Messages

I don't think Cavani is lightweight, he's over priced but he's at a club that don't need the money and don't need to sell so that's natural. It will only happen if Di Maria goes the other way.

I'd prefer Lewandowski, I don't think he's as untouchable as Muller though. Pep & Lewandowski have had their issues apparently, a player like him needs to be first choice as does Muller. Muller is too good a player to be moved around and we know from his time at Barca he's not too bothered about a traditional centre forward. I'd try and swap him for Di Maria but think Di Maria would prefer moving to Paris over Munich.

There's rumours that Real want Reus as Rafa wants Ronaldo to play upfront, in that case I'd be after Benzema. I think Real have given up on DeGea this year, they'll wait to get him for free next season; They don't want to see one of the big assets like Ramos or Benzema leave on what they would consider the cheap in a swap deal for De Gea.

Its a more important game for Derry, they need the win more than Galway. Another Derry championship loss and McIver's reign has been a huge disappointment.

I can't agree with that statement - how is it more important for Derry? Galway need a run bigtime. We have been in one quarter final (last year) since 2008.
The fact that this is Kevin Walsh's first year as manager is irrelevant.

A loss wouldn't be the end of the world, at least we can take something from this year whilst a defeat for Derry would mean another poor season and they've regressed; It would mean no progress in 3 years of championship football. Our players have shown signs their getting to grips with the modern game. We might have got to a quarter final but only because we drew Tipp, if we had played Armagh, Cork or Monaghan we'd have been beaten comfortably.

I think its very relevant that its his first year and its McIver's third year. You need a year to change things and coming from where we were it was even more difficult.

We both desperately want the win and I'm confident we'll get it.

The transfer market is such a mind-f**k. Schneiderlin to Utd for approx £25m and Southampton go and sign Jordy Clasie for £8m to replace him. Clasie is a very good player and an excellent value signing.

Utd did not need to spend £25m, they could have negotiated for a more realistic fee of 15-18 for Schneiderlin. City didn't need to spend 49 odd on Sterling, they should have played hard ball around the £30m mark.

There is no rational thought being placed on the actual value of these players, and sticking to what a realistic valuation is instead of just paying over the odds to get the deal done.

Utd, Liverpool, City and Arsenal should all be clambering to sign Van Djik the CB at Celtic, he'll end up at Swansea for about £8m have two good seasons and go to a top club for £25m+.

What are the scouts and recruitment officers doing at these clubs, promoted to the level of their incompetence it seems. There are a lot of top quality value players passing the top clubs by year after year due to poor scouting/recruitment.

Soton didn't need to sell though, their not under financial pressure. He did have 2 years left on his contract and perhaps if United had left it to the last few days of the transfer window they might have got him cheaper but LVG wanted him for the US tour which meant United paying over the odds. United's other 3 signings are good value. Look at Depay, he's probably similar to Sterling in what they've achieved so far whilst Depay cost £21m and Sterling will at least cost £47m.

Hopefully we should know both teams by tonight.

I can't imagine too many changes by Galway apart from Cummins in for Denvir although it wouldn't be that surprising if Denvir managed to start again.

Its a more important game for Derry, they need the win more than Galway. Another Derry championship loss and McIver's reign has been a huge disappointment.

The reaction of the Bayern support and his former team mates speaks volumes. This guy won a World Cup 12 months ago. Lots of players have a bad season after a major championships. I expect him to be a great addition for United.

As I've repeatedly said - spending money on players wages and transfers fees leaves less for those bloodsuckers to pocket so it's the lesser of two evils. The amounts involved are of course obscene but that's unfortunately the way soccer has gone.

Paying £14m for him is brilliant business, first thing I'd do is make him captain, he has better English than Rooney.

His best position will probably be where Carrick plays although he's certainly capable of playing further forward; He ran 15km in the world cup final which shows what he's capable of. He had an injury he picked up at the world cup which forced him to miss the first few months of the season hence why he played 28 games.

Central midfield has gone from our weakest positon to probably our strongest with Schweinsteiger, Carrick, Schniederlin, Fellaini & Herrera to chose from although Di Maria & Mata can both play there.

Squad is looking good, just a centre half and centre forward to come in and if their of good quality our squad will be stronger than Chelsea's & City's. City especially look average in midfield with just Fernando, Ferandinho and an ageing Toure to chose from although Nasri can play there its been several years since he played well consistently.

Is it on the box?

Live on Skyi

Galway favourites for this one which surprises me. I'd be confident enough against them though as we've put 2 decent performances back to back and I think the fact we will be away will provide the necessary motivation for the lads. Am I right in saying we play the winners of Tipperary v Tyrone?

Anyway I'd love to head down to it but have a wedding on Saturday which means I'll miss it on TV as well!! I think it should be a decent game though and I'd have us slight favourites if we're at ourselves and have a decent attacking plan with pace and purpose!!

Home advantage was always going to determine who the favourites are. Both division 2 teams next shear and Derry hardly a great record in the qualifiers in recent years. Derry do have the advantage of an extra days rest and probably an easier game.

I'm expecting a close game but I'm confident Galway will win. Derry could have beaten Donegal but they did look like a flat performance from them.

I'm happy with the way Glaway are progressing, we're showing more aggression and intensity in our performances and the players are starting to understand that been cynical is now part of the game. Galway have better players than Armagh and never understood why so many were tipping them, Galway have a lot of underage successs with over half the team in possession of All Ireland u21's medal, Conroy had a minor medal with Sice, Lundy and Silke having won an All ireland club title.

I do think it will be a low scoring game, I'd imagine Derry will set up in a similar manner to Armagh but will be a far tougher and more organised team to create openings against. If Galway can hold their own around the middle I'm confident we'll win.

far from an exceptional Galway team from what I had heard. Which makes Mayo's collapse at home all the more amazing. But minor teams grow as seasons go on so who knows.

We need to redouble our efforts at underage too.

Depends on who you heard that from  lots complaining during the league about performances but apparently 40 player got a game during the league so results were bound to be all over the place; the manager wanted to give everyone a fair chance.

Did Bradshaw not f*ck off to the states or something a couple of years ago during the championship? After he got the line against Mayo?

Would the Galway supporters not take a dim enough view of that?

Or was that someone else??

I wouldn't hold a grudge, Galway were going nowhere under Mulholland and given his age probably a last chance to get away for the summer.

[Cummins out.]

Galway team named, 3 changes from Mayo game, Donoghue, Bradshaw and Ó Griofa in, Breathnach, P Sweeney and Cummins out.

Was Cummins not our best player against Mayo?

Cummins played very well but it makes sense if it means Lundy plays closer to the posts.

Pleased to see Bradshaw back, he's always capable of kicking a score or 2 from distance.

Armagh are not the biggest at midfield so I'd like to think we'll win a lot more of the kickouts than we did the last day.

I'm happy with the team, a good mixture of pace and power; I just hope they've put plenty of work into the kickouts the last few weeks.

We have Depay already, Darmian looks done and we're in talk with Soton over Schneiderlin.

The only position I'm worried about is up front, we'll probably go after Kane again but its highly unlikely to happen. There is certainly a shortage of top quality centre forwards around who are available.

An awful lot of selling, not much buying

We'll have done well to get a fee for RVP considering he's on about £11m a year and he's 32 next month. The same goes for Nani, apparently the higher bracket of tax is nothing like it is around the rest of Europe.

I don't see DeGea leaving unless we get a huge fee or Ramos in return.

[Armagh lads would be best winding up Comer]

Armagh lads would be best winding up Comer... Galway haven't been good on the road recently, but I am expecting them to win on Sunday.

Comer is self-winding.
If he comes out with the same attitude as he did the last day he won't get to half-time.
They'll probably put McKeever on him.

Exactly the attitude you want in a player. Won't be bullied. Won't back down. An absolute pain in the hole to mark I'd say. Would rather have more with his attitude than lads who would be afraid of their own reflection. And I've seen a few of those.

I'd say Jinxy would love a player like that in Meath, only here to wind a few up.

I do think Comer is trying to over componsate for the challenge he was on the receiving end of from Boyle last year and show he won't be bullied. He had a brilliant first half against Mayo, he gave Cunnife the run around, just got to keep that going for the full 70 minutes.

Maybe your right but you cant put the responsibility for the whole county on such young players shoulders as good and all as he is.The  physical game you offered us signalled we"d win to me anyway,thats  bread and butter stuff to us and same against The ORCHARD is likely to be the same.Cummins,lundy,Sice and Silke have to be let loose and play a more attacking game and the 1st two I named really have to step up in this game,Comer cant do it  all.
Game is a hard one to call,I think a replay could be on the cards.

Galway were attacking the last day, there was no blanket defence or no sweeper to help Hanley out. They just didn't win enough possession at midfield to get quick ball into the forwards, they were relying on turnovers. You can't go from where Galway have been in recent years to beating a team like Mayo just like that, the gap was huge between the 2 counties.

If Galway weren't physical or aggressive Mayo would have hammered Galway just like the previous 2 meetings, Mayo bullied Galway in both games.

I'm not a fan of the GPA proposal, I want to see more games between the stronger teams with more games like Kerry & Cork last week.

The league is a huge issue and will continue to be, A Division 1 side is guaranteed 7 tough games which is ideal preparation for the championship whilst every other county not in Div 1 will final it near on impossible to make an impact in the championship. Split the league up, take 2 counties from each division to create a new division. Weaker teams will benefit from tougher games whilst stronger counties level will perhaps drop given their lack of competitive action which will lead to weaker counties closing the gap.

[Armagh lads would be best winding up Comer]

Armagh lads would be best winding up Comer... Galway haven't been good on the road recently, but I am expecting them to win on Sunday.

Comer is self-winding.
If he comes out with the same attitude as he did the last day he won't get to half-time.
They'll probably put McKeever on him.

Exactly the attitude you want in a player. Won't be bullied. Won't back down. An absolute pain in the hole to mark I'd say. Would rather have more with his attitude than lads who would be afraid of their own reflection. And I've seen a few of those.

I'd say Jinxy would love a player like that in Meath, only here to wind a few up.

I do think Comer is trying to over componsate for the challenge he was on the receiving end of from Boyle last year and show he won't be bullied. He had a brilliant first half against Mayo, he gave Cunnife the run around, just got to keep that going for the full 70 minutes.