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14-A-Side

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Hi All I see Martin Breheny quoting Carlow manager Turlough O'Brien in the Indo today, where he thinks 13-a-side may be a better alternative to the new rules. I've never watched a 13-a-side game - but to me it sounds a bit like you're punishing the players for negative tactics, by giving less guys a chance to pull on the jersey. In this day and age where zonal marking and sweepers frequently rule the day and old fashioned positions are a thing of the past, I wonder has anyone ever given 14-a-side a go? Might be a bit more of tolerable compromise, but would modern day positions/game suit it? Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 246 - 19/12/2018 11:30:43 2154702 Link
I'm surprised that you haven't tried to up the number. If you could have more players on the pitch it would be easier to have a blanket defence for ye!!! whoop_hero (Galway) - Posts: 78 - 19/12/2018 11:55:27 2154705 Link
Replying To Al_Maguire: "Hi All I see Martin Breheny quoting Carlow manager Turlough O'Brien in the Indo today, where he thinks 13-a-side may be a better alternative to the new rules. I've never watched a 13-a-side game - but to me it sounds a bit like you're punishing the players for negative tactics, by giving less guys a chance to pull on the jersey. In this day and age where zonal marking and sweepers frequently rule the day and old fashioned positions are a thing of the past, I wonder has anyone ever given 14-a-side a go? Might be a bit more of tolerable compromise, but would modern day positions/game suit it?" With 14 you're nearly guaranteed that both teams would lose their corner forward, leaving a free man in both full back lines. It's basically like having a default sweeper. Sweetspot (Kildare) - Posts: 323 - 19/12/2018 12:25:09 2154709 Link
Replying To whoop_hero: "I'm surprised that you haven't tried to up the number. If you could have more players on the pitch it would be easier to have a blanket defence for ye!!!" Hah - If any county needed extra defenders it was your county in the All Ireland semi final. But you keep focusing on one semi final played 7 years ago, if that's as far as your tactical knowledge of the game stretches. Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 246 - 19/12/2018 12:29:02 2154710 Link
Replying To Sweetspot: "With 14 you're nearly guaranteed that both teams would lose their corner forward, leaving a free man in both full back lines. It's basically like having a default sweeper." Well that was my thought initially, but does it 100% guarantee? Most teams play today with two up front and a sweeper back anyway any more, and traditional 15 v 15 marking no longer applies in the main. I think that spare man could also be used in a quarter back/free running role too with a more positive edge to it too but there's a reason I've never been a manager ;-). Can see the immediate logic of 13 v 13, if 15 v 15 was still a 100% man marking game. Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 246 - 19/12/2018 13:57:22 2154720 Link
LEAVE. THE. GAME. ALONE. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 19/12/2018 13:58:44 2154722 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "LEAVE. THE. GAME. ALONE." It's only a question. I'm happy for it to stay as is. Doesn't appear like the game is being left alone though, is it? Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 246 - 19/12/2018 14:23:03 2154726 Link
Turlough O'Brien be far better off knuckling down to the job in hand for Carlow this season and get on with things rather than this non stop criticism of the rules. At the end of the day the rules will be the same for both teams in every game so he best prepare his team to win football matches with the rules of the day. hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 19/12/2018 15:56:29 2154743 Link
Replying To hurlorhurley: "Turlough O'Brien be far better off knuckling down to the job in hand for Carlow this season and get on with things rather than this non stop criticism of the rules. At the end of the day the rules will be the same for both teams in every game so he best prepare his team to win football matches with the rules of the day." Watching Kildare play Carlow last Saturday I have to say the new rules actually sped up the game. The hand pass rule to me hinders the keep ball blanket focused teams. The mark was certainly a success where the smallest man on our team scored 3 points. Only one game but to score 16 points against a blanket defense and one that has served Carlow well up to now is a good stat.So far the managers making most noise against the new rules are the ones deploying blanket defenses. St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1700 - 19/12/2018 17:49:35 2154757 Link
I think reducing the numbers would be I'll advised. For me the most boring aspect of the game currently is the keep ball tactic of teams with a lead. It'd only be harder to win the ball back with fewer players. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4235 - 19/12/2018 18:24:24 2154760 Link
Replying To Al_Maguire: "It's only a question. I'm happy for it to stay as is. Doesn't appear like the game is being left alone though, is it?" Sorry didn't mean to have a cut at you personally. It's just that sometimes it feels like the GAA makes changes to the game just for the sake of it. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 20/12/2018 10:51:27 2154799 Link
I think 14 is still to many, I think 13 would be perfect and reduce it to 3 subs, get rid of these massive county panels while we are at it, 6 subs in a 70 minute game is ridiculous and favours stronger counties. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1595 - 23/12/2018 14:56:00 2155050 Link
I think 14 is still to many, I think 13 would be perfect and reduce it to 3 subs, get rid of these massive county panels while we are at it, 6 subs in a 70 minute game is ridiculous and favours stronger counties. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1178 - 23/12/2018 14:56:00what positions would you remove? Why reduce to 3 subs? The game needs more subs but less players on bench. Having squads of 26 for match days is far too many. You should have 8 or 9 subs max on the bench and all should be able to come on or you have 10-12 interchanges allowed with players who come off able to come on. 6 subs isnt ridiculous at all. DonaldDuck (Tipperary) - Posts: 544 - 23/12/2018 16:37:48 2155053 Link
I think 14 is still to many, I think 13 would be perfect and reduce it to 3 subs, get rid of these massive county panels while we are at it, 6 subs in a 70 minute game is ridiculous and favours stronger counties. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1178 - 23/12/2018 14:56:00 14 isnt too many at all and it should really stay at 15. Reducing teams to just 3 subs isnt good for anyone and puts more pressure on all players/teams in an amatuer sport and doesnt help injury rates. 6 subs in a 70 minute game is more than fair. Having 26 in match day squad is far more ridiculous. Reduce numbers there and then allow more be used in a game as rolling subs DonaldDuck (Tipperary) - Posts: 544 - 23/12/2018 17:14:43 2155056 Link
Replying To DonaldDuck: "I think 14 is still to many, I think 13 would be perfect and reduce it to 3 subs, get rid of these massive county panels while we are at it, 6 subs in a 70 minute game is ridiculous and favours stronger counties. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1178 - 23/12/2018 14:56:00 14 isnt too many at all and it should really stay at 15. Reducing teams to just 3 subs isnt good for anyone and puts more pressure on all players/teams in an amatuer sport and doesnt help injury rates. 6 subs in a 70 minute game is more than fair. Having 26 in match day squad is far more ridiculous. Reduce numbers there and then allow more be used in a game as rolling subs" So you are telling me that a small county with limited talent is helped by having 6 subs, if you believe that there is no point even discussing this any further. I would contend that the more subs allowed actually contributes to a more defensive game also as you can run forwards into the ground for 50 minutes and replace them in a 3 sub scenario you would have to be more economical with your players. I honestly believe the more defensive game coincided with the rising of the sub allocation. A smaller sided game would also lead to a more competitive championship of this I have no doubt, now the winners might still be the same but the glaring gaps in class could be lessened overall. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1595 - 23/12/2018 23:06:33 2155067 Link
The 13 a side idea has been mentioned a few times over the last few years and I think it has some merit. I also like the way "the mark" has affected the game. The other new rules for this season,well we'll have to wait and see. The 13 a side proposal has great potential to bring the game back to a more free flowing game if that's what most of us agree we want to see. Take 4 players of the field and you really will free up space for other players to run in to and receive kicked passes. In the past neither club nor county players had the fitness of today's players who can cover ground now in record speed and that's part of the reason for all the negative tactics and for the game stalling and getting bottled up all too often. It would also greatly help small and rural clubs and counties be more competitive when having to field 2 less players. As positioning doesn't matter like it used to it would be 5 defenders and 5 forwards and then managers will set up to suit what they have but there will still be more space on the pitch whether it's a club or county game and i think it would make for better football all round. seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 26/12/2018 05:39:02 2155119 Link
To be honest,hurling would do well with less players too. bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 26/12/2018 17:33:01 2155128 Link
Replying To Barrowsider: "I think 14 is still to many, I think 13 would be perfect and reduce it to 3 subs, get rid of these massive county panels while we are at it, 6 subs in a 70 minute game is ridiculous and favours stronger counties." Two thumbs down. Tut. Your point is spot on. bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 28/12/2018 00:34:25 2155171 Link
Replying To DonaldDuck: "I think 14 is still to many, I think 13 would be perfect and reduce it to 3 subs, get rid of these massive county panels while we are at it, 6 subs in a 70 minute game is ridiculous and favours stronger counties. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1178 - 23/12/2018 14:56:00what positions would you remove? Why reduce to 3 subs? The game needs more subs but less players on bench. Having squads of 26 for match days is far too many. You should have 8 or 9 subs max on the bench and all should be able to come on or you have 10-12 interchanges allowed with players who come off able to come on. 6 subs isnt ridiculous at all." You're right, 6 subs is beyond ridiculous. bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 28/12/2018 00:35:34 2155172 Link
Replying To Barrowsider: "I think 14 is still to many, I think 13 would be perfect and reduce it to 3 subs, get rid of these massive county panels while we are at it, 6 subs in a 70 minute game is ridiculous and favours stronger counties." I don't think an cap at three subs would be practical in an amateur sport. To be honest, what I see happening as a result is managers resorting to the training sessions of the 90's where all teams do is run to combat the lack of subs and the extra space on the pitch having 13 players would create. It would undo a lot of the good tactical developments that I genuinenly feel, having come beyond the early 2010's puke football, have made the game better. Final note; Carlow wouldn't have beat Kildare at 13-a-side and days like that are what the GAA is all about. Sweetspot (Kildare) - Posts: 323 - 28/12/2018 10:27:41 2155177 Link