Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - Rufus T Firefly

#46
General discussion / Re: Death Notices
February 23, 2023, 10:19:07 AM
Very sorry about Motty - feels like part of my childhood is gone. I was allowed to stay up to watch MOTD from 7 / 8 years of age and at that point the classic combination was Jimmy Hill as Presenter / pundit, with two games shown, commentated on by John Motson / Barry Davies. Great times.

Personal favourite would be the 'Quality goal from a quality player' line for Tony Currie's goal for Sheffield United against West Ham and this commentary of Ronnie Radford's wonder goal.

A man whose absence from the commentary box, made the heart grow fonder.

R.I.P.
#47
The confirmed appointment of Gracia expected this morning.
#48
I see Javi Gracia, former Watford and Valencia manager, is now the front runner in a two horse race with an as yet unknown competitor, although there are whispers it might be Rafa Benitez. A new man is needed urgently.
#49
I didn't see the match on Saturday, but I've read enough to know that it was a poverty stricken performance. For the first time I'd have to say that I felt that we are likely to go down, and certainly will if the management situation is not addressed quickly. Football can be fickle. With a wee bit of luck, we could have got more than the point we did claim from the two matches against Manure and there would have been plenty of reason to be upbeat. The nature of Saturday's performance suggested that morale was rock bottom.

The only part of the game I did see was the Everton goal, which was an absolutely shocking error by Meslier. I read a lot about how poor Bamford was and I'd suggest time is running out for him. He has been awful and Harrison is not much better.

I think there are now gambles to be taken at the top. The first is an experienced manager and yes, I'd include Big Sam in that, given the desperation of the situation. I'd also hope that management give Rutter a fair crack at it - we need goals urgently and we're not getting them from what is there. Why not give the £35 million man a chance

I subscribe to the Athletic and follow Phil Hay, on there, and a recurring theme of his articles has been that the Board firmly believe that we have the players to stay up and that we just need the right manager in place to channel the collective effort. I'm afraid that they have more faith in the panel than I have. I fear for the future.
#50
GAA Discussion / Re: NFL Division 1 2023
February 19, 2023, 10:50:32 PM
Quote from: Armamike on February 19, 2023, 09:51:43 PM
When teams win everything is rosy. When they lose, it's a disaster.  Armagh weren't terrible today.  By that I mean we were in with a shout of getting something from the game right to the end.  Our downfall was we didn't convert a number of gilt edged goal chances. The one in particular before the Ros penalty was a potential game changer.  Bag that one and we're in a good position to kick on.

Agree totally, Mike, and to me there is an underlying issue. We have dominated for long periods in all three games to date and have one goal to show for it, and that was a gift from Beggan that he had to give us twice before we took it. Oisin McConville always talked about the need to be ruthless when goal chances presented and that was never better displayed than today when points were taken when an extra pass could have seen a green flag.

The Rossies around me could see nothing but an Armagh win at half time and although we had played well, I've followed Armagh for too long to predict a win from a good first half performance. The second half was a shocker and I'd be interested to see if one or two of our ever present players get the bench in Tralee. 
#51
Agreed MR with your assessment of yesterday's game. The difference between us and the top teams is the potency of our attack. Man United I felt would take at least one chance on offer, but I always felt our players would struggle, and so it proved. That match can be added to a long list of similar games where we haven't taken our chances and have been made to pay.

There is a need to have a managerial appointment in place as soon as possible and the fact that we are not likely to get our first (or second or event third) choice is not a good look at a time of critical importance. Reports suggested Andoni Iraola was very keen on Leeds but Rayo Vallacano were not prepared to authorise it. I know little of Alfred Schreuder, although feedback on Twitter would suggest his recent record is not without concerns.

We need to start picking up points and quickly, s whoever gets it will need to hit the ground running. 
#52
A point last night that I'd have taken before the game, but having established a two goal lead, there is a sense of what might have been.

Could only see short periods of the match, but by all accounts there seemed to be better organisation about Leeds that made them more difficult to break down. That was underpinned by some outstanding individual performances - particularly Ayling, Meslier and Gnonto.

Sinisterra is likely to be out for a while and Striujk might be a doubt for Sunday, as he appeared to suffer concussion. Gnonto also received a fair few hits and went down at least once, so hopefully he will be available for the weekend when we'll be definitely up against it again. The Everton and Southampton games though loom large beyond that and the importance of them cannot be overstated. 
#53
Quote from: Mourne Rover on February 06, 2023, 10:07:48 PM
Even if most Leeds fans are pleased to see Marsch go, he definitely deserves some sympathy as he was frequently unfortunate on some big occasions. However, a manager who appears to suffer from repeated bad luck will always be on borrowed time, and only four wins from his 20 league games this season, with none in the last seven, was relegation form. He had looked a haunted figure for a while, and it might have made more sense to let him go before the World Cup break and allow a new manager to enter the transfer market rather than work with Marsch's squad. The back to back matches against Man Utd this week do not tend to provide us with many points, so the next two fixtures, away to Everton and home to Southampton will be crucial.

Good summary, MR. I'm normally not one for joining the 'Get the Manager Out' lynch mob, but after Sunday, it seemed obvious there was a need for a change, which was a wee bit of a pity as he always come across as a very decent individual - one quality unfortunately that was of limited use in his predicament.

There have been various names bandied about. Postecoglu at Celtic apparently has been on the radar, but even if he was interested, having Kewell in his backroom team will be a major issue for the fans. Corboran was also getting mentioned, but West Brom moved quickly and signed him up to an extended contract, effectively ruling him out.

The front runners as of this morning appear to be Andoni Iraola of Rayo Vallecano and Arne Slot of Feyenoord, whose name seemed to be gathering momentum last night. The third - seen as a bit of an outsider of the three - is former River Plate coach, Marcelo Gallardo.

All three seem like good appointments, fingers crossed. 
#54
GAA Discussion / Re: R.I.P. Farrandeelin
February 05, 2023, 11:22:23 PM
I'm so very sorry to hear this. Poor fella. Terrible, terrible news.

My thoughts and prayers are with Brendan and his family and friends.

May He Rest In Peace.
#55
Quote from: seafoid on January 10, 2023, 12:33:31 PM
Lee Keegan has just retired so..

I think Keegan is a great shout for the best player never to win an All Ireland. He would be on my all time fifteen.

These threads always invite different suggestions, so for me, others to consider would include Paddy Moriarty, Anthony McGurk and Nudie Hughes - players who won All Stars as defenders and attackers. Also mention Frank McGuigan and the great Cork full back of the seventies, Kevin Kehilly. 
#56
General discussion / Re: Death Notices
December 20, 2022, 08:44:59 AM
Quote from: Harold Disgracey on December 19, 2022, 11:00:04 PM
Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials, aged 63.

Desperately sad news. 63 is no age. Poor fella.

A leading figure and influence in the post punk era, having success across a number of different acts.

His influence - and his music - will live on.

Rest In Peace.
#57
General discussion / Re: Death Notices
November 24, 2022, 11:07:59 AM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on November 23, 2022, 06:51:52 PM
Wilko Johnson.

And very sorry to hear this. An absolute legend of the punk and post punk era. Any excuse to play this absolutely blinding performance by Dr Feelgood on the Old Grey Whistle Test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp2DvPKh118
#58
General discussion / Re: Death Notices
November 24, 2022, 11:05:23 AM
Quote from: Orior on November 18, 2022, 04:27:32 PM
Former Armagh player Mickey McDonald. A magnificant athlete and sportsman.

Was very sorry to hear about Mickey. Fond memories of him and Johnny Corvan terrorising defences back in the early eighties. I was sat right behind Mickey in 1982 when he took the sideline kick in Ballybofey and scored a point, very late in the game, to win the match for Armagh. Although a first-round match, that game was effectively that year's Ulster Final.
#59
Managed to get a live feed on my phone from French TV (I think) and I'd have to say some of the football that Leeds played was brilliant. One touch possession game that saw us keep the ball for what seemed like ages and play through the Spurs midfield and defence. Ultimately though we were done by our Achilles heel, with the defence shipping two goals in as many minutes. The January transfer window is huge and there needs to be strengthening at left back. That would free Striujk to play in the centre. Both Cooper and Llorente are not at this standard. A striker would also be great to bring in but Summerville is playing brilliant stuff and scoring goals, whilst Rodrigo is playing like a Spanish international at the moment - long may it continue.

Incidentally, the decision of VAR not to ask the ref to review the challenge on Meslier for the first goal has almost universally been challenged by all pundits I have heard / read. I'm open to correction here, but I understand the VAR official was the same one who intervened in the home match against Arsenal to review Bamford's goal for a nudge on the defender. The official was Paul Tierney. Inconsistency is bad, but when it comes from one person and goes against you both times, it begs a lot of questions.   
#60
Quote from: ONeill on November 05, 2022, 10:44:23 PM
Leeds can't be good for the heart.

Believe me, they're not and following them by constantly refreshing Phil Hay's Twitter feed is an excruciating way to spend two hours on a Saturday afternoon.

Quote from: ONeill on November 05, 2022, 10:44:23 PM
Leeds were horrific in the first half and the boos seemed end of management stuff. Hard to believe they turned it around.

Amazing turnaround, and a lot has to do with the sense of togetherness and commitment between the players and the management. However there currently is a very fine line between triumph and disaster and it remains an accident waiting to happen. The weaknesses exposed by Bournemouth are not going to go away.

On the basis that the Wolves away game in the League Cup will not hold much importance, we have Spurs away next weekend before the World Cup. Thereafter, it is City at home and Newcastle away at Christmas.

The World Cup therefore is probably coming at a good time for us, but come New Year's Day, the likelihood of storm clouds will be much greater, with the start of a transfer window that will be hugely important in terms of addressing flaws that have been there for some considerable time.

It's never boring.  :-\