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

Jayesdiem

For the last few months, I’ve started listening to the paper review again out of lockdown boredom. It’s been pretty good lately but yesterday it followed a sequential theme of one moral dilemma after another, each one more ghastly than the last. For just one week -all I ask is one- can OTB please just abstain from moralising and just talk about the fekin sport?

Did you smash it

Jayesdiem wrote: »

For the last few months, I’ve started listening to the paper review again out of lockdown boredom. It’s been pretty good lately but yesterday it followed a sequential theme of one moral dilemma after another, each one more ghastly than the last. For just one week -all I ask is one- can OTB please just abstain from moralising and just talk about the fekin sport?

Absolutely. I said rouse was talking bollocks which was harsh but they spent so much time talking about sports direct and dog racing it just got me annoyed. It’s so easy to write outrage articles about these issues that are such tomorrows chip paper stories.

Was the vast uncertainty about the LoI a couple of weeks out from the season even mentioned?

Our print media focus on such bull****.

Felexicon

Did you smash it wrote: »

Absolutely. I said rouse was talking bollocks which was harsh but they spent so much time talking about sports direct and dog racing it just got me annoyed. It’s so easy to write outrage articles about these issues that are such tomorrows chip paper stories.

Was the vast uncertainty about the LoI a couple of weeks out from the season even mentioned?

Our print media focus on such bull****.

They are reviewing articles from the papers. Those are ones that stood out for them. If them talking about it got you annoyed just turn it off.

I don't actually think you listened to the segment. Youmight have heard it but you didn't listen.

The greyhound piece was not an outrage article at all. In fact it was giving the IGHB chairman a chance to talk about how much they have cleaned up since, and learned from the Primetime investigation.
Joe said the article was a car crash and then 5 minutes later said he had been wrong to say that and then revisited it at the end to say it had been on his mind because he was overly critical

What paper/journalist wrote a LoI piece they could have covered?

Did you smash it

Felexicon wrote: »

They are reviewing articles from the papers. Those are ones that stood out for them. If them talking about it got you annoyed just turn it off.

I don't actually think you listened to the segment.

What paper/journalist wrote a LoI piece they could have covered?

I’m not sure you read my post because you missed the part where I criticized print journalism for not addressing the LoI issue.

Felexicon

Did you smash it wrote: »

I’m not sure you read my post because you missed the part where I criticized print journalism for not addressing the LoI issue.

No you said it wasn't mentioned, as in talked about.

Then you said print media was poor

Did you smash it

Felexicon wrote: »

No you said it wasn't mentioned, as in talked about.

Then you said print media was poor

Yes the print media is poor for not mentioning it.

Also if you think that segment is used to only list out each article and what is said in them then you don’t listen too much yourself.

Contributors are free to bring up anything within the scope of sport even if it isn’t in the papers. They often mention stuff they feel isn’t getting the required attention.

Anyway happy to end this pissing contest now if you want.

Felexicon

Did you smash it wrote: »

Yes the print media is poor for not mentioning it.

Also if you think that segment is used to only list out each article and what is said in them then you don’t listen too much yourself.

Contributors are free to bring up anything within the scope of sport even if it isn’t in the papers. They often mention stuff they feel isn’t getting the required attention.

Anyway happy to end this pissing contest now if you want.

Ah I took it up wrong so.

This is just discussion not a pissing contest.

FWIW I thought yesterdays review was fairly poor. I don't think the format suits Rouse, who I think is exceptional in long form interviews. You could sense he wanted to dive in to the Charlton stuff but time didn't allow.
McIntyre is enjoyable to listen to on most topics but I always enjoy it more when they have a print journalist on. Just think it often provides a different angle.
At least it wasn't Hector!

Did you smash it

Felexicon wrote: »

Ah I took it up wrong so.

This is just discussion not a pissing contest.

FWIW I thought yesterdays review was fairly poor. I don't think the format suits Rouse, who I think is exceptional in long form interviews. You could sense he wanted to dive in to the Charlton stuff but time didn't allow.
McIntyre is enjoyable to listen to on most topics but I always enjoy it more when they have a print journalist on. Just think it often provides a different angle.
At least it wasn't Hector!

For what’s it worth my point did tilt towards criticism of print journalism in Ireland from criticism of the contributions.

I get sick of everything being turned into a moral quandary in sport in Ireland by hand wringing journos, Twitter talking heads and OTB and others. The sports direct story is a tomorrow’s chip paper story, the jerseys will have sports direct, cork gaa will cash a Cheque and 95% of people will not give a fcuk and the other 5% can like it or lump it

Meanwhile the LoI is facing uncertainty and possibly turmoil and not a word is uttered or written.

The dog racing thing ..grand..give it 10 mins but overall greyhound racing is going to keep on going regardless of anything said in print or on radio. It’s it’s own successful industry and they couldn’t care less what is said about them.

As for Rouse, he is beloved by posters here. As far as GAA goes his views became twee and outdated once they started to sell corporate boxes in Croke park at the end of the 90s. It’s fine lamenting the move towards commercialism and professionalism but that ship has sailed long since. Anyone taking his views as their own, is just taking views that are stale and outdated.

Clonmel1000

Is Kevin Kilbane no longer part of the show I haven’t heard him in ages. Thanks

dr.kenneth noisewater

Clonmel1000 wrote:

Is Kevin Kilbane no longer part of the show I haven’t heard him in ages. Thanks

Got married and moved to Canada

Clonmel1000

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

Got married and moved to Canada

Thanks I didn’t know that. Is he completely finished with the show so? I have to say I find some of the journalists they have on quite good Dan McDonnell and a couple of the British guys are insightful and easy to listen too. Don’t really like David Meyler, Delaney is ok whilst unfortunately for me Giles has had his day and I don’t listen to his segment anymore.

deisedude

Clonmel1000 wrote: »

Thanks I didn’t know that. Is he completely finished with the show so? I have to say I find some of the journalists they have on quite good Dan McDonnell and a couple of the British guys are insightful and easy to listen too. Don’t really like David Meyler, Delaney is ok whilst unfortunately for me Giles has had his day and I don’t listen to his segment anymore.

I think Meyler and Delaney are both very interesting. You get the perspective of a recently retired ex-pro which work well with the journos.

The football panel they do on Saturdays with John Duggan, Johnny Ward, Dan McDonnell and one of Delaney, Meyler or Stephen Elliot is the best content Off the Ball produce all week

gourcuff

is it much of a competition between them and second captains anymore, or completely different spaces now with SC being on a paid for platform?

deisedude

deisedude wrote: »

I think Meyler and Delaney are both very interesting. You get the perspective of a recently retired ex-pro which work well with the journos.

The football panel they do on Saturdays with John Duggan, Johnny Ward, Dan McDonnell and one of Delaney, Meyler or Stephen Elliot is the best content Off the Ball produce all week

Delaney is brilliant if you get him on the right subject. Great insights into players he has played with (talked about playing with Nicky Barmby at Hull a few days ago) and what it's like to be a pro. Needs the right questions. He did a piece with Joe during the lockdown on playing in the championship and what it's like to play twice a week towards the end of the season and it was some of the most insightful stuff I've heard on the show in an age.

I enjoy the Saturday Football show too, though I don't think Elliot contributes much other than banalities.

Brock Turnpike

deisedude wrote: »

I think Meyler and Delaney are both very interesting. You get the perspective of a recently retired ex-pro which work well with the journos.

The football panel they do on Saturdays with John Duggan, Johnny Ward, Dan McDonnell and one of Delaney, Meyler or Stephen Elliot is the best content Off the Ball produce all week

Really? I have listened occasionally in the car but I have to say I find Ward and Duggan awful. Ward just comes across as clueless about football. Duggan seems like a complete bandwagoner fan. Not really a football fan. Delaney and McDonnell (on certain topics) are good.

RINO87

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Really? I have listened occasionally in the car but I have to say I find Ward and Duggan awful. Ward just comes across as clueless about football. Duggan seems like a complete bandwagoner fan. Not really a football fan. Delaney and McDonnell (on certain topics) are good.

Yeah it was a much better slot when they had Nathan in doing the Saturdays

Clonmel1000

What do ye reckon of Pat Nevin as a pundit lads? Comes across a bit smug at times to me find it hard to warm to him maybe I’m being harsh.

Did you smash it

Clonmel1000 wrote: »

What do ye reckon of Pat Nevin as a pundit lads? Comes across a bit smug at times to me find it hard to warm to him maybe I’m being harsh.

There’s a thread on boards called people who annoy you but you can’t say why. He’d fall into that category. He’s grand I suppose. I just don’t value his input and find him a bit of a pain but not sure why.

RugbyLover123

What’s the story with Kenny? Haven’t heard him on in a while

Tell me how

Clonmel1000 wrote: »

What do ye reckon of Pat Nevin as a pundit lads? Comes across a bit smug at times to me find it hard to warm to him maybe I’m being harsh.

Think he isn't harsh enough on calling out poor performance, or maybe he just finds a positive angle or says it with a cheerful voice but for some reason he doesn't click with me either.

I'm not a big fan of Brian O'Driscolls punditry for similar reasons.

redbuck

Clonmel1000 wrote: »

What do ye reckon of Pat Nevin as a pundit lads? Comes across a bit smug at times to me find it hard to warm to him maybe I’m being harsh.

I think he's great.

generalgerry

Clonmel1000 wrote: »

What do ye reckon of Pat Nevin as a pundit lads? Comes across a bit smug at times to me find it hard to warm to him maybe I’m being harsh.

He's too hard to understand to be on the damned show.

Billy Ocean

redbuck wrote: »

I think he's great.

i enjoy him, like Andy Dunne on the rugby too

Felexicon

The bit with Niall Moyna this evening was excellent

Jayesdiem

Tell me how wrote: »

Think he isn't harsh enough on calling out poor performance, or maybe he just finds a positive angle or says it with a cheerful voice but for some reason he doesn't click with me either.

I'm not a big fan of Brian O'Driscolls punditry for similar reasons.

I was impressed with BOD stating the other day how sh1tty he felt living under lockdown. It made a fresh change from the Covid zealots who love to pretend that it’s all no bother at all or, worse, the ones that actually enjoy it. As a public figure, that honesty was refreshing.

generalgerry

Felexicon wrote: »

The bit with Niall Moyna this evening was excellent

Yeah I thought he was good as well. If you are trying to sell a message you have to have passion, and to be fair to him he always comes across as passionate about what he is saying.

rrs

Does Johnny Ward be on Off the ball much these days? I see he's no longer on Twitter.

Did you smash it

rrs wrote: »

Does Johnny Ward be on Off the ball much these days? I see he's no longer on Twitter.

On yesterday. One of his last acts on Twitter was to suggest Ireland should completely open the pubs and restaurants for Christmas and leave it up to people to decide whether to go or not. A sentiment that didn’t age well so perhaps he’s better off gone. Twitter didn’t suit his personality.

dr.kenneth noisewater

rrs wrote:

Does Johnny Ward be on Off the ball much these days? I see he's no longer on Twitter.

Seems to only do Racing on Friday and Soccer on Saturday now

dr.kenneth noisewater

This gave me a laugh yesterday, bit harsh

https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/1355271614137593857?s=19

rrs

Did you smash it wrote: »

On yesterday. One of his last acts on Twitter was to suggest Ireland should completely open the pubs and restaurants for Christmas and leave it up to people to decide whether to go or not. A sentiment that didn’t age well so perhaps he’s better off gone. Twitter didn’t suit his personality.

He use to come out with some daft statements on Twitter. It was hard to know was he being serious or not.

I remember after Dundalks Europa League group was finished. He said its neither here nor there but Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians would have picked up points in the group. Dundalk had beaten Bohemians 4 -1 in the Cup a few weeks before that.

Billy Ocean

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

This gave me a laugh yesterday, bit harsh

https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/1355271614137593857?s=19

Enjoy the GAA hour but jeez Wooly is some clown on Twitter at times, talks about social media been toxic and comes out with this stuff and bickers with Keiron Cunningham

rrs

It's more bullying behaviour from Parkinson. He always has a smart remark if someone disagrees with him on Twitter.

nialler1978

nialler1978 wrote: »

That's essentially what Twitter is in a nutshell, smart remarks, particularly if you disagree with someone or if they disagree with you. Not sure qualifies him as fitting into the bullying bracket, but while we are on the topic, Richie McCormack certainly fits into the category at times but includes hissy fits and temper tantrums with it if you aren't fully on board with whatever woke agenda he is pushing on any given day.

Sounds a lot like Boards.ie too! I might not agree with Parkinson on much, but Richie McCormack is a pain in the arse. He's always just on the wrong side of sanctimonious. His casual popular references always come across as rehearsed and painful to listen to, and always designed to make him look smarter than he is. By the sounds of it, a few of his colleagues find him hard to stomach too.

statesaver

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

This gave me a laugh yesterday, bit harsh

https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/1355271614137593857?s=19

Hard to disagree.

Tell me how

Billy Ocean wrote: »

Enjoy the GAA hour but jeez Wooly is some clown on Twitter at times, talks about social media been toxic and comes out with this stuff and bickers with Keiron Cunningham

No doubt if he eventually struggles to get guests or listeners to the podcast, he'll blame cancel culture or something instead of accepting people eventually copped on that he was a bit of a dose. He didn't really gain anything by this or referring to Kieran Cunningham as he does only to make people grimace a bit as they watch it.

Ewan McKenna and himself don't do themselves any favours in making people want to work with them.

Tell me how

Tell me how wrote: »

No doubt if he eventually struggles to get guests or listeners to the podcast, he'll blame cancel culture or something instead of accepting people eventually copped on that he was a bit of a dose. He didn't really gain anything by this or referring to Kieran Cunningham as he does only to make people grimace a bit as they watch it.

Ewan McKenna and himself don't do themselves any favours in making people want to work with them.

What happened with Kieran Cunningham? I must have missed that.

generalgerry

Tell me how wrote: »

Ewan McKenna and himself don't do themselves any favours in making people want to work with them.

I think Ewan McKenna and Colm Parkinson bring more of a real life element to the sports coverage. OTB is far too polite and politically correct, painfully so. McKenna and Parkinson are at least to come forward with a very unpopular opinion and back it to the hilt. I don't agree with either of them on all subjects, but they are certainly entertaining.

Having said that the remark about Richie McCormack is a bit uncalled for. If there had been some ongoing argument on line maybe it might be justified, but this is completely without provocation I think? And I wouldn't be a fan of McCormack by any means.

generalgerry

Did you smash it wrote: »

On yesterday. One of his last acts on Twitter was to suggest Ireland should completely open the pubs and restaurants for Christmas and leave it up to people to decide whether to go or not.

I remember Richie McCormack making some sarcastic, patronising remark in response to that Tweet.

Billy Ocean

generalgerry wrote: »

I think Ewan McKenna and Colm Parkinson bring more of a real life element to the sports coverage. OTB is far too polite and politically correct, painfully so. McKenna and Parkinson are at least to come forward with a very unpopular opinion and back it to the hilt. I don't agree with either of them on all subjects, but they are certainly entertaining.

Having said that the remark about Richie McCormack is a bit uncalled for. If there had been some ongoing argument on line maybe it might be justified, but this is completely without provocation I think? And I wouldn't be a fan of McCormack by any means.

I think McKenna is a vile human being myself, I actually agree with him on the Dublin stuff to a large extent and his opinions on McGregor but the absolutely rancid stuff he comes out with superseeds that.

Tell me how

Deleted User wrote: »

What happened with Kieran Cunningham? I must have missed that.

Just saw Wooly sniping at Kieran on a few tweets and I think Kieran said to someone else that Wooly is one of 42 people who have Kieran blocked. If that is the case, pity low move by Wooly to continue referring to him or tweeting a poll about him.

generalgerry wrote: »

I think Ewan McKenna and Colm Parkinson bring more of a real life element to the sports coverage. OTB is far too polite and politically correct, painfully so. McKenna and Parkinson are at least to come forward with a very unpopular opinion and back it to the hilt. I don't agree with either of them on all subjects, but they are certainly entertaining.

Leaving aside whether or not OTB is far too polite, I do agree that there should be room for disagreements to be held without it leading to something more. Particularly in the case of Ewan, he was his own worse enemy. Would go on the show, disagree with someone or something, and then absolutely go to town on the show or who he disagreed with over the next several days, weeks, months etc to the point where they just say, 'enough of that'. His position on Irish Rugby was one, it became way too personal for Ewan and he was flat out abusive in how he referred to people with different opinions to him and then when they stopped booking him, he started complaining that Irish media wouldn't hire him.

Wooly is similar, but has less scope as he only talks about GAA with any level of authority. McKenna had the opportunity to be a commentator on wide variety of sports in different locations and I think he set fire to the bridges he had and then complained that they were burned.

generalgerry

Billy Ocean wrote: »

I think McKenna is a vile human being myself, I actually agree with him on the Dublin stuff to a large extent and his opinions on McGregor but the absolutely rancid stuff he comes out with superseeds that.

I'm surprised anything that he could say would elicit such a strong response - what in particular that he said was most offensive?

Tell me how

Tell me how wrote: »

Just saw Wooly sniping at Kieran on a few tweets and I think Kieran said to someone else that Wooly is one of 42 people who have Kieran blocked. If that is the case, pity low move by Wooly to continue referring to him or tweeting a poll about him.

Thanks. I find Twitter hard to stomach at the best of times so miss any of these dramas.

Billy Ocean

generalgerry wrote: »

I'm surprised anything that he could say would elicit such a strong response - what in particular that he said was most offensive?

Liked a tweet about Jonny Cooper the Dublin footballer where someone said the person who stabbed him wouldn't have done it without a good reason

Tweeted something really offensive about Gay Byrne the day after he passed away, its deleted now I discovered, not the 1st time something like that happened with him and a bereavement.

I taught Pat Gilroy was a joke on his Sunday Game appearance myself but McKenna tweeted calling him a fat 'word that rimes with duck' , hardly professional from an award winning journalist.

Plenty of other stuff too, too much to remember

rrs

nialler1978 wrote: »

That's essentially what Twitter is in a nutshell, smart remarks, particularly if you disagree with someone or if they disagree with you. Not sure qualifies him as fitting into the bullying bracket, but while we are on the topic, Richie McCormack certainly fits into the category at times but includes hissy fits and temper tantrums with it if you aren't fully on board with whatever woke agenda he is pushing on any given day.

No it isn't. He just constantly singles out people and thinks he's great. Took fun out of David Brady for calling people during the lockdown.

Basically stitched up Eddie Brennan with his 'off record interview'.'.

A bellend.

Billy Ocean

rrs wrote: »

No it isn't. He just constantly singles out people and thinks he's great. Took fun out of David Brady for calling people during the lockdown.

Basically stitched up Eddie Brennan with his 'off record interview'.'.

A bellend.

I think the Brennan thing was an horrendous error rather than a stitch up, if it was a stitch up he was basically throwing himself under the bus.

I don't think Brennan he suffered from it in terms of public esteem funnily enough

rrs

rrs wrote: »

No it isn't. He just constantly singles out people and thinks he's great. Took fun out of David Brady for calling people during the lockdown.

Basically stitched up Eddie Brennan with his 'off record interview'.'.

A bellend.

The latter part of that is simply untrue. He's guilty of a lot of things, but not that one.

rrs

It might have been a genuine mistake, but how can you be sure? Was there ever anything else leaked on the show? This involved his own County and seemed more suspect. Cheddar Plunkett was a regular on the show before, so kind of fell into place for him to get the job again.

The interview went on for 5 minutes off air, surely someone could have copped it was being played?..

Billy Ocean

rrs wrote: »

It might have been a genuine mistake, but how can you be sure? Was there ever anything else leaked on the show? This involved his own County and seemed more suspect. Cheddar Plunkett was a regular on the show before, so kind of fell into place for him to get the job again.

The interview went on for 5 minutes off air, surely someone could have copped it was being played?..

The laois players wanted Cheaddar back, that 2nd last sentence is borderline slanderous.

How can you be sure yourself...

Tell me how

rrs wrote: »

It might have been a genuine mistake, but how can you be sure? Was there ever anything else leaked on the show? This involved his own County and seemed more suspect. Cheddar Plunkett was a regular on the show before, so kind of fell into place for him to get the job again.

The interview went on for 5 minutes off air, surely someone could have copped it was being played?..

I think it was a genuine mistake. Those recordings are spliced together in to a podcast which is probably released at a set time rather than being something which goes out live.

But that incident, is a stick he has given people to beat him with and carrying on with the likes of last week and attacking people specifically in a poll is a classless move.

It's one thing disagreeing with someone, and another thing entirely to list them in a poll on a tweet as he did. And then acknowledging that he was setting up those polls after an evenings drinking (whether true or not) just doesn't look professional.

Say what you want about the OTB crew, they don't wash their dirty laundry in public like others do. Entertaining or not, it's generally not good for someone's career.