Honesty of effort etc

[Sound]

The Irish eyes who will not have left Ronaldo smiling

RTE's John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady have no peers when it comes to football punditry.

Alan Ruddock


February 22, 2007 02:29 AM
At what point did television producers decide that football fans were to be treated with contempt? Was Jimmy Hill too abrasive for the modern age, too likely to upset fragile egos (though, in fairness, it could have been the beard)? Blandness is now almost universal on British TV, whether it's the crafted dialogue on Gary Lineker's Match of the Day, Steve Ryder's obeisance at the feet of sporting gods or Jim Rosenthal's - well, better to let that one lie. On Sky, where Andy Gray and Richard Keys at least attempt analysis, the surface is barely scratched and conventional wisdoms go unchallenged. "The lad will be disappointed with himself for that performance" now comes at the top end of the most stinging rebukes and most of what passes for television analysis would not pass muster in a pub. With few alternatives on offer we mutely accept it, nodding sagely that the lad could, indeed, have done better. There is, however, a better way.
In a brief clip on Tuesday night John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady demonstrated that they have no peers in the business of football punditry. Two great players and a former journeyman player turned great controversialist were dissecting Manchester United's win against Lille. They didn't dwell for long on the referee (two correct decisions, one goal disallowed, one awarded) or get overly excited by Lille's foot-stomping childishness but focused on analysing different elements of the game.
Brady and Dunphy had prepared a package of Cristiano Ronaldo's entire contribution - completing, to memory, one pass out of 10, while losing possession or fluffing scoring chances every other time he received the ball. The clip concluded with Ronaldo's substitution, head shaking at the injustice of it all, spitting in disgust and shrugging his way past Sir Alex Ferguson, his manager.
Giles, Brady and Dunphy - along with Bill O'Herlihy, their host and interrogator - are brought together by RTE, the state-owned Irish broadcaster, to analyse football. They do not hold their punches. Brady and Dunphy have little time for the hype that surrounds Ronaldo, while Giles's scepticism is slightly more restrained.
For all three, Ronaldo is talented but well short of the greatness that has been bestowed on him by his manager and the British media. They see his flaws, his petulance, his failure to deliver on the biggest European occasions but they also see deep cynicism at work.
The hyping of Ronaldo, in their eyes, is about inflating his value for the balance sheet, and has little or no connection with reality. Ronaldo is a commodity rather than a footballer, a player measured not by his contribution on the field but by his potential contribution to the bottom line, so long as the marketing of him can deliver a profitable transfer.
Agree or disagree, but it is an analysis that demands a response and cuts through the hyperbole that usually gushes forth from British TV studios. Critically, RTE's gang of four treat their viewers as intelligent and informed fans and approach each match they review with a determination to provide insight and provoke response.
Their approach is in stark and dismal contrast to what passes for analysis on British television. There are rare exceptions - Martin O'Neill was a breath of fresh air during the World Cup and Graeme Souness occasionally punctures the mood of celebration - but for too much of the time producers and pundits appear to treat viewers with contempt.
It is not beyond the wit of the BBC, ITV, Sky or Setanta to recognise one simple fact: fans are not morons. They deserve better than pap and I am convinced they would respond enthusiastically if treated with respect. It might, however, knock a few million off Ronaldo's asking price.

[Lamps]

Good work Sound, I haven't read it yet, but the lads were on form last night.

Moment of the night was when Eamo started snoring when Gilesy started droning on about the honesty of effort for the third time.

[elwood blues]

Good work Sound, I haven't read it yet, but the lads were on form last night.

Moment of the night was when Eamo started snoring when Gilesy started droning on about the honesty of effort for the third time.

they really were in a league of their own on both nights.
Giles was struggling to keep a straight face when the snoring started.

[Lamps]

I like the way they have their finger on the pulse just like the SFI. They provide cutting analysis but do it with great humour just like us too

[homer jay]

they really were in a league of their own on both nights.
Giles was struggling to keep a straight face when the snoring started.

bollox, missed that. i liked dunphy the other night giving out to bill about his tabloid television, 'we wanna talk about football bill' :)

[RonnyB]

Good article but its a bit 'false-ified'.

I posted yesterday my opinions on the 3 pundits who covered Tuesday nights game. Of those 3, 1 is an ex-United player whose opinion is to be respected, the 2nd is an Arsenal legend and is still employed by the club & the 3rd made his name by controversy, has an obsession with a former player who is in the early stages of management & has an agenda against certain players at a certain club guided by the views of this former player.

Brady last night was a disgrace. His views on Mourinho although some will respect, I feel shouldnt be aired. Pundits we are told are supposed to be neutral, well how is this the case when you have a man directly employed by a club who regularly slates individuals of rivals (who as it happens are out of sight in the league to his own heart) and like all football supporters will have formed his opinions with a certain amount of bias.

During the World Cup I enjoyed them because they didnt appear to show much bias because most of the players to them were unknown character wise. Still the usual suspects (Ronaldo & Rio) got (unjustly) criticised and others (namely Rooney, Henry & Rosicky) got too much praise heaped on their shoulders.

For me I listen out of respect for Giles as a pundit, Brady for his latest methods of how he licks Wenger's hole & Dunphy to see whether he's been on the beer and the odd comical moment (the nutter with the putter was one I enjoyed last night).

[Jim Comic]

i've been saying for years that the rte panel are pure gold, infinitely superior to the 'pundits' on uk tv

[Jim Comic]

Pundits we are told are supposed to be neutral, well how is this the case when you have a man directly employed by a club who regularly slates individuals of rivals (who as it happens are out of sight in the league to his own heart) and like all football supporters will have formed his opinions with a certain amount of bias.
.



notng wrong with that in my opinion, makes for better iewing

[Lamps]

They're TV gold, thats what counts.

They've been calling Mourinho on being a classless langer for years when Sky are doing documentaries on what a legend he is. I side with the lads

[RonnyB]

notng wrong with that in my opinion, makes for better iewing

I'm not too sure. I'm a United supporter but some of Paddy Crerand's views on things United are blinkered beyond belief & its the reason I dont subscribe to MUTV. Brady is the same with Arsenal but he also uses this to get to the likes of Chelsea & United. Why dont RTE get on Paddy or some Chelsea legend for a bit of a mixture because his bias is unbelivable.

You never hear Brady go on about Wenger being a sore loser or his habit of 'not seeing things'.

[Lamps]

You can't compare Brady to idiots like Crerrand of Phil Thompson, Brady is a pro and gives reasoned and balanced analysis.

[Langer Dan]

The Irish eyes who will not have left Ronaldo smiling

RTE's John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady have no peers when it comes to football punditry.

Alan Ruddock


February 22, 2007 02:29 AM
At what point did television producers decide that football fans were to be treated with contempt? Was Jimmy Hill too abrasive for the modern age, too likely to upset fragile egos (though, in fairness, it could have been the beard)? Blandness is now almost universal on British TV, whether it's the crafted dialogue on Gary Lineker's Match of the Day, Steve Ryder's obeisance at the feet of sporting gods or Jim Rosenthal's - well, better to let that one lie. On Sky, where Andy Gray and Richard Keys at least attempt analysis, the surface is barely scratched and conventional wisdoms go unchallenged. "The lad will be disappointed with himself for that performance" now comes at the top end of the most stinging rebukes and most of what passes for television analysis would not pass muster in a pub. With few alternatives on offer we mutely accept it, nodding sagely that the lad could, indeed, have done better. There is, however, a better way.
In a brief clip on Tuesday night John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady demonstrated that they have no peers in the business of football punditry. Two great players and a former journeyman player turned great controversialist were dissecting Manchester United's win against Lille. They didn't dwell for long on the referee (two correct decisions, one goal disallowed, one awarded) or get overly excited by Lille's foot-stomping childishness but focused on analysing different elements of the game.
Brady and Dunphy had prepared a package of Cristiano Ronaldo's entire contribution - completing, to memory, one pass out of 10, while losing possession or fluffing scoring chances every other time he received the ball. The clip concluded with Ronaldo's substitution, head shaking at the injustice of it all, spitting in disgust and shrugging his way past Sir Alex Ferguson, his manager.
Giles, Brady and Dunphy - along with Bill O'Herlihy, their host and interrogator - are brought together by RTE, the state-owned Irish broadcaster, to analyse football. They do not hold their punches. Brady and Dunphy have little time for the hype that surrounds Ronaldo, while Giles's scepticism is slightly more restrained.
For all three, Ronaldo is talented but well short of the greatness that has been bestowed on him by his manager and the British media. They see his flaws, his petulance, his failure to deliver on the biggest European occasions but they also see deep cynicism at work.
The hyping of Ronaldo, in their eyes, is about inflating his value for the balance sheet, and has little or no connection with reality. Ronaldo is a commodity rather than a footballer, a player measured not by his contribution on the field but by his potential contribution to the bottom line, so long as the marketing of him can deliver a profitable transfer.
Agree or disagree, but it is an analysis that demands a response and cuts through the hyperbole that usually gushes forth from British TV studios. Critically, RTE's gang of four treat their viewers as intelligent and informed fans and approach each match they review with a determination to provide insight and provoke response.
Their approach is in stark and dismal contrast to what passes for analysis on British television. There are rare exceptions - Martin O'Neill was a breath of fresh air during the World Cup and Graeme Souness occasionally punctures the mood of celebration - but for too much of the time producers and pundits appear to treat viewers with contempt.
It is not beyond the wit of the BBC, ITV, Sky or Setanta to recognise one simple fact: fans are not morons. They deserve better than pap and I am convinced they would respond enthusiastically if treated with respect. It might, however, knock a few million off Ronaldo's asking price.

this is the same John Giles who described United's performance Tuesday night as "scratchy".

Yep, classic punditry alright.

[FL4ZGN]

British TV are scared to be too harsh on players for fear that either the individual or the team who they represent will refuse to give interviews to those TV stations.

Ala Ferguson with the BBC.

[RonnyB]

You can't compare Brady to idiots like Crerrand of Phil Thompson, Brady is a pro and gives reasoned and balanced analysis.

I do think he's a good pundit when standing on neutral ground with regards the World Cup and the like but his slating of all things "evil" to Arsenal is boring and predictable not to mention biased.

[RonnyB]

this is the same John Giles who described United's performance Tuesday night as "scratchy".

Yep, classic punditry alright.

How should he have summed it up Dan?

[Lamps]

but his slating of all things "evil" to Arsenal is boring and predictable not to mention biased.

He doesn't do this

[Lamps]

How should he have summed it up Dan?

I think scratchy isn't a bad word to use actually.

Fitzy would probably have went with balderdash

[RonnyB]

He doesn't do this

The only time I've heard him bemoan Arsenal is when they over do the passing rather than take a shot when the chance arises. Other than that nothing certainly with regards to the Champs League. I dont watch the Premiership on RTE so I dont know then.

[Lamps]

The only time I've heard him bemoan Arsenal is when they over do the passing rather than take a shot when the chance arises. Other than that nothing certainly with regards to the Champs League. I dont watch the Premiership on RTE so I dont know then.

He has been critical of wenger for not bringing in a targetman, before Adebayour. That's a pretty big thing to say when you are head of youth develeopment or whatever it is he does.

Brady is top notch

[Jim Comic]

I do think he's a good pundit when standing on neutral ground with regards the World Cup and the like but his slating of all things "evil" to Arsenal is boring and predictable not to mention biased.

in fairness, arsenal are, to my mind, the pinnacle of what good football should be all about so brady is right to eulogise about them.

He's a purist and always was (hence his falling out with big jack), long may it continue, i just wish more clubs played like arsenal.

[homer jay]

Fitzy would probably have went with balderdash

tosh

[Lamps]

Heard Bill on the radio a few weeks back, saying that Souness rang up RTE and requested that he could come back after the world cup because he found the whole thing so exhilarating.

[RonnyB]

in fairness, arsenal are, to my mind, the pinnacle of what good football should be all about so brady is right to eulogise about them.

He's a purist and always was (hence his falling out with big jack), long may it continue, i just wish more clubs played like arsenal.

Whatever about being the pinnacle of good football they are far from the angels they are made out to be.

I still think Brady went OTT with regards Chelsea & Mourinho hoping they'll fail.

[FL4ZGN]

in fairness, arsenal are, to my mind, the pinnacle of what good football should be all about so brady is right to eulogise about them.

He's a purist and always was (hence his falling out with big jack), long may it continue, i just wish more clubs played like arsenal.

Ruud Gullit hit the nail on the head last night when referring to Barcelona. He said they are similar to Arsenal in that they have no plan B. They must rely on individuals to come off the bench and change things within a similar system.

[POL]

Heard Bill on the radio a few weeks back, saying that Souness rang up RTE and requested that he could come back after the world cup because he found the whole thing so exhilarating.
it was hilarious during the world cup, Souness was loving it, hoping England would loose every match and constantly slating them, you could see himself and Dunphy were ready to dance around the studio if given the chance

[STEVIEG]

The RTE panel are still more entertaining but they have an embarrassing agenda against certain players

Vidic was poor the other night but they didn't point it out, only mentioning that he was good to get another dig in at Rio

Ronlado was shit the other night, but even before the game Dunphy and co were naming players from a team about 18 points behind United in the legaue as better players this season

As they continuted to blow on about Ronaldos lack of end product (15 goals and loads of assists), they mentioned Thomas Rosicky as one who had done better in both the Premiership and the World Cup

That was punditry at its worst

Even mentioning Fabregas's name was mildly embarrassing, because, though we all except he is the real deal and one of the best players around, he didn't exactly get a chance to light up the World Cup either, whereas Ronaldo, for all his faults, has been instrumental in taking two teams far in major tournaments

Who are these people who are saying Ronaldo is the best payer in the world anyway?

Giles eneded up writing an embarrassing coulmn in last nights evening herald going on about how ronaldo looks in the mirror too much-i can see how this kind of bitterness wins fans here though

[Actin The Sham]

British TV are scared to be too harsh on players for fear that either the individual or the team who they represent will refuse to give interviews to those TV stations.

Ala Ferguson with the BBC.


Exactly. It's easy for a foreign station to be "controversial" when no one they are commenting about or "analysing" is gong to be aware of them, not to mind watching them.

Pat Spillane in GAA or George Hook in Rugby would be truer comparisons, as they are commenting on people who actually watch their programmes, and hence get a lot of flak, and tone their analysis down (or up) accordingly.

[STEVIEG]

Whatever about being the pinnacle of good football they are far from the angels they are made out to be.

I still think Brady went OTT with regards Chelsea & Mourinho hoping they'll fail.

Keeganesque, smalltime and embarrassing

Brady nearly starting crying

[Actin The Sham]

Remember when Ron Atkinson (as manager of Coventry) lost the plot when Richard Keys asked him what he was going to do next, after yet another defeat which left them deep in the relegation mire?

It went something along the lines of "You can sit there Richard with your fancy machines, and Andy Gray, and press all the buttons you like, but I have to work in the real world," and then he took off his headphones and threw them at the floor, but they hit the sound engineer, so Ron goes, "Oops, sorry," and stormed off.

That and the Kevin Keegan implosion were TV gold.

Listening to four old geezers rameising inside in a studio on RTÉ about football in another country is a different matter. Lamps put it best when he compared them to the SFI.

[STEVIEG]

That was class

This was funny too


http://youtube.com/watch?v=YpGo5XM_QJU

[STEVIEG]

More from Ron
you need time on your hands for this one

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JJCa7PjYSNE

[RonnyB]

Pat Spillane in GAA or George Hook in Rugby would be truer comparisons, as they are commenting on people who actually watch their programmes, and hence get a lot of flak, and tone their analysis down (or up) accordingly.

Good point with Spillane. He gets a lot of abuse over his views on certain counties but I must say I've nothing but admiration for him. He's not a natural presenter & it shows but as I pundit I've good time for him. His 'puke football' comment was a bit harsh but he had a point to a certain degree and the guy is well placed to comment when he's won 8 all irelands.

On the soccer pundits, what makes me laugh is their poor opinion on Ronaldo & the way they laud Rooney. Take the Southend game this season when both played. Only a superb keeping display by Flahaven denied Ronaldo a couple of long range goals & he looked interested. Rooney didnt even want to know about it, just moaned & sulked when he should have been using his ability to get an equaliser.

Ronaldo is a diver & a posing fecker to boot but it that much worse than Rooney's constant swearing at officials? And also just because Rooney isn't as prone to show boating does'nt mean his end product is any better.

The Rio Vidic argument is another highlight. Rio done well to make an interception the other night yet was criticised for a so called error in the build up by Darragh Maloney. In all honesty I'm starting to compare some of RTE's football analysis to Mussolini's propoganda in the 1920's.

[STEVIEG]

Johnny Giles talking about Jimmy Murphy the other night was poor too
Saying he gave out about tricks and the like

United have always encouraged flair and improvisation

George Best, as great a passer and creator that he was, was world famous for beating players and doing tricks

Kids like myself when i grew up were attracted to this footage and in my case footage of Pele and Maradonna and the like

Ronaldo gets people interested in football

The diving issue okay, is something that should be criticised, but not the freedom of expression and unpredictablity that he displays when he is on the ball

[Langer Dan]

How should he have summed it up Dan?

using actual words.

[lionelhutz]

Johnny Giles talking about Jimmy Murphy the other night was poor too
Saying he gave out about tricks and the like

United have always encouraged flair and improvisation

George Best, as great a passer and creator that he was, was world famous for beating players and doing tricks

Kids like myself when i grew up were attracted to this footage and in my case footage of Pele and Maradonna and the like

Ronaldo gets people interested in football

The diving issue okay, is something that should be criticised, but not the freedom of expression and unpredictablity that he displays when he is on the ball

i think theres a time and a place for the tricks stevie. roni does it far too often to the detriment of the team. i think it was in the game against reading the other night roni was on the right wing faced with one or two of the opposition players. there was a momentary stand off and one of his team mates (saha possibly) bust a gut to overlap him for the pass which would have taken two defenders out and enabled a cross into the box. what does pimple face do? some stupid fuckin side heel kick down the line, unable to control the pace and the ball went out of play. giles goes on about simplicity and perhaps too much, a bit of magic is often needed aswell. but you think of the likes of zidane who made the game look so simple at times but was able to integrate simplicity with the odd trick or flick. his was a more controlled and effective style of play than the elaborate showboating roni involves himself with. it seems to me that he does this stuff for himself moreso than for his team or the fans. when it doesn't come off he then looks like a dolt and the likes of giles and dunmphy mark another in the scratchy column

[RonnyB]

i think theres a time and a place for the tricks stevie. roni does it far too often to the detriment of the team. i think it was in the game against reading the other night roni was on the right wing faced with one or two of the opposition players. there was a momentary stand off and one of his team mates (saha possibly) bust a gut to overlap him for the pass which would have taken two defenders out and enabled a cross into the box. what does pimple face do? some stupid fuckin side heel kick down the line, unable to control the pace and the ball went out of play. giles goes on about simplicity and perhaps too much, a bit of magic is often needed aswell. but you think of the likes of zidane who made the game look so simple at times but was able to integrate simplicity with the odd trick or flick. his was a more controlled and effective style of play than the elaborate showboating roni involves himself with. it seems to me that he does this stuff for himself moreso than for his team or the fans. when it doesn't come off he then looks like a dolt and the likes of giles and dunmphy mark another in the scratchy column

It was Wes Brown who was over lapping. It drove me mental at the time considering it was only 1 nil & shur we all know how it ended.

[Sound]

Had to laugh though when Eamo said that Barca would be found out at this level and weren't a serious team. Great stuff.

[Lamps]

There was one particular time when the cornflakes did come out, whilst rubbishing the flamboyant but no longer hungry Ronaldinho he mentioned Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Tiger woods, Roy Keane(?) and BOD as men who had become the best in the world and then drove on from there and manitained that excellence, fair enough. Then he mentioned ROG.

Oh Eamon

[Langer Dan]

There was one particular time when the cornflakes did come out, whilst rubbishing the flamboyant but no longer hungry Ronaldinho he mentioned Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Tiger woods, Roy Keane(?) and BOD as men who had become the best in the world and then drove on from there and manitained that excellence, fair enough. Then he mentioned ROG.

Oh Eamon

The Coke has clearly addled his already fragile mind:p

[nemesis]

What paper was that piece in?

[Sound]

There was one particular time when the cornflakes did come out, whilst rubbishing the flamboyant but no longer hungry Ronaldinho he mentioned Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Tiger woods, Roy Keane(?) and BOD as men who had become the best in the world and then drove on from there and manitained that excellence, fair enough. Then he mentioned ROG.

Oh Eamon

Indeed.

Comparing jockeys with great sportsmen is an utter travesty.

[homer jay]

Indeed.

Comparing jockeys with great sportsmen is an utter travesty.

heh heh :D

[EDDIEB]

The Coke has clearly addled his already fragile mind:p

Just look at POL ?

[STEVIEG]

i think theres a time and a place for the tricks stevie. roni does it far too often to the detriment of the team. i think it was in the game against reading the other night roni was on the right wing faced with one or two of the opposition players. there was a momentary stand off and one of his team mates (saha possibly) bust a gut to overlap him for the pass which would have taken two defenders out and enabled a cross into the box. what does pimple face do? some stupid fuckin side heel kick down the line, unable to control the pace and the ball went out of play. giles goes on about simplicity and perhaps too much, a bit of magic is often needed aswell. but you think of the likes of zidane who made the game look so simple at times but was able to integrate simplicity with the odd trick or flick. his was a more controlled and effective style of play than the elaborate showboating roni involves himself with. it seems to me that he does this stuff for himself moreso than for his team or the fans. when it doesn't come off he then looks like a dolt and the likes of giles and dunmphy mark another in the scratchy column

True but there is no doubt they have an agenda

He has pissed me off many times too by taking the wrong option but thats the nature of the player-Ryan Giggs does it too but he has proved himself over many years (though he was pretty poor overall the other night)

Louis Saha should have squared it to Ronaldo and Larsson at the end and United would have won on Saturday

I think he (Ronaldo) has improved on aspects of his decision making lately (simple lay-offs led to recent goals for Carrick and Scholes) but he still has a bit to learn

[EDDIEB]

Indeed.

Comparing jockeys with great sportsmen is an utter travesty.

Little fellahs spending half their day in a sauna or a car with the heat turned up full.

Sportsmen ?


No.

[AmadeusDC]

Little fellahs spending half their day in a sauna or a car with the heat turned up full.

Sportsmen ?


No.

Sure they are just along for the ride

-AmadeusDC-

[Sound]

Sure they are just along for the ride

-AmadeusDC-

HA!HA!

Good one Amadeus.

(He said in the hope that his 'no chance' faux pas would be overlooked)

[elwood blues]

HA!HA!

Good one Amadeus.

(He said in the hope that his 'no chance' faux pas would be overlooked)

Amadeus cannot be bought.
I wouldn't be bottom of the league if he could.

[Sound]

I'm innocent I tells ya!

It was a one-armed man.

Honest.

[AmadeusDC]

HA!HA!

Good one Amadeus.

(He said in the hope that his 'no chance' faux pas would be overlooked)


It would have needed to be in bold and size 50 font for me to even consider. ;)

Personally, I don't have a problem letting you off but I think it would unsettle the C/L Predictions Comp masses and I'm on thin ice at the moment with this whole "no chance" farce. -AmadeusDC-

[Sound]

RIGHT SO!

I am staging a one-man sit in on this thread.

Justice for the, eh, one!

:mad:

[Rebelred]

They're TV gold, thats what counts.

They've been calling Mourinho on being a classless langer for years when Sky are doing documentaries on what a legend he is. I side with the lads

they're quite possibly RTE's best use of the TV licence fee

[ho chi feen]

tosh

Piffle.

[POL]

Piffle.balderdash

[ho chi feen]

The RTE panel are still more entertaining but they have an embarrassing agenda against certain players

Vidic was poor the other night but they didn't point it out, only mentioning that he was good to get another dig in at Rio

Ronlado was shit the other night, but even before the game Dunphy and co were naming players from a team about 18 points behind United in the legaue as better players this season

As they continuted to blow on about Ronaldos lack of end product (15 goals and loads of assists), they mentioned Thomas Rosicky as one who had done better in both the Premiership and the World Cup

That was punditry at its worst

Even mentioning Fabregas's name was mildly embarrassing, because, though we all except he is the real deal and one of the best players around, he didn't exactly get a chance to light up the World Cup either, whereas Ronaldo, for all his faults, has been instrumental in taking two teams far in major tournaments

Who are these people who are saying Ronaldo is the best payer in the world anyway?

Giles eneded up writing an embarrassing coulmn in last nights evening herald going on about how ronaldo looks in the mirror too much-i can see how this kind of bitterness wins fans here though

Remember Eamo's vendetta against Jaap Stam in 1998/99? Got embarrassing as he wouldn't back down from his claims that Stam was an awful defender who would wreck United's chances of success that season.

Then, last season he flip-flops, marking Stam as the ideal that Rio should aspire to. The man makes John Kerry seem decisive at times.

Still, great entertainment, pisses all over Sky and the Beeb.

Liamo's thing against Mourinho is just pathetic though. Fair enough, he's entitled to his views, but he litters them with ad hominems- keep it football, no need for the character assassinations.

[ho chi feen]

balderdash

Bunkum.

Rather!

[POL]

Liamo's thing against Mourinho is just pathetic though. Fair enough, he's entitled to his views, but he litters them with ad hominems- keep it football, no need for the character assassinations.he obviously has something on him that he can't reveal yet, Liam's a legend

[ho chi feen]

he obviously has something on him that he can't reveal yet, Liam's a legend

Tosh.

Oh, I'm running out of quaint British terms.

Let's move.

[Lamps]

he obviously has something on him that he can't reveal yet, Liam's a legend

Didn't Eamo once question his character in comparison to Keane (the bravest player ever). Liamo recalled how he had been informed that he was being given the chop from Juventus in favour of Platini, then went out and played a match winning performance, and sunk the penalty to secure the title. He informed Eamo that thats what character is all about.

Brady is a legend who doesn't get the credit he deserves.

[Lamps]

Tosh.

Oh, I'm running out of quaint British terms.

Let's move.

poppycock

[STEVIEG]

Dunphy on Brady in 1983 after Ireland blew a lead against Holland


"He is often looked on as a great player. He is nothing of the kind. His performance on wednesday was a disgrace, a monument to conceit adorned with vanity and self-indulgence, rendered all the more objectional by the swagger of his gait."

[STEVIEG]

Other classics


Platini good but not great

Fergie should have signed Robbie Keane how did he ignore him

Peter Schmeichel is a weak point for United and Stam is shit

Johhny Giles did a gret job managing Ireland (lost more than a he won)

[homer jay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izpAVt_qIUI

after all his bullshitting about charltons style..."the tactics were right".

naff won't like this :p

[STEVIEG]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izpAVt_qIUI



Classic clip


Bill

"Let me tell ya that Alf has been deferred and Home and Away has been deferred:)"

[lionelhutz]

Remember Eamo's vendetta against Jaap Stam in 1998/99? Got embarrassing as he wouldn't back down from his claims that Stam was an awful defender who would wreck United's chances of success that season.

Then, last season he flip-flops, marking Stam as the ideal that Rio should aspire to. The man makes John Kerry seem decisive at times.

Still, great entertainment, pisses all over Sky and the Beeb.

Liamo's thing against Mourinho is just pathetic though. Fair enough, he's entitled to his views, but he litters them with ad hominems- keep it football, no need for the character assassinations.

is that your last word on the matter

[STEVIEG]

At last, someone who wants to post on sawker rather egg chasing

did ye make up yet?

[lionelhutz]

At last, someone who wants to post on sawker rather egg chasing

did ye make up yet?

nah. naff naff organises his make ups in chronological order. theres a long list of antagonists and im bottom at the moment

[Actin The Sham]

"Let me tell ya that Alf has been deferred and Home and Away has been deferred:)"


"God night Mrs. Ackmanack, wherever you are."

[ho chi feen]

is that your last word on the matter

Shhhh, you.

It's a well-used soundbite. Cal Thomas robbed it from someone who robbed who read it somewhere.

[RonnyB]

Well who was on the Premiership last saturday night to comment on Ronaldo's goal?

[STEVIEG]

Well who was on the Premiership last saturday night to comment on Ronaldo's goal?

No end product

[Langer Dan]

No end product

'A scratchy performance',

nice one John, no idea what you mean though:-)

[lionelhutz]

Well who was on the Premiership last saturday night to comment on Ronaldo's goal?

giles gave him credit for the goal because it was a good goal. he also asked why he couldn't keep it simple like that all through the match which would make him a far more effective player and i agree with him. they did highlight the bad points in ronis game also in the interest of objectivity. for instance when roni got brushed off the ball on halfway had a whinge and just gave up. few seconds later van der saar has to pull off an outstanding save to keep the game level. to be fair to giles he does admit that roni has the makings of a great player but isn't "doin his stuff" on a consistent basis ie. throughout the 90 minutes

[RonnyB]

giles gave him credit for the goal because it was a good goal. he also asked why he couldn't keep it simple like that all through the match which would make him a far more effective player and i agree with him. they did highlight the bad points in ronis game also in the interest of objectivity. for instance when roni got brushed off the ball on halfway had a whinge and just gave up. few seconds later van der saar has to pull off an outstanding save to keep the game level. to be fair to giles he does admit that roni has the makings of a great player but isn't "doin his stuff" on a consistent basis ie. throughout the 90 minutes

that seems a fair enough analysis. In my rant in this thread I've said that Giles' opinion is the only one I'd respect out of Dunphy, Brady & himself. the other 2 just seem to slate him for various reasons which are way OTT considering the alternatives they suggest.

[STEVIEG]

giles gave him credit for the goal because it was a good goal. he also asked why he couldn't keep it simple like that all through the match

Fair enough but skinning three players is hardly keeping it simple

This is why Roanldo both frustrates and delights at the same time

The Carricks of the World are there to keep it simple

The Ronaldos are there to the unexpected

He set up some good goals lately by simple passes btw (for Carrick, Scholes etc)

It's just about getting the balance but at least Giles watches Premiership games in full and is much better placed than Dunphy to comment

[lionelhutz]

Fair enough but skinning three players is hardly keeping it simple

This is why Roanldo both frustrates and delights at the same time

The Carricks of the World are there to keep it simple

The Ronaldos are there to the unexpected

He set up some good goals lately by simple passes btw (for Carrick, Scholes etc)

It's just about getting the balance but at least Giles watches Premiership games in full and is much better placed than Dunphy to comment

no step overs no fuckin back flicks. just used his pace to run past defenders. simple enough. the reason rte go on about him is that he frustrates far more often than he 'delights' with no apparent reason other than he's a bit of a dumbo.
as for praising giles for his research well c'mon now stevie.

[Sound]

And the Liverpool fatwa is ON! Gerrard is a nothing player and Alonso (easily MOTM) is a fraud. Last week Barca were 'found out at this level' and Man U are shite.

I suppose it's a compliment.

[ho chi feen]

I thought all he said about Alonso was that he was nowhere.

Gerrard remarks (even in the interests of balance) were incredibly OTT.

[RonnyB]

And the Liverpool fatwa is ON! Gerrard is a nothing player and Alonso (easily MOTM) is a fraud. Last week Barca were 'found out at this level' and Man U are shite.

I suppose it's a compliment.

You serious? I barely listened to them at HT, didnt hear anything after the match.

[Professor Piehead]

Who gives a shit, quarter finals, job done.

[lionelhutz]

Gerrard remarks (even in the interests of balance) were incredibly OTT.

ya, only saw the 2nd half but gerrard did fine i thought. he was the only pool player threatening the barca goal and got back and helped the defence too. cant blame him too much if the rest cannot string 2 passes together.

must say having to listen to houghton is becoming incresingly unbearable. fuckin hell i pity his wife (if hes got one). to think i bought the prick a pint a few years back. dublin prices at that!

[RonnyB]

ya, only saw the 2nd half but gerrard did fine i thought. he was the only pool player threatening the barca goal and got back and helped the defence too. cant blame him too much if the rest cannot string 2 passes together.

must say having to listen to houghton is becoming incresingly unbearable. fuckin hell i pity his wife (if hes got one). to think i bought the prick a pint a few years back. dublin prices at that!

I cant stand listening to them. I watched the game on ITV and David Pleat is bad enough.

They should bring back Ron for a bit of a laugh if nothing else.

[Lamps]

Gilesy was bang on last night though he'd want to change honesty of effort line to something else just to freshen things up, I'm thinking the old WWF line "intestinal fortitue" but maybe its a bit too hollywood for the lads, Dunphy merely went through the motions and Brady's crying over Barca was a bit much, I'm hoping for a better performance all round tonight.

[Lamps]

I cant stand listening to them. I watched the game on ITV and David Pleat is bad enough.

They should bring back Ron for a bit of a laugh if nothing else.

I like Andy and Robbie, get some bang off em

[lionelhutz]

I cant stand listening to them. I watched the game on ITV and David Pleat is bad enough.

They should bring back Ron for a bit of a laugh if nothing else.

ah no i enjoy the rest. they all make me laugh bar houghton. gilesly last night on inter milan the record breaking italian league leaders " i haven't seen much of them bill, eamon has though....". priceless.

[Forsberg]

They should bring back Ron for a bit of a laugh if nothing else.

and a bit of good old fashioned casual racism :rolleyes:

[Lamps]

ah no i enjoy the rest. they all make me laugh bar houghton. gilesly last night on inter milan the record breaking italian league leaders " i haven't seen much of them bill, eamon has though....". priceless.

You've got to admire Gilesy balls, he's on the telly radio and newspaper all week every week as a pundit and doesn't really watch any soccer. Superb

[ho chi feen]

ya, only saw the 2nd half but gerrard did fine i thought. he was the only pool player threatening the barca goal and got back and helped the defence too. cant blame him too much if the rest cannot string 2 passes together.

must say having to listen to houghton is becoming incresingly unbearable. fuckin hell i pity his wife (if hes got one). to think i bought the prick a pint a few years back. dublin prices at that!

I've said it before, RTE's panel is rapidly becoming a caricature of its former self. Sure, it's still by far the most entertaining, and they do provide some much needed balance and perspective (I flicked over to ITV and it was all 'incredible performance', 'wonderfully controlled', 'heroic' blah blah blah) but Brady and Dunphy are both falling over each other in their rush for the nest 'controversial' soundbite. Dunphy's assault on Gerrard, in particular, replete with facial contortions, looked utterly contrived.

It reminds me of the decline of Hansen on the beeb. Mid-90's he was the best in the business. Towards the end of the 90's all he could do was resort to oudoing himself with 'ironic' and 'comedic' references to 'terrrrrrrrrrrrrible ' defending. Nowadays, he's a fully signed-up member of the preening, self-serving ex-pros set.

[ho chi feen]

Gilesy was bang on last night though he'd want to change honesty of effort line to something else just to freshen things up, I'm thinking the old WWF line "intestinal fortitue" but maybe its a bit too hollywood for the lads, Dunphy merely went through the motions and Brady's crying over Barca was a bit much, I'm hoping for a better performance all round tonight.

I lost count of the amount of references to 'moral courage' and 'honesty of effort' last night. 6 by the first ad break, I reckon.

[jimmy magee]

You've got to admire Gilesy balls, he's on the telly radio and newspaper all week every week as a pundit and doesn't really watch any soccer.


ha ha

RTES pundits are the job . Brady thinks hes on a higher "purer" plain,
Gilesy s just an old granny and Dunphy is having a laugh at everyone and everything

Houghton is the most annoying knome in football. Does he ever stop bitching about players not doing the "right thing"? ud swear he was Zidane in his day.

and why is there always some scottish accent in football commentary?

[lionelhutz]

I've said it before, RTE's panel is rapidly becoming a caricature of its former self. Sure, it's still by far the most entertaining, and they do provide some much needed balance and perspective (I flicked over to ITV and it was all 'incredible performance', 'wonderfully controlled', 'heroic' blah blah blah) but Brady and Dunphy are both falling over each other in their rush for the nest 'controversial' soundbite. Dunphy's assault on Gerrard, in particular, replete with facial contortions, looked utterly contrived.
.

theres no decent alternative really. are the rte panel the new fianna fail?

[Lamps]

I've said it before, RTE's panel is rapidly becoming a caricature of its former self. Sure, it's still by far the most entertaining, and they do provide some much needed balance and perspective (I flicked over to ITV and it was all 'incredible performance', 'wonderfully controlled', 'heroic' blah blah blah) but Brady and Dunphy are both falling over each other in their rush for the nest 'controversial' soundbite. Dunphy's assault on Gerrard, in particular, replete with facial contortions, looked utterly contrived.

It reminds me of the decline of Hansen on the beeb. Mid-90's he was the best in the business. Towards the end of the 90's all he could do was resort to oudoing himself with 'ironic' and 'comedic' references to 'terrrrrrrrrrrrrible ' defending. Nowadays, he's a fully signed-up member of the preening, self-serving ex-pros set.

good post here, Hansen was banging on about "power, pace and passion" without stopping to think the way Eamo is now doing with this "Gerrard is a nothing player" carry on.

[RonnyB]

ah no i enjoy the rest. they all make me laugh bar houghton. gilesly last night on inter milan the record breaking italian league leaders " i haven't seen much of them bill, eamon has though....". priceless.

I watch the RTE boys at half time just out of emtertainment but Houghton is a ...feck it I dont think there is a word to describe him.

Listening to Jamie Redknapp on Sky for every game is cringe-worthy. Souness is the one guy they have on worth listening to.

And why do all ex-Scot players become either pundits or managers?

[Forsberg]

I must say I cringed when Dunphy was asked to analyse the Barca starting line up last night. He was so clueless about any potential tactical ramifications that he resorted to rattling off each player follewed by an opinion on said player that a 3 year old would be emabarrassed by. Valdes - good goalkeeper, Thuram past it, Marquez - can't defend, Olguer- joke of a player , Messi -good player, etc

It was truly embarrassing. They still give more entertainment than any of their British rivals , but they're becoming a bit of a joke shop imo

[homer jay]

theres no decent alternative really. are the rte panel the new fianna fail?

yeah, the best of a bad bunch really. they're great to watch for pure entertainment value, anyone who saw the keane rant will tell you that. but their actual analysis is bordering on fucking useless. forsberg got it right, they don't do any research into who they're talking about.

[Eoin]

yeah, the best of a bad bunch really. they're great to watch for pure entertainment value, anyone who saw the keane rant will tell you that. but their actual analysis is bordering on fucking useless. forsberg got it right, they don't do any research into who they're talking about.

Lads ye don't know how good ye have it. I had to watch the match on Australian TV and the coverage is rubbish.

[lionelhutz]

yeah, the best of a bad bunch really. they're great to watch for pure entertainment value, anyone who saw the keane rant will tell you that. but their actual analysis is bordering on fucking useless. forsberg got it right, they don't do any research into who they're talking about.

to be fair i think they get it right some of the time but in a bid to be controversial, dunphy and to a lesser extent brady, completely flip flop as the mood take them. i can remember dunphy assessing rivaldo at the height of his game calling him "an average player with a decent left foot" and then a year later when barca were playing utd (i think) saying what a great player he was etc etc.
giles is fairly consistent and trots out the same spiel interview after interview. get it down, get your foot on the ball, passs it about, reduce yourself to doing the things a bad player has to do, have moral courage etc. fairly basic but he probably calls it right the majority of the time. if he would bother even having a brief look at spanish or italian footy on his abundant time off it might go some bit towards justifying his huge slary

[Sound]

I wonder if Ronaldo were to get a hat-trick tonight, would Dunphy explode?

[Lamps]

I wonder if Ronaldo were to get a hat-trick tonight, would Dunphy explode?

He'd say Lille are the worst team ever to come to OT.

[homer jay]

any more guff from the lads last night?

[RonnyB]

any more guff from the lads last night?

Rooney is a genuine world class talent unlike Ronaldo. Zzzzzzzzz. Same oul story from Eamo.

all 3 thought Scholes is a genuine world class player.

No mention of Rio before the game so that was a good sign.

Eamo's best was about the defence though saying it was strong but "Silvestre is no beauty".

[Rebelred]

any more guff from the lads last night?

they refused to mention Ronaldo because they've told us about him before. Other than that, nothing new, Eamonn likes Valencia now

[lionelhutz]

giles to bill: "its the first time i've ever been accused of being romantic...about anything bill"...

[Forsberg]

"Rooney is the most talented payer since Pele" - Dunphy

They're getting more ridiculous by the day

[Lamps]

"Rooney is the most talented payer since Pele" - Dunphy

They're getting more ridiculous by the day

was this said last night?

[Forsberg]

was this said last night?

Something along those lines anyway. He did try and qualify it by saying that Fergie isn't getting the best out of him. Still , it's an insult to the Maradona's and Zidanes of this world and proof that , he's just a big spoofer

[Sound]

Would it be sacrilege to suggest that young Wayne hasn't gotten a whole lot better in the last two years?

[Forsberg]

Would it be sacrilege to suggest that young Wayne hasn't gotten a whole lot better in the last two years?


In fairness , and I've said this on another thread , that mainly down to Fergie , who's put some seriously tight reins on him . For a player of Rooneys ilk he needs to be allowed a somewhat free role. Fergie seems to be obsessed with trying to improve his defensive awareness , which is happening , but at the expense of what he does best .

[Lamps]

Would it be sacrilege to suggest that young Wayne hasn't gotten a whole lot better in the last two years?

Stop trying to coatail the SFI bandwagon on this one, noteable exception being MON who spotted it even before us.

Rooney is regressing at a rate of knots, expect him to be dropping back to midfield in a year or two to become the new choccy.

[Philby]

Would it be sacrilege to suggest that young Wayne hasn't gotten a whole lot better in the last two years?

I touched on this last week & actually agree with ya....

http://www.peoplesrepublico fcork.com/~peoplesr/forums/showpost.php?p=14260 26&postcount=18

[homer jay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHTM-abNEyk

[Rebelred]

Would it be sacrilege to suggest that young Wayne hasn't gotten a whole lot better in the last two years?

not at all. I think many would agree with that

[Roman Abramovich]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHTM-abNEyk

bar the gerrard comment on being a nothing player he gets it fairly spot on.

[homer jay]

bar the gerrard comment on being a nothing player he gets it fairly spot on.

i'd object to what he said about alonso as well

[Forsberg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHTM-abNEyk

. There are some fairly rattled Liverpool fans judging by the comments

Heh heh heh

[Philby]

Sometimes I think they draft in trained apes to write the comments on youtube....they are nearly always barely understandable and nearly always OTT

[Roman Abramovich]

i'd object to what he said about alonso as well

he drew his comments on alonsos performance not him as a player. listen to him.
it comes back to the whole greece euro champ thing. and you either like greece won it the way they did or you despise.

[Sound]

The Alonso thing is what did it for me TBH. Alonso had easily , and I mean very easily, the best performance of any midfielder on show and he got slated. Liverpool lost the ball alright but it wasn't Alonso giving it away.

[Roman Abramovich]

The Alonso thing is what did it for me TBH. Alonso had easily , and I mean very easily, the best performance of any midfielder on show and he got slated. Liverpool lost the ball alright but it wasn't Alonso giving it away.

i tuned in late....pizza hut beckoned.
everytime alonso got the ball for me he punted it down field without looking. only for the work rate of kuyt and bellamey i think hed have been made look far worse.

missed the first 30mins so unless he was super then id kinda agree with him. i tought the gerrard thing was a bit harsh, from what i saw of gerrard he played well.

[aahjay]

"Rooney is the most talented payer since Pele" - Dunphy

They're getting more ridiculous by the day

Was more like:

He was the most talented young player to emerge he had seen since Pele.

Bit of a difference there.

[Forsberg]

The Alonso thing is what did it for me TBH. Alonso had easily , and I mean very easily, the best performance of any midfielder on show and he got slated. Liverpool lost the ball alright but it wasn't Alonso giving it away.

Did you not think that he went missing second half though? He's the guy that Liverpool rely on to keep the ball and he was pretty much non existant.

Sure, he didn't give the ball away too much but he didn't exactly go looking to get it an control the game either

[Lamps]

Poor mans Molby

[Forsberg]

Was more like:

He was the most talented young player to emerge he had seen since Pele.

Bit of a difference there.

Sill OTT though .


Maradona , Fat Ronaldo , even Gazza were better young players than Rooney. I'd rate him on a par with the likes of Torres , Messi and Kaka. All showed great promise when they first arrived , but nothing that we haven't seen already and not one of those players has improved greatly since their first big impact

[Sound]

i tuned in late....pizza hut beckoned.
everytime alonso got the ball for me he punted it down field without looking. only for the work rate of kuyt and bellamey i think hed have been made look far worse.

missed the first 30mins so unless he was super then id kinda agree with him. i tought the gerrard thing was a bit harsh, from what i saw of gerrard he played well.


He was excellent in the first half IMO. Maybe it'd be justified if he got the proverbial lesson from Deco, Xavi etc but ,whatever about Alonso's second half performance, the rest did an absolute no-show- where was the criticism of them?

[Roman Abramovich]

He was excellent in the first half IMO. Maybe it'd be justified if he got the proverbial lesson from Deco, Xavi etc but ,whatever about Alonso's second half performance, the rest did an absolute no-show- where was the criticism of them?

i was just thinking that reading the article on psv there.
psv have gotten credit for killing the two games and knocking a footballing side out. arsenal slated for letting it happen.

liverpool get slated for killing a 2nd half at anfield after 135 mins of great football and nothing said about how poor the european champions were over the two games....

i wouldnt slate barca though, i dont think they are that good so they just got out performed. i dont thinks its the david & goliath match some people made it out to be. I never tought it was. Barca are overrated. More than arsenal. And thats fair overhyping.

Ya see i personally have always felt this forum has a lot of posters who either tune into sky on a sat or sunday night while flicking between movies and cath glimpses of the la liga games. Catch the odd oull qulaity goal or passage from barca and then start ranting and raving about them. The thing is though everytime they have been under the microscope by the proc forum massive, chelsea games, liverpool games, even the euro cup final they fail to live up to the billing, and people dont even question them. Yet they come down like a ton of bricks on arsenal for the same failings.

im just licking me wounds from the last ten days and extremely bitter because ive seen arsenal play some outstanding football this year in nearly all the games (and some rubbish ones too like) and end up with fuck all and then see the possible champions utd play against more recentley fulham, the pool, lille home and away and get wins in all 4.

theres a point where it goes beyond jammeyness and they passed that in october.

[homer jay]

he drew his comments on alonsos performance not him as a player. listen to him.
it comes back to the whole greece euro champ thing. and you either like greece won it the way they did or you despise.

i realise he's criticising his performance, i just don't agree with him.

[Philby]

i was just thinking that reading the article on psv there.
psv have gotten credit for killing the two games and knocking a footballing side out. arsenal slated for letting it happen.

liverpool get slated for killing a 2nd half at anfield after 135 mins of great football and nothing said about how poor the european champions were over the two games....


That's the crux of the debate. For the majority of the 2 ties Liverpool were the dominant & more dangerous side, some sloppy play when trying to count down the clock shouldn't disguise that.

I still believe that if Barca had matched Liverpool's level of intensity, effort and organisation they would probably have gone through relatively comfortably in this tie.

[Roman Abramovich]

That's the crux of the debate. For the majority of the 2 ties Liverpool were the dominant & more dangerous side, some sloppy play when trying to count down the clock shouldn't disguise that.

I still believe that if Barca had matched Liverpool's level of intensity, effort and organisation they would probably have gone through relatively comfortably in this tie.

yip but when the Sports Forum Idiots see a chance to bring ye down a peg or two they jump...Obviously dunphy and co were just pissed off at what type of football went through. Ill give um one thing, at least they consistant regardless of who kills games. I mean it would be hypocritical to laud liverpool after tuesday night after lambasting greece for what they have achieved.

[Philby]

How often did greece take it to quality opposition, pummel them for an hour and creating a sack-full of chances without giving the opposition much of a sniff at the other end.

The comparison with Greece is miles off imho, the only similarity being that they were both relative underdogs (but Greece much more so)

[lionelhutz]

How often did greece take it to quality opposition, pummel them for an hour and creating a sack-full of chances without giving the opposition much of a sniff at the other end.



thats goin a bit too far now. first half they hit the woodwork a couple times and had one or two decent chances. wouldn't say pummled them. similar to the game against the poxy manc last saturday. pool really need to start putting these chances away. second half against barca they hung on for dear life and had roni scored the individual effort the pool would have gone id say.

[Philby]

thats goin a bit too far now. first half they hit the woodwork a couple times and had one or two decent chances. wouldn't say pummled them. similar to the game against the poxy manc last saturday. pool really need to start putting these chances away.

Whatever choice of verb you'd prefer it amounts to the same, Liverpool were very much on top, created a fair few chances and were rock solid at the back

had roni scored the individual effort the pool would have gone id say.

Quite possibly but by the same token, on the balance of chances & level of performance, Liverpool could've been well out of sight at that point.

Take the point on the poor finishing, I've been saying it for years. Liverpool don't convert a high enough % of their genuine chances & it has hurt them badly over the years.

[Roman Abramovich]

Quite possibly but by the same token, on the balance of chances & level of performance, Liverpool could've been well out of sight at that point.
.

yip. if sissoko took his chance barca were gone.

[Philby]

yip. if sissoko took his chance barca were gone.

Can't believe he missed from there, sell him!

[Sound]

Great stuff from the lads. Three nil away win in the CL and they're tearing into them.

Brady is losing the run of himself.

[kevinbitzz]

Great stuff from the lads. Three nil away win in the CL and they're tearing into them.

Brady is losing the run of himself.

feck it, only have itv here,

[STEVIEG]

Great stuff from the lads. Three nil away win in the CL and they're tearing into them.

Brady is losing the run of himself.

Brady is a bitter cunt

Trevor Steven the only one talking sense-what an embarrassment and a joke the RTE pundits are turning into

Bitter fuckers the likes of Brady and Giles, two players who never did much in this competition for all their talk

[MonTheHoops]

Trevor Steven

Despite past allegiances, himself & Souness are decent pundits.

[STEVIEG]

Despite past allegiances, himself & Souness are decent pundits.

Yup,

Believe me, i'm far from a Liverpool fan, but the shit being talked here is way out of order

These guys have such a vendetta against certain teams, if it was an Italian team or Chelsea won 3-0 away they'd probably be wanking over it

[Forsberg]

Yup,

Believe me, i'm far from a Liverpool fan, but the shit being talked here is way out of order

These guys have such a vendetta against certain teams, if it was an Italian team or Chelsea won 3-0 away they'd probably be wanking over it

The weird thing is , at the start of the season , when Liverpool were atrocious , Giles and Dunphy heaped praise on them. Now , when they've turned things around , they're awful .


It's laughable. I couldn't even be bothered listening to them tonight

[MonTheHoops]

I genuinely think they read the papers very rarely but when they do they take an opinion and run with it. The game offers them no joy any more so they don't watch too many games. They get their opinions from one paper and then run with that. They seem to be 3 months off the pace continually. There was no mention of Rooney's form until it became common knowledge and as anyone who reads my posts knows I've been questioning it since the tail end of last season. These boys are paid to do that and should be picking up on this kind of thing long before now.

[STEVIEG]

The weird thing is , at the start of the season , when Liverpool were atrocious , Giles and Dunphy heaped praise on them. Now , when they've turned things around , they're awful .


It's laughable. I couldn't even be bothered listening to them tonight

Great call, Dunphy was wanking over Liverpool for a few weeks, especially before their games at Goodison and Old Trafford, and was tipping them for the title (said they'd destroy United at OT, as Carrick and Scholes were average)

He wasn't on the panel tonight but he probably would have criticised Liverpool too

The panel are trying to justify their previous criticism after the Barca home loss and are looking smalltime

Brady just looks plain bitter while Giles should be above all of this

A cagey opening 15 minutes away, so what?????

[Forsberg]

Great call, Dunphy was wanking over Liverpool for a few weeks, especially before their games at Goodison and Old Trafford, and was tipping them for the title (said they'd destroy United at OT, as Carrick and Scholes were average)

He wasn't on the panel tonight but he probably would have criticised Liverpool too

The panel are trying to justify their previous criticism after the Barca home loss and are looking smalltime

Brady just looks plain bitter while Giles should be above all of this

A cagey opening 15 minutes away, so what?????

Ya it's pathetic .

I did see a bit at half time where Giles was picking out moments where Alonso wasn't looking for the ball and blasting him for it . Nothing situations , where there were other players to recieve passes . At that point I just switched over

[ho chi feen]

They seem to be 3 months off the pace continually. There was no mention of Rooney's form until it became common knowledge and as anyone who reads my posts knows I've been questioning it since the tail end of last season.

Jesus MON, that's some foresight you have there, spotting Rooney's form collapsing before he'd even gotten back from injury. ;)

[ho chi feen]

Great call, Dunphy was wanking over Liverpool for a few weeks, especially before their games at Goodison and Old Trafford, and was tipping them for the title.


Remember the backlash against Benitez back at the turn of the year? Led by an army of pundits who felt foolish after tipping them for the title? I'd say Dunphy's no different.

[Jim Comic]

i agree with giles and brady in that rafa keeps the team on a VERY tight leash, too tight sometimes to my mind.

To him the team & system are everything, whcih certainly means the quality of football isn't what it might be unfortunately but i'm sure he doesn't give a damn if it leads to major silverware.

It worked for him in spain and in his first season on merseyside so I, for one, can't really argue with his methods but it would be nice to see more expansive football from the reds i feel.

[ho chi feen]

i agree with giles and brady in that rafa keeps the team on a VERY tight leash, too tight sometimes to my mind.

To him the team & system are everything, whcih certainly means the quality of football isn't what it might be unfortunately but i'm sure he doesn't give a damn if it leads to major silverware.

It worked for him in spain and in his first season on merseyside so I, for one, can't really argue with his methods but it would be nice to see more expansive football from the reds i feel.

Don't let Philby hear you say that..!

[MonTheHoops]

Jesus MON, that's some foresight you have there, spotting Rooney's form collapsing before he'd even gotten back from injury. ;)

Out of form since last Spring ho chi.

[KolaKubes]

i agree with giles and brady in that rafa keeps the team on a VERY tight leash, too tight sometimes to my mind.

To him the team & system are everything, whcih certainly means the quality of football isn't what it might be unfortunately but i'm sure he doesn't give a damn if it leads to major silverware.

It worked for him in spain and in his first season on merseyside so I, for one, can't really argue with his methods but it would be nice to see more expansive football from the reds i feel.


They'll not win an English league title again while he keeps them on that tight leash. I've said it before a few times.

[Philby]

They'll not win an English league title again while he keeps them on that tight leash. I've said it before a few times.

I don't see how ensuring that, at 2-0 for example, the game finishes at 2-0 (or better...e.g. 3-0, 4-0) will cost a team a title.

Rafa, generally, doesn't keep Liverpool on a particularly tight leash from the kick-off of premiership. Liverpool, generally, aim to get the upper hand in possession and be the more positive side in premiership games...including games against the other "big 4" teams.

In cup games his wily, tactical side comes out and he does strangle games to death at times but most fans will take this ahead of risking going out of a cup competition.

Anyone have any quotes or footage from those tools on RTE? Could do with some entertainment.

[Edmund Blackwater]

Great call, Dunphy was wanking over Liverpool for a few weeks, especially before their games at Goodison and Old Trafford, and was tipping them for the title (said they'd destroy United at OT, as Carrick and Scholes were average)

Don't forget I said Liverpool would rape manyoo for the recent match.
And I was right.
I also, while watching the match put a few quid on o'shit to score the winner.
it's always the same in those matches, the best team nearly always loses if it's a one goal victory.
Manyoo know this well as they've been systematically hammered by a few teams that have failed to score and then bench merchants like O'Shea orsolsjaerr come on and score a fluke winner.

[RonnyB]

Don't forget I said Liverpool would rape manyoo for the recent match.


Thats why they created 2 decents chances max, their keeper couldnt deal with the one ball he had to deal with, Agger gave away a stone wall pen & United lost both Scholes & Rooney during the 2nd half as well. All this while 2 of United's defenders were having their worst games of the season.

Typically abu statement.

[POL]

Brady is a bitter cunt

Trevor Steven the only one talking sense-what an embarrassment and a joke the RTE pundits are turning into

Bitter fuckers the likes of Brady and Giles, two players who never did much in this competition for all their talkJust as well I found this this thread, what complete horseshit they were talking last night after the game, complete and utter horsehit

[RonnyB]

Brady I think dug his own grave after his comments about hoping for Chelsea's failure. He seemed to be percieved as the 'sane' judge of the 3 until then, now he's heading down the same road as Dunphy.

I only saw the 1st 25 mins of their coverage last night & it didnt seem too bad but I can imagine how it changed once they were after watching the game.

[homer jay]

Ya it's pathetic .

I did see a bit at half time where Giles was picking out moments where Alonso wasn't looking for the ball and blasting him for it . Nothing situations , where there were other players to recieve passes . At that point I just switched over

i couldn't believe what i was hearing listening to this. usually giles isn't too bad. he can call a teams tactics fairly well, but he got it completely wrong last night.

alonso was constantly hanging around about 10 yards in front of the centre backs looking for the ball. giles then picks out one clip, freezes it on the one split second alonso was looking up field to see who was available, and giles says he's not looking for the ball. ffs. alonso always drops back to pick the ball off the centre backs and play a pass out of defence. a lot of opposition managers read this and get their forwards to stay close to him, and most of the time he ends up with no space to receive a pass and the centre backs end up playing it long, as happened last night.

and then they said liverpool were playing cagey in the first part of the game. christ on a bike, it's the first leg of the CL quarter finals, and it's away from home, what the fuck do they expect them to do?

normally there's at least some bit of analysis that i'd agree with, but it was a piss poor effort last night.

[Lamps]

I liked the bit where they started saying Benitez was a lot like Jack Charlton.

They'll have to really put on a show tonight to salvage something

[Edmund Blackwater]

i

and then they said liverpool were playing cagey in the first part of the game. christ on a bike, it's the first leg of the CL quarter finals, and it's away from home, what the fuck do they expect them to do?

normally there's at least some bit of analysis that i'd agree with, but it was a piss poor effort last night.

They said Alonso had a quiet/poor game.
I'd agree with that.
They judge Liverpool by higher standards than the rest because of their history and there's no harm in that, in my opinion.
They also seem to have wrongaldo's number.

[homer jay]

They said Alonso had a quiet/poor game.
I'd agree with that.
They judge Liverpool by higher standards than the rest because of their history and there's no harm in that, in my opinion.
They also seem to have wrongaldo's number.

alonso needs room to pick a pass. PSV were playing 10 or 11 men behind the ball up until the first goal. yes he had a quiet game, but i certainly don't think he went hiding john o'shea style.

give the c ronaldo act a rest for a while will ya. or at lest restrict it to when utd are playing.

[Edmund Blackwater]

give the c ronaldo act a rest for a while will ya. or at lest restrict it to when utd are playing.

Wednesday, 4th April 2007
Man Utd (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/default.stm) v Roma, 19:45
Valencia v Chelsea (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/default.stm), 19:45

[homer jay]

Wednesday, 4th April 2007
Man Utd (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/default.stm) v Roma, 19:45
Valencia v Chelsea (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/default.stm), 19:45

we were talking about last nights game

[STEVIEG]

Don't forget I said Liverpool would rape manyoo for the recent match.
And I was right.
I also, while watching the match put a few quid on o'shit to score the winner.
.

Sure you did

United did to Liverpool that day what Liverpool did to United in 2000, 2002 and 2004 at OT (think they were the years)

Celtic, Cophenhagen and West Ham all did this season to them too, it's football and it happens

You have to keep going (Some teams wouldn't have thrown so many forawrd for the free-kick with only ten men though)

anyway, it's irrelevant now

[ho chi feen]

Just as well I found this this thread, what complete horseshit they were talking last night after the game, complete and utter horsehit

Yet when it suits your agenda, you're happy to run with it?

[RonnyB]

How many times did they mention the word 'smokescreen' in the 1st 1/4 hour last night?

[lionelhutz]

giles fears canizares (or to him "the valencia goalkeeper") lacks "courage". he didn't specify if he was referring to physical or moral courage, or both.

[POL]

Yet when it suits your agenda, you're happy to run with it?
no actually, because I was going going to start a thread myself on it

[ho chi feen]

giles fears canizares (or to him "the valencia goalkeeper") lacks "courage". he didn't specify if he was referring to physical or moral courage, or both.

Corage isn't one area I'd not find him lacking. Ability to deal with high balls? Yes.

[STEVIEG]

no actually, because I was going going to start a thread myself on it

Exposed

[POL]

Exposedwell you and your secret admirer Naff Naff get very upset when people steal your thunder and start similar threads :lol!: again you've left yourself exposed
http://www.houseofguinness. com/images/flasher%20t.JPG

[STEVIEG]

Nothing without Lamps



Go to the Keane thread and take your beating like a man

[FL4ZGN]

well you and your secret admirer Naff Naff get very upset when people steal your thunder and start similar threads :lol!: again you've left yourself exposed
http://www.houseofguinness. com/images/flasher%20t.JPG

Look she has Edmund strapped to her waist.

[homer jay]

caught a few minutes of the pre match yak between the lads last night.

billo and giles on about the mourinho leaving chelsea business

bill: john, did you want to come in there?
giles: have I got time bill?
bill: about 20 seconds john
giles: aah forget about bill

[lionelhutz]

thought giles did well to skirt past the discussion about the supposed decline in the spanish and italian leagues, given that he "hasn't seen much of barcelona this season". "the players will go where the money is bill...."

[Sound]

What was the lads' reaction to Ronaldo's performance against Roma? Any sign of a mea culpa?

[ho chi feen]

What was the lads' reaction to Ronaldo's performance against Roma? Any sign of a mea culpa?

Nope.

[Sound]

Nope.

Nothing at all?

Surely being behind in the QF of the CL constitutes a big game? And setting up goals and scoring two constitutes having a very good game in said big game?

[RonnyB]

Nothing at all?

Surely being behind in the QF of the CL constitutes a big game? And setting up goals and scoring two constitutes having a very good game in said big game?

Well Eamon made a cock up on Wednesday night referring to something & Billo asked what was that about & Eamon replied he didnt sleep well the night before after Ronaldo was brilliant, he said he had nightmares. Also on Tuesday he refered to him sarcastically as the best player ever in the history of the game when scoring his 2nd.

Billo really wound them up. Excellent viewing & Billo is a legend.

[ho chi feen]

Nothing at all?

Surely being behind in the QF of the CL constitutes a big game? And setting up goals and scoring two constitutes having a very good game in said big game?

Nope.

They said he needs to do that every week now.

[Langer Dan]

Nope.

Brady is a wanker.

If twas Fabergas he'd be creaming himself.


Before the Roma match Brady said for Ronaldo to be classed as a great player he'd have to perform in a game like this.

Ronaldo delivers and Brady 'Hes still not a great player'. Total cop out.

The RTE panel need some fresh blood, Dunphy is a joke figure at this point, Brady is a tosser and John ,god love him doesnt seem to really know whats going on, Time to bring Souness in for the big european nights methinks.

[RonnyB]

Time to bring Souness in for the big european nights methinks.

A bit tough when he's on Sky for the Champions League.

[ho chi feen]

Before the Roma match Brady said for Ronaldo to be classed as a great player hge'd have to perform in a game like this.

Ronaldo delivers and Brady 'Hes still not a great player'. Total cop out.

'Zackly.

[Langer Dan]

A bit tough when he's on Sky for the Champions League.

is he? Dont watch Sky for the CL. Tyler and Gray are just painful.

Martin: Well John Terry of course, his grand uncle drove trains in the 1920's. One could say that Terry is the steam engine behind this great Chelsea side.

Andy: Hohoho, weeeeeell with players like Brave John Terry its no wonder the Premiership is the best league in the world.



Fuck Off.

[RonnyB]

is he? Dont watch Sky for the CL. Tyler and Gray are just painful.

Martin: Well John Terry of course, his grand uncle drove trains in the 1920's. One could say that Terry is the steam engine behind this great Chelsea side.

Andy: Hohoho, weeeeeell with players like Brave John Terry its no wonder the Premiership is the best league in the world.

Fuck Off.

I'd say Tyler & Gray would be my favourite commentary duo. Motson & Lawro were pure tripe on Saturday. Thanks be to god the FA Cup will be on ITV next year.

[Lamps]

A bit tough when he's on Sky for the Champions League.

this is why Fitzy should stick to talking to the birds on the MF about hair gel and conditioner

[STEVIEG]

did Dunphy not just blame Drogba for Boltons first on Saturday?

None of the panel pulled him on it but it was my understanding that he didn't come on till half time

[homer jay]

eamo re: 6'4" reina - 'he has a short stature'

[Forsberg]

eamo re: 6'4" reina - 'he has a short stature'

Heh heh I heard that alright.


Anyone hear Dunphy giving someone odds of 2/1 on Chelsea in the background as Bill was passing over for the shootout?

[Philby]

eamo re: 6'4" reina - 'he has a short stature'

"He's quick Bill, like a panther...boo boom"

To be fair Reina isn't 6'4" - would be surprised if he was any bigger than 6'2" (if even that). Not that he matters, he's a fabulous keeper and a demon for the spot kicks. He has had a flawless semi-final and is a big reason why Liverpool will be going to Athens ahead of Chelsea.

[homer jay]

"He's quick Bill, like a panther...boo boom"

To be fair Reina isn't 6'4" - would be surprised if he was any bigger than 6'2" (if even that). Not that he matters, he's a fabulous keeper and a demon for the spot kicks. He has had a flawless semi-final and is a big reason why Liverpool will be going to Athens ahead of Chelsea.

you're right, 6'2". heard dunphy giving the odds alright :)

[KolaKubes]

I had only the one pint in me unlike Dunph in rating the keepers but I was saying that I reckoned that Cech wouldn't be great at the penalties as very big keepers like that I think are not brilliant at reacting quick enough. Even that Alonso penalty was it, a "springier" keeper would have got to it.

[STEVIEG]

Their lack of knowledge shown up badly by their dismissal of Obi Mikel's peno prowess too

I don't like the little moon-face cunt but he showed great bottle in scoring a crucial pen for Nigeria against someone (Ivory Coast?) in the African Nations last year as a 18 year old

Geremi missed a pen the last time i remember him taking one and was a strange choice for me

[Philby]

Robben Vs Reina...more than a touch of karma about that one. The Dutch diver shat himself...definitely a victory for the honesty of effort/moral courage brigade there :-)

[Aphex]

not much conviction in that penalty...

[Sharkey]

I had only the one pint in me unlike Dunph in rating the keepers but I was saying that I reckoned that Cech wouldn't be great at the penalties as very big keepers like that I think are not brilliant at reacting quick enough. Even that Alonso penalty was it, a "springier" keeper would have got to it.

i said the same. also reina has had more experience in penalty kick situations than cech.

stevie g- apparently geremi has a good record at international level taking penos. didn't know it myself but a lad i was watching the game with said it before they brought him on.

[STEVIEG]

i said the same. also reina has had more experience in penalty kick situations than cech.

stevie g- apparently geremi has a good record at international level taking penos. didn't know it myself but a lad i was watching the game with said it before they brought him on.

Fair enough i stand corrected on the Geremi situation if that's true

With due respect to both teams it said a lot of them that they both sprung two peno takers from the bench in the last few minutes of extra time (Liverpool to be fair didn't need Fowler, a certainty to score IMO)
It was almost American-football-esque

Is that what Chelsea spent all that money on?????

They should be beating teams like United and Liverpool out the water

[Philby]

With due respect to both teams it said a lot of them that they both sprung to peno takers from the bench in the last few minutes of extra time (Liverpool to be fair didn't need Fowler, a certainty to score IMO)
It was almost American-football-esque

Not quite sure what you mean there? It says that they have managers who have at least the most basic understanding of football tactics. Sure even Sven had the cop on think about bringing on a player to take a spotter (except he f*cked up by bringing on Carra who had taken 1 penalty in his professional career!)

[STEVIEG]

Not quite sure what you mean there? It says that they have managers who have at least the most basic understanding of football tactics. Sure even Sven had the cop on think about bringing on a player to take a spotter (except he f*cked up by bringing on Carra who had taken 1 penalty in his professional career!)

Nothing really , just that they aren't the two most positive teams in the World, though, in the case of your team, it's understandable as they

1-Won the match on the night
2-tried to play for most of the game (contrary to what Jose said)
3-aren't bankrolled to the tune of whatever they wanted

[RonnyB]

Eamo didnt really have much of a clue regarding who'd be able to take 1 or not. His knowledge of Ashley Cole taking them for Arsenal twice in their '05 cup run was non-existant.

[Philby]

Nothing really , just that they aren't the two most positive teams in the World, though, in the case of your team, it's understandable as they

1-Won the match on the night
2-tried to play for most of the game (contrary to what Jose said)
3-aren't bankrolled to the tune of whatever they wanted

- I really don't see any link between positivity and bringing on penalty specialist in the last few mins of extra time. It's a call I'd expect every single manager on the face of this earth to make

- Liverpool were the more positive side last night and, bar the odd exception here and there, are always at least as positive and ambituous as the opposition. Rafa does like to kill off a game when in a winning position but Liverpool rarely start a game on the back foot. I think that fact is overlooked a lot on here.

[STEVIEG]

[QUOTE=Philby;1519304]- I really don't see any link between positivity and bringing on penalty specialist in the last few mins of extra time. It's a call I'd expect every single manager on the face of this earth to make

Quote

Liverpool were more positive and deserved the win but in my opinion if that was say, Man United or even Milan, both managers mights have tried to win the game earlier and use their last substitute as a game influencer rather than a peno expert

It reflects badly on Chelsea as their player missed

They only brought on their wide men in extra time

[ubernerd]

Did anyone else think Robben was a bad choice for first peno taker?
I knew he was gonna miss it as soon as he stepped up.

Zenden coming pretty close in the second half was amusing too, imagine he had put that away given what all the Pool fans (and everyone else really) think of him.

[jimmy magee]

does honesty of effort equate to rubbish like we witnessed last night??

[FL4ZGN]

Both honesty and effort were lacking badly in the most overated midfield player in world football last night.

[homer jay]

eamo- reality is kaka

[RonnyB]

Gilesy "I know people are sick & tired of me going on about honesty of effort".

[lionelhutz]

eamo- reality is kaka

illusion is ronaldo?

[RonnyB]

illusion is ronaldo?

the word he used was hype I think but yours was'nt too far off the money judging on last nights 'performance'.

[lionelhutz]

the word he used was hype I think but yours was'nt too far off the money judging on last nights 'performance'.

ya somethin like that. billo was lovin it

[jimmy magee]

fuck all these what ifs and excuses..there are practically none that stand out.

Utd have a class YOUNG squad who've won games for them all season-- Milan have nothing in reserve plus what they do have, many are past their best. This fatigue factor should have worked in ye're favour


Its not Utd's players didn't perform, they didn't have the chance. Milan smothered the pitch with a near perfect co-ordinated display.
Fergie will learn from last night..


It was a lesson in football given to the team that play the best football in England....

FORZA ROSSONERI !!

[STEVIEG]

fuck all these what ifs and excuses..there are practically none that stand out.

Utd have a class YOUNG squad who've won games for them all season-- Milan have nothing in reserve plus what they do have, many are past their best. This fatigue factor should have worked in ye're favour


Its not Utd's players didn't perform, they didn't have the chance. Milan smothered the pitch with a near perfect co-ordinated display.
Fergie will learn from last night..


It was a lesson in football given to the team that play the best football in England....

FORZA ROSSONERI !!

Yup, no excuses

Respect to Milan

[jimmy magee]

http://www.sporting-heroes.net/files_football/HENDRY_Colin_1996082 3_SF_R.jpg

[Sound]

what was the lads' verdict?

[lionelhutz]

what was the lads' verdict?

they delighted milan won. great team. eamo, "quality players, kaka, pirlo, nesta, seedorf(??), ambrosini(??)..."

think hed forgotten slating these players in the past.

they did ridicule the selection of zenden and then kewell which was spot on obviously. kewell a waste of space which is true. they harped on about gerrard being played out of position which was odd. all in all, mundane enough from the lads last night.

[EDDIEB]

they delighted milan won. great team. eamo, "quality players, kaka, pirlo, nesta, seedorf(??), ambrosini(??)..."

think hed forgotten slating these players in the past.

they did ridicule the selection of zenden and then kewell which was spot on obviously. kewell a waste of space which is true. they harped on about gerrard being played out of position which was odd. all in all, mundane enough from the lads last night.

Milan deserved it after all the Liverpool first half "pressure"

Pennant running into blind alleys,Zenden is as ever rubbish.
How many crosses did these guys complete all night ?
Alonso giving away so many free kicks in the first half ultimatly cost them.
Mascherano did well against Kaka IMO.
Kewell is a disaster.
Why was Crouch not brought on earlier against a tiring Milan defense ?
Gerrard did'nt know which position he was in most of the time.

At least we lost to the winners.

[POL]

Milan deserved it after all the Liverpool first half "pressure"

Pennant running into blind alleys,Zenden is as ever rubbish.
How many crosses did these guys complete all night ?
Alonso giving away so many free kicks in the first half ultimatly cost them.
Mascherano did well against Kaka IMO.
Kewell is a disaster.
Why was Crouch not brought on earlier against a tiring Milan defense ?
Gerrard did'nt know which position he was in most of the time.

At least we lost to the winners.we?

[st finnbar]

forza milan:p

[STEVIEG]

Couldn't bring myself to watch it on RTE as i felt they would rip Liverpool up before the game and lead them to winning it

No such danger on Sky as they wanked over them like they do with any English team

[RonnyB]

Bumpity bump.

Did anyone else half laugh the asses off when Giles was trying to describe what kind of player Leto was before the game? He was looking over to Whelan & Brady to dig him out of huge hole he got himself into be saying he had 'seen him'. He was all 'hugs the touchline Bill, left footed, old fashioned type player'.

[ho chi feen]

Bumpity bump.

Did anyone else half laugh the asses off when Giles was trying to describe what kind of player Leto was before the game? He was looking over to Whelan & Brady to dig him out of huge hole he got himself into be saying he had 'seen him'. He was all 'hugs the touchline Bill, left footed, old fashioned tyoe player'.

Hillarious all right.

Buffoonery of the highest order.

Also, the others were calling him Lita, or Leeto, or some other such bollocks.

[RonnyB]

Hillarious all right.

Buffoonery of the highest order.

Also, the others were calling him Lita, or Leeto, or some other such bollocks.

At 1st I thought they were on about that JJ Lehto fella who used to drive in F1.

[lionelhutz]

Hillarious all right.

Buffoonery of the highest order.

Also, the others were calling him Lita, or Leeto, or some other such bollocks.

gilesy stuck his balls out the night before when he said "french football is not good, Bill" and then referenced it last night...before the games, "as we said Bill, french football isn't up to much"...

id say gilsey pays the extra few bob for Canal Plus alright

[STEVIEG]

Roma player Guily was Gilly the night before

[RonnyB]

Brady rated Kiev before the game last night by going on 'what he had read on the paper'.

Eamon took the time to watch Barca at the weekend so that should cover their Barca assessments for the season.

[Forsberg]

Apparently Messi, Rooney and Fabregas are the 3 best attacking players in the world according to Dunphy.. Obviously the next World player of the year isn't good enough for him

[keanos dog]

Apparently Messi, Rooney and Fabregas are the 3 best attacking players in the world according to Dunphy.. Obviously the next World player of the year isn't good enough for him



to be fair i think he did say best 3 young attacking players.


although they were rubbish last night(the 3 studio lads), in fact it was the worst i think i'd ever seen them.

let's hope they redeem themselves tonight, c'mon liverpool, give them some amuinition.

[lionelhutz]

Brady rated Kiev before the game last night by going on 'what he had read on the paper'.

Eamon took the time to watch Barca at the weekend so that should cover their Barca assessments for the season.

to be fair to the Dunph, he does watch la liga, or the big spanish teams anyway, which is more that can be said for gilesy. id imagine brady watches some spanish and italian football. gilesy takes the biscuit though

[Barry Scott]

to be fair to the Dunph, he does watch la liga, or the big spanish teams anyway, which is more that can be said for gilesy. id imagine brady watches some spanish and italian football. gilesy takes the biscuit though
Did you hear gilesy say he wouldn't be able to take the Ireland job if offered because of his commitment to RTE?

[Lamps]

Did you hear gilesy say he wouldn't be able to take the Ireland job if offered because of his commitment to RTE?

to be fair to him, I think he was saying that he wouldn't take on the consultant's role in appointing the next manager. thats what he said on newstalk this morning anyway, as it would be a conflict of interest with his role as a pundit.

[HappyMonday83]

to be fair to him, I think he was saying that he wouldn't take on the consultant's role in appointing the next manager. thats what he said on newstalk this morning anyway, as it would be a conflict of interest with his role as a pundit.

I imagine the SFI would have to turn down the role on similar grounds.

[Lamps]

I imagine the SFI would have to turn down the role on similar grounds.

I'd say we'd nearly take it to expand our platform in the exposure of that charlatan Keane. We could re-instate fun in the squad, pints and strippers would be off limits only the night before a game.
Could even bring back Big Cas as entertainmenst officer.

Qualification would be certain.

[HappyMonday83]

I'd say we'd nearly take it to expand our platform in the exposure of that charlatan Keane. We could re-instate fun in the squad, pints and strippers would be off limits only the night before a game.
Could even bring back Big Cas as entertainmenst officer.

Qualification would be certain.

You're not wrong. :lol!:

[legend76]

to be fair to the Dunph, he does watch la liga, or the big spanish teams anyway, which is more that can be said for gilesy. id imagine brady watches some spanish and italian football. gilesy takes the biscuit though

He really does take the biscuit!!! he wasn't even able to answer a question about Rangers a few weeks ago. Bill was asking him about a piece that Ray Houghton had written saying that Rangers could be dark horses in the group ( Mystic meg-tastic !!!) Giles replied with "Well Bill Ray has probably seen Rangers more than me..." before totally dismissing their chances

[RonnyB]

He really does take the biscuit!!! he wasn't even able to answer a question about Rangers a few weeks ago. Bill was asking him about a piece that Ray Houghton had written saying that Rangers could be dark horses in the group ( Mystic meg-tastic !!!) Giles replied with "Well Bill Ray has probably seen Rangers more than me..." before totally dismissing their chances

Uses old fashioned stereotype to get himself out of trouble. Lets say a midfield enforcer for a team RTE may have covered once he'll say something along the lines of 'he gets stuck in & does his stuff there Bill'.

When it comes to foreign teams I like Brady's knowledge but he suffered 'Gilseyitis' last night with Dynamo in a big way and even admitted it.

[ho chi feen]

id imagine brady watches some spanish and italian football.

He definitely doesn't watch Serie A, and he's semi-clued in to La Liga at best.

He still thinks Serie A football involves blanket-defence, eking out 0-0's away, grinding out 1-0's a home, catenaccio all over the shop, whereas in fact it's a high scoring league with an abundance of utterly appalling imported defenders shoring up the absence of any half-decent Italian defenders coming through the ranks. Also home to some of the most intriguing experimentations in attacking formations at the moment- see Spalletti, Mazzarri, Reja et al, the manager of the best team (by a long stretch) is an inept tactician, and the national team have been playing attacking 4-3-3 for the past 3 years.

In other words, he hasn't got a clue.

[lionelhutz]

He definitely doesn't watch Serie A, and he's semi-clued in to La Liga at best.

He still thinks Serie A football involves blanket-defence, eking out 0-0's away, grinding out 1-0's a home, catenaccio all over the shop, whereas in fact it's a high scoring league with an abundance of utterly appalling imported defenders shoring up the absence of any half-decent Italian defenders coming through the ranks. Also home to some of the most intriguing experimentations in attacking formations at the moment- see Spalletti, Mazzarri, Reja et al, the manager of the best team (by a long stretch) is an inept tactician, and the national team have been playing attacking 4-3-3 for the past 3 years.

In other words, he hasn't got a clue.

fair enough, hes probably not a fan of setanta sports. to be fair to him he was sharp enough last season to spot that milan weren't as tight as they were in the late eighties. if he doesn't then he obviously should, given his role at arsenal first and foremost. maybe he just makes a better fist of hiding his lack of knowledge than gilesy, who seems quite blatant and unrepentant about 'not having seen much of *insert leaders of any one of top 4 or 5 european leagues (bar the prem of course, gilesy's bread and butter)* this season'

[Actin The Sham]

Apparently Messi, Rooney and Fabregas are the 3 best attacking players in the world according to Dunphy.. Obviously the next World player of the year isn't good enough for him

Wrong on two counts:

1. He said best "young attacking players."

2. He didn't say the world he said "in European football."






Not that that changes anything of consequence, but I got the impression that he was referring to emerging talents, rather then established superstars.

[Lamps]

Whatever about their knowledge of european football, the first 15 mins of TV last night was the best i had seen in a while. The lads were bang in form, Bill was sharp as a tack and Dunphy was on fire. Great when you get Eamo and Gilesy in full blown argument.

Dunphy is TV gold, I'd go so far as to say he is the best thing that RTE have ever produced, and that includes everything they've ever output.

[Rebelred]

Whatever about their knowledge of european football, the first 15 mins of TV last night was the best i had seen in a while. The lads were bang in form, Bill was sharp as a tack and Dunphy was on fire. Great when you get Eamo and Gilesy in full blown argument.

Dunphy is TV gold, I'd go so far as to say he is the best thing that RTE have ever produced, and that includes everything they've ever output.

Dunphy has that lad Delaney sussed, he was bang on the money with what he said. Was surprised Gilesy couldn't see the real reasons behind the FAI's subcontracting of the hiring.

[Lamps]

Dunphy has that lad Delaney sussed, he was bang on the money with what he said. Was surprised Gilesy couldn't see the real reasons behind the FAI's subcontracting of the hiring.

I miss his old Sunday Independent articles, he used to do quite a few on "The Mandarins of Merrion Square" which used to tear those boys apart.

Great finish last night when Bill said "Well, Eamon, time will tell if you are to be proven right", straight away he counterd "time has told Bill".

cut to the ads

[Rebelred]

I miss his old Sunday Independent articles, he used to do quite a few on "The Mandarins of Merrion Square" which used to tear those boys apart.

Great finish last night when Bill said "Well, Eamon, time will tell if you are to be proven right", straight away he counterd "time has told Bill".

cut to the ads
was surprised at Bill too for declaring Eamon's attack as being harsh

[Lamps]

was surprised at Bill too for declaring Eamon's attack as being harsh

Bill had to play it that way as he's probably the only one quick enough for him when matters move away from pure football. Bill is an accomplished operator, can do much more than play devils advocate.

[Rebelred]

Bill had to play it that way as he's probably the only one quick enough for him when matters move away from pure football. Bill is an accomplished operator, can do much more than play devils advocate.

A PR genius is Bill, in business terms aswell as in the studio.

[RonnyB]

was surprised at Bill too for declaring Eamon's attack as being harsh

The way I see it when Eamon is in a rant & goes for the killer comment, Bill by stating he's being harsh just adds fuel to Dunphy's moment. Its like classic wumming of him from Bill in many ways while keeping it very subtle.

whatever about RTE needing Eamonn, I think they need Billo more.

[lionelhutz]

The way I see it when Eamon is in a rant & goes for the killer comment, Bill by stating he's being harsh just adds fuel to Dunphy's moment. Its like classic wumming of him from Bill in many ways while keeping it very subtle.

whatever about RTE needing Eamonn, I think they need Billo more.

bill is the king of wums. brilliant tv. missed the ireland cyprus game last week but when arrived home the ol doll had recorded the lads in the studio rather than the match itself.

[lionelhutz]

with off the ball on newstalk and the billo and the lads on the box, irish soccer fans are spoilt

[homer jay]

souness won't be asked back after showing up the lads tonight.


can...can....can i....can i ask one more question bill....

[RonnyB]

Dunphy was on fire again last night. What a performance.

Gilesy says he doesnt know who'll win the Champions League but went for United at the end.

[Lamps]

Dunphy was on fire again last night. What a performance.

Gilesy says he doesnt know who'll win the Champions League but went for United at the end.

Dunphy is tv gold.

He certainly researched El Tels record.

Souness looked like he was in shock.

[Lamps]

souness won't be asked back after showing up the lads tonight.


can...can....can i....can i ask one more question bill....

Missed that, what happened?

[RonnyB]

Dunphy is tv gold.

He certainly researched El Tels record.

Souness looked like he was in shock.

I couldnt believe how quiet Souness was. I'm thinking he's after telling the lads he would like the Irish job but upon hearing McLeish has left the Scotland job he may look to back out on the FAI.

Lads what did Gilesy make of Barca?

After all he 'hasnt seen much of them Bill'.

[Lamps]

I couldnt believe how quiet Souness was. I'm thinking he's after telling the lads he would like the Irish job but upon hearing McLeish has left the Scotland job he may look to back out on the FAI.

Lads what did Gilesy make of Barca?

After all he 'hasnt seen much of them Bill'.

They all reckoned they were poor at the back.

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

[Rebelred]

Dunphy is tv gold.

He certainly researched El Tels record.

Souness looked like he was in shock.

did he what, I was only surprised he didn't know what El Tel had for breakfast yesterday. Gilesy was a bit shocked by it all