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[it was the one slow song that you could at least still play air guitar to until the good stuff started up again.]

#1

General discussion / Re: Name your three favourite ...

Last post by lurganblue - Today at 01:45:56 PM

Back in the teenage discos in the 80's in the old cold rural dancehalls, when Wonderful Tonight came on, it signaled the start of the slow set. It had the added bonus that if you couldn't find a girl to dance with (or were refused), it was the one slow song that you could at least still play air guitar to until the good stuff started up again.

Peaches and Diesel
His guitar solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps

And if you covet the singers girl on above song, sure might as well write a great song about her too.

Layla

might explain future refusals   

#2

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by tiempo - Today at 01:45:28 PM

The Preliminary Quarter Final is a balls too, no jeopardy, all about extra games, as you say probably TV rights, get beat in the first round of your Provincial Championship lose 2 matches in group stage and you could still be in a Preliminary Quarter Final , what a load of crap.

Prelim QF was conceived as a result of meaningless games in the final round of the Super 8, its to try and incentivise that final round of group games where the top 2 is already confirmed and bottom 2 is not

Nothing screams its fucked quite like Kerry playing the second tier of Hurling (Joe McDonagh) but aren't allowed to play in the Munster Championship. Long story short, 57 varieties

#3

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by Dreadnought - Today at 01:37:46 PM

It's odd isn't it?

Every single last person involved in sport knows that protracted knockout competitions are a steaming pile of dung until the element of jeopardy arrives.

And yet all around Ireland, all around the world, we keep introducing and extending these formats.

Other sports can at least use professionalism and a need for paying spectators as their excuse.

We cannot.

It's very odd alright. the more it comes to it, the more I'd go back to Championship as straight knockout and expand the League or such to cover games. But there's no doubt that more matches does not equal better Championship. Less is more, and too many games is too many missable games so people start to stay away. If every game meant you had to win, we'd be heading somewhere. Do your provincials and seeding from League or such, but 2 tiers, 16 teams, let them go at it. People would go mental for it

#4

Hurling Discussion / Re: AI Hurling Championship 20...

Last post by Capt Pat - Today at 01:33:14 PM

Clare will have Tony Kelly on the bench for the Limerick game. Without Kelly starting and a question mark as to whether he plays at all, Limerick will be favourites. The league means nothing.

Shane O'Donnell is also on the bench for Clare.

#5

General discussion / Re: Name your three favourite ...

Last post by weareros - Today at 01:30:51 PM

Back in the teenage discos in the 80's in the old cold rural dancehalls, when Wonderful Tonight came on, it signaled the start of the slow set. It had the added bonus that if you couldn't find a girl to dance with (or were refused), it was the one slow song that you could at least still play air guitar to until the good stuff started up again.

Peaches and Diesel
His guitar solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps

And if you covet the singers girl on above song, sure might as well write a great song about her too.

Layla

#6

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by thewobbler - Today at 01:22:29 PM

It's odd isn't it?

Every single last person involved in sport knows that protracted knockout competitions are a steaming pile of dung until the element of jeopardy arrives.

And yet all around Ireland, all around the world, we keep introducing and extending these formats.

Other sports can at least use professionalism and a need for paying spectators as their excuse.

We cannot.

#7

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by smort - Today at 01:20:52 PM

And county boards aping this trying to get county players more games with their clubs

Championship structures at intercounty and club level are a bit of a mess

#8

General discussion / Re: FAI...New Manager Hunt con...

Last post by Capt Pat - Today at 01:20:14 PM

The FAI now won't have a manager for the national team until September.

Goalie Gavin Bazunu is out for ten months with an achilles injury.

#9

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by Tones - Today at 01:15:24 PM

The Preliminary Quarter Final is a balls too, no jeopardy, all about extra games, as you say probably TV rights, get beat in the first round of your Provincial Championship lose 2 matches in group stage and you could still be in a Preliminary Quarter Final , what a load of crap.

#10

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by yellowcard - Today at 01:04:15 PM

Thinking about how the lack of interest in games here reflect the general apathy in the community towards football. Used to be you'd have a thread for each of the big games here with multiple pages of craic, analysis and bickering. Now we've one amalgamated thread for all of ulster with very little interest or posts. You'll never see a 100page + thread of tyrone v Armagh banter ever again.

Came across this on YouTube the other day...

https://youtu.be/arMAgKKhltk?si=VJ9e3OEDG69jXF9u

It's a copy of the Sam 2005 dvd with extended highlights throughout that summer. Forgot how good these dvds were. What really stands out for me, outside of the crowds and quality of the football, was the general atmosphere in the games. The type of football played generated and sustained an almost constant noise throughout the match. The number of contests for the ball was significantly higher and its contests that generate that edge of the seat excitement that in turn created a cauldron of atmosphere and spectacle.

Youll still see unreal skills in today's game, mindblowing points and class goals. However, these are small peaks amongst the dredge we have to watch for 80% of the game. Watching games these days and I can't help but notice the level of general chat in the stands, people on phones and flatness. You'll hardly ever hear a chant outside of the odd come on you blues.

I've wrote this post as I've just completed the GAA games survey and hope that something will be found to return our game to its former glory. To me that is moving away from the obsession with possession based football and finding away to create more opportunities for contests in attack, midfield and forwards. Or maybe I'm a grumpy f**ker and will just have to accept transitions, 20+ passes back to the keeper and 30 players inside a 45 multiple times a game. What a load of shite.

The only way you can return to those days is a straight knockout from the start. It won't happen. 20 years ago I'd have sleepless nights about losing to Cavan. Now, whatever, still a lock a group games.

The GAA may be amateur but its money-making machine is as professional as the NFL in the States.

Group stages suck the life out of the championship, I hate them. I think the one extra chance back door system up until the quarter final stage would be much more interesting and would put less pressure on fixture scheduling as well. It's not like those group games are well attended either but there must be extra income generated from TV deals, otherwise I can't see any real upside.