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Messages - 6th sam

#1
The two are not mutually exclusive.
Of course Antrim Intercounty games  should be played there and club games. Who says they won't be ?
If running concerts and other sports helps finance a state of the art stadium, so that GAA flourishes then I'm all for it.
Croke park has hosted rugby soccer concerts conferences events , and it has promoted the GAA and brought money into our coffers . What's not to like??
#2
I think the GAA need to think of the long game. The minimum for euros is 30000 seating capacity. GAA could add in 4000 standing to accommodate that standing criteria fir our own games.
I hope the design involves stands steep and as close as safely possible to the pitch , to optimise atmosphere. I think the first tier should be compact and accommodate corporate and standing to optimise atmosphere when crowds smaller . Most matches in casement will be less than 5000 supporters so that should be concentrated , as sparse crowds in big stadia ie Croke park or Páirc UI chaoimh lack atmosphere and are bad PR.
34000 will be expected for ulster final and all ireland quarters and semi, For occasional rugby and soccer games. There would be several concert opportunities not only as belfast is Ireland's second biggest city with nearly 2 million population within just over an hour, and it's already the  second most popular concert venue on the island. Add in the proximity to rail and motorway it'll be a perfect conference venue , with entrepreneurs already looking at new hotel opportunities and already casement is well served by the city centre-andytown public transport route .
Euros has presented an extra incentive and  finance.
The nonsense about NHS needing it more doesn't stand up. Apart from the direct tax revenue, the boost to the economy and self esteem of west belfast will easily claw back the initial government payments .
We already have a precedent here, The tax revenue and economic boost from Croke park has paid ROI government back in droves.

If the DUP and TuV are against it that should tell u all you need to know . They fear what it could do for the community

#3
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on February 21, 2024, 08:42:13 PM
Quote from: 6th sam on February 21, 2024, 05:39:06 PMCasement must happen because:
1. Genuine Concerns can be addressed.
2. Antrim GAA people deserve it
3. Ulster GAA people deserve it
4. West belfast deserves it
5. Belfast and the neglected 9 counties of Ulster deserve it.
6. The Euros has presented an opportunity
7. Shared future by benefitting all
8.  Not allowing further DUP bullying and lack of generosity to hold us back



Is this not just guff?

For example, you say that Antrim and west Belfast deserve it. Why?

And when you say "deserve it", do you mean having their county ground  removed from them with zero reward?

Yes that's exactly what I mean about Antrim. They had a brilliant stadium and were going to get it replaced  by a better one and they've been waiting over 10 years because of delays for various reasons(some genuine, some vexatious).
West belfast deserves it because they suffered loss of life , loss of opportunities and loss of finances throughout the troubles and since. It'll be great to see them get a well overdue boost in terms of jobs, opportunities, finances and self esteem . The most modern stadium in Europe is on the Andytown road.
So no, it's not guff , it's about ambition, reward and a new beginning after horrendous times . Bring it on!
#4
I think it's time to step back and re-calibrate. There has been negativity around casement from the start, and my own views have changed over the years.
I think any criticism of the ulster council has to be tempered by the fact that they were breaking new ground on a mammoth project and experience and knowledge were thin on the ground .the lack of consideration of residents was a big weakness , and unfortunately has given the whole project a bad rep.
However there is no doubt that an anti-GAA agenda has been pro-actively negative from the start. This anti-GAA element, incredibly, is not just from unionists.

Genuine concerns must be addressed but there are overwhelming positives to this project:
For everybody including Stormont government : economic spin-off and feel good factor for Belfast with big games, events , and impressive aesthetics .
For GAA: second best stadium in second biggest city. Worldwide recognition , income generation
For Antrim: a state of the art venue for their games and their promotion of the gAA

The GAA have secured 50k from Southern government , and will perhaps increase its own contribution via internal and external funding to make it happen .

The precedent has been set by its ambition in re-building Croke Park 30 years ago, benefitting the GAA and everybody else in terms of economic /tax benefits .


The British government and stormont will have to stump up a significant sum but they'll get it back in droves in terms of economic and social benefit.
The initial planned outlay must be significantly increased due to inflation and cost of labour and materials , alone .

Those of an "Irish" background should be careful not to support vexatious concerns from anti-gaa , anti-Irish sources .

Casement must happen because:
1. Genuine Concerns can be addressed.
2. Antrim GAA people deserve it
3. Ulster GAA people deserve it
4. West belfast deserves it
5. Belfast and the neglected 9 counties of Ulster deserve it.
6. The Euros has presented an opportunity
7. Shared future by benefitting all
8.  Not allowing further DUP bullying and lack of generosity to hold us back


#5
There is an ever-shrinking section of unionism, who are some of the most unreasonable people on the planet. The rest of unionism has consistently failed to call this out. Though many are embarrassed by it , they're either afraid to call it out( they'll be called Lundies) or say nothing as this bullying has been effective for years. But they're running out of road .  They could have had a world-leading 40k stadium in their heartland , in the most accessible are of the north, but they went on their own. Despite residents reasonable opposition to Casement , political issues also contributed to delay .
The NI team and their support pulls from a small pool , but supporters and their representatives are still prepared to antagonise the majority of the feeder population. Supposedly intelligent politicians like Kate Hoey with experience of London Olympic athletic stadium being offered to Soccer club, West Ham, won't countenance Casement hosting soccer then GAA. Despite her stadium "expertise" and regular attendance at Windsor Park, She pretends she thinks there's scope to turn Windsor into a 30k stadium overnight . I hope I'm wrong but sadly , unionist bullying has worked for years and there's a real chance it'll work again🤦🏻
#6
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
October 14, 2023, 08:53:46 AM
Quote from: manwithnoplan on October 14, 2023, 07:42:35 AM
Quote from: Nanderson on October 13, 2023, 07:34:19 PMStream for the junior final only loading up 30 seconds before the throw in. No information on teams or even 15 minutes of build up to talk through routes to the final. Absolute shambles. You can be sure there will be a full hour of coverage before the Kilcoo and Burren game and a good half hour or more before the intermediate

Are you surprised? Given that the county board squeezed most of the JFC in to Saturday afternoons, which impacted smaller clubs due to player unavailability with work or soccer clashing with the games, there is clearly disdain towards the competition.

Thought it was a great final last night. Quality in both teams . Hopefully  Drumaness will get a good run in Ulster. The Saturday games should be looked at, but the round robin format ensures JFC clubs are getting plenty of games which can only be good
#7
Quote from: mrdeeds on September 08, 2023, 08:48:18 AM
Quote from: 6th sam on September 08, 2023, 08:29:18 AM
Quote from: mrdeeds on September 08, 2023, 07:37:57 AM
Also bringing on a League 2 player ahead of Ryan Manning was disgraceful. Then his post match interview with false optimism.
A very recent league 2 player who spent his career in premier league and championship, has over 100 caps , an obvious leader in the camp ,  clearly respected inside one outside the group.
Hardly disgraceful , the problems tor Irish soccer are massive but James McClean isn't one of them

He's barely played this season and has been poor for a few seasons now. What message does it send leaving an in form player on bench.

Presumably the manager and his staff , having being at training and assessed all players available , make selection choices that they feel give them the best chance of a result. It's not in their interest to do otherwise . We aren't good enough to beat the best team in the world in Paris. If those, whose job depends on positive results,  thought that manning would give a better chance of a result he'd have been playing . We can't possibly be good enough to be truly competitive in international soccer. It's not Italian 90 when we could pick a team of quality premier league players including genuine world class players playing fir top teams.
  The players on the field did brilliantly to stay in the game , and Ferguson has serious potential( though hopefully not injury prone) , but it is delusional to think we can be truly competitive. Too many factors are weighted against us.
1.poor structures and finance
2. Brexit closing English doors
3. English FA and IFA closing doors
4. Too many other more successful team sports
5. Small population
6. No sign that any of the above factors will change


Blaming the likes of Kenny and mcClean is missing the point. We are what we are. A player born in Ireland has virtually no chance of becoming a world class player ( even Ferguson is not there yet) , and we were only competitive when we had world class players.

An all-ireland soccer structure could change that eventually but it would take 20 years, and even then success is not guaranteed
#8
Quote from: mrdeeds on September 08, 2023, 07:37:57 AM
Also bringing on a League 2 player ahead of Ryan Manning was disgraceful. Then his post match interview with false optimism.
A very recent league 2 player who spent his career in premier league and championship, has over 100 caps , an obvious leader in the camp ,  clearly respected inside one outside the group.
Hardly disgraceful , the problems tor Irish soccer are massive but James McClean isn't one of them
#9
General discussion / Re: The DUP thread
September 08, 2023, 08:20:13 AM
Quote from: Rossfan on September 08, 2023, 08:01:32 AM
The English are hardly going to keep paying to  give ye things for free that they have to pay for.

Exactly Rossfan, they'd be far wiser to pay the republic to take us off their hands
#10
I'm no expert but there is a dilemma for FAI.
We are a long way off the top table. We are a small island nation, and almost uniquely soccer is not the main team sport with football hurling and rugby pulling on players and being prominent in many schools . Brexit means that players can no Longer go to England at 16 , and the structure of the club game, and development  here , though improving , is one of the lowest in Europe. We have not performed well in Euros , nations league or World Cup qualifiers for several years, which leaves us as perennial low seeds.
The only area of quick gain that I can see is tapping into the diaspora again like Jack charlton did. Apparently more than Half the England team could have played for Ireland eg Rice, grealish , Kane , but back in the day Top quality English born players Townsend , Aldridge , lawrenson declared for Ireland and couldn't switch as easily as they do now. Last nights team of championship players emphasises how hard it is for an Irishman to make premier league , and it's going to get harder .

FAI need to decide on what to do:
1. Target the diaspora , not easy as English FA will resist given their recent gains .
2. Massively improve structures at home- that will take at least 20 years before you see results and will only be transformational in an All-ireland context ( many NI players would prefer to play for Ireland )
3. Be realistic and Accept that being truly competitive in top international soccer from our current standing is absolutely impossible , and cut their cloth accordingly

Much as Kenny has positive qualities, progress in international soccer depends on getting "results" in as many games as possible , to improve seeding for future tournaments . Results will only come by playing a dreadfully unattractive game to squeeze out results . Either that , or try to play quality football without the tools to do it.
A dilemma akin to Two bald men fighting over a comb .
#11
GAA Discussion / Re: Standard of Refs
August 02, 2023, 05:35:00 PM
Gaelic football is a tough game to referee made worse by the Mark rule and black card including timing .
It strikes me that for any controversial decisions around contact , you could find some foul on TV replay eg Steven O'Brien's crucial "soft free" v Derry . In the same game early on Derry, were  penalised  for over carrying in a swarm tackle with rabble rousing approval by Kerry players and supporters. Yet if u look at Tv replay the referee could/?should have given a free . But many praise refs for letting it go or showing common sense. Soccer and nfl and rugby refs are never lauded fir letting it go and showing common sense. I'd be interested in MR's view in this as a referee.
If I had a choice I would help referees by :
1. Get rid of mark
2. Get rid of black card
3. Heavily Penalise jeopardising an opponent eg head tackles, even consider outlawing shoulder charge as it's impossible to always judge fairly
4. Grade and reward referees better

James McCarthy is a brilliant player perhaps best defender in the history of game in terms of achievement and winning mentality, but he gets away with head high tackles all the time . With concussion concerns ,reducing  head high tackles must be a priority . There still will be plenty of physicality in the game without endangering the head
#12
GAA Discussion / Re: The Sunday Game
July 02, 2023, 11:26:20 PM
Quote from: straightred on July 02, 2023, 11:17:53 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on July 02, 2023, 11:14:25 PM
Quote from: straightred on July 02, 2023, 11:07:13 PM
Quote from: WT4E on July 02, 2023, 09:39:14 PM
They really didn't ignore the Mayo disallowed goal. RTE is a joke tv Station
They showed the monaghan black card but didnt talk about it. What was Conor Lane thinking? Terrible call

He made up for it with the free at the ref end
No chance. Game could have been over as a result of the card.
here's another one. He (rightly) didn't give a foul for the shoulder. He then decides its a throw ball. Why? What rule is he using there? Its either a free for armagh for the shoulder or a free for Monaghan for overcarrying. A throw up is a mystery that only Lane can solve.
MR can keep us right but I imagine the throw up was again the correct decision. Throw up as head injury
#13
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
June 13, 2023, 03:49:16 PM
Quote from: Godsown on June 12, 2023, 11:52:32 AM
Quote from: Truth hurts on June 12, 2023, 11:30:31 AM
Why are so many reserve fixture being conceded ?

We have never been able to get the right day/ time for reserve football. We need reserve football to keep on board those players who want to play and get occasional senior game time but it's too easy then to opt out when you couldn't be bothered to go to the other end of the county on a sat evening or Sunday afternoon. No easy answer. This weekend we had combination of brilliant weather, Slane, Belsonic CL final as distractions.

Interestingly the genuine efforts to try to ensure teams field might have been counterproductive. Teams changing times and days , & 13 a side particularly. The game is intensive enough at 15 a side , but for less fit players to have to work harder and exposed to more space and pace,  at 13 a side is unattractive to many.
Ironically we've found it easier to field 15 this year than we did 13 last year . The cccc are excellent in looking at all options and providing competitive leagues. Having tried different times/days , I'm sure they'll know which time results in least DNFs
Many
#14
General discussion / Re: Podcasts
May 27, 2023, 06:42:38 AM
Quote from: Snapchap on May 27, 2023, 05:55:52 AM
Quote from: Saffrongael on May 26, 2023, 09:01:32 AM
Quote from: Walter Cronc on May 26, 2023, 07:25:26 AM
Quote from: imtommygunn on May 25, 2023, 09:12:30 PM
Gaa social a fantastic podcast. You wouldn't get a much better one than the Brian canavan episode. Must listen to the Kevin hughes one.

Am I the only one who thinks they are constantly a sad story  :o

No you aren't. That's the sort of stuff that "sells" though nowadays.

Noticed this some time back. It's been getting far too dependant on trying to get guests with emotional back stories.

Such stories can be interesting but it just feels almost relentless with the GAA Social. Actual football chat seems a secondary concern a lot of the time.

There's only so much to be said about football and most top sportsmen don't give too much football knowledge away- the omertà of the changing room etc. However , the back stories for me are brilliant. High achievers letting us into their lives , and how they aren't perfect , but weathered the storm and went on to achieve great things . Invaluable Lessons in persistence, resilience and character that Are much more important than the 2:03 I scored against Roscommon. Niblock and Mcconville are hitting the right notes, in that respect. Just setting the context and allowing the personalities and life lessons to shine through. The Kevin Hughes podcast was outstanding .
#15
Quote from: Mourne Red on May 21, 2023, 10:35:40 AM
Quote from: Rossfan on May 21, 2023, 10:18:41 AM
Why does Alliance HAVE TO decide to be Orange or Green?
Surely their whole point and reason for existence is that they're neither.

They don't have to but if in the event of a border poll they would need to chose a United Ireland or Union.. They could say we will leave it up to individual members to vote / canvas for what they want but then that causes a split in the party.

There'll be a split in the party either way if/when a border poll happens because if Party chose either side then members might get the hump and defect

Alliance have made impressive gains , and are a soft choice for those that aren't wedded to the constitutional debate. Their success is an indication that in peace , the middle ground has strengthened.
Ironically they are a bigger threat to a United ireland than the entire unionist bloc. SDLP appear to have increasingly become less green. Many of Their greener voters are clearly moving to SF, as many of their softer voters are now choosing Alliance. Incredibly imho, many Soft "nationalists" are now voting Alliance, thereby holding back the potential demographic surge in the nationalist vote. Alliance are likeable , like most middle grounders , but in supporting the status quo, they remain effectively a unionist party , and are the biggest barrier to a United Ireland. Soft "nationalists " voting for Alliance, may as well be voting for the DUP, as unless they vote nationalist, a border poll will remain as far away as ever .