Messages

1

GAA Discussion / Re: 20 Euro for league games

« on: January 18, 2019, 05:04:31 PM »

So let's have free admission then?

No. Let’s not compare our entry fees to those of other sports, who have completely different overheads (professionalism). Let’s not create a “we need more staff to do things that aren’t needed” civil service style culture. Let’s try to fill out grounds with the wider GAA public, and not make following county teams a pursuit of the diehards only.

2

GAA Discussion / Re: 20 Euro for league games

« on: January 18, 2019, 04:13:06 PM »

Any logical reason to increase the ticket prices? Surely to increase attendances the introduction of better value price tickets would make common sense.

It’s what happens when accountants take over and business development executives are given targets.

First they have to justify their salaries, then those of their support staff, and on top of this they need to show growth. Spreadsheets for everything, and a justifiable “business need” for everything they suggest.

It’s wrong. The GAA is not a business. It’s a community organisation rooted in volunteerism. This is something accountants, for their own reasons, cannot quantity and strategise.

3

GAA Discussion / Re: 20 Euro for league games

« on: January 18, 2019, 01:56:40 PM »

I’m left wondering why the GAA needs to generate so much income.

Very wary of the beast we have created.

4

GAA Discussion / Re: Club mass

« on: January 17, 2019, 01:03:16 AM »

Ridiculous for anyone to be giving out about a club mass. I'd say 95 per cent plus of members in most clubs over the years will have been christened, made confession, made communion, made confirmation in a chapel and if they've subsequently got married or died the wedding/funeral will have taken place in a chapel. If people who are religious want to remember these people in the chapel and other club members who have passed away then that's a nice thing to do and should be encouraged.

If the local church of Ireland (or other church) wants to remember any club members that were members of that church (or other churches) then I'd be equally as happy.

Trying to stop masses paying tribute to past members is absolutely twisted and if anyone is trying to force their opinion on others it's the people who are trying to ban the masses.

Having a club mass in defacto makes the club a Catholic organisation
There should be zero mention of any religion in a GAA club

The organisations whether we like it or not have were intertwined since the birth of the GAA.

While it might not be “modern inclusive” to set aside a single function a year that allows those who still feel like this to celebrate it, it would generally be wiser step than disenfranchising those who feel it is important.

Club masses will die out naturally over the next generation or two. There’s no need to force the situation through.

5

General discussion / Re: Brexit.

« on: January 15, 2019, 09:19:48 PM »

What I’d like to know is this.

If she was appointed Tory leader / PM under the premise that she would commit to delivering the people’s will of Brexit, then what is it she should have done differently?

Try to leave personal impressions out of it. If you’ve got nothing to negotiate with, you either take your beating, or you buy enough time until you get something to negotiate with (or at the very least, you’re given something just to go away).

6

General discussion / Re: Brexit.

« on: January 15, 2019, 09:05:37 PM »

May hasn’t been inept.

She has never, never has a hand to play here. Her country wish to leave. What interest would the EU have in smoothing this over, and handing out sweeteners?

What a second referendum would allow the UK to do is decide whether it’s worth continuing with the process, now we are all better informed.

7

General discussion / Re: Brexit.

« on: January 15, 2019, 08:48:35 PM »

Sorry but I’m really struggling to understand how/why you think Varadker might be influenced or blackmailed to change his mind.

“I’m going to tell everyone it’s your fault, and they’ll all believe me, every last one of them”

It just needs an evil laugh at the end.

You’ve been reading too many childrens’ novels.

8

GAA Discussion / Re: Positive proposals at last to address the spectacle of Gaelic Football

« on: January 15, 2019, 06:39:56 PM »

Gaelic Life this week.

Cavan man suggests trialling no fisting backwards.

Could work.

What you think?

would that encourage you to kick the ball long?
Up to a man, that if he wins it, can't pop it back to a supporting player?

I thought about the no backwards handpasses too and I don't think it's a bad idea.
Would have to be an exception if you're inside your opponents 21

Although as for many of the proposed changes, got to consider if you're punishing the attacking team rather than the defending team. The main reason a team has multiple backpasses going nowhere is because the opposition won't come out and tackle.

Without repeating myself, surely less players would negate that. More space, and even if teams use a blanket, there’s still room available. Less players able to get back into a blanket might make managers realise, blankets are no good, let’s just attack and score more than them

Every argument or proposal mentioned, there are ways around them or too hard to enforce. Less players is the way to go.

Fewer players is absolutely the one rule change I would be against.

Gaelic football is already a game obsessed with fitness. The fitness levels required are an actual deterrent to player retention in anything below senior club level.

13 a side sees about a 15% increase in available room on a pitch. It would do nothing to improve footballing intelligence. It would do less again for the need for basic skills. It would mitigate the importance of physical strength. But anyone prepared to work night and day on their running ability would have a field day.

Meanwhile, across the country, intermediate, junior and b players quit the game because those who happily sign up to this culture have such an extraordinary advantage over those who will not. And while they are off to play soccer and rugby at those levels - where skill, strength and smarts are still valued - their home clubs struggle to field.

That’s the final outcome of this idea folks. Football has to be enjoyable to play or people will quit. Be careful what you wish for.

9

General discussion / Re: Man Utd Thread:

« on: January 15, 2019, 12:55:42 PM »

It’s easy for OGS. He has no pressure and accepts that he will likely be gone at the end of the seasons so he can play who he likes and get them playing ‘good’ football. There’s limited expectations and as a result the players can play with a bit of freedom. There’s be the inevitable bounce and he’s riding a crest of a wave. The thing is though imagine DDG didn’t have a worldie the other day? United could easily have lost by 2-3 goals and the bubble would have been well and truly burst. He’s doing a good job but the lack of pressure makes it very easy for him and the players. Give him the job on a permanent basis and the expectation and demands change.

I think the DDG performance is getting well blown out of proportion. He didnt have a worldie, he had a good day he stopped shots he would be expected to save in any other game in any other context. It was the volume of shots that made it seem more like a top class performance, but break each chance down and look where he saved them, none we out of his reach or a complex save.

Dont get me wrong he is the best keeper in the world, but on Sunday he was just doing what he does with minimum fuss.

Look at the other end as well, Pogba had two clear chances and Martial was wasteful with a couple of good break aways, so it could easily have ended up with a bigger score the other way.

It was effectively a siege on the United goal for the last half hour. Maybe there were few “spectacular” saves, but figure in that (unlike his defence and midfield) he continually closed down the correct angle, never once deflected a save into a dangerous area, and rather importantly killed the clock for every goal kick - absolutely necessary for him to do, as his teammates couldn’t hold the ball for more than 5-7 seconds throughout the second half - and you’ve got a world class display.

10

General discussion / Re: The Best Burger?

« on: January 15, 2019, 11:58:55 AM »

Frankie & Bennys is the most vile of all the vile chain restaurants.

It’s actually really disappointing that the premium chain restaurant concept from the States is so poorly replicated in this part of the world. Over there, Chillis, Outback, Applebee’s, Cracker Barrel, are all worth pulling over for a visit. Good, copious food and not too expensive.

When translated to the UK/Ireland, everything goes bland, yet the price goes up.

It will maybe dawn on franchisees soon that these places work best when they’re out of town - reduced rates, and increased parking spaces - and maybe then they might spend more on ingredients.

11

GAA Discussion / Re: Club mass

« on: January 15, 2019, 11:12:50 AM »

I’m a senior official in my club and wouldn’t attend a club mass if it took place in my living room.

That said I genuinely understand why some people expect and enjoy such a service, and I’ll wholeheartedly support any proposals for the ceremony to be continued, so long as those who want it understand that it’s not for everyone.

12

General discussion / Re: Traffic

« on: January 14, 2019, 04:50:10 PM »

It’s busy but not a standstill at that time of the morning.

13

GAA Discussion / Re: RTÉ to show live National League and club championship matches

« on: January 10, 2019, 08:49:20 PM »

Show a game a few days later, with the home local radio commentary from the Sunday.

Jaysus God forbid, Im referring to local commentary here, most of the chaps on local radio have a very skewed view of the world outside their own county,
Good to see rte getting involved but they must cover the lower divisions.

It’s a league system. The teams at the top are better. They’re more interesting, more topical, more well known, more likely to draw an audience. Basically, more people will tune in, and the GAA benefits from the exposure.

Demanding that they show matches between lower-level teams is wrong. This isn’t a communist system here, it’s a league system. Want a higher profile? Get promoted.

14

GAA Discussion / Re: Positive proposals at last to address the spectacle of Gaelic Football

« on: January 09, 2019, 01:26:39 PM »

I’m thinking it might worth the GAA’s while creating an endowment scheme with one of our leading football universities.

In return for say €100k per annum, the university would host 6-8 evenings during the winter, where players would be briefed and drilled in potential rule changes, then play full games with one or more potential rule changes implemented, then players and coaches and assessors would complete research pieces about their feelings afterwards.

Each rule trial would enjoy its own short paper which ultimately outlines if the rule change would be considered a) unwelcome and unsuccessful, b) unwelcome but successful, c) welcome but unsuccessful, d) welcome and successful.

Anything in category a) is then ruled out for at least 3 years. Anything in category b) would need to improve to either c) or a d) within 2 further trials, or face a similar fate.


And no longer our county game the guinea pig.

15

General discussion / Re: The official Premier League 2018/19 Thread

« on: January 08, 2019, 08:50:42 PM »

Azpic keeps him on, on far right of our screen