That Keef Gillespie Thing...

Well it looks like the time has finally arrived. Former Manchester United & Northern Ireland star Keith Gillespie is set to make his full debut tomorrow afternoon for Glentoran. He couldn't have picked a greater stage to make his arrival on the hallowed green turf at the Oval. Irish League Champions vs League of Ireland Champions - Bohemians - in the opening group game in the all-Ireland 'Setanta Cup'.

The Glen's last NI international to be signed was Michael O'Neill - now boss of Shamrock Rovers - who was nearing the end of a decent career he had carved out for himself. He was a safeguard for Glentoran at that time, someone to take charge of midfield and use his experience to help the likes of Paul Leeman and Scott Young at the time. I just wonder, will Gillespie offer the same guidance to the young players coming through at the Oval?

I mean he was hardly the model profesional that say somebody like O'Neill was. I lost count of the number of times it was reported he had fallings-out with team-mates, managers etc. One sorry tale even resulting in a 'fair dig' between himself and George McCartney. I hope he has learnt his lessons and guys like Daryll Fordyce can learn from Keef this season.

I'd be surprised if Fonacab forked out another season on his wages so this may well be Gillespie's last hurrah. Lets make it a memorable one... starting with a victory in the 'Battle of the Champions' tomorrow!

COYG*

*That's Glentoran AND Gillespie!

€400 - 1 (one) Goal

Tallaght-fornia. 20/07/09. The night Cristiano Ronaldo made his Real Madrid debut. He didn't disappoint, but some of his team-mates did to be honest.

It took Real Madrid 87 minutes to break down the Shamrock Rovers backline last night in what was to be a heartbraking defeat for the home side. Billed as 'David versus Goliath', I found myself asking two questions... One - Which one was Goliath? and two - Out of the 10,900 spectators, just how many of them will be at the Bohemians game next week?

My first question was finally answered three minutes from time when new signing Karim Benzema controlled blissfully from a long ball and slotted home cooley past Rovers keeper Barry Murphy. 40 million? Sure that's only Madrid's bargain bucket!

I have to say as a Glentoran supporter I couldn't help but feel a touch of jeleousy at the sight of the 'Galacticos' of world football, Real Madrid, playing a football match against a Shamrock Rovers side of similar prestige to that of the Glens. But hey, every club has its day in the limelight. After all we hosted Manchester United this time last year at The Oval (albeit a second string eleven).

But, I'm genuinely delighted for Rovers to attract Real, and hope this is the boost local football currently requires.

That is all for now. (BTW I've a spare programme from the match if anyone wants to start a bidding war!)

Trappatoni meets Ireland at Oasis gig

Well folks, I was at Slane Castle at the weekend for the Oasis gig. Noticed Manchester City and Republic of Ireland bad-boy Stephen Ireland blagged a few free-bies off the Gallaghers! Couldn't help but imagine Republic boss Trappatoni lurking in the bushes keeping watch over his prized asset that has yet to grace his team.

Here's part of the conversation between the pair I managed to overhear at Slane after the Trap came out from stalking the Cobh clown...

... How'ya Gio "whats the story mornin' glory"

The Trap (who has been "all around the world" in football management) had a "masterplan" as he tried pleading with Stephen Ireland to "let there be love" but the "boy with the blues" snapped back "oi trappers, stop crying your heart out!"

"Where did it all go wrong?" says the trap who looks like he could "live forever" the way hes going.

Please Stephen just "stand by me".

Ireland responded, "Some might say" i don't deserve to come back after the way i've treated my country. But "Tomorrow never knows"......

"d'ya know what i mean" Trap?***

***may not have taken place

Cantona follows the seagulls to Dublin

Yours truly got to meet footballer turned moviestar Eric Cantona on Tuesday night for the Irish Premiere of his latest film 'Looking For Eric'. This was the very hairy Frenchman's first appearance in Ireland since 1995 when he was over with to see a young Manchester United side play a charity match against an International Select side at Windsor Park in Belfast (and my Dad got the plane back to Manchester with him, but that's a story for another day!).



King Cantona was late arriving to the Smithfield venue in Dublin, but that's typical Eric - leaving it late as usual. 6:30pm we were told... and true to form approximately 45 minutes later Eric makes his much anticipated arrival. It took me back to a winter's night at St James' Park in 1996 with United all but surrendering the title to Newcastle, then up popped Cantona late on to fire the Red Devils to yet another league success. He was good at that.

But tonight was all about Eric's fancy footwork on the red carpet, not the green grass of the football pitch. His red shirt of United was swapped for an all-grey attire this time - however, you have to wonder had he not learnt his lesson after the 'Grey-kit fiasco' United were embroiled in during the 90's! Never-the-less, suited and booted (Nike, by the way) the King had made his entrance much to the delight of the hundreds of jubilant fans who had turned out in force - many of whom were children who were probably wondering what the whole fuss was about. I knew what is was about, it was about a United legend. One of the greatest at that.

Even Roy Keane agreed, "Collar turned up, back straight, chest stuck out, he glided into the arena as if he owned the f**king place. Any arena, but nowhere more effectively than Old Trafford. This was his stage. He loved it, the crowd loved him. The players loved him too, for many reasons. Most importantly he got the job done."

My one regret was not getting a picture with the man himself. Autographs just don't seem as special as they did back in the day. But hey, who's complaining - I'm just delighted he graced my piece of paper with my pen!

A man of few words. A man of great phrases. Eric had it all. Who could forget... "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown in to the sea".

We knew what you meant Eric. We'll raise one of those sardines in memory of what you contributed to the world of football... and we'll throw it into the sea as a toast to your arrival on the film scene. Good luck to you, our Crazy Kung-Fu King.

Legend...

2008/09 season: A footballing review

Team of the Year - FC Barcelona. Their performance against Man Utd in the Champions League Final was phenomenal. Fully deserved to be crowned Champions of Europe, Champions of Spain and King's Cup winners. The Glorious Treble achieved.

Manager of the Year - Josep Guardiola of Barcelona. Phil Brown of Hull would have been in contention if it wasn't for a total collapse after Christmas which almost seen them relegated.

Biggest over-achievers - Liverpool. What's the name of that famous old ship that hasn't sailed into Merseyside?? The Premier-ship??

Biggest under-achievers - Newcastle United. Dreadful. Shockingly poor season. Big players, underperformed. Duff, Owen, Viduka & Martins. Big name players, but were always gracing the physio's room more often than the Newcastle pitch!

The Kevin Keegan Award for Sore Losers - Rafa Benitez. And that's a FACT.

Most hated player - Didier Drogba.

Most over-used phrase - "... and here come the World champions Manchester United". Commentators didn't half milk United's 3 match success in a mediocre competition against poor continental teams. It's just not the Champions League (a European competition which perhaps somewhat ironically, United did not win).

Most under-used phrase - "Premier League champions Liverpool". Will we ever hear this? Not as long as they keep that fat Spanish waiter in charge. Long live Manuel.

TV personality of the year - Adrian "I have more jobs than a Labour MP" Chiles.

Worst TV pundit of the year - Martin "Norvern Eyeland have no chance of qualifying" Keown

Worst TV pundit of the century - Mark "I slag the N.Ireland side at every opportunity even though I was born in Preston, work for the BBC, and have Irish grandparents" Lawrenson

Funniest moment of the season - Newcastle hiring & sacking 'King Kev', Joe "You F****** C*** journalist f****** a********" Kinnear, then when all else fails appoint Alan 'The Messiah' Shearer to guide your team to the Championship. This is a man who's CV includes sitting next to Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson (noted above) and talking a load of balls.

Biggest surprise of the season - Newcastle's demise, Hull City's rise, Rafa's lies, the Scousers' cries. Please, please, dry your eyes!!

Funniest chant of the season - "We're gonna deep-fry your criossants, deep-fry your criossants..........." (Scotland fans to France during a European Qualifier at Hampden Park).

Fattest wallet in the world - Apart from Bertie Ahern, Manchester City (cue the celebration parties at Eastlands

Biggest disgrace if you're a Linfield supporter - Getting paid by the IFA yearly only to watch on across the city as your arch rivals Glentoran take 'your' League crown!

Biggest sulk of the season - Roy Keane.

Biggest waste of money - Robbie Keane. London Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street on one of the most expensive return train tickets you'll see.

Oldest manager of the season - Giovanni "everyone's favourite Grandad" Trappatoni.

Next season's EPL champions - Chelsea. Hiddink will be forgotten.

Next season's Champions League winners - Inter Milan. Mourinho craves 'old big ears' success again. Porto seems like a long time ago now.

Team to brake the big four in England - Manchester City. At the expense of Arsenal?

Teams to be relegated - Stoke City, Burnley & Portsmouth.

Next season's FA Cup winners - Arsenal or Everton.

Next season's Carling Cup winners - Liverpool. FACT.

Next season's shock transfer - Carlos Tevez to Man City / Samuel Eto'o to Man United.

... you heard it here first folks!!

BLATTER TAKES THE PISS

Just when we thought the whole elligability row over Northern born footballers representing the Republic of Ireland had been put to bed once and for all, up pops the man in charge of football's world governing body FIFA Sepp Blatter to add to tuppence worth to the debate. The latest can of worms has been well and truly ripped opened this week and you have to wonder, what motivated the outburst?

To quote Blatter "As the Fifa legal committee understood the issue, the situation in Northern Ireland is such that all Northern Irish players could opt to play for both Association teams, given that they have a birthright to an Irish passport."

So there you are, Northern Ireland-born players can now opt to represent the Republic of Ireland if we are to take the comment at face value. NI's football association, the IFA, now get the opportunity to get young players involved in football, train them up and make them potential superstars of the game. And the punchline? Well, the FAI, who represent football in the Republic reap what the IFA have sowed. The Northern Ireland player defects to the Republic and the IFA are left to pick up the pieces. An Ireland of equals, and all that...

But only time will tell whether there will be more Darron Gibson or Mark Wilson's of the world or whether those who have thought about switching actually reverse their decision to do so as reflected in cases involving Michael O'Connor and Tony Kane. One thing is for sure, allowing players to pick and choose what side of the border they want to play in simply isn't feasable. A return to the 50's and 60's methods of both associations naming themselves 'Ireland' and choosing from the whole island made a mockery of international football on the island, and FIFA soon copped on. My advice to Sepp Blatter would be to take a step back and think about the situation for a while instead of bringing politics into it. To put in plain footballing terms, border's are there for a reason - to distinguish footballing nations from one another. There is a border in Ireland (whether you agree or disagree, that is not the issue) and associations must repect that. The FAI and IFA must work closer together on this issue and should the current Northern defections continue without FIFA santions imposed then surely the IFA should make sure there is some kind of compensation scheme put in place. That way at least when Northern Ireland lose a player to the Republic, they will be rewarded with coaching expenses etc.

But then again FIFA's official statement mentioned that the Gibson case was a 'one-off' and that in order to be eligable for a country the player must have lived in the country for at least two years or had a grandparent from that country, of which incidentally Gibson met neither condition.

So who do we believe, FIFA? Or the man in charge of FIFA?

You decide.