Linfield v. Larne

Given the rumours about us & David Healy, some might be interested in seeing the best 2 teams in the N.I. League. Kick off is at 5.30 and being shown on the BBC iplayer & BBC sport website

the excellent Joel Cooper puts Linfield 1 up

Linfield now losing 2 -1 after 55 mins.

Linfield look awful

One of the stewards at todays game told about 20 people the Healy deal is done....drunk myself laughing as he also told them Healy would be at BP later for the big reveal, whilst all the time I knew this game was being played tonight.. what was worse is all the lads took the steward's word as gospel..

Bolger for Larne in defence looks a player

Quoted from Yoda

Bolger for Larne in defence looks a player

Cian Bolger, played for Lincoln. Spent more of his career in England

tbh I'd be more excited if we'd gone for Tiernan Lynch of Larne - his side play some really nice stuff

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

One of the stewards at todays game told about 20 people the Healy deal is done....drunk myself laughing as he also told them Healy would be at BP later for the big reveal, whilst all the time I knew this game was being played tonight.. what was worse is all the lads took the steward's word as gospel..

I thought Stockwood had told the matchday staff we were appointing the Cowleys? That's what The_Laughing_Mariner said anyway.

Maybe the Linfield players was not at their best because they knew their boss was leaving them .

A bit like our players today but in reverse.

Linfield was not very good today.

I'm not proud to say that after the Healy link, I spent an ungodly amount of time watching previous Linfield games available on the Iplayer to see what we were getting.

Today, was basically how Linfield play all the time, they have Cooper who is their star and its basically a game plan of give him the ball and seeing what happens.

It's never normally pretty but functional, today was neither and I feel like if anything that'll drive Healy to stay there and fight to regain the League Title.
  I would hazard a guess he will probably leave Linfield at the end of the season.

Quoted from Sinkfortheladies

Linfield was not very good today.

I'm not proud to say that after the Healy link, I spent an ungodly amount of time watching previous Linfield games available on the Iplayer to see what we were getting.

Today, was basically how Linfield play all the time, they have Cooper who is their star and its basically a game plan of give him the ball and seeing what happens.

It's never normally pretty but functional, today was neither and I feel like if anything that'll drive Healy to stay there and fight to regain the League Title.
  I would hazard a guess he will probably leave Linfield at the end of the season.

that's a little unfair - kirk miller is an excellent player as is Fitzpatrick. I'd say they are based on solid foundations (Shields, Mulgrew & Johns) but Healey has never been shy in playing talented forwards, and also, quite importantly, giving youth a chance. They met a larne who were on top of their game, and as I said before, I'd be very happy if it was Tiernan Lynch, not David Healey, that we'd approached

Quoted from forza ivano

that's a little unfair - kirk miller is an excellent player as is Fitzpatrick. I'd say they are based on solid foundations (Shields, Mulgrew & Johns) but Healey has never been shy in playing talented forwards, and also, quite importantly, giving youth a chance. They met a larne who were on top of their game, and as I said before, I'd be very happy if it was Tiernan Lynch, not David Healey, that we'd approached

I wouldn't dispute regarding Miller, but it is quite obvious the plan is to give the ball to Cooper and work from that.

That Shields confuses me, he can be a brick wall, and then he'll have a 5-10 min spell. He would look out of place on a Sunday morning.

I must say the quality, or lack thereof, of their opponents before tonight was a shock. It was a nice surprise to see Larne play tonight. I thought they were quality.
I agree that I would be looking at Lynch, switched on, and substitutes were brilliant.

Quoted from Sinkfortheladies

I wouldn't dispute regarding Miller, but it is quite obvious the plan is to give the ball to Cooper and work from that.

That Shields confuses me, he can be a brick wall, and then he'll have a 5-10 min spell. He would look out of place on a Sunday morning.

I must say the quality, or lack thereof, of their opponents before tonight was a shock. It was a nice surprise to see Larne play tonight. I thought they were quality.
I agree that I would be looking at Lynch, switched on, and substitutes were brilliant.

What I like about Lynch is that he's learnt/evolved. 20-21 n 21-22 they were great to watch, but so open at the back it was untrue. At times it seemed like Fuad Sule was alone in trying to stem opposition attacks!Tightened up in 22-23 and deservedly won the title. Had a bit of a wobble this year, whilst Linfield have been unstoppable, but this was them back to their best

Quoted from forza ivano

What I like about Lynch is that he's learnt/evolved. 20-21 n 21-22 they were great to watch, but so open at the back it was untrue. At times it seemed like Fuad Sule was alone in trying to stem opposition attacks!Tightened up in 22-23 and deservedly won the title. Had a bit of a wobble this year, whilst Linfield have been unstoppable, but this was them back to their best

Signs of a very good manager being able to adapt, especially when it's clear he has a specific way that he wants his teams to play.

Going to the national stadium and putting it on the league leaders like Larne did was fantastic.
There's also just the right amount of shithousery in that Larne side that every winning team need.

Larne where a far better team.

any after match interview with Healey?

Went to Larne about 30 years ago as Town were on tour there. We only had a few fans, we were looked after by the locals incredibly well. Included being unable to pay for a beer in their social club, being presented with a Larne shirt, free ice creams and when they heard we were planning on camping in a tent, we were put up by a lovely couple who introuduced us to potchein (which I learned must be respected) and also invited to train with the first team!

Brilliant people and I've always kept an eye on their fortunes. Had similar treatment at Linfield. Not so good at Cliftonville who were on the other side of the coin. It was still dangerous out there, but at 18 we were a bit wet behind the ears. Saw a couple of armed men in baloclavas with buckets collectiing for the cause in a Belfast centre pub just before I opened my mouth to reveal my accent.