“Hey, f*ckin liven up!” Séamus Coleman Brilliant

Oh.

A theme of my book 'Shattered Dreams, Sliding Doors' was to show how football provided an escape for me as a child in the 80s from an increasingly worrying world. The diversion, fun and enjoyment engendered by the Irish team in recent months and days reminds me of that fact @faiofficial.bsky.social

It's the failures, heartbreak and near things that make getting to the promised land so special. www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/shatter...

What’s this bumble bee? Pictured here in my garden in Wicklow Mountains. Not seen one with such a red/orange behind

All my love to this man 🇮🇪

Our penalty shootout tribulations really do suggest that the lads of Italia 90 really were a teak tough bunch.

We still struggle in midfield - but for me I have to say I was really heartened by Molumby's performance. He has really matured. A few years ago, you'd have expected him to see red in a game like that. And O'Shea was exceptional

I don't like players walking up to strike a ball. Especially if they are - as they must be - nervous. Just feel like you won't generate enough power, which might be enough to get the ball over the line even if the keeper gets hands to it.

Troy Parrott really does crushing disappointment like no other

At least we won’t have to go to Trump’s horrible World Cup

I bristle a little bit at being told how the Ireland team have reconnected with the Irish public. Maybe it’s true - but I’ve always felt connected to Irish teams, especially when they’ve been struggling.

Just in case things don't go our way tonight, here's my positive reflection on the heartbreak of Ireland's infamous '82 WC qualifying campaign in my book 'Shattered Dreams, Sliding Doors'. #COYBIG #IRELAND #PRAGUE #WORLDCUP

Definitely going to be a tough game tonight in Prague. Hard for people not to be optimistic after November. For me though the Portugal game is the one to base hopes on - beating such a highly ranked team with a considered performance was a big step for us

Often hear discussions about whether players should be considered club legends or not. Some will be dismissed because of what they haven't won, ignoring crucial factors like loyalty, quality of tteam mates, their own output under difficult circumstances etc. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Just in case things don't go our way tonight, here's my positive reflection on the heartbreak of Ireland's infamous '82 WC qualifying campaign in my book 'Shattered Dreams, Sliding Doors'. #COYBIG #IRELAND #PRAGUE #WORLDCUP

Saddest thing re Salah is that time catches up on every player. Brilliant player for Liverpool - but the drop off this season was alarming

Has a single Irish player ever carried the hopes of the nation in the way Troy is?

the human body was not designed to know what the worst person in the world is doing every fifteen minutes

There are too many substitutions in football

Liverpool players might well be tired but doesn’t mean they have to be stupid. Shocking display across the board.

The Straits of Hormuz and Kharg Island featured briefly in my book on Ireland’s 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign ‘Shattered Dreams, Sliding Doors’

Slot has to stick with Frimpong at right back to allow Szoboszlai play in midfield with McAllister and Gravenberch. That three in the middle gives them much more balance and control. Hasn’t worked when he leagues just two in there

Shiver me timbers.

Delighted for Newcastle 😁

New for @josimarfootball.bsky.social: part 1 of our investigation into 8Xbet, the new unlicensed betting partner of Newcastle United, who now sponsor *nine* English clubs - when the government is making noises about a full ban of unlicensed bookmakers. Really? josimarfootball.com/2026/03/09/c...

Thought I would have gotten used to it by now, but I’m still grappling with the realization of just how stupid the men running this country are.

These are the 4 things AI can do well: •Clean up your email inbox (badly) •Give my shittiest neighbor (Alan) something to talk about at a party •Tell a 12 yr old to kill himself •Incinerate a school at 10:16 AM on a Tuesday You can see why we need to base our economy around it

Actually looked a bit like Liverpool in that second half

This is honestly one of the most anti-Jewish things I’ve ever seen from the United States government.

Friday night football, it's Tolka park for me, Shel's v Pat's in front of a full house. Anyone know when the Drumcondra end stand is reopening? I was inside the offices/press/dressing rooms last year, plenty work done underneath but great to see the seats have gone in ☘️⚽

Abraham Lincoln looks like he wishes the ground would open up and swallow him youtu.be/NYYzrGbM52U

Lots of talk about what's wrong with football - but they revolve around the Premier League, which, as it happens, isn't actually all of football.

#WorldBookDay - well, here are my two offerings: www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/shadow-...

Bahahaha. 😁😏 #DJT #DJ6T #FDJ6T #PantsOnFireDJ6T

Trump Writes Netanyahu Strongly Worded Check

New for @josimarfootball.bsky.social. I wish to express thanks and my admiration to Zohreh Abdollahkhani, who found the courage and the strength to write this heart-rending piece, commissioned before Iran was attacked by the US and Israel. josimarfootball.com/2026/03/05/s...

Publication day! My new book, "The Mbappé Project", is officially out today. It is not a biography, but an attempt to understand and explain how a football prodigy was built into a global star by his entourage and by himself, retaining control every step of the way. uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

@aodhanoriordain.bsky.social @gerrytastic.bsky.social in your capacities as Irish football historians, do you know if Liam Whelan is the only Irish footballer to have a piece of public infrastructure named after him?

FT comments section this morning - saying what everyone else is thinking, right?

Really enjoyed this @jonathanliew.bsky.social but with one caveat - the Premier League and Champions League - aren't all football. There is still joy and escape to be had where the game isn't entirely a "product" www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Guess the results could have been worse for Liverpool after Wolves. Chelsea are so weird, it's hard to know what they will do between now and May. A bit of self-doubt returning to Old Trafford may be no harm. Villa looking just as tired and out of ideas as the Reds. 5th might just be enough.

One must be left to imagine that Leavitt's assertion that Spain was now towing the line after Trump's harsh words was aimed at an audience that was never going to check the facts. As for the rest of us, well, they really don't care.

Vartry Reservoir, Roundwood, Wicklow

The only people more odious than Trump himself are those who do his bidding with apparent relish.

Maybe I’m soft, but I’m prepared to give Liverpool a pass this season in whatever outcome. The tragedy of Jota shouldn’t be ignored. So hard to know the personal impacts. One this is for sure, we’ve seen a bunch of games this term where Diogo on the pitch could have changed things.

Liverpool look like a side running on fumes - United and Chelsea squads will likely see both finish ahead of them I think. United’s easier programme will certainly help. Catching Villa who are also just treading water is the best hope of Champions League

Shambles from Liverpool again. So often ending games in chaos. Just a weird season. Fair play Wolves - will be one of the oddest teams ever to go down. Edward’s done a great job to keep the players engaged