Our Wee Country

Sad news re Rachel Dugdale (married name now Newborough). Following the Reading debacle, she got fixed up with Blackburn Rovers, playing 6 games before they withdrew from the Championship in May, now playing in the 4th tier. I'm assuming that they're now amateur, and so has decided to retire from football at the age of 28.

After 43 NI caps, some nice words from her:
"To the mighty GAWA, I announce my retirement from international and professional football. It is with a heavy heart but immense pride that I share this news," she said in a statement.
"Representing Northern Ireland since I was 15 has been the greatest honour of my career. Being part of the journey to our first ever major tournament was a dream come true, and I will cherish that memory forever.
"Thank you for your amazing support over the years. While it's scary to step away from the game I love, I am excited for the new chapter ahead. This team and these fans will always hold a special place in my heart."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2jeyzz07do

Bright girl, mind, so she'll probably do ok - her wiki page says: "Newborough [nee Dugdale] studied philosophy, politics and economics at Boston College and has a masters degree in business. During her ACL injury, she founded her own marketing company."

Much as I dislike Linfield (I favour the Ports), to be fair to their players they didn't actually claim the goal.

When I was reffing/lining many years ago (amateur game), I tended to hold fire on making some decisions that I was unsure about for a few seconds to gauge the reactions of the players (I know some claim for everything, but normally their initial reactions can be telling).

In this case the referee couldn't be certain whether a goal had been scored as he couldn't have seen it cross the line (as it clearly didn't!), and the initial reaction of players confirmed this. So to go on the linesman's word without a discussion was poor (I know they're probably wired, but still). Unless you're absolutely sure that a goal has been scored you simply cannot award one.

As regards VAR in the local game, we don't need the full blown version, but simple goal line technology shouldn't be difficult?

   

No player in the world is going to say it wasn't a goal. Any form of var in the Irish league would be the ruination of it. Spend the money on training the officials and perhaps making them professional.

I think it would help if the officials came out and explained their decisions. The officials in the Irish league are very dismissive of players who try and speak to them in a calm fashion

For "relatively poor record" substitute "shocking record"...

To capitulate to Shelbourne three times is, quite frankly,  embarrassing.

They were beaten by a better team. Not sure how they capitulated. I've already said I think Linfield could have played better but I'm not sure how it's embarrassing

I can't speak for the other clubs as I didn't see their games but Linfields problem is they don't keep the ball well enough in these games , just continually giving the ball away and putting themselves under pressure.

I think Healys relatively poor record in Europe will put clubs in bigger leagues off approaching him.