Given how the game panned out and the results for Omonia in the EL I think everyone underestimated Flora. We aren't out yet but will need a huge performance next Thursday. Sold out the 3500 so the atmosphere should be good in tallaght
I could not find a betting, prediction or stat site online that did not have Rovers favourites, all be it slight favourites in many cases. No doubting it was a very poor performance from them but I think the tempo and openness of the match just didn’t suit Rovers. They like to keep it tight at the back, hold on to the ball, not create lots of chances and win one or two nil. When the game is not like this or they are behind, they don’t fare well. If they are solid and compact next week, patient and then do take the lead, they could be good value to take the tie to ET. How Bohs played Dudelange in the 2nd leg is the template for this one.
Sure you can underestimate Flora, but at the same time, they are second in the Estonian league (which is ranked as 5th worst in Europe), 12 points (with 3 games in hand) behind a team who lost to Dundalk. All players are Estonian, so not like they are being bank-rolled.
You can also overestimate them as well.
Got bored at work, and my post in the other thread got me thinking. So I quickly averaged the age of each starting 11 in their last European game.
Bohemians= 23.1 years old
Sligo Rovers= 25.5 years old
Dundalk= 26.1 years old
Shamrock Rovers= 29.4 years old
Yes it's that experience that has us top of the league alright. Rumour has it Keith long is doing another Danny mandriou man management job on a few of the bohs young lads so that will help our age profile next year.
I'd also be hopeful for a few of the SRFC ii guys to break in that are training with the first team now. Other than joey who might call it a day no one near retiring.
Personally I'd keep joey around even if it was for only limited games.
Last edited by sbgawa; 20/08/2021 at 4:01 PM.
I was amazed at how poor Rovers' defending was.
I thought to myself "I can't believe it's not butter" (better... butter... Tough crowd!)
But Flora were light on them all the same
I'd still have Rovers as margarine-al favourites for the second leg though
There was that Flora advert with Victor Meldrew back in the 90's. Much like him, Rovers really do not believe it. One foot in the gra ... group stages. Group stages. Positivity!
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