Mayo Season Review 2008 - O'Mahony Confirmed for Another Year

[stephenite]

I don't have a problem with Trial games, if by Trial games he means a trying to figure out if a couple of stand out club players and U-21's are up to the standard of the rest of the established county players.

The thing about managing at this level is that there will always be people who reckon that certain players (that put in great performances for their club) should be involved and will grumble at their non inclusion. A couple of games marking Conor Mort, Ronan McGarrity or Keith Higgins would tell if they're up to the required standard, if they are throw them a couple of FBD or league games and see if they're still up to it.

We all have a fair idea of who the best 25 players are and know that they will be there or thereabouts, they are the established ones, but surely there's no harm in throwing it open to a couple of others and see how they do?

[moysider]

I don't have a problem with Trial games, if by Trial games he means a trying to figure out if a couple of stand out club players and U-21's are up to the standard of the rest of the established county players.

The thing about managing at this level is that there will always be people who reckon that certain players (that put in great performances for their club) should be involved and will grumble at their non inclusion. A couple of games marking Conor Mort, Ronan McGarrity or Keith Higgins would tell if they're up to the required standard, if they are throw them a couple of FBD or league games and see if they're still up to it.

We all have a fair idea of who the best 25 players are and know that they will be there or thereabouts, they are the established ones, but surely there's no harm in throwing it open to a couple of others and see how they do?

True. And I could suggest a few players from junior clubs or whatever. Even there the quality players are fairly obvious and it would be more meaningful to bring them along for a while and suss them out in training. My gripe is that this trial games stuff is just another ploy to appease the masses. Y know ' we trolled the width and breath of the county'  and ' if you know somebody better' spiel. I would prefer if he concentrated on getting his selections and tactics and attitude  right for the Galway games etc. Everybody knows who the personnel are.

[OirthearMhaigheo]

I don't have a problem with Trial games, if by Trial games he means a trying to figure out if a couple of stand out club players and U-21's are up to the standard of the rest of the established county players.

The thing about managing at this level is that there will always be people who reckon that certain players (that put in great performances for their club) should be involved and will grumble at their non inclusion. A couple of games marking Conor Mort, Ronan McGarrity or Keith Higgins would tell if they're up to the required standard, if they are throw them a couple of FBD or league games and see if they're still up to it.

We all have a fair idea of who the best 25 players are and know that they will be there or thereabouts, they are the established ones, but surely there's no harm in throwing it open to a couple of others and see how they do?

True. And I could suggest a few players from junior clubs or whatever. Even there the quality players are fairly obvious and it would be more meaningful to bring them along for a while and suss them out in training. My gripe is that this trial games stuff is just another ploy to appease the masses. Y know ' we trolled the width and breath of the county'  and ' if you know somebody better' spiel. I would prefer if he concentrated on getting his selections and tactics and attitude  right for the Galway games etc. Everybody knows who the personnel are.

Did you have a problem with Moran and Morrison having trial games? I don't see what your gripe is here moysider. Surely trial games are as good a way as any to bring in 4 or 5 'there or thereabouts' players and see if they can handle a match against the established county lads?

[rosnarun]

Did you have a problem with Moran and Morrison having trial games? I don't see what your gripe is here moysider. Surely trial games are as good a way as any to bring in 4 or 5 'there or thereabouts' players and see if they can handle a match against the established county lads?

Trial games are a necessary part of picking a panel every year to find players for sevearl reasons
1) see if former minor and U21 stars still have what it take interms of speed intrest and hunger
2) players who were ignored or not good enough or from the 'wrong club'  at underage level and have come on sense
3) humiliate senior players who have got too big for their boots

[moysider]

I know trial games are part and parcel of the whole business. They are a useful tool of course. They can be used to justify either keeping or getting rid of somebody. The word trial is a bad word to start with but I suppose we can put up with that.

Management should be well aware of who can do what from the U21 teams and most clubs.

Who would ye lads suggest should be brought along for trials - hate that word.

[moysider]

Just looking at the buzz over on the Steven O Neill thread and it struck me how many of us [ not all] were waiting for a similar boost during the Summer.

Some saddos will bring out the calender again here but other counties recognise class. We might have only lost to Tyrone by a point but in reality there s light years between us in footballing terms as to how ambitious and competent we are at managing the game in our respective counties.

Some people have questioned my crankiness. I see no reason for optimism apart from our resources of players. I m not sure we ll deploy them any better than recent years. It s alright fellas callin for support for FBD, League etc - and many of us have been there for years and probably will be again. But don't tell us to be positive and optimistic when form tells us next year will be more of the same.

For me the last 2 champ games v Galway have been damning. These lads grew up together in Colleges etc.  You would have expected Johnno to have the inside track on Galway but...... They knew each other well and each time Mayo were blitzed early and spent he rest of the match chasing respectability. This was at least partly down to whimsical and even an arrogant selection policy. This year they got some respectability but still we were put in our place - at home. What s going to be different next year?  If we get to play Galway it will be in Salthill and Galway will hardly accomodate us there. I ll go along now and saw that nothing will change. I believe we ll be beaten in Connacht by Galway and thats all she wrote. Pessimistic?  .......No. I ve been there before. Realistic.

[OirthearMhaigheo]

I know trial games are part and parcel of the whole business. They are a useful tool of course. They can be used to justify either keeping or getting rid of somebody. The word trial is a bad word to start with but I suppose we can put up with that.

I agree, I don't think trial is the right word to use either and I don't think players literally are on trial in terms of 'show me your bag of tricks'. They are there to demonstrate hunger and general ability to live with the standard of current squad players. Of course there is the old chestnut of asking former established players along to these games but plenty of time has been devoted to that already!
Our playing resources are my cause for optimism, we do have good young players on the way as the minors are showing. It would be great if some of them horse the bacon and cabbage into them over the winter and were ready for senior next year but realistically we won't be seeing most of them for a couple of years.

[Lar Naparka]

I suppose trial games have their uses but I don't think too much should be read into individual displays in those trials.
Suppose a player is invited along who has been displaying good club form. He has been producing solid consistent displays as part of a settled formation where he has built up an understanding with those around him.
Now if he is stuck into a trial match he is expected to produce the same level of excellence when playing alongside individuals with whom he has had little or no experience of playing with.
What if some other players on his side deliberately decide not to fully co-operate with him? This has been known to happen, maybe because of personal animosity or to further the chances of someone else.
If his chances are to be based on his display in one trial match alone it could be hard to judge his true ability. Wouldn't it be a better idea to bring him along to a few squad sessions first so he could have a reasonable chance of 'bedding in' with those around him?

[rosnarun]

Its probably much easier to playyour self out of the squad in a trial game rather than into it . if a young buck comes in and looks slow and akward in a trial game he's probably finished at inter county level whereas if he looks sprightly and enthusiastic the best hell do is get another look
none of the about applies to the twlight zone inhiblted by Austin O malley