Honesty of effort etc

[lionelhutz]

They all reckoned they were poor at the back.

BUT that was the best game i have seen this year.

ya, dunph claims to watch a lot of spanish football, but without checking id say barca are in the top 2 (or at most 3) defences in la liga, having strenghtened the defence with milito, abidal and the midfield with toure. they're still not hitting top form but to bang on about a stereotypical leaking (insert attack minded spanish superclub) defence is wrong in my opinion. if anything its the attack that is letting them down.

he seems to have a serious hard on for sevilla though despite poor form in the league. "i told you about them 3 weeks ago bill". what a ledge

[Lamps]

ya, dunph claims to watch a lot of spanish football, but without checking id say barca are in the top 2 (or at most 3) defences in la liga, having strenghtened the defence with milito, abidal and the midfield with toure. they're still not hitting top form but to bang on about a stereotypical leaking (insert attack minded spanish superclub) defence is wrong in my opinion. if anything its the attack that is letting them down.

he seems to have a serious hard on for sevilla though despite poor form in the league. "i told you about them 3 weeks ago bill". what a ledge

That Toure lad looks like something else. Really impressive.

Some of the play last night was better than Arsenal have even managed.

Messi is shit though:(

[lionelhutz]

absolute magic tv last night. the half hour debate about el tel mercifully spared gilesy from divulging the knowledge gathered from his week long research of barcelonas and lyons form this season, which he embarked upon no doubt having been informed that this would be the LIVE game.

hopefully round 2 about el tel tonight.

[Rebelred]

so while we were all at work today...Dunphy was on the Pat Kenny radio show stating that John Giles should be made manager

[Del]

so while we were all at work today...Dunphy was on the Pat Kenny radio show stating that John Giles should be made manager

Did he really say that?

[Sound]

Eamo eviscerated Venables and those who champion him. Facts and figures presented passionately.

Anyone who wants that mockeryney twat should give in their passport.

[STEVIEG]

so while we were all at work today...Dunphy was on the Pat Kenny radio show stating that John Giles should be made manager

Jesus

He did really well the last time!

Dunphy contradicting himself left, right and centre on all this

Jack Charlton was great v they humped the ball and were shit
Gilesy's team played great ball v they were crap

[Langer Dan]

Eamo eviscerated Venables and those who champion him. Facts and figures presented passionately.

Anyone who wants that mockeryney twat should give in their passport.

To be honest id only judge Eamo as a barometer of the quality of the coke available in Lillies any given week.

[Rebelred]

Did he really say that?

yep. They replayed parts of the interview on 2fm yesterday about 5pm. He said if you want somebody around Venebles age, but who is not of questionable character, then John Giles is the man for the job

[Lamps]

Can you imagine Gilesy going off to play Korea or Nigeria in the world cup, he doesn't even know most of the Barcelona players.

[lionelhutz]

the lads didn't hit the heights of tuesday night but still entertaining. dunphy breakin his hole at giles comment about crouch's body not being able to do what his mind wants to, "sometimes thats what happens me..." and billo (i think) "what, your mouth doesn't do...."

[lionelhutz]

Can you imagine Gilesy going off to play Korea or Nigeria in the world cup, he doesn't even know most of the Barcelona players.

easy enough.

the koreans are game lads. (north or south, doesn't matter)
the AFRICANS have good technique but brainless in defence. like zaire in 1974

[lionelhutz]

dunphy last night going on about cheyrou in the marsellie team who couldn't cut it with liverpool. now himself and gilesy made that mistake for the first game at anfield but to make it again last night, well its just not reducing yourself to doing the simple things. dunphy spending too much time reading the english companies acts. at least the ever professional george hamilton corrected the error for them

[Forsberg]

dunphy last night going on about cheyrou in the marsellie team who couldn't cut it with liverpool. now himself and gilesy made that mistake for the first game at anfield but to make it again last night, well its just not reducing yourself to doing the simple things. dunphy spending too much time reading the english companies acts. at least the ever professional george hamilton corrected the error for them

Would this be George "the Baggio brothers" Hamilton??

[lionelhutz]

Would this be George "the Baggio brothers" Hamilton??

they weren't brothers of course unlike the brothers cheyrou

[RonnyB]

Gilesy finally cracked last night. He said something along the lines of 'you dont seem to do too much Eamon besides watching Spanish soccer at the weekends...there Bill' or some sort of comment. Looks like he cant handle the fact Eamo seems to be actually arsed about his job.

[lionelhutz]

Gilesy finally cracked last night. He said something along the lines of 'you dont seem to do too much Eamon besides watching Spanish soccer at the weekends...there Bill' or some sort of comment. Looks like he cant handle the fact Eamo seems to be actually arsed about his job.

class alright. maybe he'll get jealous and shell out for the multi channel too. although eamo must watch the la liga pissed off his head. has an unbelievable hard on for sevilla, although he tempered his comments after the loss last night. they went from one of europes elite on tues to "they'll cause trouble for any team bill" last night. triffic bread and butter stuff from the lads

[Roman Abramovich]

me fav was tuesday night.
when he asked were the lads happy in themselves that they stopped a paticular candidate getting the job.

"im happy in everything thing i do"

or sumting like that....then burst out laughing into camera.

twas class stuff.


or the billo comment, isnt trapa a bit too old for this kinda job.....your 69 too bill and your doing ok.

[RonnyB]

class alright. maybe he'll get jealous and shell out for the multi channel too. although eamo must watch the la liga pissed off his head. has an unbelievable hard on for sevilla, although he tempered his comments after the loss last night. they went from one of europes elite on tues to "they'll cause trouble for any team bill" last night. triffic bread and butter stuff from the lads

He used the fact that Puerto died earlier this season as a reason for their struggles too.

Gutted that I missed them Tuesday night.

[xvis]

He used the fact that Puerto died earlier this season as a reason for their struggles too.

Gutted that I missed them Tuesday night.

Here la..

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/


a link to pre-and-post match analysis is there online in the bottom RHS.


I think RTE realise that their analysis is Box Office and post it up online,

...could you imagine ITV/BBC posting their analysis online?!

[Roman Abramovich]

boom boom boom

a table.....

[RonnyB]

Well they rolled out the big guns last night. Giles, Brady, Souness & Dunphy. Eamon stole the show with think Jimmy Armfield had passed on though.

[Lamps]

They were a bit subdued, the match didn't help I suppose. Souey has a new phrase, "power football" expect to be hearing a lot more of that

The late Jimmy Armfield saved it.

[Rebel Yell]

Jimmy Armfield

RIP

[ho chi feen]

Bumpety fawking bump, la.

:p

[ho chi feen]

Bizarrely, Eamo's just called Mascherano a donkey (okay, it was in a particular context to be fair, but still!). He's also singing the praises of Deco (along with Ronnie and Giles)... now, I can remember a time not so long ago when they were all agreed that he wasn't very good at all at all.

[Professor Piehead]

Bizarrely, Eamo's just called Mascherano a donkey (okay, it was in a particular context to be fair, but still!). He's also singing the praises of Deco (along with Ronnie and Giles)... now, I can remember a time not so long ago when they were all agreed that he wasn't very good at all at all.

They were comparing him to Dirk Kuyt. :lol!:

[ho chi feen]

They were comparing him to Dirk Kuyt. :lol!:

Weird moment alright.

I've been saying it before even the Pool fans were convinced by him- there is simply no better player in that position in the world. Steal at £17m.

[STEVIEG]

Bizarrely, Eamo's just called Mascherano a donkey (okay, it was in a particular context to be fair, but still!). He's also singing the praises of Deco (along with Ronnie and Giles)... now, I can remember a time not so long ago when they were all agreed that he wasn't very good at all at all.

oh dear

Yet more contradicting from the Dunph!

[Lamps]

Weird moment alright.

I've been saying it before even the Pool fans were convinced by him- there is simply no better player in that position in the world. Steal at £17m.

I've been saying it since I saw him at the 2006 world cup(which is when i first noticed him ruling hard). And he's only 23.

Granted, he's no Hadyen Mullins, but you can't have it all.

[RonnyB]

Weird moment alright.

I've been saying it before even the Pool fans were convinced by him- there is simply no better player in that position in the world. Steal at £17m.

When it comes down to it he was their best player against United in what was up to now their most important game of the season. For me thats says it all. Gerrard & Alonso are grand against the PSV's of this world but they wont cut it when faced with the Chelsea's & Barca's not to mention their poor record when playing against United.

[RonnyB]

Anyone pick up on the joke if Billo was chairman of a club? Went something along the lines of agents showing chairman videos of players & only showing the good bits something like what we see on youtube. Billo said that he'd be signing everyone so & Dunph goes "you'd be made for it Bill!".

Where else would you get it?

[Philby]

When it comes down to it he was their best player against United in what was up to now their most important game of the season. For me thats says it all. Gerrard & Alonso are grand against the PSV's of this world but they wont cut it when faced with the Chelsea's & Barca's not to mention their poor record when playing against United.

I agree that Mascherano is highly valuable against the top teams, he is a real big game player who never goes hiding and is proving a snip at £17m as HCF mentioned. On the Gerrard-Alonso partnership they have played very well together on a number of occassions & I don't think that recent poor results against the other top sides is down to a weakness in that centre-midfield partnership but rather lack of attacking threat from other areas. Liverpool simply haven't scored enough goals in these big games in the past. Hopefully the addition of Wes Brown to the squad should address that..

[RonnyB]

I agree that Mascherano is highly valuable against the top teams, he is a real big game player who never goes hiding and is proving a snip at £17m as HCF mentioned. On the Gerrard-Alonso partnership they have played very well together on a number of occassions & I don't think that recent poor results against the other top sides is down to a weakness in that centre-midfield partnership but rather lack of attacking threat from other areas. Liverpool simply haven't scored enough goals in these big games in the past. Hopefully the addition of Wes Brown to the squad should address that..

Yes he seems to have a habit of scoring at crucial times in United/Pool games alright...

[STEVIEG]

Yes he seems to have a habit of scoring at crucial times in United/Pool games alright...

Some which lead to League victories too

[lionelhutz]

Anyone pick up on the joke if Billo was chairman of a club? Went something along the lines of agents showing chairman videos of players & only showing the good bits something like what we see on youtube. Billo said that he'd be signing everyone so & Dunph goes "you'd be made for it Bill!".

Where else would you get it?

bill has more knowledge of teams and players than the two lads put together. bill actually justifies his appearance fees with research. some great stuff from the lads over the two nights tho. gilesy, "well bill i dont know much about Cluj, so its hard to say but...". heh heh heh, he doesn't see much of real madrid ffs and it doesn't bother him

[RonnyB]

bill has more knowledge of teams and players than the two lads put together. bill actually justifies his appearance fees with research. some great stuff from the lads over the two nights tho. gilesy, "well bill i dont know much about Cluj, so its hard to say but...". heh heh heh, he doesn't see much of real madrid ffs and it doesn't bother him

"They're a team of mercenaries Bill, full of Argentines & Brazilians". was Eamon's description of them before the game. I love it when Dunph just goes for it with his opinions & theories no matter how far off they are. Barcelona being in 'rag order' & Seville being a serious dark horse were 2 of my favourites in recent times. Rio The Tramp another classic.

[Rebelred]

Lucas is the worst Brazilian Eamo has ever seen...


Kleberson anyone?

[AmadeusDC]

Lucas is the worst Brazilian Eamo has ever seen...


Kleberson anyone?

Lucas has done nothing to make me think he is any better than Kleberson thus far. While he can't get worse in fairness to him they are both truly shocking players on what we've seen!

-AmadeusDC-

[wat_boy]

Lucas has done nothing to make me think he is any better than Kleberson thus far. While he can't get worse in fairness to him they are both truly shocking players on what we've seen!

-AmadeusDC-

ive said the same thing myself about lucas but to be fair to him, when i seen him play for gremio he played a completely different roll in the team, far more attacking than the roll he plays for liverpool

[jimmy magee]

Lucas - what is he meant to bring to the team?

Seems to be an all round useless individual; skilled in the art of anonymity ; master of the pointless cameo ; lord of the last few minutes ; part of IT, but really not.

Rubbish Bill, absolutely cat.

[Rebelred]

so what did ye all make of Eamo's little post match rantings?

[Edmund Blackwater]

The 'back me up here, John, they all think I;m mad' was quite amusing.

[Rebelred]

The 'back me up here, John, they all think I;m mad' was quite amusing.

was even funnier when Gilesy woke up and didn't really have a clue what Eamo was just after saying

[Rebel Yell]

so what did ye all make of Eamo's little post match rantings?

His comment after his second post match rant, something like "I'm not mad Bill, I'm not George Hook" ....hee hee hee...what a legend....would love to see him and George on the same panel, no matter what the subject of analysis may be....

[KD Langer]

so what did ye all make of Eamo's little post match rantings?

what did he say? missed it due to work

[KD Langer]

His comment after his second post match rant, something like "I'm not mad Bill, I'm not George Hook" ....hee hee hee...what a legend....would love to see him and George on the same panel, no matter what the subject of analysis may be....

agreed. don't even like rugby but watch hook when he's on rte.

[Lamps]

so what did ye all make of Eamo's little post match rantings?

Found it a bit contrived to be fair. He talks about Andy Reid like he is Liam Brady.

[Demons till I die]

I dont think he goes that far ....what he is saying and its right is that Andy Reid is a creative type of player with International Experience and in tight games which last night was , he could offer something more than the limited Glenn Whelan and the vastly inexperienced Darron Gibson. His form is good for a current premier league side while whelan and Gibson dont feature regularly for their clubs at the moment. I think it showed last night.

[bigboyfoolish]

I don't like the rantings he sometimes comes out with
but in fairness to ED last night we WERE very poor at set pieces.

It looked very disorganised.
He's right when he points out that 40% of goals from them.
And we lacked imagination.

The Reid thing I'm not so sure about.
He's certainly better than what Gibson has to offer

But as someone else alluded he's no Zico!

[STEVIEG]

But as someone else alluded he's no Zico!

He's more Zico's than Zico, if ya catch my drift

[Lamps]

He's more Zico's than Zico, if ya catch my drift

couldn't argue with that

[STEVIEG]

The panel bigging up Rooney as the best thing ever

Anyway, funny one from Dunphy

"Can you imagine Berbatov facing Terry and Carvalho in a big game"

Er, yes i can, and i can remember him scoring a few too

[KD Langer]

The panel bigging up Rooney as the best thing ever



i agree with them on this one.


love the guy, his attitude, his talent, everything about him. the guy will be a legend.

[STEVIEG]

So do i but they were going overboard at times

Possibly to use as bait to dismiss his fellow players like Berba and co

[Lamps]

Just watched the after match coverage:

Dunphy: Rooney as good as Pele :lol!:

[Langer Dan]

Poor old Eamo....

the Coke has played havok with his critical faculties.

[Lamps]

Poor old Eamo....

the Coke has played havok with his critical faculties.

To be fair to the kid he's just starred in wins over the mighty Celtic, West Brom and Azerbaijan.

[ho chi feen]

Dunphy's off again.

"Ronaldo is a disgrace to football!"

[rebelgirl83]

Oh yes, he's in rare ol form. I loved the "clowning around" comment.

Bet Saint Roy would wet himself listening to this

[ho chi feen]

Honesty,,, Respect.

BTW, Dunphy seems to think the FIFPro award is the world footballer of the year gong. :lol!:

[KolaKubes]

Dunphy's off again.

"Ronaldo is a disgrace to football!"

Frankly, he's a striker playing out wide.

Crossing and ability to beat a man is pretty average.

Not up to much when told to stay out in that wide berth.

[rebelgirl83]

"A petchulent little brat poncing around"

Classic Dunphy

[KolaKubes]

But he's won the FifPro player of the year award.

:confused:

What do journalists know about?

Fair point Eamonn but....

[rebelgirl83]

See how he mentioned Roy again when he said Giles and Keane never won this award...he's obsessed!

[legend76]

He's a brat Bill

[ho chi feen]

Watch now they'll give us an extended showing of Arseanl's nil-all at the Emirates, and 30 seconds of Real v Juventus. :rolleyes:

[KolaKubes]

See how he mentioned Roy again when he said Giles and Keane never won this award...he's obsessed!

To be fair, the point about Beckham getting the plaudits in terms of awards ceremonies when he was easily the worst player in that midfield is very fair.

[rebelgirl83]

To be fair, the point about Beckham getting the plaudits in terms of awards ceremonies when he was easily the worst player in that midfield is very fair.

Agreed. It was only because of the workrate of the likes of Keane and Scholes that Beckham had the freedom to attack, pick a pass and score goals the way he did for Utd

[duffer31]

dunphy and rte are the disgrace. punditry for the sporting idiot. entertaining without a doubt.no question. football punditry. definately not. he even admits to laying it on for . rememebr him having john cleese/wenger "in the can" as brady said. great fun but nothing to do with football. benitez or ronaldo should actually be shown a clip and claim for libel.that would be entertaining.99% adore rte's coverage. thank god i am in the one per cent. change the record at least....

[ho chi feen]

"I haven't seen a lot of Real Madrid, Bill..."

[Alan Smith]

Watch now they'll give us an extended showing of Arseanl's nil-all at the Emirates, and 30 seconds of Real v Juventus. :rolleyes:

How did you know?

[KolaKubes]

Agreed. It was only because of the workrate of the likes of Keane and Scholes that Beckham had the freedom to attack, pick a pass and score goals the way he did for Utd

Scholes was scoring more goals at his best.

I couldn't understand how Scholes didn't get more credit back then.

Now, he's held up by the boys on RTE as outstanding when he's way way past his prime.

Odd.

[Langer Dan]

Dunphy's off again.

"Ronaldo is a disgrace to football!"

The lads need to change the record, during the break after fulltime we summed up what was coming.
'10 minutes of Ronaldo bashing with a Roy Keane reference worked in somewhere'.

We got that and two Keano references.
The lads are becoming tiresome, Ronaldo wasn't great but neither were the rest of the team and his shot set up the goal.
Slating a guy who's the best player in world football in the last twelve months is daft.
He's no George Best but who is.....

[STEVIEG]

I thought Ronaldo was pretty good tonight

Looked very dangerous and a lot of the fancy shit worked

Missed the lads earlier, but did see them saying something about Berbatov not being good on the European stage as opposed to West Ham in the league

The European stage where he has scored 3 goals as against West Ham where he scored none

Right

[bigboyfoolish]

he's actually got 4 in the Champs League and is current top scorer
in the competition

[Langer Dan]

Earra Eamo is good for a laugh but he talks out his arse 90% of the time.

Giles is a joke as pundit.
'Never heard of him Bill

[RonnyB]

How did seven year old Ramsey do for Arsenal? Nearly spat out my tea when I heard Dunphy say that.

[Rebel Yell]

"Best footballer on the planet Bill...a joke. nowhere near the level required of the best sportspeople in the World..the real practitioners of excellence Bill...Tiger Woods, Lewis Hamilton, Padraig Harrington, Ruby Walsh, John Giles, Ronnie Whelan, Graeme Souness, Liam Brady, Roy Keane...they might have bad days Bill, but they never conned the public the way Roanldo did tonight...honest pros don't do that, it's about integrity"....

[POL]

Ronaldo is a disgrace, the way he cons Man Yooers like Stevie is hilarious they are so blinkered its not funny

[Edmund Blackwater]

Podge Harrington must love watching the oul champions league all the same.
Goes out Thursday morning brimming with confidence after the ego massage on the Wednesday night.

[KD Langer]

Ronaldo is a disgrace, the way he cons Man Yooers like Stevie is hilarious they are so blinkered its not funny

yeah, last year he did it at least 42 times............... .

[Rebel Yell]

Great stuff from Dunphy again last night when Ronnie Whelan and Gilesy were recalling their European experience ...

Eamo : "By the way Bill, I also played in Europe...for Millwall...in Benidorm"

[KD Langer]

Great stuff from Dunphy again last night when Ronnie Whelan and Gilesy were recalling their European experience ...

Eamo : "By the way Bill, I also played in Europe...for Millwall...in Benidorm"

aye. also, when john and ronnie said they used to hate interviews, eamon quiped, "i used to love them. no one wanted to interveiw me though."

[raZor]

Eamo: "Ronaldo? Didn't do it tonigh, nowhere to be seen"
Bill: "Apart from the goal Eamonn, is it?"
Eamo: <silence>"Well yeah apart from the goal, nothing!"

[Forsberg]

"We had the best team in the world" in Charltons early days according to Dunphy :lol!:

[STEVIEG]

Dunphy doesn't get it


Folan made a BIG difference IMO and Hunt offered a bit too, Doyle was clearly tired

GAMBLING is what the best managers do when they have little to lose Dunphy you thick cunt-that's why you are a studio pundit and Trap and co are managers:)

[Forsberg]

Dunphy doesn't get it


Folan made a BIG difference IMO and Hunt offered a bit too, Doyle was clearly tired

GAMBLING is what the best managers do when they have little to lose Dunphy you thick cunt-that's why you are a studio pundit and Trap and co are managers:)

He's a clown . I thought it was a great decision to bring Folan on. He did very well. He took Doyle off because he was shattered.

[M&M]

Dunphy doesn't get it


Folan made a BIG difference IMO and Hunt offered a bit too, Doyle was clearly tired

GAMBLING is what the best managers do when they have little to lose Dunphy you thick cunt-that's why you are a studio pundit and Trap and co are managers:)

He also doesn't seem to get the fact that under Trap these players are playing with the "conviction" that they were lacking under Staunton. He ranted and raved under Staunton that they didn't have any heart and now that they're showing a bit of fight it has nothing to do with the manager :lol:

[STEVIEG]

yup

and yup

You couldn't make it up

[lionelhutz]

Dunphy doesn't get it


Folan made a BIG difference IMO and Hunt offered a bit too, Doyle was clearly tired

GAMBLING is what the best managers do when they have little to lose Dunphy you thick cunt-that's why you are a studio pundit and Trap and co are managers:)

ya, i was very surprised by folan. thought he showed well and had a good touch and certainly caused problems. brian kerr on setanta called him a lumbering oaf but his bitterness is getting tiresome at this stage

dunphy though, as cascarino put it, hasn't agreed with any irish manager, ever. whats new?

he did say that the irish team in the 90's was the "best team in the world" heh heh heh

[STEVIEG]

brian kerr on setanta called him a lumbering oaf


A case of pot and kettle if ever there was one

[Berbs]

ya, i was very surprised by folan. thought he showed well and had a good touch and certainly caused problems. brian kerr on setanta called him a lumbering oaf but his bitterness is getting tiresome at this stage

dunphy though, as cascarino put it, hasn't agreed with any irish manager, ever. whats new?

he did say that the irish team in the 90's was the "best team in the world" heh heh heh

Did Kerr really say that? Sounds pretty articulate! I totally agree with you on Folan- he's not gifted but he worked his arse off and looked confident. Brian Kerr is desperately in need of a shite.

[Rebel Yell]

ya, i was very surprised by folan. thought he showed well and had a good touch and certainly caused problems. brian kerr on setanta called him a lumbering oaf but his bitterness is getting tiresome at this stage

dunphy though, as cascarino put it, hasn't agreed with any irish manager, ever. whats new?

he did say that the irish team in the 90's was the "best team in the world" heh heh heh

Best team in the world...without the ball

that's what he said...

[Eoin]

The best bit last night was when Gilesy was refuting the old cliches about harder to play against 10 men.

'Sure why don't we just start with 10 men then Bill'

[Rebelred]

ya, i was very surprised by folan. thought he showed well and had a good touch and certainly caused problems. brian kerr on setanta called him a lumbering oaf but his bitterness is getting tiresome at this stage

dunphy though, as cascarino put it, hasn't agreed with any irish manager, ever. whats new?

he did say that the irish team in the 90's was the "best team in the world" heh heh heh

ya have to agree, Folan did well, he linked with those around him and showed a great willingness to chase get the ball.

Eamon...well, I was glad when they turned on the music in the pub after the match, same old lines again

[lionelhutz]

Best team in the world...without the ball

that's what he said...

he said before that that they were the best team in the world then qualified it by saying, at least the best team in europe. he was on about the great players they had, ronnie next to him etc

[lionelhutz]

The best bit last night was when Gilesy was refuting the old cliches about harder to play against 10 men.

'Sure why don't we just start with 10 men then Bill'

bills reaction was class. haah... haah...haah...haah


and earlier, now im no expert lads but...

[raZor]

bills reaction was class. haah... haah...haah...haah


and earlier, now im no expert lads but...

"I thought he played well, though I'm no expert!" with a big grin on his face!

[POL]

Eamo is a purist and demands tht association football be played the way it should be, is that too much to ask? IS IT?

[Langer Dan]

He also doesn't seem to get the fact that under Trap these players are playing with the "conviction" that they were lacking under Staunton. He ranted and raved under Staunton that they didn't have any heart and now that they're showing a bit of fight it has nothing to do with the manager :lol:

Spot on.

Dunno what game Dunners was watching but Folan had a huge impact on the result last night.

Fair play to Trap for making thw switch so early, Keogh wasn't working out and he RIGHTLY hauled him. Agreed with the subbing of Doyle as well, he'd completely drifted out fo the game.

A good result and keeps us well in the hunt for the automatic qualifying position, a scenario that would be outlandish under the likes of Kerr or Staunton.

[POL]

a scenario that would be outlandish under the likes of Kerr or Staunton.
You pay peanuts, you get monekys

[Langer Dan]

You pay peanuts, you get monekys

Precisely we finally have manager with the trophy wins and the experience to back it up and the pundits are giving out stink.

I'v enough of fellas moaning about who he isn't picking. It' shis job to pick the team and hes doing a fine job so far.
If fellas don't want to play or are acting the Mick why should he go cap in hand to em?

Kerr is only a bitter gom who was badly found out in his first professional managerial job. I don't know why people give him airtime. He isn't fit to lace Trap's boots.

[HappyMonday83]

As far as I can see trap is doing the best he can with the players available. They have no one with a bit of class in centre midfield. Instead of taking the easy option and playing fatty reid, he's tried to lock down that part of the pitch. If ireland can't create from the centre then neither should the opposition. That's a sound tactic in my book. Unless stephen ireland comes back into the fold then he should stick with the current shape of the team. Dunphy was talking out of his hole last night, all the subs trap made had a positive effect on the game from what I could see. Folan did a job when he came on and knocked down some quality ball around the box, created one goal and gave keane a great chance at a second.

The frustrating part about the whole thing is stephen ireland's absence. Paul O' Connell should be sent to manchester to talk some sense into him, give him the "fear'O'gawd" speech.

[POL]

As far as I can see trap is doing the best he can with the players available. They have no one with a bit of class in centre midfield. Instead of taking the easy option and playing fatty reid, he's tried to lock down that part of the pitch. If ireland can't create from the centre then neither should the opposition. That's a sound tactic in my book. Unless stephen ireland comes back into the fold then he should stick with the current shape of the team. Dunphy was talking out of his hole last night, all the subs trap made had a positive effect on the game from what I could see. Folan did a job when he came on and knocked down some quality ball around the box, created one goal and gave keane a great chance at a second.

The frustrating part about the whole thing is stephen ireland's absence. Paul O' Connell should be sent to manchester to talk some sense into him, give him the "fear'O'gawd" speech.
repped for telling it like it is, I'm sick of this Andy Reid = Maradona guff, The Trapmeister is a legend

[ho chi feen]

repped for telling it like it is, I'm sick of this Andy Reid = Maradona guff, The Trapmeister is a legend

Hear hear.

[POL]

he is very close to getting the worst Irish association football team ever to the World Cup

[Eoin]

he is very close to getting the worst Irish association football team ever to the World Cup

This is true! While I do think that having Reid on the bench at least would offer something different, he's certainly not the messiah he's being portayed as.

Stephen Reid and Ireland would improve this team 100% though.

One is obviously injured, but as Ho Chi says, the FAI should be moving heaven and earth to get Ireland back in an irish jersey. I refuse to believe that there isn't something that can be done.

[Lamps]

I'd give Stephen Ireland one more chance, no pussy footing about. You either show up in dublin airport for the trip to Sofia or you forget about returning till after the world cup that we are going to qualify for.
Thats it, one chance you langer, the job is almost done without you. Take it or leave it.

[POL]

whats the betting the langer would jump on the bandwagon if they qualified?

[Lamps]

whats the betting the langer would jump on the bandwagon if they qualified?

I doubt Trap will let him. He's handled bigger and better players than this fella.

[duffer31]

i don't see the problem with stephen ireland to be honest and asking him to play. if it were a club and they wanted him to sign then they would go after him. i understand the playing for the jersey etc etc and the pride of it all but now that we are in a god position he would make a difference. good performances in an irland shirt and irleands problems would soon be forgotten by everyone. im not bothered one way or the other as our expectations of this bunch should be set low. if we do well the get out the inflatable hammers if we dont then big fuckin deal as we have what we have and its not like there is alternatives for our squad. sit back and watch and support them and see what happens. dear god people we are very average like.....


btw put your motgage on liverpool this weekend aty 8/13. i am putting the small ones baby food money on it and all. ha ha.

[devvy devverson]

I doubt Trap will let him. He's handled bigger and better players than this fella.

very true lamps... i completely agree

[Rumpofsteelskin]

I'd give Stephen Ireland one more chance, no pussy footing about. You either show up in dublin airport for the trip to Sofia or you forget about returning till after the world cup that we are going to qualify for.
Thats it, one chance you langer, the job is almost done without you. Take it or leave it.
Fuck Stephen Ireland. He's had his chance. I mean what the fuck was he thinking watching the match on weds? "Hmmm I could be over there having a cut off the world champions on their own turf..."

He's nothing but your typical Cobh plastic norrie knacker who couldn't give a shit about anything but himself. Fuck that scumbag.

[devvy devverson]

Fuck Stephen Ireland. He's had his chance. I mean what the fuck was he thinking watching the match on weds? "Hmmm I could be over there having a cut off the world champions on their own turf..."

He's nothing but your typical Cobh plastic norrie knacker who couldn't give a shit about anything but himself. Fuck that scumbag.

how do you REALLY feel about it?

[POL]

Fuck Stephen Ireland. He's had his chance. I mean what the fuck was he thinking watching the match on weds? "Hmmm I could be over there having a cut off the world champions on their own turf..."

He's nothing but your typical Cobh plastic norrie knacker who couldn't give a shit about anything but himself. Fuck that scumbag.

Strong words, with a hint of truth

[raZor]

If he wants to come back then fine, but if we do qualify for the World Cup and then he decidedto join up he should be told go visit his granny.

[Berbs]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/time-for-traprsquos-critics-to-live-in-the-real-world-1696907.html

Time for Trap’s critics to live in the real world

By James Lawton

Friday April 03 2009

It is hard not to be amused, in a melancholy sort of way, listening to some of the revisionist theorising on the wisdom of appointing Giovanni Trapattoni.

Too old, too conservative, too unwilling to nurture and cajole the potential world-beaters Stephen Ireland, Andy Reid and Lee Carsley are some of the charges against the man who comes out of the most tricky stage, so far, of his unlikely ambition to carry his, how can we put it, workman-like team into the World Cup finals just two points behind the reigning champions Italy.

It is true, of course, that Italy were reduced to 10 men for most of the 1-1 draw in Bari, but which country in all of world football is better equipped to make a virtue rather than a killing handicap of such a numerical disadvantage? Upon leaving the cradle, Italian boys are confronted by the catechism and the challenge of learning to close down space, and not generally in that order.

Crisis

For nearly 90 minutes, Italy did not face a crisis so much as a call to their true vocation.

In this historically generated light, it was surely no wonder that Trapattoni scarcely concealed his exhilaration after the late Robbie Keane equaliser which kept the fantasy of automatic qualification on the table. Fantasy? How else is it possible to describe his challenge after even the most casual examination of the resources at Ireland's disposal?

Listening to some of his critics discuss all the fine nuances of selection facing Trapattoni, it is hard not to wonder from which planet they have travelled.

Do they really expect a man of Trapattoni's experience and achievements to surrender career-long values to the alter of Stephen Ireland's whim? Would you want to build your team around talent so eccentrically and selfishly housed? Would you want to go to the tightest of corners with nearly half a planeload of self-absorption? Or would you want to compromise your belief in what is valuable in the dynamic of a team for the sake of a player of Reid's largely unproven ability to inflict his gifts at the highest level? Let's face it, the obligation here is to make at least a little contact with reality.

Neither Reid nor Ireland is Wayne Rooney, the player whose less endearing qualities are being tolerated by Trapattoni's Italian compatriot Fabio Capello because of some profoundly impressive talent -- and a competitive spirit which blazed from him as a teenager threatening, before injury, to dominate the European championships of 2004.

So here, clearly, is a balancing of options, a team of enhanced discipline but one denied the often luminous presence of outstanding talent. For Trapattoni, there is no such dilemma.

He doesn't have much after he discounts the talent of Ireland and Reid, but he has something that is now too rich to squander -- a real sense of achievement every time you look at the qualification table.

There was more bleak, if unconscious, humour in the assertion of former national coach Brian Kerr yesterday that Trapattoni's campaign has been marked by good luck.

Let's hope such thinking doesn't permeate too much of a debate already festooned with outrageous examples of woolly thinking. If Old Trap is branded a lucky coach of Ireland, how do we re-visit the achievements of Jack Charlton?

The big man was also resolute in his thinking about how a team should be run but his approach was not exactly undermined by the quality of players at his disposal; any coach who could put the sublime quality of, say, Liam Brady in the take-it-or-leave-it category is operating among riches beyond the dreams of the current incumbent.

Cast your mind back through Big Jack's force and you see a range of talent into which only the supreme examples of Irish talent from earlier generations could have made guaranteed impact.

Kerr himself was not exactly untouched by good fortune when he discovered it suited Roy Keane's purpose to pull on the green shirt again. For Trapattoni, a Roy Keane, even operating on one leg, would have been not so much an asset as a treasure.

As it is, his leadership is supplied by another Keane, one whose persistence was valuable in Bari -- where Italy had won all their previous internationals -- but who in terms of competitive savvy has never begun to tread the same ground as his combustible namesake.

But, because he is an old pro, because he has standards hammered out in so many years of high-level campaigning, Trapattoni knows the ultimate obligation of his job. It is to make the best of what he has as he goes along, and certainly there is no inclination to accept the passivity that so often accompanies advancing years.

When the Italians went a man down, he swiftly adjusted his team, yanking off Andy Keogh and replacing him with Caleb Folan. It was not, with all due respect, the swapping of diamonds, but something the old man decided had to be done for a new balance in a new situation and not the least satisfaction of his homecoming, surely, was the fact that the substitute played vigorously and played a part in the Keane goal which could yet come to be weighed in gold.

Interestingly, we saw in Italy a welcome, not for an ageing son of Il Calcio, but a man due great honour for all that he represented. Trapattoni, apparently, was pleased by the evidence that respect for him had not dwindled in his absence. Certainly it must have made an agreeable change from the barbs so frequently fired off in his latest theatre of action.

Old Trap could tell himself, after all, that something is known about football in the native land where he rose so high. There, they know for sure the most fundamental ingredient of a winning football team. It is a shared commitment and a common goal, one that was achieved against more formidable talent as recently as the last World Cup.

It is something Trapattoni's Irish jury might wish to consider, just as soon as they beam themselves back to Planet Earth.

- James Lawton




And a couple more digs at the 'Paul Jewell fan club' in here:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/italys-prodigal-grandfather-trapattoni-finds-the-ideal-stage-to-finally-look-commanding-in-green-1696865.html

Edit: There's actually a far more cutting piece directed squarely at Giles, O'Herlihy, Dunphy and Whelan in the print edition(columnists, not sport section) but I can't find it online. The Irish Independent appear quite aggravated by the boys.

Double edit (sorry): here it is.http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/traps-the-new-charlton-for-ohso-grumpy-dunphy-1696738.html

[Eoin]

If he wants to come back then fine, but if we do qualify for the World Cup and then he decidedto join up he should be told go visit his granny.

Oh definitely, he can fuck off if he leaves it that late. He needs to be gotten back for the next round of games IMO.

[ho chi feen]

If he wants to come back then fine, but if we do qualify for the World Cup and then he decidedto join up he should be told go visit his granny.

That's a given, Trap is already on record as having said as much.

[raZor]

That's a given, Trap is already on record as having said as much.

Oh ya I know, but you never know with that youngfella he'll try and get away with it and all.

[ho chi feen]

Pity our best player is away with the birds.

[Coin]

Dunphy and Giles last night (paraphrasing): "Clearly we put too much emphasis on Liverpool's recent wins when predicting how this game would go. We should have remembered how the rest of the season went".

Dunphy 10 minutes later: "Based on this game, Chelsea are my favourites to win the Champions League". Nice to see Eamonn learned his lesson about over-reacting. A piece of bandwagon jumping that equalled Keanu Reeves leap onto the bus in Speed.

[Eoin]

at half time - Drogba is finished, where is the Drogba of 3 years ago.

at full time after he scores - Drogba back to his best. Chelsea to win EVERYTHING.

[Forsberg]

Dunphy and Giles last night (paraphrasing): "Clearly we put too much emphasis on Liverpool's recent wins when predicting how this game would go. We should have remembered how the rest of the season went".

Dunphy 10 minutes later: "Based on this game, Chelsea are my favourites to win the Champions League". Nice to see Eamonn learned his lesson about over-reacting. A piece of bandwagon jumping that equalled Keanu Reeves leap onto the bus in Speed.

" This is the biggest game in Chelseas recent history. If they lose , yhey're finished as a major force"

Also, I find Dunphy's pre game analysis of starting line ups quite condescending tbh . He basically goes down through the team sheet and describes eacy player as if the viewers have never heard of them .

Last night for the Barca game

Marquez- "rubbish"
Pique- "former Man u reverse player. not a top player"
Hernandez- "we know him as Xavi ,great player"

I'd safely wager that the majority of viewers would have a better knowledge of La Liga tha Eamo

[Forsberg]

Chelsea to win EVERYTHING.

In fairness , I think that was Billo trying corner the lads into some huge call. Thery didn't bite.

[ho chi feen]

I'd safely wager that the majority of viewers would have a better knowledge of La Liga tha Eamo

Better than Eamon 'Liga expert' Dunphy? :)

[Eoin]

Better than Eamon 'Liga expert' Dunphy? :)

Everyone knows Eamon is more of a Rusks man.

[Forsberg]

Better than Eamon 'Liga expert' Dunphy? :)

"I sit down on a saturday night with a glass of red and watch la liga Bill"

:lol!:

[jimmy magee]

"
Also, I find Dunphy's pre game analysis of starting line ups quite condescending tbh . He basically goes down through the team sheet and describes eacy player as if the viewers have never heard of them .

Last night for the Barca game

Marquez- "rubbish"
Pique- "former Man u reverse player. not a top player"
Hernandez- "we know him as Xavi ,great player"




can't stand this about Dunphy.

He speaks of players and teams as if they are all 'rubbish' except for a select few; that football is only worth watching in the final stages of a tournament, or when the cream of the crop teams and players are on show.

Such a dismissive attitude adds hugely to the hype-filled 'disgusting business'.
you only have to look at the average Irish football fan's attitude to their own league to see Dunphy's influence rubbing off

[lionelhutz]

senior analyst: 'carrick is a bit leggy bill.'

'how do you mean john'


'ahhhh. y'know....he's a bit leggy...' (flips hand over and back)

dunph 'ponderous bill'


heh heh heh

[Langer Dan]

The lads are completely full of it.

According to Eamo, the pool/chelsea tie wasn't a great game.
O right, what planet are you on Eamon?

As for their rubbish about Ronaldo.
Moral courage and honesty of effort don't clink them in from 40 yards.

[lionelhutz]

the two drunks fighting down a dark alley analogy is the best piece of analysis ive seen in a while. that and jimmy mcgoo's comment about a team being like a piano

[KolaKubes]

the two drunks fighting down a dark alley analogy is the best piece of analysis ive seen in a while. that and jimmy mcgoo's comment about a team being like a piano

You mean staged light entertainment don't you?

And this from the moron that goes around calling everyone that disagrees with his aggressive and opinionated stance on football "headline readers".

[lionelhutz]

You mean staged light entertainment don't you?

And this from the moron that goes around calling everyone that disagrees with his aggressive and opinionated stance on football "headline readers".

hows the recession treating you?

[afeencalleddan]

The hold it there kids aren't having it all their own way tonight. I think I heard a Ronaldo style tantrum from Johnny when the technology failed to co-operate in tandem with his analysis of the goal. There was a fairly audible petulant sigh and possibly a pencil hitting the desk.

First the Seoige sisters, now the hold it there technology, what's next for the chop at RTE?

[KD Langer]

the 3 lads in great form tonight.

brilliant discussion about the merits of rooney as midfielder.

giles in particular was outstanding in his analysis.

the only pundits i ever watch, the rest are a barrel of shit in comparison.

[blackie]

the 3 lads in great form tonight.

brilliant discussion about the merits of rooney as midfielder.

giles in particular was outstanding in his analysis.

the only pundits i ever watch, the rest are a barrel of shit in comparison.

dont know were they so great , keep saying United are poor which is true in a way , but Utd have been doing this for years in Champs league qualifying and even in the premier league . You dont have to be brilliant in every game and tonight was one of those.

[Lee Bushwacker]

dont know were they so great , keep saying United are poor which is true in a way , but Utd have been doing this for years in Champs league qualifying and even in the premier league . You dont have to be brilliant in every game and tonight was one of those.

:cool:
Giles and Dunphy were both fcuked out of United by Matt Busby.
A little bitterness on John & Eammo's behalf perhaps! :rolleyes:

[c'mere]

the 3 lads in great form tonight.

brilliant discussion about the merits of rooney as midfielder.

giles in particular was outstanding in his analysis.

the only pundits i ever watch, the rest are a barrel of shit in comparison.


I thought their analysis was pretty good tonight tbf, particularly the Rooney parts. Dunphy is a loose cannon but he decided not to try and stir the pot tonight and gave it as he saw it, for a change.

[KD Langer]

ROY KEANE might be "a bit of an ass" and a "rent-a-quote", but Eamon Dunphy believes RTE would be on to a winner if it managed to nab him as a pundit for the Euro 2012 championships this summer.

Despite their many public spats in the past, Mr Dunphy insists the possible addition of Mr Keane to the RTE panel would be a massive coup.

Mr Dunphy was reacting to comments in a new documentary on the life of Bill O'Herlihy in which the legendary sports anchor says he would love to see Mr Keane in the RTE studio alongside Mr Dunphy and John Giles as Ireland play in Poland.

Speaking to the Irish Independent last night, Mr Dunphy said Mr Keane would undoubtedly prove a massive draw -- but expressed doubts about whether the former Ireland and Manchester United skipper could cut it as a broadcaster.

"Roy Keane is box office, up to a point. But he tends to see everything through his own perspective and I think he's become a bit of an ass to be honest with you," Mr Dunphy said.

Interaction

"I'd be delighted to see the interaction between Liam (Brady), John, Bill, myself and him but it's not my call. In my opinion he's become a bit of a rent-a-quote."

Mr Keane recently dipped his toe into punditry for the first time for ITV, and quickly got involved in a row with former manager Alex Ferguson.

But in a new RTE documentary on his life, Mr O'Herlihy said Mr Keane's stint on the rival station could pave the way for him to work as a pundit during Euro 2012.

"A person I would love to have on the panel would be Roy Keane," he said. "He would create huge waves if he came on. You never know he might in the Europeans. We'll see."

"I've no idea if RTE are in talks with Roy. But I think Bill has good journalistic instinct and he'd be thinking if we had Roy Keane it would be a good move," added Mr Dunphy.

In the 'Little Bit' TV series to mark RTE's 50th anniversary, Mr O'Herlihy said he does regret saying he intended to retire after he presents his 10th Olympic Games this summer.

"I don't feel like retiring at this stage and John Giles told me I was very silly to even bring it up and it was a stupid thing to say," he said.

"In fact it would have changed the dynamic between all of us if one of us left."

But he also admitted it was tough refereeing the pair when they famously fell out in 2002 over Mr Dunphy's claims that Mr Giles had made a bad tackle that ended another player's career.

He said: "It was difficult. If I remember correctly they were about a year not talking to each other and it did affect their relationship for a while but they are back again."

'TV50: A Little Bit TV -- Bill O'Herlihy' will be shown on RTE One tomorrow at 7pm.

[afeencalleddan]

roy keane might be "a bit of an ass" and a "rent-a-quote", but eamon dunphy believes rte would be on to a winner if it managed to nab him as a pundit for the euro 2012 championships this summer.

Despite their many public spats in the past, mr dunphy insists the possible addition of mr keane to the rte panel would be a massive coup.

Mr dunphy was reacting to comments in a new documentary on the life of bill o'herlihy in which the legendary sports anchor says he would love to see mr keane in the rte studio alongside mr dunphy and john giles as ireland play in poland.

Speaking to the irish independent last night, mr dunphy said mr keane would undoubtedly prove a massive draw -- but expressed doubts about whether the former ireland and manchester united skipper could cut it as a broadcaster.

"roy keane is box office, up to a point. But he tends to see everything through his own perspective and i think he's become a bit of an ass to be honest with you," mr dunphy said.

Interaction

"i'd be delighted to see the interaction between liam (brady), john, bill, myself and him but it's not my call. In my opinion he's become a bit of a rent-a-quote."

mr keane recently dipped his toe into punditry for the first time for itv, and quickly got involved in a row with former manager alex ferguson.

But in a new rte documentary on his life, mr o'herlihy said mr keane's stint on the rival station could pave the way for him to work as a pundit during euro 2012.

"a person i would love to have on the panel would be roy keane," he said. "he would create huge waves if he came on. You never know he might in the europeans. We'll see."

"i've no idea if rte are in talks with roy. But i think bill has good journalistic instinct and he'd be thinking if we had roy keane it would be a good move," added mr dunphy.

In the 'little bit' tv series to mark rte's 50th anniversary, mr o'herlihy said he does regret saying he intended to retire after he presents his 10th olympic games this summer.

"i don't feel like retiring at this stage and john giles told me i was very silly to even bring it up and it was a stupid thing to say," he said.

"in fact it would have changed the dynamic between all of us if one of us left."

but he also admitted it was tough refereeing the pair when they famously fell out in 2002 over mr dunphy's claims that mr giles had made a bad tackle that ended another player's career.

He said: "it was difficult. If i remember correctly they were about a year not talking to each other and it did affect their relationship for a while but they are back again."

'tv50: A little bit tv -- bill o'herlihy' will be shown on rte one tomorrow at 7pm.Box office!

[KD Langer]

box office!

it'd be fawking brilliant.

Eamo wouldn't be there 30 seconds before he starts talking about what a great player roy was.


you.just.know.it.

[STEVIEG]

Roy Keane is box office, up to a point. But he tends to see everything through his own perspective and I think he's become a bit of an ass to be honest with you," Mr Dunphy says








Pot and kettle!


It would be good though

[Lapsy Pa]

A whole interview without saying Man United are finished.

A new one.

[KD Langer]

Roy Keane is box office, up to a point. But he tends to see everything through his own perspective and I think he's become a bit of an ass to be honest with you," Mr Dunphy says








Pot and kettle!


It would be good though

my thoughts exactly:D

[CORKBHOY]

It would be like the Sports Forum, but live, on RTE, live.

[mightyquark]

It would be like the Sports Forum, but live, on RTE, live.

it would be epic

[STEVIEG]

Yup

Do it Bill

[Aphex]

Surely it'll be ITV again for him in the summer...more money, closer to home, bit of whoring etc...

[Crayons O'Neil]

ROY KEANE might be "a bit of an ass" and a "rent-a-quote", but Eamon Dunphy believes RTE would be on to a winner if it managed to nab him as a pundit for the Euro 2012 championships this summer.

Despite their many public spats in the past, Mr Dunphy insists the possible addition of Mr Keane to the RTE panel would be a massive coup.

Mr Dunphy was reacting to comments in a new documentary on the life of Bill O'Herlihy in which the legendary sports anchor says he would love to see Mr Keane in the RTE studio alongside Mr Dunphy and John Giles as Ireland play in Poland.

Speaking to the Irish Independent last night, Mr Dunphy said Mr Keane would undoubtedly prove a massive draw -- but expressed doubts about whether the former Ireland and Manchester United skipper could cut it as a broadcaster.

"Roy Keane is box office, up to a point. But he tends to see everything through his own perspective and I think he's become a bit of an ass to be honest with you," Mr Dunphy said.

Interaction

"I'd be delighted to see the interaction between Liam (Brady), John, Bill, myself and him but it's not my call. In my opinion he's become a bit of a rent-a-quote."

Mr Keane recently dipped his toe into punditry for the first time for ITV, and quickly got involved in a row with former manager Alex Ferguson.

But in a new RTE documentary on his life, Mr O'Herlihy said Mr Keane's stint on the rival station could pave the way for him to work as a pundit during Euro 2012.

"A person I would love to have on the panel would be Roy Keane," he said. "He would create huge waves if he came on. You never know he might in the Europeans. We'll see."

"I've no idea if RTE are in talks with Roy. But I think Bill has good journalistic instinct and he'd be thinking if we had Roy Keane it would be a good move," added Mr Dunphy.

In the 'Little Bit' TV series to mark RTE's 50th anniversary, Mr O'Herlihy said he does regret saying he intended to retire after he presents his 10th Olympic Games this summer.

"I don't feel like retiring at this stage and John Giles told me I was very silly to even bring it up and it was a stupid thing to say," he said.

"In fact it would have changed the dynamic between all of us if one of us left."

But he also admitted it was tough refereeing the pair when they famously fell out in 2002 over Mr Dunphy's claims that Mr Giles had made a bad tackle that ended another player's career.

He said: "It was difficult. If I remember correctly they were about a year not talking to each other and it did affect their relationship for a while but they are back again."

'TV50: A Little Bit TV -- Bill O'Herlihy' will be shown on RTE One tomorrow at 7pm.

:lol!:

He's a good pundit Bill but not a great pundit