Rosenborg

[Gareth]

As a Shels fan, and I imagine it goes for most Eircom League fans, I am just praying we manage to get past Steaua on Wednesday. We will need a momentous performance. I feel we can get a result, but I also feel we could be thumped. Its that close to drastic polar opposites. If we can get an early goal or we can hold them for a while, they will hopefully get more panicked. The best we could hope for is 0-0 after 89 minutes and for us to do a Hibernians and score in the last minute. It would be the sweetest european result we ever could get. Better than split I am so nervous/excited. I will be all alone in a Paris pub watching it. (well my gf will be there).

[sullanefc]

Yeah I would have to agree with you. If they score early it could all go wrong and be a very long night for Shels fans. The longer you keep them scoreless the better. Shels need to score though. Cos the longer the game goes at 0-0 Shels are going to drop deeper and deeper. Where as if Shels score they effectively have a 2 goal cushion.

Most people think that playing away from home first is an advantage. But I think the opposite is true. A 0-0 away scoreline in the first leg is not always a good thing cos the opposition only have to score once in the second leg and you have to get 2. Hopefully City will switch our tie with Djurgardens.

[Slash/ED]

If they score early it might be alright. In fact being 1-0 down late on could work in our favour, they may naturally get nervous as the game goes on and start to sit back more and more which they wouldn't do at 0-0, remember, 1-1 will do us. Obviously if we're 2-0 down it's very very difficult.

[sullanefc]

Well 2 early goals for Steaua would be a disaster as you could see it turning into a rout if Shels heads drop.

[RacoonQueen]

Great draw for Shels...I can see them getting by them should they get past their current hurdle...was quite shocked at how easy it looked actually

[sligoman]

If Shels can beat Steau(Cant see it though ), then I think they can and will beat Rosenborg

[A face]

One thing for sure is that any Shels fans who are still sitting on the fence and thinking of going ....... best book that flight and get out there and support them, this game should be the be all and end all for a while, even for the cash reward that the club will get for it.

[higgins]

We are as good as in the group stages after that draw
12 million here we come !!!!...

Draw could not be better !.. There was no easier seed after seltic of course

[Slash/ED]

One thing for sure is that any Shels fans who are still sitting on the fence and thinking of going ....... best book that flight and get out there and support them, this game should be the be all and end all for a while, even for the cash reward that the club will get for it.

Agreed, wish I could feckin afford it, I'd give my right arm to be out there The Tolka bar will have to do, but this is potentially the biggest night of this clubs 100+ year existence, win and we have a 3rd round draw that is very winnable and a real realistic shot at the group stages of the champions league. Christ, some Rosengorg fan on Shelsweb says if we qualify we'd be favourites! Favourites in the third round qualifyers!

This draw should be motivation enough to go out and give Steaua hell on wednesday, if we win this game, or a score draw for that matter, it could be incredible for us.

[TonyD]

We are as good as in the group stages after that draw
12 million here we come !!!!...

Draw could not be better !.. There was no easier seed after seltic of course

Jésus Higgins, if you're being serious I can only admire your optimism, if not your sense of reality. The way I see it Shels are massive underdogs next Wednesday, and even if by some extraordinary twist of fate they manage to get through (A 1-1 draw say, which I still think is highly unlikely) I wouldn't take Rosenborg quite so lightly. they know their way around this competition pretty well. Anyway, speaking as a completely biased observer, I don't fancy the thought of Ollie getting his sweaty little mits on 10-12 Million to play around with. Yes, I know all the arguments, it would bring massive attention on the league etc, etc. My head knows it would probably be a good thing, my heart sinks at the thought of it. The rest of the league might as well give up. (This probably makes me small minded and petty, but I'll live with it )

[Dyl10]

He is taken the ****

[thejollyrodger]

i think a lot of people are getting over confident. I think we have a very good chance of getting a scoring draw on wednesday and if we do, we have a good chance of beating Rosenborg over the two legs if their current form continues. But its a BIG IF. We could get hammered next wednesday (we wont though) and it might all end in tears.

Still getting to the group stages of the CL would really give the EL a massive shot in the arm and most punters would start to take it serious. Shels new stadium would be sorted, we would probably find a new sponsor and more than likely be able to make the group stages of the UEFA Cup next year with all that extra cash.

[Gerrit]

This draw is drama for me. I am a Rosenborg fan since 11 years, they are my favourite foreign club by far. I have even been member of the fanclub and am still affiliated with the internet fangroup. I follow RBK almost as long as I have been following football.

Everyone who knows me a bit, knows that I am a Rosenborg fan. When Shels won the title last year, someone asked me what I'd think of a Shels vs Rosenborg confrontation. I answered that I'd rip my football heart in two and that I hope they'd never play each other again. And then this happens, this is Murphy's Law to its very worst...

Who do I chose now ? I guess I just refuse to make the choice. I can see it from two edges: if Shels proceeds vs Steaua, I am sure one of my favourite clubs reaches the group stages of the CL.
But it'd also be sure one of my favourites doesn't reach the CL...

Now I am a notorious CL-hater since the non-champions are allowed in, but it doesn't change the fact that two of the teams I follow would battle each other. Which I was hoping would never happen. There's only 3 clubs I have been following long-term: Ostend (BE), Shels (IE ; not longterm but very fanatically since here), and Rosenborg (NO).
I am simply gutted this is happening...

[Slash/ED]

We're still underdogs to get there Gerrit. I thought you'd be pretty pleased really, both teams could have gotten much tougher draws against sides they had no chance against. Rosenborg would have struggled to qualify against alot of opposition they could have gotten and Shels could have gotten Inter

IF the match happens, it at least means one of us is in the group stages when it very well could have been none espically given Rosenborgs form this season. It also means you can cheer for the losers in the UEFA cup.

Getting there will be very very difficult though.

[Poor Student]

Given Rosenborg's current state I'd assume this could actually be an easier game for Shelbourne than Steaua. Seeing this draw I am desperate for Shelbourne to pull off something in Bucharest. They'd at least have a decent chance of pulling off qualification. From a commercial point of view I don't think this one could see Shelbourne needing to borrow the use of Landsdowne.

[thejollyrodger]

no defintely not. the game should be in tolka where we can get a result. lansodwne would suit Rosenborgs more than us.

[Gerrit]

We're still underdogs to get there Gerrit. I thought you'd be pretty pleased really, both teams could have gotten much tougher draws against sides they had no chance against. Rosenborg would have struggled to qualify against alot of opposition they could have gotten and Shels could have gotten Inter

IF the match happens, it at least means one of us is in the group stages when it very well could have been none

Guess you're right there. But still, it's like a dad seeing his two kids playing against each other where he rather sees them avoiding each other, winning both against other teams.

I can already forget about my dream of seeing them both in the CL

But have a very realistic chance one of them will reach the group stages If Shels beat Bucharest, I'll have a team to support in the CL no matter who wins the third round tie.

[Poor Student]

no defintely not. the game should be in tolka where we can get a result. lansodwne would suit Rosenborgs more than us.

Shelbourne just narrowed the dimensions when they played Deportivo at Landsdowne. Footballing matters don't come into the equation and you know it. If Ollie feels he can get an extra profit by going to Landsdowne he'll take it.

Gerrit you could have none of your sides there. If Shels are dumped by Steaua they could easily take Rosenborg in their current form.

[Slash/ED]

I doubt he will, if Fenlon says that the move could be the difference between qualifying or not he wont. Plus they wont draw the crowd of Deportivo.

[thejollyrodger]

yeah, i dont think too many people know the players who play for rosenborg. there wouldnt be the same crowd. however if we make it to the group stages then ollie has lots of lansdowne road games to cash in on.

Some players dont respond well to the big stadiums and tolka is what we are all used to. i think this season fenlon said he wanted to be more adventurous. last year was about getting past spliit and cashing in. we were knackered anyway and it is what probably stopped us.


Steaua still awaits. It could all end in tears wednesday night