LOI in Europe 2011

Partizan were the lowest ranked of the seeded clubs.

Easiest draw they could have gotten, going on seedings. Significantly weaker than Kobenhavn going on club seedings. Should still have too much for Rovers though, but have to look at it as a chance.

I'm telling ye - outside chance only maybe, but defo a chance !

Keep the dream alive Rovers.

Tis the best they could have hoped for

Good team, they'll have a former Bohs foe leading them (Ilic) and Ivanov (I think he's Bulgarian but he played in Russia and is an animal).

They're ranked 114, Copenhagen are ranked 39. Rovers are 265.
Pat's 215, Bohs & Derry 236. Dundalk & Sporting Fingal though vanished 281 and Sligo 300.
This is all for 2011.

I'm pretty happy with this draw. They're definately one of the easier seeded teams would could have drawn.
Definately think we have a chance against them. :)

Partizan
Champions of 2010–11 Serbian SuperLiga and qualified as a result for 2011–12 UEFA Champions League Second qualifying round. The Serbian SuperLiga is a 16 team division played over two series.

Second qualifying round
Partizan beat Škendija (Macedonia) 5-0 on aggregate. 4-0 at home and 1-0 away in the second leg.

Third qualifying round
Partizan lost out 3-2 on aggregate to Genk (Belgium). Partizan lost the first-leg 2-1 away and drew 1-1 in the return leg.

Club co efficent wise as it stands, serbia is 27th and we are 32nd

All Rovers would have wanted was a chance and with this side they'll have one. They really need to find their scoring boots though. 1 goal in 4 games is a poor return, based on the number of chances they created.

Not bad for Rovers. They stand half a chance. Not much, probably make an arse of it like the others.

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Originally Posted by Kingdom

Quiet you, we're guests in here, don't go spoiling it for the rest of us.

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Its a public forum, you are a guest nowhere ;)

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Originally Posted by dantheman

Tis the best they could have hoped for

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Tis, but the away leg first would have been ideal.

Red Star were drawn at home the same night. The stadiums are minutes apart from each other, one of them will probably have to be moved.

I don't know about playing the away leg 1st. Normally I'd prefer it, but being at home 1st, against a so called "superior" team does have it advantages. They'll be cautious and Rovers are at home, so should be more confident of getting a positive result to defend in the 2nd leg. It worked for them against Flora. A similar 1st leg result would be great, and not completely beyond the realms of possibility. Whether that result would be enough after the 2nd leg who knows...

Did I see right that Hearts got Spurs

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Tis, but the away leg first would have been ideal.

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Disagree with this. I'd prefer home first. The first legs are usually cagey affairs. I'd prefer to draw 0-0 at home first then draw 0-0 away from home first.

Then, if you go down 1-0 in the second leg away, you know that if you score once, you go through. In the same scenario at home second, you have to score twice to go through.

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Originally Posted by ger121

Did I see right that Hearts got Spurs

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Yep..

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Originally Posted by ger121

Did I see right that Hearts got Spurs

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The battle of britain. No doubt.

Better to get the home draw first IMO. With a little more pressure riding on the away leg, it should lead to more of a focus and lads actually taking the chances given to them..

might be lower in the seedings than copenhagen but will be much more technical and skillfull. i think we have less of a chance against these types of sides, esp away when if there on form could rip you open more so than a scandinavian side. i dont see shams progressing but i hope they can.

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

Disagree with this. I'd prefer home first. The first legs are usually cagey affairs. I'd prefer to draw 0-0 at home first then draw 0-0 away from home first.

Then, if you go down 1-0 in the second leg away, you know that if you score once, you go through. In the same scenario at home second, you have to score twice to go through.

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True, but its easier score at home than away, or at least it should be. Playing against superior opposition means they can score easier at home too.

I see your point, in the copenhagen game, it dictated how rovers played at home, which meant cagey and cautious and any lapse in concentration they were in serious trouble, which proved correct. LOI teams do suffer this quite a bit so i suppose its better suffer that away from home and look to score than at home knowing they need to score two.

Perhaps you are right :) I jsut feel if partizan went back to belgrade with a 0-0 they would be more than capable of scoring 2 at home.

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Originally Posted by MeathDrog

Better to get the home draw first IMO. With a little more pressure riding on the away leg, it should lead to more of a focus and lads actually taking the chances given to them..

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Its not about focus, its about panic, that panic is part pressure part fear part inexperience part ability. Its certainly easier take your chances at home or at least it should be, all those negatives, are somewhat compensated by a relaxed, local, known environment.

Knowing SFA about Partizan but reading from what has been written above, you would have to think Rovers have a chance. I thought they did well against Copenhagen the other night until they conceded a sloppy goal and that really took the wind out of their sails. Will need to find their scoring boots and to defend set pieces better.

But considered that Genk knocked out Belgrade, should there really be that much to fear!?!? Respect yes, but SR defo have a chance.

Has anybody been to a match in Serbia? The Belgrade teams and Vojvodina (Novi Sad) have insane followers and there are probably some on here who remember how it was for the old Cork City under Rico. If I were JR I'd be calling the Partizan president and asking him to switch, Rovers can cause them trouble but as has been pointed out, need to score goals.

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Originally Posted by Spudulika

Has anybody been to a match in Serbia? The Belgrade teams and Vojvodina (Novi Sad) have insane followers and there are probably some on here who remember how it was for the old Cork City under Rico. If I were JR I'd be calling the Partizan president and asking him to switch, Rovers can cause them trouble but as has been pointed out, need to score goals.

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No, but I read this book: excellent read.
There are some total fruitcakes following football over there. Not like us at all (!)

Rumours going around that Partizan fans attacked the ref after getting knocked out of champions league, so they might be kicked out of europe all together and Rovers get a bye into the group stages!

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Originally Posted by elroy

Knowing SFA about Partizan

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Well, you're right about them being Serbian Football Association. ;)

Personally, I think it's an excellent draw. I don't know how drawing the weakest seeded opponent (by ranking) couldn't be. What better could have been expected really? Beating a Macedonian side and losing to Genk to end up here is something that should strike no fear whatsoever into Shamrock Rovers. This has to be viewed as as good a chance as Rovers will get to reach the group stage.

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Originally Posted by harleyleeds

yes danney i was way off the mark Rovers obviously never had a chance . Bit sad for you that this is what makes you happy but then just being someone who has never and will never have a club of your own slagging off others is as good as it will get for you . yes i am sickened at the loss, yes i thought we could win the game based on the performance last week but we never turned up and poltava were quite a few classes above us. The thing is danney i now look forward to my team in the other competitions they have left and if it isnt too outlandish to say i think they can still win the league and or the cup. you on the other hand have nothing but more criticising of teams and or fans who dont share your opinion. the thing about supporting your team is you can be as outlandish as you want but you not having a team to support will never have that pleasure. I will follow my team to the day i die through good days and ones like yesterday and am proud of the effort they put in against the ukranians (turns out they werent in the same class) ,next up Dundalk away. Danny i think we can beat them away and i hope im not being to outlandish for you but really follow your local gaa team it would suit you better than having no team. I make no appologies for making any claims about my teams capabilities wheither you like them or not , they are mine and im entitled to my opinion right or wrong . when we sat down to watch the game yesterday and saw the great work done by the lads on the Showgies before getting a lesson in football I was very proud to be a Rovers fan and after said lesson still just as proud . So danney I dont think my claims were outlandish just an over excited fan not seeing past the pride he has in the ROVERS , simple mistake really for someone with a team to love.

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I didn't derive any pleasure from your prediction being wildly off track as I'd have loved to have seen Sligo progress. We all post on this public forum, however, and should rightly expect what we post to be subject to checks and examination from those who disagree. No big deal and no need to feel victimised; there is a point to this discussion forum, after all. When someone appears to frequently take the more contentious or outlandish (nay, over-excited) stances for whatever reason, it'll only draw greater criticism. When I take issue with something you write, it's not really me being personal or whatever; admittedly, what I see as your habitual irrationality and pig-headedness grates with me to an extent where I've, from time to time, wondered about your genuinity as a poster, but that's not really getting personal, is it? Or not in the context of an internet forum anyway. I don't think I've attacked anyone personally on this forum. Being personal would be me making unfounded remarks about you like how you've just done about me above. In fact, if you were to go back through your correspondences with me, you'd note that you were, in fact, the one who lapsed into asterisk-laden name-calling and such juvenile behaviour. I ignored it, bar a flippant remark as to its pettiness because it seemed so unnecessary and out-of place. You then jump to quite a few assumptions about me that I wouldn't agree with at all. Following this league has brought me great joy (and misery) on many an occasion and will continue to do so; being purposefully outlandish in my views, however, appeals not so much. Anyway, best of luck and all that. :good:

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Originally Posted by Mario

Rumours going around that Partizan fans attacked the ref after getting knocked out of champions league, so they might be kicked out of europe all together and Rovers get a bye into the group stages!

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Where are these rumours doing the rounds?

Looks like an interesting book that. Yeah, sure didn't their national side's fans get banned recently after causing a bit of trouble in Italy . . .

Seems to me that Rovers have got the best possible draw here; they should fill Tallaght and the away trip won't break the bank . . .

On the footballing side I would be another who sees playing the home leg first as a good thing . . . try and get a good first leg result and then go out there and try to defend it. Three half decent away results last week counted for nothing when those opponents came back here.

There will be a few people sitting in the crowd, and probably some in the directors box, who were a) war profiteers, or b) war criminals. Now that's nothing to shake an umbrella at! I'd like to see how Rovers hoolies will match up, they'd lose the small arms fight for a start :-)

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Originally Posted by Mario

Rumours going around that Partizan fans attacked the ref after getting knocked out of champions league, so they might be kicked out of europe all together and Rovers get a bye into the group stages!

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I think that's more wishful thinking than anything else...though it'd be a terrible shame to have to accept a bye :)

Either way, another big European name in Tallaght, we're collecting them up like stickers at this stage.

All ye need now is another board where ye stick the scalps....oh wait ;)

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Originally Posted by Mario

Rumours going around that Partizan fans attacked the ref after getting knocked out of champions league, so they might be kicked out of europe all together and Rovers get a bye into the group stages!

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Asked this on another forum, sounds like balls (although he may have been hit by a lighter).

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Originally Posted by Mario

Rumours going around that Partizan fans attacked the ref after getting knocked out of champions league, so they might be kicked out of europe all together and Rovers get a bye into the group stages!

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it was probably me masquerading as a Partizan fan over on alwaysultras...

Goals from Ukrainian television here.

Sligo-Vorskla:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulRQkMA2nt0&NR=1

St. Pat's-Karpaty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDgWdY_j8TE

Those were some quality goals Karpaty scored. They look like a decent outfit.

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Originally Posted by Spudulika

There will be a few people sitting in the crowd, and probably some in the directors box, who were a) war profiteers, or b) war criminals. Now that's nothing to shake an umbrella at! I'd like to see how Rovers hoolies will match up, they'd lose the small arms fight for a start :-)

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Not interested in that, just the game. Happy to leave the political stuff to those with that responsibility.

Not the best draw, not the worst draw. Some chance of progress, but in that respect, not happy to have the away leg as the return leg. I never am, regardless what team it is. The home side unless they're complete muck, have the advantage of knowing what they have to do with their own crowd behind them.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Well, you're right about them being Serbian Football Association. ;)

Personally, I think it's an excellent draw. I don't know how drawing the weakest seeded opponent (by ranking) couldn't be. What better could have been expected really? Beating a Macedonian side and losing to Genk to end up here is something that should strike no fear whatsoever into Shamrock Rovers. This has to be viewed as as good a chance as Rovers will get to reach the group stage.



I didn't derive any pleasure from your prediction being wildly off track as I'd have loved to have seen Sligo progress. We all post on this public forum, however, and should rightly expect what we post to be subject to checks and examination from those who disagree. No big deal and no need to feel victimised; there is a point to this discussion forum, after all. When someone appears to frequently take the more contentious or outlandish (nay, over-excited) stances for whatever reason, it'll only draw greater criticism. When I take issue with something you write, it's not really me being personal or whatever; admittedly, what I see as your habitual irrationality and pig-headedness grates with me to an extent where I've, from time to time, wondered about your genuinity as a poster, but that's not really getting personal, is it? Or not in the context of an internet forum anyway. I don't think I've attacked anyone personally on this forum. Being personal would be me making unfounded remarks about you like how you've just done about me above. In fact, if you were to go back through your correspondences with me, you'd note that you were, in fact, the one who lapsed into asterisk-laden name-calling and such juvenile behaviour. I ignored it, bar a flippant remark as to its pettiness because it seemed so unnecessary and out-of place. You then jump to quite a few assumptions about me that I wouldn't agree with at all. Following this league has brought me great joy (and misery) on many an occasion and will continue to do so; being purposefully outlandish in my views, however, appeals not so much. Anyway, best of luck and all that. :good:

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I declare Danny the winner. (More articulate, and correct use of capital letters).

That looked to be one impressive team Sligo were up against, looked well beaten all over the park even from that short clip, makes their 0-0 result in the first leg look even better now. I like the look of the ground with the seating behind the goal, showgrounds def improving into a nice stadium. No disagrace losing to that lot.