European Football 2012

**dong** · 20/07/2012, 2:23 PM

I think the problem for a lot of LoI teams in Europe (particularly ourseleves it has to be said) is that they lack the necessary concentration to stop giving up chances against teams with a bit of quality and get punished severely for it.
you can switch off for ten minutes against most teams on a weekly basis here and get away with it as they won't be clinical enough to punish you. This forms bad habits which are so ingrained it is almost inevitable that they come to the fore in Europe.
With that in mind I can't see us getting through next week.

**Fivesilver** · 20/07/2012, 2:54 PM

Agreed - the difference with that step up is that if you let the discipline drop at all, you get punished. What was so good about that Shams side last year was that they gave absolutely nothing away cheaply. Once you accomplish that you give yourself a fighting chance.
It's not over yet, but having to score twice without conceding is going to be tough as they look like they'll make the most of any opportunity to counter. I don't think going hell for leather from the whistle next week is necessarily the answer - getting caught out early would kill it. If we can get to half-time intact and get the Showgies rocking for 45 minutes anything could happen. I'd like to see PMilly unleashed on them for at least a half.

**dong** · 20/07/2012, 6:03 PM

Why not play Millien from the start though?
This idea of using him as an impact sub isn't doing the lad justice. He's a better player than Cretaro, so just play him ffs.

**abcd** · 20/07/2012, 6:24 PM

I'd agree, having seen Sligo against Bray and Derry leading into this game I was worried by the sort of goals Sligo were conceding. They have enough quality and strength in depth to retrive the situation most of the time in the LOI but in Europe those mistakes are punished even more.

For Sligo going out of Europe at this stage it isn't a disaster, even if they get through Steaua isn't a realistically winnable game and its not exactly a glamour game where the eyes of the country would be on them. Really this is the year they want to win the league, anything else would be a bonus.

Its difficult to see the Irish sides having much of a run this year with the draws they've got there. I haven't much hope for Sligo but Shamrock Rovers and Pats can progress if they get things right next week.

**The Lep** · 20/07/2012, 7:44 PM

Not a glamour game? Steaua won the european cup 1986 and may attract a large Romanian support for the home game for Sligo seeing that there is a massive amount of Romanians here. Romanian tv might want to show it live as well so it could be a good pay day for Sligo and a huge extra incentive to get through this round.

**shellyriver** · 20/07/2012, 8:18 PM

Originally Posted by abcd

I'd agree, having seen Sligo against Bray and Derry leading into this game I was worried by the sort of goals Sligo were conceding.

All those nonsense goals (bar that ridiculous corner) have come from Gaynor (3) at left-back ( along with Davoren (1) letting Jason Byrne in not up to form). This is our most vulnerable position for many's a game. What is Baraclough thinking? We need to shore this position up - Jake Dykes (16) appeared more capable for this role when against Monaghan than Gaynor.

Bring back Dillon -- our midfield is too ponderous. Hopefully, Quigley is back on track.

Anyways, here's hoping for a 2-nil result.

**SkStu** · 20/07/2012, 8:35 PM

Originally Posted by The Lep

Not a glamour game? Steaua won the european cup 1986 and may attract a large Romanian support for the home game for Sligo seeing that there is a massive amount of Romanians here. Romanian tv might want to show it live as well so it could be a good pay day for Sligo and a huge extra incentive to get through this round.

Its still not a glamour game to the general public.

**nigel-harps1954** · 20/07/2012, 8:41 PM

I don't agree whatsoever. I think Steaua is a glamour game. It's not exactly Man City, or Bayern Munich or what have you, but they are still a massive club in Europe, they aren't the powerhouse they once were, but they're still a very big name, and still a huge club.
Each of the draws for the next round, Anderlecht, Steaua, and Hannover are all massive clubs, massive games, and each club should be doing all they can to reach the next round and play a club such as one of these.

Any LOI club could only dream of being as big as any of those clubs.

**SkStu** · 20/07/2012, 8:49 PM

thats fine and all Nigel. I dont necessarily disagree. I just dont think that your opinion is representative of that of the general public.

Theres about 20 clubs total that represent glamour to the general public and they are located in England, Spain and Italy with one or two each from Scotland, France and Germany. Try asking Bill O'Herlihy who Steaua are or who their best player is and you'll get an idea of what the general public think of them.

**The Lep** · 20/07/2012, 9:22 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

Its still not a glamour game to the general public.

Maybe not appeal to the general public but it might appeal to the football loving public. Either way, i say it will be a sell out if Sligo get through.

**bennocelt** · 20/07/2012, 9:25 PM

When Steaua played pats a while ago in Europe think every Romanian in Dublin was at the game, cracking atmosphere and a decent crowd at the RDS that day

**placid casual** · 20/07/2012, 9:55 PM

Originally Posted by marinobohs

Great minds think alike THOR ...........................

.....

**nigel-harps1954** · 20/07/2012, 9:57 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

Try asking Bill O'Herlihy who Steaua are or who their best player is and you'll get an idea of what the general public think of them.

Christ, I'd say Bill O'Herlihy forgets his own name from time to time never mind anyone elses.

**The Lep** · 20/07/2012, 10:03 PM

Laughed at the Mirror today ( the paper

). It had a picture of the Sligo fans with flags, with Sligo on them and had the caption underneath that said that they were Pats fans

.

**PartySaint** · 20/07/2012, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

thats fine and all Nigel. I dont necessarily disagree. I just dont think that your opinion is representative of that of the general public.
.

Spot on. If they are not regulars in the Champions quarter final they are not a glamour club for the Irish sporting public. For the Irish football loving public it would be good for us to see Sligo take on a former European Cup winner but we would have all been interested in the game whoever they played.

IF Sligo can get through it will be a sell out so they will be happy with that.

Hannover would be an amazing trip for us, just hope we can get through (wont be too disappointed if we don't).

**micls** · 21/07/2012, 7:54 AM

Originally Posted by SkStu

thats fine and all Nigel. I dont necessarily disagree. I just dont think that your opinion is representative of that of the general public.

Theres about 20 clubs total that represent glamour to the general public and they are located in England, Spain and Italy with one or two each from Scotland, France and Germany. Try asking Bill O'Herlihy who Steaua are or who their best player is and you'll get an idea of what the general public think of them.

I disagree. The example I'd use would be when we were drawn against Red Star a few years back. Quickest sold out game I've seen. Stadium sold out in about 5 hours.

**SkStu** · 21/07/2012, 8:26 AM

Jesus, far too many of you are missing the pretty obvious point I'm making. my point is most of Ireland won't give a toss about Steaua and probably didn't care a whole lot more about Red Star. Compare the coverage of the game you mention versus the media scrum before, during & after the Rovers v Juve game. Worlds apart.

**Nah Nah Nah Nah** · 21/07/2012, 8:50 AM

Fully agree. We had Liverpool in the 6 teams the winners of our game could have drawn. There would be a very different reaction if it was them who were drawn out.

**bennocelt** · 21/07/2012, 9:05 AM

Just looking at the draw for the Scottish teams - Celtic got HJk Helsinki, but the Finnish teams are flying this year so might be a potential banana skin there, and Dundee Utd got Torpedo Moscow, and St Johnstone 0-2 to that Turkish team. By the time Rangers Newco get back to the SPL their teams good be starting off in the Euro preliminary rounds!

**Spudulika** · 21/07/2012, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Just looking at the draw for the Scottish teams - Celtic got HJk Helsinki, but the Finnish teams are flying this year so might be a potential banana skin there, and Dundee Utd got Torpedo Moscow, and St Johnstone 0-2 to that Turkish team. By the time Rangers Newco get back to the SPL their teams good be starting off in the Euro preliminary rounds!

I think Dundee United got Dinamo, not as fun a draw seeing as Torpedo could be going out of business if the match fixing trial goes to court. Leaves 1 less team in the 1st Division too (only 17 of 20 runners came to post, 4 went out and 1 came in).

It's a good draw for the Irish sides, nothing completely devastating. Hannover are good but not amazing, Steaua are not the force they were but still strong. Rovers could pull off a shock though. So long as Sligo and Pats can make it that far it'll be a good year (kinda).