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Replying To bert09: "Do the fans have a part to play in Meath's demise?" Yes absolutely, particularly with our attitude (mine too in early days) of modern football. We still hear the shouts of let it in, when there is one player inside and 4 defenders. The groans and disapproval shouts when we play ball lateral or backwards to keep possession, ive seen players rush a shot or play a hospital pass in these situations, at behest of supporters. And then get a lashing for doing it. The days of kick and catch are gone. We may not like it but it's how the game has turned.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 02/05/2018 11:39:25
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Replying To longroadback: "Lot of re working of facts to suit certain agendas, players leaving a panel after a full season is one thing.... 7 or 8 players dropping themselves off a panel 4/5 weeks before the championship is totally different, Fair enough their is instances of it in other counties, Brendan Murphy a key example. I am not for 1 minute suggesting that anyone in particular is responsible merely that there is something wrong. I agree that I cannot think of anyone better or more qualified than the current management team to lead us forward but that does not mean that they are immune to being questioned on certain things.
What is our gameplan?
What is our kickout strategy?
Are there lads who are looked on favourably over others?
Are decisions valid and discussions open?
Do lads know exactly what is expected from when they go on to the field?
Are bleep tests necessary in April?
Are our match warm ups to intense?
Why are we not retaining players?
Why doesnt every man playing club football see playing for his county as a chore and not an honour?
The 3 keepers on our panel for various reasons did not play in goal for their club in the first 2 rounds of the SFC?
But these are valid concerns, Its easy to blame players or management but that doesn't really get to the bottom of the issue. We need every man pulling in the same direction to get anywhere." I'll give a stab at these questions
What is our gameplan? .. easy answer, we play a running game, at pace.
What is our kickout strategy? Differs, but it's certainly improved from por days, although it still needs improvement
Are there lads who are looked on favourably over others? Absolutely no
Are decisions valid and discussions open? I see no reason why they are not, do you know something that suggests otherwise?
Do lads know exactly what is expected from when they go on to the field? Yes, but sometimes they do not do it, that's the players fault, not management.
Are bleep tests necessary in April? What harm are they doing??
Are our match warm ups to intense? I've never been a lover of huge warmup, so for this I'd say yes.
Why are we not retaining players? Not committed enough, or feel rewards does not justify the endeavor
Why doesnt every man playing club football see playing for his county as a chore and not an honour?
Many don't, but see above, give out 9 months a year of intense training with little or no hope of winning all ire, the likes of counties who we be in same group of have hopes of provincial, or super 8s (look at Roscommon) we do not as we have probably greatest football team ever in front of us all the time.
The 3 keepers on our panel for various reasons did not play in goal for their club in the first 2 rounds of the SFC? How long did we suffer with por and he was exactly the same. ?
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 02/05/2018 11:52:29
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Replying To brian: "Reco as i said in my post something is rotten and thats the players.
Four successive managers since Eamonn o'Brien got the gate have failed to get any more from the players.
The players have proven absolutely nothing in years to back up there demands over those managers." Brian, even in Eamonn O'Brien's time the players disappointed. That quarter final v Kildare in 2010 was as anaemic an effort as I have ever seen from a Meath team. For God sake the county stood behind them after the Leinster Final, including it must be said Barney Allen (who got flack from all quarters) and his County Board officers and the reward was as inept an effort as we are likely to see from a county team.
Matters have not changed since, despite three other managers, with matters coming to a head on that record losing day against Westmeath. To my mind action should have been taken there and then and stand the whole lot down. A shadow team may have been beaten out the gate by Tyrone in the ensuing qualifier but a very strong point would have been made. They were flying early in the game and sat or lay down or were simply not prepared (all cardinal sins in my opinion) but ended up out on their feet.
Mind you what was most frustrating was that they gave Tyrone plenty to think about in that qualifier. Changing managers is a waste of time, the old ruthlessness is gone and I am at a complete loss as to how we will get it back. All approaches have been taken, Banty, with a methodical no nonsense approach failed. On hindsight, at least we stood up to Dublin in a Leinster Final. Mick O'Dowd's softly, softly method failed and what is I presume to be a direct in your face, questioning your manhood type approach by Andy McEntee is now too hard on some gentle egos.
For Gods sake will ALL players who are deemed good enough to be called in to represent your county grow a pair.
MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1061 - 02/05/2018 15:09:47
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If McEntee leaves this year or next that would mean we would have had 7 managers in 14 years. In the same time period Dublin had 3 managers . 7 managers in 14 years, yet we only spent 1 year in division 1 in that period. 7 managers in 14 years and this decade is our worst decade since the 1920s and not 1 defeat of top division 1 team in the championship since Dublin 2010.
Keep changing the manager hasnt led to sucess. The only way a traditional county in the doldrums has had sucess before was with a quality manager giving 4 or 5 years eg Boylan, Dywer, McGee, Walsh, Gilroy, Jimmy Barry Murphy, Nicholas English. Changing the managers is one of the reasons why Derry and laois r in div 4 . laois had McNulty for 3 years and reached a q final . Laois were not happy. He left and what happened next. Lally the current coach of Galway was Derry coach in 2014 when they reached league final. He left. Derry drop division after division , while Galway are the standout team in divsion 1 this year under Lally. Keep changing manager a couple of times and you start dropping divisions. We had 5 managers in 7 years and we ended in division 3 heading to div 4 in 2013. We cannot keep doing the same thing. We are just halting the development of another generation of Meath players . Criticise the management all u want. Nothing wrong with that. The management have made many mistakes. Criticism is normal and people are right to criticise. But calling for the managers head, chopping and changing the manager is a recipe for disaster if you look at past experiences.
Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 02/05/2018 15:41:58
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Some were saying that players leaving the panel is unprecedented. The stats prove it is a nationwide problem. Derry had 19 non returnees this year and the same number in 2017 and 2016. While smaller counties like Longford have 12, Leitrim 13, Sligo 13 and Wexford have 17 non returnees this year. That is a serious turnover for counties with smaller playing numbers. A county like Cork with 18 which is still a massive number would have the biggest football playing numbers outside, Dublin would be able to deal with it better..But still it is a masive problem for Cork. Anyway that is a side issue.
Some people are now saying our players have left since the league a few weeks before championship. This is unusual and unprecedented.Again this is not unusual and unprecedented. I cannot get my hands on exact numbers but here is some of the examples of players leaving hurling and football panels this year in 2018 after the league in recent weeks.
1 Yesterday Kieran Barret one of Waterfords best young hurlers left the Waterford senior hurling panel. His brother David Bennet had left the hurling panel earlier in the year.
2 Peter Kelly left the Dublin senior hurling panel last weekend.
3 Jack Guiney left the Wexford senior hurling panel 1 week ago.
4 Brendan Murphy left Carlow football panel 8 days ago.
5 Liam Silke left the Galway senior football panel last week and Cillian McDaid left Galway senior panel since the league ended. Two of Galways best young defenders.
6 Ben McCormack and Eoin Powderly left kildare senior football panel in April after the league this year. Ben McCormack is one of kildares best forwards.
7 Michael Carroll, Eoin McHugh and Peter Boyle have left the Donegal senior football panel recently.
8 Bonny Duggan, Gearoid O Connell and T O Connell have left Clare senior hurling panel recently.
9 Padraig Rath, Padraig Kelly , Conall McKeever and James Stewart have left the louth senior football recently ( I dont know if that was at the end of the league or after league ended. Ollie would be able to clarify that. )
While I have heard players have left Roscommon Laois footballers and hurlers and Derry and Wexford footballers since the league ended.
That is just a sample of some of players who have left since the league ended.
Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 02/05/2018 16:04:30
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Sorry I should have said Patrick Reilly is gone from the Louth panel. I got the name wrong. Sorry about that.
Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 02/05/2018 16:11:28
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Replying To Furlong1949: "If McEntee leaves this year or next that would mean we would have had 7 managers in 14 years. In the same time period Dublin had 3 managers . 7 managers in 14 years, yet we only spent 1 year in division 1 in that period. 7 managers in 14 years and this decade is our worst decade since the 1920s and not 1 defeat of top division 1 team in the championship since Dublin 2010.
Keep changing the manager hasnt led to sucess. The only way a traditional county in the doldrums has had sucess before was with a quality manager giving 4 or 5 years eg Boylan, Dywer, McGee, Walsh, Gilroy, Jimmy Barry Murphy, Nicholas English. Changing the managers is one of the reasons why Derry and laois r in div 4 . laois had McNulty for 3 years and reached a q final . Laois were not happy. He left and what happened next. Lally the current coach of Galway was Derry coach in 2014 when they reached league final. He left. Derry drop division after division , while Galway are the standout team in divsion 1 this year under Lally. Keep changing manager a couple of times and you start dropping divisions. We had 5 managers in 7 years and we ended in division 3 heading to div 4 in 2013. We cannot keep doing the same thing. We are just halting the development of another generation of Meath players . Criticise the management all u want. Nothing wrong with that. The management have made many mistakes. Criticism is normal and people are right to criticise. But calling for the managers head, chopping and changing the manager is a recipe for disaster if you look at past experiences." Not for a minute do I think that we would benefit by changing management this year or next, we need stability from a management and also a player point of view, 15 or 16 squad changes in a year is totally unsustainable and will never lead to improvement. It is about getting balance right
longroadback (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 02/05/2018 16:27:25
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What's Mayo's secret sauce?
They've been challenging for 25 years and going toe to toe with a team of professionals on their home turf.
Most of their players work in Dublin. They don't train together 6 nights a week.
Their fitness, appetite and grá for the game knows no bounds. Their fans never complain and provide incredible support to their team year in year out.
If mayo can go toe to toe with a team of professionals then why can't we at least do this?
bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 02/05/2018 17:06:10
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Replying To longroadback: "Not for a minute do I think that we would benefit by changing management this year or next, we need stability from a management and also a player point of view, 15 or 16 squad changes in a year is totally unsustainable and will never lead to improvement. It is about getting balance right" Good post there sir and i think you've nailed it
TBF to Andy and this is my opinion, I think he gave the panelists from MOD's time in charge a chance to prove if they were good enough and brought in players where he deemed them better than what was there. I think he then cleared out a lot of lads who didn't perform and we'll see some more stability after this years championship. But a turnover of 6-10 players seems to be the norm these days unless you're a top 2/3 county and TBF I believe Mayo had a turnover off 7/8 players this year too.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 02/05/2018 17:09:29
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Replying To Furlong1949: "Some were saying that players leaving the panel is unprecedented. The stats prove it is a nationwide problem. Derry had 19 non returnees this year and the same number in 2017 and 2016. While smaller counties like Longford have 12, Leitrim 13, Sligo 13 and Wexford have 17 non returnees this year. That is a serious turnover for counties with smaller playing numbers. A county like Cork with 18 which is still a massive number would have the biggest football playing numbers outside, Dublin would be able to deal with it better..But still it is a masive problem for Cork. Anyway that is a side issue.
Some people are now saying our players have left since the league a few weeks before championship. This is unusual and unprecedented.Again this is not unusual and unprecedented. I cannot get my hands on exact numbers but here is some of the examples of players leaving hurling and football panels this year in 2018 after the league in recent weeks.
1 Yesterday Kieran Barret one of Waterfords best young hurlers left the Waterford senior hurling panel. His brother David Bennet had left the hurling panel earlier in the year.
2 Peter Kelly left the Dublin senior hurling panel last weekend.
3 Jack Guiney left the Wexford senior hurling panel 1 week ago.
4 Brendan Murphy left Carlow football panel 8 days ago.
5 Liam Silke left the Galway senior football panel last week and Cillian McDaid left Galway senior panel since the league ended. Two of Galways best young defenders.
6 Ben McCormack and Eoin Powderly left kildare senior football panel in April after the league this year. Ben McCormack is one of kildares best forwards.
7 Michael Carroll, Eoin McHugh and Peter Boyle have left the Donegal senior football panel recently.
8 Bonny Duggan, Gearoid O Connell and T O Connell have left Clare senior hurling panel recently.
9 Padraig Rath, Padraig Kelly , Conall McKeever and James Stewart have left the louth senior football recently ( I dont know if that was at the end of the league or after league ended. Ollie would be able to clarify that. )
While I have heard players have left Roscommon Laois footballers and hurlers and Derry and Wexford footballers since the league ended.
That is just a sample of some of players who have left since the league ended." Its an interesting point you make and I didn't know it was so nationwide . However its doesn't help Meath or any other county that this situation exists. It suggests that the only way you will keep a lot of players interested in a professional set up is to pay professional wages. A lot of players in weaker counties are clearly not willing to train five/six nights a week for little or no reward and I can understand why. All they get is abuse really and this forum doesn't help with comments they are soft or rotten or they leave because they throw a tantrum. The truth is a lot of players leave to go to the states for the summer where they will get well looked after. Others just leave because its not an enjoyable experience. Andy McAntee probably now sees the futility of it all and may decide of his own accord that he is wasting his time. I don't expect him to be there next year unless we get some kind of run in this years championship.
Poormouth (Meath) - Posts: 204 - 02/05/2018 17:20:07
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Replying To bert09: "What's Mayo's secret sauce?
They've been challenging for 25 years and going toe to toe with a team of professionals on their home turf.
Most of their players work in Dublin. They don't train together 6 nights a week.
Their fitness, appetite and grá for the game knows no bounds. Their fans never complain and provide incredible support to their team year in year out.
If mayo can go toe to toe with a team of professionals then why can't we at least do this?" Its something you hear directed at counties like Meath and kildare, but Mayo have a special unique feature thats driving them to all these finals that no other county in Ireland has .The 3 reasons why Mayo have suceeded
1 Mayo have produced quality footballers and top class managers for the last 15 years. But whats driving Mayo to 4 All Ireland finals in 6 years, which has never happened before ( A county losing 4 finals in 6 years). To keep coming back is remarkable and you have to admire their bravery. But its become so important to Mayo people to win Sam. Its like the county, the players, the fans are on a crusade to win Sam. In that so many times you hear Mayo fans ' before I die I want to see Mayo win Sam'. It means so much to Mayo people. Winning Sam would mean more to them then any other county. Its become a counties dream, almost obession to end the famine and break the curse. Thats what driving these brave Mayo footballers. I think if Mayo had won in 2012 or 13 they wouldnt have reached the last 2 finals. I know its hard to prove. But Mayo quest for Sam is being driven by the passion and hunger of a county desire to win an All Ireland that has become so important to every man woman and child in Mayo. Very admirable passion. No other county in Ireland has this sort of unique experience that Mayo have of losing 9 finals in 25 years , that is unprecedented, and leading to Mayo teams drive to end the famine of 70 plus years and break the curse.
2 Second reason is Mayo have spent longer in division 1 then any other county in Ireland. Mayo have been in division 1 since 1996 , 1997. Basically 20 years in division 1. Meath have not being in division 1 in 12 years. And Meath have being in division 1 one time (2006/2007) in the last 17 years. And 2007 was probaly our best year since 2001 with a draw over Dublin, beating Galway and the great Tyrone team of the 00s and reaching an All Ireland semi final. Actually the last time Meath were in division 1 , an 8 team division 1 , is the late 90s, the year 1996 / 1997. We were All Ireland champions.
3 Mayo seem to produce , have a conveyor belt of inter county managers similar to kerry and Dublin. Some of them are not great, but they do produce alot of inter county managers. For example in the last 20 years Mayo managers at inter county level eg John Maughan, John O Mahoney, James Horan, Stephen Rochford, Kevin McStay, Peter Forde, Pat Holmes, Noel Connelly. In comparsion Galway have produced very few inter county managers of any decent standard. Who is the greatest Galway football manager ? Kevin Walsh, Liam Sammon, they have never had one. Look at us in Meath we dont produce many inter county managers. Outiside O Brien O Dowd and McEntee, name a Meath man who has managed an inter county team in this decade. I think Offaly had a Meath man a couple of years ago . And in the 00s Coyle managed Monaghan and Hayes Carlow. Meath Galway and Cork dont produce as many inter county managers as say Kerry Dublin Mayo or even kildare. Carew, Glen Ryan and luke Dempsey all kildare men have managed inter county teams in this decade outside kildare. Mayo always seem to have a good quality manager in charge eg O'Mahoney in 89, Maughan in 96 97, Horan in 2012 , 2013 and Rochford in 2016, 2017.
Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 02/05/2018 17:36:25
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Replying To Furlong1949: "Its something you hear directed at counties like Meath and kildare, but Mayo have a special unique feature thats driving them to all these finals that no other county in Ireland has .The 3 reasons why Mayo have suceeded
1 Mayo have produced quality footballers and top class managers for the last 15 years. But whats driving Mayo to 4 All Ireland finals in 6 years, which has never happened before ( A county losing 4 finals in 6 years). To keep coming back is remarkable and you have to admire their bravery. But its become so important to Mayo people to win Sam. Its like the county, the players, the fans are on a crusade to win Sam. In that so many times you hear Mayo fans ' before I die I want to see Mayo win Sam'. It means so much to Mayo people. Winning Sam would mean more to them then any other county. Its become a counties dream, almost obession to end the famine and break the curse. Thats what driving these brave Mayo footballers. I think if Mayo had won in 2012 or 13 they wouldnt have reached the last 2 finals. I know its hard to prove. But Mayo quest for Sam is being driven by the passion and hunger of a county desire to win an All Ireland that has become so important to every man woman and child in Mayo. Very admirable passion. No other county in Ireland has this sort of unique experience that Mayo have of losing 9 finals in 25 years , that is unprecedented, and leading to Mayo teams drive to end the famine of 70 plus years and break the curse.
2 Second reason is Mayo have spent longer in division 1 then any other county in Ireland. Mayo have been in division 1 since 1996 , 1997. Basically 20 years in division 1. Meath have not being in division 1 in 12 years. And Meath have being in division 1 one time (2006/2007) in the last 17 years. And 2007 was probaly our best year since 2001 with a draw over Dublin, beating Galway and the great Tyrone team of the 00s and reaching an All Ireland semi final. Actually the last time Meath were in division 1 , an 8 team division 1 , is the late 90s, the year 1996 / 1997. We were All Ireland champions.
3 Mayo seem to produce , have a conveyor belt of inter county managers similar to kerry and Dublin. Some of them are not great, but they do produce alot of inter county managers. For example in the last 20 years Mayo managers at inter county level eg John Maughan, John O Mahoney, James Horan, Stephen Rochford, Kevin McStay, Peter Forde, Pat Holmes, Noel Connelly. In comparsion Galway have produced very few inter county managers of any decent standard. Who is the greatest Galway football manager ? Kevin Walsh, Liam Sammon, they have never had one. Look at us in Meath we dont produce many inter county managers. Outiside O Brien O Dowd and McEntee, name a Meath man who has managed an inter county team in this decade. I think Offaly had a Meath man a couple of years ago . And in the 00s Coyle managed Monaghan and Hayes Carlow. Meath Galway and Cork dont produce as many inter county managers as say Kerry Dublin Mayo or even kildare. Carew, Glen Ryan and luke Dempsey all kildare men have managed inter county teams in this decade outside kildare. Mayo always seem to have a good quality manager in charge eg O'Mahoney in 89, Maughan in 96 97, Horan in 2012 , 2013 and Rochford in 2016, 2017." Good man furlong...
So to emulate mayo Meath need-
1. The hunger (hence my previous post about Meath fans...I get the sense that the hunger/interest in Meath just isn't there at grass roots level to go on and win something which is bound to rub off on players). I know plenty of lads who grew up on Meath winning who simply no longer have an interest in how we do...
2. Get to division 1 and stay there
3. Invest in developing good coaches ...again much has been said about this on this forum for several years...all words without actions
bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 02/05/2018 18:09:35
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Yes Meath does have a higher churn out rate then say even 10 years ago. I would say Cork Down Derry Armagh also have a high churn out rate recently. Every time I see Meath play Down Derry or Cork , they all seem to have new teams , a pile of new players every year. It seems to me the overhauling of panels is much more frequet then ever before and the numbers are very high nationwide. Derry losing 19 players this year and 19 last year, thats basically nearly two panels of players lost in 24 months.
Meath overhauled the panel in 2013 to 2015, however this year again another massive overhaul, where 11 players were brought onto the panel this spring who never played for Meath before. The overhaul in 2013 to 2015 was a normal one, with the late 00s team breaking up. Every county nearly has to overhaul their panel every ten years or so. Meath are always in transition in the mid part of the decade, always strong at the end part of the decade eg 1949, 1967, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2009. Meath teams peak in these years with leinster and All Ireland wins. Meath then decline at the start of a decade as the county team gets olders and declines eg All Ireland final loses in 1951, 1970, 1990, 1991, 2001. Then the team breaks up in the early years of the decade which is always a bad time for Meath eg hammered by Dublin in 1961, first round defeats in 1971 1972, 1981 (Wexford), 1982 (longford), 1992 ( Laois) and bad defeats in 2002 ( Dublin, Donegal) , 2011 ( Kildare).
Meath are always in transition in the mid part of decade which sees bad defeats v Dublin 1955, laois 1985, Dublin 1995, Cavan 2005, Dublin 2014, Westmeath 2015. So Meath should be stronger now. But instead we have had our second overhaul of a panel in three years, I can never remeber that happening in Meath football in the last 35 years.
Teams do go through ten year periods of rebuilding , eg Donegal are always and only sucessful at the start of a decade . For example first Ulster title in 1972, second Ulster title in 1983, First All Ireland in 1992, Second All Ireland in 2012. Tipp hurlers are also nearly always sucessful at the start of a decade eg All Ireland wins in 1971, 1991, 2001, 2010. Only 2016 and 1989 deviated from the above wins in the last half century. So every teams should be overhauling their panel every ten years or so. Not every two years which is happening currently in Meath Derry Down Laois Offaly Armagh Wexford Cavan Roscommon and Cork and many other counties recently.
Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 02/05/2018 18:29:26
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Replying To bert09: "Good man furlong...
So to emulate mayo Meath need-
1. The hunger (hence my previous post about Meath fans...I get the sense that the hunger/interest in Meath just isn't there at grass roots level to go on and win something which is bound to rub off on players). I know plenty of lads who grew up on Meath winning who simply no longer have an interest in how we do...
2. Get to division 1 and stay there
3. Invest in developing good coaches ...again much has been said about this on this forum for several years...all words without actions" Thats pretty much it.
The lack of belief agmost our young fans and players is worrying. I was talking to a two underage Meath players recently. One of them will play senior for Meath in the coming years and big things are expected of him. I asked him about the senior team and he said we are crap , we are useless. The other underage Meath player said we should be in division 3 . Thats the mentality of our future senior players. There is serious lack of belief and lack of confidence ( after years of bad defeats at underage and senior level for Meath) in our players and a lack of interest from our supporters and a total negative vibe surrounding Meath football, 5 years of no promotion , out of champ in mid July v Ulster opposition is really badly effecting football in the county. I definatly feel after the loses to Dublin in 2014 and Westmeath and in 2015 allot of supporters lost interest in the county team. The whole madness of 2010 leinster final didnt help eitheir. Its the last time we were in the headlines nationally for GAA reasons. And Im sure its something that is said to every one of you guys in the last few years from neighbouring county fans and other counties, they always bring up 2010. I dont think us and Louth have really ever recovered from the fallout of 2010 mentally. The only way to bury 2010 is to win another leinster title and become strong and sucessful again. But maybe we are the new Cavan. Meath in the 80s and 90s had one of the most periods any county has ever had in gaelic football history. There was always going to be a dip. And anytime any county had sucess like ours in the 80s and 90s eg Wexford 1914-1918, Cavan 1940s and 1950s, Galway 56 to 66. None of these counties have ever really recovered. The next ten to 15 years are pivotal to Meath football. If we have no sucess up to the mid 2030s we are the new Cavan .
Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 02/05/2018 18:52:07
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Replying To Furlong1949: "Yes Meath does have a higher churn out rate then say even 10 years ago. I would say Cork Down Derry Armagh also have a high churn out rate recently. Every time I see Meath play Down Derry or Cork , they all seem to have new teams , a pile of new players every year. It seems to me the overhauling of panels is much more frequet then ever before and the numbers are very high nationwide. Derry losing 19 players this year and 19 last year, thats basically nearly two panels of players lost in 24 months.
Meath overhauled the panel in 2013 to 2015, however this year again another massive overhaul, where 11 players were brought onto the panel this spring who never played for Meath before. The overhaul in 2013 to 2015 was a normal one, with the late 00s team breaking up. Every county nearly has to overhaul their panel every ten years or so. Meath are always in transition in the mid part of the decade, always strong at the end part of the decade eg 1949, 1967, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2009. Meath teams peak in these years with leinster and All Ireland wins. Meath then decline at the start of a decade as the county team gets olders and declines eg All Ireland final loses in 1951, 1970, 1990, 1991, 2001. Then the team breaks up in the early years of the decade which is always a bad time for Meath eg hammered by Dublin in 1961, first round defeats in 1971 1972, 1981 (Wexford), 1982 (longford), 1992 ( Laois) and bad defeats in 2002 ( Dublin, Donegal) , 2011 ( Kildare).
Meath are always in transition in the mid part of decade which sees bad defeats v Dublin 1955, laois 1985, Dublin 1995, Cavan 2005, Dublin 2014, Westmeath 2015. So Meath should be stronger now. But instead we have had our second overhaul of a panel in three years, I can never remeber that happening in Meath football in the last 35 years.
Teams do go through ten year periods of rebuilding , eg Donegal are always and only sucessful at the start of a decade . For example first Ulster title in 1972, second Ulster title in 1983, First All Ireland in 1992, Second All Ireland in 2012. Tipp hurlers are also nearly always sucessful at the start of a decade eg All Ireland wins in 1971, 1991, 2001, 2010. Only 2016 and 1989 deviated from the above wins in the last half century. So every teams should be overhauling their panel every ten years or so. Not every two years which is happening currently in Meath Derry Down Laois Offaly Armagh Wexford Cavan Roscommon and Cork and many other counties recently." Keep your posts short and to the point. They'd then make for much more interesting reading.
RoylerKing (Meath) - Posts: 809 - 02/05/2018 18:54:30
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Replying To Furlong1949: "Thats pretty much it.
The lack of belief agmost our young fans and players is worrying. I was talking to a two underage Meath players recently. One of them will play senior for Meath in the coming years and big things are expected of him. I asked him about the senior team and he said we are crap , we are useless. The other underage Meath player said we should be in division 3 . Thats the mentality of our future senior players. There is serious lack of belief and lack of confidence ( after years of bad defeats at underage and senior level for Meath) in our players and a lack of interest from our supporters and a total negative vibe surrounding Meath football, 5 years of no promotion , out of champ in mid July v Ulster opposition is really badly effecting football in the county. I definatly feel after the loses to Dublin in 2014 and Westmeath and in 2015 allot of supporters lost interest in the county team. The whole madness of 2010 leinster final didnt help eitheir. Its the last time we were in the headlines nationally for GAA reasons. And Im sure its something that is said to every one of you guys in the last few years from neighbouring county fans and other counties, they always bring up 2010. I dont think us and Louth have really ever recovered from the fallout of 2010 mentally. The only way to bury 2010 is to win another leinster title and become strong and sucessful again. But maybe we are the new Cavan. Meath in the 80s and 90s had one of the most periods any county has ever had in gaelic football history. There was always going to be a dip. And anytime any county had sucess like ours in the 80s and 90s eg Wexford 1914-1918, Cavan 1940s and 1950s, Galway 56 to 66. None of these counties have ever really recovered. The next ten to 15 years are pivotal to Meath football. If we have no sucess up to the mid 2030s we are the new Cavan ." I have to say I have been fighting the fact that we are at best an average team at the moment. It could be argued we are worse than Cavan as we have enjoyed no underage success recently. It still baffles me where it went wrong. Saying Andy is the problem just shifts the blame for the ills of he last 18yeara onto the next manager.
I would consider myself one of the most optimistic meath supporters ( going to games since 84) but tbh I realize that beating longford this year will be as good as it gets for us.
Longford May even be favourites for this game based on their underage and it is at home.
As a meath supporter for all the glory days it depresses me where we are. I think if we lost to longford Andy will pack it in and then we start over again with a new manager next year.
It's hard to see us been anything other than an average team
MeathWawa (Meath) - Posts: 61 - 02/05/2018 19:49:12
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Replying To RoylerKing: "Keep your posts short and to the point. They'd then make for much more interesting reading." Ignore him fella. I've enjoyed reading your analysis of things.
GlasgowRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 293 - 02/05/2018 20:43:55
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Replying To GlasgowRoyal: "Ignore him fella. I've enjoyed reading your analysis of things." You may enjoy it and that's fine but most of us are not interested in a thesis about the simplest of subjects.
browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 03/05/2018 00:27:21
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Anyone hear how challenge game v Galway went on Tuesday?
TakeYourPoints6 (Meath) - Posts: 229 - 03/05/2018 08:39:59
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Replying To bert09: "What's Mayo's secret sauce?
They've been challenging for 25 years and going toe to toe with a team of professionals on their home turf.
Most of their players work in Dublin. They don't train together 6 nights a week.
Their fitness, appetite and grá for the game knows no bounds. Their fans never complain and provide incredible support to their team year in year out.
If mayo can go toe to toe with a team of professionals then why can't we at least do this?" Attitude and mindset from 2011 to now in Mayo is an example to everyone. They train collectively only once a week from January through to April or middle of may (Due to 70% of there squad living in Dublin), they are obviously extremely focused and dedicated and believe 100% every year that they can beat anyone. I think that the problem in Meath is that the attitude and mindset of players in this county of most club and county (not all) is that, 'ah look were not good enough Dublin are to good what's the point, training is to hard i'd rather just stick with the club and have the craic' This mindset has been rampant throughout the county since 2013 and even a small bit before that and it will never change unless players start changing there individual attitude. There are young players on Meath development squads, U17''s and U20's busting themselves training because they want more than anything to represent there county and be successful, but if the current mindset that surrounds the Meath Senior team continues these players will develop the same attitudes and we will never progress.
BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 932 - 03/05/2018 08:46:22
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