http://homepage.mac.com/steveyg20/blogwavestudio The Glentoran Blog steveyg20@mac.com 2005-05-22 03:11:39 +0100 hourly 1 2005-05-22 03:11:39 +0100 http://homepage.mac.com/steveyg20/blogwavestudio/LH20050403153857/LHA20050522023838/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/steveyg20/blogwavestudio/LH20050403153857/LHA20050522023838/index.html

PhotoShop Glens

Phototoshop Goodies

Date Created: May 22, 2005, 02:38 AM

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ARCHOS AV4100

Archos AV4100 Ebay Sale Pictures

Date Created: May 21, 2005, 12:51 PM

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Just Champion!

Just Champion!

Date Created: May 17, 2005, 10:32 PM

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As long as the match is entertaining!

Date Created: Apr 05, 2005, 01:36 AM

In tonight's Tele, Stuart McKinlay fell foul to one of the biggest misconceptions in sports journalism, that football fans more than anything else want to watch entertaining football. This is of course utter tripe, with just enough of a hint of truth in it to make it printable. "Both the Ports and Glens have failed to score in their last two outings. Maybe they've been saving them up for a tasty battle in the rematch. What the fans wanted to see on Saturday and what they will be desperate for tomorrow night, is a spectacle, an entertaining game and most importantly goals. Come on boys, show us what you can do".

Of course, while fans would like to see their team win with style (the afterglow from the trouncing of Linfield in this season's cup replay lasted a full 2 weeks!), in big cup matches against difficult opposition, fans just want to see their team win to get through to the next round! A West brom fan, watching his team play Arsenal in a crunch end of season match in their fight for survival, isn't really looking for an open brilliant, high scoring game of football in which Messrs Henry, Reyes and Pires show their undoubted world class skills in a 6-4 thrilling defeat for the Baggies.

The thing that I find funniest when journalists make these comments, is that it is the media and journalists themselves who really want and need these high scoring, entertaining thrillers, and who have absolutely no preference about who wins the match. Yes, across the board all Irish League fans would like to see a more entertaining league with a better standard of football, but deep down we all have our own allegiances and these are what matter most. So first and foremost, Mr McKinlay, I can assure you that Glentoran fans simply want to win this evening. If we can put in another performance like the one against Linfield, all the better and hopefully that would auger well for the next 4 league matches. But if you believe that in an Irish Cup semi-final fans would rather their team involved in an all-time classic which they narrowly lost, than getting to the final after the most drab, lifeless, soulless game you have ever seen, then you have never supported a football team.

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Michael must start in tomorrow night's replay

Date Created: Apr 04, 2005, 10:48 PM

It was a considered opinion among Glenmen that the lack of strength and lightweight frame of our strikerforce was partly a reason for our poor recent record against Portadown. It was no doubt with this very thought in mind that Roy Coyle decided to start Stephen Parkhouse ahead of our 28 goal striker, and I think it's fair to say that Parky did little to trouble the Portadown defence, and seldom held the ball up.

In an interview with Alex MIlls in today's Newsletter, during which Mills describes Halliday as "the leggy striker", Michael admits to not playing particularly well against Dungannon, and in a comment which will no doubt fuel the 'jaded brigade', he went on to say "Perhaps I needed a rest." I still can't make up my mind on this. Part of me tends to agree that Michael looks tired and in need of a rest, and the other part of me remembers Halliday playing in the 2001 Irish Cup Final when he was 21 and he looked kind of 'tired and jaded' then too! But then no other Glentoran player has the match winning pedigree of Halliday in the Irish Cup, and with memories still fresh in the mind of Halliday's joy and celebrations after scoring his first senior hat-trick in last year's semi against Omagh, there is no question that the team announcer will be heard saying "number 10, Michael Halliday" tomorrow night.

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Wayne and Mandy : A Love that can't be spoken!

Date Created: Apr 03, 2005, 11:38 PM

In today's Sunday Life, Andy Smith intimated to Paul Ferguson that he was satisfied with the outcome of last Saturday's match against England, despite not gaining a place on the bench for the World Cup Qualifier at Old Trafford. Paul Ferguson opens with the rather mysterious line that our Andy "received a special present from his new friend at Old Trafford." The more mean spirited readers of this would no doubt come to their own conclusions about this "present", given the presence of both Posh and Nancy at the match. After all, what lady could resist the charms of the blonde bombshell, who appeared as a male pin-up after sending in his picture to a magazine; It turns out, that this "present", was in fact his new best friend Wayne Rooney's England shirt. "England's teenage sensation Wayne Rooney handed over his shirt to Smith, who wasn't even in Lawrie Sanchez's 18 man squad for the game in Manchester. Preston North End's Smith became friends with Man United's Rooney and Wes Brown after we was introduced a couple of months ago by goalkeeper Roy Carroll. Smith, who has just recently returned from surgery on both his knees and came on against Poland in Warsaw, said "I was disappointed not to make it on the bench against England, but I suppose it wasn't too bad being left out because at least I got my mate's shirt. Smith says: "I met Wayne through Roy and we became friends. We just chill out {ie get hammered and smoke a few reefers} and have a laugh. He's a great bloke who doesn't deserve all the criticism and hassle he gets from the media. They should just leave him alone." I think Andy sees alot of himself in young Wayne. They are both horrendously good looking, talented, prolific goal scorers, and most importantly, they are both misunderstood.

In contrast to the good natured Smith, another former Glenman Andy showed himself to be downright blasphemous. After being on the bench for the England game, Kirk was left out of the squad for the game against Poland, with our Andy taking his place on the bench; "At the moment I am very disillusioned and don't know where I stand. "When Lawrie took over he said club form would be a big factor in his selections. "I have scored goals all season at Boston and now Northampton yet players who haven't been playing at all for their clubs were chosen ahead of me on the bench for the Poland game.

What Andy Kirk clearly doesn't understand is that although he may have scored 25 more goals than Mandy this season, he doesn't possess that certain Je Ne Sais Que that the ginger Brazilian possesses. After all, form is temporary, but class is permanent, eh Smithy!

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Glens and Ports have to do it all again after Irish Cup Stalemate

Date Created: Apr 03, 2005, 04:37 PM

The Glens players will have to dust themselves off, and get ready for another battle with Sir Vinny, and Glentoran fans favourite metal Mickey Collins, in the semi final replay on Tuesday, 7.45pm, Windsor Park. These days, there aren't many players in the Linfield side that make Glen's fans blood boil as much as messrs Arkins, Hamilton, and Collins, and the two usual offenders were at it again on Saturday.

If it wasn't Vinny the ref's persistent fouling, it was Collins in typical sporting form chopping down Leeman inside of the box. Glens fans cheered everytime he was tackled and took delight in him being ineffective, although the cheers and taunts directed towards Collins were virtually the only sounds emanating from the Glens fans all day. The atmosphere in the North Stand was morgue-like in it's virtual silence, and many fans agreed on ILF that it was the worst atmosphere at an Irish Cup semi-final that they had experienced. The size of the Glens contingent was decent enough in the current climate of worrying decreases in the size of the Big Two's crowds, but there was barely a "C'mon yeee Glens" to be heard all day. Frankly it was inexplicable, since as well respected a figure as he undoubtedly is, Im just not entirely convinced that John Paul's imminent passing was a big reason for the deathly atmosphere at Windsor Park on Saturday.

Glens goalkeeper Elliot Morris, who pledged his future to the Glens for the next decade in Fridays Newsletter, was right on the money with his prediction for Saturday's game; "This year I think that there will still be a lot of goals in the game. It will be very open because both teams like to attack and have a lot of quality players but because it is a cup game, it is a one off and that means there will be a lot of chances created. It will be a very good game for the fans and hopefully we will be the ones celebrating at the end." Morris can always have a job as a clairvoyant if his football career falters. News from the Oval is that Sean Holmes, who had to come off in the first half with an ankle injury, is unlikely to make Tuesday's game, while Leeper (also an ankle injury) will hopefully make it. Roy Coyle also believes that Darren Lockhart is unlikely to play again this season. Still, no talk of any injury to big Pat McGibbon who has been blighted with niggling injuries and has struggled to play two games in a row. After his man of the match performance on Saturday against his former team-mates, that is very good news!

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What is Mandy Watch?

Date Created: Apr 03, 2005, 02:11 PM

Welcome to a regular feature called Mandy Watch, which over the coming months and years will be charting the career of Lisburn's favourite and most famous son, "Andrew" Smith.

Here's Andy's overall career statistics so far in English League football (including this season) Since debut 1999 : Played 10 (+16 sub) Goals 0 And so far in the first 9 months of his second spell in England, young Mandrew has started 7 matches for Stockport and Preston, making 11 substitute appearances as well. His record playing for the full Northern Ireland international team is equally impressive, scoring no goals in 15 appearances. Young Andy may not have many match balls, but he'll never be without something to keep his head warm!! The clock is ticking. The excitement is palpable - Can Andy score the goal that has alluded him in English football, before his contract runs out in July 2006? DAYS LEFT OF CONTRACT on Sunday 3rd April 2005 - 456 days

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