Off Topic Thread too point uh

Taco Corp · 07-06-2015 06:30PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Glasgow Rangers are associated as a Protestant/Loyalist club but I'm not sure if their players are booed for that, more for that Rangers are, well used to be, huge rivals of Celtic.

Stheno wrote: »

Rangers? Aren't they primarily supported by Protestants while Celtic are Catholic?

thanks. in the context of rangers/celtic I get it

Wang King · 07-06-2015 06:46PM

In the 70's & 80's, Liverpool were the most poular team in Ireland, a lot of fans didn't realize that they had a hard line anti Irish stance in the club, so much so that Steve Heighway was the first from this country to play for them.
Everton were always the "Celtic" of that city

stephen_n · 07-06-2015 06:49PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Glasgow Rangers are associated as a Protestant/Loyalist club but I'm not sure if their players are booed for that, more for that Rangers are, well used to be, huge rivals of Celtic.

Don't think one can really be separated from the other, the old firm has very little to do with soccer.

stephen_n · 07-06-2015 06:50PM

Wang King wrote: »

In the 70's & 80's, Liverpool were the most poular team in Ireland, a lot of fans didn't realize that they had a hard line anti Irish stance in the club, so much so that Steve Heighway was the first from this country to play for them.
Everton were always the "Celtic" of that city

And that's the irony bit!

Buer · 07-06-2015 07:38PM

Wang King wrote: »

In the 70's & 80's, Liverpool were the most poular team in Ireland, a lot of fans didn't realize that they had a hard line anti Irish stance in the club, so much so that Steve Heighway was the first from this country to play for them.
Everton were always the "Celtic" of that city

This was a myth that grew around Liverpool/Everton as Protestant and Catholic clubs respectively. It's almost similar to how Everton used to be accused of being a racist club due to their lack of coloured players. Daniel Amokachi was their first black player in 20 years (and only their second ever black player) when he joined them after USA '94.

Both clubs were set up by protestant groups and have their roots on that side of the community. However, Everton tapped into the Irish diaspora more aggressively knowing many Irish people were emigrating to the city, particularly after WW2.

Before then, neither side were particularly known for their selection of Irish players. Then Johnny Carey was their manager and pulled a "Roy Keane" filling the team with Irish players in his time there. They were noted as the Irish team in Merseyside from then on.

Not much more to it than that. There was no blacklisting of Irish players by anyone nor was Steve Heighway the first Irish player to play for Liverpool.

Stheno · 07-06-2015 07:50PM

I am out in blues dog house in howth which has among other "tables" in the outdoor area, an iron framed bed with sheets blankets and pillows, a corner sofa, a round bed, and a three piece sofa and two armchairs

I am relaxing on the bed the past few hours.

So far I've had one tourist come stand in front of it, state at us like we are exhibits in a freak show, then ask where we are from

Then six other groups have all stopped, pointed and commented on the weirdness

I'm gonna explode soon if I hear one more high pitched squeal from some woman (they've all been women) going "omg look at those people on the bed!!!"

Wang King · 07-06-2015 08:22PM

Buer wrote: »

This was a myth that grew around Liverpool/Everton as Protestant and Catholic clubs respectively. It's almost similar to how Everton used to be accused of being a racist club due to their lack of coloured players. Daniel Amokachi was their first black player in 20 years (and only their second ever black player) when he joined them after USA '94.

Both clubs were set up by protestant groups and have their roots on that side of the community. However, Everton tapped into the Irish diaspora more aggressively knowing many Irish people were emigrating to the city, particularly after WW2.

Before then, neither side were particularly known for their selection of Irish players. Then Johnny Carey was their manager and pulled a "Roy Keane" filling the team with Irish players in his time there. They were noted as the Irish team in Merseyside from then on.

Not much more to it than that. There was no blacklisting of Irish players by anyone nor was Steve Heighway the first Irish player to play for Liverpool.

He was most certainly the first from this country to play for Liverpool, I'm not counting players from the 6 counties.
And to the other point, the teams were established by Protestants, but Everton were the team of the common man, and because there were so many Irish people in the city, Everton became their club after the war and thru the 50's
Orange order bands have often marched thru Liverpool wearing Liverpool crests and while there was never an edict issued not to sign Irish Catholics, it didn't happen until the 70's
I'll amend that slightly, there was a Lacey played about WWI but he's an unusual one, born in the republic but continued playing for Northern Ireland, I never found out why

Stheno · 07-06-2015 08:27PM

Wang King wrote: »

He was most certainly the first from this country to play for Liverpool, I'm not counting players from the 6 counties.
And to the other point, the teams were established by Protestants, but Everton were the team of the common man, and because there were so many Irish people in the city, Everton became their club after the war and tgru the 50's
Orange order bands and often marched thru Liverpool wearing Liverpool crests and while there was never an edthe issued not to sign Irish Catholics, it didn't happen until tgw 70's

I read an interesting novel recently which explore Rangers past factually from the loyalist perspective

Buer · 07-06-2015 08:38PM

Wang King wrote: »

He was most certainly the first from this country to play for Liverpool, I'm not counting players from the 6 counties.

Neither am I. Billy Lacey was an Irish international. Johnny Carey himself appeared for Liverpool during the war years when there was no league being played.

Prior to WW2, Everton's Irish players could be counted on one hand. Was very little difference between the two clubs.

Ironically, in the late 80s and 90s (and into this century), there was a change in perception as Everton and Rangers grew close in their dealings. Stuart McCall, Trevor Steven, Paul Gascoigne, Mo Johnston, Gary Stevens, Richard Gough, Duncan Ferguson and even their manager, Walter Smith....all big moves directly between the clubs within the space of a decade. All purely a spell of economic dealings that passed after about 15-20 years. Doesn't mean they've any leanings towards any affiliation.

As I said, it's all a perception without a huge amount of evidence aside from pretty tenuous claims. The only real concrete situation is that Irish people became fans of Everton due to the prominence of Irish players there in the 1950s. After that period, there wasn't an Irish player there until Kevin Sheedy 20-25 years later (who joined them from Liverpool!). If you don't count Sheedy, who was English born, you're going a fair bit longer and probably over 30 years between Irishmen playing for Everton.

Buer · 07-06-2015 09:05PM

Wang King wrote: »

I'll amend that slightly, there was a Lacey played about WWI but he's an unusual one, born in the republic but continued playing for Northern Ireland, I never found out why

Minor detail of the ROI not existing

Buer · 07-06-2015 09:37PM

I was excited a few months ago when it was announced that Stephen King's The Stand was going to be remade and done properly this time as a trilogy rather than the weak, TV mini-series that was made about 20 years ago with Rob Lowe. The likes of Matthew McConaughey were in talks to take lead roles.

How underwhelmed am I to hear this weekend that their plan has now been announced to make.....a TV mini-series. In fairness, it is set to finish with a feature film but I don't think it's going to work at all. Completely dragging it out and people will lose interest way before the film if it isn't right on the money.

07-06-2015 09:45PM

Buer wrote: »

I was excited a few months ago when it was announced that Stephen King's The Stand was going to be remade and done properly this time as a trilogy rather than the weak, TV mini-series that was made about 20 years ago with Rob Lowe. The likes of Matthew McConaughey were in talks to take lead roles.

How underwhelmed am I to hear this weekend that their plan has now been announced to make.....a TV mini-series. In fairness, it is set to finish with a feature film but I don't think it's going to work at all. Completely dragging it out and people will lose interest way before the film if it isn't right on the money.

It's a huge story as long as it's done right it'll still be good

07-06-2015 09:45PM

Buer wrote: »

I was excited a few months ago when it was announced that Stephen King's The Stand was going to be remade and done properly this time as a trilogy rather than the weak, TV mini-series that was made about 20 years ago with Rob Lowe. The likes of Matthew McConaughey were in talks to take lead roles.

How underwhelmed am I to hear this weekend that their plan has now been announced to make.....a TV mini-series. In fairness, it is set to finish with a feature film but I don't think it's going to work at all. Completely dragging it out and people will lose interest way before the film if it isn't right on the money.

Gary Sinese was the main character in that and it wasn't awful - just hasn't aged well.

The Stand and The Dark Tower both could do with a HBO once over maybe followed up with a feature film, they are dense stories that will always suffer if purely exposed to the big screen.

.ak · 07-06-2015 09:47PM

They're making a movie series on the Dark Tower afaik.

Buer · 07-06-2015 09:51PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Gary Sinese was the main character in that and it wasn't awful - just hasn't aged well.

Maybe I'm being harsh. I was about 15 when I watched it a couple of years after it came out and I had just read the book. I just felt a bit let down by what felt like it should have been so much more of an epic story. It seemed to really drag.

irishbucsfan · 07-06-2015 09:55PM

The Expanse series has been renewed. An entertaining trilogy of sci-fi novels, I've only read the first of them to be fair. I believe it's on Sy Fy in the US who don't have the best track record, but I'll watch it, even if it's only because I've read the book. There's some link between the author of the book and Game of Thrones I believe (or i might be getting confused)

CatFromHue · 07-06-2015 10:51PM

I never saw the whole of the TV version of The Stand but I do love the intro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUAvTn3uz5w

As for the current plan of a mini series I wouldn't be getting my hopes up, especially after what's happened to Under The Dome.

I think the book is a bit over rated too. It definitely has one of the worst endings, even worse than Under The Dome lol

molloyjh · 07-06-2015 11:39PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Gary Sinese was the main character in that and it wasn't awful - just hasn't aged well.

The Stand and The Dark Tower both could do with a HBO once over maybe followed up with a feature film, they are dense stories that will always suffer if purely exposed to the big screen.

The Dome TV series doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Excellent book and a truly God awful adaptation.

EDIT: Although I'd agree with CFH, the ending to Under the Dome was terrible.

CatFromHue · 07-06-2015 11:48PM

I meant the ending to The Stand was terrible, Under the Dome's ending was only marginally better though.

I loved Under The Dome though, far more than The Stand.

molloyjh · 08-06-2015 12:06AM

CatFromHue wrote: »

I meant the ending to The Stand was terrible, Under the Dome's ending was only marginally better though.

I loved Under The Dome though, far more than The Stand.

I never actually read The Stand. In fact the only King books I have read are The Shining and Under the Dome. The lesson from Under the Dome though is clearly that not everything needs to be explained!

Neil3030 · 08-06-2015 12:08AM

Opening paragraph of the Daily Mail's article on Big Jack's reception at the Aviva today. It's up there with the most creatively woven spin I have ever read. It's simply masterful:

He has described it as a 'sad occasion' for football - the 1995 friendly against England which his Irish national team abandoned after fans erupted in riot, spurred by the raging violence of the Troubles.

CatFromHue · 08-06-2015 12:33AM

Ha that is amazing but equally so scary that people pay to read that ****e.

CatFromHue · 08-06-2015 12:36AM

molloyjh wrote: »

I never actually read The Stand. In fact the only King books I have read are The Shining and Under the Dome. The lesson from Under the Dome though is clearly that not everything needs to be explained!

I wasn't a huge fan of The Shining.

King can write some absolutely brilliant books but some average and stinker ones too.

Wang King · 08-06-2015 12:47AM

Buer wrote: »

Minor detail of the ROI not existing

There was a footie team here in '21, but he chose the north during his pro career, dunno if it was because he felt more British at the time, or maybe he felt his career would have been harmed by playing for the free state

Fireball07 · 08-06-2015 02:39AM

Do you think they'd change the ending of the Stand in a mini-series to make it actually, you know, good? Very underwhelming. Still a great book and Trashcan Man is a great character.

I've read IT and 11/22/63 in the past couple of weeks and both are really, really good. IT has some genuinely terrifying parts but is just a great story, while 11/22/63 is also great. I have Under the Dome to read now, have a couple of Murakami books I want to read first.

molloyjh · 08-06-2015 08:06AM

CatFromHue wrote: »

I wasn't a huge fan of The Shining.

King can write some absolutely brilliant books but some average and stinker ones too.

Yeah I read The Shining years ago and found it a struggle tbh. It was my first King book and in all honesty turned me off his stuff. It was only when I was in London for the LI pool game in 2010 and was in the airport on the way home that I picked up Under the Dome on a whim and ended up really enjoying it.

I might actually pick up The Stand now too and give it a go.

08-06-2015 09:47AM

molloyjh wrote: »

Yeah I read The Shining years ago and found it a struggle tbh. It was my first King book and in all honesty turned me off his stuff. It was only when I was in London for the LI pool game in 2010 and was in the airport on the way home that I picked up Under the Dome on a whim and ended up really enjoying it.

I might actually pick up The Stand now too and give it a go.

Make sure you get the extended version.

.ak · 08-06-2015 10:09AM

Going to take on reading the Tower series next I think.

Buer · 08-06-2015 10:51AM

His short stories are excellent. Some really snappy, creepy little tales in there. That John Cusack film, 1408, for example...not a great movie but just a twisted little story about a haunted hotel room. The real horror stuff he comes up with features more in his short stories in the last 20 years, I find.

Some of his novellas are really good too. The Shawshank Redemption, Rage, The Running Man, The Body etc.

I think his novels sometimes can become a little too meandering and get bogged down as he tries to move the story on. In that respect, I think his earlier novels are far better. I still reckon Salem's Lot is one of the best, old fashioned horror stories I've ever read.

Buer · 08-06-2015 07:49PM

Sooooo....GoT....

Given the high quality of the second last episodes in all season's to date, that was pretty disappointing. The last two weeks were much better, to my mind. The final scenes with the dragons? Pretty poor stuff. You knew it was coming at some point but it was pretty tacky and fake looking when she climbed onto the dragon and flew off. Very little by the way of genuine tension and drama in that episode, relative to previous seasons.

Off Topic Thread too point uh

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