LoI Matches Friday 30th Sept - Monday 3rd October 2022.

**TonyD** · 02/10/2022, 4:16 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Not a great game last night at Casey's Field, not even sure we were value for 2-0 lead at HT, a peno and a crazy OG that Massey got the last touch for.

Still its 3 points, hard worked too, chances of finishing 3rd increasing with 5 games to go (and 5 points clear) with 3 of them at home, but would think we will need to get a result next Fri at home to Pats to keep hopes intact.

Unless Sligo beat Rovers tonight, that's 4th almost guaranteed now as even if we lose last 5, Bohs / Sligo would need to win same 5 and overturn GD swing of 20 / 17 respectively, so its 90% confirmed now.

However that's entering the hoping favours scene, looking for Derry win the cup..............3rd spot is the target to avoid all that stress and 3 more wins will hopefully get that.

You really got a massive favour with the bonus 3 points from Sligo (and yeah, I?m aware that Pats could have been deducted the points from the Shels game, but we still have to play it and win the points.) If Pats don?t win our next two games then I don?t see us catching Dundalk.

**oriel** · 02/10/2022, 5:13 PM

I would still think the race for 3rd will be very tight, a lot will depend on this Friday, Dundalk v Pats, we def need a result, but home form has kept us in 3rd.

As for Sligo bonus 3 points, absolutely a massive favour, awarded in a period when we couldn't win a single game!

**oriel** · 02/10/2022, 5:17 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

I watched the Rovers 4 in a row team and the nearest this team came to them was the 2020 shortened season when if the season had been the full length with Jack at that time in his pomp we would have won the league by a record MArgin rather than simply winning it easily as we did.
They were unlucky to draw AC Milan in Europe also that season.
Tonights performance against Sligo reminded me of some of the football from that year and hopefully we can keep it up from here.
We havent had JAck and Burke for virtually the full season which gives me hope for next year if we can close this year out.
Almost two new signings if they both start the season fit.

I remember that team well, to be fair they were outstanding, 3 cups too thrown in, but what made them a little different to the Dundalk 2014-2019 era was their lack of progress in europe, not sure they advanced past one round, lost to Linfield also (away goals) 1984 I think?

**Peaky Blinder** · 03/10/2022, 7:10 AM

Originally Posted by oriel

I remember that team well, to be fair they were outstanding, 3 cups too thrown in, but what made them a little different to the Dundalk 2014-2019 era was their lack of progress in europe, not sure they advanced past one round, lost to Linfield also (away goals) 1984 I think?

To be fair, that was back in the days of the old European cup. No easier preliminary rounds and an open draw for all 32 teams, 2 unfortunate draws v Celtic & Honved were we fought gamefully but ran out of steam. That Honved side were a lot better than people realised. They didn't go far themselves in the tournament but had 4 or 5 hungarian internationals in the side (Detari being one of them, what a player he was)
The Linfield tie was the real one that got away, a solid 0-0 in Belfast and we simply left it too late to get going in the return game at Milltown, which had one of the strangest atmospheres I can remember at a Rovers match. We were by far the better team but just couldn't get the winner on the day.
The last year n Omonia Nicosia we were in a state of flux having just left Milltown and playing out of Tolka with the fans boycott underway... the heart had been ripped from the team at that stage and it was just another nail in the coffin before the rebuild started in Dalymount the year after.
For me they were the best footballing side in the league I've ever seen, Kenny's Dundalk were incredibly effective, better at the dark arts and fitter though, I'll give them that, but for pure footballing ability the 4IAR team were untouchable. They just blew sides away, never more than in the big games too, they loved an occasion.
I'd rate Bradleys Rovers as second to them in my lifetime, MON's team were more like Kenny's Dundalk, fit, effective & gave little away at the back but less pleasing on the eye, when Bradleys team play to their strengths there's few that can live with them domestically, the slow erosion of the team will mean they are more vulnerable as time progresses however & with a stronger, wealthier Derry coming up fast it'll be a huge challenge staying head of them next year, thats assuming they haven't already done so by winning it this year, which they definitely still can. The title is far from being decided as I can see Derry winning all of their remaining games in the run in which puts huge pressure on Rovers to win at least 4 of their 5.

**outspoken** · 03/10/2022, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Peaky Blinder

To be fair, that was back in the days of the old European cup. No easier preliminary rounds and an open draw for all 32 teams, 2 unfortunate draws v Celtic & Honved were we fought gamefully but ran out of steam. That Honved side were a lot better than people realised. They didn't go far themselves in the tournament but had 4 or 5 hungarian internationals in the side (Detari being one of them, what a player he was)
The Linfield tie was the real one that got away, a solid 0-0 in Belfast and we simply left it too late to get going in the return game at Milltown, which had one of the strangest atmospheres I can remember at a Rovers match. We were by far the better team but just couldn't get the winner on the day.
The last year n Omonia Nicosia we were in a state of flux having just left Milltown and playing out of Tolka with the fans boycott underway... the heart had been ripped from the team at that stage and it was just another nail in the coffin before the rebuild started in Dalymount the year after.
For me they were the best footballing side in the league I've ever seen, Kenny's Dundalk were incredibly effective, better at the dark arts and fitter though, I'll give them that, but for pure footballing ability the 4IAR team were untouchable. They just blew sides away, never more than in the big games too, they loved an occasion.
I'd rate Bradleys Rovers as second to them in my lifetime, MON's team were more like Kenny's Dundalk, fit, effective & gave little away at the back but less pleasing on the eye, when Bradleys team play to their strengths there's few that can live with them domestically, the slow erosion of the team will mean they are more vulnerable as time progresses however & with a stronger, wealthier Derry coming up fast it'll be a huge challenge staying head of them next year, thats assuming they haven't already done so by winning it this year, which they definitely still can. The title is far from being decided as I can see Derry winning all of their remaining games in the run in which puts huge pressure on Rovers to win at least 4 of their 5.

You can't be comparing Kenny's Dundalk to MON's Rovers? That Dundalk team played brilliant football and showed it in Europe. MON'S Rovers were very direct and effective but not overly pleasing on the eye.

**Peaky Blinder** · 03/10/2022, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

You can't be comparing Kenny's Dundalk to MON's Rovers? That Dundalk team played brilliant football and showed it in Europe. MON'S Rovers were very direct and effective but not overly pleasing on the eye.

I was saying that MON's team weren't as easy on the eye as the 4IAR were. MON's Rovers were harder to breakdown and less fluid, that's an attribute I'd have associated with Kennys Dundalk. I meant it in a positive way not a slight on them. Dundalk may have played some decent attacking football but they were nowhere near as pleasing on the eye as the 4IAR team.

**TonyD** · 03/10/2022, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by Peaky Blinder

To be fair, that was back in the days of the old European cup. No easier preliminary rounds and an open draw for all 32 teams, 2 unfortunate draws v Celtic & Honved were we fought gamefully but ran out of steam.

A very fair point about the old European cup. Was much harder for a Irish sides to do anything in Europe in those days. Not only were you in with the big boys from the off, the scene wasn?t as fragmented, so you just wouldn?t get the kinder draws that Irish teams by and large get today.

**oriel** · 03/10/2022, 7:27 PM

Yes fair point on the old EC, in 1976 we faced PSV, in 79 we got lucky, Linfield (then again) then Hibs of Malta, then Celtic, in 1982 it was Liverpool who were serial EC winners of the period.

Fast forward to 1988 it was Ajax, so in that 4 season period we drew the champions of Holland twice, England once and a Celtic team that just lost 3-2 to Real M in the QF next game on agg so not exactly easy runs for any Irish side at the time.

The ECWC was as unkind, drew Spurs in 1981 fresh from their classic 4-0 replay win over Man City the previous season, how we held them to 1-1 draw in Oriel and only 0-1 in WHL was incredible.

**placid casual** · 03/10/2022, 7:36 PM

Cracking entertainment in the game at Tolka pk. Can't make up my mind who I want to win..

**ontheotherhand** · 03/10/2022, 7:59 PM

Cotter is such an enigma. Has everything in his locker to be playing at a much higher level. Maybe he just needs a season or two of regular game time to fix his concentration/motivation issues. Or you just take the good with the bad.

**placid casual** · 03/10/2022, 8:06 PM

Shocking offside decision to deny pats making it 3:3..

**joey B** · 03/10/2022, 8:27 PM

4-4 in this game now,just the 3 second half penalties!!

**sbgawa** · 03/10/2022, 8:29 PM

Sorry I didn't sign up for this one. My inherent dislike for shels has me chearing for pats

**TonyD** · 03/10/2022, 9:09 PM

Mad game. We really needed the 3 points but after going behind three times, and then 4-2, I thought we were dead and buried. A point gained in the end I suppose, but Dundalk will be happy.

**2 Year Contract** · 03/10/2022, 10:13 PM

2 woeful defensive performances from Pats and Shels tonight. Just the 8 goals, 3 disallowed goals, manager red card, player red card, own goal and 3 penalties for some Monday night entertainment

Haven?t seen anything back but Doyle's second disallowed goal looked well onside from behind the goal, he actually was behind the defender chasing the ball and then got in just ahead of him and finished well. Cracking free kick at 4-4 too that smashed the post, would?ve been a great win for pats. Win or bust in Oriel on Friday now

**patsdad** · 04/10/2022, 8:47 AM

Yep, plenty of screenshots on Twitter showing Doyle was well onside when the pass was played. Frustrating to be done by poor officiating but even more frustrating to gift Shels all four goals. Though they?ll probably feel the same about ours.

**Jack B** · 04/10/2022, 9:30 AM

It was an absolutely preposterous game. I was so baffled by it than entertained.

**2 Year Contract** · 04/10/2022, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Jack B

It was an absolutely preposterous game. I was so baffled by it than entertained.

Yeah bizarre stuff, errors all over the shop. Ive already mentioned how bad both defences were but I don’t think pats played well at all going forward either yet scored 4 deserved goals away from home and should’ve had more. Such a strange game of football

**oriel** · 04/10/2022, 12:10 PM

Got a text from a mate the game was available from 'hesgoal' perfect stream for free, and a really enjoyable and bonus for a Monday night, saw 3/4 of the game.

Mental stuff really, Shels 4-2 up then 4-4 with two pens conceded the first was hillarious, a blatant shove, silly stuff really.

Doyle looked onside to me for his goal ruled out.

Should be a tasty affair on friday night, you would think Pats have to win, Dundalk probably need to avoid defeat, but a win for us puts a gap of 7 points between the 2, each with 4 left to play, I'd think it will be a draw.

**total hoofball** · 04/10/2022, 8:36 PM

Not a perfect game of football last night but definitely more the type of entertaining games the LOI needs in a cagey Premier Division

It looked to me Duff let Shels off the attacking leash last night with safety secured following the Harps game on Friday, definitely our most fearless performance of the season which resulted in defensive shortcomings becoming more evident, he is still figuring out the squad grappling with injuries and developing young players so it's all work in-progress stuff. Questionable decisions went against both teams last night probably evened itself out in the end, don't think both teams can really complain over the draw