Greatest League in the World 2024 [new thread available]

Patrick2010

Macedonians not happy they had to land in Shannon.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/we-will-respond-to-evil-done-to-us-say-shamrock-rovers-opponents-shkupi-after-flight-change-41889738.html

"We would like to say to the Irish that they should know well that we have a very characterful (sic) team. The reward of being a team is to respond as a team to the evil done to you. In the same, today our team will show you a character it is, like lions on the field, it will show that there is no team that will not bow down to such cheap games, such cheap games should not have a place in football, they should not go unpunished.“You landed Ludogorets (Rovers’ previous opponents) in Dublin. Could you treat us the same if any Italian, Spanish, German or English team showed up? We hope our government will respond to this situation.”

I had a look on their Facebook page (with the aid og Google translate) and see the statement has fairly whipped up the locals. Don't have a Facebook page but maybe someone who has could point out that Rovers don't control Irish aviation and that Rovers and Pats have had to use Shannon.

trashcan

Evil ? Jesus, talk about over reacting. Maybe they are trying to whip up the crowd for the return leg.

Liberta Per Gli Ultra

The evil that men do...

Rovers saying that away fans can't buy tickets at the gate in the Brandywell next Friday because of "City Council restrictions". When and why did the local council bring in such a restriction on visiting football fans?

Hammer Archer

That's a hilarious statement. Didn't Shamrock Rovers have to use Shannon for Hibernians? And I heard both Pat's and Mura used Knock.

Chances are, if they used Dublin Airport, half their stuff would have been lost.

artanevilla

It's a two hour drive on the motorway. Not like you're going for a trek to the mountains. Either way I hope they win.

Ferris_Bueller

What channel is the Pats match on? RTÉ News channel I thought but on sky it doesn't list that they are showing it.

Edit - they are showing it despite it not being on the info.

Oat23

2-0 down in Norway after 10 mins. Clear early it's a massive step up from Motherwell but awful to concede 2 so quickly.

trashcan

Pats reach h/t at 0-0. Doing well.

Francie Barrett

Viking unplayable in that half. Sligo will need them to put in a dip to give them a chance.

Oat23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119429676#Comment_119429676

They look like they could hockey us if they want. Went down a gear after about 20 minutes and we had more of the ball at that point. They look very dangerous in attack and not afraid to leave themselves short at the back. Hopefully we don't concede again.

Lost McDonnell and Buckley to injury. Buckley was stretchered off..hopefully he hasn't done his knee on the plastic pitch but he looked in agony.

Francie Barrett

3-0, class goal in fairness.

Oat23

4-0 now. Drubbing. What a shame.

At least we didn't embarrass ourselves in the first round this season I suppose..

Oat23

The Brit commentator calling us Shamrock Rovers is just rubbing salt into the wound. 😔

Dr. Bre

pats lead!

Oat23

Fair play Pats. Brilliant result.

Arghus

Great result for Pats and they were good value for it too.

Gusser09

Good result for Pats. Job half done. Finish it out or its for nothing.

Is the rovers game on anywhere?

kksaints

What a result for us! Fantastic performance from all. Huge game next Thursday.

trashcan

Superb from Pats. Just brilliant Joe Redmond outstanding again.And Eoin Doyle really should have scored too. What a night !

Hammer Archer

Disappointing for Sligo that the tie is over already. Would have been a great night had the tie been in the balance in the showgrounds. While it was a great result against Motherwell, they were evidently a whole lot more useless than initially thought.

That was some move by Atakayi to take the keeper out of the game. First shot on target too.

theteal

Assumed Sofia were only starting pre-season the way they played. Nope, just rubbish. Pats good value for that win and might have snook another

Gusser09

Rovers up 1 nil. Game not on

What a joke.

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430044#Comment_119430044

Shambles from RTE and Virgin Media

TheCitizen

Rover 2 up.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430094#Comment_119430094

Amazing they can cover a game a few thousand miles away

.

Oat23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430121#Comment_119430121

It was cheaper which is probably why they chose the Pats game.

ben.schlomo

Great win for Pat's, well done. Super first half by rovers too, hopefully they keep it up.

deisedude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430141#Comment_119430141

Yep, take the Bulgarian feed and just commentate over it from RTE studios. Well at least they covered one game

Ferris_Bueller

Rovers dominating here, Shkupi are not a great side at all. Definitely more goals here for Rovers if they go for it. Gary O'Neill having a great game in the middle of the pitch and we've caught them playing out a few times already. Rory Gaffney is such a good forward, he would remind you of Jonny Walters the way he can hold up the play no matter how many are around him.

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430094#Comment_119430094

Not surprised.

You wouldn't have thought derry were in Europe at all this season, such was the shocking coverage, or lack of it, from the Irish media.

howiya

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430156#Comment_119430156

At least rovers will make a few quid from the game being on LOITV

Crucial crucial third goal at the death by O'Neill to give Rovers a two goal cushion heading into the second leg in North Macedonia next week.

ben.schlomo

They'll hopefully see it out over there next week. Another good night for the league, overall.

PTH2009

Great night/few weeks for LOI clubs in Europe,

The formats are so confusing, do Rovers have a better chance at European group stage football than St Pats (Sligo more or less gone now) ?

howiya

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430616#Comment_119430616

I'd say yes. Rovers go through and they're guaranteed group stages of conference league regardless of what happens in next round. Could still possibly get group stages of europa league. Pats have to get through this and next round to get group stages.

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430651#Comment_119430651

Thats some incentive for the weaker Europa league teams

NIMAN

I'm really hoping Rovers and Pats both make groups.

Might allow Derry to sneak to a league title if they are distracted or tired!

JPup

There’s a big advantage to winning your league. You enter in the Champions path. Much easier route in general.

If Pats were to qualify for the group stages it would be a phenomenal achievement given the draw they have. Long way to go yet of course!

Oat23

There’s a big advantage to winning your league. You enter in the Champions path. Much easier route in general.

That's a huge issue I have with the conference league and I don't know why uefa designed it like this. It will further stifle competitiveness in a few domestic leagues given the prize money on offer.

howiya

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430786#Comment_119430786

Agree with your point about it stifling competitiveness in some leagues but it's fairly obvious why it was designed this way. Crumbs from the table for the champions of smaller nations who will never reach group stages of champions league.

Zico !

Congrats to saint pats brilliant

Cork City Fc

joeysoap

Has it got anything to do with Russian clubs being excluded or is it a change of format?

Good luck to pats and rovers

great stuff.

chopperbyrne

Do Shkupi have a ban on fans from UEFA? First time I've ever seen zero away fans.

trashcan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430749#Comment_119430749

We haven’t a prayer of getting group stages. Even if we get through this, and it’s far from over, it’s Brondby or Basel next. Don’t see us getting by either of those. To finish this tie off would be great tbh.

chopperbyrne

Since they introduced the Conference, and the Champions Path of qualifying, the realistic aim has always been the Conference group stages. Just need to keep it tight in Macedonia, and that'll be achieved.

Just hope the forecasted 31C weather doesn't play a big part, as Irish teams, both domestic, and the national side, often wilt badly in high temperature conditions.

artanevilla

The minimum expectation since the conference came in is that the LOI champions should get the group stages I reckon. We're not a million miles away and a couple of decent draws away from having more than one team in there. I wouldn't be shocking if we have a year where all four teams are playing group stages, which may be a curse in disguise.

topmanamillion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119431457#Comment_119431457

Considering Estonia (humped Shams in the PO) and Gibraltar put a side in the groups last year anything less than the LOI champion in the Conference groups should be seen as a bad year but we are as far from having 4 teams in the groups as Bray are from having an average 5,000 attendance. You'd have to expect CSKA and Shkupi to come out fighting in Dublin next week. With the away goals gone a home defeat isn't half as bad as it used to be. In the old days Shkupi would need 2 in Dublin. In our game, Viking were just the superior outfit even accounting for a disastrous 10 mins. They're stadium is also a beaut.

artanevilla

If you look at the team left in it, there's plenty beatable, as I said, you'd need a decent draw. There isn't a lot between the top 4 in Ireland so if one can do it (easier for the champions obviously) they all can.

chopperbyrne

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119431494#Comment_119431494

Rovers are away next week, and Pats are playing in Tallaght.

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119431510#Comment_119431510

As I mentioned a few times before, the overall standard of football in Europe, outside of the real top teams, is generally bang average.

Irish teams need to have the confidence and ambition to go out and play their own game, as they are good enough. In the past you'd not have given Sligo a chance of knocking out Motherwell, or Pats winning away to CSKA SOFIA. But now it's achievable. It's a mixture of our game improving, and the opponents getting worse. No fear.

Teams from smaller countries are making group stages, its time we started to do it regularly too. Especially in the Conference, but onwards and upwards, Europa too.