I might be over simplifying things but I think a major factor in our defeat to Kildare is : Fitness, S&C, tactics. Player for player, on a raw talent level, I think we match them. They're not a kerry or dublin : they were just well drilled, knew their role and were fit and strong : all attributes that can be coached / developed.
Look what we did in the McNulty era with a similar level squad : yes the football was horrible to look at but we were very competitive and not lacking for fitness, s&c.
When Kildare and Laois were FRESH in the first 25 minutes or so this year, it was a game. There wasn't a whole lot between the teams. When the legs gave out, we were chasing shadows all day. Our fitness was poor relative to Kildare and anyone that plays the game knows that fitness is huge. When your legs give out and your lungs are busted your level goes way way down.
Look at any fight for proof on that : if a boxer gasses out, he's done - suddenly his technique and work rate is minimised. I believe we gassed out terribly vs Kildare and in addition had no proper drilling, tactics, or conditioning. It was a foregone conclusion really.
From that perspective, I'm disappointed in Creedon to a certain extent. It's been 9 months or so since he arrived : I'd expect better fitness. HOWEVER, anyone who knows anything about a good level of fitness knows it takes at least a year or two to create a good fitness base including s&c which we don't seem to have to a good level : in addition we are just getting a lot of lads back since March and April which doesn't help.
Someone said if we get the Dublin set up in, for example, it wouldn't make a difference. I think that's incorrect. A dublin type setup in Laois for the next 4-5 years would see progress. A focussed, progressive, proactive setup would get us more competitive.
Unfortunately for us, we don't seem to have a lot of talent coming through but AGAIN, that's down to coaching and development and a lot can be done to turn decent -12'S/14's into good minors. It never happens by accident. These lads need to be nurtured correctly. That IS NOT happening at present.
Long story short : you get out of something what you put in. I'm not sure what Creedon will do if he stays but I do believe that we need a holistic overhaul of the whole setup, if we want to be competitive in the next 8 - 10 years. That all depends on the knowledge level and will of the CB and people in charge. They need to set up proper structures - if they don't know how, copy one of the leading counties. It's not rocket science and it doesn't necessarily have to cost the earth. Juts common sense, people with ambition, desire and knowledge. Otherwise, we'll be swimming in a sea of 20 or so counties that won't have a chance as their prep will be just as poor as ours.
Not very excited for the qualifiers but we'll likely get over Wicklow and lose the next round. We simply don't have the required fitness this year to challenge any top 16 team. Creedon sounds a bit low energy and unenthusiastic in his interviews. I backed him earlier this year but coming around to the possibility that he simply doesn't have the desire to turn around this capsized ship over the long-term. I hope I'm wrong as he is a smart guy, I just don't see him loving the Laois experience enough to want to devote everything to turning it around (maybe I'm wrong). I would be open to a new, young, SMART, FORWARD THINKING, Laois man, but he's got to have the will and KNOWLEDGE to do it long-term, and we've got to have people all around the county to provide good standards for our young players coming up. Tall ask but possible if the will is there. Maybe it just isn't, who knows. It probably isn't in all likelyhood but that's what we NEED, and badly.
