Antrim Football Thread

[paddyjohn]

I really dont understand how anyone could blame Andy for what happened at the weekend. In the greater scheme of things, i would say Andy has done a good job with the hand he was dealt. Not as if the best players in the county have made themselves all available to him, for gods sake its a team filled with BALLYMENA, ST.BRIGIDS AND GLENRAVEL MEN. What do we genuinely expect.... none of these lads, with the greatest of respect, are ripping up the club scene in Antrim with the exception perhaps of Jordan, McAleese and Walsh who always stand out for their clubs.

It is what it is...be better to invest in our underage heavily and see where that gets us in 10 years

Extremely disrespectful to the clubs mentioned there.

[NAG1]

I really dont understand how anyone could blame Andy for what happened at the weekend. In the greater scheme of things, i would say Andy has done a good job with the hand he was dealt. Not as if the best players in the county have made themselves all available to him, for gods sake its a team filled with BALLYMENA, ST.BRIGIDS AND GLENRAVEL MEN. What do we genuinely expect.... none of these lads, with the greatest of respect, are ripping up the club scene in Antrim with the exception perhaps of Jordan, McAleese and Walsh who always stand out for their clubs.

It is what it is...be better to invest in our underage heavily and see where that gets us in 10 years

Extremely disrespectful to the clubs mentioned there.

Wow that's some statement, three of what, I would regard the best run clubs in the County.

The key was in your earlier line, the players themselves have not made themselves available. But I'm assuming you knew that already.

[Saffsof82]

HOPEFULLY ONLY A ONE GAME BAN FOR THE TWO LADS, AND LEITRIM IS THE GAME WE HOPEFULLY CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT THEM. PROBABLY MEANS A START FOR EQ IN THE MIDDLE AND MJ MOVING TO PARTNER HIM, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG QUINN. 

[Spike]

Those fellas getting sent off cant be laid at Andy's door, Stewart's action in particular was as dangerous as it was stupid.  I would say Andy could have done more to get these no shows to come up to the county and like it or not Antrim has a lot of internal issues that other counties do not have. Andy has his own vision of how he wants to play football and perhaps in his eyes those men wouldn't suit his style anyway.  Creggan, Portglenone, Cargin, Lamh Dhearg would undoubtedly want greater representation but obviously don't play the way Andy wants.

Leitrim is as much of a Gimmee as we are going to see in this league.  Would expect a win but hopeful of a good performance also .

[Níl a fhios agam]

My apologies if that came across extremely disrespectful. The clubs themselves isnt the issue in the point i was trying to make, but the volume of players from these clubs, in absence of a spread of probably better players from elsewhere who havnt committed, has to probably taking into consideration of why antrim arent reaching the heights some in this group would expect.

I couldnt see any other county pulling that qty of players out from two recently promoted, historically Intermediate clubs.

Atleast Brigids are competing for senior, but again the volume of players for the ratio of clubs, isnt a true reflection of the talent in antrim.

But again, mcentee cant drag men out

[Spike]

I really dont understand how anyone could blame Andy for what happened at the weekend. In the greater scheme of things, i would say Andy has done a good job with the hand he was dealt. Not as if the best players in the county have made themselves all available to him, for gods sake its a team filled with BALLYMENA, ST.BRIGIDS AND GLENRAVEL MEN. What do we genuinely expect.... none of these lads, with the greatest of respect, are ripping up the club scene in Antrim with the exception perhaps of Jordan, McAleese and Walsh who always stand out for their clubs.

It is what it is...be better to invest in our underage heavily and see where that gets us in 10 years

Extremely disrespectful to the clubs mentioned there.

It is, 3 very well ran clubs.

I get what the point they are trying to make though.  The County Squad at times resembles a Gaelfast Development outing.

Our problem with 10 year develop plans is that we have no patience and want the quick fix solution.  We start with great intentions of slow and steady progress such as Dunsilly, Casement, Corrigan, Development squads and then abandon that after a year and start rushing again. 

[Milltown Row2]

Club is king. Andy and the county managers beforehand are always dealing with a club mentality being better than a county mentality, players attitudes when coming into the county is shit, lets be honest, the cliques and not lking other players from other clubs has been an issue.

Posters blaming managers for sending off's have very poor memories for their own players getting sent of in county finals, but sure that doesn't suit their narrative

No one can force anyone to attend or make themselves available, if they prefer to settle for their clubs so be it, and nothing wrong with that. But save me the crap that a manager needs to be going around asking players to commit to the county team, batshit crazy stuff.

I'd rather put out an under 12 team before doing that shite

[Gaelic man]

The players that are out training are trying there best at the end of the day there not going out to lose.Antrim selected Andy to manage this team and he is trying his own style and play he has went with big men which is clear to see but that is his choice we can do anything about it.

[Níl a fhios agam]

MR2 whats the story with the young galls lad Burns. I thought he was an exceptional talent. Is he injured, travelling or why is he not featuring in Saffron

[SaffronSports]

If we brought in Jim Gavin with Mickey Harte and Jack O'connor as assistants where would we be? Probably still division 3? I'm 40 and aside from a few years under Baker supported by our best ever club team in St Galls, we've been poor. That dates back to long before McEntee, long before this county board and quite a few before.

You could ask every Antrim fan on here and they'd give you a different reason and there's probably some truth in all of them. Loads of things need to be addressed and it goes right to the very bottom and until they are this nonsense will continue.

[Take the Mark]

Very harsh comments on some of the clubs there - Glenravel especially harshly spoken about considering they don't even have a starter on the team.

A lot of talk about who McEntee can or cannot get out to join the panel, how do people know who he invited to join the panel? Its clear to me hes after a specific type of player - 6 feet plus and can run all day. Of course there are one or two who don't fit that criteria but thats the general rule it looks, regardless of ability.

Its the managers job to improve the team - he isn't doing that.

As for any nonsense talked about players not wanting to play with eachother etc, complete balls. Try our neighbours in Armagh and Derry for that and you'll soon find it happens all over. But 'cliques' apparently... You'd know a thing or 2 about cliques MR.

[Milltown Row2]

Very harsh comments on some of the clubs there - Glenravel especially harshly spoken about considering they don't even have a starter on the team.

A lot of talk about who McEntee can or cannot get out to join the panel, how do people know who he invited to join the panel? Its clear to me hes after a specific type of player - 6 feet plus and can run all day. Of course there are one or two who don't fit that criteria but thats the general rule it looks, regardless of ability.

Its the managers job to improve the team - he isn't doing that.

As for any nonsense talked about players not wanting to play with eachother etc, complete balls. Try our neighbours in Armagh and Derry for that and you'll soon find it happens all over. But 'cliques' apparently... You'd know a thing or 2 about cliques MR.

Sorry to hit a nerve but that's the way it is, who's at fault well who knows and certain posters from certain clubs continually blaming the manager? Christ, its embarrassing

We as an Antrim team don't play traditionally as a team, Baker was probably the best to have gotten us to play as unit, even then there was maybe one or two lads that probably were not invested

So I'll ask you would you blame your club manager for players being sent off? 

[Níl a fhios agam]

id blame the ref to be honest if i was from the clubs you are referring to

[Take the Mark]

No not at all, the manager has no input whatsoever on the discipline of his players who take the field, course not 

[SaffronSports]

Is McGeeney responsible for Forker at the weekend?

Do you think he said, when Murphy comes on, few shoulders to draw attention to it then a headbutt.

Players can be silly bastards on their own sometimes.