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I thought Francie's was a gripping episode,  just how many words could Thomas extract from the taciturn Francie before the 'interview' ended. There were some patches where dead air blew up a storm, inspiring an avalanche of words from an ever frantic Thomas, to which Francie would invariably reply after yet another pause, 'yes'/'could be'/ 'don't remember'.

There is a unique feature with the GAA social (well apart from managing to almost humanise Tyronies),   according to Thomas each and every last week's podcast was the  best ever podcast they have ever done, revealing deep deep stuff, the deepest ever revealed  not just on GAA social but on Irish airwaves.

That said, I do enjoy it and am a regular listener.

Firstly I like the podcast. But the Francie one wasn't their best. Francie isn't an outgoing character and it reminded me of some of those Keane interviews were he says nothing of interest. I get why Francie doesn't do them, he has nothing he wants to say. Thomas is a good interviewer and he should have known not to bother interviewing him. I actually got interrupted about 10 mins from the end of it and didn't bother going back to finish it.
He has done some really good ones though. The Aoife Lennon one is excellent. Brian Canavan, Jarlath Burns and the Mark Lynch ones are very good. They've got that human story that maybe I'm into.

The Devenney and Kilpatrick ones I felt were also good. 

No Striker this weekend unless we are still classifying Weghorst as a professional footballer. Martial pulled his hamstring in the appreciation lap at OT which is an indication of the amount of running and effort he put in all year.

If ETH wins two cups in his first year with this squad of shite he deserves the freedom of Manchester and his own statue.

United have got lucky that liverpool and chelsea have been way of the pace.  In the cup competitions, they draws have been incredibly kind all home games in both competitions to the semi final stage win one semi against a team just promoted and trying to stay up and the other on a penalty shoot out.  ETH has done a good job, but to say he deserves the freedom of Manchester is stretching it.  This isn't a Leicester 2016 story they have the biggest wage bill in the league ffs. 

This Ulster Final hang-over thingy.

So when Nugent was shooting for a point, mid-kick he thought "ah the Ulster Final" and then kicked it into the keeper's hand?

Near the end of the game, as Rafferty was kicking the ball out he thought "ah the Ulster Final" and kicked it into the hands of a Westmeath player?

Hmmm, not sure.

Nugent after his displays this season will be doing well to see any game time this week, form has fallen off a cliff and the fact that hes joint captain probably got him the start the last day.  The use of Conaty has been strange, he quit full time soccer with portadown didn't see any meaningful gametime during the league then hes sprung from the bench in an ulster final and gets no minutes again last week when chasing the game for the most part.  Use of Cian McConville or lack of also strange given how poor Nugent has been. 

Watched Malpractice on ITV thought was decent drama in relation to a Doctor who had issues with drug problem in past. 

Heard on radio they are 3/1 to get relegated next year which is quite a big price.  3 promoted clubs coming up would expect luton and sheffield united to struggle and burnley who I think they will survive.  Forest will be ok with their home form.  If Everton don't/ can't spend money due to ffp they will struggle especially if DCL is injured again Simms/Maupay aren't good enough. 

No one will know how good or bad Kelleher is until he has a full season or two playing week in week out.

He's been very, very good on the couple of occasions he's had a few games in succession, and generally excellent in the one offs, including the league cup final last year. Can't do much more than he has as a back-up, but he does need to move on to build his career and prove he belongs as first choice for a team competing in Europe.

Would Brighton, City, Arsenal, Newcastle, Utd have him as a starter?

There's rumours Brighton are interested as Sanchez may be looking to leave.

The others... with the exception of United, they're all in good shape in that department.

Not sure De Gea is going just yet, and if he is Utd would be looking someone that has been 'up and running', Kelleher would need a good season behind him to assess his ability, good keeper but game time has been limited..

Surprised at Sanchez is looking out, Brighton could, push on a bit should they keep their main players and strengthen

They will lose MaCallister and Caicedo this summer.  Steele better with his feet so that why Sanchez now number 2 a decent keeper all the same. 

Correct score line of that game last night probably should have been 8-3. It was one of those end of season carefree contests with little focus on defending. Chelsea out of possession was as poor as I've seen from any team in Old Trafford this season.

Home form is what mainly has got United Champions league football, one more home win away from equaling the most home wins they have got in a season and have conceded just 9 goals in 18 Premier league games, that's Ferguson like United home form, the main work and improvement required now to do is the away form against top 10 next season as against the 10th to 20th placed teams they only loss one game and that was recently against West Ham due to a DeGea error.

Just need to get the OGS away form of a few years back  have been very good at Old Traffford to be fair that early win against liverpool looking back was a big result as gave much needed confidence and the home form was very good after. 

[Rafferty]

Armagh team:

Rafferty

Morgan
Mckay
Forker


McCabe
C O'Neill
J Burns

Crealey
Ciaran Mackin

Grugan
Duffy
Campbell

Murnin
R O'Neill
Nugent

Subs:

Magill (GK)
Higgins
McCambridge
McQuillan
Cumiskey
Connaire Mackin
McPartlan
Turbitt
Hall
McConville
Conaty

Would it be fair to say Armagh don't know what their strongest team is? Every time I see an Armagh 15 there are changes -McCambridge, McQuillan, Connaire Mackin, McPartlan Turbitt, Hall - feel like all these lads have either started or been very involved in recent games, hard to build chemistry with so much chopping and changing.

Few teams stick to an exact 15 week in week out but there is a fair degree with continuity with almost all variations explained by knocks. Not sure when you saw McQuillan or Connaire Mackin named or drafted in before throwing  but I'm sure you will fill us in on the deets

Yeah tbf you've called my bluff a little bit  in mcquillans case, any time he's come on I've thought he should potentially be starting (which is why I've said "has been very involved") and as an outsider I could well have been confusing the two mackin's but I had thought I had seen potential in connaire, though I maybe I'm wrong. I think the point probably stands though. If we're saying Galway, Kerry and Dublin are the three front runners you could name 12-13 of their starters with reasonable certainty, I always find when an Armagh teamsheet is named it can be a guessing game as to who is in or out.

I Used to feel the same about Roscommon maybe 3 or 4 years ago - you'd never know whether both murtaghs or both smiths (even the dalys sometimes) would be starting, but now they seem reasonably settled and I think its standing to them.

I think those in bold are pretty nailed on at the moment for Armagh.  One of midfield slots up for grabs and grugan, duffy, o neill and murnin will all start then its 2 from Nugent, Turbitt, Hall, Campbell. 

Armagh team:

Rafferty

Morgan
Mckay
Forker


McCabe
C O'Neill
J Burns

Crealey
Ciaran Mackin

Grugan
Duffy
Campbell

Murnin
R O'Neill
Nugent

Subs:

Magill (GK)
Higgins
McCambridge
McQuillan
Cumiskey
Connaire Mackin
McPartlan
Turbitt
Hall
McConville
Conaty

Would it be fair to say Armagh don't know what their strongest team is? Every time I see an Armagh 15 there are changes -McCambridge, McQuillan, Connaire Mackin, McPartlan Turbitt, Hall - feel like all these lads have either started or been very involved in recent games, hard to build chemistry with so much chopping and changing.

Nailing down Ciaran Mackins best position is probably another thing that needs looked at.  Made his name as a midfielder much like Jarly Og, but have been impressed with him when he has played wing back.  Armagh now seem to be a better balanced side with good options in defence and upfront, where as in years gone by would have been viewed as top heavy, which ironically resulted in A Forker moving back to defence.  Think his first run at that was picking up mcmanus one year and did a great job. 

I don't see mcquillan as a starter more an impact player due to speed when game opens up, personally think we have much better options than Connaire Mackin but McGeeney seems to be a fan. 

Nugent has done well to get a start given his lack of form in any of sub appearances.  I wouldn't have dropped Turbitt he may not have scored in last 2 games, but this would be a good opportunity for him to restore some confidence. 

See Ivan Toney has cam out said has gambling addiction and was placing bets against Newcastle in games he wasn't involved in.  You be fairly annoyed if you knew one of your own was backing against you.  I recall listening to Niall McNamee before and whenever he raised issue with his addiction the counsellor told asked if he ever betted against self and he was annoyed with the comment but was told it was only a matter of time before he did this.  Be interesting to know how the FA became aware of the goings on with Toney.  Was thinking he could possibly have been a cheaper option that Kane/Osimhen for Man Utd but the fact hes banned to January probably rules that out. 

Thursday night cup final in Aviva next season. 

Chelsea are a sorry lot I heard on talksport other day that they don't want to formally announce Poch until Lampard goes as a mark of respect.  Bringing him back was a massive blunder for all concerned will do well to get another job anywhere again.   

Armagh team:

Rafferty

Morgan
Mckay
Forker


McCabe
C O'Neill
J Burns

Crealey
Ciaran Mackin

Grugan
Duffy
Campbell

Murnin
R O'Neill
Nugent

Subs:

Magill (GK)
Higgins
McCambridge
McQuillan
Cumiskey
Connaire Mackin
McPartlan
Turbitt
Hall
McConville
Conaty

Højlund the Atalanta striker is being linked to Man Utd but he is only a year older than Ferguson.

Plus Hojland doesn't score many goals.

Just keep Wout and Martial so...