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Books
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A rolling First World War reviews thread.
Tweet Given the day that is in it, and since there are only whatever number of shopping days until Christmas, this post is a rolling review of First World War literature, in its broadest sense to include personal accounts, historical fiction (and everything in between), histories, cinema, documentary, drama, theatre and the endless poetry. Next [...] read our review » -
Book launches: Everyday Life After the Irish Conflict and Belfast 400
Tweet Two books were launched tonight in Belfast. A reception was held at the City Hall to mark the book commissioned to mark the four hundredth anniversary of the city’s charter. I reviewed Belfast 400: People, Place and History (edited by Sean Connolly) back in December. It tells the story of the city that “emerged [...] read our review »
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…if University education were universally available and availed of, the country would collapse in one generation
Tweet The words of Brian O’Nolan, variously Brian Ó Nualláin, Myles na gCopaleen, Myles na Gopaleen and, of course, Flann O’Brien. That O’Nolan was referencing his own dissolute student days at UCD only mildly distracts from the prophetic undertone of his words: I paid no attention whatsoever to books or study and regarded lectures as [...] read our review »
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 16 May 2013 at 7:35 pm
I know plently of people ( and am related to quite a few ) who feel the same way as you do re Fergie and Man U …….and have to say I was relieved when I heard you confess to DC that ” you never think about soccer from one year end to the next ” .
I don’t know if I have it in me to go another 12 rounds arguing the merits of SAF …….
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 15 May 2013 at 10:27 pm
LOl ….It’s one of them Mick …..and I doubt Jimmy would get a job as a steward never mind a start these days .
PS …if the knee wasn’t banjaxed as a teenager , I’d be posting from America as a scholarship in soccer was on the cards .
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 15 May 2013 at 9:42 pm
You’ll get no argument from me Mick bar your last paragraph and as the man says ” sport is all about opinions ” .
As a kid I was at all the Dublin / Kerry classics as my old man and grandad were fanatics . The only time I ever heard my grandad curse ( in delight ) was after Jimmy Keaveney’s goal against Armagh in the 77 All Ireland . There was plenty more cursing however once the Kingdom started to dominate .
As you stated , the GAA’s amatuer status has kept the playing field level and the fact there’s no ” transfer market ” as such should ensure it stays that way . There has been the odd occasion where a player has represented more than one county ( not too sure how that works ) but that’s more of an exception than a rule .
I was so impressed when it was explained to me when I was younger that the players didnt get paid and it makes you feel proud to think for most of them , it’s a passion , a vocation . If anything the sport ( football ) is getting more popular . When the Dubs won their last title , there were two players from my old school on the team , a school famous down the years for producing international rugby players . There weren’t even Gaelic pitches on the school grounds . How times have changed ……..
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 14 May 2013 at 8:45 pm
Not as long as United keeep winning it Mick ….LOL ,
Mick , yes I agree , there’s a huge imbalance in the EPL now and money is king . I do find myself agreeing with Gareth Southgate but there’s a touch of ” well I never played or management at the highest level therefore …….. ” in some of his opinions .
To me embedded advantages means Lance Armstrong sticking a needle in his arse …but I can see where you’re coming from ….cheers .
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 14 May 2013 at 7:59 pm
Mick , Posts crossed .
Just interested ….Would you say Brian Cody is a more talented manager than SAF ? or Was it Tiger Wood’s sheer ability to win all those titles or was Butch Harmons influence a factor ?
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 14 May 2013 at 7:34 pm
” Fergie’s work is all but done since most of the rivals he could not beat in open competition before the EPL are now suffering from senile dimentia , short term memory loss and incontinence ” …. ( your right in Brian Clough’s case ) .
So all the experts , journalists , past players and managers are wrong and your right Mick ….is that it ? The young players he produced had nothing to do with United’s success . The fact that he broke the Old Firm stranglehold in Scotland undermines your point about Fergie playing with a stacked deck once he arrived in England .
” No manager is That good without a little help from his friends , in the FA ”
Fergie didn’t have any friends in the FA . He was constantly at odds with them over player availability for England matches , their use of Brand Beckham which he saw as a distraction and as he saw it , useless friendly games .
On your Brian Clough point …..He lasted five years at the top with Derby and Forest and was part of a double act which saw Peter Taylor take all the flack and Clough all the glory . This was never more evident than when Clough lasted 44 days at Leeds without Taylor . He was a great manager but not in the league of you know you . The pressure got to him , he got Forest relegated and sadly ended up an alcoholic .
As Ruarai points out , the pressure of expectation is massive as proven by todays sacking of Man City’s manager and Ferguson would feel it just the way Mourinho , Wenger , Dalglish , Ancelotti and Mancini did ( all title winners during Fergie’s EPL era ) …..it’s just he could handle it better and was one of a kind who’ll never be seen again .
The greatest club manager the football world has come accross !
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 13 May 2013 at 10:55 pm
Now see what you’ve done Mick ….as Roberto gets his P45 .
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 13 May 2013 at 10:31 pm
How do you get outta something you’ve never been in in the first place ? …….
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 13 May 2013 at 8:10 pm
Mick ( BTW – not lookin for a scrap ) ,
In any organisation sporting or otherwise , harmony at board level is essential as I’m sure you’ll agree with your experience .
United have had two CEO’s since they won their first title back in 93 until next week . ( Martin Edwards left in 93 / 94 ).Peter Kenyon who was headhunted by Chelsea once Roman took over – his first appointment . They then appointed David Gill who is sadly leaving this season to take the job of CEO at the FA . The relationship between a manager and his board is absolutely paramonut to a successful team . They are numerous examples of boardroom trouble which has led to players / managers either leaving or the form of the team drops .
Ferguson’s relationship with both Kenyon and Gill has been recognised as one of the main reasons why United have stayed so successful ….according to the experts anyway .
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 13 May 2013 at 7:22 pm
Mick , I mentioned you being a City fan in jest . You only mentioned it last year after City had won the league .
When nearly every news outlet ran stories about Fergies’s achievements and career , you threw Gerry into the mix . I don’t really see a comparison therefore I concentrated on your agrument that United’s success is down to a Murdoch conspiracy .
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