Newstalk: Off The Ball

Joe will be missed. He's very collected and intelligent. After a brief settling in period i think he lead a second golden moment on otb.

I still like the show, daily reporting is it's own thing. They seem to have hired a series of sports nerds/dorks in the last few hires. The need a good host now and maybe an accomplished opinion writer too.

Absolutely. Showed again with his interview last night why he will be missed.

Suspect Will O'Callaghan will take over from Joe?. He's a few levels below Joe's standard but well above the rest of gang there, so seems like the most obvious replacement pick.

Will see how it goes but Joe is the main draw for me, not sure I'll be tuning in as much. He's pivotal for something like the 'Slight tangent' slot, and it's clear they know that too as it didn't run on the occasions he was away.

FYI, they're not trans boxers. It seems that it's all based on a dodgy organisation and a Russian news article.

Read this for more:

Oh and on this, here's what Amy Broadhurst who fought one of the 2 boxers previously has to say:

OTB fairly trying to grovel anyway. They've burned their bridges there you would feel.

I worry about what people's understanding of far left is. It doesn't include putting your products behind a pay wall.

Guess until Ger is photographed assaulting guards in coolock, or boycotting libraries, and Will is debating transgender athletes with objective commentators like Graham lenihan and jk Rowling, they will have to put up with the criticisms of being card carrying communists/groomers.

Can any of those fans of the alt-right talking points provide a link to a sports radio show that you approve of?

If you are going to consciously mix politics and sport then people can vote with their feet. Of course they are coming from the famously far left newstalk station. Even if your point is **** - that OTB should impose a balance - OTB don't owe you anything or need to pander to your politics.

Previous poster sums it up well.

He/she is prepared to subscribe for the service, until deciding not to. They can give woolberto (perhaps leaning right is funny) their custom.

Yeah. Market forces in action. I didn't subscribe cos it's not that good and there are better options available. Not sure Joe Molloy deserves all the love he tends to get either. In general, the pay wall move was all very hamfisted with too many mediocre contributors. But it's not because of the politics.

Just as it's I did subscribe to Parkinson's podcast, I wouldn't expect him to balance his political views to suit me.

Public sector broadcasting maybe. But apart from that you are completely wrong. OTB, not public sector broadcasters, owe you nothing. Listen or don't, your choice. Pay your subscription or don't, your choice.

This is bonkers. There's two very recent referendums that have over 60% vote for massive social change. The FFFG stranglehold has very little to do with their policies and far more to do with 1. Local politics, 2. people voting for whoever their parents tell them to. Their policies and spending of both those parties is nothing short of erratic. FF in particular have been happy to spend anything and everything. FG are somewhat more fiscally conservative but they've got plenty of socially liberal notches on their belt.

And as far as calling the presenters far left, that's just outrageous. They're big standard liberal Irish people. Absolute normies.

Yeah. It was habit that made me listen before the pay wall. Tommy Walsh, Andy dunne both very good but not on enough then. Pay wall not worth it.

If ye think it's far end of the spectrum, it's worrying.

And if I'd there is a cohort out there who think that if OTB would be more successful if it was that bit more anti immigrant, anti trans, anti vax, just have a few people come on and just ask the odd question about whether Rashida is Irish enough etc, then fair play to Ger for not giving into those arseholes.

Yeah, I think that post is all over the shop.

I would think the same sex referendum and the abortion referendum would represent a social change that has occurred over the past years.

So, you contend that OTB are not normies - they are the complete opposite of the mainstream you say. So, who do you think they vote for? Where are they different to the centre-right mainstream opinion of Ireland? Is it on immigration, vaccination, trans rights? Cos I see very little difference between what's they appear to support and what is the law of the land.

More absolute nonsense, but par for the course for you.

I think Joe has what Eoin McDevitt on Second Captains has - an ability to let the conversation flow and be directed rather than him be a key participant in it. It's a harder skill than you'd imagine…

Exactly. Both top class interviewers and huge respected broadcasters.

Tell me about your Olympic medals...

We all know that's a farce. There isn't a media organisation I can think of that doesn't have some political leanings.

Stephen Doyle on twitter is concerned for the mental well being of the Algerian boxer. Says all you want to know about OTB

Edit: while Will O Callaghans chief concern with this stiry is the possble mis-quoting of Kellie Harrington. I assume he had a straight face on him as he types that tweet.