LOI In Europe 2025

**texidub** · 17/07/2025, 8:17 AM

Shels were a bit boring to watch. Are they usually like that? Still they got through and maybe that style of play would pay off more against better opposition than Linfield...

**pineapple stu** · 17/07/2025, 8:30 AM

Originally Posted by Dermobohs

Didn’t Linfield knock rovers out on away goals in 84?

Ah - good point. But they did so by drawing both legs and winning on away goals.

So no IL club has ever won a game against an LoI side in Europe, though they have won a tie

**2 Year Contract** · 17/07/2025, 8:42 AM

Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa

If that is a free kick, there is about 20 penalties a game and If that is the baseline for disallowing a goal, you can nearly give up ever scoring from a set-piece again.

You can zoom in on nearly any goal to find a small infraction if you want.

If the referee didnt insert himself into it , nobody would be complaining this morning about the goal.

I agree with you in a game that’s not got VAR, but in a VAR game a shirt pull like that is never going to be allowed. I’ve only seen the clip above but from what I can see the ref didn’t insert himself into it, he seemed to have been called over to the monitor to have another look by VAR, which 9 times out of 10 means the decision is going to be overturned.

One things for sure anyways, this one decision and the talk surrounding it makes me so so glad that we don’t have VAR in the league of Ireland! Can you imagine the threads on here after a weekend of VAR decisions

Pats have been shafted of goals by a few dodgy decisions this season but give me that and getting on the right side of decisions over time to even it out over VAR any day of the week!

**Nesta99** · 17/07/2025, 8:51 AM

Originally Posted by texidub

Shels were a bit boring to watch. Are they usually like that? Still they got through and maybe that style of play would pay off more against better opposition than Linfield...

Its always mad how football fans see things so differently. I have enjoyed Shels style of play. Their build up, technically good enough to keepball and pass out of trouble, ability to change tempo and points of attack quickly, usually pretty solid at the back. Where they fall is final third, poor ball, often wrong choice and while intricate last night at times it seemed like they were trying to walk the ball in to the net. Like all LoI sides at this level they lack an efficient, ruthless striker - one chance one goal that we are often on the recieving end of. I think their style will be suited to European games more than the helter skelter of the league. Didnt think it was at all boring lasst night.

**nr637** · 17/07/2025, 9:45 AM

At Windsor Park, away fans are typically located in the upper tier of the North Stand as were the 1300 travelling Shels fans for Wednesday's fixture.

I was wondering if that is a ploy by the home team and their TV coverage to minimise the away support on the screen due to the camera location!

It noticeable also that this appears to be the case in Tallaght and Dalymount during TV coverage.

**pineapple stu** · 17/07/2025, 9:48 AM

What possible impact could away fans appearing on screen (or not, as the case may be) have on the match itself?

**Another Bohemia** · 17/07/2025, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by nr637

At Windsor Park, away fans are typically located in the upper tier of the North Stand as were the 1300 travelling Shels fans for Wednesday's fixture.

I was wondering if that is a ploy by the home team and their TV coverage to minimise the away support on the screen due to the camera location!

It noticeable also that this appears to be the case in Tallaght and Dalymount during TV coverage.

Can't speak for tallaght but for Dalymount when the mono was being built there was still a significant portion of the Connaught st stand there. The mono was specifically designed to meet the requirements for away fans (10% allocation) so that the Des Kelly stand could be used for home fans. Essentially the mono was put in the only place that was available and the TV gantry has been in that spot as long as I can remember. No big conspiracy to hide away fans.

**dundalkfc10** · 17/07/2025, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by nr637

At Windsor Park, away fans are typically located in the upper tier of the North Stand as were the 1300 travelling Shels fans for Wednesday's fixture.

I was wondering if that is a ploy by the home team and their TV coverage to minimise the away support on the screen due to the camera location!

It noticeable also that this appears to be the case in Tallaght and Dalymount during TV coverage.

The TV gantry in Dalymount and Tallaght is on the same side where away fans go. That can't be helped
Sligo, Galway, Longford etc is the same

I know in Windsor it's down to security, anytime Glentoran or Cliftonville play Linfield there fans are always in the top tier

**EalingGreen** · 17/07/2025, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

You'd have to imagine that sooner or later the Irish League will realise how much playing such critical European ties in their preseason is holding them back.

Obviously a summer season would help when playing against teams which also play in the summer (a small minority of UEFA's 55 members, mind), but imo greater professionalism all round is much more important. For as I've pointed out before, the LOI's coefficient didn't really move either way for a number of years after your switch in 2003, but the leading clubs, at least, have significantly upped their game generally more recently, leading to improvements both at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, Larne last night went through after extra time (and pens) away to Latvian i.e. summer opposition, having also drawn the first leg at home. This followed on from their making Group stage football in the Conference last season, and shows that with the right organisation and backing etc, a winter season need not be that big a disadvantage. (TNS in the otherwise woeful Cymru League are another example)

**EalingGreen** · 17/07/2025, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by nr637

At Windsor Park, away fans are typically located in the upper tier of the North Stand as were the 1300 travelling Shels fans for Wednesday's fixture.

I was wondering if that is a ploy by the home team and their TV coverage to minimise the away support on the screen due to the camera location!

Pretty sure it's primarily to do with segregation and security, on PSNI advice. Also cuts down on extra stewarding costs. While Linfield Members and ST Holders demand to be accommodated in their regular location in the South Stand (fair enough imo), which also has the advantage of being furthest away from away supporters in the North.

While away fans really can't complain about the North Stand Upper - good view, facilities and access etc - which is a lot better than many away fans have to suffer, both in Ireland and abroad.

And in any case, the TV cameras are in the South Stand, meaning the away fans are front and centre on the tv when the action starts!