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Derry have no chance against the Finns… HB Torshavn are a very, very poor team.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
We could have had a few goals 1st half but reverted to Higgins ball 2nd half and sat in on 1-0 for the entire 45, any decent team would have punished us multiple times. It was a poor showing against very low quality opposition.
We will lose home and away to KuPs.
Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
With 3 of this season's European entrants now being f-t, plus Crues hybrid f-t/p-t, it could be that that helped us. (I believe Linfield had a pre-season training camp in Spain, for instance)Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
Or it could just be that they're taking Europe more seriously than previously.
Or it could be what I posted on here last week after the first legs:
"The four LOI clubs had (generally) poor results, while the four IL clubs had (generally) good ones.
What can you tell from that? Well imo nothing much actually. We might know a bit more after the return legs, when who knows, the LOI teams could turn things round and/or the IL teams could stumble. But even then you might just be misled by a couple of teams which "deserved" to go through but somehow didn't, or teams which didn't deserve it who sneaked it.
For football is the most random of games, meaning four matches is far too small a sample size to reach any firm conclusions, one way or another."
Or some combination of the three.
A new UEFA record was set as Malta's Gzira United beat Glentoran 14-13 on penalties in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Up until the night of 20 July 2023, it was hard to imagine that there would be a more remarkable UEFA competition shoot-out than the one that decided the 2021 UEFA Europa League final. On that occasion, Villarreal ran out 11-10 winners against Manchester United; the first 21 kicks in the match in Gdansk were successfully converted, before Gerónimo Rulli saved the 22nd, which was taken by United goalkeeper David de Gea.
However, in a UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round decider in Belfast, Malta's Gzira United and hosts Glentoran went a good distance further. At The Oval, the first 27 kicks were scored (14 for Gzira, 13 for Glentoran) before Gzira goalkeeper David Cassar saved the 28th, taken by Leon Boyd (one of six players who ended up taking two penalties).
https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaconfe...hoot-out-ever/
Note: This was the highest scoring, but not the longest shoot-out in UEFA competition - The 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-final between the Netherlands and England had 32 attempts before the Dutch hosts prevailed 13-12.
Folks, have just read this thread through from where I left off about 10 days ago until now. WOW! What a thread ? loved every minute off it.Some great arguments, counter arguments,spats,facts,press clippings, game action and loads more besides.Who said forums are dead?
Foot.ie is back baby ???
I completely disagree. It's 10 pages of utter dross and foot.ie is as dead as Rovers in Europe.Quote:
Originally Posted by ToberonaTornado
Is there some new rule in penalty shootouts which means that teams don't go through all 11 players before a player takes a second penalty?
The Oval looked fantastic last night, hadn't watched a game from that venue since the Setanta Cup, a proper ground that!
Any details of an upgrade I wonder?
Glad to see both Dundalk and Derry at least getting through their games, can't see them progressing any further however.
What was the attendance at the Oval last night as the seating capacity is around 2750 in the Main Stand and 2,000 in the covered stand opposite!
And yet, here you are!Quote:
Originally Posted by ontheotherhand
Nice!Quote:
Originally Posted by ontheotherhand
Watched 6(5-6 two eyes) of the 8 games and its the poorest fare I've seen from a collective set of teams in a long while. It wasn't like the 00s though, that story was quite different 60-70 mins of good organised and disciplined football until the inevitable lapse of concentration or dopiness from one player causing a goal then finishing with a 2 or 3 goal loss. This year was not like that, those lapses were happening from fairly early on.
Rovers performances were insipid and uninspiring they look totally flat and out of ideas. A tired team with tired ideas. That has to come down to the Manager and coaches. What's happening with the underage structure and the conveyor belt of talent coming through. Those Icelandic players looked fitter, stronger, better conditioned and technically superior to anything Rovers could offer.
The less said on Derry and less so Dundalk the better. But both were unbelievably bad and I have high hopes for O'Donnell.
Pats played good football and really should have won last night, Lux players were looking out on their feet as early as the 75th minute. A lot of poor balls by mulraney and a lot of hit and hope crosses into the box.
Out of any players across the teams and games Curtis looked like a good prospect out of all the young(er) players on show but he's too slow same as Ferizaj last year with Rovers and its no surprise to not see him involved this year based off what I said last year. He got so badly exposed by an average dutch striker for that last goal and yes I'm aware hes only 17 but it wasnt just the early sell it was the lack of pace injection that stood out after more.
Finally that back pocket excuse thrown up here for years about budget, resources, conditioning etc can blown out of the water. When theres a co-ordinated push in footballing structures to lobby the government into fundamental investment into the game in Ireland the government are going to look for a bang for their buck. Where's the value in what's being offered? The rest of Europe has caught up and passed LOI out wheres the guarantee to government its going to pay off.
There are 2 clubs in Akureyri, it was 2nd division Thor who hammered Bohs, KA are the other club, they are Thor’s bigger brother.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
KA are currently in the bottom third of the league, there’s much of a muchness betweeen them and Dundalk but KA are more structured in their play. The game will be played in Reykjavik as KA’s ground is being rebuilt anew. KA will be up for this game as not much else of note happens in their football competitive life and their support will travel in expectation.
If it's a European defeat, it must be time for Paul O'Shea to drop by.
Welcome back Paul! :)
Unfortunately everything he said there is spot on.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I think so too. But it's just a foot.ie ritual - the only time of year Paul leaves the Ireland forum here.
I didn't think so? Didn't happen in that game last night. Where are you thinking that from?Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
Everything apart from 'Pats should have won' they absolutely shoud not have won,they were blessed to be still in the game in the second half and 1 of their goals was a complete freak,the Luxembourgers were full value for their win....Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
Ah sorry I didn’t question that part as I didn’t see the game and seen Pat’s were 2-1 up at one stage so made sense that maybe they should’ve won but fair enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by joey B
I probably should have said "could" there yesterday. Bar the first 20 mins Pats had most of the ball and most of the chances. That Dutch guy was the difference between the two teams really and that proved in the end. They had more than enough of the ball and with a bit more composure and accuracy of delivery they would have. They should have gone ahead(on the night)through Carty he had a free header 6 yards out and no man near him. That goes in there was only going to be one winner - so call it could or should up to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by joey B
Ah ok. Thanks for clarifying. Impressive there are 2 clubs in a small place like Akureyri.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Sounds like what happens in the real world too. Some Irish fans who only turn their gaze upon the LOI during Europe and then criticise it when it doesn’t live up to their expectations.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I was at our game home and away. Dudelange deserved to go through, they were the stronger team over the two legs especially in attack.
The big frustration for Pats fans is that after we levelled the tie in the second half last night we had them under the cosh and it was very much in our own hands to go through. Then we gifted it back to them through a double mistake by a centre half playing his third game for us. Their injury time goal is neither here nor there, we were practically playing one at the back at that stage as we had to go for broke.
Mistakes in central defence have been killing us all season. Our first choice centre halves are Joe Redmond and Tom Grivosti, both out injured for the past few months. We have missed them badly.
Should have been Kazakhstan - mis-scanned the line. Aoologies - no back-door return for Glens I'm afraid!Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Have to say I really, really enjoyed watching the Pat's game. It was end to end with pieces of quality from both sides and even more mistakes from them too. Dudelange were clearly the better team over the 2 legs but they tried their best to give it to Pat's with the state of the goalkeeping for all 3 goals. When Pat's went 2-1 up on the night I thought there was only one winner from there. That didn't turn out to be the case and in that context I think it is fair to say Pat's should have went through even if I don't think they were the better team.
The last minute winner was such a killer too for those of us who love following the co-efficients like a league table.
Even though the results and performances haven't been good in Europe so far I've never been more bullish on the future of the league. Europe used to be in my be the be all and end all for the LOI. It would be how I would measure the quality of our league and how I would try and ligitimise the league to the barstoolers. But post covid and the attendance boost I don't feel like I need to try and argue the LOI case anymore, Europe is just a fun side-show to me now.
I think it's clear to everyone (including now eventually the FAI which is the main thing) that the biggest thing holding back football in this country is facilities and coaching. Now that there's an actual plan in place to improve on that front I'm more hopeful for the futures than previously hoping than that a club reaching the group stages will somehow fix everything. We already know it won't when Dundalk got there twice and still play in the same Oriel.
Not for long Ger!Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
So we shouldn't fund and improve the game because you weren't satisfied with a few European performances? Good stuff. Great to have you contributing again.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
What is shocking is that it is the first time a LOI club has had a VAR decision for them. Just 7 years after it was first introduced in the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
The ref has every right to see for himself what you saw, to help make his decision. Sadly in the LOI, he wouldn't get the opportunity.
Despite the result, Bradley is safe as long as he wins us the league.
And that’s why it would almost be a good thing in the long run if Rovers don’t win the league. This team needs a clear out and we all know Bradley won’t do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Dundalk made quite hard work of that last night, but end of day the outcome was the most important part by miles, get to R2. €550k now min, Derry will get the same.
Europe really is so important for clubs in the absence of any TV deal or govt support.
Why? Both went through, plus do you not think teams from Faroes and Gibraltar are not going to have a go at trying to earn 500k +Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Who cares about a performance, its all about the results at this stage.
We disagree on a lot but I genuinely can't believe you'd want VAR in the LoI. I'd rather Sean Grant ref every game than ruin the entire sport.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
100%.this all day, I’d never go to a game where the fans can’t celebrate a goal until the tv says it’s ok.if you want var, stay in the pub watching epl or cl or worse again the farce that international rugby has become.Quote:
Originally Posted by ontheotherhand
You can celebrate a goal whenever you want. You can even celebrate getting a penalty that is not scored, happens in 1 in every 5 penalties.
What I want is justice on a pitch, not headlines about the wrong decision made by the ref. The officials deserve to be informed about the details of an incident, as much as everyone else. Every serious club and international competition these days has VAR available, so that justice is done when it's supposed to be done. And I'm delighted we got the chance to use it in our European tie. Without it, the result would have been even worse.
Drogheda v IK Start(?) I think. It amused at the time when Graham Gartland, Drogs designated penalty taker, missed both his penos.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
*misread the above on ALL players scoring rather than the amount of penos needed.
Don’t care I’ll never agree that var has a place in football, absolutely robs the tempo .Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
And the uncertainty is part of the game. As is being on either side of a dodgy call.
Var arrives in loi I’m off.
Well even that didn't have all 22 players score though. It ended 11-10Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
Edit - an old (2014) Guardian article gives 29 successful kicks as the record, with the 30th missed.
This, with 27 successful kicks in a row, would go in at joint second best of all time in that regard
https://www.theguardian.com/football...st-most-scored
You make it sound like LoI was ever ahead of the rest of Europe and been overtaken. Its stating the obvious that there has been chronic neglect of the domestic game here and that has allowed the likes of Icelandic teams to not be underdogs v LoI sides. In that regard your point may be valid. We have seen improvement irrespective of underinvestment imo. That it was generally felt that the draw was favourable for all is based on being closer to European sides is indicative of this rather than arrogance. The leagues ranking hovers around the same yearly bar exceptions but having clubs seeded in early rounds also counters the argument that there is significant disimprovement rather than fairly much things being par for the course.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
I dont really know why Rovers underperformed in europe previously bar maybe a conservative tactical approach, but I dont think they were incapable of progressing through the 1st round, they just didnt turn up and looked like they were in preseason and that could be due to them not needing to be sharp and on song week in week out domestically to top the league.
Yup, copped the error before reading this post.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Everyone says that, and then everyone goes straight back. VAR is essential in football, it is in use in over 100 national competitions, and fans still go to watch them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dermobohs
Results pay the bills, and it's an outrage that a team's entire season can be destroyed, because the ref didn't have the chance to see what he needs to see, to correct a clearly wrong decision. Unfortunately that's still the case in this league.
Thankfully that day is a long long way in the future. I expect to be pushing up daisies before it arrives (if ever). Absolutely agree with you. I’d rather take my chances on dodgy calls.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dermobohs