UCCFFC

TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY SEASON

2010-07-26T04:20:00.000-07:00

The 2010/2011 season marks 10 great years of fantasy football in UCC. We are always seeking new members so, if you are interested in joining, please contact me at a.quinlivan@ucc.ie.

Clip Of The Week (Number 5)

2009-12-09T07:59:00.000-08:00

Its Sweden!
Its also a good way to break a hip!

Clip Of The Week (Number 4)

2009-12-03T04:36:00.000-08:00

With a name like Rocky Baptiste you only expect good things.

Clip of The Week (Clip 3)

2009-11-28T05:03:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the lack of a clip last week. I rejected the opppurtunity to put the unpleasantness of Paris on the Blog. This week we have an example of why direct football isnt always ugly.

France v Ireland - The Fallout

2009-11-23T04:40:00.001-08:00

AODH

(a) Ireland played magnificently in Stade de France on Wednesday. They went at the French with a freedom and a fluency we have not previously seen under Trappatoni. If we had played the same way in the group stages, we would have finished top as the Italians were there for the taking.
(b) Like everyone else, I was sickened by how things transpired in Paris. The illegal goal coupled with the scandalous late decision by FIFA to introduce seedings for the play-offs leaves a very bad taste in the mouth.
(c) Contrary to a lot of media commentary, Henry’s handball did not cost Ireland a place in South Africa; it denied us the chance of a penalty shoot-out.
(d) The referee – who otherwise had a fine game – was let down badly by his lineman. It is maddening to think that within 10 seconds of the goal, millions of viewers across the world had access to a replay. Surely, the fourth official should be looking at a monitor and should be advising the referee accordingly.
(e) There seems to be an obsession with labelling Thierry Henry as a cheat because he ‘got away with it’ not because of his intention to deceive the officials. I counted four handball offences by Robbie Keane in Paris, at least two of which were deliberate opportunities to gain an advantage for his team. The difference is that he was caught but the intention was there. How is this different to Henry? To me the outcome of the action is a secondary consideration.
(f) Rules are rules and I think it is nonsense to suggest that the status of the game should alter things. An illegal deception of the referee is wrong whether we are talking about a friendly, a group game, a cup final or a World Cup play-off. And yes, I think Roy Keane has a valid point. When we won an important penalty against Georgia (we were trailing at the time but won due to a penalty and a goal that went in off a shoulder) for a phantom foul against Robbie Keane, did the Irish players rush to the referee and say ‘that was not a foul’? Did the FAI offer a replay? No, we smiled, took the penalty and went on to win the game.
(g) When do we decide that someone’s career should be tarnished? Again, is it based on ‘getting away with it’? Italy’s Pizzini recently handled the ball into the net against Holland and wheeled away in celebration before being called back by the referee. Wigan’s Paul Scharner scored against Spurs yesterday with a handball infringement which was every bit as blatant as Henry’s. Paul Scholes punched the ball to the net (see above) in the Super Cup final (Sir Alex said it was ‘instinctive’). Was he trying to gain an unfair advantage? Of course he was! Wait until Scholes retires in a year or two and listen to everybody labelling him a ‘model professional.’

Let’s keep things in perspective and ease off on the word ‘cheat.’

GERRY

Where do you start with the events of Wednesday? Well I suppose you have to start with the performance of the Irish team. This is not green tinted spectacles, but this has to be one of the best performances by an Irish team in years, if ever! There is not one player who didn’t play to the full limits of their ability. It was said by many at half time that they worried if the Irish could keep up the same incredible level seen in the first half. Well they did and I think I speak for everyone in saying they were shocked, amazed and intensely proud. Was this finally the vindication of Trapattoni? Ireland played the French team off the pitch, not one French player apart from their keeper can put there hand up and say they played well. The problem for the French was they were not allowed to play; the Irish were in their faces for 90 minutes and beyond, stifling every attack. Many spoke before the game (some Irish pundits too) about the gulf in class between the Irish and the French squad, John O’Shea being the only Irish player in the squad playing in the Champions League, while this is true how many of the French team actually looked capable of playing in the Champions League based on this performance?

I looked at FIFA’s website on Thursday morning and underneath the results of the Netherlands versus France beach soccer match was a summary of the France versus Ireland grass game. To my amazement in the pathetic summary of the game which was written it seems by someone looking at the match on Teletext, there was not one mention of the Thierry Henry handball. This I think typifies the response of FIFA so far! Where is Sepp Blatter? Where is Michel Platini who although being president of UEFA and not directly involved surely owes the public some pathetic sound bite? Blatter is not a media shy person and in many occasions has far too much to say for himself. It seems they are hoping it will all blow over, not likely I imagine.

Everyone knows there were many mistakes made Wednesday night, and not all by the French and the Swedes. Paul McShane should have dealt with the ball, he should not have let it bounce or let Henry get goal side of him, nor should Richard Dunne, and Shay Given should possibly have dealt with it. Let’s face it though; the biggest mistake was not awarding the free out. First things first, Thierry Henry cheated. Plain and simple, there is no denying it and anyone that says any different is a fool (thanks for finally proving it Mr Beckham). The problem though and Henry is right in saying this, it is not his job to referee the game! That falls to Mr Svensson, his two linesmen and the 4th official; the referee had a poor line of sight for the incident, but the linesman was in a clear position to see it and should have attracted the referee’s attention. If the Irish bench could see it you would imagine that the 4th official seen it. The referee told Irish players that Henry trapped the ball on his chest; if this is the case its then it is more obvious he didn’t see it. Why did the referee think the Irish players were livid? In most cases you will get one or two players looking for a decision but the whole team? No doubt this incident will result in one thing and that is a mass campaign for video technology, this will be helpful but it won’t help Ireland get to South Africa. Personally I don’t see a replay happening, for one what if Ireland lost? We would look a little silly, could Ireland reproduce that level or performance? Unlikely. Never a group to let an opportunity to win hearts and minds the government has jumped on the bandwagon calling for a replay also, on the surface this probably looks like kissing babies but to be honest when you think a figure of €26 million was quoted in a national newspaper today as the amount of money Ireland stand to lose at the hands of Mr Henry. We could certainly do with that. Oh and by the way I was aware of Roy Keane’s comments, I just didn’t think they warranted discussion.

Clip Of The Week (Number 2)

2009-11-11T01:35:00.000-08:00

This week its the turn of the goal keepers to suffer!
I bet you watch this more than once!
How?.........

Clip Of The Week (Number 1)

2009-11-04T02:43:00.000-08:00

In a new series there will be a weekly clip from the World Wide Web of sport and all the hilarity it brings.
The first one is from one of the best players to ever grace the Premiership, Mr Henry, showing he wasn't just clever on the pitch.

BEING STEPHEN [IRELAND] by Gerry Moloney

2009-09-07T03:46:00.000-07:00

“I would love to play for Ireland, absolutely love it”. Believe it or not this quotation is from Stephen Ireland. Not last week, but in December 2005. Just around the time he had broken into the Man City first team with a man of the match display in his debut against Everton in October of the same year. The future looked bright for the young man from Cobh. So why was there a desire to play for Ireland and why wasn’t he playing? Ireland had been told he would never play for Ireland again after having an argument with underage supremo Brian Kerr. The details being, a Republic of Ireland underage team were due to play in Cobh, and Ireland being a native of the seaside town thought Kerr would at least consider him worthy of a game in front of the masses of family and friends he had invited to the game. This wasn’t the case; in fact he wasn’t even considered for a place on the bench. Now considering Ireland had left Man City mid season you can see why he would be annoyed, to the extent he considered declaring for England or Italy (which he was entitled to do). Ireland was never too far away from the spotlight. In the 2007/08 season he decided to introduce a new goal celebration which involved dropping his shorts to reveal “superman” boxers. He was lucky to escape further sanctions. Then came the Bebo page scandal in which he publicly (on the web) declared his hatred for football and posted pictures that would make a sailor blush. When you thought it couldn’t get worse there was the “grannygate” scandal. Whilst away in Slovakia with the Ireland squad, then manager Steve Staunton received a call from Ireland’s girlfriend saying that Stephen’s grandmother had died. Staunton relayed the message to Ireland who contacted home, learning that sadly his girlfriend had in fact miscarried. Ireland went back to Staunton and asked to return home due the death of his maternal grandmother (who had partly raised Ireland from the age of 5). The FAI arranged a private jet to fly him home.

On his return home it emerged that in fact Ireland’s maternal grandmother was still happily alive if not a little bemused by the messages of condolences. When Ireland was then contacted by the FAI he replied that there had been some confusion and that it was in fact his paternal grandmother. After more investigation by the media it was discovered that Ireland’s other granny was also happily still alive. In the days that followed the true and sad reason for his departure from Slovakia Ireland had in attempt to shield attention from his private life had thrown it wide open. The media furore was possibly the biggest since Saipan and left most people bemused. Afterwards Ireland stated “I love playing for my country and am grateful for the understanding Mr Staunton and the FAI have shown to me since I told them the truth”

So where is Stephen Ireland? Since his self-imposed international exile he has flourished in the Premiership, scoring 23 goals in 96 games for Man City; he is one of only 3 first team players that started last season for Man City to be still there! Since “grannygate” a new manager of the national team has given us a renewed sense of optimism about Irish international soccer, one that hasn’t been there since the age of Jack Charlton and Mick McCarthy. With 4 goals in 6 games for the national team it is obvious what we are missing. But we are on the verge of qualification, and it has become more obvious in recent months and weeks that Ireland is unlikely to come back. If interviews in the Sunday Times are to be believed it is “the best decision” he ever made. Whatever Ireland’s reasons for staying away, one is sure that in later life he will have regrets. The media are doing their bit to perpetuate the stand-off to the extent that Mr Trapattoni cannot hold a press conference without someone asking about Stephen Ireland. At this stage would it be fair for Ireland to come back into the squad? I don’t think so. Whose place would he take? Do the Irish squad want him back and how would he be received? I imagine that this has more to do with Ireland’s absence than anything else. It wouldn’t have happened in Jack Charlton’s day. In fact Jack Charlton recently said “I don’t agree with him, he needs to apologise. Come and play and say you’re sorry for what you said and did -- or bugger off and don’t bother”. There wasn’t much big Jack was wrong about.

THE EDUARDO CONTROVERSY

2009-08-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

The first big controversy of the season has arrived thanks to Eduardo! There's no doubt in my mind that the Croatian's initial intention was to engineer a penalty but the contact never came from Boruc and he then went to ground. Did he dive? YES. Should diving be outlawed? YES. Should divers receive match bans? YES.

The problem, of course, is consistency or the lack thereof. Why start with Eduardo? I counted at least three dives from Celtic players over the course of the match but they occurred around the halfway line and received no attention. What really angers me about the Eduardo story is the blatant 'Johnny Foreigner bashing' in the British media. The worst dive I have ever seen was from Steven Gerrard when winning a penalty against Hungary before the 2006 World Cup. Was he lambasted? No, quite the contrary. Ian Wright applauded him for doing it, arguing that in the World Cup 'THEY will all be doing it (diving) over THERE.' Gerrard has continued in the same vein since then, including his spectacular dive against Atletico Madrid. Let us not forget Wayne 'Wazza' Rooney who dived to win a penalty against Arsenal in the 2004/2205 season when the Gunners were trying to extend their long unbeaten run to 50 games. And don't get me started on Joel Cole, Emile Heskey, Ashley Cole and Gary Neville who hit the deck with great regularity.

Maybe UEFA are right to make an example of Eduardo on the basis that they have to start somewhere but this is a very dangerous can of worms which is being opened. UEFA will now be obliged to act on EVERY dive and dish out bans accordingly. I hope they do so; if they don't then Eduardo is being victimised. Presumably they will go after Messi whose violent head movement against Shaktar tonight warranted a red card? Certainly, any other player in the world would have been shown a red card.

Eduardo was wrong and there is no defence but are UEFA really going to go down this road and why have they waited until now? Surely Ronaldo gave them plenty of opportunities to act over recent years?

MANAGER OF YEAR

2009-06-30T05:29:00.000-07:00

Karol Coleman swept the boards as the Overall League Winner from January to May and the Manager of the Year 2009. Can he be toppled next season?

CLUB PERSON OF THE YEAR

2009-06-30T05:28:00.001-07:00

This award went to the shirt-burning and fun-loving JP Quinn who received a (priceless) UCCFFC t-shirt.

AWARD WINNERS - CUP OF CHAMPIONS AND SHIELD

2009-06-30T05:22:00.000-07:00

On Thursday 25 June 2009 the inaugural UCCFFC movie and awards night was held in UCC's Aula Maxima. Amongst the award recipients were Frank Burke (Cup of Champions) and Marita Foster (UCCFFC Shield, on behalf of her brother, Dominic).

KREUZ CONTROL

2009-05-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

Mark Kreuzer claimed his fourth monthly career title by winning in April. Mark won the first ever UCCFFC award in August 2001 but then - amazingly - had to wait until December 2006 for his next success before triumphing again in August 2007. The other top five placings in April were (2) Aodh Quinlivan; (3) Karol Coleman; (4) Evan Healy and; (5) Eric Moore.

RYAN GIGGS EDITORIAL (Issue 269)

2009-05-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

With 801 appearances for Manchester United under his belt (and counting) plus 10 Premier League titles, 2 UEFA Champions League medals, 4 FA Cups and an UEFA Cup (I’m leaving out some of the smaller titles) Ryan Giggs is a footballer apart who richly deserves many accolades and a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award. However, on the basis of 12 league starts and one goal (the stats have risen to 13/2 after the weekend) the Welsh Wizard was somewhat fortunate to be crowned PFA Player of the Year last weekend. In my mind, the likes of Vidic, Lampard and Gerrard were more deserving but I don’t have a vote! Equally, in the ‘Young Player’ category I would have ticked Stephen Ireland’s name on the ballot box in preference to Ashley Young.

Having set out my stall that Giggs should not be the Player of the Year, I would now like to justify his selection and pay tribute to him! The PFA award comes from the professional footballers themselves and this gives it credibility. Perhaps players were influenced by the Manchester United PR charm offensive and the concerted media effort back in January to crown Giggs but, nonetheless, players know what goes on during matches and they clearly value what Giggs has done over the past 12 months. Even if there was some sentimentality attached to the decision, so what? The second point I would like to make came to me yesterday afternoon as Leinster were destroying Munster in the Heineken Cup at Croke Park. The young Brian O’Driscoll was known for his dash, his cutting line breaks and his pace. Due to bulking up, regular injuries and getting older, O’Driscoll can no longer do on a rugby pitch what came so naturally to him 10 years ago. But he has not disappeared. Instead, O’Driscoll has accepted Father Time and adjusted his game accordingly and he now relies on other strengths – experience, anticipation and tackling. It takes a certain type of character to carry this off, a person who has natural talent, mental strength and a great intelligence. Ryan Giggs also possesses these characteristics. His re-invention and longevity surpasses even O’Driscoll. Giggs cannot gallop up the left wing in the thrilling fashion of old but, as a central midfielder, he offers quality, class and – that word again – intelligence. Maybe he’s not the true Player of the Year but can we really begrudge him the honour?

2009-04-20T04:26:00.000-07:00

Taking my life in my hands, I have engaged in my annual task of drawing up my team of the season. My main dilemma was with the forward positions. Last season, Ronaldo and Adebayor both scored more than 30 league goals but this time around Anelka remains the top scorer on 15 and he has been stuck on that total for a while. I think the best striker in the Premier League is Torres and, on current form, I would pair him with the revitalised Drogba. However, neither player makes my team because – on the basis of form over the season – they do not deserve to be there.
I’ve opted for a 3-5-2 formation (this is hard luck on Bosingwa who would have made it at right full-back in a 4-4-2) as follows:

Van der Sar (Goalkeeper)

Jagielka (Centre-half, right)
Vidic (Centre-half, central)
Carragher (Centre-half, left)

Ireland (Midfield, right)
Cahill (Midfield, right central)
Lampard (Midfield, central)
Barry (midfield, left central)
Taylor (Midfield, left)

Gerrad (Striker, support)
Rooney (Striker)

FRIEDEL EDITORIAL (Issue 265)

2009-03-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

Don’t get me wrong, I like Brad Friedel. He comes across as a decent bloke and he has arguably been the best and most consistent goalkeeper in the Premier League over the last decade. However, I am flabbergasted that the FA rescinded the red card he received in Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool. Friedel made a genuine effort to get to the ball but Torres beat him to it, knocked it past the keeper and then had nowhere to go but into Friedel. Torres was denied ‘a clear goalscoring opportunity’ and Friedel was the last man (Reo-Coker was ahead of his goalkeeper). While perhaps a penalty and a yellow card might have been enough punishment, referee Martin Atkinson was correct under the current laws to dismiss the American. How can referees operate effectively when their (correct) decisions are reversed by the FA? This totally undermines the credibility of referees and it is no surprise that the Professional Game Match Officials Board has written to the FA seeking clarification on how the decision to rescind was reached. Meanwhile, Friedel gets to play on and extend his record of consecutive appearances in the Premier League. Good luck to him.

SPIT-FIRE EDITORIAL (Issue 264)

2009-03-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

You all know my bias by now as I am an Arsenal supporter and a big fan of Cesc Fabregas. But if the young Spaniard did spit at Hull City’s Brian Horton on Tuesday night, then I have no hesitation in describing it as a disgraceful action for which the player should be fined and suspended by Arsenal and the FA. Of course, fair judgement has to be reached on the understanding that you are innocent until proven guilty. Fabregas has not issued a ‘no comment’ statement or a bland denial; rather, he has strenuously and unambiguously denied the charge of spitting. For now, that is good enough for me. If the FA investigation declares Fabregas guilty then he will be discredited as not only a pizza-thrower and a spitter but also a liar. I do find it interesting that the initial outrage expressed by Hull about Fabregas allegedly spitting at Horton has been reduced to an accusation that he may have spat on the ground near Horton’s feet. There is quite a difference here!

In terms of the claim that Wenger refused to shake hands with Phil Brown after the game, I have three comments to make. (1) As a general principle, I believe that what happens on a pitch should be left there and handshakes should be exchanged at the end. (2) Notwithstanding the first point, it is not always easy to shake someone’s hand after a match where there has been tension. I have never refused a hand after a match in which I was involved but I have walked off pitches without extending my hand to opponents. If some of the comments allegedly made by Horton and the Hull City staff towards Wenger during the game are to be believed then the Frenchman was entitled to walk away. (3) Phil Brown also claimed that Wenger refused to shake his hand at the other two meetings between the clubs this season. This is plain wrong (see above picture which shows the two managers shaking hands at the Emirates after the league match). It should also be noted that Wenger was fulsome in his congratulations and praise for Hull after they beat Arsenal at the Emirates.

While I am unconvinced by the spitting charge and think that the ‘handshake’ issue is unimportant it does bother me though that, under Wenger, Arsenal have gained a reputation for being arrogant in victory and whingers in defeat. This has to change and it is up to Wenger (as manager) and Fabregas (as captain) to set a proper example.

UCCFFC Logo

2009-02-23T03:38:00.001-08:00

Paul Kennedy has designed a logo for the UCCFFC which will be used on all of our material from this point forward. Paul’s design is based on some straightforward concepts: the four sections in the diamond represent the centre of the quadrangle in UCC; the two towers are the gates of Cork, as in the county logo; and, of course, red and black are the college colours.

THE GREAT KICK-OFF

2009-01-22T02:26:00.000-08:00

Everton's Steven Pienaar is really excited about the start of the second half of the UCCFFC season. Speaking exclusively to Sliding Tackle, he said: - 'I can't wait for things to start up again; the build-up has been great and excitement levels are high. I'm especially interested to see how the new managers perform, if JP lives up to his promises and how the Cup of Champions and Shield pan out. I presume I've been selected by a lot of managers?' {Ed. er no, Steven, actually not, sorry mate}.

SANTA BABY

2008-12-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

With two monthly awards to her name already in 2008/2009, Fiona Buckley romped convincingly to the overall league title from August to December. She deservedly wins €150 and the league trophy.

Karol Coleman finished in second position and wins €110.

Theresa Reidy claims €80 for third.

As his prize for fourth, Frank Burke wins a Premier League jersey of his choosing.

Liam Weeks, in fifth, gets a football t-shirt.

SEXY SIX FOR JOHN McCARTHY

2008-12-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

John McCarthy won the November/December monthly competition with a majestic come-from-behind performance. This was John's sixth monthly success in a glittering fantasy football career. The other top five positions were occupied by Evan Healy (second), Theresa Reidy (third), Cathal O'Mahony (fourth) and Frank Burke (fifth).

UCCFFC CUP WINNER

2008-12-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

Kieran Sheehan won the 2008/2009 UCCFFC Cup by defeating Mary Foley in a tense final. Pat Quinn and Cathal O'Mahony were the beaten semi-finalists.

NEW SIGNING FOR OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS

2008-12-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

Mark Mulcahy won the multi-league prediction competition (for the second year in a row) and his prize was an Olympique Lyonnais scarf. Happy wearing!

Are you Keane for a debate?

2008-12-08T04:07:00.000-08:00

Personally I'm tired of the ongoing fascination with Roy Keane but there seems to be an endless appetite to discuss him so here's what I think of the 'Boy Roy.'

He was a world class player and I greatly admired the drive and commitment which he exhibited in each and every match.

The unforgivable black stain hanging over Keano's playing days is the way he ended Alfie Haaland's career with a vicious and pre-meditated challenge, showing no remorse subsequently. Let us not forget that his grievance towards Haaland stemmed from when Keane did his cruciate while committing a bad foul on Haaland. Haaland's actions in standing over the stricken Keane and goading him were despicable but, in both instances Keane was the aggressor, and his 'eye for an eye' excuse is nonsense.

Regarding Saipan (deep breath here) and the ensuing civil war, I think that Keane was wrong. The question as to whether he walked or was pushed is mute. He threatened to walk but was convinced to stay, then he engineered the situation whereby he would be sent home and, on his return to Ireland, played a game with the Irish media and public by teasing everybody into the possibility that he might go back again to the World Cup. The bottom line is that he let us down.

As a new manager he did a terrific job in getting Sunderland from the foot of the Championship into the Premier League and keeping them there for a season.

I don't subscribe to the view that you can link Saipan and Sunderland and conclude that Keane now has a history of walking away but there is no doubt that at the first sign of criticism from fans and the media he was unable to deal with it. He spent a lot of money and did not buy quality players and his man management skills clearly left a lot to be desired.

KAROL WINS OCTOBER COMPETITION

2008-11-16T12:24:00.000-08:00

Karol Coleman from the Irish Department won the October monthly competition in dominant style, finishing ahead of Mark Steele (2nd.) and Fiona Buckley (3rd.) Karol has now three career monthly titles to his name and is hoping to challenge for the Manager of the Year trophy.

IS ROY KEANE A BAD MANAGER?

2008-11-10T03:25:00.000-08:00

A Football365 article by Sarah Winterburn
Roy Keane was one of six managers who reportedly spent over £30m this summer - the others being Juande Ramos, Rafa Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson, Martin O'Neill and Mark Hughes. One of those number has already gone, three have started the season strongly and the other is under significant pressure for only being mid-table. So why does nobody question Keane when his team are in 14th - a massive one place above where they finished last season - despite investment on the scale of Champions League hopefuls this summer? [Ed. After this weekend Sunderland are 19th].

Sunderland have the biggest squad in the Premier League - with 33 players having squad numbers and another ten players out on loan. That's more than all the clubs who are competing in European competition as well as the Premier League. They have a grand total of 12 strikers on their books - including forgotten men like David Connolly and Rade Prica - and still only Fulham have scored fewer goals in the Premier League. And they managed just one shot - on or off target - against Chelsea at the weekend.
They have won only one of their last six league games and are yet to earn a single point from a losing position this season. And yet, when it comes to questioning what progress Keane is making at Sunderland, the silence is deafening. The truth is that Keane is immune to criticism through a mixture of fear and respect. Not respect for his achievements as a manager but respect for his achievements as a player, and a fear not only of an angry reaction from a man with a celebrated temper but a withdrawal of media co-operation from one of the most quotable managers in the game.
Just as there was scant condemnation for Harry Redknapp's second exit from Portsmouth despite his earlier protestations that he would never leave the club, there are no questions being asked of Keane's management despite his vast summer spending (£12.5m on two West Ham defenders for a start) and results that have not reflected that spending. If any other Premier League manager had fielded an 18-year-old striker who has been out injured since February against the title favourites while leaving Djibril Cisse and El-Hadji Diouf on the bench, people would be queueing up to ask whether said manager had lost the plot. Keane does it and - outside of local newspaper reports - you will struggle to find a mention of Martyn Waghorn's name in reports until you get to the bit at the end that says 'Waghorn, 4'.
I'm not saying Keane is a poor manager and of course I accept the notion that Keane is trying to 'build' a team and that will take time, but I will be very interested to see whether there are any dissenting voices in the press if Sunderland are still only a point clear of relegation in January or February. I suspect not.

IS IT TIME FOR ARSENE WENGER TO GO?

2008-11-03T01:26:00.000-08:00

YES – Emmanuelle Quinlivan, co-manager of Adam’s French Fancies
I didn't see the match on Wednesday and I do understand that a derby always brings the best out of players down in the dumps (like Spurs). Yet I think there has been a trend for Arsenal, after the unbeaten season, to never quite clinch the deal. I think they desperately need a new manager. Arsene has been great, brought a new ethic to the club, new training technique, new diet etc but his constant refusal to bring in experienced players who are not past it (like Gallas) or moody (like Gallas!) has been a big issue and explains for me why the club hasn't won anything in years. If I hear one more time that Arsenal are in transition, I'll scream! They will be [in transition] forever if a constant stream of youngsters are brought in. And the team needs a solid, reliable, experienced and level-headed captain!

NO – Aodh Quinlivan, manager of Vic Guthrie’s Melchester Reserves
Sir Alex Ferguson may be the best manager in the Premier League but Arsene Wenger is the best coach. He has a pure philosophy of football and he deserves the opportunity to keep working with the current crop of Arsenal youngsters. Yes, there are problems at the club and it is apparent to all that the Gunners are crying out for a defensive holding midfielder in the mould of Vieira/Flamini/Gilberto. It is no coincidence that the four goals scored by Spurs came from long-range shots from central positions, the kind of area usually patrolled by a holding midfielder. It is also a concern that Fabregas is off form. Hopefully he is just finding his feet after the European Championships in the summer. There is a suspicion however – as expressed on some Arsenal message boards – that his season is reminiscent of Henry’s last at Arsenal. In other words, he loves the club, he insists he is not leaving but his mind is elsewhere. So it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done at the Emirates on the training ground and in the dressing-room. But the fact remains (at least it is my opinion) that Arsene Wenger is the best person to oversee this work. If Arsenal fans continue to trust Wenger, the rewards will be great in the form of an all-conquering team led by the likes of Ramsey, Walcott, Vela, Merida and Wilshire.

ANOTHER WIN FOR FIONA

2008-10-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Fiona Buckley won the September monthly competition in fine style, finishing seven points ahead of Mark Kreuzer.This was Fiona's third monthly success in a row - a new UCCFFC record! The picture above shows her accepting the September award at White Hart Lane before Spurs took on (and beat!) Bolton Wanderers.

Fiona Buckley 284

Mark Kreuzer 277

Carl Swidorski 276

John McCarthy 274

Mark Hooley 268

RACEY WINS FOR JEREMY & DECLAN

2008-10-15T03:49:00.000-07:00

Well done to Jeremy Hayes from BIS (below) who won The Best of Roy of the Rovers in the 1980s for his contributions to our recent blog competition. Declan Jordan of the Economics Department (above, after a gruelling training session with UCC United) also won a copy of this most-coveted soccer annual. Congratulations to you both!

What 'Roy of the Rovers' means to me

2008-10-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

My love of football can partly be traced to Roy of the Rovers. I was not around when the weekly Roy of the Rovers story started in the first issue of Tiger on 11 September, 1954 but when the stand alone comic began in 1976, I followed the exploits of Roy Race religiously until the tragic closure of the comic on 20 March, 1993. For me, Roy of the Rovers represents the glamorous and unpredictable nature of football with last-minute goals in Cup finals and a never-say-die attitude which I try to take with me every time I step on the pitch. Some of the Roy of the Rovers story lines are unforgettable. For example, in 1981, Melchester Rovers were sensationally relegated to Division 2, Roy was shot by Elton Blake (in my world this story was much bigger than 'who shot JR Ewing?') and Sir Alf Ramsey took over as caretaker manager. During the 1982/'83 season Roy did the unthinkable and joined Walford Rovers but his heart wasn't in it and he returned to Melchester the following season to lead the Reds to an FA Cup final victory ... over Walford, of course. Melchester's summer tour to Basran in 1986 coincided with a coup by native rebel forces and eight team members, including Vic Guthrie, Kenny Logan, Jimmy Slade and Trevor Cassidy, lost their lives. The surviving players were rescued by an SAS unit. In 1987, Roy's son - Roy Jr - ran away from home and in 1988 Mel Park (home ground of the Rovers) was destroyed by an 'earthquake' (caused by the collapse of old mining tunnels under the stadium). Three years later, Roy rejected an offer of €8 million to become manager of the USA national team; 1991/1992 saw him set a new English league scoring record of 436 goals; he resigned as Melchester's player-manager live on Sky TV in 1992/1993 but quickly changed his mind. At the end of that fateful season, Roy crashed his helicopter and was left critically injured and in a coma. He came out of the coma to learn that his famous left foot had been amputated. Roy's next move was to leave England to take over as manager of Italian side AC Monza, leaving Roy Jr (aka Rocky) to continue his father's tradition at Melchester.

What a man! Thanks for the memories Roy. Every kid needs a Roy of the Rovers in their life.

Famous Five for Fabulous Fiona

2008-09-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

FIFTH MONTHLY TITLE FOR FANTASTIC FIONA

2008-09-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

The August monthly competition has been won in dramatic style by Fiona Buckley (Department of Government) who collects her fifth career title. After a titanic struggle, Fiona finished level with Frank Burke but was awarded the higher placing due to her superior score in the final week of the competition. Liam Weeks finished strongly to take third position ahead of Theresa Reidy and the managerial duo of Emmanuelle and Adam Quinlivan.

Final August Monthly Table

Fiona Buckley 303
Frank Burke 303
Liam Weeks 294
Theresa Reidy 280
Emm/Adam Quinlivan 273

BURKE LEADS WAY

2008-09-05T04:33:00.000-07:00

With three weeks out of four completed in the August competition, Frank Burke leads the way by six points from Fiona Buckley with Karol Coleman a further ten points in arrears. While Frank has never won a monthly title, Fiona has four to her name and Karol won twice last year in his debut season. Due to the break this weekend because of international matches, Week 4 takes place over the weekend of Saturday 13 to Monday 15 September. The top five managers will win money and it's all to play for!

1 Frank Burke 239
2 Fiona Buckley 233
3 Karol Coleman 223
4 Sinead Hackett 222
5 Mark Mulcahy 221
6 Liam Weeks 215
7 Theresa Reidy 215
8 Bill Swidorski 214
9 Emmanuelle & Adam Quinlivan 214
10 Aodh Quinlivan 213

BABY GUNNERS

2008-07-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

Joel wrote (29 July): - Do they do Premiership romper suits for adults too? I disapprove of encouraging young children to support Arsenal (on moral grounds), but I would totally buy a Reading romper suit for myself.... oh, hang on, Reading aren't in the Prem any more :(

Aodh replied (31 July): - Thanks Joel. Your moral objections are noted. Let me assure you that in addition to Adam's daily two-hour classes on the history of Arsenal, he also gets a 'balanced' view of other clubs, especially Spurs.

NEW SEASON OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN QUAD

2008-07-22T06:25:00.001-07:00

The 2008/2009 UCCFFC season was officially launched in the Main Quadrangle of UCC on Tuesday 22 July. The above picture shows (from left to right): - Martina Beckett, Declan Jordan, Eric Moore, Aodh Quinlivan, Adam Quinlivan, Michael Byrne, Emmanuelle Schon, Mark Mulcahy, Mary Foley, Evan Healy, Ray Foley and Sinead Hackett.

2008/2009 SEASON

2008-07-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

The new season is nearly upon us and it promises to be a cracker! The basic rules of the game are the same as last year but you should note the following: -

The entry deadline is FRIDAY 8 AUGUST. This is a week before the Premier League season starts and will give us a chance to enter all of the teams and get our system set up.

As I will be out of the country on Friday 8 August, please submit your team to me via e-mail using the official entry form.

The entry fee for the full season is €50 and this should be paid to the club Treasurer, Fiona Buckley, in the Department of Government, ORB 2.45.

After submitting your team on Friday 8 August, you can make up to three changes to your selection by 4:30pm on Friday 15 August which will not count as official transfers. However, do not interpret this as meaning that the deadline is the 15th – it is FRIDAY 8 AUGUST.

The budget is £70m and the selection criteria are the same as always, i.e. 2 goalkeepers, 2 full-backs, 2 centre-backs, 4 midfielders and 4 strikers. No more than 2 players can be selected from any one club.

NB. NEW RULE NB. Your team must contain at least ONE player from the trio of newly promoted clubs – Stoke, Hull, and West Brom. At all times throughout the season you must have one player from these clubs. Please note that this is one player in total, not one from each of the three clubs.

BALLS IN THE AIR

2008-05-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

Niall Duggan, Mary Foley and Eric Moore did a great job promoting our club at the UCC Staff Sports and Social Club Open Night. Due to their efforts in attracting new members we hope to expand again next season.

DECLAN JORDAN - CUP OF CHAMPIONS WINNER 2008

2008-05-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

Declan Jordan, of the Economics Department, poses with the Cup of Champions trophy after his stunning final success against Alan Sheehan. Thanks to a Cesc Fabregas assist, Declan won by 77-75.

MARK STEELE

2008-05-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Mark Steele won the recent quiz competition based on a question about Irish European Cup winners. Mark's super prize was a Bayern Munich goody bag containing a mug, pen, key-ring and toothbrush!

10 COMMENTS ON LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA

2008-04-23T04:38:00.000-07:00

It was a very poor game which was predictable given the style of football played by both teams and the negative attitudes of both managers.
Liverpool shaded it and probably deserved to win by a goal. I don't buy the opinion expressed by Gerrard that Liverpool's performance was worthy of a 3-0 victory.
Gerrard needs to step up to the plate as he went missing (again) for most of the game.
Drogba demonstrated (again) what a knob he is. For a huge man it is embarrassing to see him go to ground so easily.
Torres may be a world class player but this does not mean that he is a world class finisher. At this level, in the big games, you have to stick those one-on-one chances.
John Terry's performance was typically cynical.
Joe Cole's form has dipped alarmingly in the last couple of weeks.
Riise was due a goal and took it well.
Petr Cech, perhaps understandably, is not as bravely commanding as he once was.
Benitez's post-match moan was unwarranted and Liverpool only have themselves to blame for the end result.

F365 OPINION PIECE ON ROONEY, THE BBC AND MATCH OF THE DAY

2008-04-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

What is worse - the player who dives or the pundits who refuse to acknowledge the subterfuge, let alone condone it? As some F365ers complained during the week, there was remarkably little media condemnation of Steven Gerrard's antics against Blackburn, and the response of MOTD this weekend to Wayne Rooney's behaviour against the same opponents was even more craven. Even when acknowledging that there was 'a delay' in his 'fall' after a challenge by Steven Reid, neither Lawrenson nor Shearer were prepared to admit that the Manchester United striker had taken a dive. Far better to bury their heads in the sand throwing out meaningless platitudes than acknowledge any English wrongdoing. There has always been an ugly inconsistency in the media's outlook to such incidents. As this column noted in December in a segment on Aston Villa winger Ashley Young after he was booked for diving, 'Despite highlighting the youngster's performance, Match of the Day neglected to feature Young's cheating, let alone pass commentary on it. It was another depressing reminder of the programme's shallowness and the type of reverse xenophobia that has enabled Joe Cole to become an embarrassment to the nation. Had a Ronaldo or a Pires committed such a piece of shameless subterfuge then the debate about immigration would probably have been re-opened.' Perhaps the myopia is a consequence of the Beeb's policy of appointing former players and the 'jobs for the boys' pact that underpins the insidious relationship. Or perhaps it stems from a reluctance on the corporation's behalf to make powerful enemies - broadcasters need clubs' co-operation as much as clubs need their matches to be broadcast and yet boycotts only work one way. Whatever the reason, television companies are as guilty for the spread of cheating in the English game as the perceived prime suspect, those bloody foreigners. Rooney thus escaped with censure, and the comment, following his hack at Christopher Samba, of how "he took on someone bigger than him" sounded approving. Never mind that he had lost control of his emotions, it's an Englishman fighting back so that makes it alright then. Worse was to follow. That Rooney spent most of the second half subjecting both a linesman and referee Robert Styles to his full range of invective was neither approved of nor disapproved. It was simply omitted from the MOTD coverage altogether. The crusade for greater respect to be shown towards officialdom lasted just as long as it took to replace an Argentine with an Englishman in the firing line.

MARK MULCAHY

2008-04-14T09:20:00.001-07:00

Mark Mulcahy (Accounting & Finance) won the 'Six League Prediction Competition' -

his super prize was The Damned Utd by David Peace.

KEVIN HARRINGTON

2008-04-14T09:16:00.001-07:00

Kevin Harrington (Registrar's Office) won the 'Kanu Competition'

and received a much-coveted Cork City FC scarf.

Aodh's 'Non Top Four' Team of the Season

2008-04-14T01:59:00.000-07:00

James (Portsmouth)
Hutton (Tottenham - right full back)
Woodgate (Tottenham - centre back)
Distin (Portsmouth - centre back)
Lescott (Everton - left full back)
Barry (Aston Villa - holding midfielder)
Young (Aston Villa - right side midfield)
Petrov (Manchester City - left side midfield)
Bentley (Blackburn Rovers - free role behind front two)
Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers - striker)
Keane (Tottenham - striker)

On the bench: - Laursen (Aston Villa), Downing (M'Boro), Defoe (Portsmouth), Berbatov (Tottenham), Jones (Sunderland).

AODH'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE SEASON

2008-04-06T03:06:00.000-07:00

Please send in your comments on my team and post your own versions. Next week I will reveal my 'outside-the-top-four' team of the season.

Formation (4-3-1-2 with a free role for Ronaldo)

James (Portsmouth, goalkeeper).
Sagna (Arsenal, right full back)
Ferdinand (Manchester Utd, right centre back)
Lescott (Everton, left centre back)
Evra (Manchester Utd, left full back)
Gerrard (Liverpool, right of midfield three)
Fabregas (Arsenal, centre of midfield three)
Petrov (Manchester City, left of midfield three)
Ronaldo (Manchester Utd, free role behind strikers)
Torres (Liverpool, striker)
Rooney (Manchester Utd, striker)

CUT THE REFFING LANGUAGE OUT by the always-entertaining Robbo Robson (BBC Sports website)

2008-03-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

Viva Steve Bennett!I did a quick straw poll in the Blue Bell about Mascherano's sending-off at Old Trafford and the size of the majority in favour was slightly larger than the vote Vladimir Putin gets during a Russian election, i.e. 102 per cent. (I know that doesn't make sense, but Kevin Keegan's teams never give less than 200 per cent, so it makes football sense.)Not that much in football makes sense anymore. For example...Wayne Rooney: "I don't think the sending-off changed the game too much." And Rafa Benitez: "Ryan Babel heard everything and told me Mascherano was just asking why Fernando Torres had been booked." Mascherano was at it from the word go, chipping away like one of them tiresome one-eyed fans you sometimes sit next to. The one who can't believe any decision should go against him or his team. Fortunately at the Boro you can always find another seat. Fact is, if you get booked, you keep your head down, you don't become a registered ref-baiter for the afternoon. Some have said the skipper should have stepped in to save little Javier. Alonso tried to, but where was Gerrard? Well given the fact you never noticed him in the other 89 minutes, why should he suddenly turn up then? It doesn't matter what his defenders say, Mascherano had to go. And if this does prove to be a line in the sand for refs then we should all celebrate. Although hearing John Terry saying he's behind moves to stop the hounding of officials is a bit like Wallace and Gromit backing a national ban on cheese. Fergie called the ref's treatment 'ridiciulous' - which he acknowledged was a bit rich after the way his players tore into Andy D'Urso in 2000 like Billy Bunter at an unmanned school tuck-shop.
And this is the same Ferguson who laid into Martin Atkinson after the home defeat to Pompey in the Cup! It's either stupidity or hypocrisy for these blokes to back moves to end a practice which they are as guilty of as anyone else in the game. To me, it starts with the managers. How many more times do we have to put up with the ref being responsible for a team's defeat? Avram feels his team are victimised after Ashley Cole's pathetic hissy-fit at White Hart Lane. Perhaps you could thank – or forgive - the assistant ref for not putting his flag up for your equaliser on Sunday? Would Fergie have defended Bennett if it was one of his boys who got red-carded for too much chat? Let's face it, it's surely only a matter of time before TV companies decided to show Man U games with Wazza's gob permanently pixilated. We know only too well that Wenger's capacity for looking in the wrong direction at the right time is second to none. He is desperate for more protection for his team - and yet Arsenal's disciplinary record is pretty shocking since he arrived there. These blokes need to grow up more than the players. And learn to lose, even if decisions go against them - 'cos you know what, it's the nature of the game. Tough. Get on with it. And stop standing behind players who have been just plain dumb. Of course it's just as bad at grass-roots level, where great lunks not unlike meself think they can get away with threatening to take the chain off a ref's bike if he doesn't reverse a decision. And don't get me started on these snarling touchline tyrants of parents who can't accept their little lad could ever swear at an opponent and will tell the ref as much, using phrases drawn from the Gordon Ramsay Book of Social Etiquette. Now, I don't want to come across as a big Jessie about all this. I know some swear-words, me, and I’m not afraid to ******* use them. (Not my asterisks). But I should be told to leave the field of play if I use them in the direction of a bloke whose job is to see that rules are enforced. It's got to be fair enough. Of course, unless the FA back the refs up, nowt'll change. It'd be nice to see the affluent lads with effluent gobs given red cards and automatic three-match bans for dissent. It'd also be nice to think if a team racks up lots of red cards for such behaviour that points can be docked 'n all. It wouldn't be hard to enforce. Finally, let's make it a rule that only the skippers can discuss decisions with the ref. It works in rugby (unlike most things in that sport) so let's try it in football – that's if the ref can actually find Steven Gerrard that day, of course.

THE MASCHERANO/BENNETT DEBATE

2008-03-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

At the risk of annoying of all of our Liverpool fans I have to say that I think Steve Bennett was 100% right to send Mascherano off against Manchester United. His first yellow card was warranted as he slid in late on Paul Scholes. Mascherano seemed intent on pointing out to Bennett that it was his first foul of the match but that is irrelevant. If your first foul is a bad one you are going to earn a yellow card. Thereafter, Mascherano queried every decision, usually with a few expletives thrown in for good measure. Any time a foul was committed by a United player he wanted a yellow card to be produced as he clearly felt his card was unjust. Even though it was apparent that Mascherano was a ticking time bomb, Benitez did nothing (he should have substituted him after 20 minutes) and Gerrard showed a distinct lack of leadership by not intervening to try and calm the Argentinian down. There was an inevitability about the second yellow and the level of Liverpool's brainless stupidity is demonstrated by the fact that they had won a free-kick for a foul on Torres. Yet, despite having the decision in their favour, Liverpool argued the point and both Torres and Mascherano (who ran 20 yards to get involved) picked up yellow cards. Sheer madness. And Benitez himself is doing the game of soccer no favours by supporting his player. Is it any wonder that there is so little respect in the game?

LIAM WEEKS - FEBRUARY MONTHLY WINNER

2008-03-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Department of Government's Liam Weeks - pictured here outside the European Central Bank in Frankfurt with a copy of 'Sliding Tackle' - won the February monthly competition with Sinead Hackett (Pensions) and Joel Walmsley (Philosophy) finishing second and third respectively.

GRANT HAS NEVER MEASURED UP by Eoin O'Callaghan

2008-03-17T04:16:00.001-07:00

It was always an interesting development, wasn’t it? Originally it was a ‘who’s who’ of football glitterati linked to the job – Rijkaard, Klinsmann, Deschamps. All young, energetic and revered ex-pros whose successes with Barcelona, Germany and Monaco (and to a certain degree, Juventus too) respectively saw their names naturally linked to Mourinho’s vacated King’s chair. When the news came that the 52 year-old Israeli, Avram Grant, had been installed as Mourinho’s replacement, few believed it would ever be anything other than a short-term thing.

We have been led to believe that there exists a deep and meaningful relationship between Grant and Roman Abramovich but in reality, Grant is never going to get past first base. The courtship is fleeting and flirtatious but never passionate. The roles are clearly defined – Grant clings to the notion of long-term happiness while Abramovich eyes up his next bit on the side – Frank Arneson, Henk Ten Cate, even Grant himself have all been the third party at some stage – and all played their part in the collapse of the Mourinho/Abramovich ‘unhappy – ever – after’.

The bottom line is that Grant has never ‘been’ Chelsea. He has never ‘looked’ Chelsea, never ‘acted’ Chelsea, never ‘talked’ Chelsea. Whether they like it or not, there is a certain image that corresponds to Chelsea Football Club. It has developed and evolved since the ‘London wide-boy’ stereotype of the 1970s but under Mourinho, the club revelled in the vibe that he gave off. His was the self-adoration, the cute Manuel–isms, the air of self-confidence, the slicked-back swagger. Grant is the short, back and sides in the whole affair. He does not fit the requisite mould and so, he will not last. Friend or foe, Abramovich has proven in his spiky yet incredibly successful tenure at the Bridge that above all else, he’s a businessman and he’s not afraid to sharpen his scythe when required. Heads will roll at Stamford Bridge this summer and it won’t be pretty. As much as headlines will scream ‘Russian roulette’ as the season draws to a close, Abramovich only likes a gamble if the odds are in his favour. And at the moment, the unlikelihood of Chelsea winning the Premiership and Champions League, as well as the recent, highly embarrassing Cup defeats to Spurs and Barnsley will ensure that Avram Grant’s future at Chelsea makes for grim reading.

Grant’s biggest problem has been that he’s not Jose Mourinho and as much as he lacks charisma, charm and an inability to play the media (personality traits that the Portuguese had in abundance) he has struggled on the pitch too. After Mourinho had encountered fierce criticisms for his ‘win at all cost’ style of play, Grant’s Chelsea promised entertaining, free-spirited football. But we haven’t got that either. In fact, before their 6-1 routing of a hapless Derby side on Wednesday night, Chelsea had scored just 23 goals at Stamford Bridge (where they remain unbeaten, although have only won there on 6 occasions) this season. Florent Malouda, Chelsea’s big summer signing, has scored 1 Premier League goal since joining the club while, as the first team prepared for the Champions League clash with Olympiakos, record-signing Andriy Shevchenko spent last Monday night captaining the Chelsea reserves as they took on their Reading counterparts. Alongside him were Steve Sidwell and Claudio Pizarro, neither included in the Champions League squad. Chelsea’s humiliation at losing the game 2-1 probably wasn’t as bad as that felt by the former European Footballer of the Year - togging out at Griffin Park in front of a few hundred men and their dogs.

The internal difficulties at Chelsea have been well-documented but, with Henk Ten Cate being told to tow the line in the aftermath of a well-publicised spat with John Terry, the secret player meetings and behind-the-scenes bust-ups the problems don’t appear to be going away. And, if Chelsea’s season ends trophy-less, it may not only be Avram Grant on the move. Shevchenko looks to be on his way back to Milan, Lampard only has one year remaining on his contract, Drogba remains as ambiguous as ever regarding his future at the club and, depending on who the next man is, inconsistent performers like Shaun Wright-Philips and Wayne Bridge could be on their way too.

It’s hard to think of anyone else who could patrol Stamford Bridge the way Jose Mourinho did. The closest one gets is Frank Rijkaard, though he has always failed to get the balance right between self-confidence and supreme arrogance. As much the club needs someone with the personality to match that of the club, it also needs someone with the capability of controlling the growing player-power and channelling their grievances, egos and above all else, their incredible ability in the right direction. For the sake of the club, let’s hope that happens sooner rather than later.

Debate of Week - The Aliadiere Ban

2008-02-28T01:53:00.000-08:00

SHUT UP MIDDLESBROUGH

Last Saturday, Middlesbrough’s Jeremie Aliadiere was sent off by referee Lee Mason for slapping Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano. Middlesbrough appealed the dismissal but, on Wednesday, were informed by the FA that the appeal was being dismissed because it was frivolous and an extra game was added to the striker’s initial three-match ban. Middlesbrough were predictably outraged, with chairman Steve Gibson launching a scathing attack on the FA describing them as ‘amateurs’ and ‘silly little men.’ In my opinion, Gibson should shut up and grow up. Aliadiere slapped Mascherano in the face; the force of the slap is not the issue. Once the referee saw the incident he had no choice but to dismiss the striker. The referee did not make a mistake and Middlesbrough had absolutely no grounds for an appeal. Therefore the appeal was unnecessary, frivolous and doomed to failure. Gibson was dumb to submit it in the first place and now he has managed to extend the ban of Aliadiere. What was the basis of his appeal? – “Eh, yes he deliberately struck Mascherano in the face but it wasn’t very hard!” Get real.

JANUARY 2008 MANAGER OF THE MONTH - FIONA BUCKLEY

2008-02-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

Fiona Buckley celebrates her third UCCFFC monthly success. Her previous successes were in April 2003 and March 2007.

DEBATE OF WEEK: SHOULD RAFA BE FIRED?

2008-02-21T03:26:00.000-08:00

Arguments in favour: - Persistent failure to mount a serious Premier League challenge as Liverpool are usually 15-20 points adrift in by January; Excessive rotation of squad and inability to decide on his best XI; Poor quality of football with not enough of a effort to pass through midfield; Overly-cautious approach away from home; Tendency to lose to lower league sides (e.g. Barnsley, Burnley); Indecisiveness about whether to play Gerrard on the right of midfield, in the centre or in a free role off the striker(s); Poor purchases in the transfer market, e.g. Kuyt, Voronin, Kewell, Bellamy, Sissoko.

Arguments against: - In 3½ years he has led Liverpool to success in the Champions League and FA Cup as well as finishing runners-up in the Champions League and Carling Cup; He has not spent as much money as people seem to think – Liverpool have only two players who cost more than £12m (Torres and Babel) compared to Chelsea who have ten and Manchester United who have eight; Liverpool will be best served by stability and giving Benitez time in the same way as Manchester United persisted with Ferguson when he was struggling.

The Global Premiership

2008-02-11T00:21:00.000-08:00

The big story of the week was the announcement by the Premier League that it is considering the idea of staging some matches around the rest of the world. At a meeting in London on Thursday, all 20 clubs agreed to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games. Those 10 extra games would be played at five different venues, with cities bidding for the right to stage them. It is understood the additional fixtures could be determined by a draw but that the top-five teams could be seeded to avoid playing each other.

My immediate reaction when I heard the announcement was that it was a crazy idea and another example of English soccer selling its soul and blatantly chasing the money. However, it also has to be accepted that the Premier League is now a global phenomenon. The league's income from the sale of overseas TV rights has already increased from £178m in 2001 to £625m for the current deal that runs until 2010. Broadcaster NowTV paid around £100m for the rights to Hong Kong alone. Premier League games are broadcast to over 600m homes in 202 countries worldwide, while an estimated 1 billion people watched the Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester United in November 2007. From a football (as opposed to business) perspective, the proposal seems quite problematic as it is adding an extra game into an already over-crowded calendar which includes meaningless international friendlies. By playing certain teams three times a season a situation will be created which will favour some clubs while disadvantaging others. Premiership titles, Champions League places and relegation battles might be ultimately decided by the extra overseas game. If a club like Sunderland are fighting the drop and their extra game is against Manchester United, this will give a huge advantage to a relegation rival like Wigan whose extra fixture might be against Derby. What do you think? Post your views to www.uccffc.blogspot.com from Monday afternoon onwards.

UCC United

2008-01-04T02:48:00.000-08:00

Follow the progess of Declan Jordan and co. in the Cork Business League at:-
http://uccunited.blogspot.com/

OVERALL WINNER, AUGUST-DECEMBER 2007

2007-12-20T13:33:00.001-08:00

Tony McCarthy topped the overall league table from August to December, beating his son, John, into second place. Along the way, Tony collected the September and October monthly competitions.

FFA CUP WINNER 2007/2008

2007-12-20T13:31:00.001-08:00

Gerard Clarke - Psychiatry Lab, Biosciences Institute - won the FFA Cup in December, beating Alan Ahern, the defending champion.

THE MIGHTY QUINN

2007-12-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

Pat Quinn won the pre-Christmas prediction competition and his prize was an Arsenal gift box. However, Pat made sure that his Leeds United credentials were apparent!

Hope Springs Eternal

2007-12-20T04:15:00.001-08:00

At the end of the 2006/2007 season, Ray Foley, won the 'MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED NEXT SEASON' award. We haven't seen much evidence of this yet!

Cup of Champions

2007-12-20T04:11:00.000-08:00

The Cup of Champions competition will take place in the second half of the 2007/2008 season. This competition is based on a champions league format. Last season, Fiona Buckley (seen here receiving her trophy from Aodh) was victorious.

UCCFFC Group Shot at end of 2006/2007 Season

2007-12-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

At the end of the 2006/2007 season - on the night of the UEFA Champions League Final - some UCCFFC members had an informal gathering in the O'Rahilly Building before adjourning to the College Bar to watch AC Milan defeat Liverpool!

2007-12-20T03:53:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Karol Coleman, An Gaeilge Labhartha, who won the November/December monthly competition in fine style. Karol is a dedicated Arsenal fan and he is enjoying an excellent first season in the UCCFFC.

2007-12-20T03:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Managers,

Welcome to the brand new UCCFFC blog! Feel free to participate to the blog, post comments and stimulate discussions. Presently, we are at the halfway point of the 2007/2008 UCCFFC season and all is going well. The first half of the season was dominated by the McCarthy family - Tony finished in first place in the overall league with his son, John, coming home second. Another notable highlight from the season to date was the stunning FFA Cup success of Gerard Clarke in his debut season. Gerard defeated Alan Ahern, the defending champion, in a keenly contested final.

We can now enjoy a break for Christmas before the second half of the season kicks off with the Premiership matches on Saturday 12 January 2008. Entries will need to be submitted by 4:30 the previous day.

Until then, have a happy and peaceful Christmas. May everything go your way in 2008.

- Aodh Q, UCCFFC Chairman