Messages

Emery has won the Europa league 5 times with 3 different clubs, all with "Villa" in the name.

Captain Obvious already  told us that fact.

Will the World Cup become the same?

Fans will need a subscription to watch the finals of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League after TNT Sports decided against making them free-to-air. It will be the first time since the Champions League was launched in 1992 that supporters have had to pay to watch it

A good Tielemans goal gives Villa the lead.  2-0 another fine strike right before half time, Buendia.

Prince William fairly has Villa purring this year.

Imagine his dad showing that type of emotion? He has his late Mom's personality.

Villa 3-0 winners and a first trophy won since the league cup in 1996

Willie - man of the people

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

What about the 1905 All Ireland Finals between Kerry and Kildare?

Well, that goes without saying.

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.

Finals aren't winner on the day. It's extra time and a replay first. Penalties if necessary at the replay. All other rounds I think are winner on the day.

Thanks for the clarification.  So it isn't Penalties or Bust!  The GAA can revert back to old form...sort of...when it wants to.

Given these teams are basically all-star teams and have their entire county of players to choose from, is it that cruel to make them play once every weekend?  The National Football League does it over 17 weeks and it is a more physical sport.

The goal should be for the best team to win.  Penalty kicks are a coin toss.  I don't care if soccer has always had them, it's still an integrity issue.  it's be refreshing if one of these sports would be honest with itself and toss a coin after a drawn game.  The GAA should be playing as many Replays as needed.  Can't it be flexible with its schedule?

Ironic that fans want to see more games so they abolish Replays!  Fans want to see the weaker counties, like Westmeath, succeeding so they kick 16 out of the AI competition!  if the people in charge of the GAA were running things in 1991 Meath-Dublin would never have happened.  That says alot about their credibility today.

Meath Dublin in 1991  was compulsive viewing.  Other than Down's AI win , it was  the main talking  point from that year. Similar to Down Derry in 1994. The only thing that's come close since was Cork's  late win v Kerry in 2020.

[I'd expect the powers that be might have to intervene and find ways to encourage a more entertaining spectacle.]

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.

2 goals for a shot outside the box? 

Tap and go?

1 v 1 at the  throw-in?

[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.

Aye, now maybe . But  that was  the Ronaldo of 10 years ago

Was that when he got injured in the semi-final and had to come off?

Pepe was still playing back then, so if it was I'll stick by my original point that when he went off and in the final Portugal were a better all-round team without him.

Ronaldo carried Portugal to that final. Got injured early in the final,  came off ,  and France still couldn't beat them

Eder scores the ET winner. A man who was  on loan at Swansea I believe. Never heard of again

I thought it was the semi-final he got injured in. I bow to your greater knowledge.

Semi was v Wales. The final had the swarm of moths, one landing on Ronaldo face while he lay injured

[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.

Aye, now maybe . But  that was  the Ronaldo of 10 years ago

Was that when he got injured in the semi-final and had to come off?

Pepe was still playing back then, so if it was I'll stick by my original point that when he went off and in the final Portugal were a better all-round team without him.

Ronaldo carried Portugal to that final. Got injured early in the final,  came off ,  and France still couldn't beat them

Eder scores the ET winner. A man who was  on loan at Swansea I believe. Never heard of again

[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.

Aye, now maybe . But  that was  the Ronaldo of 10 years ago 

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.

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

He obviously doesn't fancy managing in League Two

A weaker Dublin  not in contention for Leinsters and All Ireland's is a good thing. Hopefully Kerry will go away for another famine too , and make it more interesting for everyone else

The GAA need occasions like  Westmeath yesterday and Roscommon , Louth , all Winning provincials and challenging on the bigger stage.

Dublin  and Kerry winning every year is quite frankly, very boring

Why is no one talking about City " bottling" the league?
It was in their hands after beating Arsenal then they mess up against Everton.
They might still win it but it's crazy to think everyone was saying Arsenal had bottled it but the same isn't being said about City.

No one cares, plastic club so they just don't really matter.

People care about  the 115 charges

When will that decision be made? If ever?

People care more about cheating than the team?

Fans of other teams want  charges brought to City. I'm sure City fans don't 

How long is this  going on though? 4 years?  Seriously , what is the hold up?

Why is no one talking about City " bottling" the league?
It was in their hands after beating Arsenal then they mess up against Everton.
They might still win it but it's crazy to think everyone was saying Arsenal had bottled it but the same isn't being said about City.

No one cares, plastic club so they just don't really matter.

People care about  the 115 charges

When will that decision be made? If ever?