flavor, and one of those a playoff. It's probably important for the image of the league that someone makes it, but we are still very far away from it being acertinty. Once we have that Europa League spot things get a bit more possible to do it every season.
There is always the slim chance Shels draw someone like TNS in CL Rnd 1, and then you're on to something. Hopefully there's enough bad teams in ECL Rnd 1 that Drogheda get a good experience whatever happens.
As for last night, really excellent, the red obviously helped, still not sure I'd make Rovers favourites next week given they have another very physically and emotionally draining event in between. I think Molde will be marginally better. It is a hell of a way to start a season!
Yeah, group stage is huge alright. Don't forget Pat's making the groups - got to the last qualifying round this time. But the draw is very uneven - a weak team from a good country and a good team from a weak country can be seeded the same but really aren't in reality.Quote:
Originally Posted by yurt
I didn't realise Noonan is the son of Andrew Noonan, ex LOI player who had some legal trouble a while back along with Keith Quinn. Not sure what happened with that case in the end?
A fit Gaffney would have started instead of Noonan and Nugent started all the important games particularly away , ditto Clarke if fit would have played as a natural LWB.Quote:
Originally Posted by WeAreRovers
That being said i was impressed with Healy who looked really good and McGinty was sharp for a couple of bad backpasses or through balls that Pohls could have been caught out by si its looking good.
Jury still out on Grant he was alright nothing more.
All in all no question an away win in Europe is huge and i think as someone said above its going under the radar a bit becasue good results have become a bit routine.
Starting 11 for Sunday will be interesting