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There is a bit of noise now for Paddy Jackson to be considered again, I always knew the day would come the closer Sexton got to the end.

Personally I don't think it's a goer, but if they want to do it......with no gate money really relevant anymore, now is the time (assuming he'll come back and play in Ireland for someone).

Zebo too seems close to returning, definitely an upgrade wherever he fits into the 15.

[It's not a coincidence that the most successful Real Madrid managers of the modern era - Del Bosque, Ancelotti and Zidane, have all been more focussed on the man management side than the tactical side, their main strengths are who they were and are]

Pep is a fraud?

Goodness me. A new low for this thread.

Like him or not, you must respect what he's done for the game and how he done it. Yes he can be somewhat unlikeable...but fraud? No.

Yes he inherited some players, but they are not the players we know now. Then. He bombed out Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Ibrahimovic and created a dynasty.

It's funny how people say Pep is a genius because of that Barcelona side, yet nobody mentions Del Bosque, who won the World Cup and two Euros with practically the same team, and over a longer period of time.

Del Bosque is widely considered to be a superb manager

What he was not was somebody at the cutting edge of systemic football thought - Pep and Klopp are, as is Bielsa

Del Bosque was perfect for Real Madrid in that he was extremely good at managing massive egos - which the Real Madrid dressing room is always full of - and turning them into a happy team

He did something similar with Spain using a watered down version of the Barcelona system, built around Barcelona players

As a man manager he was one of the very best

It's not a coincidence that the most successful Real Madrid managers of the modern era - Del Bosque, Ancelotti and Zidane, have all been more focussed on the man management side than the tactical side, their main strengths are who they were and are

All carried quiet authority but were chilled out and players liked them, whereas the Madrid players hated Mourinho and Benitez who were systemic football thinkers

Zidane for instance is no superb, cutting edge tactician and coach like Pep or Klopp, but like Del Bosque he has what it takes to salve massive egos and create a happy atmosphere within a team, which is extremely important at Real Madrid given it's probably the most pressurised environment to play in in the world

Exactly, there is a lot made of management - sometimes you just have to throw the arm round them and give them the reason to fight.

There is more than one way to skin a cat, I admire Klopp for what he did with Liverpool, I admire Pep for what he did at City and Barca. I've admired Mourinho for years, despite some of his antics. Great managers. I won't go mad arguing over who is better, I have my opinion but I'm willing to hear others views at the same time but what I will argue is that people who just throw out "Pep is a fraud", so lazy and just something you would read on twitter for a few likes or retweets.

The man (re)created a new philosophy on how to play the game. You don't have to like it, but you must respect it.

Pep is a fraud?

Goodness me. A new low for this thread.

Like him or not, you must respect what he's done for the game and how he done it. Yes he can be somewhat unlikeable...but fraud? No.

Yes he inherited some players, but they are not the players we know now. Then. He bombed out Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Ibrahimovic and created a dynasty.

The North posts its best figures in some months today.

How does the CMO react?

Tells people that restrictions won't be fully lifted until 70-80% of population is vaccinated.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56000840

There are some people very happy in the limelight during this pandemic. This gentleman is one.

Whilst I can see that the CMOs' roles both north and south is to keep a lid on things and be cautious they do need to bear people's mental health in mind when delivering their news. I do think they overcook the negativity and could present their opinions in a more balanced way.

This is my point, of course other posters go on their usual rants as per some 800 pages of this topic.

The CMO is not an elected official. He has no need to be on a podium delivering gloom. Because he is not ever going to be answerable to the electorate like MON or AF he can basically say what he wants, how he wants. 

Saying that 70 or 80% needs to be vaccinated fuels the conspiracy nuts, which is what twitter when I clicked into it last night was full of unfortunately. Does that help the buy in ethos of the vaccine?

Ah Sid, you've played out the philosophical rants on this board re: the right wing / trump whatever. Your like Brolly at this stage, veering to get it into whatever the post on the board may be. It's the same stuff.

Stick to the topic lad.

The North posts its best figures in some months today.

How does the CMO react?

Tells people that restrictions won't be fully lifted until 70-80% of population is vaccinated.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56000840

There are some people very happy in the limelight during this pandemic. This gentleman is one.

Dublin were insane not to sack Jim Gavin in 2014

And so it is now with Liverpool and Klopp

Defo need rid of him

He could be joining your mate Frank Lampard on the scrapheap soon alright 

Begs the question then, with Liverpool seemingly at a cross roads with the Champions League in doubt with the revival of Chelsea and even Spurs aren't that far away either.

Is Klopp the man to rebuild them? That's one for the Liverpool fans really I suppose - I think the heart will rule the head but the more I see Klopp these days, the more I'm sure he's for the door in Summer.

It's actually insane it's being discussed I suppose, but there is a major job ahead for Liverpool and that is assuming they qualify for next years Champions League with the break up of the front 3 nearly certain.

275 new cases in the North as at 09/02/21,  lowest since 1st of October.

Not a whole pile about it in the media either. Good news doesn't sell.

I think.....the vaccine is proven to reduce viral load, therefore it has an effect on reduction of transmission by same token.

[Let's start moving towards talk of slowly opening our country and to get some form of life back]

The north of Ireland has reported the lowest number of cases on a day today for 4 and a half months
You tell me it's not seasonal
Let's start moving towards talk of slowly opening our country and to get some form of life back
With the restrictions announcement due in 10 days what will be first to lift on March 5th?

Schools?
Pubs?
Restaurants?
Retail?
Leisure?
Sports?


Let's move from the doom and gloom that milltown and the lads keep putting out

Expecting this to be received well.

He hasn't been in Ireland since 2016. He was in Spain 2017 and Dubai ever since that. The brother is there with him. They haven't left it because they can't.

The da is still in Spain I think enjoying retirement.

[I think he was even at the Regency Hotel on the day of the shooting too.]

Khan actually really is dumb, still can't get over the Joshua accusations.  As for Kinahan, I'm sure that most of what is said is true but the argumentative side of me is saying that he has been convicted of nothing and if he really is what he is accused of being, then it shouldn't be too hard to prove, yet the authorities can't.

Jesus that's some logic. Why do you think he is never in Ireland ?! Why do you think he is in Dubai, that has no extradition agreement with Ireland ?

Is he never in Ireland at all?  I assumed that he was in Ireland frequently enough as there are no warrants out for his arrest.  I think he was even at the Regency Hotel on the day of the shooting too.

He was the target that day.

He's bound to Dubai/UAE until his residency runs out. There is a European Warrant for his arrest and apparently he lives with former Russian Spetsnaz bodyguards in his compound.

I think he's even been mentioned in US diplomatic cables. He has nowhere to go.

The only team worth watching any more are NZ, at least they try to play rugby and open teams up with flair.

England took New Zealand apart 15 months ago, with flair too

Which is hard to believe given how they themselves were taken apart by Scotland on Saturday

France have their mojo back in a big way and will definitely be worth watching over the next few years

Personally I thought the games this weekend were pretty rivetting even if not overly pretty

England v Scotland was a dogfight but the contest and the significance for Scotland was what made it, it was very tense but I couldn't take my eyes off it, it was tremendously enjoyable

I always find it strange how much teams can completely lose form from 1 year to the next in rugby.

This. Was gona post somethin earlier about this then forgot. Eng a good current example obviously, often seen it with France before, having a poor 6 Nations then going into next one as favourites.

More learned men than me will surely explain

It's a sport of attrition. Not say like football or Gaelic where you can keep in good nick and that will stand to you. Rugby is contact, constantly. You can't play at that level and avoid it. There is the point where your body peaks and natural testosterone drops and wear and tear becomes more and more a factor. James Haskell played the best international rugby of his career in 2016 but then come the Lions tour in 2017 he basically watched because he was hanging together.

Rugby is full of examples, Dylan Hartley captain of England under Jones - arguably playing the best rugby of his career, just over a year later his body gave way. Gone. Rory Best was at the top of his game arguably 2017 and 2018, come the Rugby World Cup the following year he was past it and ruthlessly exposed at the highest level. Ireland will face that decision again soon with Jonny Sexton.

I would also argue that England and Eddie Jones knows exactly what he is doing, he's no fool. A Six Nations isn't going to further his CV anymore. He's building for the next world cup. It's all about getting there with the right amount of experience and the right age profile. This year is the strange one, because you don't want to start to peak now as it's still 2 years away. You'll see next year a bunch of younger players in the England team as they start to go again - they have the resources to do this. They won't be far away in 2023. Ireland can't really do it.