Antrim Football Thread

[Saffrongael]

Is it just a given that nobody in St Endas will take a senior team ? Hurling or football ?

[Milltown Row2]

I can understand why certain clubmen, well regarded and with plenty of playing and coaching experience would not take on a senior team within the their own club.

Have you ever tried it? Its the most poison chalice position, automatically your are falling out with people left right and center, barflies are questioning your selections and tactics, your training methods are up for debate and nowadays with the fecking groups chats players feel they need to express everything!!

You wouldn't touch it with a barge pole if you have any sense, but, if you are an 'outsider' you have no baggage, you don't hang about in the club, or have 'real' friends other than the staff you have helping you out, so not too bothered if Paddy thinks your a dick

[Last Man]

Is it just a given that nobody in St Endas will take a senior team ? Hurling or football ?

If you'd ever managed a Senior team you would know that players demand a certain level of credibility rightly or wrongly. We obviously don't have any members with 4 or 5 senior medals in their pocket and unfortunately thats what it takes to keep the modern player's ego in check for they always think they know better.  Its all well and good for the clubs with that history but mark my words it'll be the same for all  senior clubs in a year or 2. No-one is a prophet in their own land.

[InnocentByStander]

I can understand why certain clubmen, well regarded and with plenty of playing and coaching experience would not take on a senior team within the their own club.

Have you ever tried it? Its the most poison chalice position, automatically your are falling out with people left right and center, barflies are questioning your selections and tactics, your training methods are up for debate and nowadays with the fecking groups chats players feel they need to express everything!!

You wouldn't touch it with a barge pole if you have any sense, but, if you are an 'outsider' you have no baggage, you don't hang about in the club, or have 'real' friends other than the staff you have helping you out, so not too bothered if Paddy thinks your a dick

All you got to do is look at Lavey, that is a prime reason why no one would touch their own senior team with a pole!

[EOC1923]

Is it just a given that nobody in St Endas will take a senior team ? Hurling or football ?

If you'd ever managed a Senior team you would know that players demand a certain level of credibility rightly or wrongly. We obviously don't have any members with 4 or 5 senior medals in their pocket and unfortunately thats what it takes to keep the modern player's ego in check for they always think they know better.  Its all well and good for the clubs with that history but mark my words it'll be the same for all  senior clubs in a year or 2. No-one is a prophet in their own land.

It's mad that you can bring in people who don't have 4 or 5 senior medals in their pocket.
And your clubmen who don't have 4 or 5 senior medals in their pockets have no problem getting work elsewhere.

The points about prophet in your own land are valid but money is undoubtedly a significant motivating factor.

The point about managers from your own club managing elsewhere might be relevant in Derry or Tyrone but not much in Antrim apart from McNultys.
Looks to me like most if not all these managers are teachers by profession or else retired, hence they have a lot more expendable time (earlier daily finish and 2 months off in summer). Managing a team is obviously something they want to do in life and given the amount of time being given up they are then compensated for it (which generally wont happen if taking your own club). I'm assuming this is why they do it.
Honestly don't see a problem with it if no one at that current time within club is prepared to do it, what else can you do.

[saffman]

All valid points and very much understand them all

In the case of St Enda's who despite a poor football campaign with alot of their well known players not on teamsheets. I'd assume they want to be playing Div 1 and pushing in both codes.

Looking at former players how many of them played Div 1 in either code? Genuine question of anyone would have more knowledge but to me seems the obvious solution is to get managers who have experienced the top level?

Similarly if a club is regularly div 3/4 and wanting to progress up the divisions - obtain the services of a manager exposed to playing at a higher level?

[paddyjohn]

I can understand why certain clubmen, well regarded and with plenty of playing and coaching experience would not take on a senior team within the their own club.

Have you ever tried it? Its the most poison chalice position, automatically your are falling out with people left right and center, barflies are questioning your selections and tactics, your training methods are up for debate and nowadays with the fecking groups chats players feel they need to express everything!!

You wouldn't touch it with a barge pole if you have any sense, but, if you are an 'outsider' you have no baggage, you don't hang about in the club, or have 'real' friends other than the staff you have helping you out, so not too bothered if Paddy thinks your a dick

Agree 100%. Nail on the head.

[Saffrongael]

I really don't think the 4/5 championship medals is necessary, players want a coach that is clued in, organised, fair and knows what he is at. Plenty of fellas with medals wouldn't have a clue where to start

[NorthAntrim]

All valid points and very much understand them all

In the case of St Enda's who despite a poor football campaign with alot of their well known players not on teamsheets. I'd assume they want to be playing Div 1 and pushing in both codes.

Looking at former players how many of them played Div 1 in either code? Genuine question of anyone would have more knowledge but to me seems the obvious solution is to get managers who have experienced the top level?

Similarly if a club is regularly div 3/4 and wanting to progress up the divisions - obtain the services of a manager exposed to playing at a higher level?

i agree, especially with this st endas example. They, not a long time ago were at the bottom of the pile of antrim hurling. Their marquee player then is still doing it in division 1 now. Until this crop possibly hang up the boots they possibly dont have anyone internal with the tools to take a team at that level / expectations

[EOC1923]

All valid points and very much understand them all

In the case of St Enda's who despite a poor football campaign with alot of their well known players not on teamsheets. I'd assume they want to be playing Div 1 and pushing in both codes.

Looking at former players how many of them played Div 1 in either code? Genuine question of anyone would have more knowledge but to me seems the obvious solution is to get managers who have experienced the top level?

Similarly if a club is regularly div 3/4 and wanting to progress up the divisions - obtain the services of a manager exposed to playing at a higher level?

i agree, especially with this st endas example. They, not a long time ago were at the bottom of the pile of antrim hurling. Their marquee player then is still doing it in division 1 now. Until this crop possibly hang up the boots they possibly dont have anyone internal with the tools to take a team at that level / expectations

McNulty the Creggan manager?

[NorthAntrim]

All valid points and very much understand them all

In the case of St Enda's who despite a poor football campaign with alot of their well known players not on teamsheets. I'd assume they want to be playing Div 1 and pushing in both codes.

Looking at former players how many of them played Div 1 in either code? Genuine question of anyone would have more knowledge but to me seems the obvious solution is to get managers who have experienced the top level?

Similarly if a club is regularly div 3/4 and wanting to progress up the divisions - obtain the services of a manager exposed to playing at a higher level?

i agree, especially with this st endas example. They, not a long time ago were at the bottom of the pile of antrim hurling. Their marquee player then is still doing it in division 1 now. Until this crop possibly hang up the boots they possibly dont have anyone internal with the tools to take a team at that level / expectations

McNulty the Creggan manager?

i was using hurling example

[EOC1923]

All valid points and very much understand them all

In the case of St Enda's who despite a poor football campaign with alot of their well known players not on teamsheets. I'd assume they want to be playing Div 1 and pushing in both codes.

Looking at former players how many of them played Div 1 in either code? Genuine question of anyone would have more knowledge but to me seems the obvious solution is to get managers who have experienced the top level?

Similarly if a club is regularly div 3/4 and wanting to progress up the divisions - obtain the services of a manager exposed to playing at a higher level?

i agree, especially with this st endas example. They, not a long time ago were at the bottom of the pile of antrim hurling. Their marquee player then is still doing it in division 1 now. Until this crop possibly hang up the boots they possibly dont have anyone internal with the tools to take a team at that level / expectations

McNulty the Creggan manager?

i was using hurling example

My mistake, must of thought as it was a football thread it was football

[Would ye whist]

Funny Whitehill this year went for the holygrail of the fancy outside name who was taking them one way, it took one of their own to come in and save them (just)

[NorthAntrim]

Funny Whitehill this year went for the holygrail of the fancy outside name who was taking them one way, it took one of their own to come in and save them (just)

Dont think we need to look beyond All Saints for an example of an outside big name flop

[marty34]

All this depends on your view of success.

What is success...from where you finished the previous year.

If you finished 5th in league, getting to 3 rd and having a decent run in the championship would represent success to me.

Conversely, finishing 9th the previous year and hoping to get to win the league is not success.  People and clubs need to be realistic.

I've mentioned this before on here. Clubs need a 10 year plan, set achieveable and realistic goals - review it every year. Underage must be part of it also.

If a club (who finished 10th year before) bring in a managerment team, pay them say 10k and 'hope' they win the championship, more fool them.

They'll move off to a neighbouring club are two years and everybody will be back to square one. And repeat.