LoI in Europe 2024

**ger121** · 20/02/2025, 8:57 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

On another site ger?! I'm shocked!

Ok, ok. It was actually a LOI Facebook group. I�d never cheat on my beloved foot.ie

**pineapple stu** · 20/02/2025, 8:59 PM

That's almost worse!

The bench is a real problem for Rovers now. Greene is on, but that's it. Molde have made three subs and presumably have three more players with some experience to bring on. That might be worth the man disadvantage. Still very evenly poised I think

Edit - as I type that, Molde use their fourth sub, bringing on a guy with 60+ European games for them

**sbgawa** · 20/02/2025, 9:33 PM

An 800000 penelty shoot out

**Philosophizer** · 20/02/2025, 9:47 PM

Greene that was just so poor.

**nigel-harps1954** · 20/02/2025, 9:48 PM

The better side lost, but no excusing that really dreadful effort from Greene. Really really awful penalty from such an experienced player.

**passinginterest** · 20/02/2025, 9:51 PM

Only consolation for Rovers is that it wasn�t one of the young lads who missed the penalty. Sad for Greene but at least he�s at the end of his career so it shouldn�t weigh as heavily as it would on one of the kids.

Probably should have won it but didn�t manage to create a really clear cut chance with Molde down to 10. Maybe could have gambled with throwing on the fresh legs a bit sooner but it was a lot of pressure on young lads either way.

Might be a long time before such a good chance to make the last 16 of a European competition comes along again.

**CorribsideSteve** · 20/02/2025, 9:51 PM

Never been convinced of Aaron Greene. He's obviously a great lad to have in the camp, good team player etc, or else he wouldn't still be there after 15 years or so. But his finishing has always been suspect IMO. Rovers really should have won this match. On the positives: A full house in a LOI stadium in an important Euro match. Rovers have made huge strides in Europe for our league and that has to be recognised and applauded. This is where other LOI clubs have to get to, particularly in the Conference. Over to you Shels/Pats/Derry...

**osarusan** · 20/02/2025, 9:53 PM

My illegal stream abruptly switched to some action film about 4 minutes into injury time so never saw the rest of it, but Rovers were in no way outclassed by Molde from what I did see.

**ger121** · 20/02/2025, 9:55 PM

The issue is not Greene missing a penalty, it�s the fact you go into a last 32 PO 2nd leg and you only have Greene as a goal scorer on the bench. Did not replace players who left and reliant on some very injury prone players. Excellent run but Molde were beatable in that tie.

**RealJohn91** · 20/02/2025, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by ger121

The issue is not Greene missing a penalty, it�s the fact you go into a last 32 PO 2nd leg and you only have Greene as a goal scorer on the bench. Did not replace players who left and reliant on some very injury prone players. Excellent run but Molde were beatable in that tie.

Fully agree with this. The squad building or lack thereof, from Bradley over the winter has been crazy. Few injuries and suspension sure but that squad is still short in areas without them. I still can't get my head round them being stuck with a 16 and 35 year old as their striking options. Seems like they're going to "reinforce" that by signing Gaffney who's hardly kick a football for a long time and is also pushing on. Feels like they're terrified in taking a chance on players who haven't been at least brought up in this league.

**sbgawa** · 20/02/2025, 11:38 PM

Shels and pats both looking better prepared then us for the season.
Hard to understand.
Unlucky tonight, need bodies back

**dcfc_legend9** · 21/02/2025, 7:12 AM

Originally Posted by CorribsideSteve

Never been convinced of Aaron Greene. He's obviously a great lad to have in the camp, good team player etc, or else he wouldn't still be there after 15 years or so. But his finishing has always been suspect IMO. Rovers really should have won this match. On the positives: A full house in a LOI stadium in an important Euro match. Rovers have made huge strides in Europe for our league and that has to be recognised and applauded. This is where other LOI clubs have to get to, particularly in the Conference. Over to you Shels/Pats/Derry...

It wont be us making huge strides in Europe this coming year.

**Acornvilla** · 21/02/2025, 8:19 AM

It's hard to even say a lack of depth s what cost them, because of who and how many players were out injuried/suspended/not fit yet, many more extra players in a squad and you start having a group with too much competition which would be tough to manage and costs a fortune, so that we'd never see these excellent kids actually play, but it is a very disappointing for it all to end, things just didn't line up. Had more then enough chances to get it done regardless.

Healy already looks like he's well able to play at higher levels.

**CorribsideSteve** · 21/02/2025, 8:47 AM

Originally Posted by dcfc_legend9

It wont be us making huge strides in Europe this coming year.

I felt like it was a courtesy to include ye, for formality's sake

Edit: (Remembering the final table) Oh dear

**Philosophizer** · 21/02/2025, 9:27 AM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

It's hard to even say a lack of depth s what cost them, because of who and how many players were out injuried/suspended/not fit yet, many more extra players in a squad and you start having a group with too much competition which would be tough to manage and costs a fortune, so that we'd never see these excellent kids actually play, but it is a very disappointing for it all to end, things just didn't line up. Had more then enough chances to get it done regardless.

Healy already looks like he's well able to play at higher levels.

Have to agree with this. They�re in an unfortunate crisis with injury and suspensions, but the guys who played, even the teenagers, all performed v admirably.

A squad of anything above 25/26 just starts to become wasteful.

Sometimes you just lose a tie because of a mix up at the back, and a guy hits a poor peno. Sometimes it�s as simple as that.

**Straightstory** · 21/02/2025, 10:48 AM

Rovers players, management and supporters will have had a sleepless night after that. No Irish club will ever have a better opportunity to get to the last 16 of a European competition: away win in the bag; Molde playing with ten men for over an hour of the two-legged tie. With a different referee we may have had another outcome. I've been to six of Rovers European games - and Molde were very far from being one of the better teams they've played.
Very, very hard one to take.

**sbgawa** · 21/02/2025, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Straightstory

Rovers players, management and supporters will have had a sleepless night after that. No Irish club will ever have a better opportunity to get to the last 16 of a European competition: away win in the bag; Molde playing with ten men for over an hour of the two-legged tie. With a different referee we may have had another outcome. I've been to six of Rovers European games - and Molde were very far from being one of the better teams they've played.
Very, very hard one to take.

Thjis so true, id put them way behind Celje and not much better than Viking, not on same planet as Rapid or Chelsea, real one that got away

**Nesta99** · 21/02/2025, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Straightstory

Rovers players, management and supporters will have had a sleepless night after that. No Irish club will ever have a better opportunity to get to the last 16 of a European competition: away win in the bag; Molde playing with ten men for over an hour of the two-legged tie. With a different referee we may have had another outcome. I've been to six of Rovers European games - and Molde were very far from being one of the better teams they've played.
Very, very hard one to take.

Except for one thats already been there!!