@EwanMacKenna Currently a bar in Jakarta where an English lad I work with said both prem and pen. Winced so much my stomach's in a bloody pool on the floor.
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (2007)
Danceable, sleek, with a snarky sense of humour; as Murphy focuses on ageing and the transience of cool, while proudly flaunting his influences.
A glorious fusion of rock, electronica and hipster belligerence.
A modern classic.
🧵
I begun to understand Stephen's character while following Dundalk's 2016 Europa League campaign. His team drew with AZ Alkmaar, beat Maccabi Tel Aviv and were unlucky (a trend!) not to get points against Zenit.
It was during Martin O'Neill's Ireland low block tenure but here was an Irish team that refused to take a backwards step.
I didn't think it was possible, but I really wanted him to get the Ireland job. I wanted him to get the chance to do very good things for Irish Football. If not to transform results, to transform the culture.
His empathetic and socially conscious programme notes made me like him more (as did his Hotpress interview where he declared his love for Arctic Monkeys, Villagers and the Stone Roses!). I saw a good, intelligent man with big dreams and a good track record of fulfilling them.
Needless then to say I was thrilled when it was announced that us Irish fans would get to spend time dream chasing with him.
And sometimes it was better than chasing. 1-0 up against Portugal, 3-0 up against Scotland, for the fleeting moments after the ball left Nathan Collins' head Vs France - Dreamland was felt. Fortune was never on his side, but the fans at Lansdowne Road certainly were in those moments.
He might have had too many setbacks to stay in his job, but Irish Football should take leaps forwards because of Stephen Kenny's endeavours. We needed somebody like him when he was appointed and I'm just grateful that it happened.
By showing enough courage to follow his beliefs in the most pressurised and scrutinized of positions, he inspired changes in the fabric of Irish Football culture that others will benefit from.
Tonight we can only thank him for that selfless service.
A deeply decent man.
An Irish Football legend.
Thank you for your work.
@WeyesBlood There are certain artists that affect your state of being in a way that makes you feel accepted/acknowledged/known... Your cadence gives "normal" people hope. It's a gift that I pray you continue to exhume. You have given the world a part of yourself that we can relate to ❤️