Dear Noel,
I’m worried about my husband. Lately he has started dropping hints about getting involved in a seven-a-side. He says all his mates and their wives do it every summer.

I’m just not that type of girl. I don’t want to lose him, Noel, but I’m afraid if he starts dabbling in seven-a-side, he will never regain his love for the conventional 15-a-side game.

We met through 15-a-side. That’s what I’m comfortable with, and I don’t want to interfere with the karma in any way.

What should I do?

     - Lisa (33), Lower Laois.

 Noel replies – Seven-a-sides will mess his head up. He might never recover his form if he turns his back on the blanket defence at this crucial time in the evolution of the game.

Be firm. Refuse point-blank to humour his new fetish. Threaten to leave. Of course, it can’t all be stick. Some carrot is needed too.. Leave a copy of Kerry’s Golden Years in the video, and ‘accidentally’ switch it on when he’s relaxing with a glass of wine on Saturday night. Jimmy Magee’s Greatest Sporting Memories, Volume 4, is another definite turn-on. Bring him to Westmeath and Tipp in the qualifiers, and if the sight of 13 men behind the ball doesn’t get his motor running, nothing will. It’s probably just a phase he’s going through, Lisa.

Stick to your guns and I feel sure the traditional game will once again keep both of you very satisfied in every way.

Noel carries out trial by media every week. Email him on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; visit www.knowledgeablenoel.com; Skype (knowledgeable.noel); and Facebook (Knowledgeable Noel.)

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