‘I think we're going to run into more problems' – Stephen Bradley fears Drogheda's Euro heartache is worrying trend
Stephen Bradley believes Drogheda United's emotive European expulsion may prove to be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with multi-club ownership.
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The single worst thing Shelbourne can do is mention the word Qarabag. Not with a difficult Champions League tie against Linfield to overcome Duff was speaking yesterday about how all talk of Linfield is banned for now, what with Derry up tonight and a trip to Waterford on Monday. Shels are off the pace at home and have work to do to get back into the league title conversation, so you can understand it. But behind the scenes, there will be plenty of Linfield chatter and I don't mind that because these European nights are what it's all about. But don't look beyond Linfield. Don't be thinking or talking about Qarabag in the second round because football will bite you in the arse. And I know this from two lowest moments in football were Shelbourne's 2005 Setanta Cup final defeat to Linfield, closely followed by our Champions League loss to Hibs of Malta in 2002. We took our eye off the ball in between the two legs, and that should be a lesson to the current team. Now, we are talking about extremes and there isn't a chance a modern day team would prepare for a European game like we did that year. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. First of all, a travel cock-up meant we ended up in Malta for almost an entire week around the first-leg. George Best and his wife Alex were lounging around the pool on holidays, which was pretty surreal in itself. But we were there for too long and curfews were broken left, right and centre with lads on the beer, all of which caused friction in the group. When we did eventually get home, we played Manchester United in a friendly at Tolka Park just a few days before the home leg against Hibs. And as I've mentioned before, it wasn't any old friendly - but Roy Keane's first game since the explosive Saipan World Cup bust-up and the game was a media circus. It was carnage and no sort of preparation at should have beaten Hibs with one eye closed because you've never seen such a one-sided European game. But we made a balls of it. We knew going into the tie that we'd play Boavista in the next round and they were one of the biggest Portuguese teams at the time. Just knowing that was a distraction as lads were obsessed with their financial bonuses and all sorts. Throw everything else that happened that week into the mix and it was car crash could have been there until Sunday and we wouldn't have scored against Hibs. It still haunts me now. So if Duffer hears anyone talking about Qarabag, he needs to give them a slap because Linfield are a serious outfit. I don't care if they're out of season, there's no such thing as an easy draw in the Champions League. You take all the politics and religion out of it, and nobody can deny that Linfield are a great club. Their history and heritage speaks for itself.I've spoken before about the monotonous dedication you need to be a footballer at the highest level in Ireland. It's bloody hard work, but these are your rewards. These are the games that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The added spice of an All-Island rivalry is healthy. There will be a lot of weight and emotion going into the game and Shelbourne just need to focus on themselves and make sure they don't take their eye off the for RTE to step upOne more point on this mouthwatering Champions League clash - RTE have to be all over have women's Euro 2025 commitments at the same time, but I don't care and I don't want to hear the excuses. I don't want to be watching England v Netherlands, or France v Wales which are down to be played on the same night as the Tolka Park game on July pay our licence fee for a reason and RTE Sport have a duty to cover Irish football Get the wallet out and get it for DroghedaI've been thinking a lot this week about Drogheda United and their European heartbreak. It's like your hands have been tied, a blanket is put over your head and you're thrown in the back of a van. You're helpless and there's nothing you can do about it. But you know what? Rules are a personal level, I'm disappointed for my old team-mate Kevin Doherty and I'm sure he won't feel any better for me saying that I'd say his head is in a spin. Hopefully Drogheda's owners are sticking around but with these multi-club ownership rules here to stay, you'd wonder what their motivation is if this is the outcome?As a footballer you strive to be the best you can be and here in Ireland, that's winning trophies and getting into Europe. When that's taken away from you it must have an enormous emotional toll.I was very lucky to play on successful League of Ireland teams and enjoyed great European flights - but I can count them on one hand. I was having lunch in town with my wife a few weeks ago and a fella walking by stopped to chat about football for 30 seconds, and it was all about European games of you're telling me now that Drogheda can't play in Europe, then I'd wonder what the American owners see in this. But I'm sure Kevin Doherty will use it all as motivation.I've always felt that to win a league, you can't really afford to lose more than five games. Now, Shels proved that wrong last year, but five is my guideline. Drogheda have only lost four times this season and they're not going away. They're showing that winning the FAI Cup was no fluke and they have something about the next season or two, the goal for these Drogheda United players is to win the league title and here's hoping the owners stick around and back roar? Lions bore!Batten down the hatches. Cover your ears, close your eyes because the Lions are coming and don't you just dread it. The hobby of the upper class. The most ridiculous sport ever invented. The poshest of the posh. The pretentiousness of the ... ok, you know what I 'that' time again. The time when Irish, Scottish, English and Welsh people come together and deliberately forget about their repressive past for the purpose of, what? Padraig Pearse and William Wallace would be turning in their graves. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
