Shamrock Rovers

**mypost** · 30/08/2011, 6:30 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Have you seen the bookie's odds on them to progress past the group stage? It simply won't happen. They're very likely to lose all six matches.

If you believed the bookies (or even paul_oshea), you would have stuck your house, car, and bank account on Partizan qualifying before last Thursday. And would have ended up with egg on your face.

**paul_oshea** · 30/08/2011, 9:16 AM

As Eamon Sweeney(sorta) said that egg tastes nice.

I am more than happy to acknowledge I got the away leg very wrong, and your optimism while I didn't feel at the time was well grounded in your belief that they would win, you were right.

But while we are here you did say they were more than capable of scoring 3 at home against Copenhagen too.

**DannyInvincible** · 30/08/2011, 8:56 PM

Aston Villa lining up a move for Enda Stevens, apparently: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tran...cle793090.html

McLeish is also poised to sign left-back Enda Stevens from Irish side Shamrock Rovers.

He hopes to agree a fee of around �250,000 for Stevens, whose Rovers side upset Partizan Belgrade to reach the Europa League's group stage.

**Real ale Madrid** · 30/08/2011, 9:02 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

Considering that a growing number of our senior internationals have a LOI background, I don't see why a clearly talented footballer like Ronan Finn shouldn't be in the frame for a senior call-up.

Chris Turner should be in the NI squad anyways. Call him up Nigel or otherwise we will!

Well if he wouldn't call up Mannus, he'll hardly call up up Turner!

**DannyInvincible** · 31/08/2011, 1:08 AM

According to Dan McDonnell on Twitter, Stevens will join Aston Villa in January.

**pineapple stu** · 31/08/2011, 8:05 AM

Just wow. Did not see that coming after Ryan Guy ran him ragged at the Bowl three years ago, after which he was dropped and never played for us again. Still, great to see another former Student moving up in the world; best of luck to him.

**paul_oshea** · 31/08/2011, 8:29 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Aston Villa lining up a move for Enda Stevens, apparently: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tran...cle793090.html

When I read this I hoped that they might postpone it until January. This is a win win for both parties, and if he impresses further in the European games then perhaps Rovers can get more money for him.

Still kinda sad to see this happening after making the breakthrough.

**pineapple stu** · 31/08/2011, 8:34 AM

Don't think it's sad at all. It shows players that the LoI is a viable place to go and advance yourself, not just a pub league. It shows young players that they can stay at home, get an education, play LoI and still be able to move to England at 21/22 - and be much the better for it too (compared to moving to England at age 16).

Players move on; that's the way of things for all bar the very top teams in the very top leagues.

**paul_oshea** · 31/08/2011, 9:03 AM

I know, and same happened that copehagen side from last year, hence why they are playing in the EL this year. Its great for the league again, as it vindicates players developing here, and then the clubs etc being rewarded for this, and in turn keeping them sustainable.

THe point is more, that after making the breakthrough that you LOI fans wanted so much, that now the team could well be dismantled and pulled apart. Whats left then? Another 10 years before another breakthrough. Its not a conveyor belt of similar talent coming up through the ranks, and they cant go abroad and buy like other European clubs to replace with a similar level.

**DannyInvincible** · 31/08/2011, 9:11 AM

The likes of Kevin Doyle, Keith Fahey et al have all departed the league but the breakthrough still came. Those who move on are replaced. The departure of Enda Stevens won't be any different.

**paul_oshea** · 31/08/2011, 9:17 AM

Ya but what if mccormack goes then and so on and so forth. Key players make that breakthrough happen. Without them it wouldn't happen.

**pineapple stu** · 31/08/2011, 9:24 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

The point is more, that after making the breakthrough that you LOI fans wanted so much, that now the team could well be dismantled and pulled apart. Whats left then?

A couple of million in the bank - prize money, transfer fees, TV fees, merchandise income, sponsorship, etc, etc. More local exposure and pride, which they can use to further improve on gates. Plenty of pull to maybe attract some decent Irish players back home. Roy O'Donovan, Dave Mooney, other players you'd see on tet's list. Maybe even a decent manager.

Maybe they won't be able to qualify for the next few years. But this is still just a stepping stone to building the club, not the last stop.

**paul_oshea** · 31/08/2011, 10:39 AM

Have the transfers of O'donovan for around 750k benefited cork? Or doyle or Long etc etc? No it (possibly helped) create a new cork city.

The exposure and all other things you have pointed out, was because of the players that are now being linked with moves away from the club.

That exposure wont last long if this is just a one off.

**pineapple stu** · 31/08/2011, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Have the transfers of O'donovan for around 750k benefited cork? Or doyle or Long etc etc? No it (possibly helped) create a new cork city.

It kept them going for a lot longer than they otherwise would have.

It doesn't appear Rovers are paying the stupid wages that abounded at the time - E4k a week being the highest rumour I think. That's a major difference between Rovers and Cork.

**paul_oshea** · 31/08/2011, 10:52 AM

Ya I know, but they went chasing glory cashing in on these players with reckless owners spending money they didn't have, these sorta transfers didn't help the club. Rovers have built up well on sustainable(i like that word today) wages, I think its going to be very difficult to work within that and replace that extra bit of quality they have and yet attract the same. They can scour the league and buy up all the best players, but that helps no one(particularly other LOI clubs) in the longer term.

I'm not naive enough to think that better players don't move on, but thats not really the point I'm making. Perhaps the leauge is in a position now to hold onto its players for a little longer or at least pay premiums that reflect the players quality.

**pineapple stu** · 31/08/2011, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Ya I know, but they went chasing glory cashing in on these players with reckless owners spending money they didn't have, these sorta transfers didn't help the club.

The transfers did help the club though. They paid for the reckless glory hunting. If Rovers aren't recklessly glory-hunting, they'll be able to put the money to much better use.

**paul_oshea** · 31/08/2011, 12:08 PM

Yep they will be able to, but that doesn't mean they will unearth some gem in the LOI though.

It could just as easy be argued that the reckless glory hunting never came to fruition because they sold the players capable of doing that for them...

**pineapple stu** · 31/08/2011, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Yep they will be able to, but that doesn't mean they will unearth some gem in the LOI though.

They don't have to. UCD will unearth the gem, and they can buy him off us.

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

It could just as easy be argued that the reckless glory hunting never came to fruition because they sold the players capable of doing that for them...

If they hadn't sold the players, they wouldn't have had the money to keep up the reckless glory hunting as long as they did, and so wouldn't have had time to qualify for the groups (say) before running out of cash.