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Rest in Peace Liam

Welcome back Liverpool fans to the Man United Thread.

United were terrible yesterday but its one game and unfortunately against Liverpool. United are a work in progress and if anyone had said at the begin of the season they would make this progress everyone would be happy. They are still a work in progress with a lot areas that need improvement. United goal from the start of the season was to try get into top 4, that should still be the goal. They have been looking tired the last few games and there is a lacking of quality in depth that will need a few more transfer windows to address. Liverpool on the other hand were pushing for multiple trophies this time last year and didnt become a bad team overnight, even with them out of all domestic cups, premier league and at the exit door of the CL.

What he was saying is that there is a gap for very talented young players who may already be playing LoI.
If the system is working well the international team should be flúirseach.

I don't think anyone disputes our underage teams are the best in generations, if not ever.

But ok - is that a bad thing? Players can still go to other EU countries at 16 but Britain at 18. The really serious players go to Inter or Udinese. Those who don't want that approach go over to England as pro's on transfer fees. Win win surely? Remember that whole 98% failing in the brutal English machine and coming back with no education?

I think it can be tweaked.
It has to be structured especially the continental path.
And it has to be funded.

Womens sport is on the rise and there are similar issues to football

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2023/02/20/tipping-point-audiences-want-good-sport-no-matter-who-plays-it-so-demand-more-coverage-of-women/
"In Ireland, women's sport is still harassed by fundamental challenges. Basic resources remain a huge issue. There are serious infrastructural deficiencies. In the last three or four years, the national women's squads in rugby and soccer both needed to take militant stances in order to force change in their own federations. It is only five years since the Irish hockey squad reached the World Cup final while doing their own fundraising along the way, and paying a €550 annual levy to cover expenses"

Sport changes lives, especially in deprived areas. It saves money on health and justice. This could even be quantified.  The department of Health is a black hole.
The main difference sports wise between Ireland and say Belgium or Serbia is infrastructure.

So imo the FAI should unite with the women to demand a new sports infrastructure settlement.

They are. Wasn't there a proposal to up the betting tax by 1% and that money go to infrastructure in field sports?

1% of  a small number is not enough
https://data.gov.ie/dataset/breakdown-of-betting-duty-receipts

Link it to corporation tax
https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/documents/research/ct-analysis-2021.pdf

or to health spending
https://www.statista.com/topics/3418/healthcare-system-in-ireland/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLcKmOwRk_c&t=492s

It's about 100m a year. More is wagered on soccer than horses yet horses and dogs get 100% of the levy and half of that is direct to prize money. Assume soccer gets a third, would make a serious difference in allowing soccer set up acadamies.

The main difference between soccer and the racing is that soccer has the ability to become a self sufficient business but needs help to get going properly. Getting stadiums and facilities in place to host proper academies is key. Between revenue from proper stadiums and proper academies the clubs could become self sufficient very quick. My guess is Shamrock Rovers are self sufficient or very close to it over the last 10 years between game day revenue and transfers (leaving out European money as not all clubs can access this).
The Nags and Dags will always need government or sponsorship money, they can't live on race day revenue alone. It's a different business model.

"We didn't refuse to go to to Wexford we declared well in advance we weren't going", glad that was cleared up!

See Lingard going full Ronaldo. Complaining there is no games room at Carrington. Just to clarify he is 30 years old and he's moaning there is no Toy room at his work place.

They must have a games room, I kept hearing Pogba was throwing the toys out of the pram all the time.

Lingard was one of the toxic folks in the dressing room, glad he's gone.

Very lucky with Bruno's goal, Rashford was interfering with play but we'll take it. They all even out over the season. Casimero brilliant. Good game

Not to mention, they're still trying to free him.

Some serious miserable bastards on this thread.  A young woman who did nothing wrong was held as a captive for almost a year in a Russian prison, will now be coming home. 

But for some people, that's apparently bad news and reflects poorly on Biden.

The price was high, but if that's the best deal available, then so be it.

I'm guessing had Trump done this the reaction from our right-wing posters would be different.

Would you not want to sit down at the poker table with whoever negotiated this deal? A criminal all over the world for a pot head!

I voted for Obama 1.0, a man that did absolutely nothing for black people, so yeah, you're right I must be right wing.

So she should have been left to rot in a Russian prison?

One wonders how the right wingers would be reacting if she had been some pretty, blond white tennis star or whatever?

They'd have been up in arms for months over the fact that the administration wasn't getting her home.

Do you believe this was a good deal? An arms dealer for a pot user?
The rest of them are left to rot in jail as you put it. If you don't believe there was any thoughts about checking multiple boxes in choosing to bring home, Sports star, Black, LGBT, then you are very naive. Great, an American is home but the price tag on every American traveling just went way up.

Instead anyone who questions it is right wing, racist, queer hating

Not to mention, they're still trying to free him.

Some serious miserable bastards on this thread.  A young woman who did nothing wrong was held as a captive for almost a year in a Russian prison, will now be coming home. 

But for some people, that's apparently bad news and reflects poorly on Biden.

The price was high, but if that's the best deal available, then so be it.

I'm guessing had Trump done this the reaction from our right-wing posters would be different.

Would you not want to sit down at the poker table with whoever negotiated this deal? A criminal all over the world for a pot head!

I voted for Obama 1.0, a man that did absolutely nothing for black people, so yeah, you're right I must be right wing.

Great prisoner swap by joe

A gun runner for someone with a small bottle of cannabis oil. The world is a safer place.
Yet the retired Marine who fought for his country is left behind, who has the 'no man left behind' slogan? His crime in the US eyes is he's a middle aged white guy, I'm sure Joe and his crew were worried about the cities burning if the marine came home and the basketball player was left behind.

Most of the score apps have given it to Fernandes.
Ronaldo has no shame. Was it Harry Kane did similar a few seasons ago.

He celebrated his team scoring, what's the problem
He didn't do his foolish shuuu thing which he does when he scores, right? So maybe the bloke is celebrating his team scoring, who knows but without the Shuu thing then chances are he wasn't looking for it.

[Brazil]

Bowl 1:  Brazil, Belgium, Argentina, France
Bowl 2: England, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal

Bowl 3: Denmark, Germany, Croatia, Mexico
Bowl 4: Uruguay, Switzerland, USA, Senegal

Bowl 5: Poland, Iran, Serbia, Morocco
Bowl 6: Japan, Wales, South Korea, Tunisia

Bowl 7: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Australia, Cameroon
Bowl 8: Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Ghana

Final Prediction Brazil to beat Germany in final

[New York Jets XI, Smackdown Clowns and Coolera Bears]

Delete either of them. You sent me two invites, so delete either

Who is Blue Biffo in the 'B'? Seems to have joined twice somehow. Hopefully I haven't messed up there somehow, just need to figure out which one to remove.

Good news for the 'A' - just got an email address to send the last invite so we should be full there shortly.

In the B - Trying to make sure all 3 of New York Jets XI, Smackdown Clowns and Coolera Bears get their invites following relegation, so please send me email addresses as soon as possible. Thanks!

Scheffler scrambling very well, Rory with some great looks but just not dropping. Feel it will get better for Scheffler and he will close it out.

I missed last years emails until too late and missed out. Interested in getting back in this year if a slot is available.
Savage Bears

Flew home to see the minor match, yes we're starved of good teams in Offaly over the past 20 years. It's easy to point out that one incident that should have been a free however Offaly should never have left that in a Refs hands. They should have been out of sight but started to defend the goal for the last 5 mins, that's inviting trouble. There were a couple of factors, unfamiliar territory for Offaly made them nervous, and the amount of subs brought on due to cramps in the last 6-7 mins showed the lack of depth in the squad.
Very proud of the young lads and hopefully this will make them stronger for the future. Great to see their first touch and wrist flicks when defending, reminded me of the 90's hurlers. I do hope they stick together and bring Offaly back to the top table in hurling. Huge credit also to the county board and the work they are doing at underage level. Fantastic weekend even if heartbreaking to loose

Last comment, fair play to the Tipp team, they kept chipping away and never panicked. Well done on the win, that shouldn't be devalued because to the free questions.