Would you play inter-county football in the current climate?

heffo · July 14, 2012, 09:05:32 PM

Quote from: donegal_abu on July 14, 2012, 08:07:02 PM
if you think wud u like to get up and be in th gym at 6 to do wokout, go do a full days work, drive up to 2 hours in donegal for a 3 hour training and then drive home again ?

Not if I had to look at Big Jim's long face every night!

shark · July 14, 2012, 09:48:06 PM

Quote from: donegal_abu on July 14, 2012, 08:07:02 PM
Just looking at Donegal team.. it is a massive massive commitment.

Our boys usually train tues, thurs, sat and sun. donegals a huge county, some boys could travel up to 2 hours to training and two hours back. not to mention the 3 hour training session in between that. boys are leaving famillies for such long periods up to 4 nights a week and the cost of fuel is high. then theres the 6 am daily gym sessions, more time away from home. meetings and press nights...games where the team always stays away the night before. and i know some people give out about donegals stays in th slieve russe (presume they´ll be there saturday again) but i think they deserve it tbh. its all they really get for the months commitment, they arent paid so a night away isnt too much to fork out. then jims bonding breaks.. men away from famillies and work for up to 4 days. if you think wud u like to get up and be in th gym at 6 to do wokout, go do a full days work, drive up to 2 hours in donegal for a 3 hour training and then drive home again ? not many wud be prepared to do so. and i applaude our boys for putting in th time and commitment, caus with jim every man is there is no slackng !!! and all this commitment for what ? a medal.. yes its such an achievvemnt and a lifetime dream for a lot of these guys but it wont pay the bills, mind the children or keep the woman happy at home alone 4 nights a week !!

Cost a fuel isn't an issue at the moment, as the current rate of mileage for inter-county players would cover it. But if prices keep going up.......

Dangleberrys · July 15, 2012, 04:52:07 PM

You're presuming that players get their milage covered

Trust me, the majority don't....

shark · July 15, 2012, 05:31:56 PM

Quote from: Dangleberrys on July 15, 2012, 04:52:07 PM
You're presuming that players get their milage covered

Trust me, the majority don't....

Really?
I've friends on about 6/7 different county panels at the moment and they are all getting their mileage covered. In fact those who have more economical cars are making a bit of a profit off the current rate. Although I guess the wear and tear on their cars cancels this out.

heffo · July 15, 2012, 05:40:47 PM

Quote from: Dangleberrys on July 15, 2012, 04:52:07 PM
You're presuming that players get their milage covered

Trust me, the majority don't....

Get up the yard will ya, the majority car pool and all make mileage claims.

Franko · July 16, 2012, 01:44:20 PM

Quote from: rodney trotter on July 13, 2012, 11:31:27 PM
Colm Cooper must be a animal then is he Franko? He is the same build as Jamie Clarke. Why would it catch up on him, he can get by on skill and speed. The myth that you need to be 14 stone and pumping muscles is overhyped. Besides most of the Armagh team are a different build to Clarke, his eluvsivness brings something different to the Armagh team.

No. I didn't say anything about 'bulking up'. How do you know the Gooch doesn't do any gym work? But I guarantee that as he gets older the injuries will begin to mount up if he isn't doing anything other than football and cardio work.

screenexile · July 16, 2012, 02:30:05 PM

When I was growing up I had serious aspirations of playing for the County Team and had I been asked at any time up until I was 25 I would have done so. I played Under 21 for a couple of years but again it's not anywhere near the commitment it would be now.

My main problem now and from talking to different people I know this to be true. It's not as enjoyable as it was. Lads who are maybe 3/4 years younger than me aren't enjoying their football anymore. Training is all fitness and tactics and very little football while games now resemble a game of Rugby League where forwards find it very difficult to get scores.

I loved it back then the craic was great but the preparation wasn't anyting near what is required now. Scullion took us 6/7 years ago and his reign then compared to now wouldn't even come close. We used to train like hell for 3 months at the start of the year then it was all drills and football for the rest of the year whereas nowadays you train like mad the whole way through as well as taking your supplements, weatching your diet and doing your 3 gym sessions. Not all lads would be recording everything they do but there are lads who you would notice a huge difference in even from 2 years ago.

Maybe if I had gone through all these things when I was younger I could manage as it would have been 2nd nature but with 2 bad knees and a spare stone around the waist it's very difficult to to find the motivation any more. At the time though I would have given anything to pull on the Red and White jersey but I don't think I could do it going by todays standards.

rodney trotter · July 16, 2012, 03:16:14 PM

No. I didn't say anything about 'bulking up'. How do you know the Gooch doesn't do any gym work? But I guarantee that as he gets older the injuries will begin to mount up if he isn't doing anything other than football and cardio work.
[/quote]

I don't know if Cooper does any Gym work, Cooper is 29 now I think. If he does do gym work it doesn't really show as he is still slight. Clarke is 23 now, gym work can slow up some players, but i dont think it would effect Clarke. He is well able for the physical stuff anyway.

johnneycool · July 16, 2012, 03:27:10 PM

Quote from: donegal_abu on July 14, 2012, 08:07:02 PM
Just looking at Donegal team.. it is a massive massive commitment.

Our boys usually train tues, thurs, sat and sun. donegals a huge county, some boys could travel up to 2 hours to training and two hours back. not to mention the 3 hour training session in between that. boys are leaving famillies for such long periods up to 4 nights a week and the cost of fuel is high. then theres the 6 am daily gym sessions, more time away from home. meetings and press nights...games where the team always stays away the night before. and i know some people give out about donegals stays in th slieve russe (presume they´ll be there saturday again) but i think they deserve it tbh. its all they really get for the months commitment, they arent paid so a night away isnt too much to fork out. then jims bonding breaks.. men away from famillies and work for up to 4 days. if you think wud u like to get up and be in th gym at 6 to do wokout, go do a full days work, drive up to 2 hours in donegal for a 3 hour training and then drive home again ? not many wud be prepared to do so. and i applaude our boys for putting in th time and commitment, caus with jim every man is there is no slackng !!! and all this commitment for what ? a medal.. yes its such an achievvemnt and a lifetime dream for a lot of these guys but it wont pay the bills, mind the children or keep the woman happy at home alone 4 nights a week !!

What is Jim's day job?

i know he was an eternal student for near on 10 years, but surely he's earning a crust now.

donegal_abu · July 16, 2012, 04:23:26 PM

Quote from: johnneycool on July 16, 2012, 03:27:10 PM
Quote from: donegal_abu on July 14, 2012, 08:07:02 PM
Just looking at Donegal team.. it is a massive massive commitment.

Our boys usually train tues, thurs, sat and sun. donegals a huge county, some boys could travel up to 2 hours to training and two hours back. not to mention the 3 hour training session in between that. boys are leaving famillies for such long periods up to 4 nights a week and the cost of fuel is high. then theres the 6 am daily gym sessions, more time away from home. meetings and press nights...games where the team always stays away the night before. and i know some people give out about donegals stays in th slieve russe (presume they´ll be there saturday again) but i think they deserve it tbh. its all they really get for the months commitment, they arent paid so a night away isnt too much to fork out. then jims bonding breaks.. men away from famillies and work for up to 4 days. if you think wud u like to get up and be in th gym at 6 to do wokout, go do a full days work, drive up to 2 hours in donegal for a 3 hour training and then drive home again ? not many wud be prepared to do so. and i applaude our boys for putting in th time and commitment, caus with jim every man is there is no slackng !!! and all this commitment for what ? a medal.. yes its such an achievvemnt and a lifetime dream for a lot of these guys but it wont pay the bills, mind the children or keep the woman happy at home alone 4 nights a week !!

What is Jim's day job?

i know he was an eternal student for near on 10 years, but surely he's earning a crust now.

he has his own business... m not 100% but i think its sport psychology, motivational speaking that kinda thing !

screenexile · July 16, 2012, 04:45:21 PM

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Achieve-Consultancy/111771298887084

Dangleberrys · July 16, 2012, 09:09:33 PM

Quote from: shark on July 15, 2012, 05:31:56 PM
Quote from: Dangleberrys on July 15, 2012, 04:52:07 PM
You're presuming that players get their milage covered

Trust me, the majority don't....

Really?
I've friends on about 6/7 different county panels at the moment and they are all getting their mileage covered. In fact those who have more economical cars are making a bit of a profit off the current rate. Although I guess the wear and tear on their cars cancels this out.

Things must have changed in the past couple of years! I know a good few who have decades of service put in and if they were to get what they were really owed, their respective counties would be bust. No doubt some are making money from screwing the system, the majority will not get what they are owed, let alone what they are entitled too...but that's a different discussion for a different day, too big for this thread...

Bingo · July 24, 2012, 12:38:18 PM

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/overhaul-of-club-scene-long-overdue-201616.html?fb_ref=.UA6BMdsLjeo.like&fb_source=home_oneline

Slightly related to this topic, so put it here rather than start new topic.

Piece written by John Hayes ex Cork player. Interesting from a county player going back to play club footballer and the fustrations a club player faces.

You often here of county players reluctance or indifference to club football.

Would be interesting to see what the GPA panel he refers to come up with in terms of new championship format.

LeoMc · July 24, 2012, 12:47:54 PM

Quote from: Bingo on July 24, 2012, 12:38:18 PM
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/overhaul-of-club-scene-long-overdue-201616.html?fb_ref=.UA6BMdsLjeo.like&fb_source=home_oneline

Slightly related to this topic, so put it here rather than start new topic.

Piece written by John Hayes ex Cork player. Interesting from a county player going back to play club footballer and the fustrations a club player faces.

You often here of county players reluctance or indifference to club football.

Would be interesting to see what the GPA panel he refers to come up with in terms of new championship format.

I am not sure of the ins and outs of the Cork championship but it seems to have the same inherent weakness the qualifiers suffer from in that a team that is successful early is penalised by having to wait around while the teams that play off get more football.

Bingo · July 24, 2012, 12:58:12 PM

Quote from: LeoMc on July 24, 2012, 12:47:54 PM
I am not sure of the ins and outs of the Cork championship but it seems to have the same inherent weakness the qualifiers suffer from in that a team that is successful early is penalised by having to wait around while the teams that play off get more football.

It seems to vary from county to county. Monaghan would suffer in terms of club football I feel. To date, senior clubs have played 1 round of championship matches with the next round not till 26/27 August. No teams have been knocked out as such with any defeated teams having another chance in backdoor. At the same time the league ongoing and its important as 2 teams will be relegated - championship football doesn't have effect on relegation. In the league each senior team now has 3 games in the space of 7 days - last Saturday, tomorrow Wednesday and then Friday.

Its a bit chaotic at times and then nothing for weeks.