What happened between Giles and Rovers

**placid casual** · 25/11/2009, 8:38 PM

either you are too young to have seen the 4 in a row side, or else your just Mod Edit:ABUSE REMOVED.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume the former.

**galwayjames** · 25/11/2009, 8:44 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

either you are too young to have seen the 4 in a row side, or else your just a Mod Edit: Abuse Removed.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume the former.

How else can they be compared? I remember them winning the four in a row but it was a long time ago and the only other way they could be compared is their performances in Europe.

**LukeO** · 25/11/2009, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by galwayjames

How else can they be compared? I remember them winning the four in a row but it was a long time ago and the only other way they could be compared is their performances in Europe.

I don't usually stand up for Hoops, BUT I think he might have a point. For instance, the current Bohs team haven't got beyond one round in Europe but I'm almost certain that if you asked Pat Fenlon, Dave Henderson, Owen Heary, Tony McCarthy or anyone else who has been involved in both set-ups, they would say the Bohs team from 2008 and 2009 is better than any of the teams that Fenlon had at Shels, including the side who got to the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League. That's not to take away from Fenlon's Shels teams or anything, they were top class and did the league proud in Europe. But success in Europe isn't the be all and end all.

I wasn't around to see Rovers during the eighties, so I'm not qualified to comment, but to say Nutsy's Shels teams were better than them based on European results alone is nonsense.

**Dodge** · 26/11/2009, 1:22 AM

IN fairness Luke, the spine of the team is the same (Heary, Byrne, Crowe). I'd rank that Shels team ahead of Bohs in most individual positions bar keeper.

Oh I think the best LOI team I've seen is the Pats league winning side of 1990, but finances broke it up. I'm not biased either...

**robbieos88** · 26/11/2009, 1:31 AM

Originally Posted by LukeO

I don't usually stand up for Hoops, BUT I think he might have a point. For instance, the current Bohs team haven't got beyond one round in Europe but I'm almost certain that if you asked Pat Fenlon, Dave Henderson, Owen Heary, Tony McCarthy or anyone else who has been involved in both set-ups, they would say the Bohs team from 2008 and 2009 is better than any of the teams that Fenlon had at Shels, including the side who got to the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League. That's not to take away from Fenlon's Shels teams or anything, they were top class and did the league proud in Europe. But success in Europe isn't the be all and end all.

I wasn't around to see Rovers during the eighties, so I'm not qualified to comment, but to say Nutsy's Shels teams were better than them based on European results alone is nonsense.

I've thought of this before and I think when comparing teams a lot of people think back to the Shels team that were in the 3rd qualifying round but think of the standards of that squad at this time so most would think Bohs are better whereas if it were reversed then most would think Bohs squad was better.

I can't choose between them. I agree that Europe isn't the be all and end all because as a Pats fan we did very well in Europe the last 2 seasons but never had the consistency or manager to win a league.

**roinuj** · 26/11/2009, 5:31 PM

Originally Posted by Tony Soprano

what type of crowds were Rovers getting week in week out during the Giles years ?

im not sure what the cap of milltown was but i remember been at a rovers v waterford league match in 1984 and the ground was packed to the rafters.
me thinks giles was manager then and alfie was manager of us

**Martinho II** · 26/11/2009, 5:44 PM

Originally Posted by roinuj

im not sure what the cap of milltown was but i remember been at a rovers v waterford league match in 1984 and the ground was packed to the rafters.
me thinks giles was manager then and alfie was manager of us

as far as I know roinuj Johnny Giles resigned in 1983 and I have a feeling that it was Jim McLoughlin that was in charge for that game..

**roinuj** · 26/11/2009, 8:12 PM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

as far as I know roinuj Johnny Giles resigned in 1983 and I have a feeling that it was Jim McLoughlin that was in charge for that game..

your spot on.
that was the same year ucd beat rovers in the cup final.

**LukeO** · 26/11/2009, 8:59 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

IN fairness Luke, the spine of the team is the same (Heary, Byrne, Crowe).

So three players, two of whom started less than half our league games this season (including one who Fenlon believes hasn't done enough to earn a new deal), make up the spine of the team?

Originally Posted by Dodge

I'd rank that Shels team ahead of Bohs in most individual positions bar keeper.

Fair enough. I certainly don't!

Originally Posted by Dodge

I'm not biased either...

Me neither...

EnglishSource · 27/11/2009, 10:32 AM

Regarding the European games, the Irish champions had to play real teams in those days. Certainly shels didn't face a team of the quality of the celtic and honved teams that Rovers played until they played Deportivo. The game against the cypriot team was post leaving Milltown so shouldn't be counted as the club was in upheaval at the time. The Linfield result was the only game that Rovers should have been expected to win but didn't at the time.

**Straightstory** · 27/11/2009, 10:56 AM

Drogheda had just won the League Cup in 1984. They paraded the trophy in United Park before a league game against Jim McLoughlin's Rovers team - who proceeded to win 7-0. That was the best LOI side I've seen.

**roinuj** · 27/11/2009, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Straightstory

Drogheda had just won the League Cup in 1984. They paraded the trophy in United Park before a league game against Jim McLoughlin's Rovers team - who proceeded to win 7-0. That was the best LOI side I've seen.

i think the best rovers side i ever saw was the 1986 one who won the double.
what a side.
infact they were the best league of ireland side i ever saw

**OneRedArmy** · 27/11/2009, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by EnglishSource

Regarding the European games, the Irish champions had to play real teams in those days. Certainly shels didn't face a team of the quality of the celtic and honved teams that Rovers played until they played Deportivo. The game against the cypriot team was post leaving Milltown so shouldn't be counted as the club was in upheaval at the time. The Linfield result was the only game that Rovers should have been expected to win but didn't at the time.

Exactly, open draw and no preliminary rounds against "new" countries.

Derry drew Benfica in 1989 in the 1st round of the European Cup. An LoI club would need to win four rounds to get to this level nowadays.

**Martinho II** · 27/11/2009, 6:05 PM

Originally Posted by roinuj

your spot on.
that was the same year ucd beat rovers in the cup final.

exactly roinuj.. good to see the brain cells are still hangin on!

**Martinho II** · 27/11/2009, 6:08 PM

Originally Posted by roinuj

i think the best rovers side i ever saw was the 1986 one who won the double.
what a side.
infact they were the best league of ireland side i ever saw

that was exactly the reason I got into the LOI in the mideighties.. I remember around that time listening to rte radio one on shamrock rovers games in milltown under Jim McLoughlin. That was the best all time squad ever and you will never get another team doing four in row in the league like what shamrock rovers did in the eighties..