Messages

1

GAA Discussion / Re: NFL Division 1 2023

« on: March 24, 2023, 11:59:16 AM »

I'd be fearful that if Mayo put out an entirely new starting 15 that Monaghan may well get the result they need in Castlebar. The fact that they have requested a Saturday date for the League final would indicate to me that this is a distinct possibility. I still think that a Mayo 2nd string could get a result but I wouldn't be overly confident either. We just have to take care of our own business in Omagh and as the game creeps closer I am quietly confident that the recent criticism, the fact that survival is on the line and the sight of a Tyrone jersey will be enough to fire us up and get the result we need to render the Mayo match irrelevant.

2

GAA Discussion / Re: Gaelic football is crap- and needs to change ASAP

« on: March 23, 2023, 12:05:09 PM »

I watched 10 minutes of Monaghan and Tyrone and switched it over. Genuinely couldn’t be arsed watching Monaghans slow build up, passing the ball across the pitch and back, constantly afraid or unable to slice a pass into the forwards. The outcome looked inevitable within minutes, Tyrone with everyone back, then breaking up field when Monaghan give it away and nick a score.  Boring predictable shite .

Football has become a game that is very difficult to attract a neutral, I struggle to watch games that ive no dog in the fight and anyone I talk to seems to be the same. Hurling still has the appeal that you can watch a game between 2 top teams and it keeps you interested, football not so much.

I don't necessarily agree.
In hurling, unless you are watching some of the top teams, the games can be a really hard watch.
In soccer, the whole approach is to pass the ball around the back and mf to find a gap to attack. No-one seems to complain about those games being boring, rather the skill levels of the players are revered.

Looking back to football of the 90's and to a lesser extent the 00's, football was more dynamic and more attack centred and yes, it can be argued more exciting and a more attractive prospect for the neutral. But the skill levels of players I believe are no-where near the levels of today and the fitness levels now are at stratospheric levels in comparison.

In football today, the top teams are still exciting to watch. The skill levels and fitness levels allow for those moments of brilliance which are enabled by the defensive foundation and approach. I personally find that fascinating to watch.
We still get some real score fests, but generally they are between teams that don't have the same level of players/management/tactics and most importantly finance and so the defensive abilities are not as good as the top 3-4 teams.

Only my opinion and I'm sure others will completely disagree. For me it's the progression of the game in terms of tactics and skills.
20 years ago we would not have enivisaged the way the game is today and I'd imagine in 20 years time it will have evolved again into something unrecognisable to todays players/fans.
It doesn't make it worse, just different and one thing for sure is that if nothing changed, it would become stale and boring and we'd have Kerry/Dublin winning every year and the rest of us would be sitting back dreaming of better days.

I'm not sure how the evolution of the game would change that particular outcome as it is fairly clear that the best resourced counties are those who advantage the most. Kerry and Dublin have literally won every League and championship title in the last decade apart from one Mayo League and one Tyrone championship!

You also make the point that skill and fitness levels have never been higher and that's possibly true which is down to the level of coaching invested in players from they are 5/6 years of age. But then again it depends on how you define skill and what you want the game to look like. I'd prefer to watch more of a kicking game where players are able to get their heads up and execute a long pass into an inside forward. Also to watch players that are able to kick scores from 40 metres out and forwards that are able to take their men on one on one and bear down on goal. More one on one duels for possession and less zonal marking to cover space. However all of those skills have become less important at the expense of possession and risk free football. GPS and possession based stats are the name of the game now. I'm sure there are coaching types who enjoy those type of hand passing possession based matches where they are able to have more control of the players movements and tactical positioning but imo it does nothing for the spectacle. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.     

3

GAA Discussion / Re: Donegal - A mess

« on: March 23, 2023, 11:07:00 AM »

Jimmy McGuinness complained last week that he offered his services but was ignored. He now needs to put his money where his mouth is and step up at a time of crisis.

If he offered his services to manage Donegal then it begs the question what exactly have the last 8 years or so been all about for him. He went down the painstaking route of serving an apprenticeship as a soccer coach in order to get his pro licence but yet has now seemingly walked away from the sport. You would imagine that a League of Ireland club at least would have taken a punt on him by this stage or is that dream now over for him.

He didn't though. He offered to mentor Kav and Lacey as he and his family are about and will be until the summer. He was never coming in to manage with soccer commitments.. That's both in print and podcast

Fair enough, I presumed him offering his services was to manage the county senior team. What soccer commitments has he got? 

4

GAA Discussion / Re: Gaelic football is crap- and needs to change ASAP

« on: March 23, 2023, 10:57:18 AM »

I watched 10 minutes of Monaghan and Tyrone and switched it over. Genuinely couldn’t be arsed watching Monaghans slow build up, passing the ball across the pitch and back, constantly afraid or unable to slice a pass into the forwards. The outcome looked inevitable within minutes, Tyrone with everyone back, then breaking up field when Monaghan give it away and nick a score.  Boring predictable shite .

Football has become a game that is very difficult to attract a neutral, I struggle to watch games that ive no dog in the fight and anyone I talk to seems to be the same. Hurling still has the appeal that you can watch a game between 2 top teams and it keeps you interested, football not so much.

I would agree with your assessment about the football. I look forward to sitting down to watching a match then about 10 minutes in I realise I'm bored stiff watching the same regurgitated possession based hand passing shite. I think its just habit, tradition and tribalism that makes you keep on coming back to watch it but it's really getting to the stage where I can take or leave it unless my own county is involved. If sport is supposed to be entertainment then this stuff is as far from entertainment as you can get, its all too mechanical and it's treated like an occupation by nearly all coaching teams. Data analysis and over coaching has ruined the game. The coaching fraternity will of course tell you everything is fantastic and why wouldn't they, most of them are earning a crust from it. It should be the number one priority for the GAA to try to resolve.     

Even hurling has become fairly tedious though. The same few teams playing each other over and over again and it has got very much possession based as well with a lot fewer goals in matches it would seem.

5

GAA Discussion / Re: Donegal - A mess

« on: March 23, 2023, 10:19:30 AM »

Jimmy McGuinness complained last week that he offered his services but was ignored. He now needs to put his money where his mouth is and step up at a time of crisis.

If he offered his services to manage Donegal then it begs the question what exactly have the last 8 years or so been all about for him. He went down the painstaking route of serving an apprenticeship as a soccer coach in order to get his pro licence but yet has now seemingly walked away from the sport. You would imagine that a League of Ireland club at least would have taken a punt on him by this stage or is that dream now over for him.

6

General discussion / Re: The DUP thread

« on: March 22, 2023, 05:59:52 PM »

At least Jim Shannon is using his influence at Westminster for good things. Putting a motion in to honour Dolly Parton on the 50th anniversary for one of her songs 

Deliberately done to try and deflect from the resounding defeat of the WF vote. Taking the people for fools.

You're giving Jim too much credit, trust me.

Maybe so, he does come across as a bit of a simpleton alright. Lacking in self awareness and utterly shameless are traits most associated with Wilson, Paisley, Poots and Foster so perhaps Shannon needs to be added to the list as well. 

7

General discussion / Re: The DUP thread

« on: March 22, 2023, 05:29:19 PM »

At least Jim Shannon is using his influence at Westminster for good things. Putting a motion in to honour Dolly Parton on the 50th anniversary for one of her songs 

Deliberately done to try and deflect from the resounding defeat of the WF vote. Taking the people for fools. 

8

GAA Discussion / Re: NFL Division 1 2023

« on: March 22, 2023, 12:13:42 PM »

Interesting to see Tyrone fans turning into Kerry fans prior to this match with all of the talking up the opposition. I expect a reaction to all of the criticism from Armagh this Sunday with survival on the line and what better way to do it than to beat Tyrone in Omagh.

That said I think Tyrone will edge this one as well, if they can't beat an Armagh side who have stunk the place out in recent weeks then it doesn't say much for their championship fortunes. 

9

General discussion / Re: What happened the DUP thread?

« on: March 20, 2023, 05:28:28 PM »

would joint authority not  mean a loyalist return to war.

They'll go clean mad but they've only themselves to blame!

We keep hearing about this loyalist return to violence. Who are they going to be waging this war against? Just an excuse for them to start murdering innocent Catholics.

The threat of loyalist violence does get overstated somewhat. It's like the lad in school that keeps on telling you he is going to hit you but never actually does anything about it. Its largely used for political leverage as was the case with the flag protests, the riots and the protocol protests. If they start up again it would only bring a lot more heat on them and shine a light on their other more nefarious activities which are more important to those at the top of those organisations. Those groups like to create intimidation and fear and are more concerned with controlling communities and making money from extortion, racketeering and the sale of narcotics.   

10

GAA Discussion / Re: Division 2 2023

« on: March 20, 2023, 04:01:27 PM »

are louth darkhorses/contenders for the all ireland

Louth have had a meteoric rise but compete for Sam Maguire, come off it. They would have a good chance of competing to win a Tailteann Cup and for them it is a pity that they were denied an opportunity two years running since despite their progress, there is nothing to beat lifting meaningful silverware. With the exception of Dublin and Derry there is a huge gap between division one and the rest of division two now.

Reaching a Leinster final and or All Ireland Quarter final v winning Tailteann Cup.  Which would bring more interest to the Louth players,management and supporters? I think the former.


Regardless what happens on Sunday against Dublin it's been a great Div 2 campaign by Louth. Last time they were in Div 2 (2018) they were totally out of their depth losing all 7 games with a points difference of -67


Full credit to Mickey Harte (71 years young) and his management on the  job/improvement they have done with Louth.  Took on the Louth gig in November 2020 when they were just relegated to Division 4 losing 6 of their 7 games. March 2023 3rd in Div 2 with 8 points only defeat was against the best team in this Division Derry by just 3 points.

I would say reaching a Leinster final is their first priority. After that I would put winning a Tailteann Cup over an AI QF appearance. I'd imagine Westmeath had a much more enjoyable and rewarding season last year than Clare did for example. When you look back on your career you will remember lifting a trophy in Croke Park and the homecoming afterwards a lot more than the inevitable 10 point drubbing in an AI quarter final. There is of course no guarantee that they would either win a Tailteann Cup or reach an AI quarter final.   

11

General discussion / Re: What happened the DUP thread?

« on: March 20, 2023, 02:17:02 PM »

Another own goal, genuinely must take a serious effort to be on the wrong side of everything constantly.

No more negotiations to be had, the Gov't going to force it through regardless.

Touch of arrogance from Mr Donaldson, expecting Sunak and the EU to re-open the talks just to appease him and his ever decreasing cabal.

What now for the Assembly, Is it Joint authority with major inputs from the Irish Tánaiste?

Abolish all MLAs salary immediately. If they fail to go back into government then Stormont is effectively finished. After that politicians here will have no control over our own affairs. It will be some form of joint authority although it mightn't be worded as such.

I still think Donaldson is too fearful of the consequences of not going back into Stormont and that they will find some form of workaround. It does show the folly of painting himself into a corner in pulling down Stormont to begin with though.

12

GAA Discussion / Re: Division 2 2023

« on: March 20, 2023, 12:07:08 PM »

are louth darkhorses/contenders for the all ireland

Louth have had a meteoric rise but compete for Sam Maguire, come off it. They would have a good chance of competing to win a Tailteann Cup and for them it is a pity that they were denied an opportunity two years running since despite their progress, there is nothing to beat lifting meaningful silverware. With the exception of Dublin and Derry there is a huge gap between division one and the rest of division two now. 

13

GAA Discussion / Re: NFL Division 1 2023

« on: March 20, 2023, 11:56:27 AM »

Now that the dust has settled a bit I'll give you my two bobs worth on Armagh...We have lost the plot, Armagh have great forwards and playing them all in our own half back line is a sin. I get what KMcG is trying to achieve by pulling everyone back and trying to hit the other teams on the counter as we're poor defensively atm but it's not working. I love Armagh and have followed them all my life and I'm considering taking a sabbatical away as I genuinely can't watch that crap atm. I honestly would rather be beaten and having a go/rattle than get beaten in a close game that was like watch grass grow.
For some reason our top forwards are all below par and seem to be short of confidence...do we go for a shoot out with the Kerry's etc and get humped as we'll be left exposed at the back?...I dunno but if we're still losing anyway why not try it out and see. We have to go to Omagh next week and Tyrone will love nothing more than relegating Armagh and we will only have ourselves to blame for this mess as we had a chance to win every game so far and couldn't manage it, from what i have seen the 3 teams at the bottom are the worst teams in Div 1 and there's nothing between Monaghan and Armagh so whoever has the goolies for it next week will stay up.

I know i'm a bit old school here but can someone please tell me why all forwards are afraid to shoot from 30-45m out, this is from all the games in general. Are forwards told not to shoot unless it's in front of the posts...is this a % thing?. you see guys in what i think is a scoreable position but they won't shoot and recycle the ball across and back and across and back and across and back before someone gets dispossed and the counter attack starts...WTF. You're a County footballer, get within 30-45m and pop the the ball over the bar. Even at club level I played with guys who didn't think twice about shooting from those ranges and hardly ever missed...Maybe the footballer is being replaced with an athlete now and fitness/strength is preferred to a proper footballer...

Rant over...

That's a good synopsis of the situation. I simply don't get the tactics we have adopted during this years League but it would certainly suck the life out of you watching us play at times. I honestly don't know what the attacking plan is other than to work the ball up the pitch slowly and retain possession. We have no identity as I don't know what our playing style is. Most of our best players are in the forward line yet we persist in asking them to play a game that is not suited to their strengths. Whatever feel good factor we had from last years championship run has now gone. We have got very little out of this years League other than blooding one new player (McCambridge) whereas at least the likes of Monaghan can say that they are going through a transition phase blooding new players. When you substitute your best player with 5 minutes remaining with the game still in the melting pot you have to ask what is going on.   

If we remember we were also at a bit of a crossroads after the Donegal championship game last year when we played a similar running/possession type game where the players look stifled by fear. After that we threw off the shackles and went more gung ho where the players were encouraged to take risks. I'm holding out hope that we can still do something similar because its still the same bunch of players and we have shown last year that we are more than capable of beating Tyrone, however you wouldn't be confident that we can just turn it around in 8 days.   

You’d wonder if McKeever has had more of an influence on how we play this year

Well McKeever did play a very defensive conservative style of football during his time managing Armagh minors and with Mayobridge so it is definitely possible. However McKeever was part of the management team last season so it doesn't explain why we have resorted back to this style. We are playing so as not to lose games rather than trying to win them and there is a massive difference in the psychology and mindset of players with both approaches.

14

General discussion / Re: What happened the DUP thread?

« on: March 20, 2023, 10:27:31 AM »

It’s decision time now for Donaldson and the DUP. I can’t see the leadership of the party publicly supporting the WF which could then leave them in an even more perilous position. At every juncture they have managed to make things even worse for themselves as they are petrified of being lundified. I think Peter Robinson is one of the few in the party who has a strategic brain and will recognise the opportunity that the WF offers to unionists. But he is only one of 8 people and the threat of the TUV/LCC/OO axis looms large over any decision to be made.

Decision time would suggest that Donaldson has options.
If he has 3 options then he has 3.
If he has 2 options then he has 2.
If he has 1 option then he has no option.

He will reject the WF, and say that he is passing the problem back to Rishi. He will then tell his electorate that Rishi has messed up and Rishi has to find a solution.

Looking like no Stormont for 2 or 3 years.

Conservative Party is the most successful party in World Politics for a reason.. They will string this out and then next year when they’re out of gov it will be a Labour problem. This is when Labour will probably f**k up and do something that’ll threaten the union and there the conservatives slogan will be run on in the 2028 election to save the Union and our Country vote Tory. They’ve already started with going after refugees, they know they lost 2024 so it’s all about getting back asap

Two reasons for that and neither has much to do with their political acumen. The voting system itself and a right wing media press interconnected to the Tory political class who control and manipulate public opinion. 

15

GAA Discussion / Re: NFL Division 1 2023

« on: March 20, 2023, 09:21:13 AM »

Now that the dust has settled a bit I'll give you my two bobs worth on Armagh...We have lost the plot, Armagh have great forwards and playing them all in our own half back line is a sin. I get what KMcG is trying to achieve by pulling everyone back and trying to hit the other teams on the counter as we're poor defensively atm but it's not working. I love Armagh and have followed them all my life and I'm considering taking a sabbatical away as I genuinely can't watch that crap atm. I honestly would rather be beaten and having a go/rattle than get beaten in a close game that was like watch grass grow.
For some reason our top forwards are all below par and seem to be short of confidence...do we go for a shoot out with the Kerry's etc and get humped as we'll be left exposed at the back?...I dunno but if we're still losing anyway why not try it out and see. We have to go to Omagh next week and Tyrone will love nothing more than relegating Armagh and we will only have ourselves to blame for this mess as we had a chance to win every game so far and couldn't manage it, from what i have seen the 3 teams at the bottom are the worst teams in Div 1 and there's nothing between Monaghan and Armagh so whoever has the goolies for it next week will stay up.

I know i'm a bit old school here but can someone please tell me why all forwards are afraid to shoot from 30-45m out, this is from all the games in general. Are forwards told not to shoot unless it's in front of the posts...is this a % thing?. you see guys in what i think is a scoreable position but they won't shoot and recycle the ball across and back and across and back and across and back before someone gets dispossed and the counter attack starts...WTF. You're a County footballer, get within 30-45m and pop the the ball over the bar. Even at club level I played with guys who didn't think twice about shooting from those ranges and hardly ever missed...Maybe the footballer is being replaced with an athlete now and fitness/strength is preferred to a proper footballer...

Rant over...

That's a good synopsis of the situation. I simply don't get the tactics we have adopted during this years League but it would certainly suck the life out of you watching us play at times. I honestly don't know what the attacking plan is other than to work the ball up the pitch slowly and retain possession. We have no identity as I don't know what our playing style is. Most of our best players are in the forward line yet we persist in asking them to play a game that is not suited to their strengths. Whatever feel good factor we had from last years championship run has now gone. We have got very little out of this years League other than blooding one new player (McCambridge) whereas at least the likes of Monaghan can say that they are going through a transition phase blooding new players. When you substitute your best player with 5 minutes remaining with the game still in the melting pot you have to ask what is going on.   

If we remember we were also at a bit of a crossroads after the Donegal championship game last year when we played a similar running/possession type game where the players look stifled by fear. After that we threw off the shackles and went more gung ho where the players were encouraged to take risks. I'm holding out hope that we can still do something similar because its still the same bunch of players and we have shown last year that we are more than capable of beating Tyrone, however you wouldn't be confident that we can just turn it around in 8 days.