Berbatov will sulk if taken off and won't work anything like Keane. Did you see the guy against PSV? Real or someone will come knocking about Berbatov and he'll throw a strop and won't want to play. Give me a player with Robbie's attitude any day!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 03/10/2008 10:46:19    113158

Looking down and out at Goodison Park after Everton bit the dust against Standard Liege last nite.beforehand I fancied to give the Uefa Cup a good rattle.
Still reckon its not too late to save ourseason and Moyes is still the man for the job.
Can't see what is so wrong, we were pathetic last nite and the defense is a shambles. Surely Lee carsley wasn't the VITAL cog in this team last year!

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/10/2008 10:55:38    113169

Thomas Clarke County: Tyrone Posts: 63 112819 Right lads, who is going to win the Arc De Triomphe (Europe's biggest horse race, also richest horse race in the world run on turf) on Sunday? I have my own opinions but would like to get the view of others before I preview the big race. -------------------------------- Zarkava. Soldier of Fortune and Duke of Marmalade are strong gallopers, but Zarkava looks to be different class. The new Dancing Brave? ________________________________________________ Zarkava is the most likely winner, Thomas but by no means is she a 7/4 chance. She's just drawn stall one (not 100% sure of this but I think there has only ever been one winner of the Arc who came from that stall). Plus she has to race against the colts for the first time. On the other hand, her Prix Vermeille win was the most scintillating win I've seen from a horse in Europe all year and she has answered every question asked of her so far in the best possible fashion. But I won't be backing her. When Murtagh chooses between SOF and the Duke, that will make things a little bit easier. If I was him, I would be picking SOF but it wouldn't surprise if he picked the Duke and SOF won. Soldier has been trained with this race in mind and probably would have been third last year only for traffic problems. I don't think soft ground is a neccessity for him, he could well run to his best on good ground (which is what its likely to be). Surely the Duke will feel the affects of a hard season if he runs in this against this calibre of opposition. Youmzain remains an enigma. Can't understand putting Hills on him over Hughes (one of the best jocks at the minute). I couldn't say for definite that Youmzain won't win but I think it will take another career best from him to take it. Vison D'etat, Papal Bull, Zambezi Sun, Getaway and Kamsin all have chances but they are up against it. Having said that, it would not be the first time Fabre got one of his horses to run way above their previous best to win the Arc. So I would be wary of ruling out Getaway. The only other horse I have neglected to mention is the one who I think will go very close - Meisho Samson. Bit of a superstar in Japan, it will not surprise me if he goes where Deep Impact could not. He is clearly a very useful sort (the horses he has been running against are top class) and 16/1 is a bit big. I'm on at bigger prices already so hopefully he runs well. Actually another whom I have to mention is the 100/1 Cima De Triomphe. This was an impressive winner of the Italian Derby earleir in the year and 100/1 is way too big. Usually a big priced horse nicks a place in the Arc - this year, he could be the one.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 03/10/2008 10:56:45    113170

samin10
County: Armagh
Posts: 1374

113155 Loyal Youmzain each way or Duke to win
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Best of luck Sam, I couldn't back either of them, to be honest but who knows?

Hard luck on Wednesday BTW, maybe next time.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 03/10/2008 10:59:02    113178

Right I have got the full draw.

Zarkava drawn in one and will have to bid to become the first horse in 47 years to win from that stall apparantly. However it is better to be drawn lower rather than higher. The stat may say she can't win but in reality it is not that bad.

The Duke is drawn 14 of 14. That is not good as he will have to tack across and sit well off the pace. Normally he has been up in the first five or so in all his races. Basically if he is to win, then it will take a bit of a Hurricane Run job!!!!

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 03/10/2008 11:08:22    113188

lads..why do ye think the likes of berbatov or ronaldo dont track back. its because if you had 11 wayne rooneys on the pitch all tracking back all blocking on the edge of their own box, then when the ball breaks who will they pass it to up the pitch. the secter to attacking teams play is to play on the counter attack. invite teams on to you and when they commit men forward hit them on the break. no point having 100 million quids worth of attacking talent all defending on the edge of your box.

howshecuttin (Longford) - Posts: 376 - 03/10/2008 11:20:50    113195

i take it jayo past it on to you, yeah unfortunately ground went against him, won at laytown few weeks back. looking at dundalk for a few runs in near future. Dont think murtagh has made his mind up yet which horse to ride?

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 03/10/2008 11:36:49    113206

samin10 County: Armagh Posts: 1376 113206 i take it jayo past it on to you, yeah unfortunately ground went against him, won at laytown few weeks back. looking at dundalk for a few runs in near future. Dont think murtagh has made his mind up yet which horse to ride? _________________________________________________ Murtagh declared to ride the Duke, Sam. If he dosen't run, then I suppose Heffernan loses out and Murtagh rides SOF.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 03/10/2008 11:49:45    113223

Howshecutting i agree with ur there. in sport today players are getting so fit that the high prioroty players seem to be now the ones with high work rate nothing taking into acount how limited they are. prime examples kilbane and stephen hunt. i a pity. before Matthew Le Tissier used to scratch his **** for 89 mins and then do one majestic piece of skill and get a goal. it players like him i would go to pay to watch, not numb skulls that run their **** into the ground and then can't hit a barn door from 5 yards. But for top quality teams, all players will have to havee some sort of work rate, that why LeTiss would not have been a great player at a top team

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/10/2008 11:49:46    113224

yeah woops...agree about Le Tissier alrite..he was a legend at southampton. i heard an interview with Jeff Kenna once and when he was at southampton he said when they got the ball they passed it to Le Tiss...when Le Tiss lost it they would get it back and pass it straight back to Le Tiss. he's the sort of player that every player wants to be. tell me one player that dreams of becoming a Dirk Kuyt or a Kevin Kilbane. same as ronaldo...he would lose his attacking flair if he defended all the time. thats why rooneys game has suffered because he tracks back so much.

howshecuttin (Longford) - Posts: 376 - 03/10/2008 12:53:22    113287

Thomas Clarke
County: Tyrone
Posts: 63

112819 Right lads, who is going to win the Arc De Triomphe (Europe's biggest horse race, also richest horse race in the world run on turf) on Sunday?

I have my own opinions but would like to get the view of others before I preview the big race.
--------------------------------
Zarkava. Soldier of Fortune and Duke of Marmalade are strong gallopers, but Zarkava looks to be different class. The new Dancing Brave?


Only a dungannon man could turn it to punting......we're all victims of hughes and toals

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 03/10/2008 15:29:18    113420

WELL!! :D What do yee all think of THAT!??! Connacht 19-18 Leinster!!!

COME ON CONNCHT!!! A great performace with 14 men for a large majority of the 2nd half!!! A super game!! Again, COME ON CONNACHT!!!:D

TheRevolution (Mayo) - Posts: 487 - 05/10/2008 21:35:38    113937

beaten by the poor relation. how embarrassing is that. hang your heads in shame leinster

Daftbeggar (Galway) - Posts: 38 - 06/10/2008 14:26:07    114277

Youmzain at 14-1 was the bet for the arc, did not go to mad to be honest but still nice to get a bit of a win.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 06/10/2008 14:51:36    114304

113420 Thomas Clarke
County: Tyrone
Posts: 63

Zarkava. Soldier of Fortune and Duke of Marmalade are strong gallopers, but Zarkava looks to be different class. The new Dancing Brave? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wise_guy
County: Tyrone
Posts: 114
Only a dungannon man could turn it to punting......we're all victims of hughes and toals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Very true, very true. Anyway, hopefully you had a few pounds on Zarkava - she really is different class. No doubt about it now!

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 06/10/2008 15:00:36    114315

Liverpool are looking more and more like actual contenders for the title now, showing alot of grit with these comebacks. Still don't think they'll actually win it though, they're masters at flattering to deceive!

mid-mon man (Monaghan) - Posts: 1680 - 06/10/2008 15:04:18    114319

it's hulls to lose lads.

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 06/10/2008 15:14:56    114326

Ah the Leinster heads refusing to comment... Excellent xD

TheRevolution (Mayo) - Posts: 487 - 06/10/2008 16:21:36    114374

Great to see Leinster lose but even greater to see Connacht are still on the up!

Lpool title contenders, are you serious. Are they going to murder the other 3 teams or what? They'll struggle after 10 matches like they always do. No full backs and no striker to hold the ball....if City buy a lot and cleverly they'll beat them without doubt

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 06/10/2008 16:41:18    114385

With Connaught now being part of Leinster, does this mean that the rugby teams will merge. It would be a great benefit to Leinster after the result at the weekend.
When teaching the kids about the Counties in each Province do I now tell them that there are 14 in Leinster, 8 in Ulster and 4 in Connaught?

dwinkle (Longford) - Posts: 176 - 06/10/2008 16:49:33    114398