Fair play to Drogheda

[CuanaD]

i hate this feeling though where you know it was within grasp and it just doesnt happen...

me too
I screamed me heart out at the TV yesterday when we (thats the League 'We') had those 2 great chances at the end to dump out Kiev, but this morning I wake up with an empty feeling - we missed a great chance to get closer to the group stages again & I worry how long we will have to wait till the next chance is taken

- - hopefully that'll be Pats v Elfsborg this month tho - eternally optimistic me.



listened to Stuart Byrne on 106 after the game - he made a lot of sense - berated people (Roddy) who still say the league hasn't improved - said that it had improved a lot in the past 5 years

[all drogged up]

couldn't agree more with Diamond. You lot always have something to bitch about.

here are some facts
Drogs are out of champs league
Drogs played 4 great games but could have done better (I was at 3/4 of those btw)
Kiev are regulars in Champs league group stages and indeed it was evident that they were technically and physically a better side but at the end of the day this is soccer and heart matters in soccer
some reports claim this could have been the biggest result in irish soccer history - wrong! Shels made it a stage further before and were even in with a chance against a La Liga side with only 30mins to go - we need high standards to aim for
ELoI is not the best league in the world and we are still a mile off group stages but progressing closer to it
When we do manage a group stage position we'll likely get hockeyed every game the first time around
Roddy Collins is a jerk of the highest order but is great for TV
All Drogheda supporters are extremely proud of the team
I think it's also fair to say that everyone associated with the club had realistic expectations of last night but none of them had given up the tie at any stage until the final whistle yesterday
Drogheda need a goal-getting striker
Coverage of the league could be better granted but two live games of champs league qualifiers when we were still a full round away from qualifying isn't bad.
irish Times on a saturday have detailled reports on all games - remember folks combine ELoI weekend attendances wouldn't match a decent inter-county GAA game (it's not nice but it's true)

less of the facts
Drogs were amazing and yeah a defeat is a defeat but Dynamo Kiev are european legends; 2 cup winners cups, 10/11 of the last seasons in group stages
4-3 is a fcukn super result. Neither Cork nor Craptown would have managed that
next year (UEFA cup reallistically) we'll (Drogs - not speaking for the league) make a third round

[the ox]

Rather predictably by noon the next day, it's tucked away on the RTE website, there are six soccer stories above it. Now if Liverpool had played Kyiv in a qualifier...

[back of the net]

Anyone who says the LOI is not up to Euro standard really is a total fecking moron. Well done Drogs.

Summer soccer works, the league of Ireland is rockin. We are within touching distance of the group stages now.

Screw the begrugers.

fantastic result for the drogs - congrats to the club and their fans - they have done irish soccer proud and hopefully the LOI can build on this.

over the last few years imo LOI has not been up to the euro standard , but like i said hopefully last nite's fantastic result can pave the way for the LOI to get to that standard

congrats again drogs

[pineapple stu]

some reports claim this could have been the biggest result in irish soccer history - wrong! Shels made it a stage further before and were even in with a chance against a La Liga side with only 30mins to go - we need high standards to aim for

In fairness, the game against Depor wasn't really a "result" per se, and I'd have a win against Kiev much higher than a win against Hajduk Split.

[stann]

Just want to add my congrats to Drogs for a superb performance.

Not going to get into what this means or doesn't mean, just that on the night they were brilliant. Never gave up, and should have won by two. Christ, Hughes should spend the rest of his life trying to kick himself in the hole (and missing).
Must be particularly galling for Drogs fans as it wasn't a case of what might have been, but a case of what absolutely nailed-on no question should have been.
Fair play though, a credit to the league.

[TheBoss]

It was a great game and result for Drogheda. To draw 2-2 at Kiev is a unbelievable result even if Kiev in control, they still had to finish off Drogheda, which they did not do, showed a lack of respect in that sense, allowed Drogheda to back into the game twice and almost paid for it.

To analyse the game, first half, Kiev had a lot of the ball, they only had 3 good chances in that half, Kravets placing the ball wide from about 5-8 yards, and Aliev's 2 shots(Goal and Post). Second half, Kiev's best chances were 2 free kicks and a penalty, they could not break Drogheda down in open play.

[TheBoss]

Just found this picture:
http://www.fcdynamo.kiev.ua/imgzoom..../503/10808.jpg

[gspain]

Yet another great performance from Drogheda in Europe. Yet another heartbreaking defeat. I thought losing to Start on penalties was tough but ......

Well done.

[Blue Man]

Missed the game as im in the States, but seen the highlights on the web. How unlucky can you get?? From reading the posts on Hughes' miss I thought he was a few inches out with the ball at his feet, but those ones can be tricky first time. I think he seen the headlines and snatched at it. A bad miss, but we've all seen them.

And as for the other chance that trickled over the post?? Heartbreaking. But all in all, a superb performance and they really done the league proud and had they gone through, I honestly think they would have had a fair pop at Spartak. Kiev in fairness looked shaky (I saw the 1st leg) but you cant argue with their pedigree.

[higgins]

In fairness, the game against Depor wasn't really a "result" per se, and I'd have a win against Kiev much higher than a win against Hajduk Split.

Are you for real ?
Anybody who watched the home game could see Shels deserved more than the 0-0 they got. Remember this was the Deportivo side that beat AC Milan 4-0 in Milan about three months earlier!

Even in the away game they were kept out for long periods and actually scored against the run of play and from a long range effort, even if it was a great strike.

Fair play to Drogheda, they really looked the part at times last Wednesday. Missing a top class keeper and a top striker too.

I'm still ****ed off they didn't score a third!! gutted...

[pineapple stu]

I'm defining a "result" as going through here obviously. I'm assuming that's the original intended meaning.

[stann]

A "result" is a win or a draw, that's always how it's been as far as I'm aware.
So the first Depor match and the second Kiev game were "results", regardless of the fact that Shels and Drogs didn't progress further. The relative merits of both games are for others to argue though.