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.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
France v Ireland - The Fallout
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.
(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.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Clip Of The Week (Number 2)
This week its the turn of the goal keepers to suffer!
I bet you watch this more than once!
How?.........
I bet you watch this more than once!
How?.........
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Clip Of The Week (Number 1)
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.
Monday, September 7, 2009
BEING STEPHEN [IRELAND] by Gerry Moloney
“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.
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.
Friday, August 28, 2009
THE EDUARDO CONTROVERSY
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?
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?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
MANAGER OF YEAR
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?
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