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Everton did well to hold on to Seamus. Seemed every year United were linked with him and Baines.

Think the leg break came at a bad time for him in terms of getting that big move.

Was listening to one of the Irish Independent podcasts and they said the Hill Dickinson was almost empty when Seamus Coleman came out with his family for his farewell.

Can't believe the fans wouldn't want to show their appreciation, so am assuming it was a f**k-up on the part of the club?

Maybe a bit biased given he's a fellow south Donegal man, class act and GAA enthusiast, but has there ever been a better value player?

Denis Irwin?

Peter Schmeichel was  a similar price to Irwin.

Cantona another bargain buy  in hindsight

Ronaldo? Won everything and then made a huge profit on him. Vidic, Van der Sar, Evra all bargain buys as eell.

Roscommon should win this. Tyrone didn't even play well against Armagh in my opinion, they were shocking in the first half, just dragged Armagh down into a dog fight really.

Roscommon on the other hand had a good league and deserving winners against two good teams in Mayo and Galway. Seem to have got good depth in the panel now and playing well for a long time rather than the flash in the pan it's been in previous years. I think they should arrive confident and it would be a blow if this version of Tyrone turn them over, I genuinely expect a Rossie victory on the day

Not sure how Rossies will cope with the favourites tag, seem to have built a very good panel there at the minute. Problem could be if Tyrone can drag them into a dogfight they'll get it tight, heat at the weekend could play a part.

[Think we should be ok around the middle against Derry but I'd be fearful enough against a Kerry/Donegal/Galway with the big brutes they have.]

Reading the Derry club thread Derry ones seem fairly confident. Not an unreasonable stance either.

Armagh seemed to be able to park the Ulster Final defeats very well and come out very strongly in the AI series after, what will the heads be like after a bit of mid season success?

I'd worry a bit about MF myself,  Crealey's loss will be felt a lot more as this progresses, but we're doing OK there to date.

Think we should be ok around the middle against Derry but I'd be fearful enough against a Kerry/Donegal/Galway with the big brutes they have. At the minute we're doing rightly at the shorts with the bad weather playing a big part on Sunday with the ones we lost. Hopefully we're able to park Ulster again and push on.

This sums it up, Derry have a mobile midfield but not a big enough midfield to trouble the Kerry/Donegals etc. Armagh will have the same problem eventually. Don't see midfield being the game winner in the Derry game. Crealey a huge lost.

Despite Galway having some big men around the middle, they were cleaned out by the Rossies in that department. I think there's as much to be said for having a bit of grit and doggedness and getting stuck into the battles for breaking ball etc. Not to mention a clever kickout strategy can go a long way.
Armagh seem to be on the way back, the hunger they had in 24, that was missing in 25, looks like it's back in them again. At least as an outsider looking in that's what I see.

Yeah that's true, not to mention piggery .

Even last year you couldn't really say Kerry were that much bigger than us out the field, we'd Jarly, Rian, Crealey, Grimley, Murnin etc. A bit of luck and momentum definitely play their part with break ball as well.

The stat I heard was that 30% of Armagh's championship games in the past 3 years have ended in a draw in normal time vs 10% for the average. You could look at that in two ways, never say die or struggle to get over line. The AI win probably changed the narrative there.

Yeah that was on some podcast this week. Must be wanting to give fans value for their money although we could have done without extra time standing in the rain on Sunday! Think we've been the better team in both periods of extra time and our game will suit the better weather which really can't be understated with the impact it had for both teams on Sunday.

Hopefully our bench will get us over the line against Derry, have 3 serious "piano players" in Oisin, Ross and Grugs. Barry, Magee and Murphy very good piano pushers off the bench and Forker can do abit of both if he can get himself right.

[The Armagh camp on the other hand are probably still sobering up]

I thought Derry were more impressive v Monaghan in the first 60 minutes of normal time than Armagh. Monaghan missed more v Armagh when their come back was on.

I expect a tight game with Armagh to pull away in the last 10 given their stronger bench.

However, I haven't heard a word from the Derry camp since the Monaghan game. I assume they are hurting and will have a point to prove with all the choker labels being thrown around. The Armagh camp on the other hand are probably still sobering up. This could be a leveller. I remember it happened to Derry v Monaghan after the 2023 ulster final - we drew that game after hammering them in Ulster.

Interestingly i checked the spread with the bookies for the Armagh Derry game before and after the Ulster final, they've reduced it from 4 points to 2 points.

Will have done a recovery session Monday, maybe a few pints after for some but nothing mad and then trained last night, full focus on Derry. Hopefully we can use the glory as a big a driver as we used the hurt in previous years after Ulster.

Cannot see Donegal winning down in Killarney, especially with a wounded Kerry out for blood after the league final.

Plus, rumours out of Donegal are that neither Langan or Murphy will feature. Our squad is not that deep in terms of proven experience.

Yerra.

Reading the Derry club thread Derry ones seem fairly confident. Not an unreasonable stance either.

Armagh seemed to be able to park the Ulster Final defeats very well and come out very strongly in the AI series after, what will the heads be like after a bit of mid season success?

I'd worry a bit about MF myself,  Crealey's loss will be felt a lot more as this progresses, but we're doing OK there to date.

Think we should be ok around the middle against Derry but I'd be fearful enough against a Kerry/Donegal/Galway with the big brutes they have. At the minute we're doing rightly at the shorts with the bad weather playing a big part on Sunday with the ones we lost. Hopefully we're able to park Ulster again and push on.

Strong but forward line lacking a bit?  I think they're better off without Ronaldo but when you look at that strike force, not sure

Sad day but Ronaldo looks totally done, seen a few clips playing against nobodies in Saudi and the legs have gone. Their midfield is unreal

Thought the groups worked ok last few years so surprised at yet another change
For me
Donegal
Roscommon
Meath
Louth
Westmeath
Armagh
Mayo
Galway

Altho still think Kerry will be there are there come mid July for the semifinals

There was dead rubber games in the groups which had impact on attendance and the interest in some of the games.

There were very few dead rubbers and most teams always had something to play for

Thought the groups worked ok last few years so surprised at yet another change
For me
Donegal
Roscommon
Meath
Louth
Westmeath
Armagh
Mayo
Galway

Altho still think Kerry will be there are there come mid July for the semifinals

Agree with all except I think Monaghan might have enough for Mayo especially in Clones, depends how they lift themselves after a disappointing end to Sunday for them. Home advantage might just swing it for Kerry if they get a few bodies back.

Westmeath couldn't ask for a better draw, if it was another team you could see the highs of the weekend and the celebrations taking their toll but they should have too much quality for Cavan especially in front of a sold out home crowd.

I know it's fashionable to describe every season as the worst ever, but Arsenal are fitting champions for one of the worst football competitions in history. Truly dour, attritional football was the season summed up, and with Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Newcastle and Tottenham all downing tools for long periods, there was next no jeopardy or side stories.

It'll be interesting to see if Arteta changes things up in terms of playing style now the monkey is off his back.

If not, I'd expect the powers that be might have to intervene and find ways to encourage a more entertaining spectacle.

Horrible season. Revolting champions.

Absolutely. Most interesting thing about it has been laughing at Liverpools brutal title defence and the fact Spurs are still in a relegation scrap going to the last day.

Some green shoots from United under Carrick but huge question marks over what they do in the summer and how he/that squad will cope with more games next year.

[a Ronaldo-less Portugal]

Portugal haven't a hope under Martinez

Deschamps  hasn't a notion either. Mbappe is a dick so hope  they don't win it

Spain I'd say are favourites

I'd  like to see  someone like Croatia win it

Is that deschamps that won a WC and got to another final?

He also choked  in a Euro final at home against a Ronaldo-less Portugal

And his team has been  awful in  a few tournaments as well. Last Euros I don't think  they scored from open play.

For me "a Ronaldo-less Portugal" is better than the one with him in it.

Just saying.

Kane won't get the service he needs to score the goals to get England anywhere serious in this competition, he isn't bad.

There will be a bolter from somewhere that hasn't shown much as yet, a Uruguay or a Belgium could get a good run and get a semi berth.

No point watching for the first few weeks, loads of shíte matches.

That statements true now but not 10 years ago when Ronaldo was winning champions leagues and Ballon D'ors

Well done Armagh to finally win Ulster.

I agree the first half score flattered Monaghan.  Armagh nearly had two goals and an 8 point lead would have seemed more reflective of the play.

The game did have a feel of "Armagh aren't meant to win".  We can't understate the value of Monaghan's win over Derry.  Psychologically it gives a team the confidence that no lead is too much.  Plus all the 2 pointers they hit in the SF(was it 7?) can a team defend against that?  Certainly the Dessie Ward kick against Derry in extra time could not have been stopped by anyone.

It was no surprise to see Armagh's 6 point cushion vanish in the blink of an eye.  I believe Monaghan only had two 2 pointers in the game.  Did the weather conditions take that weapon away from them?

One other question: have penalty kicks been abolished for provincial finals but are still part of the game for everything else?

Personally I don't think Monaghan have the talent to go far in the AI competition.  However they'll be a dangerous opponent, just as Derry.  I can't help but wonder when managers will "go nuclear" on the 2 point strategy.  It's such a devastating weapon when you can score twice as much each time.

From memory Beggan had one from a free in the first half as did Woods I think, McCarron and O'Hanlon had one each in the second. It's a weapon I'd love to see us exploit more.

Portugal haven't a hope under Martinez

Deschamps  hasn't a notion either. Mbappe is a dick so hope  they don't win it

Spain I'd say are favourites

I'd  like to see  someone like Croatia win it

As a United fan would love to see Ronaldo finally get his medal but ironically his legs being gone and as you say that clown of a coach who won't drop him are probably the 2 biggest stumbling blocks. Casemiro another fella I'd love to see win it.