Down Club Hurling & Football

[JohnStones]

Long time watcher in the shadows and making my first post so go easy on me 

What about Micky Moran as Manager, with Poacher, Mulholland, Walsh, Ward as part of backroom if that mix could work together? I would do whatever it took to get Moran in - great style of play, great CV. Maybe would like to wake a sleeping giant as a challenge!?

[Brick Tamlin]

I think your proposed management team isnt big enough.
Mickey Moran would be some boy to get mixed up in that orgy of egos youve named.

Down are not a sleeping Giant. That notion in itself smacks of arrogance that simply cant be justified. The county has fallen way behind other more progressive counties because we havent embraced change properly and only a sprinkling of quality gets us the odd win each year it somewhat papers over the cracks that exist.

Until the county gets overhauled at an administrative level from top to bottom with new faces things will never change. Our domestic senior championship is a walkover every year for 1 team due to the inability of the rest to match up, whilst our schools are not producing the same talent nor winning on a regular basis anymore. Management teams at representative level are effectively just a jobs for the boys arena where nepotism is rife and unless you've worn the jersey you wont get considered for any meaningful role.

There are so many issues at play within the county and things that need to be in place off the field before the on-field business can be sorted. But that wont change as long as key individuals hold sway.

[Smurfy123]

Not a bad proposal. Moran manager
Poacher trainer and the other 3 selectors? Would they work together? Mulhollands name seems to be mentioned a lot around this job surely he has to be in it somewhere? Rostrevor weee going nowhere until he went to them.

[Targetman]

John Stones, are you not in Russia?

[Cuan12]

Brick , your post smacks of a big ego with a lot of arrogance, I believe like you that fundamental change is required at the county executive, for too long we have been tumbling from one disaster to another culminating in div 3 league football and a swift exit from the championship, several quality names have been suggested and you have dismissed them without offering a viable alternative, as a county we have called upon everyone bar the kit man from the 90 s to lead us and bar 2010 it has not worked.
I'm reading about sleeping giants, why we are failing but when someone offers a proven candidate like Micky Moran , what happens, the suggestion is rubbished, at least someone is thinking outside the box, we need a leader with a proven track record, would be a nice change from ex footballers from successful down teams with no record of success at any managerial level, check Eamonn Burns or ConorDeegans record, anyone who takes the post of Down manager must have a record of success , Micky Moran fits the bill but don't saddle him with a back room team of wanna be s.

[Smurfy123]

Caun what do you call a backroom team of wannabes?

[ardtole]

I would think that any potential county manager worth his salt, would only take the job, on the pre condition that he gets to appoint his own backroom team.

[Smurfy123]

And would the above mentioned not be top of the list ardtole?

[ardtole]

They might well be. I just got the impression some posters were putting their dream coaching/management structure in place, and I don't think it's realistic.

When Tony McEntee was being touted about before, I remember his clubmate Gareth Oneill was mentioned as one of his selectors. I'd imagine a new manager would want someone alongside them who they have worked with before and have established a degree of trust.

[Leonardo]

Not trying to provoke, bit have any of the posters managed a Senior Team?

[charlieTully]

Not trying to provoke, bit have any of the posters managed a Senior Team?

Is that a prerequisite to passing comment on a gaa discussion board?

[Lecale Gael]

Not trying to provoke, bit have any of the posters managed a Senior Team?

Is that a prerequisite to passing comment on a gaa discussion board?

I can spot a mile off those who haven't managed a senior team 

[Lecale Gael]

Long time watcher in the shadows and making my first post so go easy on me 

What about Micky Moran as Manager, with Poacher, Mulholland, Walsh, Ward as part of backroom if that mix could work together? I would do whatever it took to get Moran in - great style of play, great CV. Maybe would like to wake a sleeping giant as a challenge!?

good shout on moran, he will need his own backroom team

when McIver and tally were in with James og it worked well and they should have won an all Ireland imo

[No1]

I think your proposed management team isnt big enough.
Mickey Moran would be some boy to get mixed up in that orgy of egos youve named.

Down are not a sleeping Giant. That notion in itself smacks of arrogance that simply cant be justified. The county has fallen way behind other more progressive counties because we havent embraced change properly and only a sprinkling of quality gets us the odd win each year it somewhat papers over the cracks that exist.

Until the county gets overhauled at an administrative level from top to bottom with new faces things will never change. Our domestic senior championship is a walkover every year for 1 team due to the inability of the rest to match up, whilst our schools are not producing the same talent nor winning on a regular basis anymore. Management teams at representative level are effectively just a jobs for the boys arena where nepotism is rife and unless you've worn the jersey you wont get considered for any meaningful role.

There are so many issues at play within the county and things that need to be in place off the field before the on-field business can be sorted. But that wont change as long as key individuals hold sway.

Nail on the head there Brick.  Sums up exactly where we are.  Depressing as f**k.

[Brick Tamlin]

The clubs in Down have a huge responsibility in all this too. More now than ever there is a huge onus on them to have a sound underage structure in place; to provide a healthy competitive environment for kids to flourish. But this takes a serious volunteer effort not to mention individuals with knowledge and experience with the proper coaching credentials.

For what its worth i think that finances should be directed into the local clubs and primary schools to ensure coaches are upskilled and kids are catered for with the best resources possible. We couldnt supply enough coaches and plough enough finances into this area if you ask me. But then again we all know that finance is a huge area of concern within the county.

Some of the names being bandied about are totally questionable. Some of them have little experience of managing senior club football teams, never mind experienced success. Others have already been involved before with Down teams and have had a shot and have either not succeeded or have left the stage after giving everything they could. Then we have those who have shown to lack the personal qualities required, displaying serious narcissism along the way.

Ive no doubt Eamon Burns is a decent man and tried his best but if we are honest he should never have been appointed as the manager in the first place. Ive no doubt he will do the decent thing and walk away now but id be shocked if there are a line of clubs looking for his service; as it was before he took on the Down job.

The decision makers have a serious task ahead but with their track record in recent years i fear it will be an underwhelming appointment yet again; one that smells of taking the easy/cheap option, maybe another who will acquiesce to them and will be deemed a 'safe pair of hands', probably another hero of the 90s. I dont mean that as an insult on that group but with every failed attempt to shoehorn some of our counties most beloved into managerial roles it personally erodes the on-field memories i would have had of them as players.

No manager worth his salt or with a shred of integrity would tolerate the county secretary or any other committee member for that matter running amok on sidelines and inside the wire, not to mention on the field of play whether its near teams warming up or at team huddles.

Go after Malachy O'Rourke when Monaghan season finishes and give him everything he requires to do the job over a period of 4 years.