Off Topic Thread 5.0

Clegg

The national football side is getting worse. I genuinely didn't think that was possible.

Our two brightest hopes are a goalkeeper who was a decent back up for Liverpool, and a 20 year old striker still recovering from a year long spell of injuries and confidence loss.

The damage John Delaney has done to youth development and player pathways will take decades to fix. We have to be thankful that the IRFU did away with amateurs and conmen of his ilk a long time ago.

Paddy_Mag

The problems go back 25 - 35 years ago. FAI never capitalised on the Euro 88- WC 1994 era and a bit like Welsh Rugby where the clubs hold the power, the schoolboy clubs have similar power here.

John Delaney just made a bad situation much worse.

CatFromHue

It feels icky to be defending him but the problems in Irish football were and are much bigger than Delaney. He didn't do much to help the situation but he didn't cause the problems either.

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123801162#Comment_123801162

This is the root of the current malaise and while Delaney was a symptom of the rot he was also emblematic of it. I grew up in north Kildare and all of us played self organised soccer all Summer long and whenever other sports allowed (mostly GAA but also rugby). Like most kids then and now, it was the go to game that everyone joined in with. But there was never a soccer club established in the area until some of the local lads set one up themselves with not a sign of the FAI or even any idea that they would be of any use to anyone. This is back in the 90s when Jacks army was still in existence. Not only was the FAI absolutely useless but everyone knew it was useless and had zero expectations about it. To say they failed to build on the potential at the time is an understatement. This was/is a very common situation all over the country. The national organisation seems to have absolutely nothing to do with growing the sport. Even today there are twice as many GAA clubs as soccer clubs in Kildare. I'm not complaining mind, it's a fun game to play but a chore to watch unless the stakes are enormous.

Lost Ormond

Ploughing Championships start tomorrow. Anyone going? Spent day doing set up on site. Sites in crap state and event not started yet so be warned. ..

hold my beer

Feels like this place is dying a slow death. I'd be raging if we lost it, it's the only social media type place I use.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123801540#Comment_123801540

Off topic for the Off Topic thread, but really, really makes you appreciate Phillip Browne and Mick Dawson all the same.