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

sleepyman · 05-03-2013 09:48PM

Chris 80 wrote: »

I have to say, they were the sum of all their parts. Great as a team, but how will they manage solo? I guess it takes time to build up that 'chemistry'. I think they over estimated their value and called managements bluff. But, they're obviously seeing where the dice will fall. Will miss the show, but they're feckin eejits for giving up a gig like that. We'll all miss out. No-one's a winner here.

Are the likes of Hick & Horgan likely to be headhunted the same way McDevitt,Ken & Murph?I don't want to diminish their role or value but surely the success of the show owes more to the on air chemistry between Eoin,Ken & Murph?
I could see Eoin & Ken being on Setanta like they were in the past,doing some podcasts, the odd newspaper article.Not sure about where Simon & Mark can find themselves.
All in all I think the lads have shot themselves in the foot...

starviewadams · 05-03-2013 09:49PM

Giles and Steven Reid as guests tonight,odd hearing Giles on a Tuesday.

Was Sadlier on earlier?mist the first hour or so.

Dave! · 05-03-2013 09:55PM

Can't wait to hear what the lads have to say about the United ma--oh...

ballsymchugh · 05-03-2013 09:55PM

sleepyman wrote: »

Are the likes of Hick & Horgan likely to be headhunted the same way McDevitt,Ken & Murph?I don't want to diminish their role or value but surely the success of the show owes more to the on air chemistry between Eoin,Ken & Murph?
I could see Eoin & Ken being on Setanta like they were in the past,doing some podcasts, the odd newspaper article.Not sure about where Simon & Mark can find themselves.
All in all I think the lads have shot themselves in the foot...

aren't they mainly radio producers? that's why i don't get why the 5 all resigned. the only other profession where someone seems to take their assistants/background staff around seems to be in football but eventually those break down too.

think of all the lawyers/doctors/executives that would have a PA, when they switch jobs, they can't demand that the new job employs their previous PA. which makes me think that the 5 had formed a company and were bound to each other.

by the way, when ramos scored the own goal tonight, a part of me was longing for them to call ken so he could tell graham hunter that ramos was shyte again, just like a couple of weeks ago!

blackwarrior · 05-03-2013 09:59PM

The suddenness of the end, and the realisation of how much I depended on it sitting in an apartment in Glasgow -is a shock to me. I can't believe it's gone, and no matter when or if the guys turn up somewhere else, it won't be the same.

Obviously not anything as serious as a death but the effect is similar. I can't take the blandness of much of the RTE offering, and the style, humour, irrevence yet respect the guys brought to radio won't be equalled again. I'm sitting here wondering how to cheer myself up as I try to keep a link to Ireland during the week.

Damn, damn, damn.

wnolan1992 · 05-03-2013 10:07PM

It's nights like tonight that'll feel so hollow in the coming months.

Would have loved to listen to Ken ranting on the United game. He'd either make me feel better by agreeing with me, or start winding everyone up with a controversial view. I know it's not the most original way to do something like that, but still...

opinionatedfan · 05-03-2013 10:11PM

Missed Ken tonight along with Richie, then i'm sure Ken would have wound up whatever guest they got on after the game, hunter probably.

god damn it!!

IrishHomer · 05-03-2013 10:22PM

I hope to god they all come back ASAP to an alternative station!

I loveowing the lawn for three hours every week in the summer evenings and listening to them on headphones at the same time.

Loafing Oaf · 05-03-2013 10:37PM

This whole episode has brought this to mind for some reason...

aphex™ · 05-03-2013 10:38PM

I loved the show, but I love how they managed to spin it to the media.

The boys wanted more money- that's the actual story. But, the station is broke.

They would in fairness work for the money by doing the extra hour but that would lose the decent(ish) drivetime slot. Not to mention devoting crazy amount of time to sport.

And all the newspapers including the Times lapped it up.

Caledonman · 05-03-2013 10:52PM

sleepyman wrote: »

Are the likes of Hick & Horgan likely to be headhunted the same way McDevitt,Ken & Murph?I don't want to diminish their role or value but surely the success of the show owes more to the on air chemistry between Eoin,Ken & Murph?
I could see Eoin & Ken being on Setanta like they were in the past,doing some podcasts, the odd newspaper article.Not sure about where Simon & Mark can find themselves.
All in all I think the lads have shot themselves in the foot...

Trying to play hardball with Denis O'Brian is never a good idea.. Interesting to see if the presenters say 'hire us all or none of us' when they get some calls.. Unlikely, it will be everyone for themselves.. They started to believe their own PR, which is never a good idea... They won't be seen for a couple of months as I assume Newtalk paid them off on notice period to keep them off the air.. A betting man would say they have something lined up already..

yiddo59 · 05-03-2013 10:59PM

starviewadams wrote: »

Decent football show tonight.

I enjoyed it.

Life goes on.

ballsymchugh · 05-03-2013 11:00PM

Caledonman wrote: »

Trying to play hardball with Denis O'Brian is never a good idea.. Interesting to see if the presenters say 'hire us all or none of us' when they get some calls.. Unlikely, it will be everyone for themselves.. They started to believe their own PR, which is never a good idea... They won't be seen for a couple of months as I assume Newtalk paid them off on notice period to keep them off the air.. A betting man would say they have something lined up already..

you may be right, mark horgan's sister can't wait anyway..

https://twitter.com/RainHorgan

Lorraine Horgan ‏@RainHorgan
So proud of these lads, can't wait for what's next....Statement from Off The Ball team (@The2ndCaptains) http://twishort.com/IGXcc #offtheball

Dave! · 05-03-2013 11:02PM

yiddo59 wrote: »

I enjoyed it.

Life goes on.

Judas Iscariot!

delta_bravo · 05-03-2013 11:04PM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

you may be right, mark horgan's sister can't wait anyway..

https://twitter.com/RainHorgan

Well she's hardly going to say anything different now is she

opinionatedfan · 05-03-2013 11:05PM

yeah its been going on 18 months, no doubt they have something lined up.

Guessing they hoped to string it out for 8 weeks and then maybe do a straight switch but NT cut them straight away leaving them in a spot they weren't anticipating.

ballsymchugh · 05-03-2013 11:16PM

delta_bravo wrote: »

Well she's hardly going to say anything different now is she

would be a shock to her if there was nothing sorted and her brother ended up on the rock n roll. not something to look forward to really!

mike65 · 05-03-2013 11:21PM

If they are moving house then everyone at that abode is keeping remarkably quiet. As a rule everyone knows before anything has been officially announced

YellowFeather · 05-03-2013 11:53PM

Considering the radio silence (excuse the pun) from the lads, apart from that one statement toeing the party line and blaming the whole thing on a scheduling issue, you would imagine that this has been a bit of a cock up for the five of them. Irrespective of whether they got too big for their boots and thought they were worth more time, can you imagine the conversation that would lead to all five walking out, unless they had something else lined up? It just doesn't make sense.

If that's the case, Newstalk was smart to give them garden leave as opposed to letting them work out their notice - effectively taking them off the air until they've served their time.

The best scenario for the guys is that all of them have a place on another station (and this is unlikely anyway). But, even then, they won't be starting for six to twelve weeks minimum. That's a long enough time in the broadcast world for listeners to get used to either the new OTB, or another station during that slot.

I would love to see them back - all together - wherever they go. It's not looking great though, and am genuinely sorry to see the end of such a good team.

splendid101 · 05-03-2013 11:55PM

The people on here and on twitter abusing poor aul' George Hook are really, really ridiculous.

It must take the maturity of a 14 year old to be angry with Hook in this situation.

I also want to say that I really like Ger Gilroy. I think he's a great interviewer too and asks searching, intelligent and sometimes philosophical questions.

I'll miss the old show a lot. I hope the come back to Newstalk rather than any other station.

It's hard to see them coming back to any FM station at all though. The idea of podcasts or something sounds great, but it won't be the same as just switching on your radio and hearing it.

Cienciano · 05-03-2013 11:59PM

splendid101 wrote: »

The people on here and on twitter abusing poor aul' George Hook are really, really ridiculous.

It must take the maturity of a 14 year old to be angry with Hook in this situation.

I agree, there's plenty of reasons to dislike Hook. His opinions, his method of interviewing (if you can call it that), his heavy breathing into his mic, his rugby punditry etc. But he's not to blame here.

clsmooth · 06-03-2013 12:00AM

They're on gardening leave for a month. Be interesting to see what happens after that

Xavi6 · 06-03-2013 12:06AM

I like Gilroy but the Football Show just isn't the same, there was no craic tonight with Alan Matthews and the rest. It's good listening in its own right but it's not a patch on the Off The Ball I've come to know and love over the past few years.

Such a shame.

wnolan1992 · 06-03-2013 12:13AM

Just listening to the Football Show now.

It's just... not the same.

I'll give it a chance. I like Gilroy, but he needs someone like Ken on with him. It's no fun without the meandering Newsround.

theholyghost · 06-03-2013 12:31AM

Does tonights lack of Sadlier and US Murph suggest they do have something lined up and asked these guys to wait it out with them?

Also Mcdevitt only setup his own twitter a week or two ago suggesting he wanted his own outlet distinct from OTB.

AngeGal · 06-03-2013 02:23AM

theholyghost wrote: »

Does tonights lack of Sadlier and US Murph suggest they do have something lined up and asked these guys to wait it out with them?

Also Mcdevitt only setup his own twitter a week or two ago suggesting he wanted his own outlet distinct from OTB.

US Murph said he was shocked about it on twitter and in response to a question if he would be on the new show, said he would wait a few weeks to see how things lie.

In the event they do move together to a new station, one would have to feel sorry for Gilroy as I think they would take a huge amount of their audience with them. I'd be of the opinion they have something lined up but perhaps can't mention it for legal reasons (pay off?), otherwise it is difficult to understand Hick and Horgan quitting who presumably aren't stupid and didn't walk out on good jobs with nothing waiting.

Mr Whirly · 06-03-2013 03:09AM

I think the lads did a job that no one else has done in sports broadcasting. They didn't shy away from controversial issues when others did, the cycling controversy for one. I just hope they end up somewhere that will let them have the same freedom. It's unlikely though, unfortunately.

mr_edge_to_you · 06-03-2013 06:55AM

Quite possible at this stage they've nothing lined up. They won't get a 4 hour slot on RTE. 5 to 7 is still primetime radio and that won't change.

McDevitt will be able to go to any radio or television station and name his price. I actually think that RTE could use him as a replacement for Bill O'Herlihy in the long term.

However, I'm not so sure about Ken, Murph or Poshboy Hicks. RTE have no need for Ken or Simon. Call him what you like but murph is only a sidekick.

We might hear from Eoin and Murph soon enough but the rest of the crew may have been short sighted in their decision.

Does anyone else think that one of the great things about the show was the time it was on? 7 to 10. I thought it was a great time. All the serious crap is over. Coincides with the football when it's on.

I think the proposal to change the time was flawed. I think the lads misjudged it. It was to increase revenue it would've been done already.

gimmick · 06-03-2013 09:22AM

Thoroughly enjoyed last nights show. The changeover has been utterly seemless. The lads have stepped in and played a blinder. I would imagine this time next week this whole debacle will be completely forgotten about.

Ol' Donie · 06-03-2013 09:33AM

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

Quite possible at this stage they've nothing lined up. They won't get a 4 hour slot on RTE. 5 to 7 is still primetime radio and that won't change.

Does anyone else think that one of the great things about the show was the time it was on? 7 to 10. I thought it was a great time. All the serious crap is over. Coincides with the football when it's on.

.

First of all, are we certain they wanted a four hour slot, and not 6-9?

I totally agree that 7-10 was a great time for it. I know it missed everyone in their cars driving home and that, but the plus side was that it meant you could work a little late/go to the shop/do whatever else needed to be done before the newsround at the start.

There are still holes in the story for me. Why would the station offer them a saturday morning slot to fill, when they already have a friday evening slot which they fill with repeats?

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

Comments