Who fancy's shels??

**garykelly** · 22/07/2005, 9:29 AM

To knock Steau Bucharest out would have to be the greatest European acheivement by an Irish team in Europe. Steau are indeed a class act, but Shel's could knock them out. There's no point being involved if they dont think that themselves. You never know. Not that I support any other teams in the league, but i always wish the best for teams playing in Europe becuase it's has a knock on effect in benefiting the league.

**hoops1** · 22/07/2005, 9:29 AM

Sorry have to say Shels will go no further this year
These boys have a good european pedigree even last year
they beat CSKA Sofia,Standard Liege and Valencia and a couple more
They are well into their season no fitness,match sharpness advantage for
Shels and are top of the league.They are not the shambles that Split were last year and the Shels back 4 dont look like a strong unit(still not convinced delaney is better than williams or hawkins/rodgers is stronger than harris/rodgers) i think Steaua might just be to strong and the fact Shels are home first leg might be the differance this year

**EnDai** · 22/07/2005, 9:35 AM

Since their European run last year, they nearly threw away a lead similar to what Cork have now, with only about 7 games remaining. They're also out of season, they have played 5 friendlies against lower division sides, and conceeded at least 1 goal in 4 of them (at home too)!

2-1
2-1
2-1
3-0
5-2

All I'm saying is don't write us off just yet!

**Drumcondra Red** · 22/07/2005, 9:40 AM

No reason why not, its still a game of football, but it all depends on what we can do at tolka!!!

**CuanaD** · 22/07/2005, 9:51 AM

Steaua won the Romanian league with 63 points from 30 games 1 ahead of Dinamo & 4 ahead of Rapid. They won their last 3 games & are hard to score against (18 goals against in 30 league games). Their last game was only in mid-June, so I doubt they are too far off full-fitness. This is a big ask for Shels, but we will be able to gauge how far eircom teams have progressed - a home win would be exelent, but a home draw would be far more realistic. Never say never though - they are still beatable - everyone is!

**bluemovie** · 22/07/2005, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by garykelly

To knock Steau Bucharest out would have to be the greatest European acheivement by an Irish team in Europe.

By a long shot. They're a much bigger club than Split, Kaiserslautern, Malmo etc. European Cup winners in 86, finalists in 89.

You don't mess with those fellas either....in 86 the keeper Ducadam or something phenomenally saved 4 penalties in the shoot-out v Barca (Steaua won 2-0). I think the story goes that he was presented with a BMW (I read this before, but am a little hazy on the details), but being the army team for Teauscescu's Communist state, it was felt Ducadam was getting a little too big for his boots........so they broke both his hands and he never played football again!!

Just a warning to that fool who threw a bottle at a Glentoran player...don't try that against these fellas!

**patsh** · 22/07/2005, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by bluemovie

By a long shot. They're a much bigger club than Split, Kaiserslautern, Malmo etc. European Cup winners in 86, finalists in 89.

You don't mess with those fellas either....in 86 the keeper Ducadam or something phenomenally saved 4 penalties in the shoot-out v Barca (Steaua won 2-0). I think the story goes that he was presented with a BMW (I read this before, but am a little hazy on the details), but being the army team for Teauscescu's Communist state, it was felt Ducadam was getting a little too big for his boots........so they broke both his hands and he never played football again!!

Just a warning to that fool who threw a bottle at a Glentoran player...don't try that against these fellas!

Not quite accurate, but you have the gist right.
A Real Madrid fan presented him with a Mercedes for his performance in the final and denying Barca the trophy.
One of Ceaucescu's sons wanted the car and asked the keeper for it. When the keeper refused, he had the Secret Police pay the keeper a visit, and they smashed his fingers and wrists with hammer's, and they took the car.

**TheOwl** · 22/07/2005, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by patsh

Not quite accurate, but you have the gist right.
A Real Madrid fan presented him with a Mercedes for his performance in the final and denying Barca the trophy.
One of Ceaucescu's sons wanted the car and asked the keeper for it. When the keeper refused, he had the Secret Police pay the keeper a visit, and they smashed his fingers and wrists with hammer's, and they took the car.

I know I shouldn�t laugh at that story but it was the way you told it!

Reminded me of that great Simpson quote when they were watching that film about Jebediah Springfield.

�Well, I hope they show the time where they traded guns to the Indians for corn, and then the Indians shot them, and took the corn.�

I think it will be a massive ask for us to beat Steaua, and I think their results in Europe last year shows that they are better than Split. However, we do have a chance, albeit a small one. I�m hopeful that maybe we can nick a 1-0 win at Tolka next week, which would leave us in great shape going over to Romania where I�d fancy us to nick an away goal.

Remember the big difference between Shelbourne in Europe this year will be that we will be playing with two strikers up front (neither of which will be Glenn Fitzpatrick), and while of course this will have its downsides too, I feel this will give us a greater chance to get the goals needed to progress.

Having said all this, the fact that we are even having a discussion as to whether Shels can knock out as big a club as Steaua just goes to show how far EL football has come on these last few years.

**gustavo** · 22/07/2005, 12:06 PM

good luck to shels and i hope they do get through but i cant see it . i hope people arent on here after if they do lose and berate them . i dont see them getting a thrashing though.

**manic da hoop** · 22/07/2005, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by bluemovie

By a long shot. They're a much bigger club than Split, Kaiserslautern, Malmo etc. European Cup winners in 86, finalists in 89.

!

Who knocked out Kaiserslautern?

**Slash/ED** · 22/07/2005, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by TheOwl

Having said all this, the fact that we are even having a discussion as to whether Shels can knock out as big a club as Steaua just goes to show how far EL football has come on these last few years.

Exactly.

And someone talked about belief, the players will certinaly believe they can beat them, that's the kind of team they are. Our attack is alot better than last years due to the addition of Crowe and Hoolahan has continued to improve into a quality player, we can score goals against them at least.

They are a better team than Split, but if we play to our best we're a better team than the one who knocked Split out last year imo. It would be some upset but it's not impossible.

**bigmac** · 22/07/2005, 1:04 PM

I think it's definitely doable if Shels get the breaks. In saying that, there's a reason that they're in this round and Shels were in the first - their performance in Europe last year was pretty good, how would we rate Shels chances for example if they were playing one of Steaua's opponents from last year - would we be talking about possibly knocking out Parma or Villareal or Valencia?

I'd love to see Shels go as far as possible in Europe, but I'd settle for Shels getting a result in one of the games and adding to the coefficient.

**superfrank** · 22/07/2005, 1:07 PM

Originally Posted by manic da hoop

Who knocked out Kaiserslautern?

Bohs beat them in Germany but went out on away goals.

**drinkfeckarse** · 22/07/2005, 1:10 PM

I think it might be too much for them but they're not without a chance, hopefully they can do it.

**jorge** · 22/07/2005, 1:21 PM

I would'nt be suprised to see Shels win the first leg but they must take their chances and learn from the Bohs game.

**Dyl10** · 22/07/2005, 1:26 PM

If they can stop bucharest from scoring over here they definatley have an outside chance but i think because Shells won in the previous round 4-1 I doubt Bucharest will take us for granted as a walkover

**Schumi** · 23/07/2005, 2:44 PM

Originally Posted by TheOwl

we will be playing with two strikers up front (neither of which will be Glenn Fitzpatrick)

**ger121** · 23/07/2005, 4:18 PM

Think it could be a similar result to the Bohs/Gent game, i.e a slim win at home (1-0) due to being mid season for Shels and confidence will be good, also Steaua not at full fitness. But the return leg will be a different story. 3-1 to Steaua winning 3-2 on agg. Would not be a disgrace and the home win will add to co-efficient.