Hard luck Rovers unlucky not to score in the first half a bit of dodgy defending for the 2 goals could've been more but for Thompson he played well, still in Europe and a handy 3pts on Friday so its all good :)
Good luck to Pats and Sligo

Are Shamrock Rovers into the Europa league group stage now?

Overall, Rovers gave a good account of themselves against better quality (but still mediocre) opposition. They were positive, as they had to be on the night, and pressed Copenhagen high up the pitch. However, the two goals were the result of poor defending and also highlighted the greater sharpness of the Danish players in scoring from these chances. Rovers also played too many predictable long balls forward, perhaps because they lacked confidence in their ability to pass the ball through the middle and to the front. Gary Twigg seldomly received enough support up front.

Copenhagen were mediocre. Much of their passing was inaccurate and many of their long balls over-hit. Cannnot see them progressing much further based on their two matches against Rovers.

whitegoodman
County: Tyrone
Posts: 268

Are Shamrock Rovers into the Europa league group stage now?

Into the playoff / final qualifier round for it. Can they draw Rangers (if they lose to Malmo) in this or are teams coming from the Champions League qualifiers seeded against those who come through the previous Europa League qualifying round?

Some big teams entering the qualifiers for this round - national cup winners and top five or top eight teams from England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France etc. Shams could get a real tough draw (hopefully) here.

Well done Copenhagen.

A very workmanlike performance to get the job done.

Hard luck to South Dublin Co. Council. They played very well, particularly in the 1st half.

St. Pat's have it all to do tonight, can see them winning but not by enough to go through. They might nick a 1-0 or 2-1 win which wouldn't be a bad result for them in fairness. Unfortunate to be going into tonights game two down but they'll learn from it and hopefully be stronger for it in future campaigns.

Sligo have a real chance of making it into the next round. Should be a great buz around the Showgrounds tonight, no less than their fans deserve after the way the club has improved over the last few seasons. They're the best footballing team in the league and it'd be great if they came out with a positive result tonight. They created chances in the first leg and by all accounts Kirby could have scored a vital away goal. That said it'd be a big ask if they were to concede early on, can see them coming out with a 1-0 win, but not sure if they'd be able to come through and get two back if they fall behind.

Mesamis, I thought you would be rooting for Rovers,if the roles were reversed surely their support would be cheering on bohs?

Pats' players are refusing to play tonight

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0804/stpats1.html

Pats are not fulfilling the fixture tonight due to not being paid bonuses.

What a shambles.

PFAI Press Release

Following receipt of a fax from the owners of St Patrick's Athletic Football Club early this morning, we have considered its contents carefully. The faxed offer is the same offer that we rejected last night in our meeting with the club. Having discussed it at length, we are unanimous that the offer does not meet our minimum requirements.

The club will receive many multiples of the amounts we are seeking in prize money so payment to us would still leave the club in profit following our European campaign.

However, we have made it very clear to the board that our very modest requests would have to be agreed prior to tonight's match; this issue has been ongoing for the past month. It is, therefore, with huge regret that we must inform you that we will not be participating in the fixture this evening. This is a unanimous decision of all the players and has not been reached lightly. We realise this is a devastating blow for the fans and the league. It is equally so for us as players but we cannot continue to be treated with disrespect by the club.


This has to be biggest joke to happen to the league over the last number of years, if not ever. Surely they are doing themselves no good and only surrendering possible bonuses by taking action like this? The abuse the players and board will get from their own fans over this is going to be incredible. Apparently the players received €7,500 between them, after getting through against IBV in the first round and are looking for close to a €20,000 bonus for this round and the last. Considering the distances travelled by the club in each round, most of the prize money received so far would have gone into covering expenses.

Is there a case for saying the Pat's management could just play their youth team tonight? Although not named in their European squad, players under 20 or 21 would be eligible to play without being registered as part of the initial European squad I think.

The FAI has agreed to mediate between club and players so the game is defo off now!!! Delaney should just pay them out of his massive salary.

Seriously though the players are a joke. They're not going to play because the club won't pay them money that they're not entitled to according to their contracts!

Just proves what a joke this league, and Irish soccer in general, is.

Match is back on now apparently. Fair play to the FAI for getting involved in this, the PFAI have a lot to answer for if they were the ones advising the Pat's players to refuse to play. Wonder if the Pat's board will or can take any action against players? There was no legal obligation to pay the players extra, they were going to get a bonus, but the players just wanted more it seems. Feel a bit sorry for the fans having to put up with this, but as for the players? Hope they get bet out the gate and booed off the pitch tonight now.

Game back on.

PFAI have a lot to answer for. They marched the Pat's players up the hill when in reality they never had any other option but to play the match.

Good luck to both clubs tonight. Hopefully Sligo will learn the lessons of Shamrock Rovers and take their chances. It's been a terrible build-up for Pat's. I think they can score first. I'm confident if the do they can get the second. The big thing will be to keep a clean sheet as well, it they can it could be a dramatic and long evening.

Jesus, hardly ideal preparation for the game. More negative LOI publicity for the media to trot out. Hard to know whose side to take on this one without having the full story. Hope the 2 Irish sides in action tonight do themselves justice anyway.

jackieblue
County: Antrim
Posts: 466

1003051
Mesamis, I thought you would be rooting for Rovers,if the roles were reversed surely their support would be cheering on bohs?

Not a chance man!!!

I'll be supporting Sligo and Pat's tonight though.

2 goals in 2 minutes and the Sligo tie is dead before we're halfway through the first half, depressing stuff. Looks like being a fairly bleak day for the League of Ireland.

And then there was one. Shamrock Rovers are the last Irish club standing. Disappointing results for both Sligo and Pat's last night. They were facing a step up in class though. The Ukrainian league isn't ranked 8th for nothing. The UEFA Cup winners of '09 came from the Ukraine.

I hope Shamrock Rovers get a favourable draw today. I think they should be moving away from looking for a glamour tie and looking at getting an attainable winnable game to get through.

Rovers can get Athletico Madrid, Panathinaikos, Partizan Belgrade, Besiktas or Metalist Kharkiv. Realistically they aren't going to beat any of theose teams so may as well get Athletico Madrid to make a few quid