We're all a little blinkered when it comes to our team(s). We're never beaten by a better team, or by a team who played well. Anyway, I was just thinking about how rarely the players actually get the blame.
In order of recurrence, these are the real reasons why our GAA teams lose:
1. The players just aren't fit enough. I don't know what the boys are doing at training, but it's obviously the wrong stuff. (manager's fault).
2. The players are skilful, but have no balls. How they could do with a former player in charge to show them what pride in the jersey means (manager's fault).
3, We've got the players, but they no have no brains. We need an outsider in to show them how to play football (manager's fault).
4. The manager picked the wrong team, a blind man could see that (manager's fault).
5. Look, the players didn't play well, but surely it's up to the manager to change things around when that happens (manager's fault).
6. The ref fucked us. That bollocks has never liked us. (official's fault).
7. The other team's linesmen and umpires fucked us. Fellas like that are a disgrace to the GAA (official's fault).
8. We never play well in the rain. I can't remember us ever playing well in the rain (mother nature's fault).
9. Trust us to run into a 7s style team on a hot afternoon like that. It'll be a different story if we get them again in October (mother nature's fault).
10. I can't believe the County Board made us play twice in a week. I know the other team had to as well, but how can we be at our best for both games (administrator's fault).
11. Look, the lads haven't had a game in nearly a fortnight. Surely you don't expect them to play well when they're not getting any games? It's a disgrace (administrator's fault).
12. We're not used to the big pitch. We get lost. (any number of parties to blame there).
13. Ach how anyone play on a pitch like that? Sure it's so tight, the forwards have no room (any number of parties to blame there).
I'd say there's twice as many reasons as that again before we get to the 'better team on the day' statements. Feel free to add more.
In order of recurrence, these are the real reasons why our GAA teams lose:
1. The players just aren't fit enough. I don't know what the boys are doing at training, but it's obviously the wrong stuff. (manager's fault).
2. The players are skilful, but have no balls. How they could do with a former player in charge to show them what pride in the jersey means (manager's fault).
3, We've got the players, but they no have no brains. We need an outsider in to show them how to play football (manager's fault).
4. The manager picked the wrong team, a blind man could see that (manager's fault).
5. Look, the players didn't play well, but surely it's up to the manager to change things around when that happens (manager's fault).
6. The ref fucked us. That bollocks has never liked us. (official's fault).
7. The other team's linesmen and umpires fucked us. Fellas like that are a disgrace to the GAA (official's fault).
8. We never play well in the rain. I can't remember us ever playing well in the rain (mother nature's fault).
9. Trust us to run into a 7s style team on a hot afternoon like that. It'll be a different story if we get them again in October (mother nature's fault).
10. I can't believe the County Board made us play twice in a week. I know the other team had to as well, but how can we be at our best for both games (administrator's fault).
11. Look, the lads haven't had a game in nearly a fortnight. Surely you don't expect them to play well when they're not getting any games? It's a disgrace (administrator's fault).
12. We're not used to the big pitch. We get lost. (any number of parties to blame there).
13. Ach how anyone play on a pitch like that? Sure it's so tight, the forwards have no room (any number of parties to blame there).
I'd say there's twice as many reasons as that again before we get to the 'better team on the day' statements. Feel free to add more.