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

23-02-2021 09:17AM

Cartman78 wrote: »

I think it was Molloys sanctimonious tone that annoyed me tbh....he literally couldn't wait to get past the athletes and get to the shoe tech.

Not mentioned in the piece but I'm guessing a lot of the Irish women's opponents are wearing the new shoes as well (??).

And without wishing to drag the thread off topic, would Joe be happier if everyone ran in their bare feet? These spikes and the carbon plate road shoes have indeed raised the bar but that's what people have been doing for decades.... wearing the latest available 'tech' and taking every available option to them to improve.

Denehy was a very knowledgeable on athletics either way...haven't heard him before tbh

They're all wearing them, but it's so early in the season and with Covid, the four in the top 20 in the world sounds nice but it doesn't mean a huge pile. We'd be lucky if two of them made it to a world or Olympic semi-final in reality.

Mostly, we are talking about times here rather than Irish athletes going out and destroying international fields. SCB was second in the race in which she took the national record.

I think the point is that all of a sudden, national records that have stood for years - Ciara Everard's 800 indoor record was there for eight years - have started falling left, right and centre. It's not a coincidence. While we have talent coming through, the biggest single factor in this is the new track shoe technology which has been developed very recently.

There is loads of data to show what the Vaporflys did for road running in 2017 and we are now seeing the same thing on the track now.

While shoe technology was always advancing in the years leading up to then, the Vaporfly and now the new track shoes have taken things to a whole new level, and as Dennehy alluded to, it renders comparisons between eras - and many would argue national records etc - fairly redundant.

For what it's worth, Dennehy is well worth following on social media and crops up regularly in alot of the major international athletics publications. Nice guy too.

RugbyLover123 · 23-02-2021 01:06PM

Is Andy Dunne English? Really grinds me when people refer to the Lions as the ‘British Lions’ as opposed to the ‘British & Irish Lions’, and he said it numerous times last night.

Tell me how · 23-02-2021 03:31PM

The introduction of new technology does sometimes impact records in a particularly advantageous way for those who have access it. Which generally means most elite competitors at the very least.
I've been loosely paying attention to the shoe technology since Nike sponsored the sub 2 hour attempt which Kipchoge ultimately achieved.

Dr Ross Tucker a sports scientist and athletics aficionado who is currently science lead for World Rugby tweeted a lot about the science around them and concluded they 'broke running' because they change the linear relationship between effort input and the output from this.

Sometimes sporting bodies recognize when technology is prohibitive, the full bodysuit was banned from professional swimming competitions previously because of similar concerns but possibly because of Nike's power in athletics, or athletics ongoing marketing department demand for broken records, this technology is going to massively influence.

Felexicon · 23-02-2021 04:36PM

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

Is Andy Dunne English? Really grinds me when people refer to the Lions as the ‘British Lions’ as opposed to the ‘British & Irish Lions’, and he said it numerous times last night.

You should take a few deep breaths pal. It makes no difference what they're called.

Billy Ocean · 23-02-2021 04:39PM

https://twitter.com/Lawton_Times/status/1364252055683104775?s=19

Sure to be a topic in the coming days

monstermag · 26-02-2021 12:29AM

Twitter is a cruel world. Damien Dalaney is trending and getting absolutely slaughtered for his commentary skills. Who'd be a public figure these days?
Begs the question do tv studios pick up on that kind of negativity and act on it by changing and chopping personal? It's a theory I've been mulling over ever since rte sidelined Jim Beglin and Ray Houghton.They both got a fair bit of stick on twitter but nothing like what current pundit Stephen Kelly's gets now. They probably felt they had to get down with the cool kids on social media. I hope Virgin media don't fall into the same trap because they have a good team there in Delaney, kerr and Quinn.

Billy Ocean · 26-02-2021 12:37AM

monstermag wrote: »

Twitter is a cruel world. Damien Dalaney is trending and getting absolutely slaughtered for his commentary skills. Who'd be a public figure these days?
Begs the question do tv studios pick up on that kind of negativity and act on it by changing and chopping personal? It's a theory I've been mulling over ever since rte sidelined Jim Beglin and Ray Houghton.They both got a fair bit of stick on twitter but nothing like what current pundit Stephen Kelly's gets now. They probably felt they had to get down with the cool kids on social media. I hope Virgin media don't fall into the same trap because they have a good team there in Delaney, kerr and Quinn.

I enjoy Delaney as an analyst, a bit to harsh on utd but has good insights from his own playing days, only saw bits and pieces of the utd game tonight myself, maybe he just isn't suited as a co-comm, wouldn't heed to much on Twitter which has become a cest pool of negativity during the Covid era.

Murdoc90 · 26-02-2021 09:40AM

Damien Delaney is an excellent pundit. No BS calls it as he sees it, which never goes down well with whatever supporters of the club he is talking about.

26-02-2021 11:55AM

Murdoc90 wrote: »

Damien Delaney is an excellent pundit. No BS calls it as he sees it, which never goes down well with whatever supporters of the club he is talking about.

He's very good. Always thoughtful, always considered and nearly always offers an opinion that is original without resorting to cliches. He is also a very fluent in his delivery. So many pundits just go through the motions and trot out meaningless nonsense.

rino87 · 26-02-2021 01:45PM

monstermag wrote: »

Twitter is a cruel world. Damien Dalaney is trending and getting absolutely slaughtered for his commentary skills. Who'd be a public figure these days?
Begs the question do tv studios pick up on that kind of negativity and act on it by changing and chopping personal? It's a theory I've been mulling over ever since rte sidelined Jim Beglin and Ray Houghton.They both got a fair bit of stick on twitter but nothing like what current pundit Stephen Kelly's gets now. They probably felt they had to get down with the cool kids on social media. I hope Virgin media don't fall into the same trap because they have a good team there in Delaney, kerr and Quinn.

RTE had better get Beglin, Houghton, Whelan and Hamilton back for Qatar next year, its not a world cup without them!

duffman13 · 26-02-2021 01:52PM

Co commentary is always a posion chalice, very difficult to do well. I'm not a huge fan of him as a pundit but he does make calls against the norm. His shout even in the Utd game of Lindelof and Bailly being probably the best two defenders at United is not something you would ever see from most pundits even though there is a good portion of people who would agree.

As a co-commentator I found him a little awkward and clunky to be perfectly honest. Do like the VM set up generally but wouldn't like to see him permanently on commentary

monstermag · 26-02-2021 09:37PM

RINO87 wrote: »

RTE had better get Beglin, Houghton, Whelan and Hamilton back for Qatar next year, its not a world cup without them!

Ever since Johnny Giles was shown the door they've struggled to hit on the right formula so much so that l rarely tune in for the analysis anymore, whereas when the three amigos ruled the roost it was essential viewing imo.
I thought Stuey Byrne was quite good the other night on co-commentary with George Hamilton, l think that's probably the way to go, a blend of old and new.
Beglin, Houghton, Whelan and Hamilton are all good at what they do. No harm bringing in some new talent just don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. By the way does anyone know if Didi Hamann was axed?

Tell me how · 27-02-2021 01:20AM

monstermag wrote: »

Ever since Johnny Giles was shown the door they've struggled to hit on the right formula so much so that l rarely tune in for the analysis anymore, whereas when the three amigos ruled the roost it was essential viewing imo.
I thought Stuey Byrne was quite good the other night on co-commentary with George Hamilton, l think that's probably the way to go, a blend of old and new.
Beglin, Houghton, Whelan and Hamilton are all good at what they do. No harm bringing in some new talent just don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. By the way does anyone know if Didi Hamann was axed?

3 Amigos with Bill was a rare perfect mix. Calmness with John, surliness with Liam and drama and entertainment with Eamon. All conducted perfectly with Bill.
Analysis in the UK has moved more in to the entertainment focus than information focus over the last couple of years, at least from what I can see with comments online Micah Richards seems to have gained prominence largely for this reason.

Didi mostly did international cup competitions so maybe would have been there last summer if the Euros had gone ahead.

Billy Ocean · 27-02-2021 01:28AM

I presume Didi is living in England so can't travel over, same as Souness with VM.

27-02-2021 07:41AM

If they listened to that stuff then Kerr would be long gone as I only ever seem to see him get completely slated. Thankfully they haven’t got rid. I really do like that crew as a whole on VM.

monstermag · 27-02-2021 01:58PM

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

If they listened to that stuff then Kerr would be long gone as I only ever seem to see him get completely slated. Thankfully they haven’t got rid. I really do like that crew as a whole on VM.

Ya VM is very good. Niall Quinn is another one who gets a terrible bollocking on twitter, l'm not sure why as l find him very good either in studio or on co-commentary and comes across as a real likable gent.
We're lucky we have such a good bunch of pundits and commentators in this country. Dave McIntyre is top notch as is Nathan Murphy. If rte got their act together we'd be spoiled for choice.

Billy Ocean · 27-02-2021 02:01PM

monstermag wrote: »

Ya VM is very good. Niall Quinn is another one who gets a terrible bollocking on twitter, l'm not sure why as l find him very good either in studio or on co-commentary and comes across as a real likable gent.
We're lucky we have such a good bunch of pundits and commentators in this country. Dave McIntyre is top notch as is Nathan Murphy. If rte got their act together we'd be spoiled for choice.

some people just love complaining and ridiculing unfortunately, wannabe Ewen McKenna's although anyone wanting to be that muppet needs their head examined.

rrs · 27-02-2021 08:44PM

I see Des McAleenan passed away yesterday. He was Colombian goal keeping coach. He done a good interview last year, discussed the high and lows he went through https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIzOiF21dGY

Brock Turnpike · 27-02-2021 10:10PM

monstermag wrote: »

.
We're lucky we have such a good bunch of pundits and commentators in this country. Dave McIntyre is top notch as is Nathan Murphy. If rte got their act together we'd be spoiled for choice.

To each their own but I don't rate either. Shouting as loud as possible is not my idea of a good commentator.

Piehead · 27-02-2021 11:12PM

Poor Ger will be crying into his cornflakes now Wales won the Triple Crown

Billy Ocean · 27-02-2021 11:16PM

Piehead wrote: »

Poor Ger will be crying into his cornflakes now Wales won the Triple Crown

I'm sure the narrative will be the jammiest triple crown in history, in fairness they've had a ridiculous amount of lucky breaks in the 3 games.

Felexicon · 28-02-2021 06:39PM

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

To each their own but I don't rate either. Shouting as loud as possible is not my idea of a good commentator.

Neither of them do this.

irishguitarlad · 01-03-2021 08:13AM

Billy Ocean wrote: »

some people just love complaining and ridiculing unfortunately, wannabe Ewen McKenna's although anyone wanting to be that muppet needs their head examined.

This post should definitely be under the definition of shoehorning in the dictionary.

generalgerry · 01-03-2021 11:33AM

I think they are blowing the Gordon Elliot thing way out of proportion. I see that BetFair have ended it's association with Gordon Elliott with immediate effect. BetFair, those moral custodians of Irish society.

Hurrache · 01-03-2021 11:44AM

All betting companies are moral hypocrites, but what kind of idiot, an idiot who makes his money in the industry no less, sits on a dead horse for a photo op and then digs deeper with stupid stories as to why the photo was taken.

Tell me how · 01-03-2021 12:05PM

generalgerry wrote: »

I think they are blowing the Gordon Elliot thing way out of proportion. I see that BetFair have ended it's association with Gordon Elliott with immediate effect. BetFair, those moral custodians of Irish society.

There's a very active thread on here on the topic and it seems to be widely spoken about on Twitter at the moment also.

If they didn't cover it, they'd be accused of turning a blind eye.

generalgerry · 01-03-2021 07:42PM

Do they want the guy's yard to be shut down at this stage. Really pathetic, Joe Duffy style broadcasting from OTB. Elliott did a stupid thing, but how this justifies more vilification than the people recently caught drugging the LIVE horses is beyond me. I hope these presenters don't set the moral high standard so high that they end up hoisting themselves on their own petard. They better hope that a photo from their past never comes up for the sake of their own career, or they could start running through staff as quick as AFTV.

Faugheen · 01-03-2021 08:05PM

generalgerry wrote: »

I think they are blowing the Gordon Elliot thing way out of proportion. I see that BetFair have ended it's association with Gordon Elliott with immediate effect. BetFair, those moral custodians of Irish society.

I don't.

Horse racing's reputation is in the absolute bin among many because of the amount that are killed on track every year at high profile events.

Then, having one of the top trainers in the game sitting on a dead horse and smiling? Nah, pull the other one.

He's getting everything he deserves here.

bike2wkr · 01-03-2021 09:26PM

I agree with you
Completely blown out of proportion. Didn't look good but he gave explanation. Animals dying is part and parcel of yards/farms etc.

generalgerry wrote: »

I think they are blowing the Gordon Elliot thing way out of proportion. I see that BetFair have ended it's association with Gordon Elliott with immediate effect. BetFair, those moral custodians of Irish society.

Faugheen · 01-03-2021 09:28PM

It’s grand to sit on an animal that has died in your care. Good to know.

Sorry, it’s not ok, but only a little bit.

If he’s willing to do that, you can guarantee that isn’t the end of it.

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

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