Messages

You are right Laois Rising, same narrative every time. Laois football at an all time low. A review was done a few years ago to improve Laois football, how many of those items have been actioned?

Ideally we should look to youth next year and use division 4 to build a team. I believe Billy did ask likes of Saunders, Diarmuid Whelan, Coffey etc in but they turned him down. Does it need a Micko type to get everyone to commit? For me, I would rather the resources were pumped into underage to produce competitive teams.

On the game itself, how a team can concede that amount against a division 4 team is hard to fathom and that lies with Billy and how he had the team setup. I know they're injuries and lads not available but you've to play the cards you're dealt with to get a win.

Same question re Marty Scully

Were people not saying they wanted Conway at the helm? We do have some of our 'own' involved.

Is Beano involved?

For me the biggest problems are

1) clubs - standard at senior has been poor for the last few years. 16 teams is too many and clubs are happy to just remain senior. 12 would be more than enough.

2) lads not committing - to get to the levels of division 1 and 2 we really need everyone to commit. It's hard when the realistic ambitions are to get promoted to division 2 and maybe have a crack for the Tailteann cup. I for one hope Laois do give this a rattle. Maybe they could get an away game to NY in the first round.

Throw in Covid and young lads couldn't travel the last few years so can understand why they would now and believe that's why some of the Port lads aren't involved.

If Billy did have everyone available and had better luck with injuries I believe they would have got promoted or at least challenged.

3) underage - this is a big issue. The introduction of 10-11 new GPOs should help in time. When was the last time Stradbally Parish Gaels or St Joes won a minor A title? I'm not having a pop at them but remember a great SPG team that had Quigley/Begley/Colm Kelly at one time and they were great. We badly need the football strongholds producing quality underage teams that feed into the county setup.

4) Pace and power. Our senior team badly lacks this. Is this an issue that comes from clubs/development squads? Ideally we would have an S&C specialist overseeing all county teams.

Do the County Board/Laois Gaels do any initiatives around tickets like giving every club juvenile teams from minor down free tickets? Surely generate more of a crowd and increase interest

What happened with Beano?

Slightly off topic but strange that there's no Ballyroan player on the minor panel? They've been cleaning up at underage level, just surprised to see no one on it

Ross isn't the issue and it's wrong to keep signaling him out. I'm sure if everyone was available (2 Kingstons and Moore) he wouldn't be getting as much game time. We lack a ball winner around the middle and badly lack pace. Unfortunately we lack powerful athletes and can't see too many that could come in and make a difference. We should beat Wicklow but need another draw/win to ensure we stay in division 3

Great news on Laoistoday that the number of GPOs is to double with the new recruits in place this month. I know Portlaoise and Port are going to avail of this which is great news for the urban population, what other clubs will be getting them?

Good win for Laois away to Meath. Anyone at it?

Any word on a team/panel?

Anyone know where Laois are playing Kildare tonight?

A worry for me is our lack of pace around midfield which will be a concern when the pitches harden up. Westmeath are a good team and are 4 years with Cooney so will ahead of Laois in terms of style and S&C. Hopefully the 2 week break allows lads to come back from injuries as Fermanagh away will be a tough test

Any team from us Hesh?

Sunday shows you can't just put a new lad in without the required levels of S&C. This cab take a number of years. Ideally you'd bring lads in from minor/u20 to a development panel so they get the same training/S&C as the seniors so its a smooth transition.

Only issue I would have is the goals that were conceded. At this level, you should not be conceding 6 goals and that falls on Billy to have them better prepared.

Have all the old guard committed this year? Interesting to see what new names are on the team this weekend