Home Blog Page 452

The Handball Rule: Time for Change

“It’s a mess.”

Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back in the Sky Sports studio on Monday night as the panel discussed the new alterations to the handball rule in the Premier League. Roy Keane was in agreeance, labelling the rule as ‘confusing’. Keane and Carragher aren’t alone in their outrage this season as many players and managers have followed suit.

VAR

Last season marked the beginning of a new era in the Premier League with the introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee). The main aim of VAR is to be used for “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents”. Many will argue that the tedious lines drawn up for several offside decisions last season were far from “clear and obvious”. Yet teams got on with it and to an extent, VAR has provided a degree of credibility as well as a level of entertainment for spectators. At the end of the day, it is an entertainment business.

However, some may disagree with this. Roy Hodgson for example. The veteran manager was the first to voice his opinion over the weekend. In his post-match interview, Hodgson could not hide his frustration with the handball rule. “It’s certainly destroying my enjoyment of the game of football”.

Penalty Statistics

It is hard not to agree with Roy Hodgson when you take a glance at the statistics so far this season. In the 2017/18 season, six penalties were awarded for handball. Six penalties have been awarded this season for handball after three weeks. A frightening statistic.

Based on these statistics, a mind-boggling figure of 88 handball-related penalties is forecasted for this campaign. Clearly something has to change and Jamie Carragher believes it will. But who has the power to change the controversial rule?

IFAB

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) felt the need to alter the handball rule after a review of last season’s campaign. Similar to the aforementioned tediousness of the love/hate relationship between VAR and offside, IFAB went about redefining the handball rule. Anything below the armpit is handball. Accidental or not, a foul will be given.

From first impressions of the new season, it appears that any contact with the arm will result in a penalty. Especially if the arm is in an ‘unnatural position’. Players like Eric Dier, Victor Lindelof and Joel Ward will believe they were harshly adjudged and many will agree. To keep your arms glued to your side is not a ‘natural’ way of conducting yourself on the pitch.

The rule needs to change. And by change, Jamie Carragher explains simply that “we just need to get to where we were last season”.

There is a fine line between perfectionism and monotony.

Why Patrick Bamford is unlikely to ever answer Ireland’s call

There were more than a few in the football world who were left scratching their heads after Patrick Bamford shunned Mick McCarthy’s advances last season.

The 61-year-old, who was the Ireland manager at the time, had asked Bamford to consider his Irish ancestry and turn out for the men from the boys in green. As civil as ever, Bamford politely refused and said he needed time to think, which, naturally, did very little for McCarthy’s usual charitable disposition. 

 

All of this happened at a time when the striker was battling away for promotion to the Premier League with Leeds United. It has to be said that any Championship forward that is offered the chance to play on the international stage is normally quick to take it with both hands. Indeed, there is a lot to gain from playing internationally. Apart from the obvious financial incentive, players are also able to enjoy the honour that comes with being an international player. 

 

Patrick Bamford, however, seems at peace with letting that opportunity slip by, at least for Ireland. The feeling is that Bamford, who is a proud Englishman, would rather give up on the chance of many international appearances for Ireland, in the hope that he can eventually get a cap for England. Now, there will be many who scoff at that but since his club side Leeds returned to the Premier League after getting promoted last season, Bamford has done himself no harm in throwing his name into Gareth Southgate’s England hat.

The 27-year-old is enjoying a 100% strike rate having netted in both of Leeds’ games. The first came in a sensational 4-3 thriller at Anfield after he capitalised on some poor defending from Virgil Van Dijk, by cooly chipping the onrushing Alisson.

 

The second was a clever finish against Fulham in a game that would see Leeds run out 4-3 winners this time around. Of course, many may point to Fulham’s defensive frailties and if you were to look at the Lottoland Sportsbook, you’d see the Cottagers are indeed the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League. This may lead you to think that Bamford’s achievement of scoring against them wasn’t all that impressive, but for the first time in his career, the striker is getting into the right place at the right time.

What’s more, both of his goals have come from his right foot, which was always considered to be his weaker one. All of this suggests that Bamford has addressed some of the problems that were hindering his progress in front of goal. Whether the floodgates open for good and Southgate does actually begin to see Bamford as part of his plans remains to be seen. 

 

But this all points to the fact that there is no almost zero chance that the 27-year-old will ever play for Ireland as his outside odds of being picked for England have increased ever so slightly. That’s probably all the justification that Bamford needs to keep sticking to his decision by giving the Irish national team the cold shoulder. 

 

 

Top 5 Forwards in Gaelic Football

Top 5 Forwards in Gaelic Football

Below are the 5 players we believe  to be the best forwards in Gaelic football today

Do you Agree?

Ciaran Kilkenny ( Dublin )  

When talking about the best forwards in the country the Castleknock man has to be right near the top of any discussion. 

An automatic pick on the dominant Dubs of the last decade, Kilkenny is the pivot on which Dublin base most of their forward play.

Whether he plays in the half forward line, full forward line or out around the middle the 27 year old is always available for a pass and is always a huge contributor to the scores that Dublin put on the scoreboard, either scoring himself or assisting his teammates.

 

Con O’ Callaghan ( Dublin ) 

A gifted hurler also, Con O Callaghan is well on his way to becoming one of the truly great forwards in gaelic football if he continues to turn in performances for Dublin like he has in his career to date.

Since his switch to the inside forward line, O Callaghan has taken his game to new heights, and is already regarded as possibly the most feared forward in the country. 

A powerhouse inside now, he has taken the art of running directly at his man to new levels, and has proven himself to be the man for the big occasion, with that x factor in front of goals that very few players possess.

 

Conor McManus ( Monaghan ) 

No player has contributed more to Monaghan’s development over the course of the past decade than their superstar forward Conor McManus. The Clontibret star has positioned himself as one of the best forwards in the game and fully justifies his place on this list. 

What makes the Monaghan man great is the fact that he is regularly double marked by some of the best defenders in the game but yet he always delivers for his county and never shies away from the challenge.  

He consistently performs on the big stage against the top teams who have game plans tailored around stopping him, while he always seems to provide at least a couple of magical moments that beggar belief every season.

 

 

David Clifford ( Kerry ) 

Already a superstar in gaelic games and still only 21, Clifford is the most talked about gaelic footballer in many years. From his minor days with the all conquering Kerry side to now, he has established himself as a generational talent in a county that prides itself on creating top quality footballers and champions.

His ability to conjure a score is matched already by only a select few, while his physical attributes have allowed him to make the jump from underage to senior without any problems.  

His inability to shirk the responsibility of playing for the Kerry senior team and being the main man in attack already is another admirable quality of the young star, a trait backed up by the fact that he is the captain of the team this year. 

 

Shane Walsh ( Galway )  

Underachievers for too long, Galway set about rebuilding themselves with the appointment of county legend Padraig Joyce as senior manager for 2020, and as the National Football League was suggesting before it was stopped earlier in the year the new manager was well on his way to bringing a swagger and attacking style back to the Tribesmen.  

Key to this is star forward and captain for this year, Shane Walsh. Long accepted as one of the most gifted footballers in the country a switch into the full forward line by the new manager seems to have brought further improvement in the 26 year old.

Galway’s attacking plan now seems to be built around getting the ball into Walsh in the inside line quickly where he can do the most damage to opponents. If this plan continues working as well as it was before football was halted, the manager’s ambition to win everything in 2020 may not seem as far fetched as first thought. 

 

Top 5 defenders in Hurling

For years great defensive displays and great defenders in general may have gone unheralded in their recognition by the wider GAA fanbase but the five men below are changing that viewpoint. Here we rank five of the best defenders in hurling today.

Padraic Maher (Tipperary)

The iron man of the Tipp defence, six time All-Star Padraic Maher has been a shining light for Tipperary since he made his debut in 2009.

In that time Tipperary have played 54 Championship matches and the Thurles Sarsfields defender hasn’t missed any of them, starting all 54.

His ability under a high ball is sensational, as his ability to read the game from the half back line, while his ability to pop up with scores on a consistent level mark him out as one of the hurlers of his generation

Daithi Burke (Galway)

Without doubt the best full back in hurling over the last few years the powerful  Turloughmore man was a major reason in Galway finally bringing the Liam McCarthy back west in 2017.

His arrival at full back in the Galway team finally ended the county’s search for a player to fill the position that had troubled them for years.

His performances brought him four consecutive All-Stars between 2015 and 2018, and he managed to keep Seamus Callanan scoreless from play in the 2016 All Ireland semi final.

Not many can say that.

Brendan Maher (Tipperary)

What a last 12 months the Borrisoleigh man has had in a club and county jersey.

To come back from a cruciate injury and put in the kind of performances he did for Tipperary as they claimed the All Ireland once again really is a mark of the greatness of the player.

He was also an instrumental part of his club’s county and provincial success and was named club hurler of the year for his exploits.

Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny)

An all round brilliant hurler. Every team would love to have a player like the Tullaroan man.

A two time All-Star, the brother of former Kilkenny star Tommy is now the glue which holds the Kilkenny defence together.

Designated to fill the problem position of full back for a couple of seasons before Hugh Lawlor’s introduction, Brian Cody now has the luxury of using Walsh out the field.

Here his defensive instincts matched by very few in the game can be used to great effect in bringing solidity to the Cats defence.

Sean Finn (Limerick)

One of the best man markers in hurling Finn has won consecutive All-Stars in 2018 and 2019 for his classy and dominating performances in the Limerick defence.

What makes the Bruff man so good at what he does is the versatility he can show in his defensive play.

He can compete for a high ball with just about anyone, he revels when the ball is played in low against him and he invariably makes the right decision when in possession of the ball and helping his side go on the attack from deep.

His understanding with Mike Casey and Richie English mean Finn is part of one of the most formidable full back lines in hurling today.

 

Top 5 Hurling Goalkeepers

The position of goalkeeper in hurling has undeniably changed over the course of the last decade. The netminder is now not only there to stop the ball from going into his goal but is used as a fundamental part of most inter county team’s attacking structure through their distribution and their sweeping behind the defence.  

Here we take a look at 5 of the best modern-day goalkeepers in the game. 

Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny) 

The complete goalkeeper. 

The Kilkenny No 1 has arguably taken the role of goalkeeper in hurling to new heights during his time in inter county hurling. 

A brilliant shot stopper, it is the other aspects of Murphy’s game that set him apart from most. 

His distribution from restarts and open play is second to none, while his understanding of space and the movement of his outfield colleagues is top quality. The fact he plays outfield for his club is no doubt a help to him in these aspects of the game when he steps in goals for his county. 

 

Brian Hogan (Tipperary) 

The current all-star goalkeeper, after Tipperary’s All Ireland success in 2019, Hogan is following in his father’s footsteps by lining out between the posts for his county.  

A towering presence on the goal line, Hogan’s performances and understanding with his defence have brought a renewed structure to Tipperary over the last couple of seasons which ultimately led All Ireland glory in 2019.  

Like most goalkeepers plying their trade at the very top, Hogan’s distribution is another key factor to his own personal performance levels, but also to that of his team where his ability to find a teammate is vital to Tipperary’s attacking game plan. 

 

Nicky Quaid (Limerick) 

Much like Eoin Murphy, Nicky Quaid can combine the skills of playing outfield for his club with wearing the No 1 for his county, and much like the Kilkenny keeper it helps make Quaid one of the finest goalies in the game today. 

The 2018 All Ireland winner is more than capable of pinging the ball into the hand of a teammate on the move to help set up a Limerick attack, as he is making a game changing save or intervention on his own goal line to help his team to victory.  

Who could forget that save from Seamus Harmedy in the semifinal against Cork in 2018.

 

Mark Fanning (Wexford) 

The Wexford shot stopper is without doubt one of the most important parts of Davy Fitzgerald’s team these days. 

A fine exponent of the more vintage skills of a goalkeeper, it is the ability the Glynn-Barntown has in linking the play and offering himself as an outlet to his teammates that put him up there as one of the best in the country. 

A brilliant striker of the ball from placed balls or open play, Fanning scored the decisive penalty that brought the Leinster Championship back to Wexford in 2019.

 

Enda Rowland (Laois) 

A key component to the great run Laois enjoyed in 2019. 

Rowland was nominated for an All Star such was the level of his performances as the O’ Moore county claimed the Joe Mcdonagh, before reaching the All Ireland quarter final, where they were defeated by eventual champions Tipperary. 

The Abbeyleix man saved penalties, made point blank saves to deny the opposition, but more importantly he was the key part of Eddie Brennan’s gameplan through his distribution and ability on the ball.  

The measure of Rowland’s importance to his team is that Eddie Brennan made him captain for the 2020 season. 

 

Top 5 Free Takers in Gaelic Football

Top 5 Free Takers in Gaelic Football  

The quality of a team’s free taker can be the make or break factor in the outcome of a football match at all levels of the game. 

But who exactly are the best free takers in Ireland? Below we list the top 5 free takers in Gaelic football

Dean Rock (Dublin) 

The Ballymun Kickhams club-man has taken the art of free taking to new heights during his stellar inter county career.  

His percentage of successful frees in last year’s Championship was a truly exceptional 89%, nailing 32 of the 36 frees he took as Dublin secured the historic 5 in a row.

This metronome like reliability over the years has helped the Dubs keep up their relentless surge to success after success, and when he finally hangs up his boots, Rock will surely go down as one of the all-time great free takers in Gaelic football. 

 

Sean O’ Shea (Kerry)

The relative new kid on the block, the Kerry native is the one man on this list that could perhaps challenge Rock for the title of greatest free taker of the modern era in a few years’ time. 

His total score count from placed balls has been broadly similar to Rock’s over the last couple of years, while the young Kenmare man is also a very accurate 45 kicker. 

 Cillian O’ Connor (Mayo) 

The All Ireland Football Championship’s record points scorer is another dead ball specialist worthy of his place on this list. 

The Ballintubber man has been to the forefront of free taking since he burst on the scene for Mayo, and his importance in this regard is highlighted by the fact that Mayo struggle with placed balls when O’ Connor is not on the pitch. 

O’ Connor is also a brilliant penalty taker with his first miss from the spot in 9 attempts coming against Kerry, when Brendan Kealy managed to tip his attempt over the bar for just a solitary point. 

Michael Murphy (Donegal) 

The talismanic Donegal skipper is not only one of the greatest players to ever play the game, he is also one of the finest free takers in the country. 

His ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over from frees or 45’s and nail clutch kicks in difficult moments for his county are a major advantage to a Donegal side that will expect to be at the business end of this year’s Championship. 

Rory Beggan (Monaghan) 

The Scotstown native is the only goalkeeper on this list, a trend that may change in the coming years as goalkeepers become even more important to their teams, not only in open play but from placed balls. 

Beggan has become the main man when it comes to goalkeepers scoring frees and 45’s in Gaelic football, with teams coughing up frees against Monaghan inside 50 meters regularly punished by the keeper’s unerring accuracy. 

It is a major advantage for Monaghan to know that they possess a weapon such as the ability of Beggan to score from long range, a weapon that will no doubt be useful as the Championship kicks off this winter. 

 

 

 

 

Keane 1- Klopp 0: Klopp in bizarre rant over Roy Keane ‘sloppy’ comment

The clash we have been waiting for since Roy Keane began working with Sky Sports. Even though it wasn’t really was it, as when Jurgen Klopp looks back at the footage from Monday’s edition of Monday Night Football he will see how mistaken he was in his bizarre rant over Roy Keane’s ‘sloppy’ comment.

Keane in his job as an analyst on the show and not a cheerleader for Klopp and his team, although its hard to tell these days with some football ‘analysts’, was clearly pointing out that in a game Liverpool completely dominated there were evidently some sloppy moments, that might have led to another result on another day.

In fact Keane was wholesome in his praise for Klopp’s team for much of his review of the game, but mentioned that some aspects of the defending was sloppy.

What followed was Klopp’s bizarre rant over Keane’s sloppy comment that was as unnecessary as it was mistaken.

The Liverpool manager said that he believed Keane had called their performance during the 3-1 win sloppy, which he clearly didn’t, merely stating that there were some sloppy moments but that Liverpool had thoroughly deserved the win.

“It was a good night’s work for Liverpool, who were by far the better team. There were one or two scares but they deserved the win. They’re like a machine and one of the fittest teams around. They like to suffocate teams. It’s never easy to score goals but they managed three tonight, four against Leeds. It got a little bit sloppy at the back but it’s job done.”

Keane is right Liverpool are a winning machine, but it is his job to analyse football matches and Liverpool have definitely been lax defensively at some points over the last few weeks in the Premier League. They conceded 3 goals to a newly promoted Leeds team and it could have been more, and again last night they completely outplayed Arsenal but again certain moments of defensive slackness could have come back to bite them.

Their forward players and their top quality attacking play may mean they wont lose these games, but surely a pundit is there to highlight and describe what they see during a ninety minute performance and that’s exactly what Keane did.

The performance by the Liverpool manager after that however, just unnecessary.

 

Jack Byrne gets call up for crunch Republic of Ireland play off

Stephen Kenny has called up Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne and Blackburn Rovers defender Derrick Williams to his Republic of Ireland squad for the make or break Euro 2020 play off on October 8.

Both players, capped by previous Irish managers, receive their first call ups to a Stephen Kenny Irish squad after missing out on the squad for the games against Bulgaria and Finland.

Southampton forward Michael Obafemi again misses out as does the injured Troy Parrott but Kenny does include injury doubts Robbie Brady and Callum O’ Dowda in his squad of 25.

The squad will assemble in Dublin on Sunday before travelling to Slovakia on Tuesday.

Ireland must defeat Slovakia to advance to the play off final away against either Northern Ireland or Bosnia and Herzegovina in November.

Goalkeepers
Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Bournemouth).

Defenders
Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders
Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jayson Molumby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Robbie Brady (Burnley).

Forwards
Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton).

Greenwatch – Irish International Soccer Weekend Recap

SSE Airtricity League

Stephen Kenny was in attendance at Oriel Park on Sunday evening. He witnessed a sublime finish from Jack Byrne as he muscled Chris Shields off the ball and rounded the goalkeeper to score from the tightest of angles. Byrne’s performance will give Kenny some food for thought as he is set to announce his squad today for the crucial play-off tie against Slovakia.

 

Premier League

West Brom’s Callum Robinson bagged two goals against Chelsea with the game finishing all square. His second goal highlighted his sharpness has he nipped in to score after a Thiago Silva error. Fellow Irish international Conor Hourihane also enjoyed his evening at Craven Cottage on Monday as he notched a goal and an assist against Fulham.

Everton won their third successive game of the new Premier League season. Seamus Coleman teed up Dominic Calvert-Lewin inside the box to score the Toffee’s first of the afternoon. Manager Carlo Ancelotti had some kind words to share about his captain after the game.

Aaron Connolly netted his first goal of the season last weekend against Newcastle United. His Brighton team came close against Manchester United this weekend after a controversial end to the game resulted in Brighton coming away with nothing. Connolly will have felt aggrieved after he was taken down in the box however no penalty was awarded.

Robinson and Hourihane made the WhoScored.com ‘Team of the Week’ after their excellent performances.

WhoScored.com Premier League ‘Team of the Week’.

Championship

It was a relatively quiet weekend in the Championship for Irish representatives. Kieran Sadlier, previously of Sligo Rovers and Cork City, scored a penalty as his Rotherham side drew 1-1 against Birmingham City.

Mark Travers picked up an injury in the warm-up before Bournemouth’s game. There is now a potential doubt over his involvement in the squad for the Slovakia match. Likewise, Troy Parrott hasn’t had the start to the season he would’ve hoped for. He is yet to start a league game for new club Millwall due to a recurring ankle injury.

 

Rugby residency rule delayed

The rugby residency rule has been delayed by a further year. This rule allows a player to become eligible for another nation provided they have not represented the designated ‘senior’ representative team of a union where they were born.

World Rugby said in a statement that it is prolonging the rule due to “exceptional disruption” caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. In May World Rugby voted to extend the residency rule from 3 to 5 years which was a rule welcomed by many in the sport.

However, it has now been reported that the cut off date of December 31st 2020 has now been delayed to December 31st 2021.

The extension was due to come into law at the end of 2020 but last month the governing body extended the three year residency for another 12 months on “compassionate grounds” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Due to the disruption to the international calendar caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, playing opportunities have been significantly affected across the sport’s 127 member unions and eligible players may have been prevented from representing a union on the basis of 36 months residency by the scheduled cut-off date and would therefore automatically move into the 60-month requirement,” explained a WR statement. “In light of these exceptional circumstances, the Executive Committee, having consulted with unions and International Rugby Players, determined it was appropriate to extend the 36 month residency requirement set out in Regulation 8 to December 31st 2021.”

James Lowe will become one of the last players recruited by the IRFU to become eligible under three years residency.  One high profile case will be Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoeman who can represent Scotland next year rather than in 2023.

1...451452453...587Page 452 of 587

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

SportsNewsIreland is an Irish website launched in 2009 to offer sports fans in Ireland an alternative and independent source to keep them up to date with all the news from around the country. Every week we bring you live score updates from all levels of GAA, rugby, soccer, racing and athletics. Contact

Contact us: Email: info@sportsnewsireland.com

FOLLOW US

Design by SportsMediaIreland.ie