Messages

That was a conversation me and a friend had, would the level of gang warfare have went on during the 90's when the IRA were still prevalent in controlling areas?

To dismember someone takes some stomach I would imagine, and things seem to be escalating worse and worse, and unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any feasible solution to this. 

A someone has mentioned, if they legalise drugs to control the flow, the same fellas will profit from some other form of criminality. 

What's the argument here now? The fact that Clarke is aiding players in going to the AFL?

Player exodus is rife in the gaa, players leave intercounty for a multitude of reasons and nobody should take a swipe at a player for leaving for a unique employment opportunity. 
As mentioned before, if Mc Shane was leaving for Australia to work at Facebook would there be any uproar with that? Players owe nothing to their counties as they sacrifice a hell of a lot to represent them, that is more true now than ever. 

As for Clarke aiding clubs to poach players, there will always be someone doing it.  15 years ago it was Ricky Nixon.  Clarke having done it is probably best placed person to take up this role having went through this process himself. 

Its quite ironic the GAA are altering the rules to make them more synonymous with their AFL counterparts and complaining these players are leaving to play that sport.  Also with the international rules series, an exhibition of amateur players v professional players, the GAA is pretty much saying we are every bit as good as you whilst remaining amateur. 

AFL clubs are probably licking their lips thinking, their correct, they are every bit as good as us.  Imagine what we could do with that calibre of player if we had them training full time. 

The GAA have more than played their part in letting the AFL in the door.  Marty Clarke merely handles the transition. 

Anybody seen Cats?? Sounds like it's that bad you need to see it.

Seen this review of Cats that's sums it up for me:

Watching CATS is like stumbling upon an unholy and heretofore unknown genre of porn. Every time these horny fur demons tongue a milk bowl and start moaning I was certain the FBI would raid the theater

From reading the HoganStand article, he said he walked away for the sake of his mental health, as he was only back from a serious injury and wasn't on the starting team, don't think he classed it as a retirement. 

Not sure who should be contacting who in this situation? Is it not the managers job to make these enquiries?

Congrats to Kilcoo, glad to see them finally make the breakthrough after the years of knocking on the door. 

Must be quite the feeling to be the best team in Ulster! After every club in Tyrone of course

I'd imagine the training load wouldn't be as intense as the game isn't as fast paced.  Prob more chance of winning also as 3 or 4 new decent players can be drafted into a soccer team.  And depending on the team you could make a few quid too. 

Plus if players are good enough, they can jump in between and switch as they want so missing a year of GAA isn't as big a deal. 

The Tyrone Club High Horse Thread

Well in once sense, Porto did have some squad of players when they won Europe.  But I would count his time there as the platform he lifted himself onto bigger things from and he hasn't really looked back since.  At Chelsea, Inter, Madrid and Man Utd he had money and the players to get the job done. 

When I say traditional "big" clubs I am well aware of Tottenham recent history, what I meant is they are not big in the sense they are going to attract the best players in the world to complement his squad and may not have the wage budget to either to some of his past, more high profile jobs. 

Said to my other half something was up that Pochettino got the sack during the international break, Mourinho must have been putting the squeeze on the board for a decision. 

Think Tottenham have been punching well above their weight this past few years and he gave the board a lot to be happy about, so they should have stuck out until the end of the season to make a decision at least. 

Not sure how Mourinho will do not managing a traditional "big team".  He has always been well funded and an embarrassment of riches in players to make an impact so this may well be a fair assessment of his managerial ability.  What would his expectation for a league finish be now given their current standing, top 6?

Yellowcard not again.....

Not so much the poorest, prob the most open, that sounds a bit right?

I suppose gaa football is comparable to AFL, where a highly physical/intensive game is mixed with a great deal of skill.  AFL is known to be cut throat so reaching the top of that sport  is hard.  When the compromise rules are played, you can see amateur intercounty players more than hold their own against professional sportsmen, who as their full time job, hone their skills on a daily basis to maximum efficiency. 

Not sure on your point Dinny? Intercounty gaa players perform their skills at the highest level they can.  The player at the receiving end of a 70m pass taking the ball on their stick is a skill not many can master.   

There is an elite level of skill applied to most sports where some will only reach the pinnacle.  Most GAA, rugby and soccer players can play snooker, that doesn't mean because they cannot hit a 147 snooker is a superior sport in terms of skill. 

Serious superiority complex in action here.  Cross might win the majority of Armagh championships, but you can bet they don't look to winning ulster without looking past Armagh. 

Last weekend's county final Ballymacnab were 4points up early in the second half, Cross brought this back to 2.  Ballymacnab then scored a goal to leave them 5 up 10mins into the second half.  Cross in turn dominated the game and Ballymacnab soiled themselves, but up until that point the game was there for them, no easy ride for Cross. 

Angelo has provided Tyrone clubs performance in ulster and cumulatively they have only won 6 matches across 7 different teams in 9 years.  So that is a reflection on Tyrone Club teams against other county champions. 

You are arguing your opinions against facts here. 

Another genuine question for Angelo, do you think if Cross, Slaughtneil, Scotstown or Kilcoo were in the Tyrone championship they would be capable of winning it consecutively?

If Omagh where in another county, they would have to win that first, never mind Ulster....