Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

Tell me how · 18-07-2017 11:05AM

^^^^^

That depends. Are you talking about the real Conor McGregor or the persona which was seen on stage last week over the 4 press conferences. I think Conor is a lot of what you say but I also think he is playing the game and acting up. If his character is as shown on stage, I wouldn't necessarily think that that is an example of an Irishman to be proud of.

gormdubhgorm · 18-07-2017 05:44PM

dominatinMC wrote: »

In an attempt to steer the conversation away from this McGregor circus, I must say that the decline in OTB has become really noticeable lately - to the extent that I now listen to Game On for that hour when I'm travelling in the evening. OTB has become a victim of political correctness gone mad. At least when Wooly was on the show, there was a dissenting voice, some variety of opinion. Joe/Richie/Kilbane/Ger/Adrian/Nathan aren't bad presenters per se, but are all so similar that you can easily mistake one for the other (a case of "insert generic presenter here"). The show has become bland and stale as a result. To be fair, the live GAA converage and analysis at the weekends used to be excellent, but now they don't even have that. I just think they badly need to freshen things up - maybe revamp the format (which has been the same since Second Captains team), and get some new presenters who aren't part of the current mould

Yeah, they need a presenter who has forthright and strong opinions.
Wooly is missed and his presenting skills has improved.

Now when the OTB crew veer off sport towards politics/world affairs they come across as load of auld wans trying to outdo each other except with 'sophisticated indignation'

it might as well be -

'Isn't it terrible Geraldine, about them youngsters calling people names?

Yes, it is Josie, but sure that's the way the world is today.

It will get much more worser they have no Muriel's anymore'

The OTB crew should just stick to the sport and stop trying to look for these humanising / holistic /agenda lead side-tracks.

ballsymchugh · 18-07-2017 05:58PM

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Yeah, they need a presenter who has forthright and strong opinions.
Wooly is missed and his presenting skills has improved.

Now when the OTB crew veer off sport towards politics/world affairs they come across as load of auld wans trying to outdo each other except with 'sophisticated indignation'

it might as well be -
'Isn't it terrible Geraldine about them youngsters calling people names?

Yes, it is Josie, but sure that's the way the world is today
It will get much more worser they have no Muriel's anymore'

The OTB crew should just stick to the sport and stop trying to look for these humanising / holistic /agenda lead side-tracks.

which, funnily enough, is the way the second captains podcasts have gone lately according to that thread anyway. haven't listened to them in a few years since i realised they were never going to talk about league of ireland.

so now they second captains are doing what they wanted to do in the first place, and OTB are trying..

Beechwoodspark · 18-07-2017 07:15PM

Sorry but That hot take section with Kevin is some rubbish.

Conservative · 19-07-2017 09:56AM

Jayesdiem wrote: »

What these old boys don't understand is that the fight game is culturally different and the winning of a fight, as the great Muhammad Ali said, is often achieved well before the actual physical confrontation itself. I prefer to look at McGregor as someone who is breaking the mould of what we in Ireland see ourselves as: self-deprecating and brave but ultimately inferior to those operating on a world stage. We are always framing ourselves as the good guys who play by the rules but who ultimately always lose. The rugby team decided to step out of this mindset about two decades ago and here we have a fighter doing things differently and showing that Irish athletes (yes Joe - athletes) can be superior. What's great is that like the rugby team (and high profile GAA guys), this guy is relatively accessible. He lives near us, he loves Ireland, is proud to be Irish and still trains here. He can be seen in our streets. Our soccer players are cooped up in some exclusive player compound in the UK and even if they do speak in an Irish accent (about a 60% chance) they are not "one of us". McGregor is and that's why the people who love him love him.

I don't have the dislike for McGregor that many do and he has made more money than most Irish sports people combined will ever make but give me Robbie Keane, John O'Shea, Seamus Coleman and many others as one of "us" any day.

Don't really understand your point at all.

Edited for mistake

DEFTLEFTHAND · 19-07-2017 04:12PM

JoeA3 wrote: »

Heard a bit of this yesterday. Joe going on and on about how black people should be outraged by those comments. To quote David Brent, if anything it's a compliment...

Isn't that called the Bigotry of Low Expectations.

Treating POC like children or pets.

Stop crusading on behalf of an entire race which you're not a part of. Arrogant white man trying to score virtue signalling brownie points off the backs of POC. :mad:

ballsymchugh · 19-07-2017 05:45PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Isn't that called the Bigotry of Low Expectations.

Treating POC like children or pets.

Stop crusading on behalf of an entire race which you're not a part of. Arrogant white man trying to score virtue signalling brownie points off the backs of POC. :mad:

They're going to go off on a bender tonight about the BBC salaries. I suppose if they're that dedicated, they could start with themselves and maybe have some female presenters on the show.

elefant · 20-07-2017 11:40AM

Raoul wrote: »

What a load of sh1te. :pac:

A lot of our soccer players are accessible and are extremely proud to be Irish. Just because they live in the UK as that is where they earn their money, that isn't a stick to beat them with.

The jibe about the accent is totally unfair. Look at Kevin Kilbane, he is an extremely proud Irish man and he doesn't have an Irish accent.

I think your comment about "one of us" is completely wrong too. How do you come to that conclusion? Any interview I hear with the current batch of Irish footballers, I always think how down to earth they are. Seamus Coleman in particular, I think he is one of the best representatives of Ireland we have at the moment. Model professional, confident in his talent and he is an absolute saint with all the charity work he does.

McGregor is a complete arsehole. He is absolutely classless and ignorant. You would find it difficult to find another Irish sportsman who would pick up the Irish flag and throw it at another person. Totally disrespectful but of course McGregor wouldn't know this. His comment about dancing monkeys was inexcusable and he is getting a free pass due to him being "ignorant" moreso than racist. This is probably true but still it shouldn't be ok. Then tries to use the "I'm not a racist" claim by using a stereotype.

As for McGregor being "one of us"....I'm not sure how we can relate to a guy who drives around in Bentleys, wears ridiculous fur coats, constantly flaunts his riches and in general his demeanour is awful.

I get that a lot of it is for show but the WWE isn't as bad for the trash talk that has gone on.

Give me a Seamus Coleman who just wants to go about his business quietly and eventually go back to Killibegs to play GAA for his local team over the embarrassment that McGregor is.

I am a fan of MMA btw and I do hope that McGregor wins but I don't think we should be lauding him as some sort of poster boy for being "one of us".

I'm glad someone posted this. I was starting to think I was the only one on here who agreed with Joe and Kieran Cunningham on this issue.

I have no pride in McGregor working his way to the top of his sport as 'one of us'. The first thing many non-Irish people think of when they hear you're Irish nowadays is Conor McGregor; his 'fight-selling' personality is not the image of Ireland I want to be lumped in with.

And on the Tyrone team praying: is it so strange the Joe was doubtful that 33 young men in modern Ireland aren't all religious? I'm in my late twenties; I don't think I could name 5 of my peers that could be considered practicing Catholics, let alone having every member of my football squad being so inclined.

Lt Dan · 21-07-2017 09:44AM

Jayesdiem wrote: »

What these old boys don't understand is that the fight game is culturally different and the winning of a fight, as the great Muhammad Ali said, is often achieved well before the actual physical confrontation itself. I prefer to look at McGregor as someone who is breaking the mould of what we in Ireland see ourselves as: self-deprecating and brave but ultimately inferior to those operating on a world stage. We are always framing ourselves as the good guys who play by the rules but who ultimately always lose. The rugby team decided to step out of this mindset about two decades ago and here we have a fighter doing things differently and showing that Irish athletes (yes Joe - athletes) can be superior. What's great is that like the rugby team (and high profile GAA guys), this guy is relatively accessible. He lives near us, he loves Ireland, is proud to be Irish and still trains here. He can be seen in our streets. Our soccer players are cooped up in some exclusive player compound in the UK and even if they do speak in an Irish accent (about a 60% chance) they are not "one of us". McGregor is and that's why the people who love him love him.

Think you will find that lads like Kenny Cunningham and Damien Duff were always accessible to people. Robbie liked a sing song when he was in Dublin. The "English" lads like John Aldridge , Ray Houghton and Cascarino have been very decent when they are over here working.

When was the last time McGregor was seen walking the streets of Dublin? (To be fair busy working) Relate to him? Not sure we can relate to him with his selfies and flashy cars and watches (more power to him, he deserves it, it can be funny, he should enjoy himself) . How many Rugby boys are seen on the streets and not plugging some product? Gone are the days that those lads played AIL Rugby

"Our soccer players are cooped up in some exclusive player compound in the UK and even if they do speak in an Irish accent (about a 60% chance) they are not "one of us""

What does "one of us" mean? I am not some street corner boy , some working (Wurking) Class peasant. Many others here might not be either. Some might be . Yes, a bunch of rugby lads who went to Private Fee Paying Colleges are "one of us".

If they speak in an Irish accent, not one of us? Most of them only went over to Britain at 17

What a load of nonsense

Well done McGregor he is doing well, and seriously over playing this nonsense about rags to riches, a person on welfare in Ireland is far better off than someone in a trailer park or project in the US or Brazil. Reality is, he very much has not changed since he went pro. He acts like a typical loud mouth thick scum bag that one normally expects to see from "da people" living in that part of Dublin, that most of us would avoid instantly if on the same foot path

Steve Collins, and his beloved Brother , Roddy , were a bit of a mouth too, but saints compared to McGregor.

Lt Dan · 21-07-2017 10:00AM

Jayesdiem wrote: »

I agree with some of what you said there but we can never agree because what I love about McGregor is exactly what you hate and what I dislike about the likes of Seamus Coleman (who I didn't pick out) is exactly what you love. I don't like racism or materialism either but I like McGregor for breaking the mould and showing that you can make it to the top with an approach that is appropriate to the field you are in - if you have the talent. He is in the sports entertainment business and he is taking the correct approach to be successful. The wheels will probably come off at some stage but you have to laugh at his winding up of the American fighters who take him so bloody seriously and can't see the act for the ironic thing that it is. In a way, the joke is also on the likes of Joe, Kimmage etc. who are eating this up hook, line and sinker. McGregor doesn't give a fook if they are talking positively or negatively about him - he's above caring. All he cares about is whether they are talking so really if they want to hurt him, they will ignore everything he does and stop running OTB segments with Ariel Helwani et al. and put a ban on all talk of McGregor. For a guy they despise, they don't half talk about him a lot.

Funny, OTB were one of the first to champion him, well, the Second Captains crew. Colm Parkinson was a huge fan.

As for not running segments with Ariel Helwani, nah, people like MMA and treat it like a sport, who else to call up but Ariel, he is great, and intelligent. I like Joe Rogan and his team, but they can be a bit much

siblers · 21-07-2017 11:42AM

elefant wrote: »

I'm glad someone posted this. I was starting to think I was the only one on here who agreed with Joe and Kieran Cunningham on this issue.

I have no pride in McGregor working his way to the top of his sport as 'one of us'. The first thing many non-Irish people think of when they hear you're Irish nowadays is Conor McGregor; his 'fight-selling' personality is not the image of Ireland I want to be lumped in with.

And on the Tyrone team praying: is it so strange the Joe was doubtful that 33 young men in modern Ireland aren't all religious? I'm in my late twenties; I don't think I could name 5 of my peers that could be considered practicing Catholics, let alone having every member of my football squad being so inclined.

Yeah, I found the criticism on here of Joe's comments about the rosary a bit harsh. I find it very hard to believe that all 33 of them buy into it, it might only be a small minority but they may not have much of a choice but to go along with it. I don't think there was anything wrong with Joe questioning it, I would have thought that if he didn't question it, loads of people on here would have been complaining about him for not doing so

Bandage · 21-07-2017 09:10PM

Jayesdiem wrote: »

What these old boys don't understand is that the fight game is culturally different and the winning of a fight, as the great Muhammad Ali said, is often achieved well before the actual physical confrontation itself. I prefer to look at McGregor as someone who is breaking the mould of what we in Ireland see ourselves as: self-deprecating and brave but ultimately inferior to those operating on a world stage. We are always framing ourselves as the good guys who play by the rules but who ultimately always lose. The rugby team decided to step out of this mindset about two decades ago and here we have a fighter doing things differently and showing that Irish athletes (yes Joe - athletes) can be superior. What's great is that like the rugby team (and high profile GAA guys), this guy is relatively accessible. He lives near us, he loves Ireland, is proud to be Irish and still trains here. He can be seen in our streets. Our soccer players are cooped up in some exclusive player compound in the UK and even if they do speak in an Irish accent (about a 60% chance) they are not "one of us". McGregor is and that's why the people who love him love him.

Rugby football is a really poor example. Around 9 countries take the activity seriously and Ireland has never progressed beyond the last 8 in the World Cup. They've done reasonably well in the annual spring friendly round robin in recent years and have the odd winter exhibition game victory to their name but it's completely overshadowed by consistently flopping in tournaments.

hullaballoo · 21-07-2017 09:39PM

Bandage wrote: »

Rugby football is a really poor example. Around 9 countries take the activity seriously and Ireland has never progressed beyond the last 8 in the World Cup. They've done reasonably well in the annual spring friendly round robin in recent years and have the odd winter exhibition game victory to their name but it's completely overshadowed by consistently flopping in tournaments.

Good evening sports fans! I'm Chug Stenson.

CatFromHue · 21-07-2017 09:46PM

Bandage wrote: »

Rugby football is a really poor example. Around 9 countries take the activity seriously and Ireland has never progressed beyond the last 8 in the World Cup. They've done reasonably well in the annual spring friendly round robin in recent years and have the odd winter exhibition game victory to their name but it's completely overshadowed by consistently flopping in tournaments.

It is and it isn't.

Our clubs are some of the best in Europe and compete with teams with far far larger budgets.

Our National team has struggled at the World Cup but it's night and day everywhere else.

Jayesdiem · 21-07-2017 10:06PM

Bandage wrote: »

Jayesdiem wrote: »

What these old boys don't understand is that the fight game is culturally different and the winning of a fight, as the great Muhammad Ali said, is often achieved well before the actual physical confrontation itself. I prefer to look at McGregor as someone who is breaking the mould of what we in Ireland see ourselves as: self-deprecating and brave but ultimately inferior to those operating on a world stage. We are always framing ourselves as the good guys who play by the rules but who ultimately always lose. The rugby team decided to step out of this mindset about two decades ago and here we have a fighter doing things differently and showing that Irish athletes (yes Joe - athletes) can be superior. What's great is that like the rugby team (and high profile GAA guys), this guy is relatively accessible. He lives near us, he loves Ireland, is proud to be Irish and still trains here. He can be seen in our streets. Our soccer players are cooped up in some exclusive player compound in the UK and even if they do speak in an Irish accent (about a 60% chance) they are not "one of us". McGregor is and that's why the people who love him love him.

Rugby football is a really poor example. Around 9 countries take the activity seriously and Ireland has never progressed beyond the last 8 in the World Cup. They've done reasonably well in the annual spring friendly round robin in recent years and have the odd winter exhibition game victory to their name but it's completely overshadowed by consistently flopping in tournaments.

Sorry I must be missing the part of that comment that is even remotely related to what I said.

yosser hughes · 21-07-2017 10:31PM

Bandage wrote: »

Rugby football is a really poor example. Around 9 countries take the activity seriously and Ireland has never progressed beyond the last 8 in the World Cup. They've done reasonably well in the annual spring friendly round robin in recent years and have the odd winter exhibition game victory to their name but it's completely overshadowed by consistently flopping in tournaments.

Wow you're so original in your thoughts! Nobody has ever said that before. Please give us more of your wisdom.

Bandage · 21-07-2017 11:08PM

yosser hughes wrote: »

Bandage wrote: »

Rugby football is a really poor example. Around 9 countries take the activity seriously and Ireland has never progressed beyond the last 8 in the World Cup. They've done reasonably well in the annual spring friendly round robin in recent years and have the odd winter exhibition game victory to their name but it's completely overshadowed by consistently flopping in tournaments.

Wow you're so original in your thoughts! Nobody has ever said that before. Please give us more of your wisdom.

Damn it. I suspected someone else may have twigged that rugby football is largely ignored around the world but I naively hoped I may have been the first person to ever mention it online. Thanks for letting me know, young man.

LionelHutz32 · 22-07-2017 09:43AM

Have Off The Ball stopped uploading podcasts to Soundcloud? Just noticed that on both my app and the soundcloud website the last podcast was of Paulie Malignaggi 8 days ago?

I know Soundcloud are in financial trouble and there are rumours its about to go under, I wonder is that why they have stopped? Whats a good free alternative that would have the likes of OTB, football weekly, second captains etc ..?

Ursus Horribilis · 22-07-2017 10:45AM

stitcher?

PeterTheNinth · 22-07-2017 11:08AM

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Sorry but That hot take section with Kevin is some rubbish.

That was the result of the production meeting on Tuesday.... "Tonight's Agenda: How Do We Make Kevin Kilbland Interesting?"

gormdubhgorm · 22-07-2017 11:24AM

LionelHutz32 wrote: »

Have Off The Ball stopped uploading podcasts to Soundcloud? Just noticed that on both my app and the soundcloud website the last podcast was of Paulie Malignaggi 8 days ago?

I know Soundcloud are in financial trouble and there are rumours its about to go under, I wonder is that why they have stopped? Whats a good free alternative that would have the likes of OTB, football weekly, second captains etc ..?

TuneInRadio:

https://beta.tunein.com/radio/Podcasts-c100000088/

gormdubhgorm · 22-07-2017 11:37AM

Bandage wrote: »

Rugby football is a really poor example. Around 9 countries take the activity seriously and Ireland has never progressed beyond the last 8 in the World Cup. They've done reasonably well in the annual spring friendly round robin in recent years and have the odd winter exhibition game victory to their name but it's completely overshadowed by consistently flopping in tournaments.

You do have a point, in fairness to you.
At an international level Ireland has consistently underachieved.
How many times were Ireland's golden rugby generation hyped up and flopped?
Give it 10-15 years and the Itallians and Argentinians will have overtaken Ireland.
Ireland's only hope is to continue using the ridiculously loose three year residency rule better then the other countries do. (It is now five years from 2020 onwards - but to me this is still a bad rule)

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39868065

Get southern hemisphere players to throw on the green jersey. Shoulder to shoulder etc etc.
It's a farce.

Unfortunately for Ireland the likes of New Zealand, France and England can hoover up all the best 'residency players' first.

How can thier be an national pride in a team anymore?
They are just glorified club teams in all but name.

ThisRegard · 22-07-2017 11:54AM

Are you aware of Argentinian rugby, or even the Irish academy system?

gormdubhgorm · 22-07-2017 12:02PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Are you aware of Argentinian rugby, or even the Irish academy system, or, sure why not, Irish rugby?

Academy system!
If it is that good why has Joe Schmidt 'nationalised' at least six players at this stage?

It is not just me (admittedly a casual rugby watcher) that thinks it is a farce.

See Donal Lenihan's comments:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/0921/818210-residency-rule-donal-lenihan-ireland/

Faugheen · 22-07-2017 03:44PM

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Academy system!
If it is that good why has Joe Schmidt 'nationalised' at least six players at this stage?

It is not just me (admittedly a casual rugby watcher) that thinks it is a farce.

See Donal Lenihan's comments:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/0921/818210-residency-rule-donal-lenihan-ireland/

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to rugby.

ThisRegard · 22-07-2017 04:28PM

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Academy system!
If it is that good why has Joe Schmidt 'nationalised' at least six players at this stage?

It is not just me (admittedly a casual rugby watcher) that thinks it is a farce.

See Donal Lenihan's comments:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/0921/818210-residency-rule-donal-lenihan-ireland/

Because he can do, but the team won't fall apart without it. And if you were a follower of rugby you'd be well aware of the discussions around it before Donal Lennihan and his relatively comments about it.

monstermag · 22-07-2017 04:49PM

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

TuneInRadio:

https://beta.tunein.com/radio/Podcasts-c100000088/

I've never reall gotten into podcasts or playback, I don't know how many times I've said to myself l must listen back to that show, but invariably never get around to doing so, as the old saying goes "Today's news is tomorrows fish and chip paper" That's how l feel about podcasts, l find it hard to go back as l might miss on on something current. Doesn't make scence really but l find it takes to much effort on my behalf especially when things get hectic.Takes a lot of dedication to a particular show or topic.

gormdubhgorm · 22-07-2017 07:30PM

Faugheen wrote: »

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to rugby.

I never claimed to. But I still think the residency rule is a joke and Ireland have underachieved on the international stage in rugby.

The Irish rugby team are the equivalent to the Galway hurling team with a good few ringers thrown in.
There are roughly the same amount of competitive international rugby teams as there is competitive county hurling teams.

But sure if people enjoy it let them off and enjoy it.
I can't understand how the ringers are embraced and the level of underachievement at national level is excused

dastardly00 · 22-07-2017 09:46PM

Question... The main picture on the Off the Ball Twitter page... What's it about? It's a photo of a man putting petrol into his car with what looks like his wife and child standing beside him.

I'm going to make a complete random guess that the young boy is a soon to be famous German footballer. I dunno why I think that!

Jayesdiem · 22-07-2017 09:51PM

dastardly00 wrote: »

Question... The main picture on the Off the Ball Twitter page... What's it about? It's a photo of a man putting petrol into his car with what looks like his wife and child standing beside him.

I'm going to make a complete random guess that the young boy is a soon to be famous German footballer. I dunno why I think that!

If it was the man completing the task on his own they would run the risk of being ageist and sexist. Can't be too careful nowadays.

Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

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