Anyone else notice how the hosts and panels on RTE seem to love referring to Germany as 'The Germans'? Maybe they refer to every country's side that way, but I keep noticing it about Germany.
Ha, I find pundits tend to do that when, instead of specifically discussing the actual team and players they're being paid to analyse, they revert to discussing national stereotypes in order to fill the gaps in their (scant) research and knowledge. Do the RTÉ old guard do any research?
Mr. D at his best today again. He went for the Netherlands. Fair enough. Panel discussion mostly about the poor defences of both teams. Should have immediately bet online for 0-0. Both defences superb. Penalty shoot-out. Back to studio. All three predict Dutch win because they had done it before. Mr D predicts the Dutch will win it "comfortably". They had predicted the exact same thing for Costa Rica because they had won their last shoot out and....we all know what happened there. Huge pressure on players to try and do it twice in a row.
All three now needless to say go for Germany (who now are suddenly a good team having been called average before) but this puts me in a quandary. I was hoping Germany would win it from the start but based on the Panel's predictions to date, it might be worth a flutter on the Argentinians and wouldn't it be great to see the best player of his generation lift the World Cup. Should be a good Final. Europe v South America but latter at a disadvantage playing a day later and extra time but as Jimmy Greaves used to say football is a funny old game.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
My favourite thing on the whole thing was Ken Early's article in the IT this morning about how this German result was coming. He's jumped on board too.
Sneaky fiver on Argentina for me.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
TBF no team in this World Cup have appeared brilliant, all teams have had their moments.
John Giles to be awarded the freedom of the city of Dublin. Very good footballer in the 1960s/70s but other than being a failed Irish manager, almost bankrupting the Hoops and assassinating every Irish manager on TV who came after him while hiding behind Dunphy's more controversial outbursts, what has he done for Dublin ? OK may be The John Giles Foundation but if character assassination is the criteria, keep an eye out for THEONEWHOKNOCKS getting this award soon
Greatest Irish footballer of all time? I had the pleasure of seeing him play and he was a tremendous passer (hence his obsession with passing) but he did lack pace but I would have him in the top 6 (in no particular order) with McGrath, Brady, Houghton and Keane (Robbie) and Keane (Roy) of the Irish players I have seen play.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Houghton was a terrific player and one of the best Irish players of his generation and in a great Liverpool side of the 80s as well. Personally, I would place Whelan, Irwin, Duff and Lawrenson above him, but I would definitely have him in my top 10. Those three were all world class, which Robbie Keane was just short of in my opinion, but if we are basing it on a contribution to Irish football, then Robbie has to be in the mix.
My top 10:
(1) Brady
(2) McGrath
(3) Giles
(4) Roy Keane
(5) Whelan
(6) Lawrenson
(7) Irwin
(8) Duff
(9) Houghton
(10) Robbie Keane
(11) Shay Given
Seems harsh on Robbie Keane to come in 10th but your logic is pretty sound I think, plus it makes him our best ever striker so can't complain too much. I'd probably have him ahead of Duff though overall.
Good to see Glenn Whelan getting the recognition he deserves too.
Kevin Sheedy would have to be in the mix in terms of world class talent - definitely close to the top ten anyway!!
Tough on the greats from further back like Carey,Eglington etc...I'd love to hear who the older fans would have in their top ten
I am referring to what the players accomplished for Ireland, as opposed to their clubs and to me Houghton was arguably the leading player of the Charlton era. Lawrenson was a great player but he was injured for Euro 88 and other than the goal in Scotland I am hard pressed to remember any great performances. There isn't even a paragraph on his international career on Wikipedia.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Sweet Mother of God, apparently this aired tonight. Throw off those shackles and boogie, OwlsFan!!
I know they must think they're being self-effacing, but Jesus.
At this stage Dunphy and Giles are the undead of football punditry .
Most people are afraid to say this in case one of them actually dies !
But sometimes with respect to "even the fear of death" (possibly my own or theirs) the blatantly obvious must be spoken !
As Noel King said, much to their hyper sensitive chagrin (how dare that midget mock us),
"a comedy show".
Little did he know they were actually a comedy advert.
It's one of the best pieces of marketing I've seen this year along with the paddy power amazon print.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
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