LOI in Europe 2011

**marinobohs** · 16/09/2011, 1:05 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

It may be a coincidence to rival the injuries players pick up around international games, but the preview on extratime hints that it was a big injury list rather than a deliberate policy that saw Spurs field a weak side. Gallas, Dawson, Huddlestone, Lennon, van der Vaart and others all injured.

Spurs do have a hefty injury list (and a few injury prone players) but I think 'Arry did say he was playing a lot of fringe players in the Europa Lge. Mind you, he may have to rethink that when it all comes down to the last game and who tops the group between shams and spurs

**Charlie Darwin** · 16/09/2011, 1:42 PM

VDV's been left out of the squad completely so I think it was always his intention to play fringe players. I'm sure a couple of the injured players would have been in for experience though.

**born2bwild** · 16/09/2011, 4:12 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

now im a bit jealous...

Oh my, look at the little dude in the blue hat. Football match? What football match?

**Shelsman** · 16/09/2011, 8:47 PM

Originally Posted by hoops1

Just a little side issue that might interest Sligo fans. MON watched dvd's of Kazan and had a prepared accordingly. On the night they changed to a totally different formation. 4-2-4
with the wingers pushed onto our full backs nearly as extra forwards. Where do you reckon they seen that little trick? IMO and im always right it was watching us v you on the Friday previous when you ran us ragged more or less.

Copenhagen pressured Rovers in numbers at the back as well. Do continental teams think that Irish teams don't have the skill to play their way out of that type of pressure? Or maybe it's a well known tactic to be used against supposedly inferior opposition?

I remember Steau Bucharest doing this against Shels in Tolka -pressure the back four and they were forced to hoof it long to a lone striker who's up against four defenders, even when the striker does win the ball there's no-one to flick it on to. So maybe it's a common tactic to use against teams who are playing just one up front?

I noticed Twigg came into the game a lot more -finding space to get possession and to hold up the ball -only when Kilduff came on though.

**dfx-** · 17/09/2011, 1:37 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I got the feeling that if Kazan hadn't scored those two crackers, they'd have scored two others. They took the foot off the pedal the last 20 minutes and Rovers did their best to take advantage in fairness. Good to see Killer having a stormer. Dunno what Ronan Finn was doing on the right wing?

But then you're getting into hypothetical territory. Bar the opener and penalty, they didn't pepper the Rovers goal with shots. I've seen Sligo cause Thompson more problems in terms of shots. They had four shots on goal in the game.

Finn doesn't fit on the right wing...I get the feeling MON is trying to fit 341 central midfielders into two/three spots. SOD, Rice, McCormack and Finn, Finn drew the short straw and was anonymous, not providing protection or attacking the wing, constantly pushing into the middle and his natural position. Even when Turner came on and ran at the full back, a bit more progress was made.

**TiocfaidhArmani** · 17/09/2011, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by SkStu

now im a bit jealous...

Shaven heaven.

If I went down on that I'd be needing a shave by the time I came up.

**Shelsman** · 18/09/2011, 3:08 PM

Probably shattered the Rovers' players concentration! She was their secret weapon -probably ex-KGB and all!!! I'd say Rovers were thinking of a different type of scoring alright!

**colonelwest** · 18/09/2011, 7:13 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

now im a bit jealous...

I imagine the two young fella's reaction was something like this:

Was stuck in work so missed the game there Thursday but by all accounts Rovers gave it a good go. It'll be a steep learning curve for them but hopefully it'll stand them in good stead.

**Dunny** · 18/09/2011, 8:17 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

now im a bit jealous...

**endabob1** · 20/09/2011, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Phew i was worried we hadn't seen you on here in a bit

Do you honestly believe that he will send out a b team against kazan? He is only saying that, for less meaningful games thats true. BUt up in hearts he played defoe etc.

I've gone all lady like, I'm only on once a month whether I like it or not!!

I think the team against PAOK is indicative of what will be put our, a mixture of fringe players and younger guys with the odd one returning from injury.
Even as a Spurs 'fan' I wasn't that bothered about the paok game, I had an intermittent feed of the Rovers game which I was in truth more interested in.
Redknapp will play the kids as long as he can get away with it in both the EL & the league Cup, I expect a similar side against Stoke as played in Greece.
If they progress then it'll be interesting to see if/how he strengthens but paok & Rovers should be comfortable enough home wins even for a weakened side and even if Rubin win all 6 games 2nd place should be pretty achievable without having to draft in Bale, Modric etc..

**SPXcyan** · 20/09/2011, 5:18 PM

I cried after Dunny's post there! fantastic

**mypost** · 20/09/2011, 5:49 PM

Originally Posted by endabob1

If they progress then it'll be interesting to see if/how he strengthens but paok & Rovers should be comfortable enough home wins even for a weakened side and even if Rubin win all 6 games 2nd place should be pretty achievable without having to draft in Bale, Modric etc..

Winning the group, gives you a return home leg, and avoids having to play the CL rejects next round.

**Cuyahoga** · 24/09/2011, 6:34 PM

I watched Soccer AM this morning to see the Crossbar Challenge featuring Shamrock Rovers. Brief feature but Stadium looked good and players came across well. I hadnt watch Soccer AM for a while, i now know why I stopped watching it. Its a dreadful programme,the so called funny bits are crap. That Helen Chamberlaine does my head in . She keeps laughing at things that are not funny.I would love to slap her across the face with a wet fish!

**cornflakes** · 25/09/2011, 11:11 AM

**Rasputin** · 25/09/2011, 1:43 PM

Originally Posted by Cuyahoga

That Helen Chamberlaine does my head in . She keeps laughing at things that are not funny.I would love to slap her across the face with a wet fish!

She really is a cancer.

**joema** · 26/09/2011, 12:25 PM

Anyone London based LOI fans going Thursday?

**Shannonsider** · 28/09/2011, 5:19 PM

Originally Posted by total hoofball

I wonder did Real Madrid, Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao fans etc. sob with joyous emotion when Barca won the Champions League?

Im sure they did. I was at a Espanyol game a couple of years ago and while the Spainish fans have a huge hatred for many reasons (social, history etc..) for Barcelona, they love to see Spainish teams do well in Europe. It helps La Liga as a whole as so will Shamrock Rovers success for the LoI. Fair play to them and im sure the majority of real Bohs fans are delighted for them be obviously wish it was them in that position.