Thomas Clarke
As for TSG, I have no issue with negative opinions being expressed in appropriate ways/quantities, but to kick off the season's coverage with a slating of the state of the game is totally unnecessary. People do want hype and excitement, as that is a large part of what sport is about.

But if they are right, then why would they say anything else? At no point in your opening post have you considered the possibility of them being correct. Also, sport isn't about hype. People who want to make money off it, hype it up before or after the event. There is no hype on the field of play, therefore it isn't part of it, it is a tool for salespeople. I don't know about you, but I dont want to listen to salespeople talk about football.


Look at SKY, or ESPN, or any other major sports network. Do they hype their events for the sake of it? No, they do it because that is what the public respond to. For example, Gary Neville is a vastly superior analyst in his chosen field that Brolly/O'Rourke are in theirs, because he is capable of balancing honesty with enthusiasm. He certainly wouldn't last long in his job if he opened the premiership season by saying that viewers would be lucky to see much in the way of entertainment this year.

I am happy with balancing honesty with enthusiasm. Your opening post makes no reference to honesty though. Just enthusiasm for the sake of it from what I can see. What makes Neville good is his honesty, understanding and tactical nous. His enthusiasm is enthusiasm for good football. He is also very capable of being critical, I recall him referring to david luiz as a 'playstation footballer' in the past. Not a very nice thing to infer in fairness. The thing was, he was right, that is exactly how the guy played. I recall him calling balotelli an embarrassment also, so this idea that he is always enthusiastic and positive is simply not true.
With that in mind, I would ask what you think his take would be on Justin McMahon for example, or Sean Cavanagh setting out to get Neil Gallagher sent off. Maybe he might have had more to say on the mcgees too. I doubt any of that would be positive or enthusiastic. Nor would his assessment on the state of the game with those types of incidents so rampant, or the reality that we wont have another big game for quite a while. Would you be so quick to praise him after hearing that? I agree that he is an example to all pundits, but it has little to do with being positive for the sake of it.


The GAA deserves and should insist on better. Perhaps it's time for them to follow the NFL model by start their own television network, and selling their own advertising space. RTE add nothing to the product.

Again I ask, what if they are right? What is pretending something is there when it isn't, adding? Now of course they could focus on some positives in the game more, but again, that isn't what you were saying. You seem to want an 'Emperor's New Clothes' scenario...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 19/05/2015 13:11:46    1725459

Within a couple of minutes of the final whistle on Sunday, Spillane was talking about how Donegal are slower than they were a few years ago, and wont win an AI. This is after one game, against a tough Tyrone team. That isn't analysis, its just someone who is bitter and having a go at a team he doesn't like. In 2012,when Donegal were about to play Kerry, Spillane said that Kerry would find a way to win, and didn't back that up with analysis with any reasoning behind it. Spillane isn't alone in this, they all have biased opinions that they bring forward and that doesn't make for a proper debate. As mentioned earlier, the panel should be refreshed with new faces.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1653 - 19/05/2015 13:31:04    1725479

Brolly & Spillane are just caricatures at this stage.

I recorded the BBC for Sunday & didn't bother with RTE ata all.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 19/05/2015 13:33:47    1725480

Love to see colm Parkinson from Newstalk and Setanta get on the panel he is very good on his shows...Yes he might not have played to the highest level with his county but he won a leinster and was a very good footballer in his own right...

The best footballers don't always make the best Tv men...Ciaran Whelan is an example ...He would put a dog on red bull asleep

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 19/05/2015 13:55:16    1725497

Reports coming out this afternoon that Colm O'Rourke has indeed been sacked by RTE. He responded to the news with the following statement: "How dare they sack me? Sack me? I made the RTE!"

So_it_is (Fermanagh) - Posts: 40 - 19/05/2015 14:09:31    1725510

The best analysis of game these days is graham geraghty , not only a minor, u21 and senior all ire winner , he is involved in management too. His columns over the last couple of years have been the best written of any ive seen. Id love to see him in there, but he wont as there has to be a dub , to keep the vast majority interested at least one Kerry lad always best to have 2 though, and a few nordies so they ain't complaining about southern meeeja bias (which they will anyway) my dream panel would be Parkinson (while not at top in football a good pundit) geraghty (reason already given) ose (have to have a Kerry man) sennan Connell (see needing a dub) as for the nordie? Id include tohill as he was the best of a bad lot .

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/05/2015 14:30:48    1725535

God there are some terribly sensitive poor lambs around here, frightened by the big bad analysts at RTE, no analyst is going to please all the people all of the time but I enjoy the current trio and I believe their views are relevant, you don't have to be recently retired to be relevant or have an up to date knowledge of the game, all three analysts are actively involved in club or schools football or both so they are still at the coalface of the game. RTE viewership figures suggest the three are doing just fine and I would agree, if you don't like them go out for a walk at half time or have a chat with the wife........oh wait well maybe don't go that far!!!!!!

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 19/05/2015 14:39:19    1725547

God there are some terribly sensitive poor lambs around here, frightened by the big bad analysts at RTE, no analyst is going to please all the people all of the time but I enjoy the current trio and I believe their views are relevant, you don't have to be recently retired to be relevant or have an up to date knowledge of the game, all three analysts are actively involved in club or schools football or both so they are still at the coalface of the game. RTE viewership figures suggest the three are doing just fine and I would agree, if you don't like them go out for a walk at half time or have a chat with the wife........oh wait well maybe don't go that far!!!!!!

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 19/05/2015 14:40:02    1725549

The Master, you talk about not wanting salesmen, yet you have already been sold to. You are sold to all the time. What other reason would anyone have for watching grown men chase a ball around a field? We all have bought the idea that it is a hugely important part of our spare time. That's not a criticism of myself or anyone else - I'm delighted that I've bought into it, but I don't try and pretend that I'm immune to hype.

From a spectator's perspective, hype is an integral part of what makes sport special. Sport is about it's about excitement, glory, memories and storylines, and hype contributes to all of that. If enough people believed that football was as rubbish as O'Rourke etc seem to think that it is, then attendances wouldn't be long in disappearing.

And as for 'honesty', at no point did I say that I wasn't in favour of it. However, there is nothing to suggest that O'Rourke was being honest in opining that we were in for a poor year. That is an opinion, not a statement of fact. Also, why feel the need to offer this particular opinion at the very start of the year's coverage? By all means, offer honest opinions in a professional way, but use some judgement as to when you express those opinions. And, if said opinions are predominantly negative, maybe also use judgement as to how many of them you share with viewers.

As I've said earlier, the GAA are trying to market a great product and, despite them making plenty of money from it, I don't believe that RTE helping in this regard.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 19/05/2015 15:32:32    1725613

Thomas Clarke
The Master, you talk about not wanting salesmen, yet you have already been sold to. You are sold to all the time. What other reason would anyone have for watching grown men chase a ball around a field? We all have bought the idea that it is a hugely important part of our spare time. That's not a criticism of myself or anyone else - I'm delighted that I've bought into it, but I don't try and pretend that I'm immune to hype.

To be honest, I ignored this the first time because it is nonsense. You can apply that glib attitude to virtually anything in any walk of life, and indeed life itself. We are just particles of various elements, therefore why do anything? etc etc


From a spectator's perspective, hype is an integral part of what makes sport special. Sport is about it's about excitement, glory, memories and storylines, and hype contributes to all of that. If enough people believed that football was as rubbish as O'Rourke etc seem to think that it is, then attendances wouldn't be long in disappearing.

But again I pose the question to you, what if what they say is right? What then? Ignore it? Pretend it isn't there?


And as for 'honesty', at no point did I say that I wasn't in favour of it. However, there is nothing to suggest that O'Rourke was being honest in opining that we were in for a poor year. That is an opinion, not a statement of fact. Also, why feel the need to offer this particular opinion at the very start of the year's coverage? By all means, offer honest opinions in a professional way, but use some judgement as to when you express those opinions. And, if said opinions are predominantly negative, maybe also use judgement as to how many of them you share with viewers.

Well there was nothing to suggest he wasn't being honest either and you were having a right cut and him and everyone else regardless. I just posed the question, what if they were right? As for it being an opinion, he is hired to give his opinions, because they are informed. Why would he offer something else instead? Surely any old fool could sit there saying everything is positive, why hire him at all then?
As for being selective about negative opinions; surely if he feels this way then it is his duty to express them, rather than supress them. You talk about Gary Neville, yet you seem to want everyone to be like Jamie Redknapp, i.e. a yesman.


As I've said earlier, the GAA are trying to market a great product and, despite them making plenty of money from it, I don't believe that RTE helping in this regard.

Well if well respected ex players are saying that it is not so great in it's current guise, then maybe that is something that we can learn and improve from. What can we improve by saying everything is perfect, especially when it isnt?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 19/05/2015 16:02:44    1725646

The great Patrique once aptly referred to himself as a Tar-Baby. The same term could be applied to The Master, though I'd be at pains to avoid any implicit comparison to Patrique's wit and perceptiveness.

I'll leave it at this: Sports Associations around the world take great care when selecting to which broadcasters they should sell their games. The broadcasters in turn do their best to analyse games while simultaneously promoting the product, thus ensuring that everyone is happy. RTE, and The Master, seem to prefer banal negativity and a permanent vibe of 'woe is us having to be (paid to be) here watching this rubbish'. Personally, I prefer to watch sport the way BBC, ESPN, SKY, HBO, Channel 4, Eurosport, FOX etc etc do it - those networks just make it all seem more fun.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 19/05/2015 16:41:08    1725685

Thomas Clarke did you see the coverage of the game on BBC on Sunday. The presenter spent most of the afternoon talking about the outfits both teams were wearing when they arrived at the ground, the half-time melee, the sendings off and the 'unacceptable' behaviour of some of the players. He was far more critical than anyone at RTE. Maybe, just maybe, there is some truth in what they are saying and there is a problem with how the game is being played?

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 19/05/2015 16:58:10    1725698

the opinions of the 3 of them have no bearing on the modern game...they are so out of touch its laughable..only brolly is somewhat clued in but he prefers the controversial game these days as he knows its better for him....i felt donaghy giving brolly a mention in a post match speech was a mistake..it gave rte the notion that they somehow matter and those analysis opinions has any bearing on the teams..the focus should always be on those playing the games

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 19/05/2015 17:14:08    1725708

Totally agree. Do they not have any sense as to what tone they can set about Gaelic Football by what they say. I always said a terrible game of Gaelic football is always better then a decent game of soccer. But if one thing is for sure you would not see the RTE panel for soccer bemoaning about the game or sky sports bemoaning either. Look at the Americans. They have hyped up the Super Bowl into something extraordinary, but in reality American Football is a poor spectator sport to watch. For all Gaelic Football's hatrid due to a recent trend in the media to slate it, it still is an entertaining sport to watch. The skill set on show is much higher then it was 20 years ago, the physicality is immense. The Sunday Game need to promote the sport, start focusing on good aspects before they turn everyone off

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 19/05/2015 17:27:16    1725723

I don't think the great patrique would have championed a version of commentating that was basically 3 Jamie Redknapps either Thomas Clarke... I wonder what he would have labelled the creator of that idea?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 19/05/2015 17:56:15    1725745

Fabio8 you do make me laugh sometimes.
You are aware that colm O'Rourke is the manager of the most successful navan school club in Ireland aren't you??.
I think his credentials are well known throughout the country, but maybe not as far as Tyrone obviously. If you don't like his punditry then fine say that, but don't make up stuff to back up your argument.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/05/2015 19:58:55    1725796

most successful on what basis?..tyrone?..his punditry offers nothing but 'in my day' comments....he has no credentials in the modern game..we are talking about inter county football here not some school team where lots of people have strong credentials...his analysis shows this as hes only interested in being negative and provided the public with sub standard analysis....i know your a big fan royaldunne but the truth hurts

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 20/05/2015 13:35:41    1726059

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 7419

1725796 Fabio8 you do make me laugh sometimes.
You are aware that colm O'Rourke is the manager of the most successful navan school club in Ireland aren't you??.
I think his credentials are well known throughout the country, but maybe not as far as Tyrone obviously. If you don't like his punditry then fine say that, but don't make up stuff to back up your argument.
______________________________
Thats right cos we do like to keep abreast of the happenings in the Navan school scene round these parts.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 20/05/2015 14:02:13    1726074

It took me moving out of Ireland to realise that we, as a nation, are generally pretty negative people, we just love to complain and you can't deny that! (Think of all the jokes when you ask for news and your told about a funeral or the rain).

The three of them would drive ya up the wall, shouting over each other and point blank refusing to listen to the other's opinions. Once the shouting starts happening I generally switch station. Get rid of em I say (although I do agree with Brolly on a lot of things!).

pati (Meath) - Posts: 80 - 20/05/2015 14:35:57    1726093

Question 1.
How long have you been watching All Ireland Football Semi Finals ?

Question 2
During those years in which year did the 2 games (+ repalys if applicable) present the best football

Contest/excitment/drama/Skill/Fitness/Ability/ and overall entertainment


Ill go first >30 and 2014

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 20/05/2015 16:40:46    1726165