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

Think Richie is fantastic and a true asset to the show. Huge fan of the show.

From the football journalists they get on, Tim Vickery is definitely my favourite. Knows everything about south american football.
Also like Xavier Rivoire, Gabriele Marcotti, Sid Lowe and Raphael Honigstein. There's another guy they get on the odd time, a Brazilian (who apparently looks a bit like brazilian ronaldo) who's great too.

I'm with most people here on Graham. Used to be good, but not a fan of him at all now, much prefer Sid Lowe. Don't dare say anything negative about Graham Hunters precious Barcelona or he'll go mental. Love when the lads wind him up though!
Also, I like Italian Football, but don't really like Roberto Gotta. Would love if they got James Richardson as their Italian Football guy.

The lads work great together, but they're not great at asking tough questions. I like Ken, but he definitely thinks he's more intelligent than he actually is. Love when his theorys and rants are shot down by "proper" journalists

Best sports show in the country, I know i keep saying it but its head and shoulders above anything else. It seems to be held in high regard by many of the sporting journos too, declan walsh, paul kimmage, miguel delaney, graham hunter just some of the contributors in recent nights this week. They also embrace minority sports as they did again last night when they interviewd that 17 year old irish lad who got third in the under 19 world triathlon championships.

Aidric wrote: »

I assume you mean David Walsh.

The coverage of the Armstrong case has been very strong.

I imagine it's partly them following up on their interview with Pat McQuaid a while back where he pretty much admitted he took a bribe from Armstrong.

McQuaid died on his arse in the Kenny interview.

Seán O'Rourke would have filleted him.

JonathanAnon wrote: »

I've looked back over interviews with Roche from the late 80s and he is certainly of a much stronger intellect than his son. Much sharper under questioning.. Nicholas was poor, and misunderstood what Eoin was asking/suggesting numerous times.. He really shouldnt have done the interview unless he had a clear answer to the question about Pat McQuaid..

Kimmage, even this week on OTB, has described Stephen Roche as having "a shady past".. And Nicholas would certainly be aware who David Walsh is anyway...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y2wlKENW-M

You'll notice another frequent Newstalk contributor (/tool) in the second part of the video.. :rolleyes:

They've spent the entire week bitching about McQuaid's refusal to come on the show and then when Nicolas comes on, knowing he will be questioned aggressively, you have texters saying "dont give him airtime".

Nicolas said he never met David Walsh, not that he didnt know who he was, so not sure what point you're making there.

Question -isnt it better to hear once in a while from (i) a non Kimmage fan for a change and (ii) a voice from within the current peleton on this subject?

I think NR made a lot of sense tonight- he didnt support Pat McQuaid but questioned whether getting rid of him alone would solve the issue; he acknowledged that Walsh and Kimmage had been vindicated, before making a genuine observation about Kimmage's attitude to the sport. Those were reasoned, thoughful remarks I thought. It was obvious though that Eoin didnt like his mate being criticised - that didnt reflect well on him.

What is the point of hearing from Kimmage and Walsh every night without the other side of the coin getting a word in edgeways?

ballsymchugh wrote: »

the other side of the coin has repeatedly refused a request for an interview all week!!

Nicolas Roche would be considered to be from the "other camp". He didnt refuse an interview.

I'm saying its useful to hear from him for a different perspective.

Some are saying get him off the radio - that cant be right.

JonathanAnon wrote: »

I wasnt making any point, I'm just saying that he would certainly be aware of who he is given that his father appeared on national television with him 12 years ago..




As I said above, I thought he was poor... he was unclear, misunderstood a few of the points that were being put to him, was unprepared for the obvious questions he was going to be asked... However, he certainly wasnt helped by the phone line...

On the point about Paul Kimmage being bitter, whenever I hear Kimmage I cant help but agree with Roche on this one... I always find myself thinking of him as taking his revenge on cycling because it wasnt as good to him as it was to Roche and Kelly..

Well thats cleared up then - Nicolas Roche knows who David Walsh is, in case anyone was in any doubt. Cheers for that.

In relation to Roche's preformance under questioning tonight - its true he didnt give the usual stock answers Eoin was looking for, such as "Pat McQuaid is the devil incarnate". He was a lot more nuanced that that, a good thing i think.

I don't think english is Nicholas' first language.

Nicholas Roche is an awkward position when the subject of doping is broached with him. His father does have a shady past. Judicial investigations in an Italian court in 2000 and 2004 found that Stephen had taken EPO during the 1993 season. The team doctor admitted to administering Roche and his teamates with the substance.

The statute of limitations saved Roche from prosecution.