Wexford Youths, World Champions 2010! you heard it here first!
I feel it would be a shame not to share this with everyone. Wexford Youths = Italy, the man has a dream and some serious passion (and may be a little delusional).
From the Wexford People
Friday night at home to Shelbourne was yet another special night in what has been an unforgettable season for the Wexford Youths, and for me, blended into it was a beautiful evening in the San Siro in Milan on Saturday where Italy played France in a European championship qualifier, writes Mick Wallace.
A drive back to Dublin on Friday after the game, a couple of hours sleep, the airport, in Milan before ten in the morning, nervous about Italy, and the Shelbourne game still racing through my head.
Trying to put shape on the game in general, making sense of our lapses of concentration at the back, our failure to add to Johnny Flynn-O'Connor's goal, all the wonderful things we did in between that were rewarded in themselves if not on the scoresheet.
Of course the result matters and I certainly don't like losing, but if that was all that mattered, not many aspects of life would be pursued to their conclusion. There's a line from a Bruce Springsteen song which goes; down here it's all winners and losers and don't get caught on the wrong side of that line'.
I don't see life in such sad black and white terms and believe in the human spirit's capacity to carry on relentlessly through adversity. No matter what, I believe in the essence of that never say die approach to all the challenges that life may offer, beautifully, captured by Shakespeare in Macbeth when the doubting and weakening Macbeth, is scolded by his indomitable wife - stick to your task and you'll not fail' .
The Wexford Youths are not for turning and as ever, we will build on the positives that we take from the game we've just lost.
Pa Doyle and Danny Furlong are still under-18 next season, Anthony Rossiter and Anthon Russell were immense at the back.
Liam O'Loughlin and Conor Sinnott would have looked good in any team, Darren Browne's sheer courage and spirit against the odds and the critics speaks volumes for the man, Eric Bradley is well off the pace but showed buckets of promise, and club captain, Johnny Flynn-O'Connor scored. And that is three in a row for Johnny, following the Lifford and Kerry under-21 games.
As manager of course I must deal with the disappointment of the result as well, I have to deal as well I can with the disappointment of all the players around the ground who didn't make the squad, the disappointment of Gareth Larkin and Richie Fitzgerald who did well in Dundalk but didn't get a run on Friday night.
But my God we were playing Shelbourne in Wexford. They qualified for the Champions League last season. And we lived with them all over the park. And the home crowd were magnificent . It was with such emotions that I entered the San Siro stadium on Saturday night to watch my beloved world champions play in the most beautiful football arena on the planet. And how beautiful it was. They didn't win either but served up a feast of football as they drew with the equally brilliant French side, probably the two best sides in the world today.
It was Italy's first big game at home since they won the World Cup last summer and what a reception from the passionate 82,900. Passion and strength of will were in abundance, with these players last summer, adding to their immense talent, as they overcame adversity by the bucketful - scandal, corruption, bribing, mafia - they rose through it all and in their semi-final with Germany, gave one of the greatest displays the game has ever seen.
With emotions in the stadium already running high, added to this before the game even started was the nerve tingling tribute to Pavarotti. The whole stadium stood and applauded as they played two of his songs and it was as if they had lost someone from their own family.
The beautiful game began as I let my imagination run wild and saw Rossi for Cannavaro, Russell for Barzagli and Lawlor for Oddo. Patsy was a ringer for Gattuso, Marty Kelly for De Rossi while Conor Sinnott sprayed the ball around in the persons of Pirlo, Locki was Zambrotta on the left, Gavin Doyle, Camoranesi on the right. Up front, Darren Browne was a slower version of Inzaghi and Johnny Flynn-O'Connor a younger version of Del Piero.
The Wexford Youths and Italy games brought me a lot of pleasure - my soul is entwined with theirs and long may it be so.
n Trials for the Wexford Football League U-18s will take place at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday, September 23. Names will be in next week's paper.
Tallaght Stadium Regular
Wexford Youths, World Champions 2010! you heard it here first!
Legendary stuff, to be able to directly compare the World Champions and Wexford Youths so eloquently!!
Mick's definitely losing the plot. I'm all for bigging the lads up but that's ridiculous!
if only we wore blue and took bungs!............maybe we are?
the man's definitely a spacer.... instead of the daydreaming maybe he should start concentrating on getting some results on the board? just a thought
"People say football is a matter of life and death, I believe it is much more important than that".
remember,its this man's daydreaming that has us here on this site discussing league of ireland football.i don't often agree with his selections or tactics,but do have great respect for what hes done.i reckon this seson is and always was about finding our feet.if you look at the "individual" talent in the 18s and 21s,we'll be reaping the benefits in the next season or two.i know its not easy to watch some of the performances,but always try to look at the big picture.we were never going to win the league or even challenge for it this season,and with the exception of 2/3 players this is totally new expirence,not just the matches,the coaching,the time off work,the staying in/no having a few scoups,and you can't say its the money,don't see any of the players running off and buying jeeps/beamers.
and can't say i felt that way on friday night after the mons game,but surely if we all think back to the first few games and what we're watching now ,we can see improvement.and miles to go before we sleep!
Man is a legend. A real fan with passion. Shame there arent more Irish millionaires who care about Irish clubs instead of investing in british ones. He is spot on about the San Siro.
KOH
Agree with last few posts. Mick Wallace deserves every credit and he can compare the Youths to anyone he wants. I remember reading in the local papers a few years ago that Mick was aiming to have LOI football in Wexford and I thought to myself - in your dreams, mate. Despite the results, there is progress being made. Compare the defence in the 3-5-2 formation in the Monaghan and Limerick matches. Against Monaghan, we stood off and paid the penalty - three soft goals. Against Limerick, the three centre-halves tried to be tight to every Limerick attacker with the result that Limerick reckoned that they should have got five penalties (see their board!!) LOL !!! We are now looking like a reasonable attacking force. If all the players stay next season, we will be much further up the League next year.
Running most teams close this season with zero experience.
Having a full season of training and adjusting to the routine behind them.
Mick Wallace learning that his tactics have to be a bit more flexible.
The fact that Limerick are rubbish and in fourth this season...
Tallaght Stadium Regular
[quote=Lim till i die;773396]Based on what??
well lets see...you're not really a new club[this is the first lol team from wexford-all wexford players].you're cheques are supposedly bouncing again[we have a sugar daddy with a dream],you're team under magee are a sham[we're no brazil,but we'll improve],you're ground[not really yours is it?].after our last trip down there we were accused of graffiti in the toilets- i would still like to know which part? behind the goals,in the STAND,in the clubhouse,or maybe you're bar[do you have one?].you're forum is sad[some of ye think yer from green street or football factory].you wear rose tinted glasses and i think you should take them off!we have miles to go before we sleep-at least we know that.
well said kopite,totally agree,was up in jackman park last friday night,pitch was never up to scratch,leo the lion taking the p**s,shambles of a manager,not my opinion,just look at limerick forum,fair play to mick aswell,many of ye travelling up to cobh sat night..??
Football is more than just a game,it's life..!!
Lim til I die, just don't know what your and a few of the Limerick fans problem is! I'm all up for a bit of banter and healthy rivalry but you just seem to have a chip on your shoulders. Every other set of supporters or club in general have been friendly and supportive. There seems to be an understanding in the EL that all clubs are up against it as we are in the minority, even though soccer is the most popular sport in the country, EL fans are a rare breed. You're a new club in as much as a name change and change in ownership: We are a NEW CLUB, all new players, new ground, fans, everything! Maybe you're just jealous of what we have and what we are going to have in the future. You've been better than us on the filed of play this season, but what we have, and envisage to develop even further, is an authentic community club - of the people, for the people!!
Judging by your forums you've got your own problems, so don't worry about the Youths - we'll be fine!
Last edited by Red Youth; 20/09/2007 at 4:08 PM.
I asked what made ye think ye would be "Much further up in the League next year"
Here are some of the responses I got:
The fact that Limerick are rubbish and in fourth this season...Lim til I die, just don't know what your and a few of the Limerick fans problem is! I'm all up for a bit of banter and healthy rivalry but you just seem to have a chip on your shoulders. Every other set of supporters or club in general have been friendly and supportive. There seems to be an understanding in the EL that all clubs are up against it as we are in the minority, even though soccer is the most popular sport in the country, EL fans are a rare breed. You're a new club in as much as a name change and change in ownership: We are a NEW CLUB, all new players, new ground, fans, everything! Maybe you're just jealous of what we have and what we are going to have in the future. You've been better than us on the filed of play this season, but what we have, and envisage to develop even further, is an authentic community club - of the people, for the people!!
Judging by your forums you've got your own problems, so don't worry about the Youths - we'll be fineAnd I'm the one with the chip on my shoulders????well lets see...you're not really a new club[this is the first lol team from wexford-all wexford players].you're cheques are supposedly bouncing again[we have a sugar daddy with a dream],you're team under magee are a sham[we're no brazil,but we'll improve],you're ground[not really yours is it?].after our last trip down there we were accused of graffiti in the toilets- i would still like to know which part? behind the goals,in the STAND,in the clubhouse,or maybe you're bar[do you have one?].you're forum is sad[some of ye think yer from green street or football factory].you wear rose tinted glasses and i think you should take them off!we have miles to go before we sleep-at least we know that.
Jaysus lads, have a good long look at yourselves. You know about as much about LoI football as your manager
As for the Queenstown fans wondering onto the Wexford forum to give out about Limerick fans chips on their shoulders
Let's not get caught up in a pathetic slagging match lads. Lim til I die is generally good for a laugh on here, even if his views on Wexford Youths are certain to be proved wrong. He's entitled to his opinion and we don't need to start attacking Limerick 37, they need all the support they can get.
It's all a bit of harmless banter, we all like to get a bit of a reaction from someone, it's what makes these message boards entertaining. Makes my days in the civil service pass a bit quicker anyway
Tallaght Stadium Regular
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