What a night, rather surprised with the performance of Rovers out there, didn't look phased whatsoever! what a result! we could potentially have two clubs playing in the league phase? madness really.
I thought Rovers could get something over there. They are veterans in Europe at this stage.
Imagine 2 teams in the league stage. Tallaght would have a game weekly.
Probably still 31st! 30th becomes a possibility thou, and the chance to close what used to be quite a huge gap towards the high 20's with some results in the league phase.
I only half watched the Rovers game but they were really excellent, they'd be grand in the Portuguese league!
There's a long ways to go before we know that. As of now we're still 31st and a good way away from 30th. It's possible we won't rise any higher this season - Bulgaria still have three teams left for example.
Over the last season and a half though, we're 23rd and probably does mean something given most (but not all) of the countries below us have had their teams playing in the qualifiers too. It's by and large only the higher countries who have sides yet to start their campaigns.
Oh ye of little faith.
Imagine being an Irish barstooler and getting all excited for an english league starting that doesn't give a $hite about them and just sees them as a consumer.
Everyone on this LOI forum will see things they'll never see.
KOH
Worth noting that's only the third time an LoI side has won away to a top-ten ranked league in Europe
Bohs beating Kaiserslautern and Sligo v Motherwell were the other two instances.
In fact, it's only the tenth win away against a top-20 ranked European league
The handball is one that against you you'd be calling for red and in your favour it was accidental, peno and yellow punishment enough. Its the second penalty given away by Shels with the hand above the head and away from the body against Linfield and noted before not unlike the McCarthy effort in Deepdale many years ago the undid Shels. In both recent ties those penalties did and could toniht really have change the complexion of things. I feel it was deliberate due to the prevous Linfield goal wich was weak defending of a ball across the box and Barrett played the percentages and won on this one. Id like to say the tie was absolutely over but a home goal in Windsor and its game on as we know and Linfield are stronger. They will have a lot of regrets from these games between cards and missed chances/peno at key times. Their performance was more like what we would see as LoI in Europe against teams youd hope to compete with.
Rovers just seemed nonchalant, totally unfazed at the prospect of Portuguese opposition. Last years experience has counted and Id even say that Stephen Bradley's great news about his sons health this weeks had him relaxed and it fed through. Its definitely still in the mixer. Very LoI will be havin people biting nails with minutes to go next week. But just maybe we really have advantage and 2 sides qualifying. Shels will be a disaster not to qualify. Rovers, I'll still go 50/50 to progress as bar more comosure from Santa Clara it would be at least level.
As Stu said, we're most likely going to end up in 30th this year. Unless of course one of our sides end up going all the way the the semi finals of the conference league or something crazy.
But to help put it in perspective. If both sides were to play league phase and get 15-20 point between them I reckon it'll pretty much secure Europa League Football for the cup champions for the next 5 years.
If the LOI has another good season next year we'd be right in the mix for 29th and skip the first ECLQ1 altogether.
fair f*ckin f*cks like, pair of f*cks.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Was it not twice against Rangers? but those 2 handballs were absolutely daft and deliberate, this one was not in any way deliberate.
Shels would have liked a 3 goal lead when they went 2 up but still 3-1 is a healthy one. Linfield have terrible discipline issues. Would not surprise me if they went down to 10 in the 2nd leg.
You should read what the Portuguese think of the Santa Clara result. Did not see any mention of Irish Bakers but the general trend is they should not be losing to a side from Ireland and that the league really needs someone to step-up outside of the Top 4 and qualify for the CL.
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