Not harsh enough. The team they lost to won their first league in a Century, and it was their first attempt at CL qualification. I imagine they are, even this morning, still pinching themselves, barely able to believe how easy it was for them to win 3-0. And to add insult to injury, all I lkept reading on social media was "but Dundalk battered them!" Half chances, tame crosses, dreadful passing, a center forward slower than an oil tanker, and a comically bad central defender and goalie combo, but yeah, Dundalk were miles better for some people. If Dundalk continue to play like that, a team from Wales or the Faroes could easily beat them. Can't see them magically raising their efforts for the Europa game, unfortunately. The mental strength a team needs at this level isn't anywhere to be seen, and the technical side of their play is sorely lacking. I've been watching LOI in Europe since 1998, and that's in the top 10 for most embarrasing, comically bad team performaces and results. Mistakes are one thing, but when the player's brains leave their body and float off into the air like a loose balloon, that's another entirely.
Last edited by CorribsideSteve; 22/08/2020 at 7:23 AM.
On culpability for the first goal it was Gartland who was 99% responsible, his atrocious level of awareness and defending set up the goal. There was never enough on the ball to reach Rogers without a pass back, any goalkeeper had to expect Gartland to stand strong, reach the ball and hoof it, instead he was easily swatted aside. if the goal was not scored there was case for a penalty. And even if Rodgers had got a decent block on the ball with his foot, there were two Celje players who had raced into the box ahead of the sleepy defenders ready to pounce on a loose ball.
Considering how poor Dundalk have been this season and with an inferior team to previous, I thought they did well for a good part of the game,, though Celje passed the ball much better than them
Celje are no mugs and as Slovenian champions ahead of group stage regulars Maribor, it was a very bad draw for a seeded Dundalk.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020...-in-lithuania/
So our game is going ahead, unfortunately. Would have been handy to get the bye and save the travelling, but you'd still be expecting the win out there.
Stream for Rovers game available for €10. It will be free for Rovers Members/season ticket holders and kids in the youth teams which is great to see.
https://shamrockrovers.ie/livestream/
He was actually my next choice but just missed out, dan murray was close as well but Pico and Grace edge him on pure football ability.
I;ve been watching Rovers since the 80's and this is the best tean since then.
I dont think they are playing as well as towards the end of last season though.
Its hard to compare teams accross time though, leaving Dan out cos he wasnt a football playing centrehalf is harsh because Michael o Neill didnt want the team playing elaborately out from the back
Last edited by sbgawa; 23/08/2020 at 10:02 PM.
The great football debate - how teams of different generations compare. Even in 10 or so years, fitness and strength has improved in LoI. There are so many players that ye'd love to have seen training and playing at todays levels. The Rovers group stage team imo was not spectacular, what was was O'Neills managment of what he had. Similar to SK but he had better resources too. I still feel lke I need a shower after jumping up when SRFC went through to EL groups!! My excuse is that Dundalk werent so good then so would have taken anything. Little did we know what would transpire ourselves!
Riteriai match is being streamed by the club here.
No freebies for ST holders, but it's only a fiver, which is a bargain really.
https://www.derrycityfc.net/2020/08/...vs-derry-city/
Ki the Faroe champions are through to the CL 2nd round, awarded the much feted 3 nil win by UEFA after their opponents Slovan Bratislava went through a comedy of errors on their trip to the archipelago.
Before their departure from Slovakia a SB player was tested positive, Vladimar Weiss, once of Rangers,
On arrival in the Faroes the whole entourage were tested and were "ordered" to enter strict quarantine as per UEFA rules, at least until the test results were revealed. Allegedly (rumours - social media strength) some players were spotted strolling around the town and were cautioned by police to return to the hotel.
The test results revealed one positive for the SB physio. Under current Faroe rules the whole entourage either had to leave the country or stay in quarantine for 14 days.
Uefa allowed SB to fly out their reserve team and fullfill the fixture. Faroes nerves not fully rested yet and remained in a dangling position. The reserve team duly arrived the next day (wednesday?) by charter flight and were all tested on arrival. One of the players tested positive and the whole reserve team were sent into quarantine.
You couldn't make it up.
The Slovaks cried conspiracy but the UEFA covid rules are clear, in the event of a team testing positive, local covid rules prevail and if the game cannot be rescheduled, the team that tested positive must forfeit.
Nevertheless, that does not lessen the value of this historic victory for the plucky Faroese, possibly the biggest to affect the nation since they beat and cruelly humbled Austria in their first international competitive game in 1990.
Last edited by geysir; 24/08/2020 at 9:44 PM.
It's only Slovan of course. Things'll get interesting when it impacts, say, the CL group stages. And you'd have to imagine there's every chance it will.
Worth noting Derry's opponents have never lost a home European game in 10 matches.
They've beaten Swedish and Scottish opposition, and drawn with Cypriot, Serbian and Kazakh teams, among others.
That's all in the past six years too - so I don't think there's any reason to be expecting a win this evening tbh.
I'd normally agree but once in a blue moon LOI sides do get a handy draw that they should be expected to win like when Derry played Aberystwyth in 2014 and beat them 9-0 on agg.
If Riteriai sitting bottom of the Lithuanian league with 1 win in 16 games were to knock Derry out it would be a horrendous result
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