Messages

[More worryingly for any real Liverpool fan his substitutions in the Fulham game showed that building his own European profile is more important to him that winning the premiership with Liverpool.]

I don't believe Benitez will be sacked even if he fails to reach the CL knockout stages.   I think his job is safe for this season at least since replacing him mid-season could be a financially disasterous for the club. 

It looks now like Liverpool will be fighting it out with City for 4th spot and should he fail in that he'll almost certainly have to go.  More worryingly for any real Liverpool fan his substitutions in the Fulham game showed that building his own European profile is more important to him that winning the premiership with Liverpool.

I don't think that is the case.

The way I see it is, despite all the previous disruption and rows with the owners, in a real sense they are still his bosses and they will have goals and objectives which will no doubt shape and influence Benitez' decisions to a certain extent.

Now, do you think Hicks and Gillette actually care about trophies in any way? Sure, if the tropies come with huge profitability but to Hicks and Gillette the difference between finishing 1st and 3rd in the Premier League is not really that big of deal since it only carries with it a small difference in prize money, certainly not worth taking any extra risks for or investing for. However, the difference in monetary terms between reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League and going out at the group stages is in fact significant so there is no doubt where their priorities will lie.

Obviously this pressure will filter down to Benitez either directly or indirectly and have an effect on his priorities and decision-making.

Ronnie Whelan thinks so too http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6482396/Rafael-Benitez-has-given-up-on-winning-Premier-League-says-Ronnie-Whelan.html

This is one of the reasons I do not buy this scum newspaper. There's no morality and anything to increase circulation. I just hope it backfires on them and people wise up to this fish'n'chip wrapper.

I was disgusted when I heard about this today and I can only imagine what this man's family must be going through today. As if they didn't have enough to be worrying about!

I hope the press regulators comes down heavy on the Sunday World and McDowell is shown the door.

My thoughts exactly zig. Good post.

An absolute rag of a paper. I wouldn't clean my arse with it. They've plumbed new depths here - how would anyone with any sort of moral compass think that showing this picture was acceptable? I can't think of any other paper that would think they'd get away with it. The family should have Jim McDowell (I assume he's still northern editor) over the coals for this.

I would never wear a poppy but I dont have any problem with those that do, I do however find it amazing that so many irishmen fought for the british army over a period spanning generations. I would rather die than fight for that shower of hoors.

That's the tip of the iceberg.

The definition of a true Irishman? - Doesn't exist. Why the feck do we speak English? Head south of Kinsale and it's French. Head east of Scotland and it's that thon stuff yer lads out of The Muppets spake. We drink Guinness and bow to English sport/music.

They have been invaders for centuries Shane, they were bound to have influence over us but you are right, our Irishness has been diluted by them and sadly that was their intent all along.

I think you got half of O'Neill's point. There is no such thing as Irishness as you see it. Irishness is the sum of many parts over many centuries, indigenous Irish, English, Scottish, French, Northern European etc. etc.

I play the  Poppy watch game for most shows on TV - I noticed that Dara O'Briain wasn't wearing one on Jonathon Ross on Friday night.

Contact Donagh, he will be submitting a full dossier of poppy wearers and abstentionists in the coming weeks.

Man United, Rangers, England (at most sports especially soccer, cricket and athletics), Cushendall, Cushendun (although that's a given these days), Tyrone footballers, Cork hurlers, Andy Murray, America in the Ryder Cup.

christ, we could have played our under 21 game!!

With Burke and McGourty or without?

[Weather hits Ulster GAA matches]

Weather hits Ulster GAA matches



The Loup v Derrygonnelly game is the only AIB Ulster Senior Club Football tie still on following overnight rain.

St Gall's clash with Pearse Og at Casement, Clontribret v Dromore at Clones and Kilcoo v St Eunan's at Newry have all fallen victim to the weather.

All Ulster intermediate and junior championship games scheduled for Casement, Newry, Loughgiel and Omagh have also been postponed.

The game between Kilcoo and St Eunan's will take place at Newry next Sunday.

More details to follow.

Hardly surprising. Some rainfall last night and it's still coming down. Yesterday was some day too.

A4SA and Flameboy could well replace people in my top 3!

We may need to petition the return of A4SA. A legend. Do any of his old posts exist?

East Antrim

East???  FFS one beaten Ulster final in god-knows-how-many-years and yiz are puffing the chest out bit time.

Would it not be West Antrim or East Donegal? North Tyrone?

How could I forget Minder. Will put him and RLL in joint third. Like the way they double-team the United supporters.

If O'Neill would only return as A4SA he'd take two of the places in my top 3.

I didn't write that.

Sir, sir, are you drunk?

What's with the POGfest?! I have warmed to the grumpy fecker this past while.

Hardstation, O'Neill and one other of the hundreds of board members. I must admit to liking the new Ziggy though. Couldn't stand that other tr**p. Glad to see the back of him.

Very disappointed with The Invention of Lying. Gervais is definitely a small-screener.

Too true.

Surely the penny will drop eventually. His problem is that he is getting involved in writing, directing and starring in movies so obviously he's gonna put himself in the lead role. It worked for Woody Allen! Unfortunately for Ricky his movies aren't that well written.

He'd be better letting the ego reduce a bit and take a good supporting role.