LOI In Europe 2025

**ger121** · 02/10/2025, 9:01 PM

Well done Shels. Decent point there. Hacken did knockout Anderlecht and Cluj in qualifying. Which is in stark contrast to their league form.

**Philosophizer** · 02/10/2025, 9:03 PM

Florentina only scraped past Celje 4-3 in the quarterfinals last year. They’re a very good side.

**Straightstory** · 03/10/2025, 10:24 AM

Pity Rovers couldn't keep it to 3-1, a bit more of a respectable scoreline. Defensive errors, and two goals conceded in the last minutes of each half. Classic LOI in Europe stuff. Bradley can't be pleased.
Was at the game in Tallaght. Disappointing turn-out of Shels fans considering it was such a landmark occasion. Entertaining match, and Shels had their moments and generally played well, but Hacken looked the more accomplished side and probably should have won. Palace will be well-qualified for the next stage by the time they arrive in Dublin in December, so will most likely field a mostly youth/reserve side. Not sure what effect this will have on the wide-eyed, open-mouthed, Premier League-worshipping barstoolers. May not be a full house.

**outspoken** · 03/10/2025, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Straightstory

Pity Rovers couldn't keep it to 3-1, a bit more of a respectable scoreline. Defensive errors, and two goals conceded in the last minutes of each half. Classic LOI in Europe stuff. Bradley can't be pleased.
Was at the game in Tallaght. Disappointing turn-out of Shels fans considering it was such a landmark occasion. Entertaining match, and Shels had their moments and generally played well, but Hacken looked the more accomplished side and probably should have won. Palace will be well-qualified for the next stage by the time they arrive in Dublin in December, so will most likely field a mostly youth/reserve side. Not sure what effect this will have on the wide-eyed, open-mouthed, Premier League-worshipping barstoolers. May not be a full house.

Not surprised Rovers made the mistakes they did, the signs were there in recent league games. If they really want to kick on they need to upgrade the backline, not sure that's possible from within the league though.

**pateen** · 03/10/2025, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by redarmyfaction

Poor night in Prague for Shams but unfortunate to concede 4, Shels could have won based on what I saw of of their game

Only saw the second half. Though Shels were very poor but apparently were ok in the first

**sbgawa** · 03/10/2025, 2:15 PM

Shels go a point ahead of Rovers in the league in October........im getting flashbacks

**legendz** · 03/10/2025, 4:44 PM

Surprised to hear Bradley, if he can be taken at face value, rested players for a semi final against First Division minnows. With the financial incentives on offer in Europe, thought all focus would be on that first.

**ontheotherhand** · 03/10/2025, 4:57 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

Surprised to hear Bradley, if he can be taken at face value, rested players for a semi final against First Division minnows. With the financial incentives on offer in Europe, thought all focus would be on that first.

Id say it was part saving face and part serious. The focus is on the cup, securing the league, and the games we can compete in in Europe. Games against Sparta Prague are not the measure of any LoI team. I hope we all get to that point but we are miles away. Only a 20k stadium but my jaysus that was a proper football crowd and team. They are thinking about maybe winning the conference, we are happy to be there.

**2 Year Contract** · 04/10/2025, 9:55 AM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Id say it was part saving face and part serious. The focus is on the cup, securing the league, and the games we can compete in in Europe. Games against Sparta Prague are not the measure of any LoI team. I hope we all get to that point but we are miles away. Only a 20k stadium but my jaysus that was a proper football crowd and team. They are thinking about maybe winning the conference, we are happy to be there.

Agree with this. I was flicking between the shels and rovers games on Thursday and it was almost staggering that the 2 games were in the same competition. Shels in a half empty Tallaght with any small atmosphere muffled by the wind and rain, standard on the pitch was poor with less than a handful of shots on target from both teams combined, a tiny away crowd and a very flat game between teams in 6th and 10th in their leagues. Then you switch to the game in Prague and it was chalk and cheese, a proper packed out stadium and atmosphere, some very good football being played, big away crowd too, it was like watching a champions league game by comparison. That of course would flip when shels play away to AZ alkmaar and rovers are at home to say Hamrun or whatever, but it is a bit of a mad competition when you compare the size of half the clubs in it versus the other half

**ontheotherhand** · 04/10/2025, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Agree with this. I was flicking between the shels and rovers games on Thursday and it was almost staggering that the 2 games were in the same competition. Shels in a half empty Tallaght with any small atmosphere muffled by the wind and rain, standard on the pitch was poor with less than a handful of shots on target from both teams combined, a tiny away crowd and a very flat game between teams in 6th and 10th in their leagues. Then you switch to the game in Prague and it was chalk and cheese, a proper packed out stadium and atmosphere, some very good football being played, big away crowd too, it was like watching a champions league game by comparison. That of course would flip when shels play away to AZ alkmaar and rovers are at home to say Hamrun or whatever, but it is a bit of a mad competition when you compare the size of half the clubs in it versus the other half

Yeah it's very strange. Huge gulf in class between some of the teams. It's been amazing for leagues like ours but the next step would be qualifying for the Europa groups again, or even the CL groups, rather than actually competing for the Conference trophy, which is a bit mad. Great craic getting to play some of these teams tho. Czechs were a bit arrogant but generally decent to chat to and there was a bit of back and forth that gave it all the feeling of a proper occasion. As you say, Hamrun at home will be different.

It'll be interesting to see how far Sparta go. They were good, even with a few players rested for their derby, but I don't think we played as well as we can either. Team selection played a part but in reality they just had us shook.

**EatYerGreens** · 05/10/2025, 1:00 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Yeah it's very strange. Huge gulf in class between some of the teams. It's been amazing for leagues like ours but the next step would be qualifying for the Europa groups again, or even the CL groups, rather than actually competing for the Conference trophy, which is a bit mad. Great craic getting to play some of these teams tho. Czechs were a bit arrogant but generally decent to chat to and there was a bit of back and forth that gave it all the feeling of a proper occasion. As you say, Hamrun at home will be different.

It'll be interesting to see how far Sparta go. They were good, even with a few players rested for their derby, but I don't think we played as well as we can either. Team selection played a part but in reality they just had us shook.

They'll never make it out of the gap of Thermopylae

**ontheotherhand** · 05/10/2025, 3:11 PM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

They'll never make it out of the gap of Thermopylae

Mind the gap as they say.

**EalingGreen** · 06/10/2025, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

They'll never make it out of the gap of Thermopylae

And even if they should, they at least won't have to face Ajax. Though a derby game against Hamrun could be interesting.

**EatYerGreens** · 06/10/2025, 1:04 PM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Agree with this. I was flicking between the shels and rovers games on Thursday and it was almost staggering that the 2 games were in the same competition. Shels in a half empty Tallaght with any small atmosphere muffled by the wind and rain, standard on the pitch was poor with less than a handful of shots on target from both teams combined, a tiny away crowd and a very flat game between teams in 6th and 10th in their leagues. Then you switch to the game in Prague and it was chalk and cheese, a proper packed out stadium and atmosphere, some very good football being played, big away crowd too, it was like watching a champions league game by comparison. That of course would flip when shels play away to AZ alkmaar and rovers are at home to say Hamrun or whatever, but it is a bit of a mad competition when you compare the size of half the clubs in it versus the other half

To be honest, most European football is like that. Ireland is fairly unique to not have a big gap in support and stadia between its top sides and everyone else. Contrast with Portugal, Scotland, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Norway etc etc etc. You could go to a Sparta game in Prague with a crowd of nearly 20,000 and then the next day go to watch another top tier team like Jablonec or karvina in front of 2,000.

I've been to top tier games in Budapest where the crowd at one was over 10,000 (Ferencvaros) and then the other only had a few hundred (MTK Budapest - and that included quite a few stag parties and foreign groundhoppers).

BTW - Only 5 clubs have won the Czech league in the 30+yrs since it was introduced in the early 90s (and one of those has won it only once).

**ontheotherhand** · 06/10/2025, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

To be honest, most European football is like that. Ireland is fairly unique to not have a big gap in support and stadia between its top sides and everyone else. Contrast with Portugal, Scotland, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Norway etc etc etc. You could go to a Sparta game in Prague with a crowd of nearly 20,000 and then the next day go to watch another top tier team like Jablonec or karvina in front of 2,000.

I've been to top tier games in Budapest where the crowd at one was over 10,000 (Ferencvaros) and then the other only had a few hundred (MTK Budapest - and that included quite a few stag parties and foreign groundhoppers).

BTW - Only 5 clubs have won the Czech league in the 30+yrs since it was introduced in the early 90s (and one of those has won it only once).

I think 2YC is talking more about the relative strengths of the teams, rather than their support base? Hope I'm not putting words in your mouth there 2YC. You basically knew in advance that Chelsea were going to win the whole thing last season, assuming they took it reasonably seriously, which I think they did. It's a bit more even this season, maybe, with Palace, Fiorentina, and Strasbourg all reasonably strong in the odds. Can't remember who was second in the odds last year, possibly Fiorentina?

I suppose it was always a bit like that with the old CL and EL group formats but you now have absolute giants competing against relative minnows more regularly. Great fun though and it's been fantastic for our league.

**2 Year Contract** · 06/10/2025, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

I think 2YC is talking more about the relative strengths of the teams, rather than their support base? Hope I'm not putting words in your mouth there 2YC. You basically knew in advance that Chelsea were going to win the whole thing last season, assuming they took it reasonably seriously, which I think they did. It's a bit more even this season, maybe, with Palace, Fiorentina, and Strasbourg all reasonably strong in the odds. Can't remember who was second in the odds last year, possibly Fiorentina?

I suppose it was always a bit like that with the old CL and EL group formats but you now have absolute giants competing against relative minnows more regularly. Great fun though and it's been fantastic for our league.

Yeah you’re more or less spot on. I did mention the support base tbf to EYG but I was more so referring to everything about the clubs - standard of teams, stadiums, fanbase etc. As you say, Chelsea being in the Conference last year when it also contained the likes of Larne and TNS is a perfect example of the massive massive gulf in clubs in the same European competition. Granted there’s a bit of that in the Champions League under the new format, but the gap between say Real Madrid and Qarabag, although massive in itself, is nothing compared to the gap between Chelsea and TNS or whoever.

**EatYerGreens** · 06/10/2025, 4:49 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

I think 2YC is talking more about the relative strengths of the teams, rather than their support base? Hope I'm not putting words in your mouth there 2YC. You basically knew in advance that Chelsea were going to win the whole thing last season, assuming they took it reasonably seriously, which I think they did. It's a bit more even this season, maybe, with Palace, Fiorentina, and Strasbourg all reasonably strong in the odds. Can't remember who was second in the odds last year, possibly Fiorentina?

I suppose it was always a bit like that with the old CL and EL group formats but you now have absolute giants competing against relative minnows more regularly. Great fun though and it's been fantastic for our league.

Isn't that just the story of most of modern European football though? That you know who will probably win the French, German, Spanish, Scottish, Hungarian, Welsh, NI etc etc leagues before the season even starts? And bar the odd turn up for the books, the expectation is usually right.

The LOI can probably be added to that list currently too.

**EalingGreen** · 06/10/2025, 5:20 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

I suppose it was always a bit like that with the old CL and EL group formats but you now have absolute giants competing against relative minnows more regularly.

And a bit!

Random example: the 30 teams in the 1967/68 European Cup varied eg between
Man Utd/Real Madrid/Benfica/Celtic/Juventus/Anderlecht
versus
Glentoran/Dundalk/Valur/Skeid/Kuopion PS/Jeunesse Esch/Hvidovre IF/Hibernians Malta.

(If you need to figure out some of the names on the second list, they're all here: https://www.worldfootball.net/player...gue-1967-1968/)

**ontheotherhand** · 06/10/2025, 6:04 PM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Isn't that just the story of most of modern European football though? That you know who will probably win the French, German, Spanish, Scottish, Hungarian, Welsh, NI etc etc leagues before the season even starts? And bar the odd turn up for the books, the expectation is usually right.

The LOI can probably be added to that list currently too.

I'm not talking about the domestic leagues, just the CL, El and ECL. In the past the weaker clubs would be gone by the time group stage football came around. You'd rarely have been able to call the winner of the CL without much doubt, whereas calling the ECL was fairly season. The new league phase throws us in with the giants in the tournament proper and the parachute format where the giants can fall out of the CL into the ECL is new....I mean it's all new. Or maybe I'm talking pure ****e. It's great either way. As much as I don't want to see certain clubs get into the league phases, I wouldn't begrudge the fans having the experience at the end of the day. Well maybe some of them....

**oriel** · 06/10/2025, 7:34 PM

This is going to be some race for 4th, not sure who I fancy to nick it, sneaky feeling Shels will. Pats seem to be running out of ideas and that spanking v Cork C won't help their confidence. Drogs in the mix too, mind you be some kick in stomach if they slip to 5th, Rovers win cup and they miss out on Europe for a second time in one season!

Banter - I still think Cork C can rise to the occasion and qualify themselves, Rovers could be tired after all their group games, but they (Rovers) will be odds on to win final for sure.

EDIT - Bohs are by now way confirmed yet either, would think only Derry a shoe in for Europe so far.