Dunno Woops, Doyle is good but I think we over rate him over here, as we do all our players

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8170 - 02/12/2008 14:27:12    154730

Doyle would not be the best finisher i nthe premiership but ithink he would be a good asset al lthe same. think with someone like him he might actually get the likes of Cahill into the game more.
Yakubu might not have been having a great season buthe is still an awful loss.
Cahill really needs to up his game for this month.
At least our defense seems to have eventually got back to last years form

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 02/12/2008 15:26:53    154813

any particular reason why the 2011 rugby world cup draw has been made now?

Murt (Donegal) - Posts: 252 - 02/12/2008 15:47:55    154849

Arteta is the problem, Surviving on reputation alone. Cant remember the last time he delivered a good free, or cleared the first man on a corner. He has not dont it now for over a year and if he was dropped it wouldnt be the worst thing. Osman is a game lad but wouldnt get close to the top 4 teams or even Spurs/City/Villa. Its the like of Ossie, game as he is, that are keeping us from making it as a real contender. If Arteta wants to sulk or parade around like he is too good for us (maybe he is) then get shot of him, and use Ossie off the bench, cos the likes of him and Hibbert are not Top 5 material, or even close.

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8170 - 02/12/2008 15:59:31    154859

Ya agree Arteta is nowhere at his best either this year.
Have to say though I have a soft spot for Arteta, i never realised how good he was until i watched him live when Everton beat Blackburn 1-0. after having our young 2nd choice keeper sent off after 10 mins,replaced by a kindergarten kid in goal and then having 3 goals dissallowed for offside but beattie still scored a classy header. Arteta and Beattie were immense that day.
Seems our strikers badly suffer from the 2nd year syndrome, beattie, johnson all had poor 2nd seasons.And Yakubu never got going this year and topped if off with his injury.

Not too sure why castillo is not getting a run, he seemed fairly gamey at the start,thought he would be an addition this year but he getting piles on his **** these days.
Hibbert seems to be one of Moyes favourites, he adds absolutely nothing in an attacking sense and is still only a solid defender,nothing to shout home about.

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 02/12/2008 17:18:02    154966

As much logic as the post that promised to send the Munster U16s up to beat Ulster, my dear Hag and Cheese.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 02/12/2008 17:50:30    155049

liam / woops,,,, give up this everton nonsense,,, was talking to a fella on sunday nite who said that spurs and everton should both b relegated after the rubbish they served up on sunday

sons.of.erin (UK) - Posts: 343 - 02/12/2008 18:02:12    155075

Speaking of Ulster rugby Hag, we are handicapped in that the Catholic colleges do not embrace the game.

There are no Presentation, Christian or La Salle brothers promoting rugby up here as happens in Munster.

Can you imagine Tohill as a Number 8 or flanker, Canavan as a stand off/scrum half, Downey, McGeeney or Marsden as centres.

Throw in a few GAA men along with the rest, and 5 top notch Kiwis, and we would be as good as any.

And it is only in the professional era that Ulster has been surpassed. Top Kiwis and others shy away from Belfast because of the stigma still attached to the troubles, once they realise Belfast is booming with night life as good as anywhere, things might change.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 02/12/2008 23:12:11    155455

Sons of Erin, Everton are at home to Aston Villa this sunday.
What way do you think it will go!!

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/12/2008 11:06:51    155650

Agreed that the schools don't embrace it but are Ulster Rugby actively trying to promote the game here. Look at castletroy college new school only 5 or 6 years old won munster senior and junior cups last year they targeted rugby in this school, other than there there's a stronghold of schools that win it similar to ulster.

On the foreign players side munster spotted players sean payne, trevor halstad and to a lesser extent jim williams not exactly household names now were they they developed their reputation as winners and the truely top knotch player that they have got from that is howlett, topki although a nz maouri never a big name and mafi was brought in when he was 20.

Maybe the work isn't been put in enough at ground level rugby is still well supportered in ulster. Ulster won the heinken cup first they had something to build on.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 03/12/2008 12:10:44    155735

villa 2-0. come on the villa

teebear (Westmeath) - Posts: 48 - 03/12/2008 13:04:06    155784

Woops did u hear the latest, we are in for Nugent again. Suffering jesus!! Back to the days of Spencer, Madar, Bakayoko and Barlow with this one!!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8170 - 03/12/2008 15:18:59    155913

How are Liverpool top of the league?? Think of their performances so far!! I just think that the three big guns havent started firing yet..

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 03/12/2008 15:33:31    155935

Nugent, suffering sucatage. an ok championship striker that all.
to be honest i would prefer sylvester the cat up front than that D rated striker

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/12/2008 15:37:09    155942

Think Liverpool have blown their chance to win the title.
They might be top u say, but utd and Chelsea relly kick on after xmas, liverpol could be easily 6/7 points ahaead at this stage but they have failed to make hay while the sun shines.
think they will finish 3rd.
as much as i dislike liverpool, i do hope Robbie starts getting a few goals,would be a shame if he was given the door after just a season

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/12/2008 15:40:16    155948

Who's gonna win the big fight this weekend lads, De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao? Would Hatton have a fighting chance against either?

mid-mon man (Monaghan) - Posts: 1680 - 03/12/2008 16:07:06    156001

Hag, I wasn't attacking Munster, I am sitting here wearing a Munster jersey at the moment.

All players from New Zealand are big names. They lost 17 players this year and their 2nd team have just completed an easy grand slam.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 03/12/2008 18:33:33    156212

Woops, regarding Liverpool.

You said Utd and Chelski kick on after xmas, but you're forgetting that's exactly when we hit form too. Without fail. We're usually just too far behind the pack for it to mean anything!!

I was at game on Monday, and we blew a great chance, but no the title, yet. We have 6 from six so far from the top 3....

Arsenal to come in couple of weeks so who knows??? Utd have to go to Japan in Jan so that could be disastrous for them.

We'll keep kicking on. We'll be there come May, I'm confident of that

TheRevolution (Mayo) - Posts: 487 - 03/12/2008 20:56:01    156347

mid-mon man
County: Monaghan
Posts: 1022

156001 Who's gonna win the big fight this weekend lads, De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao? Would Hatton have a fighting chance against either?

Its a tough one to call, going to go for De La Hoya myself, think he will just edge it. Would worry about Hatton having to step up to Welterweight to fight him, i think he would have a better chance against Pacquiao but still only about 50-50

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 04/12/2008 09:21:55    156553

re: patrique

Sorry bout that I read into the post as a stab at munster, being a bit defensive as there a lot of that going on lately...

Granted i see your point about ulster, is rugby still seen as more of a protestant sport in ulster hence the catholic colleges not getting involved in this day and age that's gotta stop. if so is ulster rugby doing anything to change this.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 04/12/2008 10:20:23    156605