Messages

Tyrone boys wouldn't even be that low

First thing that happened after NI opted out of Free State (technically all island was independent for a second), was the boundary commission. Cormac Moore had a good article in Irish News a while back on how the Free State Government, in particular two ministers from North, made a hames of that.

https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2023/07/25/news/cormac_moore_was_eoin_macneill_to_blame_for_boundary_commission_s_disastrous_outcome_-3464293/

Supposedly Churchhill offered a UI in return from Dev's help in World War II. Dev didn't trust him and maintained neutrality. It might have been the best chance lost.

Dev was entirely right, Churchill was a cúnt in a long line of cúnts.

Was he? Look at the number of dominions that gained independence after being Co-opted to fight in WW2.

How many of them were less than 50 miles off the GB coastline in a time of a still uncertain Europe?

Not to mention there were plenty from the north who fought with the Brits in WW2 who mightnt have been too happy at that

The jist of it in my understanding is that some lad has a family member who suffered abuse as a youngster and some players allegedly commented on this.

I see the club has posted a statement in this regard.

Would well believe they'd say that sort of thing.

Armagh JFC final
Ballyhegan v Clann Éireann II

Ballyhegan to represent Armagh in Ulster then. Some going by CE seconds to make a final in their first year.

Spill the beans...

I'm hearing there may have been justification for throwing a few slaps last night. Disgusting mouthing from the county champions if true.

Would not doubt it one bit with them boys. Regular thing going from underage up. Bit of sledging is the norm and can usually be laughed off but them boys are another level.

https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2023/10/01/news/conleith_gilligan_joins_armagh_backroom_team-3661066/

Suprised this hasnt been mentioned yet.. What do Armagh folk think of the news?

I know he was very well thought of during his time with Kilcoo..

Do four managers work well together?
Can these four work well together?

I think we're getting the best of both worlds. Build on the last couple of years plus an injection of fresh ideas.

Either way, good for Gilligan's CV.

Is McKeever staying?

The Down lads at it again few tasty ones going around on whatsapp!

If that team in yellow, had have put the same amount of effort into their playing game that the did for the digging match at the end they could have been a lot closer..

Regardless of how it started and so on, the videos are disgraceful

No love lost between them 2 teams for sure. Took Kilcoo to extra time and penalties last year in Down semi but nowhere near them this year. Kilcoo boys wouldn't have got a box for nothing but in the videos it's all Clonduff.

ETH is not on borrowed time at. I'll first to admit I'd have got rid of Moyes, LVG, Mourinho & Ole a lot earlier but its different this time. We've got a manager in his prime with a great recent track record who's still dealing with the nonsense of the Glazer ownership, the balls up with Martinez's injury is another to add to the long list of c**k ups. The issues surrounding the club doctor was farcical and obviously player a huge part in this.

Results and performances need to improve but the time to judge him is at the end of the season not a month in when he's had to deal with a huge injury crisis, about as bad as I've ever seen.

I'd be sticking with him no matter how bad the results get. Attitude of a lot of the players is get a big contract then put the feet up. He's on the right track but a long way to go

The Down lads at it again few tasty ones going around on whatsapp!

Armagh Championship this year hasn't been overly exciting due to the tedious group stages followed by the completely unnecessary preliminary quarter finals.

If you are going to have group stages - and I accept there are many who don't want this - then preliminary quarter-finals are absolutely necessary, to ensure there are no dead rubbers, and every team has something to play for up to and including the third game.

I'll caveat that by saying that unbelievably, Mullabawn actually had nothing to play for in their third game this year, due to the previous results in their group and in particular the draw between Rangers and Clans, but this was very much an exception.

I've no figures to back it up, but my sense is that there has been excellent attendances at this year's Championships to date, and this was alluded to by the County Chairman at last Monday's County Board meeting. So the public seem to be buying into it. 

The group stages are horrible.
Zero intensity and no atmosphere for supporters.

Teams getting hammered by 15+ points and still getting rewarded with a knockout match.

Some teams even getting beat twice and still getting another bite at the cherry. Preliminary QFs are not necessary - they could easily be relegation play-offs instead with 3rd playing 4th - no dead rubbers then.

Gimme straight knockout and doubleheaders any day of the week. Maybe something closer to what Down have with a back door system.

Far rather straight knockout myself. Didn't Harps get a tanking in the group stage and then almost beat Cross in the knockout game?

Nice to see Aidan and Andy nominated for ourselves, Forker especially was inspirational in that Monaghan game.

Wouldn't read too much into them altogether, unpopular opinion maybe but don't think Clifford should have got poty nomination, too many off days this year (by his standards)

[Scouting units can collect a million stats on passes completed, assists, sprints, XGs and all that. It's the other intangibles that can dictate how much a player can achieve.]

I suspect that back in Ferguson's day he would have sniffed out and swerved past players who had talent but didn't have the required dedication.

Pogba, Martial, Sancho are soccer's version of the GAA townie in white boots.
Look flash in the good times, but don't roll up their sleeves for any dirty work.

Scouting units can collect a million stats on passes completed, assists, sprints, XGs and all that. It's the other intangibles that can dictate how much a player can achieve.
Certain players kick back and relax once they've gotten the cars and the super models.

Ferguson once said that when Utd were pursuing Stan Collymore, his tendency to be a lad off the pitch put him off.
Collymore ended up at Liverpool where it was white booted, (or white suited) townie central, Redknapp, McManaman, Fowler etc.
All guys who had ability but not the mentality.
Utd are now the ones with the spice boy problem.

That in a nutshell is the issue with recent signings.  On paper their stats are insane, mentality wise, they are not willing to do what champions do. 

Ten Hag to his credit has done it his way from day 1.  Ronaldo and now Sancho, he is demanding his rules are obeyed by at all costs. He seems to have taken heed of Roy Keanes warning from years ago whereby the players are going to cost the manager his job and is not allowing recent history to repeat itself.

Have to give him respect, at least if he is going to go down it will be with the players that he chooses and those that have put their shoulder to the wheel with the manager.

Don't think you can say fairer than that.

at some point they'll have to stick with a manager and let him guy the ones who don't want to be there out. That Liverpool team who were so good under Klopp had plenty of talent but the talented boys would put the shift in as well. Between Greenwood, Anthony and Sanchos off field issues plus Martial being made of glass theres hundreds of millions worth of attacking talent producing little or nothing.

Sancho refusing to apologise and reintegrate into the squad. Was given plenty of opportunity to fix his mental health. He's thrown that back at the manager and the team. Another f**king crazy Ole signing.

Hiding behind the old mental health card. It's getting played far, far too much all across society.

This signing reminded me of the Sanchez signing when you thought this is nailed on to be successful given his record in Germany and the fact was English and should have hit the ground running.  Absolute spoilt brat and United will have to take a significant loss on him to offload in January or the summer. 

Happening far too much at United. Getting these mad contracts then doing absolutely nothing to justify them. Ten Hag has huge job on

Armagh Championship this year hasn't been overly exciting due to the tedious group stages followed by the completely unnecessary preliminary quarter finals.

The QFs proper did produce a couple of minor shocks, notably Harps almost proving the whole county wrong and toppling Cross despite being massive outsiders. Clans and Madden winning their ties while not totally unexpected, the manner of both victories will have caught the attention of their semi final opponents.

Clann Éireann and Cross are the bookies' favourites to make the final and it will be a major shock if either are caught on the hop. Cross have  stuttered slightly through league and championship this year, Clann Éireann have impressive from start to finish and are my tip to reclaim the title they relinquished last year.

Should be 2 very good semi finals, big Lurgan derby with both sides as strong as they have been in a long while, Clann Eireann flying but McPartlan of Clanns has been playing out of his skin, one of the best players in the county at the minute and a few younger lads are super players as ell. Cross and Madden will be an interesting one, thought Cross would have tanked the Harps but almost left it behind them and with Rico Kelly being called in from the seconds team gives me a feeling something isn't right there.

Still predicting a Cross and CE final though with Cross to win it.