I think we should be expecting LoI champions to win such games say 3 out of 4 times but there is little this season to indicate a consistant level of performance to take much more than a 50/50. Domestically things are generally inconsistant, winnng week in week out can cary in to Europe groups more so than fatigue kicking in imo but unless there is a run of wins to a league title its almost toss of a coin of which Rovers turns up. Rovers dont look like they could just cut loose, click, and batter Larne or TNS but.... Them being well in to season gives it an interesting head to head on relative standards too. 4 pts from home games is my random prediction with the needed additional poimts picked up away to Larne. They were nip and tuck on getting hrough the PO round and Rovers have a lot more if they show any form.
Getting way ahead of myself here but if Rovers did manage to beat TNS and Larne that would have them on around 14.5 coefficient for 2025.
That would have been enough to be seeded in round 2 of CL this year. Makes the likely loss of the league this season doubly frustrating. Some incentive to make a miraculous return to form with a few wins in the league......cue not winning tommorow....
Would likely see you seeded all the way through round 1/2/3 of the conference league at least and you never know by the playoff.Originally Posted by sbgawa
Is the most likely scenario of 4 LoI clubs qualifying for the group stage next year; Shelbourne as league winners, Derry cup winners and then Shamrock Rovers and Pat's qualifying in the remaining two European places? (Against all odds of course.)
If shels avoid defeat today I'd expect them to win the league....just .
The top 4 mentioned above seems most likely either way, but I wouldn't expect anyone to get group stage football next season,it simply isn't that straightforward
If one of the 4 made it that's good enough, Rovers would have an outside shot via the conference league path because they'd be seeded in a few rounds, but would still need a lot of luck. Whoever is champions otherwise will be unswwded in CL round 1, and that's the game you really need to win.
I see APOEL have sacked their manager after the draw against Rovers and a defeat to AEK Larnaca at the weekend. Their next manager will be their 17th (Seventeenth!) in the last 7 years, incredible stuff
Last edited by 2 Year Contract; 09/10/2024 at 2:57 PM.
Paaatrick's Agletic
We all look forward to the day that a Cypriot team losing in Europe to an Irish club is not considered a sackable offence.
Interesting question, what was the highest ever for an Irish club, have a feeling (could be wrong) it was Dundalk on 12.5 at one stage.
Hilariously it will still be 2.00 - 3.00 if we qualify for Europe in next 2 years, then its gone and back to zero, I'd think focus on remaining 'In Ireland' never mind Europe is of bigger concern.
Last edited by oriel; 12/10/2024 at 10:27 PM.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), only Irish club to win a game / points in Europa League Group Stage (2016).
Tickets for Larne away finally coming out this week,bad news for non Rovers fans is they're only available to Rovers members and season ticket holders so no LOI/IL "neutrals" allowed in the away end- easily resolved I'd say by getting a ticket in the home end for those determined to see Rovers in the Conference league
You’d have to register as a member with Larne to buy an away end ticket ( only 3 match package available) and that would involve providing personal details e.g your address. So not that easy….. as for the security measures in place for us away fans ; they’re exceptionally oppressive /strict.Tickets for Larne away finally coming out this week,bad news for non Rovers fans is they're only available to Rovers members and season ticket holders so no LOI/IL "neutrals" allowed in the away end- easily resolved I'd say by getting a ticket in the home end for those determined to see Rovers in the Conference league
Complete nonsense, know some Rovers fans living in Belfast with no other allegiances who are very disappointed. cant see us selling 2.5k tickets with such restrictions.
Would there not be tickets on general sale in the "home end" for IL neutrals to watch the game. Larne only have about 1,500 fans I'm told ,and the ground holds about 18,000 ..
I know they may not want to open other parts of the ground for expense reasons but if there was demand for general tickets sales is there a significant security risk, or any more so than any game, is it particualar caution in IL, historical, being IL v LoI, Rovers fans stellar rep etc. Its par for the course for LoI neutrals go to European games and mix in no issues, but it is very LoI maybe that club rivalries are dulled quite a lot for Europe.
Old Windor, in different circumstances you could think you were being 'detained' with police escorting busses to the old ground, barbed wire everywhere with riot police feeling like 1 to 1 ratio. Ive not been to new Windsor but Id say it going in to the ground is massively changed and it would be easier for security in smaller numbers. Regardless it'd be a shame that a 3/4 empty ground is 'sold out' when theres additional interest.
I remember the Setanta Cup game in Windsor alright when we won 5-2. The security was off the scale and going in under the tunnel with all the bared wire and escorted out. No buses allowed travel only the official club buses etc
One of the best nights I ever had supporting Dundalk by the way
A few years back in the President's Cup final, it wasn't half as bad. We got our own bus from the pub we drink in and all buses had to meet the PSNI just outside Belfast at a retail park and they took us the long way around to Windsor and we were let off close to the away end but was plenty Linfield fans walking about that area
The ironically and oddly named, albeit sponsor Unite the Union Cup, rather then Presidents Cup but it was an era that was hard to keep track all the silverware!
The first time I ever seen police on horseback was at a Setanta cup match in Longford
Maybe all the squad cars were in use elsewhere so had to revert to horses! I honestly think these units are for show more than anything for games involving LoI here. They have been occasionally at Oriel over the years but one or two units at most and the spend most of the time interacting with fascinated kids.The first time I ever seen police on horseback was at a Setanta cup match in Longford
Saw a garda on a horse give a youngfella the best slap I've ever seen (not sure if that's the right award category, maybe it was the funniest) after a Bohs Rovers game. Gardaí must long for the days when we didn't all have cameras on our phones. Garda just said "go home" with a slap to the face that sounded like a Foley effect and your man did actually move so guessing it was a case of bark bigger than bite.
Anyway, pity if tickets are being limited. You'd like to see the two champions on this island play in front of the biggest crowd possible, especially in a game of such importance to both.
I laughed so maybe the funniest works best, kind of a shame there wasnt a video of it so onomatopoeia could add to comedic value!
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