LOI in Europe 2022

**paul_oshea** · 13/10/2022, 8:27 PM

Regardless of the result, and the poor defending for the second. Its been a great game of football. a 0-1 loss would be fair enough but not a 2 goal defeat.

But it does prove that all the other wins at home were superficial really.

**pineapple stu** · 13/10/2022, 8:28 PM

Originally Posted by joey B

Poor goal to concede there,that should be that now…

Yep. An unfortunately typical LoI performance in Europe really - no composure at all in front of goal, and undone by a set piece.

You also wonder what Rovers are going to do when Mannus finally does retire. No obvious replacement for him domestically I think.

Edit - good spot from the lino on Greene there, but you wonder how he gets that and misses the Molde opener.

**CSAD** · 13/10/2022, 8:31 PM

Originally Posted by joey B

Poor goal to concede there,that should be that now?

They should make this comment the club motto at this point?

**RealJohn91** · 13/10/2022, 8:40 PM

Aaron Greene starting European group stage games tells you everything. They'll never beat decent teams in consequential games in Europe without vastly improving their attack and adding pace too.

**pineapple stu** · 13/10/2022, 8:42 PM

Another dreadful shot there almost out of the ground from the edge of the box.

Third or fourth time this half they've done that

**paul_oshea** · 13/10/2022, 8:49 PM

All these sky high shots is very poor. Not one on target

**ger121** · 13/10/2022, 9:07 PM

I could be wrong but Rovers might be the only team left in the competition not to score a goal. Think that says a lot because they have had lots of chances over the 4 games.

**RealJohn91** · 13/10/2022, 9:14 PM

Originally Posted by ger121

I could be wrong but Rovers might be the only team left in the competition not to score a goal. Think that says a lot because they have had lots of chances over the 4 games.

Yep the only team who haven't, in comparison Ballkani, the Kosovo champions, have scored eight goals so far including five against a Turkish side.

**Philosophizer** · 13/10/2022, 9:46 PM

Originally Posted by ger121

I could be wrong but Rovers might be the only team left in the competition not to score a goal. Think that says a lot because they have had lots of chances over the 4 games.

That?s very poor. How Greene missed that chance in the first half is beyond me.

**CSAD** · 14/10/2022, 5:02 AM

Originally Posted by Philosophizer

That?s very poor. How Greene missed that chance in the first half is beyond me.

No but you see they beat the champions of Malta & Macedonia so they?ve done great this year, they hit their bar?granted they set the bar pretty low but they managed to hit it.

**pineapple stu** · 14/10/2022, 7:25 AM

At least they've hit the bar - better showing than the entire group stage so far.

**sbgawa** · 14/10/2022, 8:00 AM

This thread has become a bit tiresome but faintly amusing as well at the poorly disguised twisted bitterness.
Please God we take 3 points in Drogheda or it will become the "how did Rovers manage to blow an inpregnable 5 point lead (with Derry to play) when the league was over" thread.

**A N Mouse** · 14/10/2022, 8:46 AM

Originally Posted by CSAD

For beating the champions of Macedonia & Malta?while getting their ass penitrated repeatedly by any side that was in any way decent?for you?re own sake don?t even dare celebrate that like it?s some achievement, the champions of Ireland should be expecting to make Europe with the route they had and to say otherwise again speaks of the minnowism this Rovers side posses.

No one said set the world alight?trust me Rovers have been on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, all that was wanted was Rovers to be respectable in the games regardless of the results?instead they have been an absolute disgrace from start to finish, and no the sides they are playing aren?t amazing?Rovers just make any side look amazing with how terrible they?ve been.

Exactly they are and that shows why Bradley isn?t up to scratch, any side with ambition would have sacked him ages ago.

Away back under your bridge, and rant about she-hulk to your muckers.

Despite myself, I am impressed though, you've simultaneous managed to misrepresent everything quoted while totally failing to address it.

But in summary your argument seems to be "Rovers were muck in the qualifiers, why can nobody see that? Rovers should be good now they're in the group, why are they trying to improve their odds of qualifying for the group next year instead of not being muck against these better teams?"

Oh, and the champions of Ireland get into Europe (almost) every year (generally not when they're relegated), they still have to do something to get into the groups. This lazy tired $hite about 'should be' beating teams from X, Y or Z is in fact minnowism. It's how articles about your 'summer holiday' end up on dressing room walls or you get thumped by Cyprus. If things worked like then we should have given up on european competition years ago?

And if you're looking words take your vulgar vacuous vicariousness with you.

**ger121** · 14/10/2022, 9:31 AM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

This thread has become a bit tiresome but faintly amusing as well at the poorly disguised twisted bitterness.
Please God we take 3 points in Drogheda or it will become the "how did Rovers manage to blow an inpregnable 5 point lead (with Derry to play) when the league was over" thread.

I would like to think that you are not tarring everyone on here with the proverbial same brush. Most of us I?d say, are just interested observers in the annual European Journeys of LOI teams and like to post those observations with no ill will intended.
Rovers are right to prioritise the league. I seem to recall Flora picked up 5 points in the groups last season but lost out on the league to Levadia at the same time. They subsequently went out in the 1st qualifying round of ECL.
Anyway, balancing league title challenges and group stage football are nice problems to have. Beats having no challenges at all?

**placid casual** · 14/10/2022, 10:16 AM

The age old LOI problem of not having a European football quality striker emerges again.
I personally think Rovers are getting a bit overpraised for the performance last night as Molde were clearly the better team. Greeners miss in the first 5 mins summed up our lack of quality up front.
The officials were dire but that can happen.
My hope is that all of this is valuable learnings for Bradley in terms of Europe for next season and how to approach.
If it wasn't for those pesky derry kids and their meddlin we would have wrapped up the league and concentrated on Europe 😜.

**paul_oshea** · 14/10/2022, 10:34 AM

THey'll have to look at bringing in a striker and paying that bit more to get him if thats the next progression in Europe and if they are really serious about it at some point its a gamble they will have to take. A good scouting network might be an investment worth looking at for the longer term. For all the good underage structures, bazunu excepted, the moves and players coming through aren't setting the world or even league alight. Sometimes it takes out of the box thinking.

I remember mentioning on here about 10 years ago about forming scouting networks in South America or other places, an investment sure that seemed ridiculous given how underfunded and strap cashed clubs were, but when you look at Norway and Sweden this is what has set them apart and funds them year on year. It might not be the most morally responsible or right thing to do raiding AFrica for its best prospects but its working.

Oh and that whole thing about a good league and well run league makes for a good international team is clearly not always right. Norway are only a few places above Ireland in the international rankings but their league is miles ahead.

**sbgawa** · 14/10/2022, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by ger121

I would like to think that you are not tarring everyone on here with the proverbial same brush. Most of us I?d say, are just interested observers in the annual European Journeys of LOI teams and like to post those observations with no ill will intended.
Rovers are right to prioritise the league. I seem to recall Flora picked up 5 points in the groups last season but lost out on the league to Levadia at the same time. They subsequently went out in the 1st qualifying round of ECL.
Anyway, balancing league title challenges and group stage football are nice problems to have. Beats having no challenges at all?

No not everyone by any means.
I cant argue with Bradser benching Gaffney last night and Burke but at the same time i cant see Gaffney missing the chances Greene had.
We have been dissapointing this year in the Groups but im hopeful that next year we can either expand the squad with this years Euro money to be able to fight on both fronts....or maybe win the league earlier

Its hard to keep a big squad happy and we may not have the same level of long term injuries next year which would make it harder again. The amount of games Jack and Burkey missed killed us in the league in terms of drawing or losing gaems we should have drawn or won with them playing.
If i get my wish it would be for the club to go for one or two really top players rather than more of a similer level.
Where are they though?

**WeAreRovers** · 14/10/2022, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by CSAD

They should make this comment the club motto at this point?

I'd rather go with the UEFA's description of Rovers this week as "the undisputed giants of the Irish game."

We were great last night, undone by the ridiculous non offside decision and the lack of a clinical striker.

Mannus yet again proving he's light years ahead of the rest of the keepers in the League. Will be very, very difficult to replace - as difficult as finding that elusive striker.

I see Celtic and Rangers getting the same unrealistic analysis of their European performances that Rovers get from some on here. Takes years of investment, planning, good recruitment and decision-making plus lots of luck to compete at a higher level, luckily the people who matter understand this obvious fact.

**sbgawa** · 14/10/2022, 11:35 AM

Leaving Derry out of the equation as your not going to get the likes of Duffy out of there who in the league is the best Striker tht would improve Rovers....keeping in mind Gaffney will probably win player of the year this year but is not prolific...
Hooban? never felt like he fits our style even if we could get him out of Dundalk
Going outside the league is difficult as Dundalk proved rather spectacularly but i dont see that 20 goal striker in the league.

**ger121** · 14/10/2022, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by placid casual

The age old LOI problem of not having a European football quality striker emerges again.
I personally think Rovers are getting a bit overpraised for the performance last night as Molde were clearly the better team. Greeners miss in the first 5 mins summed up our lack of quality up front.
The officials were dire but that can happen.
My hope is that all of this is valuable learnings for Bradley in terms of Europe for next season and how to approach.
If it wasn't for those pesky derry kids and their meddlin we would have wrapped up the league and concentrated on Europe 😜.

I thought you played well. If Gaffney is on the end of that Towell cross, you are 1 up and it?s a different ball game. Once Molde has soaked up that early pressure and came out unscathed, they grew into the game. The first Molde goal was an awful call. Greene?s offside was very tight in my opinion. If VAR was available both those decisions could have been reversed.