OwlsFan
02/10/2018, 11:15 AM
I just thought I'd make a few comments on my 10,000th post on foot.ie. Now almost half of them I'd say are in the Word Association thread but it still work out at on average 2 posts a day over the past 13 years :O !!. It's a great website with wide ranging views on all topics and thanks to dahamsta for running it. I would be very sorry to see it close should that ever come to pass.
My favourite thread, apart from Farewell Then.. which I started back in the day, is the one on the RTE Panel and the various threads which took place in the Trapp era. As regards the former, as many old stagers here would know, I had an obsession about the bias of that panel under Bill against every Irish manager and the thread gave me an opportunity to vent my frustration, although I know my opinions became tiresome to some. The Trapp era I enjoyed exchanging views with many and while some got heated, they were interesting nonetheless. There is no doubt that the numbers have declined posting in the Ireland Forum but it still remains a hotbed of differing and educated opinions. I have tried the odd post in the League Of Ireland Forum, although with a name liked OwlsFan I am generally chased out with my tail between my legs, although I have 15 years under my belt supporting Rovers home and away.
But the website is nothing without its contributors and off the top of my head (and a little investigation), these are the ones who spring to mind:
Stuttgart88: always worth a read with great knowledge and informed opinion and although we disagreed on many aspects of the international team, one whose opinions I and most here greatly respect.
jbyrne: must be my lovechild because I agree with at least 90% of his posts and isn't afraid to go against the trend.
DeLorean: one of the few who still post about the English game. When I first joined, there were even separate threads about Liverpool/Everton let alone the leagues themselves. Such threads have pretty much faded away.
geyser: always grateful for his post, when I was getting some stick in the RTE Panel thread for my constant whining, for making the following comment: Owls has the complete right to express his opinions on the rte panel, he doesn't start these threads but once the thread has started ..... he cannot resist. RTE is a public service broadcaster and the window to the national team for the bulk of the population. Other media outlets are not public service. I find Owls' analysis original and a refreshing contrast to the status quo public service censorious propaganda and self assumed/appointed role as the authority on Irish football. Just because they are popular does not mean they are removed from observations and perceptions about their hypocrisy, bias, agendas, and of late their p'iss poor shoddy attempt to present the acclaimed alternatives available to what Trap selected for the squad.
tetsujin1979: irritated me a bit with a pm a few years back, but only a bit, and he keeps the Ireland Forum ticking over with lots of tidbits and informed comments.
Eminence Grise: thanks for the posts in Farewell then.. :)
cfdh_edmundo: the only member whom I have had the pleasure of meeting back in the day in Paris I think.
Gather round: while I wouldn't agree with many of his posts, it is refreshing to see the views of a Northern Ireland (and Crusaders) fan.
Real ale Madrid: disagrees with most of my posts with some vehemence whether it is on the RTE Panel, Politics, Current Affairs, abortion or Rugby. Makes life interesting.
bennocelt: thanks for all the red cards :)
paul_oshea: never sure what view he will take on a matter but always good to see his posts.
BonnieShels: for a Shels fan, he does know something about football ;)
nigel-harps1954: have to admire his passion for the Harps and while we wouldn't agree on an awful lot, another informed football man.
liamoo11: haven't quite worked out your general football philosophy, but interesting nonetheless.
mark12345 + Bungle: the frustration with the long ball oozes out from every pore but perhaps someday your dreams will be realised.
Lionel Ritchie: a Leeds fan. Enough said.
I could be here all day so favourable mentions also to SkStu, Charlie Darwin, osarusan, DannyInvincible, CraftyToePoke, ArdeeBhoy (criticize Celtic at your peril), Kingdom, backstothewall (of the name change), Fixer (please change your avatar - I keep mixing you up with me), Ole Ole, samhaydenjr, seanfhear, Mr A, shakermaker1982 and Passinginterest. Sorry, if I have forgotten anyone there. Oops, almost forgot the entertaining pineapple stu.
From the lapsed members, I miss Sligo Hornet: we even had a 4 page thread on Watford vs Sheff Wed back in the day https://foot.ie/threads/111292-Watford-v-Sheffield-Wednesday-Monster-Mega-Thread?highlight=owls, NeilMcD (very serious with informed views), Noelys Guitar, Dodge, Spudulika (because he liked my comments on the RTE Panel) and KK77 for his views on English football.
On the blacklist but missed all the same for their controversial views: TheOneWhoKnocks, Yapster and An Ceannaire although they may be the Holy Trinity (i.e. one and the same).
Believe it or not there were two other Owls fans: Jebus and TheOwl.
And not forgetting the late EireBhoy who would be so heart broken now to see the demise of McGeady
Here's to many more years of foot.ie
My favourite thread, apart from Farewell Then.. which I started back in the day, is the one on the RTE Panel and the various threads which took place in the Trapp era. As regards the former, as many old stagers here would know, I had an obsession about the bias of that panel under Bill against every Irish manager and the thread gave me an opportunity to vent my frustration, although I know my opinions became tiresome to some. The Trapp era I enjoyed exchanging views with many and while some got heated, they were interesting nonetheless. There is no doubt that the numbers have declined posting in the Ireland Forum but it still remains a hotbed of differing and educated opinions. I have tried the odd post in the League Of Ireland Forum, although with a name liked OwlsFan I am generally chased out with my tail between my legs, although I have 15 years under my belt supporting Rovers home and away.
But the website is nothing without its contributors and off the top of my head (and a little investigation), these are the ones who spring to mind:
Stuttgart88: always worth a read with great knowledge and informed opinion and although we disagreed on many aspects of the international team, one whose opinions I and most here greatly respect.
jbyrne: must be my lovechild because I agree with at least 90% of his posts and isn't afraid to go against the trend.
DeLorean: one of the few who still post about the English game. When I first joined, there were even separate threads about Liverpool/Everton let alone the leagues themselves. Such threads have pretty much faded away.
geyser: always grateful for his post, when I was getting some stick in the RTE Panel thread for my constant whining, for making the following comment: Owls has the complete right to express his opinions on the rte panel, he doesn't start these threads but once the thread has started ..... he cannot resist. RTE is a public service broadcaster and the window to the national team for the bulk of the population. Other media outlets are not public service. I find Owls' analysis original and a refreshing contrast to the status quo public service censorious propaganda and self assumed/appointed role as the authority on Irish football. Just because they are popular does not mean they are removed from observations and perceptions about their hypocrisy, bias, agendas, and of late their p'iss poor shoddy attempt to present the acclaimed alternatives available to what Trap selected for the squad.
tetsujin1979: irritated me a bit with a pm a few years back, but only a bit, and he keeps the Ireland Forum ticking over with lots of tidbits and informed comments.
Eminence Grise: thanks for the posts in Farewell then.. :)
cfdh_edmundo: the only member whom I have had the pleasure of meeting back in the day in Paris I think.
Gather round: while I wouldn't agree with many of his posts, it is refreshing to see the views of a Northern Ireland (and Crusaders) fan.
Real ale Madrid: disagrees with most of my posts with some vehemence whether it is on the RTE Panel, Politics, Current Affairs, abortion or Rugby. Makes life interesting.
bennocelt: thanks for all the red cards :)
paul_oshea: never sure what view he will take on a matter but always good to see his posts.
BonnieShels: for a Shels fan, he does know something about football ;)
nigel-harps1954: have to admire his passion for the Harps and while we wouldn't agree on an awful lot, another informed football man.
liamoo11: haven't quite worked out your general football philosophy, but interesting nonetheless.
mark12345 + Bungle: the frustration with the long ball oozes out from every pore but perhaps someday your dreams will be realised.
Lionel Ritchie: a Leeds fan. Enough said.
I could be here all day so favourable mentions also to SkStu, Charlie Darwin, osarusan, DannyInvincible, CraftyToePoke, ArdeeBhoy (criticize Celtic at your peril), Kingdom, backstothewall (of the name change), Fixer (please change your avatar - I keep mixing you up with me), Ole Ole, samhaydenjr, seanfhear, Mr A, shakermaker1982 and Passinginterest. Sorry, if I have forgotten anyone there. Oops, almost forgot the entertaining pineapple stu.
From the lapsed members, I miss Sligo Hornet: we even had a 4 page thread on Watford vs Sheff Wed back in the day https://foot.ie/threads/111292-Watford-v-Sheffield-Wednesday-Monster-Mega-Thread?highlight=owls, NeilMcD (very serious with informed views), Noelys Guitar, Dodge, Spudulika (because he liked my comments on the RTE Panel) and KK77 for his views on English football.
On the blacklist but missed all the same for their controversial views: TheOneWhoKnocks, Yapster and An Ceannaire although they may be the Holy Trinity (i.e. one and the same).
Believe it or not there were two other Owls fans: Jebus and TheOwl.
And not forgetting the late EireBhoy who would be so heart broken now to see the demise of McGeady
Here's to many more years of foot.ie