How awful are RTE's panellists?

[OwlsFan]

to be fair, it was only 1-0 and pretty even at half time. I didn't see the second half, but I'm guessing North Korea fell apart!

I think you might be right.

As for your blogger friend, that's the view of one blogger quoting the usual cliches: Laughing Bill "feigns cluelessness and apathy" (how does he know that?). It looks pretty genuine to me. None of the panelists is " afraid to speak his mind and neither sits on the fence" (i.e. none of the panelists elsewhere has any opinion and never says anything is boring - this is patently untrue); all three, "have a genuine love for football, real passion that hasn't dwindled or been watered down throughout their combined 140 years in the game. That's what makes them so interesting and enjoyable to watch". Of course, the panelists on the other channels hate football. "They don't try to sell us anything and they don't make excuses for players or teams who aren't performing well enough. If a game has been cr*p they say so" Another great misconception. The other panels say the same thing except without the word cr*p and therein lies the difference. He then praises Apres Match. Can anyone actually tell the difference between the latter and the real thing because I think they have got them down to a t ?

And without wishing to harp back to my main point, no other TV station would have been allowed its panel poisonously to attack whatever incumbent national manager there was for the past 22 years without some sort of balance. Saipan apart, RTE never had that.

[osarusan]

I'm going out on a limb here OwlsFan, but I'm beginning to sense in you a slight distaste for the RTE panel and presenter.

[thischarmingman]

Wasn't sure where to put this, it's not RTE bashing, just something I found interesting:

Souness on England:

http://legendaire.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/the-real-reason-why-england-are-in-trouble/

[Stuttgart88]

I watched RTE in my local in Kilburn tonight (Spain v Honduras). Far superior to UK analysis, not even close. Brady, Giles & Whelan, and good questions from Bill.

[bennocelt]

I watched RTE in my local in Kilburn tonight (Spain v Honduras). Far superior to UK analysis, not even close. Brady, Giles & Whelan, and good questions from Bill.

And Southgate shaking his head wondering where Iniesta was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Charlie Darwin]

I thought Hamann was really good and the other panelists seemed to really take to him too. Ardiles also had a very good debut and it's good to have somebody in there with a background in a completely different footballing tradition.

[endabob1]

Turned on the Chile Switzerland game yesterday evening and Eoin Hand was doing the studio analysis bit for Supersport here in SA, unfortunately I missed the end of it so I didn't get to hear him but I thought it was a bit of an odd one. I'll look out for him in the future, I suspect he's only just joined up with them because I haven't seen him before

[Ciprian Marica]

Souness seems to be going on a bit of a solo run with this altitude lark. Haven't heard it from anyone else. Surely if this was the issue we'd have heard about it from the camp or from other commentators?

[bennocelt]

Turned on the Chile Switzerland game yesterday evening and Eoin Hand was doing the studio analysis bit for Supersport here in SA, unfortunately I missed the end of it so I didn't get to hear him but I thought it was a bit of an odd one. I'll look out for him in the future, I suspect he's only just joined up with them because I haven't seen him before

Didnt he play/manage in S Africa? Or am I completely wrong

[tetsujin1979]

he did manage in South Africa, read an interview with him before talking about how he used to have security escort him to games, and even to training, simply because he was a white man training black players

[Noelys Guitar]

Eoin on his time in South Africa. Good and bad.
That message he found even harder to transmit at Amazulu in South Africa. “Long before going as a coach I had played in Pretoria and it was fabulous. I knew South Africa. At our club, Vincent Julius was one of the first black players and when, at the end-of-season dinner dance, the chairman said he had to leave after the food we all walked out. Ruined their night.

“But this was apartheid in reverse. Basically, I was used as a bit of a pawn to test the water with a black club and see how a white coach would go down. It was only pre-season and I was saying to these guys ‘look, I’m Irish. I’m not racist, I have no political affiliations. I’m here to help your club’. Didn’t matter a damn, they just didn't want a white coach.

“There were death threats, stones thrown, spat at. I had to change hotel rooms because I was getting anonymous calls saying ‘we are coming to kill you if you don't listen and go’. And the cops said ‘don’t take this as a joke’. So it was scary. Then at one training session a crowd of 40 formed and surrounded me. I argued with them and tried a different tack, ‘just let me get on with my work’. But then one came from behind and said ‘you are not listening. Last time. If you come back we will kill you.’ Fair enough. You win.

[endabob1]

Well I never knew that, but it does explain why he's here.

These days 99% of the players are black or coloured (hangover from apartheid divide and conquer classifications) but most of the coaches are white, a couple with Irish connections, Owen da gama is currently in charge of Bloem Celtic. Sammy Troughton once of Glentoran was in charge of Black Aces until he got canned when they were bottom of the league, they stayed up in a play-off I think.
Hristo Stoichkov was in charge of Sundowns (SA's Man City loads of money but they still can't win anything) Ruud Krol is manager of Orlando Pirates, Former Dutch U21 manager Foppe de Haan is Ajax Cape Town's coach.

[OwlsFan]

Interesting add that comes beside your post for www.BlackBBWSingles.com :). Do the adds pick up on the content of the posts? I'll try too then: nude nude nude nude

[elroy]

Some of ye may have got this email today on the various punditry for yday's England game, worth a read! Imagine for one day, just throwing Dunph into a BBC studio.


Well, Gary Lineker had good news for the English nation yesterday, telling them the BBC’s sources had reliably informed him Stevie would be playing through the middle against Slovenia, “at the head of the diamond”.
Gary, the two Als, Hansen and Shearer, and Lee Dixon then based their entire pre-match analysis on their source’s disclosure, which was unfortunate because the information was thoroughly incorrect.
Roy Hodgson tried to warn them, insisting Stevie would, most probably, play on the left, but Lee Dixon hoped, trusted and prayed he was wrong.
“If he’s playing on the left today we should all pack up and go home,” he sighed.
Match time. Stevie on the left. Lee dusting down his rucksack. But wait, goal. England. Up and running?
Half-time. Fantasy World Cup Punditry, all of them in the one studio. Ready?
Hansen: “Once England got the goal the confidence levels surged, they were excellent.”
Eamon Dunphy: “They just didn’t grow in confidence at all after the goal.”
Lineker: “The goal really settled them, didn’t it? They pushed on from there.”
Ronnie Whelan: “You’d think they’d have kicked on from when they scored, but they actually got worse.”
Roy: “England’s crossing has been absolutely outstanding.”
Giles: “Some of the crossing was just awful.”
Shearer: “Rooney looks more confident, he’s getting around the pitch a lot better.”
Dunphy: “It’s shocking to see Rooney so subdued, he’s been reduced to a shivering wreck.”
Shearer: “They look much more comfortable on the ball, they’re passing it with a purpose, with pace, they’re closing down – a much better performance, it’s encouraging.”
Giles: “They’re much better than they have been, but they couldn’t have been worse.”
No arguments, then. Second half. England held on. Full-time. Ready?
Lee Dixon: “A great performance.”
Dunphy: “Shocking . . . absolutely incredibly bad . . . pretty awful stuff.”
Hansen: “The commitment was there, the spirit was there, the enterprise was there, the creativity was there, they passed it better – they could have scored five or six quite easily. Capello will obviously be delighted with the performance.”
Giles: “If that’s the shackles off what’ll they be like when the shackles are back on?”
’Arry Redknapp: “We played with pace, we got after them, we pressed them, there wasn’t a weakness in the team.”
Dunphy: “They were astonishingly poor.”
Lineker: “He looked more like the Rooney we know.”
Ronnie: “Rooney is a major worry, his form, his body language, his demeanour, everything.”
Dixon: “Gerrard was outstanding.”
Dunphy: “I can’t believe how bad Gerrard was today.”
’Arry: “Across midfield we were top drawer.”
Giles: “Barry got worse as the game went on, Milner, Gerrard and Lampard the same.”
’Arry: “Bring it on! Whoever we play we’ll be difficult to beat.”
Ronnie: “If they don’t improve they’ll go straight out, it was a very, very inept performance.”

[OwlsFan]

I was quite impressed with Dinny last night on the Panel. Talks a lot of sense, is articulate and didn't agree with Dunphy most of time. In fact the latter was quite isolated without his "I agree with Eamon" senior analyst buddy. Surprised though that Dinny knew about the personal life of one of the USA players (Donovan?) which Laughing Bill and Dunphy found hilarious. In fact LB made some total non sequitur about one of the women at the end which made no sense and which threw Dunphy in to hysterics. Unprofession slagging someone off about their private love life but...I'll say no more.

By the way, as you listen to Dunphy slag off England, you might be interested in who one of his tips was to reach the Final:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA5wyinbKcg&feature=related

Changed his spots. Now there's a surprise.

And by the way, Dinny and Brady were more positive about the England performance in the evening than Giles and Dunphy. When the latter two aren't jeering Ireland, they carry it on to England. That's what they do, that's what they've always done, despite one of them recommending people to back England for the Final. Pathetic.

[bennocelt]

To be fair to Dunphy most punters are getting a roasting!! Funny that he has now Holland in his uptodate tips - never mentioned them at the start

BBC were a joke yesterday - total opposite to RTE. According to hansen Gerrard was brilliant in the Algeria game, tracking back, linking, etc. According to RTE he wasnt doing anything in the centre. Gerrard was rubbish in the Algeria game
Gabby Logan was a joke yesterday, what kind of interview was that!!!

Has anyone seen Keegan on ITV, he is by far the worst, even saying England played well against the USA!

And according to ITV news later that night, England are going to play Argentina in the quarter finals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shakermaker1982]

Mark Lawrenson was nauseating yesterday. RTE should offer him a huge contract and poach him from the BBC so I can listen to somebody who actually knows something about football!!!

[osarusan]

Lawrenson's "should have been a plumber" comment was bad right.

Though I thought his point about England looking for the killer pass when they'd have been wiser to keep the ball was correct.

His bias in commentary is terrible though, I'd expect it from the farce that is Clive Tyldsley on ITV, but not from the BBC.

[OwlsFan]

With the exit of France and Italy, I am bracing myself (if it hasn't already happened) for a major onslaught by the G & D and Laughing Bill on Trappatoni.

[tetsujin1979]

With the exit of France and Italy, I am bracing myself (if it hasn't already happened) for a major onslaught by the G & D and Laughing Bill on Trappatoni.
would you expect them to praise the two former champions?

[Murfinator]

Hamann was very knowledgeable, as is Ardles although he talks a bit quickly. <.<

When Irwin speaks he usually has something worthwhile to say, as does Kilbane.

I don't really like Whelan, his knowledge is limited. Johnny Giles even moreso although at the very least to his credit if he doesn't know something he won't spoof it like Dunphy would.

Dunphy and Souness are monkeys who I presume are only there for entertainment since they certianly don't bring useful insights to the table.

Cunningham is probably my favourite panelist, I don't know why he isn't there. Good speaker, good tactical insight and knowledgable too.

[Mental Man]

Just imagine Shoddy on the panel, be glad you have Gilsey, Brady, and screwball Dunphy, at least they know a bit about soccer .

[Riddickcule]

Brady is the most boring pundit I've ever watched. Never smiles.

Thats one thing i can't stand, when they never smile ala Brady and Hamann so far. The rest are more upbeat and up for a laugh.

[Ciprian Marica]

Watched the BBC's analysis of the England match yesterday. Although they were scathing of the team and the management, they didn't (or weren't able to) offer any opinion on why England were so outclassed.
A lot of talk about tactics and "dreadful defending" but the only one that could see the bigger picture was Harry Redknapp. For me, he correctly pointed out the different footballing culture and style of play that Germany and the other big guns are operating in.

[OwlsFan]

Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo. I turned over from RTE as the panel went on ad nauseum as usual about him ("See, we told you we were right"). They were even prepared with the clips so it all pre-planned. He wasn't effective ok (putting it mildly) and a few comments to that effect would have been fine, but it was the usual Panel stuff about him like a bone they won't let go. The match itself seemed to be very much second fiddle to his performance.

There are five things you are guaranteed from the RTE Panel: (a) They will attack the Irish manager no matter who he is, (b) Giles will repeat himself and say "I know I am repeating myself", (c) Laughing Bill will laugh especially now that he has had his teeth whitened (d), they will attack Ronaldo and (e) Giles will say "I agree with Eamonn" and Dunphy will say "I agree with John".

But then I suppose I am like someone with a bone which I won't let go :)

[slightly]

Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo. I turned over from RTE as the panel went on ad nauseum as usual about him ("See, we told you we were right"). They were even prepared with the clips so it all pre-planned. He wasn't effective ok (putting it mildly) and a few comments to that effect would have been fine, but it was the usual Panel stuff about him like a bone they won't let go. The match itself seemed to be very much second fiddle to his performance.

There are five things you are guaranteed from the RTE Panel: (a) They will attack the Irish manager no matter who he is, (b) Giles will repeat himself and say "I know I am repeating myself", (c) Laughing Bill will laugh especially now that he has had his teeth whitened (d), they will attack Ronaldo and (e) Giles will say "I agree with Eamonn" and Dunphy will say "I agree with John".

But then I suppose I am like someone with a bone which I won't let go :)

Normally I would take all the punditry with a pinch of salt but this tournament has found me paying more attention than is healthy all in the name of putting together podcasts that highlight the shortcomings of both commentary and punditry teams.

Do you ever get the feeling that they forget that we are listening?

Funnily enough the commentary at the end of the Argentina-Mexico match and the start of the Netherlands-Slovakia match dropped out, looks like RTE haven't paid their phone bill.

As I write I'm clipping some of that stuff for the latest podcast.

If you're interested have a listen

http://slightlyoffthepoint.podbean.com/

or on itunes you can (if you like) subscribe for free

http://bit.ly/cBrYFX

all feedback welcome!

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah the Ronaldo stuff is excessive. He was poor last night but he was hardly the only one.

[Docboy]

In fairness to Giles he's usually spot on with regard to his tactical analysis. He was dead right last night picking up on Spain's lack of width, starting to play very similar to Arsenal, something that may cost them in later ties particularly with Capdevila's reluctance to get forward. Not that the BBC picked up on that, too busy with the "we're all having a laugh act". They may have their faults but RTE's panelists are still streets ahead of what is available across the water IMO.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm surprised BBC found any time to analyse the match what with all the talk about Lampard's disallowed goal. Oh wait, they didn't.

[Sullivinho]

But then I suppose I am like someone with a bone which I won't let go :)

I believe I've heard you mention them once or twice right enough ;)

Is the punditry that big a part of the experience for you, that you should find their shortcomings so objectionable? Personally, I find their banter entertaining but when it comes to analytical thinking and forming opinions of games/players/miscellaneous people/etc., they're superflous. I can do that myself.* If the window dressing indulges in contradictory rants, it's no skin off my nose. All of which may be horrifying to some RTE suit who sees their function as enlightening the masses but I suspect their priority is also entertainment over substance/consistency of opinion. I find it interesting that someone should have become so genuinely aggrieved with them though. I guess it depends how seriously someone takes them.

* I will say regarding video analysis, that Kenny Cunningham is the only pundit I find thought-provoking or insightful.

[tetsujin1979]

I'm surprised BBC found any time to analyse the match what with all the talk about Lampard's disallowed goal. Oh wait, they didn't.
to be fair, the short piece by Lawrenson about Spion Kop was excellent.

[Den Perry]

Lawrenson can be good on the Matt Cooper show, but when he's on BBC he's a pain.I hate to say it but Shearer can be quite painful as well,....and Hanson. However, I'd take any of them over listening to Redknapp,Tyler, Keys or that clownn Andy Gray. They have gone so bad that I rarely watch premier league on sky now. at least when they cover the lower division games there is less chance that one of those fools will be on the box

[osarusan]

There are five things you are guaranteed from the RTE Panel: (a) They will attack the Irish manager no matter who he is, (b) Giles will repeat himself and say "I know I am repeating myself", (c) Laughing Bill will laugh especially now that he has had his teeth whitened (d), they will attack Ronaldo and (e) Giles will say "I agree with Eamonn" and Dunphy will say "I agree with John".

But then I suppose I am like someone with a bone which I won't let go :)
You forgot the part where Giles says "We can only go on what we see".

[Noelys Guitar]

You never hear or learn anything new from Dunphy, Giles or Brady. And they only reason they are so well liked is because the competition from the likes of the BBC, Sky and ITV is so poor. Jurgen Klinsman on ESPN has been outstanding during this World Cup. He goes into detail how the German team prepares. Describing how the German back room team make sure the German players are happy and confident before they get out on the pitch. And his knowledge of the other teams is outstanding. Not just the players and managers. But their training routines. Set pieces. Fitness levels.

[endabob1]

General rule of thumb, coaches/managers make good pundits because they actually know a lot about the game.
Ex-players are hit and miss because if they were really knowledgeable they would have gone into coaching/management.

[holidaysong]

George Hamilton was terrible during the Uruguay vs. Ghana match last night. He made so many mistakes in his commentary. Off the top of my head he said that it was the first penalty shoot-out of the tournament (Paraguay vs. Japan was) and that the winner would play either Argentina or Germany (they'll play the Netherlands). There was a lot more than that though. He's usually alright in his commentary so maybe it was just a bad night last night. Trevor Stevens I think was doing co-commentary and didn't correct him once either.

[Stuttgart88]

Jurgen Klinsman on ESPN has been outstanding during this World Cup I agree - he's very articulate and intelligent. The very antithesis of a UK / IRL footballer, for the most part.

[Charlie Darwin]

He was a very intelligent footballer, which is probably part of it. I imagine somebody like Bergkamp would also be really good.

[Spudulika]

The difference with Klinsmann and the other continentals is they see more than the sky leagues! Most other countries have have decent commentary and analysis, how many of the Irish and British heads know about anything more than their own insular world?

[Charlie Darwin]

Eamon Dunphy is the world's foremost expert on La Liga.

[OwlsFan]

Had to laugh at the end of full time in the Ghana vs Uruguay game when Laughing Bill asked Dunphy who he thought would win and Dunphy said "It's anybody's game". "What do you think, John?" "It's anybody's game Bill".

The prolonged discussion they had earlier on the dominance of South American teams and the decline of European football seems to have died a death.

Hamilton mentioned that Ghana were the last African team in the tournament and "carrying the hopes of Africa" at least 15 times. Does he think we all suffer from Alzheimers ?

What was I saying?

[backstothewall]

Was going to just start spouting, but have decided to look at the networks one at a time

RTÉ

Have liked RTÉs coverage best of the 3. Highs & lows obviously, but from what I've seen Dunphy is still Dunphy, and god bless him. I've come to see what people say about Giles having a bit of knowledge, But i still think his time has come, and the same goes for Brady. But its been the others I've liked most. Whelan, and Irwin have been really good, and I would like to see one of them in Giles seat come the next qualifiers. Steven and Souness have been good as well, but for me the real star of the show has been Ozzie Ardiles. I've really liked having a south American view on things. As for Didi Hamann, it doesn't really matter what he says, that Germano-Scouse accent of his is like someone scraping their nails down a blackboard.

Bill should be put out to grass.

BBC

Hansen is all that remains of what used to be excellent coverage, and even he is a shadow of his former self. That perma-tanned jug-eared fool is still has all the authority of an 8 year old sitting on Des Lynams seat on bring your son to work day, and the sooner Colin Murray is given the job the better. The only one who offered any kind of opinion was Adebayor, who was actually very good. And as for that bus....

ITV

Better than they used to be I would have to say, but coming from a very low base. Steve Ryder was rightly dispensed with, and I have to say I like Adrian Chiles in the chair. He asks the right questions of the experts - the questions the man in the street is asking himself - which is something Lineker will never be able to do having played the game. Southgate and Townsend are still awful, and always will be. Keegan was terrible, Chris Coleman actually refered to England as 'we', but Clive Tyldesley and jim Beglin are still a solid team, Beglin in particular is terrific.

Also saw Klinsmann on a channel somewhere, and he was excellent as ever. can't remember which station though

[gaiscíoch]

Was going to just start spouting, but have decided to look at the networks one at a time
BBC
Hansen is all that remains of what used to be excellent coverage, and even he is a shadow of his former self. That perma-tanned jug-eared fool is still has all the authority of an 8 year old sitting on Des Lynams seat on bring your son to work day, and the sooner Colin Murray is given the job the better. The only one who offered any kind of opinion was Adebayor, who was actually very good. And as for that bus....


Don't think these two words should make into the one paragraph....;)

[mypost]

Just watched the wrinklies on RTE dismiss Holland as a poor side. Can't understand why tbh.

Is it because they beat Scotland home and away? Is it that they won all their qualifiers?? Is it that they won all their finals games?? Or that they were the first qualified European team last year?? Beat Brazil maybe??

Or is it, as I suspect, that they didn't think they'd make the final 4 weeks ago in the first place?

[gaiscíoch]

Just watched the wrinklies on RTE dismiss Holland as a poor side. Can't understand why tbh.

Is it because they beat Scotland home and away? Is it that they won all their qualifiers?? Is it that they won all their finals games?? Or that they were the first qualified European team last year?? Beat Brazil maybe??

Or is it, as I suspect, that they didn't think they'd make the final 4 weeks ago in the first place?

To be fair I don't think they are writing them off a poor side.
They have the "Beautiful Game" goggles on and Holland don't really play in the way we all expect them to or have become accustomed to. In an ideal world Holland will not win the world cup with the mindset they play with.

For example (correct me if you can point out the positives) Van Bommel and De Jong (although he didn't play tonight) it's very hard to see what they bring to a game other than the G.B.H they inflict on other players.

[mypost]

Don't know what they're complaining about though. They've won all their games, scoring a fair quota of goals. They've only won one game 1-0. If they win the final, they deserve the trophy. I have been very impressed with them.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think their hatred of Holland is 99% van Bommel-based, but I do think they're right in that they haven't played with a lot of fluency so far. van Persie's injury seems to be affecting them a lot.

[OwlsFan]

Was Van Persie offside or not for the second goal? He looked level but ITV have this great freeze frame when you can whirl around and look at it from the view of the linesman and while his body was level, his foot was slightly ahead so technically he was offside. From the view the RTE panel, he looked level when the ball was played but that didn't stop Dunphy launching in to one of his attacks on officiating and how he can't understand how linesmen can get their decision right and how poor they are. I still think the latter's job is the most difficult in sport and I am amazed how they get so many correct. A linesman has to be looking at two places at the one time and make a split second decision. The panel is treated to slow motion replays and then castigate the hapless Official. I don't think I'd take on that job for all the money Dunphy makes from being controversial. As for his praise of Kuyt before the game, I almost fell off my chair. He and Giles have incessently attacked the player and yet there were paeans of praise for him last night.

Giles was right about Van Bommel though. He gets away with murder and ironically was booked at the end for protesting about some decision.

[Den Perry]

Was going to just start spouting, but have decided to look at the networks one at a time

RTÉ

Have liked RTÉs coverage best of the 3. Highs & lows obviously, but from what I've seen Dunphy is still Dunphy, and god bless him. I've come to see what people say about Giles having a bit of knowledge, But i still think his time has come, and the same goes for Brady. But its been the others I've liked most. Whelan, and Irwin have been really good, and I would like to see one of them in Giles seat come the next qualifiers. Steven and Souness have been good as well, but for me the real star of the show has been Ozzie Ardiles. I've really liked having a south American view on things. As for Didi Hamann, it doesn't really matter what he says, that Germano-Scouse accent of his is like someone scraping their nails down a blackboard.

Bill should be put out to grass.

BBC

Hansen is all that remains of what used to be excellent coverage, and even he is a shadow of his former self. That perma-tanned jug-eared fool is still has all the authority of an 8 year old sitting on Des Lynams seat on bring your son to work day, and the sooner Colin Murray is given the job the better. The only one who offered any kind of opinion was Adebayor, who was actually very good. And as for that bus....

ITV

Better than they used to be I would have to say, but coming from a very low base. Steve Ryder was rightly dispensed with, and I have to say I like Adrian Chiles in the chair. He asks the right questions of the experts - the questions the man in the street is asking himself - which is something Lineker will never be able to do having played the game. Southgate and Townsend are still awful, and always will be. Keegan was terrible, Chris Coleman actually refered to England as 'we', but Clive Tyldesley and jim Beglin are still a solid team, Beglin in particular is terrific.

Also saw Klinsmann on a channel somewhere, and he was excellent as ever. can't remember which station though

Is Murray that fool from Northern Ireland? what a creep! He licks the **** off the guests, and may as well wear an England shirt. His comments about Maradona were sad.

Chiles annoys me also - another brown -noser. However, I forgive him somewhat because I really enjoyed his book, and he does seem to have serious passion for the game

[pineapple stu]

Was Van Persie offside or not for the second goal? He looked level but ITV have this great freeze frame when you can whirl around and look at it from the view of the linesman and while his body was level, his foot was slightly ahead so technically he was offside.
I think RTÉ were right when they said that offside is any part of you - bar your arms - ahead of the last man. In that case, he was offside I think. But I think the law also states that in the case of doubt, you give benefit of the doubt to the attacking team, in which case, the linesman was correct to allow the goal. The call was so marginal and didn't justify at all the over-the-top comments from the studio.