Messages

Plus they already have a gym, Why the need for another one?

Michael Parkinson on tonight. Ray insists on calling him "Sir" Michael Parkinson.

What is that all about?

Mrs Merton used to call him Parky

What a stupid thing to do, promise a man a job 2 years out. A lot can happen in 2 years. Really stupid from Delaney but no surprise really.

So is today's game v USA a friendly but last week was competitive??? 

Is it really that hard to understand Tests are competitive to varying degrees depending on the opposition? Bit like Championship, Armagh v Tyrone in 1st round of Ulster Championship beat lumps out of other, say the loser draws Waterford in the back door, same overall competition - different intensity and approach.

Well if Waterford are beat that's their season over. If the good old US of A are beat v Ireland what happens next?

Rugby is the greatest myth ever told, over and over again. You want to believe it is a test and not a bigged up once off game, away with you, to me it's all a bit like the emperor's new clothes.

Clown tit

Jesus coukd be a big shock on the cards here at 7-7, if US pull of this shock win it would make them the world's No1 team (official rugby fan ranking)

I'm a sage sent to enlighten ye rugby boys with truth and wisdom. What sort of sage would I be if I gave up that easily.

Meanwhile in Caaaaaaaavan...

Meanwhile in cavan pre season friendlies are taking place with no one taking them too seriously and no one predicting glory on the result of same.

No doubt you'll be the first clown on the bandwagon come world cup time

You rugby fans are very touchy, one calls me a clown the other a tit.

I'm sorry but this sport is over hyped by the D4 RTE media most of whom came out of the same private schools your rugby heros did (except the imported ones).

No one on here believes Ireland have great players but do we have players good enough, for example, to threaten the defence of N Ireland. N Ireland should have scored 3 and their two forwards are playing in League 1. We have as poor a squad as we ever had but for god sake we still have player to be a relatively solid 3rd tier team at the moment.

Who are these players? Granted this last while I've watched very little of the ROI but Shane Long, O'Dowda, O'Brien are not these players.
MON & Keane did a wonderful job. They constantly over achieved. They will be very hard acts to follow. FAI should consider a statue in honour.

Here are some premier league players,  not saying they are top class but they are with premier league clubs none the less...

Coleman
Duffy
K Long
S Long
Hendrick
Arter
Obafemi
Christie
Brady
Ward
Cunningham
Clarke
Doherty

Mcclean, Randolph were recently also in premier league.

I also think o dowda and Stevens are capable of being premier league too. Now no doubt there are no world beaters there but is it unreasonable to expect us to be able to string a few passes together and make some chances? I don't think so.

Come of it Itchy, most of those lads are very average and of their clubs got relegated this season there wouldn't be a Premier League side beating down their door to sign them. Only Coleman, Hendrick & Brady are genuine Premier League players and perhaps Duffy is on his way to be being one too. Shane Long is nearly 32 and this is probably his last year in the PL. Its the worst squad Ireland have ever had.

I never said they were anything but average and I also said in a previous post that its probably the weakest ever Irish panel. However I still think we are 3rd tier and should be very competitive at that level. The N Ireland game is a perfect barometer. We did not threaten their goal and they dominanted the possession. Lets look at their team...

Peacock-Farrell - Leeds (Championship)
M Smith - Hearts (scotland)
Cathcart - Watford (premier)
J Evans - Leicster (premier)
Lewis - Norwich (championship)
C Evans - Blackburn (championship)
Whyte - Oxford (league 1)
Davis - Southampton (premier)
Saville - Middlesboro (championship)
Dallas - Leeds (championship)
Boyce - Burton (League 1)

Subs
Jones - Kilmarnock (scotland)
McNair - Middlesboro (championship)
Lafferty - Rangers (scotland)
Ward - Charlton (league 1)


Darren Randolph - Middlesboro (championship)
Seamus Coleman - Everton (premier)
Darragh Lenihan - Blackburn (championship)
Shane Duffy - Brighton (premier)
John Egan - Sheffield Utd (championship)
James McClean - Stoke (championship)
Glen WHelan - Villa (Championship)
Hendrick - Burnely (Premier)
Brady - Burnley (Premier)
O Dowda - Bristol (championship)
Robinson - Preston (championship)

subs
Christie - Fulham (premier)
Stevens - Sheff Utd (championship)
Hourihane - Villa (championship)
Curtis - Portsmouth (league 1)
Maguire - Preston (championship)
Hogan - Villa (Championship)

So not a huge difference in quality of the players on display in terms of the level they play at, I would argue the republic slightly stronger. Yet the stats show

North had 60% possession
North had 11 shots versus 8 at goal
North had 11 corners versus 3

If you watched the game you would have seen that only one team was playing football. So how can that be? Management is the answer.

Meanwhile in Caaaaaaaavan...

Meanwhile in cavan pre season friendlies are taking place with no one taking them too seriously and no one predicting glory on the result of same.

I look forward to blood and thunder as the gladiators (or sub gladiators more accurately) of Ireland face the warriors from the USA. There will be hard yards, unbelievable tackle counts and much drinking of Hino.
Ireland's sub gladiators will win by 20 points and then the Irish media will realise that Ireland A could actually play Ireland B in the world cup final.

You sir are a tit.

Crazy way to get a little attention

Todays team shows serious strength and depth. Tickets cheaper I know, but has this game sold out? None available online

Yes sold out. USA bring 20k supporters with them such is the importance of this test match and 100 million expected to tune in to hear Ryle Nugent commentate on the biggest game the USA has ever played.

If you want iptv make sure you buy a Samsung or LG smart tv or any android tv.

It's on BBC 2 Sunday night again (except BBC2 ni)

I look forward to blood and thunder as the gladiators (or sub gladiators more accurately) of Ireland face the warriors from the USA. There will be hard yards, unbelievable tackle counts and much drinking of Hino.
Ireland's sub gladiators will win by 20 points and then the Irish media will realise that Ireland A could actually play Ireland B in the world cup final.

So is this next autumn friendly not a friendly? I see Ireland made 14 changes to line up which sounds like a friendly to me.

No one on here believes Ireland have great players but do we have players good enough, for example, to threaten the defence of N Ireland. N Ireland should have scored 3 and their two forwards are playing in League 1. We have as poor a squad as we ever had but for god sake we still have player to be a relatively solid 3rd tier team at the moment.

Who are these players? Granted this last while I've watched very little of the ROI but Shane Long, O'Dowda, O'Brien are not these players.
MON & Keane did a wonderful job. They constantly over achieved. They will be very hard acts to follow. FAI should consider a statue in honour.

Here are some premier league players,  not saying they are top class but they are with premier league clubs none the less...

Coleman
Duffy
K Long
S Long
Hendrick
Arter
Obafemi
Christie
Brady
Ward
Cunningham
Clarke
Doherty

Mcclean, Randolph were recently also in premier league.

I also think o dowda and Stevens are capable of being premier league too. Now no doubt there are no world beaters there but is it unreasonable to expect us to be able to string a few passes together and make some chances? I don't think so.