The Stand With Eamon Dunphy

I'd forgotten he had a property out there. If that's where he is I'd tell him to stay there until February at least and come back rejuvenated.

Yes they are all interesting contributers. I'd add John Kampfner as well for his views from Germany.

Was wondering that myself. They are still reposting old episodes on January 18. Hopefully just a winter break to go with his usual August break.

Stand back and stand by

Giles does a fair bit of waffling on modern football but he is still great to listen to when the topic suits.

He had an interesting story on newstalk the day Franz Beckenbauer died. They had played against each other in a European cup final in which John thought, and still thinks, the referee was compromised! They ran in to each other years later before a match where both were doing analysis. Beckenbauer made some comment on a bad tackle by one of the Leeds players. John came straight back about an incident where Beckenbauer should have been sent off himself. As he put it, they didn't leave on good terms!

I heard John tell that story. Some people give out about him talking about the old days too much but I think its a privilege to listen to him retelling things with such detail. He knew and saw the Busby babes playing at old Trafford. He attended the 66 and 70 World cup finals, played with and against Bobby Charlton, played against Maradona in Dublin. Part of the best ever Leeds team. He's an amazing link to the past and he's still giving his opinions when he could have retired years ago.

There are so many podcasts and radio shows covering modern day football, would anybody miss this if they dropped it? I find those chats where they talk about bygone times more interesting. It was such a different era and it's fascinating to hear the insights of those guys. Especially now that many of the people they're talking about have died and can't sue.

Was a huge football fan back in the days when the lads were on the panel. Not so much now. To think people thought the Premier League was corporate and full of prima donna players back in the 90's and 2000's!

I still listen to the odd Stand episode on football. I'm sure the lads would rather keep reviewing the weekly matches for the reason that it keeps them in touch and feeling youthful / current. There's only so much looking back you can do before it starts getting unhealthy. That said, the best sports episodes are when Eamon covers a big ticket item, like Arab money in the game, FIFA corruption, the FAI saga etc or those interviews he does with journos on the ground about the behind the scenes of a club in Europe.

I wouldn't say "a lot". With the WC late last year and now the 6-nations back on again, it's not too surprising that he's done more than usual recently. Once the 6-nations is over, we won't hear another one again for 12 months. Luckily they can be avoided easily. If there's anything more boring than rugby, it's listening to the likes of Matt Williams droning on for an hour about it.

"Rice does more on the ball than Rodri"

🤣

Why does Eamo keep saying Ireland lost to New Zealand by a point in the World Cup?

Very sloppy.

What was his name again? I used to enjoy him even if it was clear he was drinking the kool aid.

I'm half expecting Dunphy to call him the best journalist in the world, before this saga is over.

“And now we’re lucky to be joined by the man who originally broke this story, Fionnan Sheahan. Fionnan is not only the finest journalist ever to come out of Ireland he is arguably greatest journalist to ever grace this planet.”

I like the football episodes where it's former players talking about their careers. The one's he did with Brady and Didi were really enjoyable. Be interesting to get a few more former players on to do the same.

That's Eamon though, he'll slaughter you like that one week and be your best friend the next week.

Personally, the first thing I think of when I hear the name Simon Harris is Covid-19, the pandemic, his glum-but-so-sincere face, "we're in this together", blah, blah. So I'd agree with Sheehan there, Harris strikes me as a bit of an empty suit, will say the "right thing" but not much depth to him.

Chay Bowes who founded The Ditch and left Ireland very quickly after the story broke he had multiple private meetings with the Russian ambassador also works for RT. Lives in Moscow now.

Is it worth paying 5e for this podcast?

since when does it cost anything?

John and Eamon's lack of knowledge of Premier League teams outside of the top 3 really is staggering. John said he 'wasn't impressed' with Aston Villa this season and Eamon never even pulled him up on it. Villa are challenging for the Champions League having been relegation candidates less than two years ago, how anyone couldn't be impressed with them is beyond me. Eamon didn't appear to know that Villa's goalkeeper was a world cup winner with Argentina. He was also of the belief for some reason that Tyrone Mings was 'benched' by Unai Emery when in fact he did his cruciate at the start of the season.

Doesn't really bother me. You could find inaccuracies every week with what they discuss but it's not really about that anymore. Just 2 old pros shooting the breeze, having a rant or getting excited about certain players and games.

Considering their ages (John 83, Eamon 78) it's great that they are still enthusiastic about doing it.