I'm all right, guys

The stupidity and arrogance of John Delaney continue to both amaze and infuriate me. How the FAI can continue to leave him in place as the frontman on an organisation with ten of thousands of members while he buffoons his way around the pubs of Europe adopting serious double standards and insulting so many defies belief. But then how can we be surprised at the timidity of an organisation in dealing with this minor problem when it has excelled over the years at pure ineptitude. Maybe they're well suited to each other.

Delaney's denial that it was him singing the Republican song in the pub last Tuesday, only having to retract the denial when the youtube footage was produced says it all. The old Irish political ruse of denying it with a brass neck until you're actually rumbled. And maybe that the kernel of the problem - Delaney is more of an old-time politician than a businessman - stroking a deal from Denis O'Brien (which may be what's keeping him in a job) yet destroying the FAI's finances via the Eircom Park fiasco and the failure to pre-sell Aviva debentures (well done IRFU).   He wasn't wholly responsible for the Bertie Bowl but he was influential. 

And wouldn't the FAI's current debts of €50 million be a lot healthier if they hadn't being paying him his fat salary of €360k (after a 10% voluntary reduction at the end of 2012) - let's face it ten years in the role is a combined salary close to 10% of the associations' current outstandings.   And what did we get from his tenure - sweet fuck all, one miserable trip to Poland and managers like Steve Staunton and Giovanni Trappatoni. Laughable.

So we've got him on the back-handedness and gombeen-ness, adding to that hopeless business skills and inappropriate managerial appointments.

Let's turn to his personal judgement and behaviour. Church Door has already highlighted his mis-judged behaviour at the Euros in Poland.

http://churchdoorandback.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/john-delaney-my-cameo-role-in-his.html

This latest episode is a further example of his inability to behave in a way that is expected of someone in his position. We've just negotiated a potentially politically charged encounter in Glasgow (with evidence a few days later of some inappropriate chanting by English fans -for which the FA immediately apologised) and we've got the same coming again with games against England and Scotlandnext year at the Aviva. Throw in the rising spectre of Sinn Fein left-wing Republicanism and the approaching emotions revolving around the centenary celebrations around 1916.  Hardly a time for our front-line team to be chanting Republican songs in public you would think.   But what does Delaney do - he responds by laying into the sly user of the cellphone who recorded him singing "Joe McDonnell" by the Wolfe Tones, seeing this a graver evil that the singing of the song in the first place.  Kind of think you missed the point there, John.   You prick.

And to round it off some words from the song, written in memory of the hunger striker who died in 1981 in the Maze.

Oh may God shine on you, Bobby Sands
For the courage you have shown
May your glory and your fame be widely known
And Francis Hughes and Ray McCreesh
Who died unselfishly
And Patsy O'Hara, and the next in line is me
And those who lie behind me
May your courage be the same
And I pray to god my life was not in vain

And though sad and bitter was the year of 1981
All was not lost, but it's still there to be won.

Euro 2012 - it's come a long way

So, it's over and Spain run out as deserved winners.  Well done to all our Spanish in-laws.

In closing I'd like to record a little-known fact about the history of the competition.  The most recent goalscorer in the long line of celebrated players is Mata but the first goalscorer ever was our own Rashers Liam Touhy, who scored after 22 minutes of our home game against the Czechoslovakia on the 5th April 1959.   This was the first game in the newly formed Henri Delauney Cup for European Nations.

In a home and away series to determine participation at the 1960 competition, we won 2-0 at home, only to concede four without reply in the away leg.  And so commenceth our familiar habit from the sixties and seventies of getting turned over in away fixtures.

Still, the notoriety of scoring the first goal will always rest with the Rasher, the man who later in his coaching career, gave Mise le meas the hard news that he was never gonna be a star.   Arise Sir Rasher.

Fuck off, Roy Keane we'll sing when we want

...and we'll dance, and we'll laugh, and we'll cry, andf we'll party - and we'll do it when we believe it's right and not because we're winning or losing.  

Life's too short, man - get a grip.

Naked camera - comic genius

Some new material for the Jake Stevens man.

Dancing at the crossroads

What now for Ireland?

The poor performances of the Irish soccer team at Euro 2012 are well documented and ultimately blame must be shared by both team and manager. Abject performances on the pitch, accentuated by poor tactical and selection decisions from the bench.

We all knew we had a weak squad and I think we recognise that the achievement was in actually getting there.

But we are now at a crossroads.

The expected retirement of several of the senior players hasn’t happened, which is a bit worrying as the feeling is that Trapattoni is too stubborn a prick to make the changes that are needed. He’s actually nearly as stubborn in old age as Gerry was in his thirties and forties. Without the retirements, and with a maximum tenure on his appointment of two years (amazingly to age 75) what incentive has he to bring in and blood inexperienced youngsters like Duffy, Coleman, McCarthy, McLean etc? None, precisely as the benefit would be gained by someone else, his successor.

Should Ireland sack him? If he’s unwilling to change his ways, then yes he should go but can you see the FAI rid themselves of their deferential reverence to him because he managed Italy; Bayern Munich, Inter and the likes. Their “safe option” choice keeps their overweight arses out of the frying pan. One must surmise therefore that Trapattoni will remain in charge for the next two years as we try to master the combined might of Germany, Sweden, Austria and qualify for the next World Cup. No problem with this challenge of course.

But in all of the above I overlook a fundamental fact - it’s not about football, it’s about money, and not insignificantly O’Brien’s money. One wonders to what extent the contribution from the telephone man is actually influencing things. I’d guess quite a bit – hard for an organisation which has significant financial challenges and a history of mis-management to walk away from a contribution of close to €750k a year. So forget the football issues, let’s weather the Euro 2012 storm and let’s keep taking the nice healthy pay packets we’ve grown accustomed to over the years. Sure most of our fans are thick ignorant gobshites from West Dublin who wouldn’t understand these goings-on at all - throw them a few plastic hammers at the next friendly against Hungary and we’re off the hook.

And to conclude therefore on the footballing hopes of a nation – come on Robbie, throw away the bow and arrow; Duffer, leave it at the nice 100; and Honeymonster rest your laurels at the Iron Curtain; and move on boys – it’s the only way we’re going to get better.

Stephen Hunt up to his same old antics

Or Stephen Hunt up to the same with an old antique.

John Delaney - my cameo role in his downfall

And so to Euro 2012 - plenty of heroes and villains again and we first of all look at one of the villains, John Delaney and we examine my peripheral part in his downfall.

For many years I've defended the FAI on a number of occasions but on in matters relating to Poland they got it wrong on a few counts.  Close to my heart was the debacle on ticket allocation, add to that the spectacular mistake on choice of hotel, but worst of all by a long way was the behaviour of the Chief Executive of the FAI while in Poland.  The weekend's papers highlight what many of us saw at first hand.

Of course he's entitled to have a drink with friends, but climbing up on bar counters and being virtually unable to stand or communicate in front of hundreds or media-obsessed supporters is hardly the behaviour of a man entrusted with governing a body which provides leisure pursuits to tens of thousands of youths in our country.  Not to mind whether it's acceptable among adults, said the chameleon, watching his colour move from green to red.

I'm sorry Mr Delaney, despite your pleas of entitlement, you behaved like a prat and it's an awful pity you didn't read one of those leaflets you assisted distribute prior to the event to traveling fans advising them of the need to enjoy drink responsibility.

And so to my nebulous involvement - the clip below shows Mr Delaney having his wig felt by none other than my daughter's boyfriend.  I sincerely hope he cleaned the Brylcream off before he went near my lovely Princess.