Messages

Coaching of development squads is important I agree. However success breathes success if the Senior county team is struggling (Which it has been for a number of years) then the interest in football goes. Enthusiasm is lost amongst clubs and even within these development squads.
Hence the drop in the number of players within clubs being mentioned.
How many guys on these squads really want to go play for Laois? Or even young clubmen on the county panel fringes? Not just to be a county star, but I mean have a real passion for Laois.

Optimism is low and no Senior team to inspire. When a group isn't winning, whether it's an U14 or senior, the interest begins to fizzle away. Guys won't put in the work required to develop themselves. Once every few years we will get a Kingston, a Brody or an O'Carroll, but we need teams to be successful, not players

Everyone talking about the successful underage teams of past. Those panels were apart of something special. They pushed themselves to become better footballers for the rest of the team, for the good of Laois, not just themselves. That's why Davy Conway, O'Loughlin etc are still showing the desire like they did yesterday.

Anyway, onto yesterday's shambles of a game.
Many key guys not at 100% fitness, but playing anyway cos of a lack of talent to replace them. (Walsh, Donoher, O'Carroll, O'Connor)
Others shown up.
Lads can't think on their feet. Too one dimensional. No ideas. Wrong team selected. Too many passengers, not only because they don't have the ability, but have an unwillingness to get involved in the play and take responsibility.

Not a great performance last night. But one with some heart and character that was enough to get a job done against a plucky Longford team.
Longford probably played better football for majority of the game. Whereas we had Donie, EOC and Conway up front to win ball, draw frees and take scores, they didn't have enough players of that quality.
I still think we're not cohesive enough as a team. The way we play is a little raw and off the cuff.
And yet AGAIN, we finish the game with 14.
I thought McMahon, Alan Farrell in the second half and Booth all were impressive aswell.
Roll on next Sunday, have been looking forward to this since the fixtures were announced!

I just cant understand why Jamie Farrell wasn't selected. We have selectors that should know the sort of ability he has. If im correct, he kicked the winning score against Armagh last year?
Is Dillon still involved?

Probably not a time to be discussing this 5 games deep in the league! But where are Jamie Farrell, Matty Campion, Gearoid Hanrahan? These guys played big league and championship games last year and were impressive. I know giving Under 21s some senior game time is important, but with all these injuries, experienced bodies is becoming scarce. Does anyone know if more players been drafted in with the injuries?

Conceding 7/8 points or so every game from frees due to persistent fouling and poor discipline in defense is a coaching problem. Players should drilled enough to cut that out during matches. But im talking about 3 red cards in 5 games.
Getting a straight red card for striking an opposition player isn't exactly the managers fault? These lads are senior inter county players, they and aren't under 14. I dont think they have to be told.

We would have 6 points if it wasn't for poor discipline.
Probably at least 8 if it wasn't for an injury list as long and more detrimental on any Laois team that I can remember.
Yes we have serious problems. Another poor U21 campaign highlighted that further, but Creedon is not one of them.

Tough to analyse the game after such a major turning point the sending off was.

Although it would be a completely different game with 15 players for a full 70, very worrying of how disjointed we were in the second half.

We dropped very deep and stood off sligo, understandable given the situation of being a man down. But we lack a serious amount of creativity and although we play a running game, there's no real link up play or set players designated to carry that out.

We were too predictable and ran out of ideas quickly. Then the inevitable happened, they chased down our lead and leave us in a tough position now.

Kingstons looked sharp early on. Echoing what Giovanni said, McMahon was very good. Quigley, Conway and O' Loughlin tried hard but have a little too much to do at times.

Some laughable posts comparing Lillis and Creedon after a few league games.
Obvious problems have been arising the past number of years and is scarily to the forefront of our performances this year (including our lucky escape against Armagh). The number and type of young player being developed for Senior ball from an earlier age is not to a good enough standard anymore. At club and county level. End of. Would be interesting to see the age profile of the squads from the past few years.  Every year some young guys are drafted from minor/U21 panels for the seniors. 2-3 years later they are no where to be found on the panel. Is this through lack of interest? Lack of development? Is it happening in other counties?
Anyway for this years league campaign, I still feel we still can be promoted, slate me if you will for believing that. Clare got promoted last year from this division on 8 points.