Europa Cup Draw - Rovers will play Vllaznia(Albania) winners play Rapid Vienna

**Boo_Boy** · 22/06/2009, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by Redie

Just been looking at their ground and the area on Google earth. Nice enough looking place. Beside a big lake with the coast close by. Bit like Sligo really.

Yea you can see Vllaznia on the seats in the stadium from google earth, modern technology is terrific.

**MMVIII** · 22/06/2009, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by redobit

In years to come it wont be the extra couple of hundred euros extra you spent on the trip that you will remember.
The middle of last season we would have jumped at this chance lads.

Here here.

**Jeebus** · 22/06/2009, 1:39 PM

Originally Posted by Inside Man

Dissapointed with this draw. Was hoping for a cheaper trip as things are tight atm. As said earlier the trip to Vienna would be cheaper and more glamorous. Could make a small holiday out of it with the missus.

Flights to Vienna are quite expensive. Aer Lingus fly direct from Dublin. Looking at paying approx €350 return p.p.

**MMVIII** · 22/06/2009, 1:45 PM

Originally Posted by Jeebus

Flights to Vienna are quite expensive. Aer Lingus fly direct from Dublin. Looking at paying approx �350 return p.p.

I'm sure you'd get cheaper than that. Just wouldn't go direct.

**LondonRover** · 22/06/2009, 1:55 PM

Rapid Vienna'd be a good trip alright if we get through (better than the trip to Israel that I was told was on the UEFA site earlier!).

Can't get to either leg of the 1Q round so really really hoping that the Rovers get through.

Anyone know if these Albanians are any good?

**pineapple stu** · 22/06/2009, 2:04 PM

Originally Posted by redobit

In years to come it wont be the extra couple of hundred euros extra you spent on the trip that you will remember.
The middle of last season we would have jumped at this chance lads.

I couldn't afford to go to our game in Bulgaria in 2000. As such, the above is absolutely 100% true.

**The Midget Gem** · 22/06/2009, 3:06 PM

1. They finished second in the Albanian Premier league, behind the champions by 4pts and securing their Europa league spot by a massive 20pts.
2. 2 years ago they beat Zagreb in the Intertoto Cup.
3. Last year they got to the second round of Uefa Cup by beating a Slovenian side in first round.
4. In their last 6 attempts in European football(this decade) they have only failed to reach the second round on 1 occasion, losing to Dundee United.
5. They have the highest attendances in the Albanian league. Average attendances of 4,255. Highest attendances of 10,000 last year. Supposedly they pulled 20,000 for a match in their 01/02 season.
6. Their staduim has a capacity of 20,300.
7. Vioresin Sinani is their dangerman. Plays for the Albanian national team, has played in Turkish Super Lig and also Croation Premier league. Notched up 14 goals last season.
8. Their season finished officially at the end of may with the their play-offs. Vlliaznia have not played a competitive match since mid may.

Just said I'd post it for anyone interested

.

**red_away** · 22/06/2009, 3:37 PM

We should forget about vienna as there albans will be no mugs!!

**Rovers Maniac** · 22/06/2009, 3:59 PM

Originally Posted by The Midget Gem

1. They finished second in the Albanian Premier league, behind the champions by 4pts and securing their Europa league spot by a massive 20pts.
2. 2 years ago they beat Zagreb in the Intertoto Cup.
3. Last year they got to the second round of Uefa Cup by beating a Slovenian side in first round.
4. In their last 6 attempts in European football(this decade) they have only failed to reach the second round on 1 occasion, losing to Dundee United.
5. They have the highest attendances in the Albanian league. Average attendances of 4,255. Highest attendances of 10,000 last year. Supposedly they pulled 20,000 for a match in their 01/02 season.
6. Their staduim has a capacity of 20,300.
7. Vioresin Sinani is their dangerman. Plays for the Albanian national team, has played in Turkish Super Lig and also Croation Premier league. Notched up 14 goals last season.
8. Their season finished officially at the end of may with the their play-offs. Vlliaznia have not played a competitive match since mid may.

Just said I'd post it for anyone interested

.

They lost 6-0 to Dundee, then they lost 8-0 to Napoli, the crowd they beat last year from Slovenia finished i think 10th in their league are rank useless and were out of season and have been hammered the season before that by a Bosnian team and the season before that to a Bulgarian team 6-3 and 6-0.

The Intertoto form is something i would pay little notice to as so many clubs don't think it seriously but anyway that was NK Zagreb and not Dinamo Zagreb and there is a major difference.

It will be a very difficult match and we will need Peers, Parkhouse and Holmes back to have a chance but i believe meeting a team out of season gives us a real chance of turning them over. They done well in their own league last season but i think they may have lost one or two of their players from last years team.

They won their league a few seasons ago and just sneaked through against a crowd from Iceland an away goals, they are probably a decent side but no need to make them out to be world beaters either. Look put it this way Bohs or Derry would take them and i would fancy us with a full side to take an out of season Bohs if we were in season. There is a fair bit for us to be positive about the draw but we need to have our injured players back and the fact the our lads will be in season for this and fully fit is a major plus imo. I am sure they won't be delighted with drawing a team have way through their season. C'mon the Rovers

**Redie** · 22/06/2009, 4:11 PM

[QUOTE=red bellied;1181514]Got the Albanian side. At least we got the home leg first, they mighnt bother turning up.[/QUOTE]

They'll turn up all right. Getting them to go back home might be the problem!

**MMVIII** · 22/06/2009, 4:35 PM

Has anyone booked yet?

**The Midget Gem** · 22/06/2009, 5:50 PM

Originally Posted by Rovers Maniac

that was NK Zagreb and not Dinamo Zagreb and there is a major difference.

I know i never said that. I said Zagreb, so technically i wasn't wrong.

I think they will look at this draw and say they could take us. From their point of view they are playing a team who has not been in Europe in 13/14 years, and atm we are very depleted. All that aside i think we will take them, but we will need to be on our game.

**Well Red** · 22/06/2009, 6:12 PM

Will be travelling back to Sligo for the first leg which I think is on the 2nd July, how does one get match tickets, can they be bought on line ?

**Rovers Maniac** · 22/06/2009, 6:13 PM

Originally Posted by Well Red

Will be travelling back to Sligo for the first leg which I think is on the 2nd July, how does one get match tickets, can they be bought on line ?

Contact the club, i have another one to get myself.

**sligoman** · 22/06/2009, 6:41 PM

Just booked me flight...cannot fecking wait

This is gonna be some dodgy trip

**Rovers Maniac** · 22/06/2009, 6:56 PM

What days you heading Sligoman? Over on the Wed back on the Fri? Going via Dubrovnik?

**Shedzer** · 22/06/2009, 7:01 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17FXubPCleA

What lies in store for us in round two.....

**MMVIII** · 22/06/2009, 7:02 PM

Originally Posted by Rovers Maniac

What days you heading Sligoman? Over on the Wed back on the Fri? Going via Dubrovnik?

I'm on the same flight as SM, going on the Monday coming back Friday. Flying Dublin to Dubrovnik.

**MMVIII** · 22/06/2009, 7:09 PM

Originally Posted by Shedzer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17FXubPCleA

What lies in store for us in round two.....

Ultras Rapid/Tornados Rapid, up there with the best in Europe, visually and vocally.

**rovers100%** · 22/06/2009, 8:03 PM

im going wed to fri via dubrovnik, think will stay in dubrovnik on the wed nite as be nearly 8 when land. so party in croatia wed and albania thurs. cant wait will be a great trip. never thought id be saying im going to albania !!!