CIMANFOREVER wrote:backawaygoonahead wrote:CIMANFOREVER wrote:Looks like we'll be playing Connacht again this year for the third Heineken spot....
Too many players going through the motions, and some taking the money and running. Not much pride in the Ulster jersey.
An outrageous attempt to be populist sir, shame on you - nobody lacked effort last night - many other things but effort? you are simply wrong. 
How come Munster have no problems "filling" their jersey?- even their over seas signing seem to be absorbed into Munster culture and ethos. Even Munster 2's were more than a match for us- desire and pride can patch up shortcomings elsewhere.
Why is the same not true for Ulster? Our history is as rich. I seem to remember International teams feared to come to Ravenhill. Ulster played Queensland around 1986 as unofficial "best provincial team in the world" type match. (we lost 6-4 (!) as I remember, but were the better side.)
Look at some of the donkeys we have signed over the years- the signings this year have the pedigree, but do they have the desire? This question is now troubling me. Pienaar, for all his reputation, looks like either a guy going through the motions, out of form, or questioning his move here.
Sorry, more nonsense - not a great night last night but nonsense Maybe all 3. As a professional, he at least has an obligation to fulfill.
Don't get me wrong, the S.A. connection has served Ulster well- Robbie Kempson amd BJ Botha are two of our best ever signings. Ireland would kill for either these days. Johan Muller seems honest and up for it. Diack has real potential, but when will it convert to arrival?
If I'm wrong, then time to blame the management.
Whaaaaaaaa ???? No if you are wrong time to shut it and blame yourself We seem bereft of ideas. But nothing can excuse or forgive the lack of passion for the jersey, professionalism or not. If I was ever good enough, probably only a Lions jersey would surpass wearing an Ulster jersey. Ireland wouldn't even come into it. Do enough of the current squad feel the same?
An attempt to become the first Ulsterman to bypass the Irish team & go straight to the Lions 
*(leave it Cables 
)
I always tend to dismiss the views of someone who would rather play for an occasional touring team than play for their own country & for you sir I do not intend to make an exception. For your information nothing should surpass playing for Ulster - everything else is just cream on top.
Harsh backawaygoonahead
Populist or not, I didn't see it. And populist doesn't make it wrong. Sorry, but thats what I got from Pienaar.
Rf. Pienaar, it's OK saying I'm talking nonsense, but apart from his first game, we haven't seen much else, other than an extemely slick pass and reasonable defence. The point I was making was my concern regarding his move here. To escape a lunatic S.A. coach doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in his desire to play here. Let's just say I really do hope its a blip in form and new surroundings. But at the end of the day, as a professional earning a lot of euro's, there is a minimum performance level expected. I would LOVE Pienaar to work for Ulster, but my gut feeling tells me otherwise. I do also take into account a poor performance from the Ulster pack in front of him.
Ref. shutting it- I take that as welcome to the bear pit. So far we've kidded ourselves with wins against much weaker opponents and an out of sorts Ospreys. Take off the Ulster Red tinted spectacles. Sorry, lack of ideas, one dimensional tactics and no plan B from the management. Maybe the lack of passion is a reflection of lack of confidence in McLaughlin and co.? We played into Munster's hands last night, with a game plan they've all been weaned on.
Btw- ref Ulster and the Lions- u missed the point, playing for Ulster IS playing for my country. And I agree that Lions is the cream on top. Double clotted cream. As an Ulsterman, why would you not want to follow the footsteps of Ulster greats wearing the Red jersey? Any Ulsterman wearing the jersey of the greatest touring team on earth further honours the white of Ulster.
I take your opinions on board sir, and dismiss them as contemptuously as you do mine. 
XX
Splendid, this one could out do "The Mousetrap." I'm convinced there are decades of mileage in this one.
It was particularly nice of you to send me a couple of kisses at the end of what was otherwise a fairly unfriendly sentence but I must warn you that I am happily married to Mrs Backaway, have been for over 30 years, am ecstatically happy within this union and more importantly, although I haven't a homophobic bone in my body, do not now nor intend in the immediate future to "bat for the other side" albeit I refuse to entirely rule out the possibility as a future option - none of us knows their future of course save for the twin certainties of death & taxes. You are wasting your time with such advances and I just thought it only fair to point this out "up front" - I despise people who lead others on with false hope.
Now that we have that potential misunderstanding out of the way I should like to address one or two of your points - I would hate to disappoint you as clearly your long-winded reply was seeking a response (trust me I understand such things)
1) Piennar - FFS man dear, why do you think he is here? Did you think he may have heard of the famous red hand and thought - whahey, I'll have some of that. He is here as a professional rugby player who has been offered a substantial stipend to give of his best & secondly the presence of some friends here obviously helped his decision.
What you, amongst several others, seem to forget is that he has come into a team which is not exactly functioning like a well-oiled machine, he has been getting over an injury & finally he is playing with quite a number of teammates he has possibly never heard of never mind seen play. Don't you think it is vaguely stupid to expect that everything will run like clockwork from day one or even day 30 ?
2) I could feel many decent people wince when you came out with that classic old chestnut "Ulster - my country." I am a comparative newcomer here myself but the old "flegs and emblems" issue makes many vaguely nauseous. That notwithstanding I feel you need to be appraised of the facts.
Ulster is a wonderful place, apart from its abnormal proportion of half-wits per 1000 of population, but in no shape or form is it a country, that is not my opinion it is a simple fact. I wonder - although its probably just my idle curiosity as in reality it is irrelevant - but how many of Ulster's counties constitute your country? Like it or not you, assuming you were born here, are Irish - you may well not like the fact by the sound of things but not liking facts doesn't change them. That is your nationality & please don't be tedious enough to go down the British line, Great Britain is of course a union of three countries none of which are yours. Unquestionably you are a British subject but I'm quite sure I don't need to tell you, that isn't a nationality either. That too is a fact so no amount of huffing & puffing will change that either.
So no, I didn't miss the point - you are simply somewhat confused by your lack of understanding of what constitutes a country.
Finally a little advice, well intentioned I can tell you in all seriousness. It is generally unwise to explain yourself too much on this forum. There are a few unscrupulous posters around who will dine out on such signs of weakness.
Similarly - and far too much time has passed since I last issued this advice - "Never apologise son, its a sign of weakness" - doubtless as a man who can string a few sentences together you will recognise that quotation, delivered by John Wayne when playing Capt Nathan Bittles in "She wore a yellow ribbon" , directed by John Ford at Monument Valley which as I'm sure you will know bestrides the state-line bordering Utah & Arizona. Should you wish to visit I can heartily recommend Gouldings Lodge as a tolerable billet for your stay (hope this helps.)
Take it or leave it, that is the best I can do for you. I'm sorry to have disappointed you on the romantic front but I'm sure you will agree it was best to put our cards on the table from the outset.
I don't have any problem agreeing with your comments.
), OR you may have been correct. You almost certainly have missed it before - trip to Specsavers DEFINITELY needed. 