Drogs vs Kiev the match part

[Straightstory]

It IS strange how Irish League teams don't take Europe seriously. (Players going on holiday during European matches! - incredible!) Surely they could go full time and make a serious attempt at Champions League qualification? The fan base seems to be there.

[Straightstory]

That's Linfield I'm talking about, by the way. (Don't think Dungannon Swifts could be ever one of the European giants...)

[brianw82]

I don't think any neutral, barstooler, part-time fan, call them what you will, could fail to have enjoyed the game and been impressed with the manner in which Drogheda played.

Absolutely. It was a genuinely exciting game. Fair play to Drogheda for giving it a right go.

Lots of complimentary press in the Independent today, too.

[pete]

It IS strange how Irish League teams don't take Europe seriously. (Players going on holiday during European matches! - incredible!) Surely they could go full time and make a serious attempt at Champions League qualification? The fan base seems to be there.

Reflected in the fact NI is ranked below Wales & level with the Faroes. I know the LOI is stronger but NI not that poor.

[Steve Bruce]

I too don’t understand why we don’t take it seriously. There is little/no difference between the LOI top teams and Linfield, yet we fail every season in Europe. (although in the last 3 seasons we have played one of the top seeds eg Gorica, Elfsborg & Zagreb, which I think every team on this island would find difficult to get past).

The difference is most certainly preparation and full-time football. The LOI is light years ahead when it comes to preparation and professionalism. Irish League clubs need some fresh investment, new innovative people with new ideas. I do think the IL is starting to slow turn around back into a positive direction with this invitational league though and I hope in 2/3 years time we will be close to the position the LOI finds themselves in, in regards to funding, tv exposure, more full-time & European progress.

[Dodge]

(although in the last 3 seasons we have played one of the top seeds eg Gorica, Elfsborg & Zagreb, which I think every team on this island would find difficult to get past).

Neither Gorica nor Elfsborg were anywhere near the top seeds and Irish teams have beaten Swedish teams the last 3 times we've played them.

[Steve Bruce]

Neither Gorica nor Elfsborg were anywhere near the top seeds and Irish teams have beaten Swedish teams the last 3 times we've played them.

Elsfborg where 2nd or 3rd seeded team last year and Gorica 3rd or 4th highest seen as well the year before.

Elfsborg went onto the Group stages of the UEFA cup as well.

So I still think ANY team would struggle to get past any of these teams. (doesn't mean it is impossible).

[Dodge]

Elsfborg where 2nd or 3rd seeded team last year

4th, 2 places ahead of Derry City

Gorica were top seeds (and I apologise)

[Steve Bruce]

4th, 2 places ahead of Derry City

Gorica were top seeds (and I apologise)

No probs,

Well Elfsborg has still got to the group stages of the UEFA cup, something no team on this island has able to achieve.

[Dodge]

Well Elfsborg has still got to the group stages of the UEFA cup, something no team on this island has able to achieve.

But we've been close a couple of times. And I'm not saying we'd easuly beat them but the facts are there. last three times Swedish league meat LOI, LOI has won

[CuanaD]

Unfortunately the 2 steps taken are a lot easier than the 2 steps to go. That is not to take away from the progress that has been made. Although the first 2 steps are a lot easier, it is still very difficult and you managed to do it. This is something that the Irish League is still trying to achieve and still a very long way away from achieving.

I think the 2/3 years to regularly qualify for 3rd round is unrealistic. I think 5 to 7 years would be a bit more realistic if not still a bit optimistic. Shelbourne are the only side to reach the 3rd round and that was a few years ago. So I think regularly qualifying for the 3rd round is still a bit away as the next level of football is a considerable gap to the level we have been competing at.

I agree Steve, the steps become harder each level.
But, Derry have also gone 3 rounds in the past few years so 2 teams out of our 12 attempts in the past 4 seasons - 1 every second season isn't bad - i just feel that 2-3 years from now that could be at least 1 each season - sounds achievable when put like that.

[Steve Bruce]

I agree Steve, the steps become harder each level.
But, Derry have also gone 3 rounds in the past few years so 2 teams out of our 12 attempts in the past 4 seasons - 1 every second season isn't bad - i just feel that 2-3 years from now that could be at least 1 each season - sounds achievable when put like that.

I was more refering to CL 3rd round, but if you mean both tournements then 3rd round is definately acheivable each year.

[HarpoJoyce]

Neither Gorica nor Elfsborg were anywhere near the top seeds and Irish teams have beaten Swedish teams the last 3 times we've played them.

I know Hammarby/Cork City last year temporary slipped your mind. But your point is still valid about closing the gap.

Good luck to yourselves and Cork City tomorrow.

[oriel]

Shelbourne are the only side to reach the 3rd round and that was a few years ago.

We played in 3 rounds of the european cup in 1979, this was when only 32 countries existed, a far harder competition than today with only one preliminary round (dundalk v linfield actually)

[HarpoJoyce]

How relevant is the Third Qualifying Round draw on Friday (13:00?)....
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/k...id=551134.html

....for Drogheda Utd. fans and then other LoI supporters. I know me I would want my club associated with as many other bigger clubs as possible and eventually identified with a specific large club "Drogheda Utd. or Dynamo Kiev and ....."

[barney]

Was at the game last night. Heard Roddy say this morning that Drogheda deserved to be beat and he talked about how bad they were. Sadly he was right.

When people say they don't watch the EL because it isn't proper football, last night proved their argument. Kiev were leagues ahead of Drogheda and could have won 5 or 6. Furthermore, it highlighted how Drogheda are a really badly coached team.

First ten minutes it was obvious that Drogheda were 5 yards too deep. Kiev's sweeper was an out for them every time they had the ball because Zayed was never near him. The number 5, in front of the defence, also had acres of space every time he got the ball. Doolin did nothing till half time.

Watching Kiev making angles for passes, have two options for a pass and attacking with more than one option at a time showed the eL up for what it is. The prime example for me was that every time Kiev attacked they had a man hugging the touchline, a player coming short at the edge of the box and one in behind. They dragged Drogheda's defence all over the place and had two to three options each time.

In contrast, Hughes picked a ball up in a good position in their half at one stage in the second half and every Drogs player charged for the box like schoolboys. Box was crowded. The obvious ball played in was easily dealt with. That was just one example of the brainless football they played. There were countless more.

We aren't talking rocket science here lads, all it takes is a couple of players to move a couple of yards into a position to receive a ball with some sort of idea where he going to play a five, ten yard pass. Drogs had no idea what they were at for the most part.

If they were going to be that clueless, they should have played five yards higher up the pitch, bombarded Kiev with long balls and hoped to turn them or pick up the second ball.

It just shows how bad coaching is in this country. Last week I was at the Pats-Rovers game and the kids played at half time. The fella coaching Rovers instructed his defenders and keeper, every time, to launch the ball long every time they got it. It made me laugh in one way but sad in another because I love the el but that's where we are at and that's where we will stay.

Drogs will be battered next week if Kiev have the inclination to put them to the sword. They have no hope of keeping it tight at the back.

[Sheridan]

Was at the game last night. Heard Roddy say this morning that Drogheda deserved to be beat and he talked about how bad they were. Sadly he was right.

Aside from the fact that you don't have a ****king clue what you're talking about, using "I agree with Roddy Collins" as an opening gambit kills any credibility you might aspire to stone dead.

I've been in love with the Soviet/Russo-Ukrainian style of football ever since I was a kid. It's based on fast, fluid counter-attacking and relies on every member of the team being technically adept. The rationale is that since an attack can break down anywhere on the field, every player has to be capable of immediately instigating a counter-attack. As a result the average technical ability of a player in the Russian (if not Ukrainian) league is the highest in the world.

Some people will tell you that this style was invented by Valeri Lobanovksy during his time in charge of Dynamo (they're wrong, as Lobanovksy's blueprint was a more defensive refinement of the Russian style which classically involved more dribbling.)

If they could marry this style with a matching temperament, they'd dominate world football. Unfortunately, players from the region typically lack self-confidence and often fall to pieces at the vital moment (Dynamo's shots-to-goals ratio against Drogheda was about par for the course for a Ukrainian team.) Also, defenders tend to be picked for their passing ability rather than their defensive skills, which means they can be vulnerable to sustained pressure and counter-counter-attacking (the best counter-attack of the match was the one which involved Kendrick slicing Dyanmo open down the left and sliding a beautiful ball inside the full-back which Cahill skewed over from a great position.)

When it comes off, though, it's spectacular and irresisitble. Here's an example of a non-proper football team being destroyed by the Russo-Ukrainian style of play: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=1LEtfMHlO6g

[Saint_Charlie]

When people say they don't watch the EL because it isn't proper football, last night proved their argument.

*Dons tin hat*

*Finds cover*

[Blue-Army]

It IS strange how Irish League teams don't take Europe seriously. (Players going on holiday during European matches! - incredible!) Surely they could go full time and make a serious attempt at Champions League qualification? The fan base seems to be there.

I take it your talking about Glenn Ferguson?

He was behind me in a queue at Seaworld in Orlando 2 days before they played Zagreb!

[barney]

Aside from the fact that you don't have a ****king clue what you're talking about

Care to tell me why?