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Replying To Thelongwoodslasher: "well jjazuz lads., to me us leading the charge on withdrawing from Leinster Championship is a total lack of leadership if that is all we do & dont see it as part of a package, We have no credibility to say to the GAA, give us what Dublin have, but yet we then proceed to take the resources & **** them down the drain . At the very least , the GAA if they were to consider the Leister Counties requests - should demand a Plan….if we give you this, what will you do with it ? ...and what would we do with it?" if we can answer what would we do with the funds....we are along way down the road of answering where do we go from here ...answers on a postcard to County Secretary please
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 401 - 25/11/2020 15:39:24
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Replying To bobkarlgees: "I agree I think Andy has Meath in decent enough shape. Probably best shape in years.
Div 1 promotion was a great achievement. player look physically stronger. There is a decent work ethic. We generally are finishing games stronger. We seem to built a decent and strong panel.
When Andy first took over he quickly realized he needed a coach. So Nally came in, it was the difference in getting promoted in my opinion. We started wining them tight games that got us over the line and got us promoted. We had more direction since Nally came in.
This is not to run down Mc Entee this is a positive Mc Entee seen we needed a coach got Nally and it work this worked a treat.
Its good to see where things are going wrong and fix them.
The only thing I a worried about is, we have progressed but I think now we have kinda plateaued or stalled. We don't seem to be learning much from playing these top teams.
For instance we have played
Dublin 3 times lost all 3, ( now lets be honest nobody is beating Dublin any time soon)
Donegal 3 lost all 3
kerry 2 twice lost 2
Mayo 2 twice lost 2
Tyrone 2 twice lost 2
I am not so much worried about the Dublin loses as most teams have that type for record against them but Donegal Mayo Kerry etc, we can't seem to come up with a plan to beat them. Granted we ran Tyrone Dongeal and Mayo close on occasion, But ultimately failed.
I think Andy should remain. Do we need to bring in a new coach ? Do we need a someone adviser like Jimmy Mc Guinness. To freshen things up to bring to the next level ?" I think your point, and the point you were responding are both valid in many ways! The question I am asking myself now though is this? Where is GAA football going to be in the future? Right now I see that there are a number of different levels; (looking at the All Ireland more than the league)
Dublin are top of the tree
Kerry, Mayo, Donegal are at the next level - a level where occasionally (as happened to Kerry and Donegal and almost to Mayo) that other teams from lower levels can beat them on a given day but generally they are a level above the next tier
Us, Tyrone (have dropped back into this 3rd tier in my opinion), Cork, Galway, Kildare, Monaghan, Cavan, Tipp are another level down (might be a few others). these are the teams that can beat the second tier guys from time to time (Monaghan have dropped back into this third tier in my opinion!)
Then there are all the rest - and again you will get the occasional upset
But - what we are facing now is this - Dublin widen the gap between themselves and tier 2 teams. Their success is bringing more young lads into GAA so a bigger selection pool. They are less focused on winning at Minor and underage levels and more focused on developing players for Senior - after all that is where the biggest rewards are. When their players get to Senior they are already a step ahead of their equivalents in other counties. They don't have to rush players into the county set up and it gives them time to really develop. (wouldn't we love to have Brian Howard or Cormac Costello)
In the last few years Kerry and Mayo have run Dublin close in the All Ireland final - but what we are facing, and this is the big concern I have, is the possibility that Dublin start to beat the tier 2 teams by significant margins - An All Ireland final with a 20 point spread? Nobody wants that! I think it will only be when the All Ireland final becomes a non contest that the Central Council will sit up and take notice - because that is when boredom will set in and the big sponsors will move away!
Just a note on our players - I have been to Dunganny to watch our county lads training and I also see the work that the county lads in my club put in - it is hard to imagine that players in other counties put in more work. Early this year before the pandemic and first lockdown, I watched the squad training - it was incredibly intense and the lads were in Dunganny for a number of hours - I got there at about 6.45 and left about 9.30 and they were still there! But it seems apparent that Dublin are on a different level in their approach - and obviously must be doing things differently!
Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 511 - 25/11/2020 15:52:41
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Replying To Royalblufill: "I think your point, and the point you were responding are both valid in many ways! The question I am asking myself now though is this? Where is GAA football going to be in the future? Right now I see that there are a number of different levels; (looking at the All Ireland more than the league)
Dublin are top of the tree
Kerry, Mayo, Donegal are at the next level - a level where occasionally (as happened to Kerry and Donegal and almost to Mayo) that other teams from lower levels can beat them on a given day but generally they are a level above the next tier
Us, Tyrone (have dropped back into this 3rd tier in my opinion), Cork, Galway, Kildare, Monaghan, Cavan, Tipp are another level down (might be a few others). these are the teams that can beat the second tier guys from time to time (Monaghan have dropped back into this third tier in my opinion!)
Then there are all the rest - and again you will get the occasional upset
But - what we are facing now is this - Dublin widen the gap between themselves and tier 2 teams. Their success is bringing more young lads into GAA so a bigger selection pool. They are less focused on winning at Minor and underage levels and more focused on developing players for Senior - after all that is where the biggest rewards are. When their players get to Senior they are already a step ahead of their equivalents in other counties. They don't have to rush players into the county set up and it gives them time to really develop. (wouldn't we love to have Brian Howard or Cormac Costello)
In the last few years Kerry and Mayo have run Dublin close in the All Ireland final - but what we are facing, and this is the big concern I have, is the possibility that Dublin start to beat the tier 2 teams by significant margins - An All Ireland final with a 20 point spread? Nobody wants that! I think it will only be when the All Ireland final becomes a non contest that the Central Council will sit up and take notice - because that is when boredom will set in and the big sponsors will move away!
Just a note on our players - I have been to Dunganny to watch our county lads training and I also see the work that the county lads in my club put in - it is hard to imagine that players in other counties put in more work. Early this year before the pandemic and first lockdown, I watched the squad training - it was incredibly intense and the lads were in Dunganny for a number of hours - I got there at about 6.45 and left about 9.30 and they were still there! But it seems apparent that Dublin are on a different level in their approach - and obviously must be doing things differently!" great post RBF.... one thing , ,even if we do everything right - and I accept we are doing a lot ...that if they (the Dubs) keep doing the same, we will still most likely fall short , simply because they will have a bigger pool of players- so this is where a really imaginative game plan and a fairly innovative management Team , will have to be a cert , and then hope that their levels drop post dessie , john costelloe & one or two others
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 401 - 25/11/2020 16:11:31
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Replying To bobkarlgees: "I agree I think Andy has Meath in decent enough shape. Probably best shape in years.
Div 1 promotion was a great achievement. player look physically stronger. There is a decent work ethic. We generally are finishing games stronger. We seem to built a decent and strong panel.
When Andy first took over he quickly realized he needed a coach. So Nally came in, it was the difference in getting promoted in my opinion. We started wining them tight games that got us over the line and got us promoted. We had more direction since Nally came in.
This is not to run down Mc Entee this is a positive Mc Entee seen we needed a coach got Nally and it work this worked a treat.
Its good to see where things are going wrong and fix them.
The only thing I a worried about is, we have progressed but I think now we have kinda plateaued or stalled. We don't seem to be learning much from playing these top teams.
For instance we have played
Dublin 3 times lost all 3, ( now lets be honest nobody is beating Dublin any time soon)
Donegal 3 lost all 3
kerry 2 twice lost 2
Mayo 2 twice lost 2
Tyrone 2 twice lost 2
I am not so much worried about the Dublin loses as most teams have that type for record against them but Donegal Mayo Kerry etc, we can't seem to come up with a plan to beat them. Granted we ran Tyrone Dongeal and Mayo close on occasion, But ultimately failed.
I think Andy should remain. Do we need to bring in a new coach ? Do we need a someone adviser like Jimmy Mc Guinness. To freshen things up to bring to the next level ?" Great talking point. Nally is an unsung hero for sure. A lot of progress seen in our formations, movement, and ultimately results can be attributed to his work. Word on the street is that he's going to Louth. Now I don't know if there's anything in these rumours but after 2/3 years it would be a sensible change of scenery and he'd be going into a Mickey Harte set-up now, so it'd be an interesting move for him if it were true, and a fresh challenge.
For us, yes I think there are signs of the plateau/stalling period you alluded to. This was always going to happen at one point or another though, and our management and county officials should have planned accordingly. "Should" being the key word.
We can only hope that playing all of the major sides thought our boys some lessons; and given the result against Kildare (who looked like a division 2 team on the day), to me Meath looked sharper, fitter, and quicker to react, and had far greater movement ahead of time, in spite of performing rather poorly.
Time will tell on this front.
In general though, yes, freshening up the backroom team seems like an essential move now. Its my judgement that we did get close to some of the major sides but for small varying reasons we've yet to once get over the line in the last 2 years. This is an issue of our input on the scoreboard, our malfunctioning kickout and possession winning in the middle, and also psychology. All can be worked on. Id also like to see more variety in our gameplay, which can also be worked on. Bringing in a high profile name could really liven up the camp, as we are at a stage where our lads do seem to be at their peak without further expertise.
Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 596 - 25/11/2020 16:19:34
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Replying To Thelongwoodslasher: "great post RBF.... one thing , ,even if we do everything right - and I accept we are doing a lot ...that if they (the Dubs) keep doing the same, we will still most likely fall short , simply because they will have a bigger pool of players- so this is where a really imaginative game plan and a fairly innovative management Team , will have to be a cert , and then hope that their levels drop post dessie , john costelloe & one or two others" Yeah - that is probably true - although I think if our lads can get an equal footing in terms of the preparation, training, strength and conditioning, psychological training and help around employment etc that the gap will narrow substantially. I also think more lads will stay with it in the lower tier counties.
You seldom hear (these days) of a Dublin lad going to Aus - yet we lose lads like Nash and McBride. Then you have lads like Power from Ratoath heading away for work - doubt too many Dub panelists are doing that!
We have to start somewhere to get it right - today we have people calling for the scrapping of the Leinster Championship, next it will be calling for the scrapping of the All Ireland! I was speaking to a guy who coaches in Dublin and was slagging him about splitting Dublin in two - he made a good point - who wants to watch an All Ireland or Leinster final between North Dublin and South Dublin - bar maybe people from North Dublin and South Dublin!
The other point to note - If Cavan, Mayo or Tipp happen to catch Dublin by surprise in the coming weeks, we will be told there is nothing wrong!!
Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 511 - 25/11/2020 16:30:28
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Replying To Royalblufill: "Yeah - that is probably true - although I think if our lads can get an equal footing in terms of the preparation, training, strength and conditioning, psychological training and help around employment etc that the gap will narrow substantially. I also think more lads will stay with it in the lower tier counties.
You seldom hear (these days) of a Dublin lad going to Aus - yet we lose lads like Nash and McBride. Then you have lads like Power from Ratoath heading away for work - doubt too many Dub panelists are doing that!
We have to start somewhere to get it right - today we have people calling for the scrapping of the Leinster Championship, next it will be calling for the scrapping of the All Ireland! I was speaking to a guy who coaches in Dublin and was slagging him about splitting Dublin in two - he made a good point - who wants to watch an All Ireland or Leinster final between North Dublin and South Dublin - bar maybe people from North Dublin and South Dublin!
The other point to note - If Cavan, Mayo or Tipp happen to catch Dublin by surprise in the coming weeks, we will be told there is nothing wrong!!" this last point is really the defining difference for me separating Dublin out from the rest of the pack...and the most worrying thing about Kerry's defeat by cork... Dublin somehow seem to have found a way or a formula where amateur players don't seem to do either pressure or complacency …...that is unreal
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 401 - 25/11/2020 17:48:54
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Replying To Young_gael: "Great talking point. Nally is an unsung hero for sure. A lot of progress seen in our formations, movement, and ultimately results can be attributed to his work. Word on the street is that he's going to Louth. Now I don't know if there's anything in these rumours but after 2/3 years it would be a sensible change of scenery and he'd be going into a Mickey Harte set-up now, so it'd be an interesting move for him if it were true, and a fresh challenge.
For us, yes I think there are signs of the plateau/stalling period you alluded to. This was always going to happen at one point or another though, and our management and county officials should have planned accordingly. "Should" being the key word.
We can only hope that playing all of the major sides thought our boys some lessons; and given the result against Kildare (who looked like a division 2 team on the day), to me Meath looked sharper, fitter, and quicker to react, and had far greater movement ahead of time, in spite of performing rather poorly.
Time will tell on this front.
In general though, yes, freshening up the backroom team seems like an essential move now. Its my judgement that we did get close to some of the major sides but for small varying reasons we've yet to once get over the line in the last 2 years. This is an issue of our input on the scoreboard, our malfunctioning kickout and possession winning in the middle, and also psychology. All can be worked on. Id also like to see more variety in our gameplay, which can also be worked on. Bringing in a high profile name could really liven up the camp, as we are at a stage where our lads do seem to be at their peak without further expertise." Nally made a difference to morale for sure as players were dropping like flies before he came in - remember the mass exodus of players?
But from coaching and tactical point of view ... I'm not impressed with the development personally. You see him in media dissecting Dublin kickout with aplomb for eg.., didn't do much for Meath's kickout though did he?
Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 25/11/2020 17:59:16
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" he made a good point - who wants to watch an All Ireland or Leinster final between North Dublin and South Dublin - bar maybe people from North Dublin and South Dublin! "
With all due respect, I don't think this is a good point at all. Why wouldn't people want to watch south v north Dublin in a Leinster final? It's a competitive game between two counties afterall. Sure thousands tune in to the Dublin county finals on tg4. All people want is to see competitive football. What's the alternative? Watch Dublin hockey Meath or Laois every year? Dublin is a province, divide it into 4 counties and we'll get used to it fairly quickly.
Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 25/11/2020 18:26:05
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Replying To Crinigan: "Nally made a difference to morale for sure as players were dropping like flies before he came in - remember the mass exodus of players?
But from coaching and tactical point of view ... I'm not impressed with the development personally. You see him in media dissecting Dublin kickout with aplomb for eg.., didn't do much for Meath's kickout though did he?" I do remember the exodus; it was a surreal time. Seemingly every few months more guys just became unavailable. But to an extent it's to be expected with the modern game; even if it is desperately sad. To see guys not be able to commit to a great honour like representing their county because of the sheer demand and workload on top of real life is a very saddening turn in the story of the GAA. I got the impression others didn't want to commit too for various reasons, but I completely understand both cases. Judging by what we know, these lads just didn't see the reward outweighing the risk, or couldn't motivate themselves for what they see as excess baggage, and the fact it coincides with the most important time in their building careers and their personal lives, who could honestly blame them for walking away? And also for being salty about it? (Which a lot tend to be). The situation they're put into across the country is very difficult.
I did see the video, and I remember being impressed at the time by the analysis. And again in relation to our kickouts and fielding; it really is the most inexcusable factor in our team these past few years, progress aside, and radical changes and experimentation have to be made this year coming. It's east to scapegoat people on this issue but in my view its not necessarily an individual's fault. Its a collective clusterbomb and its well and truly time it was remedied.
Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 596 - 25/11/2020 18:53:36
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Replying To Crinigan: "Let's be honest here. I'm going to make a call in this. Real leadership from county board will involve withdrawing the county from the Leinster Championship until such time as the farce the GAA created is dealt with appropriately. That's what actual real leadership would look like. I'm fully sure Kildare and Westmeath would follow suit and the other counties most likely then too.
I'm taking no further interest in watching Meath men and Meath people being humiliated in front of the country by a financially doped and fully GAA backed professional Dublin team." 100% agree. Just wondering do the CB chairpersons from the counties speak to reach other at all. They should go to Croke park as a united front and put an end to this farce. Dublin are professional. It will take years to catch up assuming the GAA rebalance the funding. If the GAA are happy with the status quo (which it appears they are, after all a strong dominant Dublin will help pay the GAA staff salaries and future gold plated pensions) then the other counties will NEVER bridge the gap. The present bunch of GAA administrators have destroyed Gaelic football.
meath87889699 (Meath) - Posts: 41 - 25/11/2020 19:49:56
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Replying To Crinigan: "Nally made a difference to morale for sure as players were dropping like flies before he came in - remember the mass exodus of players?
But from coaching and tactical point of view ... I'm not impressed with the development personally. You see him in media dissecting Dublin kickout with aplomb for eg.., didn't do much for Meath's kickout though did he?" On the exodus of players. I feel some left for personal reasons I am sure. But others seen the higher standard Mc Entee was setting and walked away. On the kick outs Mc Entee has to take some blame here with his constant turn over of keepers did not help the situation. Plus we haven't found a midfielder as target man. To take some pressure of the kick out. Which piles more pressure on kick outs.
bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1265 - 25/11/2020 20:15:13
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Replying To Young_gael: "Great post, agree with every point. Andy's shortcomings are numerous but it saddens me that so many people are calling for the chopping block... all you really have to do is rewind back 4/5 years and the differences are immense in our team and setup.
1) Andy is the first manager to properly take Meath into the modern era. The players are modern players. We are playing off the same factsheet as the other big counties; our training methods and fitness standards are top class. No more misguided adventures about the traditional elements of Meath GAA which really and truly held us back 15 years. We've caught up a lot since his taking over.
2) Getting to Division One the season after being beaten by Longford in the Leinster Championship with good results against Armagh, Kildare, Cork, Tipperary, Clare. A genuinely good acheivement. First time since the mid-00s.
3) Two Leinster finals in a row.
4) Developing a remarkably young team, and a very busy extended squad. A spread of 25/30 good footballers. Agree with the argument that we are lacking top quality but in the case of many of our youngest players, it remains to be seen how they'll develop. He's a very good teambuilder and again, his ability to mould and train lads into solid players is a big strength.
5) Bringing through talented minors straight from the u-20 grade (although this in itself shows our issues at this age grade)
6) Unless a truly top quality manager with a track record is interested in the job, we need to stick with Andy as a priority. He shouldnt be insulted in any way. In fact a bad manager would completely ruin the progress made with our current squad and potentially cause the ruination of the team. I think we all know that." First of all I would like to say it is great to read so many good posts with many different points of view on Meath football. I have more or less given up posting on main forum, its more like badger baiting than analysis or opinion.
Its no secret that I think current managements time is up. As for them taking Meath into modern era, I disagree, we are always at least two seasons behind the top teams, always playing catch up, I still have no idea what way we are trying to play and it was evident from Kildare and Dublin games team are struggling with whatever game plan is in place. Our fitness has improved, but physicality has to be addressed. I fell getting promoted from Div 2 has papered over too many defects. Well before start of that campaign Andy made it clear promotion was his main goal for season (and rightly so). An all out effort was made to improve the fitness and we entered competition well ahead of rest of division in that respect. Of the teams mentioned many were missing 6/7 of players who would start championship for them months later. In fairness we took full advantage of their misfortune and our fitness to gain promotion, using majority of team that would start championship for us. As a strategy to gain promotion it worked, however by time championship started our lads were played out. I can see no evidence that coach is having even a basic positive influence on this group, lads who came in over last two years are not progressing and more estabilished group have gone backwards. Management have been living off promotion for too long. You say priority is to keep Andy, I think opposite is essential. For me there is a dogmatic approach by management, trying to mould players to a system that does not suit them. Cavan showed its not rocket science, set up defence and forwards, a decent keeper and a team that were willing to give everything for the jersey. I fear unless change is made current and new talent will not receive the level of coaching and encouragement required and new players will be less willing to join panel
The warnings were there in Kildare game but management choose to ignore and put out same side against Dublin, there have been a litany of mistakes over the years and the hiding against Dublin (again) for me was the last straw.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2195 - 25/11/2020 20:20:46
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Replying To Crinigan: "Nally made a difference to morale for sure as players were dropping like flies before he came in - remember the mass exodus of players?
But from coaching and tactical point of view ... I'm not impressed with the development personally. You see him in media dissecting Dublin kickout with aplomb for eg.., didn't do much for Meath's kickout though did he?" Were we not promised a review at end of year that would address players leaving? Coach talks a good game and was happy when I heard of appointment, however still cannot see what he has brought to the table. Whatever is happening on training field is not transferring to match day. Or maybe it is.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2195 - 25/11/2020 20:28:36
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Replying To Thelongwoodslasher: "this last point is really the defining difference for me separating Dublin out from the rest of the pack...and the most worrying thing about Kerry's defeat by cork... Dublin somehow seem to have found a way or a formula where amateur players don't seem to do either pressure or complacency …...that is unreal" The have estabilished a professional setup over the last ten years and their every need is catered for, both physically and mentally, doubt if they have an off-season like other counties. A year. in the life of a Dublin footballer would make for interesting reading
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2195 - 25/11/2020 20:37:18
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Assume there is still no senior management succession plan in place. Need to get the right manager in to manage under 20s and progress to senior over time.
bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1807 - 25/11/2020 21:12:14
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Replying To bobkarlgees: "I agree I think Andy has Meath in decent enough shape. Probably best shape in years.
Div 1 promotion was a great achievement. player look physically stronger. There is a decent work ethic. We generally are finishing games stronger. We seem to built a decent and strong panel.
When Andy first took over he quickly realized he needed a coach. So Nally came in, it was the difference in getting promoted in my opinion. We started wining them tight games that got us over the line and got us promoted. We had more direction since Nally came in.
This is not to run down Mc Entee this is a positive Mc Entee seen we needed a coach got Nally and it work this worked a treat.
Its good to see where things are going wrong and fix them.
The only thing I a worried about is, we have progressed but I think now we have kinda plateaued or stalled. We don't seem to be learning much from playing these top teams.
For instance we have played
Dublin 3 times lost all 3, ( now lets be honest nobody is beating Dublin any time soon)
Donegal 3 lost all 3
kerry 2 twice lost 2
Mayo 2 twice lost 2
Tyrone 2 twice lost 2
I am not so much worried about the Dublin loses as most teams have that type for record against them but Donegal Mayo Kerry etc, we can't seem to come up with a plan to beat them. Granted we ran Tyrone Dongeal and Mayo close on occasion, But ultimately failed.
I think Andy should remain. Do we need to bring in a new coach ? Do we need a someone adviser like Jimmy Mc Guinness. To freshen things up to bring to the next level ?" Is was 3 years before nally came in.
Borderroyal (Meath) - Posts: 496 - 25/11/2020 22:13:17
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Replying To meath87889699: "100% agree. Just wondering do the CB chairpersons from the counties speak to reach other at all. They should go to Croke park as a united front and put an end to this farce. Dublin are professional. It will take years to catch up assuming the GAA rebalance the funding. If the GAA are happy with the status quo (which it appears they are, after all a strong dominant Dublin will help pay the GAA staff salaries and future gold plated pensions) then the other counties will NEVER bridge the gap. The present bunch of GAA administrators have destroyed Gaelic football." It's no exagération to call what they did a cultural genocide. My children will never experience the pride in our county that I grew up with watching Meath men perform in croke park and the indescribable pride of place that that brings. It's the same for Kildare people and Laois people and Westmeath people. A whole cultural pursuit and identity destroyed by the organisation so charged to protect it.
What the GAA had was a very delicate, organic thing - an unreasonable unexplainable passion based on pride of place and identity, channeled into a sport based on honor and pride of place. If my children never experience the GAA experience as a Meath person like we did, will they grow to be proud Meath people? We have Tara and Newgrange and our history but nothing compared to the pride we had in our teams over the last 80 years. It just feels like something has been lost and will not return as it has gone beyond the point of return.
And for what? So a few less people would play a bit of soccer or rugby in Dublin? And because the children born in Dublin are worth more than those born outside it in the eyes of the GAA.
Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 25/11/2020 22:27:56
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Replying To Crinigan: "It's no exagération to call what they did a cultural genocide. My children will never experience the pride in our county that I grew up with watching Meath men perform in croke park and the indescribable pride of place that that brings. It's the same for Kildare people and Laois people and Westmeath people. A whole cultural pursuit and identity destroyed by the organisation so charged to protect it.
What the GAA had was a very delicate, organic thing - an unreasonable unexplainable passion based on pride of place and identity, channeled into a sport based on honor and pride of place. If my children never experience the GAA experience as a Meath person like we did, will they grow to be proud Meath people? We have Tara and Newgrange and our history but nothing compared to the pride we had in our teams over the last 80 years. It just feels like something has been lost and will not return as it has gone beyond the point of return.
And for what? So a few less people would play a bit of soccer or rugby in Dublin? And because the children born in Dublin are worth more than those born outside it in the eyes of the GAA." It's a sad state of affairs Crinigan, youre right. But look, you hit the nail on the head there at the end, the GAA has created this scenario and a great many people across the country and more particularly in Dublin don't see the problem or better yet are in denial of the existence of a problem and are in fact laughing at those of us who see the reality of the situation. It's a bit like the story of the Roman emperor Nero who apparently ordered the burning of Rome to allow him to build his new palace, then as the city burned and he could hear screams from the streets below, he distracted himself by playing a fiddle. Thats the very same principle. Now I agree with people complaining on podcasts and people on twitter penning open letters urging action but I'm 100% certain we'll see no action being taken. It's a certainty. No one wants to bite the hand that feeds them. So all-in-all we're stuck in a perilous position at the moment. The GAA isn't an organisation that is in touch with it's grassroots, the provincial system is dead, and the population centre of the island (Dublin) is satisfied to stay in isolation on this issue whilst the trophies just keep rolling in. Nothing to see here. Its actually easy for them to deflect away criticism of the situation by saying Meath and Kildare etc are not good enough, and in fact we are just moaners, and criers. You know the spiel.
I understand your issues and share them, but maybe its time to accept facts and move with the times. As sad as it is to say the game doesent get to me the way it used to, and if thats what the GAA wanted, they've succeeded. The game has changed and is ever-changing. And lastly, there are some dark home truths we need to accept about the skullduggery that went on in this county in the late 90s and 00s that also led to our slowly drifting from the top. Mismanagement, selection issues, too many managers, issues with fitness, bad underage structures, bad development structures, too much resting on laurels for too long... we have to accept that we ought not to be in quite as bad a situation as we have been. We really should be better only for a lot of different things over a critical timeframe.
Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 596 - 25/11/2020 23:05:02
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Replying To Young_gael: "It's a sad state of affairs Crinigan, youre right. But look, you hit the nail on the head there at the end, the GAA has created this scenario and a great many people across the country and more particularly in Dublin don't see the problem or better yet are in denial of the existence of a problem and are in fact laughing at those of us who see the reality of the situation. It's a bit like the story of the Roman emperor Nero who apparently ordered the burning of Rome to allow him to build his new palace, then as the city burned and he could hear screams from the streets below, he distracted himself by playing a fiddle. Thats the very same principle. Now I agree with people complaining on podcasts and people on twitter penning open letters urging action but I'm 100% certain we'll see no action being taken. It's a certainty. No one wants to bite the hand that feeds them. So all-in-all we're stuck in a perilous position at the moment. The GAA isn't an organisation that is in touch with it's grassroots, the provincial system is dead, and the population centre of the island (Dublin) is satisfied to stay in isolation on this issue whilst the trophies just keep rolling in. Nothing to see here. Its actually easy for them to deflect away criticism of the situation by saying Meath and Kildare etc are not good enough, and in fact we are just moaners, and criers. You know the spiel.
I understand your issues and share them, but maybe its time to accept facts and move with the times. As sad as it is to say the game doesent get to me the way it used to, and if thats what the GAA wanted, they've succeeded. The game has changed and is ever-changing. And lastly, there are some dark home truths we need to accept about the skullduggery that went on in this county in the late 90s and 00s that also led to our slowly drifting from the top. Mismanagement, selection issues, too many managers, issues with fitness, bad underage structures, bad development structures, too much resting on laurels for too long... we have to accept that we ought not to be in quite as bad a situation as we have been. We really should be better only for a lot of different things over a critical timeframe." Totally agree with your closing paragraph YG, and that has to be our starting point. If we accept our responsibility in the situation we are in, well then we can start looking to our neighbours & complaining and looking for equalisation...but crucially don't start with looking over the neigbours fence at his brand new tractor , when we have been squandering opportunities & resources for years….what was done by the CB , from the end of Sean Boylans reign to the present day , was scandalous . I have a religious issue with us giving out about Dublin & what they have got , as a starting point in solving this issue....by all means it can come into the debate, but lest cop on & realise that our fall form grace was very much our own doing
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 401 - 26/11/2020 10:55:40
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Replying To Thelongwoodslasher: "Totally agree with your closing paragraph YG, and that has to be our starting point. If we accept our responsibility in the situation we are in, well then we can start looking to our neighbours & complaining and looking for equalisation...but crucially don't start with looking over the neigbours fence at his brand new tractor , when we have been squandering opportunities & resources for years….what was done by the CB , from the end of Sean Boylans reign to the present day , was scandalous . I have a religious issue with us giving out about Dublin & what they have got , as a starting point in solving this issue....by all means it can come into the debate, but lest cop on & realise that our fall form grace was very much our own doing" Spot on ! Well said !
nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 26/11/2020 11:42:32
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