RTE Panel

[DeLorean]

Brolly's response

[Stuttgart88]

Soccer players live like Rappers. He really can't let it go can he?

[DeLorean]

Haha I knew you'd love it! The worst thing for me is that he selectively ignores that McGuinness praised Brolly's hurling counterparts, also employed by RTE, who "speak their minds" too, but in a respectful way. He conveniently highlights the admittedly bland MOTD but fails to mention the excellent and fairly untamed analysis provided by Neville and Carragher on Sky Sports, where they regularly question the character of players and teams such as Newcastle, QPR, etc., yet they're the TV company he's taking the main swipe at.

[OwlsFan]

Andy Townsend has apparently done his last commentary for ITV

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-of-abuse.html

I do find it interesting that perhaps outside of Sky, three of the leading co-commentators in the UK for many years are former Irish internationals (Beglin, Lawrensen and Townsend). What this tells us I have no idea.

[jbyrne]

a decent listen from Saturday on RTE radio 1...
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/20...nder-pressure/

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Andy Townsend has apparently done his last commentary for ITV

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-of-abuse.html

I do find it interesting that perhaps outside of Sky, three of the leading co-commentators in the UK for many years are former Irish internationals (Beglin, Lawrensen and Townsend). What this tells us I have no idea.

We have the gift of the gab.

[tetsujin1979]

Andy Townsend has apparently done his last commentary for ITV

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-of-abuse.html

I do find it interesting that perhaps outside of Sky, three of the leading co-commentators in the UK for many years are former Irish internationals (Beglin, Lawrensen and Townsend). What this tells us I have no idea.

Wasn't his contract expiring and he had been told he wasn't being kept on anyway? ITV basically have nothing next season except England internationals, so they've had to shed people from their sports department. The Champions League rights have gone to BT Sport and BBC have the FA Cup

[seanfhear]

Andy Townsend has apparently done his last commentary for ITV

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-of-abuse.html

I do find it interesting that perhaps outside of Sky, three of the leading co-commentators in the UK for many years are former Irish internationals (Beglin, Lawrensen and Townsend). What this tells us I have no idea.

It will be interesting to see if some other tv network pick him up.

[DeLorean]

Giles out, Sadlier in

[nigel-harps1954]

Controversial, but definitely the right decision. Time they phased out the old guard. They've served their time and are completely out of touch with the modern game.

[Fixer82]

Controversial, but definitely the right decision. Time they phased out the old guard. They've served their time and are completely out of touch with the modern game.

I think Giles is injured so they're keeping him on the bench as a precaution. If needs be in the last ten minutes if Sadlier starts to wane, Giles can come on as an impact sub.

(on a serious note, I really value Giles' input more than Sadlier's. I think Sadlier is out to make a name for himself by being controversial. Wonder who he learnt that from? Would rather see Eamo dropped but, a bit like Roy, Eamo is box office.)

[KK77]

Yes time for John to move on. He just can't get to grips with the modern game of 15 against 15 and it being played for four hours solid.

[tetsujin1979]

The Irish Sun have started a campaign to get him restored to the panel for Saturday.
Jesus wept.

[Charlie Darwin]

*Irish Daily Star

[tetsujin1979]

Eh, same difference

[bennocelt]

Rather Giles than Brady tbh

[DeLorean]

It was a bit sad listening to John Giles on Off The Ball last night. He was saying he really wanted to do the game and seemed very disappointed that Ryle Nugent didn't contact him directly to explain why he wasn't being picked. Apparently Giles has already met his quota of matches for the year but that was never an issue in the past and he was willing to do the game at no extra cost to RTÉ. There were slightly cringing moments when he implied that the whole country wants him on the panel and almost putting the viewing figures down to himself and the lads, rather than the actual matches, but I couldn't help feeling sorry for him. I know of an elderly man who recently went to have his truck driving licence renewed but it was declined, and with it some of his dignity and self worth, probably being slightly dramatic but it kind of reminded me of that. It probably doesn't help that it's so soon after O'Herlihy passing on in terms of the emotion and nostalgia involved. Giles said that he's only contracted up until August so he genuinely doesn't know what will happen after that.

[EAFC_rdfl]

I do think he adds more than Dunphy and that its him who should be moved to the sideline, but I guess Dunphy's clownery appeals to too many. If dunphy is so up in arms about his sidekick being dropped he should refuse to be on the panel himself in protest

[BonnieShels]

John>Brady> Dunphy

That's how it always has been.

I would especially thought with Bill's poassing they would have done something tomorrow as well.

[backstothewall]

I do think he adds more than Dunphy and that its him who should be moved to the sideline, but I guess Dunphy's clownery appeals to too many. If dunphy is so up in arms about his sidekick being dropped he should refuse to be on the panel himself in protest

I agree about Dunphy having a certain appeal, but Sadlier is the heir apparent to Eamo. Start rotating them by all means, but the obvious swap is Sadlier for Dunphy in buffon corner, while moving Liam into the 'Senior Analyst' chair, and bringing in someone who can talk a bit to sit between them.