LOI in Europe 2022

[EatYerGreens]

I think our defence will be more than able for them, think Ludo will struggle to score, so nil all is a realistic hope!

This didn't age well, and may have been the same thinking that Stephen Bradley employed.

[CorribsideSteve]

Just thinking this today ... was there any significant difference in the way SRFC lost 3-0 last night, and they way Shels for example lost to Rosenborg in 2000/01. While summer soccer has done a lot to improve fitness of teams, the only real advancement we have made in 20 years, to my eye, is that there aren't 10-0 aggregate thumpings like Pats-Zimbru in 1999 anymore. Maybe I just got too negative over the years lol.

[Nesta99]

Others have said it before now, but looking back at clips of yesterdays game Towell looks like quite a limited player. Not short on energy and effort but a bit aimless. S&C cant have been the only things that had him stand out in the league before the move to England. Its like his time at Salford has zapped his football brain and now he is just an energetic body in the way and spoil. Sloppy with the simple ball at times also. People were disappointed when he opted not to come back to Dundalk, we were a basket case at the time, but he doesnt seem to be the same player. Maybe tactics and roles come in to it and there was a an improvemet when he was subbed (for Kavanagh?) as well as Burke on.

[EatYerGreens]

Just thinking this today ... was there any significant difference in the way SRFC lost 3-0 last night, and they way Shels for example lost to Rosenborg in 2000/01. While summer soccer has done a lot to improve fitness of teams, the only real advancement we have made in 20 years, to my eye, is that there aren't 10-0 aggregate thumpings like Pats-Zimbru in 1999 anymore. Maybe I just got too negative over the years lol.

I think the biggest difference is in both expectation and reality.

We expect LOI clubs to progress in Europe nowadays, whereas realistically no-one really did throughout last century. On the rare occasions that it happened then it was viewed as a huge achievement and a bit of a miracle at times. I can remember when Sligo got through a round of Europe for the first time in 1994 against Floriana of Malta, and it was viewed as a really big deal. In contrast if the clubs met now and Sligo didn't win through, I suspect there'd be general disappointment. We expect at least one club every year to be making some progress in Europe - and in reality there usually is.

[CorribsideSteve]

I think the biggest difference is in both expectation and reality.

We expect LOI clubs to progress in Europe nowadays, whereas realistically no-one really did throughout last century. On the rare occasions that it happened then it was viewed as a huge achievement and a bit of a miracle at times. I can remember when Sligo got through a round of Europe for the first time in 1994 against Floriana of Malta, and it was viewed as a really big deal. In contrast if the clubs met now and Sligo didn't win through, I suspect there'd be general disappointment. We expect at least one club every year to be making some progress in Europe - and in reality there usually is.

That's a fair point about the expectations. They definitely have risen, and we have had two teams in group stages in the last 5 years, so it's not nothing. I guess the hapless inefficiency of SRFC to both score and avoid conceding last night makes me feel like little changed at all over the last two decades in the way we lose our matches; SRFC had one hal-chance shot from Burke and that was it. Their set pieces were woejus beyond compare whenever they got into a decent position, which didn't happen often, and the brainfarts and the overwhelming panic leading to soft goal concession seem to life-long traits, endemic to our clubs, no matter the standards rising elsewhere re fitness etc.

[Calcio Jack]

That's a fair point about the expectations. They definitely have risen, and we have had two teams in group stages in the last 5 years, so it's not nothing. I guess the hapless inefficiency of SRFC to both score and avoid conceding last night makes me feel like little changed at all over the last two decades in the way we lose our matches; SRFC had one hal-chance shot from Burke and that was it. Their set pieces were woejus beyond compare whenever they got into a decent position, which didn't happen often, and the brainfarts and the overwhelming panic leading to soft goal concession seem to life-long traits, endemic to our clubs, no matter the standards rising elsewhere re fitness etc.

Last night was awful but then I remind myself

“ the worst hapless inefficient day in the champions league is way way better than the best day being homeless/broke/relegated/
..” insert as appropriate

[CorribsideSteve]

Last night was awful but then I remind myself

“ the worst hapless inefficient day in the champions league is way way better than the best day being homeless/broke/relegated/
..” insert as appropriate

That's a great perspective to be fair. 20 years of homelessness and the shame/ridicule/stress of all that, including the receivership woes around 2003-ish, SRFC have come a long way alright. So I guess that's proof of the puding right there of raised expectations, with me being so disappointed with them last night.

[Nesta99]

I think the biggest difference is in both expectation and reality.

We expect LOI clubs to progress in Europe nowadays, whereas realistically no-one really did throughout last century. On the rare occasions that it happened then it was viewed as a huge achievement and a bit of a miracle at times. I can remember when Sligo got through a round of Europe for the first time in 1994 against Floriana of Malta, and it was viewed as a really big deal. In contrast if the clubs met now and Sligo didn't win through, I suspect there'd be general disappointment. We expect at least one club every year to be making some progress in Europe - and in reality there usually is.

Im not sure that LoI fans are that detached from reality and epactant. We fret about seedings months in advance, looking at other leagues hoping a lower ranked side wins. Even when seeded we scrutinise the geographic groups and state who we want to avoid at all costs. Expectation kicks in against a Hibs Malta, Bala Town, Icelandic, some Baltic teams etc. Then we have the 'hope we can cause a bit of a shock' draws. If anything I think we are relatively sensible - get through 1 round if seeded or the draw is kind. Everything after if really bonus territory. I did expect Derry to be better over 2 legs but wasnt surprised due to domestic form. I though Sligo had done enough in the first leg not to do their best to throw the advantage away. St Pats getting a buy through a round has been noted as potentially missed co-eff points. Rovers and fans were probably hoping for guaranteed ECL group stages via the other comps and again was the real target with anything else a bonus and they it is still possible that they could make a group stage. Expectation built around Dundalk and with a co'eff of 10. something at one stage its understandable why. There were some chastening games but there were some excellent performances and results. 2 groups stages a few years apart and generally progressed at least one round.

It is all relative for me and as CJ has mentioned perspective is important. About this tie 10 years ago we were facing relegation at best and bocht club at worst, with an owner that seemed to be letting pride get in the way of sensible business. If someone insisted that we'd been told we'd be champions 2 years later and in European group stages 4 years later they might have been told they need some time in a padded cell. Footballs fans are far too quick to forget the down times and fire off stones in glasshouses when others have similar struggles.

[EatYerGreens]

Im not sure that LoI fans are that detached from reality and epactant. We fret about seedings months in advance, looking at other leagues hoping a lower ranked side wins. Even when seeded we scrutinise the geographic groups and state who we want to avoid at all costs. Expectation kicks in against a Hibs Malta, Bala Town, Icelandic, some Baltic teams etc. Then we have the 'hope we can cause a bit of a shock' draws. If anything I think we are relatively sensible - get through 1 round if seeded or the draw is kind. Everything after if really bonus territory. I did expect Derry to be better over 2 legs but wasnt surprised due to domestic form. I though Sligo had done enough in the first leg not to do their best to throw the advantage away. St Pats getting a buy through a round has been noted as potentially missed co-eff points. Rovers and fans were probably hoping for guaranteed ECL group stages via the other comps and again was the real target with anything else a bonus and they it is still possible that they could make a group stage. Expectation built around Dundalk and with a co'eff of 10. something at one stage its understandable why. There were some chastening games but there were some excellent performances and results. 2 groups stages a few years apart and generally progressed at least one round.

It is all relative for me and as CJ has mentioned perspective is important. About this tie 10 years ago we were facing relegation at best and bocht club at worst, with an owner that seemed to be letting pride get in the way of sensible business. If someone insisted that we'd been told we'd be champions 2 years later and in European group stages 4 years later they might have been told they need some time in a padded cell. Footballs fans are far too quick to forget the down times and fire off stones in glasshouses when others have similar struggles.

You've read what I wrote all wrong. I didn't say LOI fans were detached from reality. And the expectation we all have of at least one club making at least one round of progress every year is hardly an over-reach in expectation terms. It's actually now the norm for our clubs in Europe for at least one to progress every year (or almost every year)

[ontheotherhand]

Others have said it before now, but looking back at clips of yesterdays game Towell looks like quite a limited player. Not short on energy and effort but a bit aimless. S&C cant have been the only things that had him stand out in the league before the move to England. Its like his time at Salford has zapped his football brain and now he is just an energetic body in the way and spoil. Sloppy with the simple ball at times also. People were disappointed when he opted not to come back to Dundalk, we were a basket case at the time, but he doesnt seem to be the same player. Maybe tactics and roles come in to it and there was a an improvemet when he was subbed (for Kavanagh?) as well as Burke on.

Yeah we agree there. He just doesn't seem smart enough to play within a system. You can see it when he pulls wide to receive the ball and he's screaming at players to give it to him but it's the wrong move so they ignore him. He's best when he's running from deep at simple angles but we don't tend to do that very often, partly because we don't tend to play teams who press us high probably. He scored one of his few goals against Derry this way because they were playing a high line and he was able to run in behind from our half. Can't fault him for effort but it's not filling that McEneff shaped hole you're always talking about.

[D24Saint]

Mura only due to arrive in Dublin at six after a delay in Maribor. That has to leaving it very late , I thought it was always the norm to train in the away ground the day before your match.

[pineapple stu]

Same thing happened UCD in Luxembourg. These things can happen alright. They'll probably head straight out to the ground I'd imagine

[D24Saint]

Same thing happened UCD in Luxembourg. These things can happen alright. They'll probably head straight out to the ground I'd imagine

Just wondering what’s the process is here. Their flight is now down to arrive at 7:35. Then from getting through immigration and the travel time , how long are Pats obliged to keep the ground open and available. I know buying goodwill with potential problems for our own travel ahead next week is a must. The ground and office staff have a big day tomorrow and shouldn’t be required to wait around all night.

[pineapple stu]

Pushing it tight alright - I think ideal time for training is the same time as kickoff the next day - but yeah, while you can be out of the airport in 15 minutes, there's also baggage to collect, a transfer bus (probably waiting) and time to change too. I think we got a police escort to the ground, but even still you'd have to allow an hour at least until training starts, which is probably an hour after it was due?

There might be a fine for being late, but the UEFA Delegate will presumably be in touch with both teams and will have agreed something

No harm for Pat's really; it won't help Mura

[ontheotherhand]

Fairly good take on both Rovers in Europe and the league's current standard relative to other years by Dan McDonnell on this weeks LoI central.

We do lack pace. We lacked the 3 players who would have made a difference and even the likes of Farrugia, Cotter and Greene who are all off the boil for different reasons. Have I mentioned us missing players yet? Not sure. I'd hate to come across as repetitiveiveiveiveive.

[paul_oshea]

Are both games being shown tonight? 1 on LOI TV and the other on Premier Sports?

[paul_oshea]

Fairly good take on both Rovers in Europe and the league's current standard relative to other years by Dan McDonnell on this weeks LoI central.

We do lack pace. We lacked the 3 players who would have made a difference and even the likes of Farrugia, Cotter and Greene who are all off the boil for different reasons. Have I mentioned us missing players yet? Not sure. I'd hate to come across as repetitiveiveiveiveive.

There was definitely a distinct lack of pace on the wings, both defensively and offensively. When breaking it was very slow and no one to take on the opposition. That was one thing Kennys Dundalk were very good at and had pace to get in behind on the counter. And then players like benson to arrive late into the box for those breaks.

[legendz]

Are both games being shown tonight? 1 on LOI TV and the other on Premier Sports?

Motherwell are streaming the game. £12.

[joey B]

Motherwell are streaming the game. £12.

Pats it is then!

[Asterix]

http://www.thejournal.ie/rovers-fan-...urce=shortlink

Fairly scary stuff that, hopefully sorted soon.