Jamie Clarke,the GAA's answer to Stephen Ireland?

[blewuporstuffed]

Players have always opted out (due to work/family commitments or whatever) or went travelling.
Frank McGuigan headed to American for a few years in his pomp in the early 80s.
Brian Mcguigan & hub Hughes both left an all Ireland winning squad to head to Australia in 04/05.
Keith Higgins also spent a while in Australia in 2008

That's just off the top of my head.
Its not all down to the demands of modern football, its just life.

If that's what Rory O'Carroll & Jamie Clarke want to do, then fair play to them, they aren't the first and they certainly wont be the last

[JoG2]

The reason why Jamie Clarke would start and stand out on the Dublin or Kerry teams is that the difference between them and Armagh is that they have other talented forwards which means that the defenders cannot afford to double mark Jamie.  I've seen him at training and in matches and some of the things he is capable of is unreal and for pure talent he is in the top 3-4 in the country,  on pure talent.  He is not a grafter, he is the artist not the artisan.  Armagh have 5 artisans and an artist when he plays,  the likes of kerry would have 3 artists and 3 artisans who have artistic tendencies!!

His first love is his club,  as it should be for every single player that plays the game and he is more committed to Cross than Armagh,  as it should be for any club player.  The difference is that he knows he will get success with Cross,  that will not happen very often in Armagh.  There are too many deficiencies in the county set up and as a result the artisan is becoming more popular than the artist.  Anyhow,  it makes no odds and from a Cross perspective I am glad we have him when we have.  At club level he will be replaced eventually but we enjoy him for his bohemian approach to the game!

I disagree on whether he would make the Dublin side but that is unproveable either way. The thread is being used to assess Jamie's ability but as surely the big issue here is the direction of travel of modern football (away from skill) and the specific set up in Armagh (reduced time with clubs, training like galley slaves, a limited match day gameplan that is neither exciting to watch or play in and ultimately a results outlook that is less than rosey).

Connerton was in the paper today saying that 40% of the invitations he sent out to join his County panel were rejected. Cavan have lost 14 of last years panel . . . do we just ignore the problem until we're left with a bunch of running gym monkeys who can't kick a ball but are willing to train 4 hours a day to play football?!!

If the demands of inter county football weren't what they are Jamie Clarke would be playing. If he was around at the end of the 90s/early 2000s he'd have been a great!!

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/physio-claims-young-gaa-players-are-institutionalised-and-sufferlong-term-repercussions-374628.html

[smelmoth]

The reason why Jamie Clarke would start and stand out on the Dublin or Kerry teams is that the difference between them and Armagh is that they have other talented forwards which means that the defenders cannot afford to double mark Jamie.  I've seen him at training and in matches and some of the things he is capable of is unreal and for pure talent he is in the top 3-4 in the country,  on pure talent.  He is not a grafter, he is the artist not the artisan.  Armagh have 5 artisans and an artist when he plays,  the likes of kerry would have 3 artists and 3 artisans who have artistic tendencies!!

His first love is his club,  as it should be for every single player that plays the game and he is more committed to Cross than Armagh,  as it should be for any club player.  The difference is that he knows he will get success with Cross,  that will not happen very often in Armagh.  There are too many deficiencies in the county set up and as a result the artisan is becoming more popular than the artist.  Anyhow,  it makes no odds and from a Cross perspective I am glad we have him when we have.  At club level he will be replaced eventually but we enjoy him for his bohemian approach to the game!

I disagree on whether he would make the Dublin side but that is unproveable either way. The thread is being used to assess Jamie's ability but as surely the big issue here is the direction of travel of modern football (away from skill) and the specific set up in Armagh (reduced time with clubs, training like galley slaves, a limited match day gameplan that is neither exciting to watch or play in and ultimately a results outlook that is less than rosey).

Connerton was in the paper today saying that 40% of the invitations he sent out to join his County panel were rejected. Cavan have lost 14 of last years panel . . . do we just ignore the problem until we're left with a bunch of running gym monkeys who can't kick a ball but are willing to train 4 hours a day to play football?!!

If the demands of inter county football weren't what they are Jamie Clarke would be playing. If he was around at the end of the 90s/early 2000s he'd have been a great!!

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/physio-claims-young-gaa-players-are-institutionalised-and-sufferlong-term-repercussions-374628.html

That is on the mark. For those that have put in 10 years into the modern set up a big number get out at about 30 and start a family. I knwo Andy Mallon came back but he was part of a great Armagh U21 team that quickly got into the senior team. McKeever is possibly the only one playing county football now. The rest made the decision to drop out when they were good enough to play. Only Stephen Kernan was dropped by management rather than going himself. Swift, Duffy & Mackin, Henderson dropped out in their 20s and B Mallon, A Kernan and Morriarty when the family route ("salvage some of their life") at abut the 30 mark

[naka]

I doubt if it was the Armagh squad of 2002 he would be gallivanting to the States.The County team should be the priority for a top player in what is a relatively short career.I pity the likes of Ronan Clarke who had no say in when their County career stopped and started.As I say,should he get tired of travelling if and when Armagh are playing in August this year,he is not parachuted into the squad

ffs give the lad a break, he should be enjoying himself ,the gaa don`t reward the sacrifices these guys make.
I look at the great 2002 team and can`t see anyone who has benefitted that much from those halcyon days save for guys who are managing teams.
medals and slapps on the back don't pay bills Tony
Rafferty is away this year, Harold has quit,mc kenna has quit , mallon is a maybe, moriarity has quit,
if you were in cross on sunday you can understand why he is going
we are awful

[T Fearon]

Well if Oisin,Mc Geeney,and Marsden (or anyone else in that great team) had decided to go wandering in the summer of 2002, would Sam have come to Armagh? Jamie will be a young man still when he retires and will have plenty of time for wandering then.Meanwhile I cannot fathom any Gael approving of arguably their County's best player in his prime years,forsaking a season in the County colours to go on an extended holiday? In fact I cannot think of any other high profile player who has done this (those who emigrated to Australia for professional careers,or the USA for work,which is understandable to a certain extent, excepted).

But BC hit the nail on the head,the lad is a glory hunter and perceives that Armagh have no chance of doing anything this summer.How demoralising this must be for his manager and county team mates,never mind the supporters

[tyroneman]

As a Tyrone supporter I gotten say he is a top class player. He doesn't quite have enough to carry an IC team on his back but an in form Clarke would waltz onto all teams in Ireland (bar maybe Dublin).....including Tyrone

[BennyCake]

Cross have been on the go for quite a while. Clarke is just expected to line out For Armagh when their run ends. 12 months a year, year after year. That is just plain crazy. I'd be wondering what the hell was wrong with a player if he didn't take the odd break from that!

[INDIANA]

Cross have been on the go for quite a while. Clarke is just expected to line out For Armagh when their run ends. 12 months a year, year after year. That is just plain crazy. I'd be wondering what the hell was wrong with a player if he didn't take the odd break from that!

He has more breaks then Daniel Sturridge. He's not interested and that's it.

With all due respect to those above saying the 2002 team didn't do well should review the salaries of Kieran Mc Geeney and Tony Mc Entee.

[Orior]

You have to hand it to Clarke, he's 26, hasn't done a days work in his life and has managed to see half the world on the back of his hobby which he hasn't even managed to really influence at the highest level of intercounty football.

Clarke hasn't done it at county level, that's just the bottom line of the matter. If he mirrored the efforts of other players he'd be one of the best in the country but he hasn't and that means he shouldn't be above criticism.

I concur. Why do I travel and pay in to see Armagh play when I know they are never at full strength? Answer - cause I'm an idiot.

[rrhf]

The reason why Jamie Clarke would start and stand out on the Dublin or Kerry teams is that the difference between them and Armagh is that they have other talented forwards which means that the defenders cannot afford to double mark Jamie.  I've seen him at training and in matches and some of the things he is capable of is unreal and for pure talent he is in the top 3-4 in the country,  on pure talent.  He is not a grafter, he is the artist not the artisan.  Armagh have 5 artisans and an artist when he plays,  the likes of kerry would have 3 artists and 3 artisans who have artistic tendencies!!

His first love is his club,  as it should be for every single player that plays the game and he is more committed to Cross than Armagh,  as it should be for any club player.  The difference is that he knows he will get success with Cross,  that will not happen very often in Armagh.  There are too many deficiencies in the county set up and as a result the artisan is becoming more popular than the artist.  Anyhow,  it makes no odds and from a Cross perspective I am glad we have him when we have.  At club level he will be replaced eventually but we enjoy him for his bohemian approach to the game!

In fairness he has taken time out from his Crossmaglen duties in the past also.  He's a wanderer who comes in and out of both set ups as far as I can see.

As a neutral this is extremely disappointing, not to see the wizardry of one of the few rare skilled talents left in forward football for another year.  He remains one of the few forwards in the game that you whisper to your kids...Thats Jamie Clarke.. Its amazing that Cross are a big club and capable of withstanding his loss, unfortunately for Armagh County they cannot.
Armagh were always a hard hard team who couldnt play football and who won fcuk all until Mc Alinden /Canavan/ Joe Kernan had them winning playing hard but playing football,  but with one eye on Sunday it looks like they are going nowhere fast this year either... Just hard again.. Is there even room for a footballer in that camp or am I being harsh.   

[redzone]

Lmfao rhhf,

[BennyCake]

Cross have been on the go for quite a while. Clarke is just expected to line out For Armagh when their run ends. 12 months a year, year after year. That is just plain crazy. I'd be wondering what the hell was wrong with a player if he didn't take the odd break from that!

He has more breaks then Daniel Sturridge. He's not interested and that's it.

With all due respect to those above saying the 2002 team didn't do well should review the salaries of Kieran Mc Geeney and Tony Mc Entee.

Maybe he's not interested. Maybe he's one of these people that football is not going to consume every aspect of his life, and won't be taking up all his time. Nothing wrong with his attitude. Actually, it's quite normal.

[heffo]

In fact I cannot think of any other high profile player who has done this

Rory O'Carroll - holder of 3 x Senior AI, 1 x Club AI and 1 x U21 AI did the same this week

[nrico2006]

In my opinion Clarke would walk on any county team and be their best forward.  If he played on the Dublin or Kerry teams he would be a superstar, unbelievable player.

[Brick Tamlin]

Its actually laughable (and slightly worrying) at the mentality of some guys on here who cant fathom young guys deciding not to let football rule their lives.
Yes id say it is frustrating from a spectator point of view that one of your top players chooses to do other things with their time but at the end of the day nobody has a monopoly on these guys.
The more Jamie Clarkes out the better I say.

Its sad that our games haven't room for the maverick player anymore. The uber-fit, gym-rat with f*k all skills prevails nowadays.
Bottom line is the output doesn't anywhere equate to the input from players.

Id say Jamie Clarke is laughin his balls off at the 'furore' some people kick up.