Altamullan

Bring back the group games...

I hate not hearing Mick Martin saying " He's pulled the neck off that one." Now I think about it, I have no clue what he's referring to, but always got that he was describing a skewed shot. Would love to hear it again.

Bit of T-cut required on the Merc...

Do you know this for certain? Not being arsey, genuinely curious, it has become one of those accepted assertions that crops up every now and again. Is there any evidence that a lot of GC's good ones got away? Were the lucky escapees relative unknowns who later blossomed? Or is it a case of I really wanted Pogba, but Cashley wouldn't stump up the dosh... Do the good escapees outnumber the horrific recommendations who we also didn't get?

Piss taking bar stewards...Your point makes sense to me J. If I was headhunted by some Guatemalan firm to do an equivalent three-ringed circus of shit job, I would still divide Quetzal (kin hell) by 10ish and think in £, and how much I could squirrel away. If the 10ish became 7ish, it would obviously influence how attractive the offer was. More importantly, do they have squirrels in Guatemala??

As a kid, I picked two winners of the grand national with a pin. Lost in every other year.

Good. Equivalent cost for British players may reduce the number of not-so-special imports, and force clubs to give local lads more of a chance to get the experience necessary to realise their potential. Doubt it'll deter the mega bucks deals for genuine superstars.

Yep, that would be my preference too.

One of the smorgasbord of bright young things and capable journeymen bought with the £55M recouped from Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Shelvey, Janmaat, Thauvin, Tiote, Cisse, and Coloccini.

Fuck! Somebody take the imagary away. Now. Please.

If you're in footy withdrawal too, I've just watched 'Murphy and O'Kane Do Le Football' on iplayer. They interview a few NI and Republic fanatics, pre tournament, and then visit Paris. It's a good laugh.

No football onTV? No football on TV! Man, I'm going to miss this tournament.

How it should be done. Why alert competitors? Maybe reflects that they're not just trying to whet appetites and actually mean business. Plus less interference/touting by agents/sharks who feed off the premiership lads.

Lovely images. Well done the Brady bunch.

Sounds like you've had a cracking time lads. Great to hear such positive experiences given some of the (mainly Russia-related) negative press

Despite his attempts at positive PR over recent years, Ronaldo strikes me as a self-centred, grandiose prick; a Pardew with talent. Oh, hang on, I've got him in the golden boot... " C-RON, C-RON, C-RON!!!"

I'm into it SB, just let it roll. You save your time for finding top totty mate you're like my personal fluffer (porn reference, worth looking up!). Can't wait to punish the French for not turning-up in '98. 1798, that is. Us Irish have long memories

?"Where once we watched the small free birds fly!" :celb:

Woo hoo!

A hex on ye, ye plastic banger, ye! ☘

"Every player we brought into the squad considered himself Irish. Had it not been for the economic circumstances, which forced their parents or grandparents to emigrate, they would have been born and reared in Ireland. Should they now be victimised and denied their heritage? ... I think not." Jack Charlton (when accused of playing an England B team). Big Jack says he is, he is.

Yep, radiating natural beauty (apart from in footwear area, if your eyes ever made it that far...). For me, it's a toss-up (ahem) between the personification of loveliness on the left of posts #200 or #191.

Shit or bust for 'us' today. Need a win to qualify. Come on Ireland!

3rd place Malarkey. 4 from 6 go through, soooo... As it stands: Albania, Group A, 3 pts GD -2 = at risk. Slovakia, Group B, 4 pts = through. Norn Iron, Group C, 3 pts GD 0 = through. Turkey, Group D, 3 pts GD -2 = at risk. Group E Ireland would need to beat Italy to qualify. Sweden would need to beat Belgium. In short, 3rd placed unlikely to qualify. Group F Portugal or Iceland could finish third on 3 pts. GD would be 0. So crystal ball says Groups B, C, F, and D (as scored 2). Last 16 '3rd place' fixtures: Germany v B or F (Slovakia or Portugal/Iceland) France v C or D (NI or Turkey) Wales v C or D (NI or Turkey) Croatia v B or F (Slovakia or Portugal/Iceland). Don't know how they decide which of C or D,so to speak, plays which qualifier.

Hungary draw with Portugal, Iceland beat Austria, then Portugal third (3pts 0GD, same as NI). Hungary beat Portugal, then CYa CRon, irrespective of whether 4th or 3rd. Portugal win, then likely that Hungary play England in last 16 (Caveat is if Iceland beat Austria, then they have 5 pts like Portugal, pushing Hungary into 3rd).