Messages

1

Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: Today at 02:52:16 PM »

Could indeed be very tight for a few teams this year. Dolan's will be better than last year if pre season is anything to go by. Big numbers apparently, and they'll be hoping Alan Grant is available a lot more this year as he's a serious footballer as well.
Glack to be my surprise package this year. Positive results in pre-season and have a good strong core to the team, commitment though is their achilles heel. Will be interesting to see how they get on this Sunday at home to Ballerin.
Ardmore or Colmcille could go through the season without a win unfortunately. Both will be targeting the other to get points on the board. Commitment could wane if a few heavy defeats are experienced in the first few games. Hopefully not

League: Slaughtmanus
Championship: Glack

2

General discussion / Re: Boxing Thread

« on: March 19, 2019, 09:58:56 AM »

Anyone watch Conlan/Barnes last night? Sad to see Paddy taking a tanking, it just hasn't happened for him at all. Conlan's fight was pretty dull although he got what he needed from it. Himself v Nikitin will be a good show if it happens.

On a side note, what are your thoughts on Conlan's entrance music, Graffiti on the wall? I know it was Patrick's day but I found it very distasteful to have ooh ahh up the Ra being sung full pelt in the crowd. Fair enough to play the Irish card hard but surely there's a line to be drawn in the sand when it comes to sport.

Belfast boxer Michael Conlan has been criticised after his ring entrance song in Sunday's bout in New York contained lyrics supporting the IRA.

Conlan, 27, entered the ring as the Wolfe Tones song Celtic Symphony played at Madison Square Garden.

The song's chorus includes the line "Up the Ra" and several unionist politicians have reacted angrily.

"Disgraceful that he has no regard for the victims of IRA terrorism," said DUP Belfast councillor Brian Kingston.

"Very disappointing that Michael Conlan does not follow the lead of many previous boxing and sporting heroes so that people can support him across the divide."

East Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart was also strongly critical of the Belfast fighter who maintained his unbeaten record by defeating Mexican Ruben Garcia Hernandez.

"It's time someone told him that walking out to 'Oh Ahh Up the RA' is dragging him and the sport into the gutter. Sad," added the Ulster Unionist MLA.

The Wolfe Tones have written a number of songs which praise the IRA.

With Celtic Symphony playing at the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist made his way to the ring, a number of spectators sang the "Up the Ra" lyric when the song arrived at the chorus.

Nolan all over this this morning. Wonder will they have Alan Partridge on tomorrow morning ! #blackandtans

3

Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: March 16, 2019, 11:43:34 PM »

Fairly laboured and slow 1st half, Leitrim much more economical in possession. The introduction of Paudi Tad really lifted the performance in the 2nd.
Shane McGuigan is a serious footballer (toss up with Rogers for motm) Himself and Sammy must have hit 2-10 between them. Quinn has had a great start to his 1st season with the seniors. Bar Mckaigue and Lynn, it was a very young starting 15. McEvoy got through a serious amount of work.
10 or so up we should have went for the jugular but sat off, the driving runs dried up for a 10 min spell and allowed Leitrim to bring it back to 5 I think at a stage. 6 out of 6 and the final in a couple of weeks, fair play to the players and management team.

4

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: March 14, 2019, 09:45:42 PM »

Very nice.  I remember them being worn by The Sultans of Ping F.C., if anyone can remember those loons.

Oh aye, have seen them a few times of late playing around London. Great band. Niall, or should I say Dr Niall lectures in Euro politics at King's College.. Who'd have thunk it??

5

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: March 13, 2019, 10:29:20 PM »

First English team to beat Bayern at home since Norwich in 1993?

Jaysus. Jeremy Goss??

That’s the boyo.

Used to live in Co Derry! His Da was stationed in Shackleton Barracks

Very good performance by Liverpool. The draw will be worth the watch!

6

General discussion / Re: Guilty Pleasures Thread

« on: March 13, 2019, 11:35:58 AM »

ELO, particularly the Time album.  With some albums there's a handful of tunes that I'm not so fond of, but not with this album. It's a complete experience. Very appealing to a Sci Fi fan like myself.  I have fond memories of listening to it on vinyl, when the stationary nature of the device meant it kinda demanded your undivided attention since you couldn't exactly take it with you when you went jogging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgxAbVrT3u0

ELO a guilty pleasure?? Madness!

Take That however ! Some good tunes

7

GAA Discussion / Re: Casement Park in line for major overhaul - 40,000 all seater Stadium.

« on: March 13, 2019, 11:03:42 AM »

"Gah bad" man at it again

Do you ever question the GAA?

Ignore Duffer. He only signed up to bash the GAA over a fundraiser for a Millionaire in Cork.

Jeez you're nasty

8

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: March 11, 2019, 08:27:32 PM »

Leicester won it so using money as an excuse won’t cut it

Ahh, the old Leicester counter.

Seeing Man City winning a league another league title will only be slightly more craic than seeing the Dubs win another Sam!

9

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: March 11, 2019, 07:59:23 PM »

City won 3-1. Seriously some gurning about that match..

Liverpool by far an easier run in, Utd will go all out to beat City, that’s a given. Liverpool should just look after their own games as that’s all they have control over.

Couple of twists and turns left before season is over. Could even come down to goal difference

I don't know.

I would expect United fans to be approaching that game with serious mixed feelings, whatever about the team themselves.

Sort of like Liverpool against Blackburn on that last day in 1995. We all went "oh shit!" when Redknapp fired that 25 yard freekick into the top corner in the last minute for the Liverpool winner.

Fortunately, Andy Cole ran into that big West Ham keeper having the game of his life, and United blew their end of the deal.

Andy had plenty of chances that day.. one that got away but season Blackburn had would have been unfair on them.

City have FA cup champion league and league, after Wed Liverpool could be just concentrating on the league, I’d say if Pep had a choice it will be the CL.. as for mixed feelings among Utd fans I’d say Liverpool winning the league and stopping City from doing the quadruple would be ok

A squad that cost nearly a billion feckin quid! I'm sure that squad could handle a few additional domestic cup games.

Very little between both clubs remaining fixtures. Salah finding his mojo is key. He's working but there's little end product atm.

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General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: March 10, 2019, 12:38:53 PM »

Liverpool need an on fire Firmino in the run in. Seems up for it today. Super player

11

General discussion / Re: The Official EFL Championship

« on: March 10, 2019, 12:37:06 PM »

https://twitter.com/AdzMcGoo/status/1104717251914145792

Absolute madness

12

General discussion / Re: Man Utd Thread:

« on: March 07, 2019, 04:33:36 PM »

Of course it is a harsh penalty, but that's the way referees have been told to interpret it.
Players are going to have to adjust. The days of turning your arse towards the ball with your arms loose are gone.

Next thing we will see will be a player sliding in to block a shot, the ball hits his arm (which is exactly where it should be given how he has slid in and the position he has slid in from), ref blows for penalty. Will those days be gone too?

There needs to be some common sense.

You'd assume that if a player slides in to block a shot, their intention is to block it with their legs?
If they don't manage that then they're taking a hostage to fortune.

It should be about intent.

To use another example... two lads go up together for a header, each with arms in natural positions for what they’re doing, ball ricochets or spills and bounces onto one of their arms, absolutely zero intent to handle. Is that a foul?

Because the way we seem to be heading, it would appear so.

We are going to have to have players use arm restraints.

Many's the defender slid in intending to win the ball but missed it and tripped the striker instead.

Open to correction here but i think deliberate action is included in the handball rule but not a trip?

It was always thought it was based on 'intent', but as discussed last night during the VAR wait, refs had recently  been instructed to award penalties if the ball hits an out stretched arm. One of the BT Sports commentators was convinced it was a penalty based on the latest instructions to refs. Now I'll admit I don't watch many games these days but I was very surprised it was given tbh. I'm not sure if the rule has been changed / amended to include this new instruction. Surely it has been. Ridiculous imo

"Outstretched" arm?

In fairness, his arm was out a bit but pulled in quickly. I'll enjoy seeing defenders jumping to head the ball with their arms behind their backs or down by their sides parallel to the body ... Will be very Monty Pythonesque

13

General discussion / Re: VAR? For or against

« on: March 07, 2019, 04:29:51 PM »

VAR isn’t working
If you study the decision from last night
The defender was actually trying to pull his arm in towards his body and connected with the ball, if he keeps his arm up then no foul. It’s crazy

i think trying to judge if shot was on target should also be brought into the argument

Does that matter? have seen plenty of penalties given for hand ball from crosses into the box.

You'll see plenty more  as / the new ruling discussed last night. Rio Ferdinand made the point of arms being being used to balance yourself. Is it open season for boys just to ping balls off defenders arms... 'nailed on penalty' as described in another thread. Will the game be too stop start? Most games are hard enough to watch these days

On a bit of a side note I always wondered about guys that turn side ways/turn their backs in front of a shot. Brave defenders face it front ways with hands behind their backs.

The hands behind the back is a very new thing, especially among the Chelsea defenders. It'll have to be done by all and sundry now. Means your balance isnt what it should be and will be much tougher to react to an attacker turning you on the inside or outside

Italian defenders have been doing that for years.  One thing the VAR doesn't stop is the bar stool debates of was or wasn't it a correct decision.

My point is it hasn't been prevalent up until recently..... obviously

14

General discussion / Re: VAR? For or against

« on: March 07, 2019, 04:05:56 PM »

VAR isn’t working
If you study the decision from last night
The defender was actually trying to pull his arm in towards his body and connected with the ball, if he keeps his arm up then no foul. It’s crazy

i think trying to judge if shot was on target should also be brought into the argument

Does that matter? have seen plenty of penalties given for hand ball from crosses into the box.

You'll see plenty more  as / the new ruling discussed last night. Rio Ferdinand made the point of arms being being used to balance yourself. Is it open season for boys just to ping balls off defenders arms... 'nailed on penalty' as described in another thread. Will the game be too stop start? Most games are hard enough to watch these days

On a bit of a side note I always wondered about guys that turn side ways/turn their backs in front of a shot. Brave defenders face it front ways with hands behind their backs.

The hands behind the back is a very new thing, especially among the Chelsea defenders. It'll have to be done by all and sundry now. Means your balance isnt what it should be and will be much tougher to react to an attacker turning you on the inside or outside

15

General discussion / Re: Man Utd Thread:

« on: March 07, 2019, 03:51:18 PM »

Of course it is a harsh penalty, but that's the way referees have been told to interpret it.
Players are going to have to adjust. The days of turning your arse towards the ball with your arms loose are gone.

Next thing we will see will be a player sliding in to block a shot, the ball hits his arm (which is exactly where it should be given how he has slid in and the position he has slid in from), ref blows for penalty. Will those days be gone too?

There needs to be some common sense.

You'd assume that if a player slides in to block a shot, their intention is to block it with their legs?
If they don't manage that then they're taking a hostage to fortune.

It should be about intent.

To use another example... two lads go up together for a header, each with arms in natural positions for what they’re doing, ball ricochets or spills and bounces onto one of their arms, absolutely zero intent to handle. Is that a foul?

Because the way we seem to be heading, it would appear so.

We are going to have to have players use arm restraints.

Many's the defender slid in intending to win the ball but missed it and tripped the striker instead.

Open to correction here but i think deliberate action is included in the handball rule but not a trip?

It was always thought it was based on 'intent', but as discussed last night during the VAR wait, refs had recently  been instructed to award penalties if the ball hits an out stretched arm. One of the BT Sports commentators was convinced it was a penalty based on the latest instructions to refs. Now I'll admit I don't watch many games these days but I was very surprised it was given tbh. I'm not sure if the rule has been changed / amended to include this new instruction. Surely it has been. Ridiculous imo