Shane88
Actually Nostradamus
Point is decent.
A mixture of things. He was a late developer in the sense that he moved to England relatively late in his career, he's always been skillful though. He was just seen as too small so found it hard to get a chance at club and national level. Typical Irish/British footballing shortsightedness regarding small players. It's only recently, since Trap left, that he's been given a proper chance to play for Ireland and is finally getting some of the recognition he deserves. He's definitely been more consistent at club level recently too which has helped him, just a shame it's all come so late in his career.What's the story with Hoolahan? He's 34 yet only has 30-something caps.
Whenever I watch him I think he's class, was he a late developer/inconsistent/unlucky etc?
Cheers for the reply! If he was younger he's just the sort of player I'd like to see at Swansea, technically competent and not a bruiser.
As Dion Fanning said, setting fire to the kitchen while boiling an egg levels of ineptitude.Truly desperate standard of football, that. But we'd have taken a point going in so it could have been worse. We're really ropey at the back and none of the options eg Duffy are likely to change that massively in the short term.
This is something I'm particularly interested in - partly because I have a mate who writes about this stuff at length - and there are a number of reasons, all of which are pretty worrying.Decent result. Having heard some of the analysis I'm not too disappointed I missed the game though. Quite worrying how limited the squad is, especially at the back. Going forward we are pretty poor too, no imagination in midfield, unless Brady is playing or they decide to give Wes a game. Where is our next Damien Duff or Robbie Keane?
That really is an astonishing quote, considering his responsibilities. The glib assumption that clubs in the English leagues should be responsible for developing all the best Irish players is scandalous (even if there's an element of truth in it).John Delaney's regard for our national league is such that he described it as "a problem child". In many other countries that would have been sufficient to render his position untenable. Here, it just raised a chuckle from his acolytes and utter disgust from the journos who were forced to endure it, knowing that the story would get less attention than it deserved from an indifferent public.
Yeah, it's beyond troubling. But the good news is that Delaney doesn't sit in front of the media any more so we won't have to concern ourselves with these uncomfortable truths much longer.That really is an astonishing quote, considering his responsibilities. The glib assumption that clubs in the English leagues should be responsible for developing all the best Irish players is scandalous (even if there's an element of truth in it).
On the coaching thing, my 7 year old started playing with a local club last season. The coaches are all volunteers but essentially well intentioned. Lots of emphasis on short passing and small pitches. I went along to watch their U-8s play their first game of the season and the other club played some freakishly big child up front and their coach was actively encouraging everyone on their team to lump it long to him, so they could feed off the scraps. This is a very effective tactic at that level and they ended up smashing us. I couldn't believe my eyes, though. 7 and 8 year olds being taught route one football. The mind boggles.
I get the impression that "enthusiastic" parents (to put it kindly) is a long-standing problem in kid's football, in Ireland as well as everywhere else. We're regularly taken aside and given a talking to about being sure to applaud good bits of play from all players, on both teams. It's difficult, though. I'm a really competitive person and instinctively root for my son more than the other kids. He's cut from the same cloth and it can ruin the whole day if he loses his match. All of which means it's sometimes hard to be patient with the varying standards of play (and refereeing) even at this young age.Yeah, it's beyond troubling. But the good news is that Delaney doesn't sit in front of the media any more so we won't have to concern ourselves with these uncomfortable truths much longer.
Probably a more common story than you think, that one. I was in Athlone a few weekends back looking after our nieces and nephews and one of the girls had a football blitz. Mixed teams of boys and girls under 7 years old. The main focus early on was well-intentioned as you found; keeping banks of DF/MF/AT in their respective positions so it didn't get crowded and on getting everyone a few kicks of the ball and making them feel included. As the morning went on there was a very definite air of the weak being gradually given less and less time on the pitch, not to mention the ball and a group of parents becoming very vocal both towards the kids and the referees. "Get stuck in" and "Get rid of it" were the most common thing I heard. Like yourself, the final was between the two teams made up of the biggest kids and, as far as I could tell, the most vocal parents. Towards the end of that match there was a minor argument between one of the coaches and a parent as the coach wanted a smaller girl who wasn't that skilful to take a peno they'd gotten and the parent wanted his son, by far the best and biggest player, to take it. In the end he stood his ground and the little girl took it and missed, which didn't seem to help the mood.
Yeah, that's been my impression too. I don't know how you solve it, though. My missus' nieces' school tried instigating a "no negative comments from spectators" policy but policing it is near impossible and has led to some barneys on the touchline, by all accounts.I get the impression that "enthusiastic" parents (to put it kindly) is a long-standing problem in kid's football, in Ireland as well as everywhere else. We're regularly taken aside and given a talking to about being sure to applaud good bits of play from all players, on both teams. It's difficult, though. I'm a really competitive person and instinctively root for my son more than the other kids. He's cut from the same cloth and it can ruin the whole day if he loses his match. All of which means it's sometimes hard to be patient with the varying standards of play (and refereeing) even at this young age.
I've managed to stop short of chanting "you're shit and you know you are" at the weaker members of his team but there's still time, right?
EDIT: Having posted that, I feel the need to clarify. I don't actually moan out loud about mistakes by referees/other kids, on the basis that I'm not a complete cnut.
Always assumed that was for financial reasons. Rugby clubs seem to have loads of wealthy players/ex-players willing to plough money back into the club. I always assume rugby clubs are re much better off than their football counterparts. At least that's my impression. Could be wrong.Surely the FAI can learn something from the IRFU. Granted it's a different set up with the provinces in rugby etc but even at club level in Ireland rugby is miles ahead of local the football leagues in terms of coaching and organisation. This is from my experience in the midlands at least, having playing both sports.
Probably does have a lot to do with it to be fair. But there's got to be a lot more to it than that too. Can't put my finger on what exactly but to me it just seems there is a much better plan in place for rugby all around Ireland compared to football where most of the focus seems to be on Dublin.Always assumed that was for financial reasons. Rugby clubs seem to have loads of wealthy players/ex-players willing to plough money back into the club. I always assume rugby clubs are re much better off than their football counterparts. At least that's my impression. Could be wrong.
Money aside, the RFU are far more dedicated to doing what is best for the game in Ireland than the cnut in charge of the FAI. As per @Brophs post above.Probably does have a lot to do with it to be fair. But there's got to be a lot more to it than that too. Can't put my finger on what exactly but to me it just seems there is a much better plan in place for rugby all around Ireland compared to football where most of the focus seems to be on Dublin.
Yeah that much is clear. It just seems they have such a clear plan and it's working well. The FAI seems amateur in comparison, it's a disgrace really.Money aside, the RFU are far more dedicated to doing what is best for the game in Ireland than the cnut in charge of the FAI. As per @Brophs post above.
In fairness look how we've come since the 2002 training facilities fiasco. Things are looking up white textYeah that much is clear. It just seems they have such a clear plan and it's working well. The FAI seems amateur in comparison, it's a disgrace really.
The John Delaney method of governance: use the 14 intervening years to catch up to where the smaller nations were in 2002.In fairness look how we've come since the 2002 training facilities fiasco. Things are looking up white text
That first half performance against France made me love them again. I warmly welcome the Republic of Ireland back into the fold of British national sides.