I think it's an odd question to ask in the context (assuming Molloy doesn't know Byrne's family personally and isn't personally connected with the area himself). What was the point of it if not to imply something along the following lines: "Now that you're earning a bit more, have your family managed to escape that run-down inner-city area they used to live in?" Although, as YOP has pointed out, if that was indeed the subtle sentiment behind the question, it was based on an ignorant presumption anyway. Maybe that's harsh on Molloy, but a few people seem to have picked up on the possibility.
I do wish someone would respond to kingdom's posts.
Watching it here. Coming up to half time and missed the first 25.
Cambuur were a goal down when I turned on. They equalised but Ajax went straight down the field and regained the lead. Cambus then hit the bar, before Ajax got a 3rd. Just scored a 4th as I type this. Some of the Cambuur defending leaves a lot to be desired, but this really flatters Ajax.
Byrne hasn't really been involved, but from what I have seen of him he is playing off the main striker. He is working hard and has a decent turn of pace, but the ball hasn't really come his way.
HT
5-1 FT
First thing to be said is that Ajax are better than Cambuur. It is hard to say just how much better as it was a Cambuur were giving as good as they got until Ajax got the 2 goal lead. After that Ajax were happy to hold on to the ball, and in their haste to get back into it Cambuur were giving it back to them very easily on the rare occasions when they had the ball. Cambuur were opened up far too easily by Ajax, who were clinical. I can only remember the Cambuur keeper being given the chance to make 1 save, which he did. To their credit they did try to play football, but they were never going to out-Ajax Ajax.
Ajax are exactly what you would expect. A team of talented young players, who want to play the game the right way.
Byrne didn't look out of place among the Ajax players. For the 1st hour he was fairly isolated. When he did get the ball he looked tidy, but in truth he was never given an opportunity he could do anything with. What he didn't do was more interesting than what he didn't really. He didn't give up, and although he was visibly frustrated, he didn't let that get the better of him and start jumping into stupid challenges.
The last half hour was more interesting. They made a sub which seemed to allow him to drop back and play as a deep lying playmaker, mainly sitting just in front of the back 4, but with the freedom to get forward if he wanted to. He looked very comfortable in the role. He was never going to play a defence splitting pass from so deep, but what he was able to do was show his passing ability. That allowed them to hold onto the ball a lot better, and although they never looked like scoring, they enjoyed a lot more possession, and stopped conceding goals.
At one point the fullback lost the ball which allowed Ajax in. He found himself plugging a gap in the back 4, and made a very good interception which snuffed out the Ajax attack.
Nothing in that to suggest he will light up our midfield next summer, but equally nothing there that eliminates him from contention.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
Loved Jack's interview on Off the Ball. Came across very genuine and obviously he hasn't been a victim of football's media training. Don't think he said 'as I say' or 'all credit to' once.
In contrast, Richard Keogh's interview after the 1st leg in Bosnia was awful. He said very little and yet said 'as you say' about 47 times.
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Jack Byrne scored his first goal for Cambuur Leeuwarden. They beat NEC Nijmegen, 3-1. First win of the season.
Was the goal awarded to him? It was an OG according to the Sky Sports app.
According to the report on SC Cambuur's site: http://cambuur.nl/nieuws/strijd-en-p...e-eerste-zege/
running it through google translateEr werden meters gemaakt, duels gewonnen, aanvallen opgezet, het publiek werd beloond en toen Byrne een vrije trap net buiten de zestien richting Van Duin pegelde. Santos raakte de bal nog net even aan, genoeg voor 3-1.
There were made gauges, won duels, organized attack, the audience was rewarded when Byrne and a free kick just outside the penalty pegelde direction van Duin. Santos hit the ball just a moment, enough for 3-1.
Scores in a comprehensive away win.
Goal online: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3i...-cambuur_sport
No doubts about this one!
Definitely no doubt about that one. Well done Jack.
Just read on voetbalzone.nl, by scoring that goal, he is also the youngest goalscorer ever for Cambuur in the Eredivisie.
http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=264876
taken off at half time last night in a 3-1 loss to AZ Alkmaar (Cambuur were 3-0 down at the time)
No mention of an injury in the review on their website - http://cambuur.nl/nieuws/sc-cambuur-...voor-de-derby/ - so it might have been tactical
Cambuur's game away to Feyenoord is on sky sports 5 today, kick off at 3:45
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