LOI In Europe 2021

**ontheotherhand** · 14/07/2021, 7:20 PM

Ah but this Rovers team has had 4 or 5 European games as a group now against teams with different styles and varying multiples of budgetary superiority. They should be well able to go out and impose themselves against the likes of AC Milan or some chumps like the back to back double Slovakian champions away from home in 36 degree heat. Anything else is poor, poor, poor....

Gutting to lose the tie but the performance yesterday was encouraging for the rest of Europe and more importantly, the league. Having Joey back made a huge difference and Towell looked a lot sharper than he did in the away leg or the Dundalk game. It makes a difference when you have your best team available and match fit. We lost a bit when O'Neill went off but on balance certainly deserved to win the game and maybe deserved extra time if you look at both legs as a whole.

Ref wasn't great in the second half (poor tackles on Burke and O'Neill were ignored but O'Neill could also have gone for a second yellow) and I think Lopes was actually fouled twice for their goal (arm in the back and the trip) but I can see how the ref thought it was more of a tangle. Ironically that's how I think the peno-that-wasn't against Dundalk also panned out. Scales probably pushed and tripped Duffy but from the refs perspective it looked like they both brought each other down and Duffy didn't actually have the ball. If you slow it down Duffy had gotten a beautiful touch in front of Scales to control the ball and direct it away right before his leg brings Scales down on top of him. So we've had some bad and good luck. I'd have traded a peno to Dundalk for a chance to go through in the CL though.

**nr637** · 15/07/2021, 8:18 AM

Will Bohemians get 6,000 fans out to watch them take on Stjarnan at the Aviva Stadium tonight?

I hope so!

**paul_oshea** · 15/07/2021, 8:56 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

The first leg was a bad performance, but I wouldn't go overboard. Slovan are a better side than Rovers, just like they were better than Dundalk a couple of years ago. You have to earn the right to play your own game against these teams - no LOI team is good enough to go out and dictate things.

I didnt say dictate things, but there's a feeling again that they could have got more. And on stus point about European experience, i've read every single year about managers mentioning European experience and getting a feel for the opposition or some other parlance. Being cautious is sensible, but being naive and sloppy isn't playing your own game - or maybe in some instances it is!

**Nah Nah Nah Nah** · 15/07/2021, 9:58 AM

Originally Posted by nr637

Will Bohemians get 6,000 fans out to watch them take on Stjarnan at the Aviva Stadium tonight?

I hope so!

Well it sold out pretty quickly

**pineapple stu** · 15/07/2021, 9:58 AM

It's still just a game of football though.

OK, so you don't know the opposition as well as Bohs or Sligo or whoever - but they don't know you either. I think the phrase is a cliche for the most part.

I think your post does Slovan a big disservice - it's not reasonable to expect Rovers, a lesser team, to go into a match against Slovan, play their own game from the first minute as you suggest, and be comfortable throughout.

**nr637** · 15/07/2021, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

Well it sold out pretty quickly

Did not hear/see that anywhere, but if so, great news for the club and the league promotion. I suppose Sligo have had no problem with their allowance of 400!

**CorribsideSteve** · 15/07/2021, 10:31 AM

Irish sides can clearly play at an increased level when they really believe there's a chance to win as Rovers showed the other night, rather than the opposite attitude of "Sure we're only small fry anyway, let's try not to get thrashed".

**placid casual** · 15/07/2021, 11:03 AM

I know it's a cliche but the attitude of the European opposition for LOI teams (particularly when they are favourites) when playing teams here has a large part to do with it.
Slovan gave the impression the other night by their performance that they assumed the tie was over before they arrived. Once it went to 2:2 on aggregate they upped their tempo and pinned us back for 10 mins till they scored. Even though they are in pre season they were the better team over 2 legs.

**Nah Nah Nah Nah** · 15/07/2021, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by nr637

Did not hear/see that anywhere, but if so, great news for the club and the league promotion. I suppose Sligo have had no problem with their allowance of 400!

https://twitter.com/bfcdublin/status...980345857?s=21

**paul_oshea** · 15/07/2021, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by placid casual

I know it's a cliche but the attitude of the European opposition for LOI teams (particularly when they are favourites) when playing teams here has a large part to do with it.
Slovan gave the impression the other night by their performance that they assumed the tie was over before they arrived. Once it went to 2:2 on aggregate they upped their tempo and pinned us back for 10 mins till they scored. Even though they are in pre season they were the better team over 2 legs.

I think that's fair/accurate but that doesn't mean rovers couldn't have knocked them out. I'd agree with Bradley about extra time , they definitely upped the pace, but they were leggy looking and extra time would have suited rovers but not them.

**Nesta99** · 15/07/2021, 1:43 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

I know it's a cliche but the attitude of the European opposition for LOI teams (particularly when they are favourites) when playing teams here has a large part to do with it.
Slovan gave the impression the other night by their performance that they assumed the tie was over before they arrived. Once it went to 2:2 on aggregate they upped their tempo and pinned us back for 10 mins till they scored. Even though they are in pre season they were the better team over 2 legs.

No matter what level any match is at sides will have periods of dominance, or imposing themselves, and be on the back foot and digging in at other times. I would think that Rovers expended a lot of energy getting back in to the tie, so even in preseason Slovan had a bit left in the tank but they were hitting the panic button too. I do think that greater belief could have been shown in the past by Irish sides rather then the initial setting out to contain. By Irish sides I include the international side as how many times did we see something of a performance when let off the leash needing to chase a game - difference between France home and away in WC qualifier, arugably Rovers the other night. That said to use the Stephen Kenny's Dundalk teams, the absolute belief in being able to compete at all times was refreshing but could be too gung-ho, there were times containing the opposition would have been prudent, an additional result in 2016 EL groups and we were fully in the mix for last 32, we chased winners in games where we probably should have settled, late 2nd goal v Legia at home another example, chasing an equaliser rather than taking it to Warsaw and see where it went. Slovan undoubtedly had a bit more about them but it wasnt much and the agg score bears that out. You do need to get the calls go your way too though, I'm still ****ed at that penalty given against Boyle v Legia, wasnt a peno then under updated rules, and definitely wouldnt be now! If Rovers had the ref sway a tad their direction who knows.

Sligo and Bohs are in good positions today, and I think in both fortune will favour the brave, and there is less need for sides to drop deeper and deeper in fear of the sucker punch way goal the longer a game goes on. Easy said!

**EatYerGreens** · 15/07/2021, 4:01 PM

Any of tonight's fixtures on TV or streams anywhere ?

**joey B** · 15/07/2021, 4:13 PM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Any of tonight's fixtures on TV or streams anywhere ?

Both on LOI TV,a tenner for each stream I think.

**pateen** · 15/07/2021, 4:16 PM

Looks like it here but hate those auto cameras.
If the commentary was any good it would help but the Bohs fella the last day sounded bored out of his skull

https://www.loitv.ie/en-int/playerpage/744832