Great result for Connacht seeing as they only get about a third of the money that Leinster get from the IRFU.

Clash-of-da-ash (Galway) - Posts: 927 - 06/10/2008 17:20:35    114429

Watching soccer since 1961 and must say that Le Tissier is the best English footballer I have ever seen. A genius. France, Italy, Germany and others would have built a team around him, but England hate "footballers" and prefer grafters like Gerard and co to footballers like McKenzie, Worthington, Marsh, Bowles, Currie, Hudson and such.

Interestingly enough I have been in Manchester for a few days and met someone (after all these years) who shares my views on soccer, such as the idea that Cantona and the Portuguese Ronaldo look OK in England, with the worst defences in the world, but struggle in Europe and internationally.

After a long discussion we concluded that Zidane was the last GREAT footballer, and Messi is the best around today, but merely very good.

Alas most players are over rated these days and called "great" without doing much (the Portuguese Ronaldo being a star example) so this Manchester lad and myselof are in a minority of two.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 06/10/2008 19:48:41    114496

gutted for the ghoys,TEEEEE HEEEEEEE.
thought it was the railway cup there for a minute

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 06/10/2008 21:14:19    114526

dwinkle
County: Longford
Posts: 125

114398 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
up to this have you been telling them that new york and london are in connacht, and warickshire in ulster

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 06/10/2008 21:17:22    114528

I myself thought Eric Cantona was the main reason for the United revivial and dominance of the 90's. After all its the games against the likes of Middlesborough and Wigan that win you the title. As regards Europe, I think its an easier competition to win than the premiership. All you have to do is win 7 games where as you have to win 28+ to win the premiership. I mean Porto and a bad Liverpool team have won the Champions League in recent years.

As regards Le Tissier, he was a player with great technique and skill but his poor work rate meant he only won 7 England caps. Also his love for Guernsey didn't help either in regards him moving to a bigger club.

Clash-of-da-ash (Galway) - Posts: 927 - 06/10/2008 22:33:11    114572

Phil Neville, a candidate for worst footballer ever until Alan Smith appeared to see off all comers, won mpore caps that all the players I mentioned put together.

As I said, in England they do not like footballers, they prefer runners. Hence their appalling record at international level, compared to the likes of Belgium.

Work rate? Did anyone ever see Ronaldinho, Pele, Maradona, Zidane or Cruff helping out in defence?

I know teams need water carriers like Keane (Roy) and Gerrard, but I still prefer watching footballers.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 07/10/2008 00:11:10    114596

Clash, you said the wrong thing. If you think I am bad on matters GAA, do not start me on other sports.

The Champions League in my opinion is bent. Shared around to spread the wealth a wee bit. Do not be overly surprised if a German team wins it this year.

You mentioned Porto, a G14 club (that was important) and Liverpool. To cut a long story short Porto won it in the year Deportivo drew with Shelbourne but beat Milan 4-0, overturning a 4-1 mauling in the first leg, one night after Monaco were 5-1 aggregate down to Real Madrid before recovering to score 5, and win 6-5. Wow. Unbelievable as everyone said. Exactly.

The year Liverpool won all the critics pointed out that they were a poor side because they had no plan B. Once they went behind, end of story. In the premiership they went behoind 10 times, lost them all to powerful sides like my own City, Everton, Norwich and the other relegated teams.

In the final they are 3-0 down to the best team in the world. I tell the bloke next to me in the pub that Liverpool will win, on penalties as you get more adverts in that way (the adverts are the main exercise of the night, the football is only to draw an audience). I proceed to take £20 of him.

Now, I didn't do that bet because I thought Liverpool were a good team. As I said at the time, there was more likelihood of Antrim coming from 20 points down to Kilkenny, and rallying to beat them in the All Ireland final.

So, I admit the Champions League is devalued, but in the league you do not have to win it, just come in the top four, as it is just a qualifying tournament for the CL and more riches. The only "big" country that places an emphasis on winning it is England, and I put that down to an island mentality and Sky sports salesmanship.

When did Milan last win a league?

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 07/10/2008 22:38:52    115199

pat...
normally i agree with most of the thing you have to say, but to say the milan/liverpool final was a set up is a bit much!!!
so you feel that shev hit the ball off dudeks hand at the end of normal time????
milan did not want a second half like that, liverpool did not envisage a first half like that either.
just a freakish(but also the greatest final ever) game....

milhouse (Cavan) - Posts: 469 - 08/10/2008 04:06:18    115226

Pat... For God's sake...

TheRevolution (Mayo) - Posts: 487 - 08/10/2008 14:03:44    115516

Taxi for Patrique!!!

Come on man, thats pie in the sky stuff!!! Sure you could apply the same crazy logic to the AI and make a case for it being fixed.

Your contradicting yourself re: Le Tissier and Cantona. You dont rate Cantona but think Le Tissier is the best English player ever? Two great players you either appreciate both for their moments of genius or disregard both for their lack of workrate.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12387 - 08/10/2008 15:29:23    115580

That's when I knew Shevchenko was great. He heads the ball straight at Dudek but he spills it. Now any normal person running the way Shev was would have simply collided with the loose ball and knocked it into the net. But Shev, watch it closely, manages to swivel and knock the ball back to Dudek. Sheer unadultered class, no-one else could have kept the ball out. Mind you, when Liverpool took the penalty in the second half the photo from behind the goals of the entire Milan team studying what looks like a menu, gives the game away. If you recall the shot was stopped, 8 Liverpool men charged in. Milan? Folding the menu away. Le Tiss was the best English player I saw, and I admit there have only been a few great English players in my close to fifty years watching. Cantona was French, and I admit I started watching English soccer again when he was at Leeds. Looked great in England, not so great elsewhere. A bit like the Portuguese Ronaldo I suspect. I doubt if he would muster 10 goals in Spain or Italy. A good player, scores and can head a ball, but hardly a super star as portrayed by the media. His inability to beat defenders, outside of England, is a worry.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 08/10/2008 20:40:56    115745

C'mon Patrique - next you'll be telling us that Dana winning the Eurovision was rigged! Honestly you seem to think there are conspiracies about All Kinds of Everything!!!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 08/10/2008 22:37:32    115831

Liverpool's win over City last weekend was a fix too!!!

TheRevolution (Mayo) - Posts: 487 - 09/10/2008 13:26:10    116262

Nice one Jayo.

I would tell you about the 1999 Heineken Rugby cup when it was fixed as part of the N.Ireland peace process. Ulster, who have not won a game before or since, were allowed to win it to bring us all together at the final in Dublin. Hardened GAA men waving Ulster flags, it worked a treat.

But I cannot tell you about that as it would upset others on here, who claim to know everything that is going on in the North.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 09/10/2008 21:08:08    116634

Good one P.

I am gonna suggest to the fix-it authorities than we need a Leinster H Cup win in order to integrate the D4 brigade into mainstream Irish culture - whaddya think??

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 09/10/2008 21:29:43    116648

On that basis everyone hates Mayo and doesn't want us to be happy...

TheRevolution (Mayo) - Posts: 487 - 09/10/2008 21:35:55    116653

Did anyone tell Gregory Campbell that Antrim is now part of Leinster ? I wonder how he would feel about this. Would he say we were stealing it back bit by bit ?

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 09/10/2008 22:08:53    116687

Not a bad idea Jayo.

I have always said that if the GAA went professional, the Dubs would be allowed to do the double the first year, and Antrim the next year to maximise merchandise sales in the counties with the biggest populations.

As for Gregory, he agreed to a united Ireland years ago, thinking about permanent power in a DUP/Fianna Fail coalition. (think about it)

Other large parties in the North are holding things up until they establish a bigger voting base in the south.

Even the dogs in the street know that, to quote Gregory's former leader.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 10/10/2008 00:22:12    116748

Another load of baloney, Pat.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 10/10/2008 10:12:16    116840

You must be a member Slasher, sure they don't tell the party faithful anything. No-one knew about Charlie, Bertie, Ray etc etc etc.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 10/10/2008 18:57:06    117186