The Grandstand View

Life after Joe- in search of beauty  Winning is beautiful. There were many beautiful days under Irish Rugby’s most successful coach Joe Schmidt.   72% win ratio and three six nations titles.  This includes the Grand Slam of that glorious year of 2018.  Remember that epic victory over the All Blacks to move Ireland to number 1 ranking in the world?  Life with Joe was beautiful… Well, there was that ending which leaves a sour taste.  The World Cup in Japan in 2019 was far from beautiful.  There were defeats to Japan and the All Blacks, but what disappointed us most was the manner of the defeats and even some of the victories! Ireland’s play was conservative, safe and predictable.  This was nothing new.  So it had been even in the glorious year of 2018.   Winning it seems is not always beautiful.   Before the big Grand Slam game against England, in March 2018, Matt Williams said of Ireland, “I find it a bit boring, the...

Is he really worth it?  Harry Maguire to Manchester United for £80 million.  A world record fee for a defender!  Once the big news of the big money move had broken then came the big question, “Is he really worth it?” What’s he done really?  Maguire has been impressive for England in that rarest of specimens- a World Cup with plenty to be positive about.  He has impressed and stood out as a leader for Leicester.  Yet what has he really achieved in the game to merit such a price tag?   Paul Merson gave an initial passionate estimation of his strengths and weaknesses-that he’s a good defender in a back three (as seen with England), shows quality in defending deep and winning ball in the air (as seen with Leicester), but will be exposed by players with pace if defending higher up the pitch.  The price tag was in his eyes, “Ridiculous”.  Although, he did soften this shortly after and gave his quality more credit.  Maybe the...

A Season of Comebacks Sometimes you just have to pinch yourself.  Is this really happening?  When your hopes and dreams are coming to life before your eyes there can be an element of disbelief.  Last year in the football world (2018-2019) was a season of unbelievable comebacks.  Two Champions League semi-finals in two days were prime examples of this.  Liverpool overturning a three goal deficit to defeat the mighty Barcelona at Anfield.  Then followed by Spurs coming back against Ajax, winning with the last kick of the game.  The normally unflappable Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, was overcome with his emotions.  Surely he wasn’t the only one?  The season also saw the comeback of two of English Football’s most loved clubs.  As a Man Utd fan, I was pinching myself as Ole Gunnar Solsjaer began his reign with 8 straight victories and a return of the attacking football and belief in players sadly lacking under his ...