LoI in Europe 2024

**legendz** · 19/12/2024, 8:59 PM

The current live table has Rovers in line to face Molde or TSC. The winners to take on Legia or Cercle Brugge.

**ger121** · 19/12/2024, 9:02 PM

Larne beat Gent and Hearts messed up at home to bottom side Petrocub and are out.

**pineapple stu** · 19/12/2024, 9:06 PM

Originally Posted by ger121

Larne beat Gent and Hearts messed up at home to bottom side Petrocub and are out.

The Conference League is great. Far more interesting than the more predictable Champions League. And the league phase rather than groups has worked well I think. Lot of change to the standings even into the last few minutes. Hearts being one example with that late penalty they conceded

**Buckett** · 19/12/2024, 9:08 PM

Second greatest league in the world

**ger121** · 19/12/2024, 9:11 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

The Conference League is great. Far more interesting than the more predictable Champions League. And the league phase rather than groups has worked well I think. Lot of change to the standings even into the last few minutes. Hearts being one example with that late penalty they conceded

Very exciting.

**MichaelCherrito** · 19/12/2024, 9:13 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Yes, but they're in tenth so need two teams to drop points to get to eighth?

Edit - Jagellonia are playing Olimpia Ljubljana, who would move ahead of Rovers if they took the lead, so Rovers can't come top eighth I think

Completely agree. Hadn't realised Jagiellonia were playing Olimpia so, whoever scored were overtaking Rovers in the table.

**legendz** · 19/12/2024, 9:20 PM

For Rovers playing nearly 6 weeks into the off season, is nearly like players going to the World Cup for seasons that finish in May. Next round in the middle of February. The Europa League will be more taxing when LoI clubs qualify for that! While also more rewarding! With 2 more league phase rounds at the end of January, it'll be early in preseason. Munster clubs are thinking ahead by being familiar with Munster Senior Cup rounds in January.

**ger121** · 19/12/2024, 9:25 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

The current live table has Rovers in line to face Molde or TSC. The winners to take on Legia or Cercle Brugge.

Think you would want TSC. They were dead and buried at 3-1 after 75 minutes against Noah but turned it around to slip through in 24th.

**legendz** · 19/12/2024, 9:52 PM

Knockout phase playoffs: TSC or Molde
Round of 16: Cercle Brugge or Legia Warsaw
Quarter finals: Chelsea or Vitória de Guimarães
The shape of Rovers quadrant of the draw. Having fully deserved being seeded for the knockout phase playoffs, hopefully they can make it count. Get to the Round of 16 and they could be playing to setup a tie with Chelsea again. The season opener against Bohs could be useful for familiarity with the Aviva!

**redobit** · 20/12/2024, 8:26 AM

Seems a bit mad to have a pot with just two teams in it. Its almost like doing a draw just so they can do a draw. You would have thought for fairness that 9th plays 24th, 10th v 23rd, etc.

**sbgawa** · 20/12/2024, 8:54 AM

Originally Posted by redobit

Seems a bit mad to have a pot with just two teams in it. Its almost like doing a draw just so they can do a draw. You would have thought for fairness that 9th plays 24th, 10th v 23rd, etc.

Thats what i was thinking.
Maybe they wan to have the ability to avoid problems the way they do in the bigger draws by keeping teams apart where there could be troublle, Serbia/Croatia maybe.
If it was just 9th plays 24th they cant interfere for better or worse.
TSC definitly the easier of the two options for Rovers.

Will be awkward now with the Bohs match in the Aviva in between the two legs of the playoff.
I suppose the team will be rested by then.

**pineapple stu** · 20/12/2024, 9:03 AM

I don't think they do that from the knockout stages anyway, do they?

Though granted you don't usually get Spain v Gibraltar or Armenia v Azerbaijan in the knockout stages.

I guess clubs just want a jolly in Zurich. Draw's today isn't it?

**A N Mouse** · 20/12/2024, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I don't think they do that from the knockout stages anyway, do they?

Though granted you don't usually get Spain v Gibraltar or Armenia v Azerbaijan in the knockout stages.

I guess clubs just want a jolly in Zurich. Draw's today isn't it?

1300 CET

So about an hours time

**2 Year Contract** · 20/12/2024, 11:32 AM

Rovers get Molde, away first. Tough game, Molde beat them 5-0 over two games in 2022 but both teams appear to be in different places since then. I’d say it’ll be a more even match up than a few years ago

**Nesta99** · 20/12/2024, 3:06 PM

I would not fear that draw! Yup the seeded side should be favourites but we know how it can be for LoI in Europe but its a chance and Rovers should have belief after the group. Not sure there'd have been worry about pre or early season rustiness in Europe when switching to summer season. Soooo crowds up, sell-out signs happen, 1m people through the gates, 30k+ at cup finals in the national stadium, 8 figure grant for league ground development, real knockout football not this preliminary stuff, GLITW alternative reality....

**legendz** · 20/12/2024, 4:26 PM

9 points was a fair expectation after the league phase draw. Rovers in fairness delivered and picked up 2 bonus points along the way.
Molde were in pot 2 when the league phase draw was made. Higher than APOEL and Rapid Vienna. Molde beat Larne 3-0 (H), lost 2-1 to Gent (A), lost 3-0 to Jagiellonia Bia?ystok (A) ranked lower than Borac, lost 0-1 to APOEL (H), drew 2-2 with HJK (A) and beat Mladá Boleslav 4-3 (H) ranked lower than Rovers. No world beaters on that form but will be a tough test.
Rovers have already done great. Getting to the Round of 16 would cap it off and reflect well on the league around Europe.

**Buckett** · 20/12/2024, 4:49 PM

Molde will be out of season too, so fair game

**CorribsideSteve** · 20/12/2024, 9:16 PM

It seems so obvious to say it, but, none of the recent feel-good vibe, being a couple of bends in the road away from a complete paradigm shift, would have occurred under Saint John. Shams at last look like they know how to handle Europe now after years of very poor defeats and lukewarm performances. It's a steep learning curve, but it looks this season that they've really learned something invaluable for the most part. Now it must be qualified that Rovers were absolutely losing the plot early on in the EURO campaign against the Icelandic crowd, with them missing a tie-winning penalty, but they've improved so much since then. The propensity for gifting soft, no work required, goals away like Santa Claus, will always be in LOI sides in Europe, but Shams really stepped up this Euro season. It's not a bad time to be alive as an LOI fan.

**Stuttgart88** · 21/12/2024, 12:59 PM

I’ve already bought tickets for Bohs v Rovers on 16th. I might extend my trip home now. A House are playing in Whelan’s on 22nd too. This’ll require serious negotiations with Mrs. Stutts.

**Nesta99** · 21/12/2024, 1:05 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I’ve already bought tickets for Bohs v Rovers on 16th. I might extend my trip home now. A House are playing in Whelan’s on 22nd too. This’ll require serious negotiations with Mrs. Stutts.

That is an endless art for sure but there should be no more apologies when it comes to football and good live tunes!