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Replying To Knocknadrough: "I'd be inclined to stick with PJ though it's a close call, but the backroom team needs a major shake up, there's at least one lad there who brings very little to the table imv a forwards coach to compliment Cian would be a start, sideline has been far too slow to make changes in-game, too much whispering in the ear, too much consultation,too many cooks, oftentimes it's too late when the changes are made and the game is going away from us... Also S&C needs a look at, it's all too cosy and cliqueish on the bench... Start from there imv and start now not in November" I'm not sure if PJ is the man to take the team forward. Yes he improved the team he inherited from Kevin Walsh and brought a more attacking mindset but IMO the team has been stale for a number of months now and they seem to have been stuck in a rigid, slow build-up, ponderous, possession based game-plan that is very vulnerable to counterattacks if it breaks down or if there are sloppy turnovers as in evidence in the second halves of the Armagh and Mayo games in particular which ended their season. tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 29/06/2023 09:45:32 2490563 Link
Knocked out of the Championship by Mayo in four out of the last five years. Lord above! Galway supporters are being tortured at this stage - and our neighbours are very gloatingly thrilled about it! It's actually not good enough. We have to man up to hell and put them and others away with the talent we have. One point losses filled with excuses and big hugs from management - sick of this BS. Fix it. I've appealed for an elite level forwards coach for a long time now and it's absolutely essential it happens or we'll have lost 5 years out of 6 to our footballing air of superiority filled neighbours! togoutlads (Galway) - Posts: 1018 - 29/06/2023 15:41:06 2490680 Link
Replying To tommy k: "I'm not sure if PJ is the man to take the team forward. Yes he improved the team he inherited from Kevin Walsh and brought a more attacking mindset but IMO the team has been stale for a number of months now and they seem to have been stuck in a rigid, slow build-up, ponderous, possession based game-plan that is very vulnerable to counterattacks if it breaks down or if there are sloppy turnovers as in evidence in the second halves of the Armagh and Mayo games in particular which ended their season." Don't think PJ has improved a thing himself. KW was nearly always able to beat Mayo. Cian O'Neill has improved us in fairness. PJ spent 2020 and 2021 bringing us backwards trying to play "open football" like it was the 80s/90s culminating in an embarrassing defeat to Mayo in Croke Park in 2021. Donaldtrump (Galway) - Posts: 252 - 29/06/2023 16:19:47 2490693 Link
Replying To togoutlads: "Knocked out of the Championship by Mayo in four out of the last five years. Lord above! Galway supporters are being tortured at this stage - and our neighbours are very gloatingly thrilled about it! It's actually not good enough. We have to man up to hell and put them and others away with the talent we have. One point losses filled with excuses and big hugs from management - sick of this BS. Fix it. I've appealed for an elite level forwards coach for a long time now and it's absolutely essential it happens or we'll have lost 5 years out of 6 to our footballing air of superiority filled neighbours!" I wouldn't say gloating…focus very much switched to Dublin on Monday morning. While it's "nice" to beat Galway, the bottom line is Mayo want to win an all Ireland and beating Galway counts for nothing unless we win it. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11469 - 29/06/2023 16:47:44 2490704 Link
Lots of talk about changing our keeper. Left of centre this one but how about putting Paul Conroy in goals next year. not2bad (Galway) - Posts: 113 - 29/06/2023 20:47:06 2490739 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "I wouldn't say gloating…focus very much switched to Dublin on Monday morning. While it's "nice" to beat Galway, the bottom line is Mayo want to win an all Ireland and beating Galway counts for nothing unless we win it." You're a very fair and gracious Mayo supporter, Yew Tree, but there are quite a few I'm encountering daily who are more in the gloating category! Good luck to them. My main point is, being knocked out of the Championship 4 times in 5 years by ye lads should be starting to grate and stir us into some fixes in Galway but no guarantees of that with a somewhat stubborn, cliquish and 'can't be told' type of management. PJ has to see his forward unit isn't a unit and the cause of this is obvious to many. togoutlads (Galway) - Posts: 1018 - 29/06/2023 22:39:36 2490749 Link
Replying To not2bad: "Lots of talk about changing our keeper. Left of centre this one but how about putting Paul Conroy in goals next year." A ridiculous suggestion, but really I hope you're joking, do you think an outfield player can seamlessly fit into the position of goalkeeper, one of the most important positions on any team.. It's not saying much for the guys who've stood between the posts all the way up from underage teams and know the ins and outs of the position and learned the craft, if a player in the twilight of his career can change from outfield to between the sticks without much bother.. The goalkeeping position is underrated imv and one suited to very few,and needs a certain temperament, maybe they have to be even a bit mad and pigheaded given the amount of stick they get, it's why good not alone great keepers come along once in a generation if we're lucky.. Whatever about the arguments for and against, Gleeson, Power, Flaherty and the rest Conroy in goal is not the answer for heavens sake Knocknadrough (Galway) - Posts: 30 - 30/06/2023 00:28:41 2490757 Link
League final tonight in Tuam Stadium, will be interesting to see if county lads will feature for Corofin. Tuam have their full pick so should be an interesting battle between the sides. LetsPlayBall (Galway) - Posts: 64 - 30/06/2023 07:20:51 2490761 Link
Replying To not2bad: "Lots of talk about changing our keeper. Left of centre this one but how about putting Paul Conroy in goals next year." 100%. Was floated a few years ago when he had the Injury. 2 footed and played internationally underage in goal in soccer. We need to move with the times. Ethan Rafferty, Shane Ryan(corner forward for Rathmore), Niall Morgan even Reape is a converted forward. smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 456 - 30/06/2023 09:23:00 2490774 Link
Replying To Donaldtrump: "Don't think PJ has improved a thing himself. KW was nearly always able to beat Mayo. Cian O'Neill has improved us in fairness. PJ spent 2020 and 2021 bringing us backwards trying to play "open football" like it was the 80s/90s culminating in an embarrassing defeat to Mayo in Croke Park in 2021." Donaldtrump - Is there a question mark of PJ not staying on next year or what way does it work there? Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 336 - 30/06/2023 09:42:21 2490775 Link
Replying To Donaldtrump: "Don't think PJ has improved a thing himself. KW was nearly always able to beat Mayo. Cian O'Neill has improved us in fairness. PJ spent 2020 and 2021 bringing us backwards trying to play "open football" like it was the 80s/90s culminating in an embarrassing defeat to Mayo in Croke Park in 2021." Mayo might have a more capable management team now, than they had when KW was beating them? I think there are signs that Mayo are structuring a proper modern defence now, in a way that they've never done previously imo. Last Sunday, McBrien goaled on 42mins to level the game. Mayo, with a gale at their backs, chose to go on the defensive for the remaining 33mins, and only beat Galway by 1pt over this remaining gale assisted half hour plus. A bit like Galway's gameplan v Ros at the Connacht semi some weeks back, Mayo 'did a Galway' on Galway, and were happier operating with turnover possession than regular possession. They controlled the last half hour there, letting Galway come onto them into the wind, so that they'd feed off the inevitable turnovers that would arise, and with gale assistance, they'd have fancied their chances of making hay off this turnover possession. Maybe I'm giving the Mayo management team too much credit there, for what certainly seemed like a belt and braces approach to winning the game after McBrien goaled. Certainly, if PJs management team isn't all that it's cracked up to be, I'm afraid that this Mayo sideline team might have the capacity to school us time after time, going forward. I met a few experienced observers this year, who'd say 'you can't take that Mayo team seriously with Loftus centreback'. Then the big day arrives, and Loftus isn't no6 anymore!! I've seen a good few Galway Mayo games in my time, but I don't think I've ever seen a goal like that one at any of them. In 'fast forward terms', everyone on the field, all 29 of them, seemed to be moving at ×2 at the most, when suddenly McBrien comes at ×16 speed, receives at the 57 from a pedestrian paced Mayo player, executes a one two with an almost static O'Shea, blisters onto the penalty spot, before burying a cracking finish. The no3 covered 45 yards or so in 6 seconds or less, and the only 'resistance' he met, was one accommodating 'pat' from a Galway midfielder around the 50. An astonishing concession really, in these days of blanket defence. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3985 - 30/06/2023 10:45:36 2490798 Link
Replying To Knocknadrough: "A ridiculous suggestion, but really I hope you're joking, do you think an outfield player can seamlessly fit into the position of goalkeeper, one of the most important positions on any team.. It's not saying much for the guys who've stood between the posts all the way up from underage teams and know the ins and outs of the position and learned the craft, if a player in the twilight of his career can change from outfield to between the sticks without much bother.. The goalkeeping position is underrated imv and one suited to very few,and needs a certain temperament, maybe they have to be even a bit mad and pigheaded given the amount of stick they get, it's why good not alone great keepers come along once in a generation if we're lucky.. Whatever about the arguments for and against, Gleeson, Power, Flaherty and the rest Conroy in goal is not the answer for heavens sake" Goalkeeping has moved on even from Stephen Cluxtons era, its now a possession based game so they need to be able to create an extra man out the field when in possession , be comfortable on the ball and even come out and cover space for opposition kick outs. Our only overlap is being created by Kelly and McDaid, imagine how much damage they could do with an extra body tieing up a defender. They are also scorers at the moment. Beggan, Morgan, Rafferty. smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 456 - 30/06/2023 10:46:10 2490799 Link
Replying To Pope_Benedict: "Mayo might have a more capable management team now, than they had when KW was beating them? I think there are signs that Mayo are structuring a proper modern defence now, in a way that they've never done previously imo. Last Sunday, McBrien goaled on 42mins to level the game. Mayo, with a gale at their backs, chose to go on the defensive for the remaining 33mins, and only beat Galway by 1pt over this remaining gale assisted half hour plus. A bit like Galway's gameplan v Ros at the Connacht semi some weeks back, Mayo 'did a Galway' on Galway, and were happier operating with turnover possession than regular possession. They controlled the last half hour there, letting Galway come onto them into the wind, so that they'd feed off the inevitable turnovers that would arise, and with gale assistance, they'd have fancied their chances of making hay off this turnover possession. Maybe I'm giving the Mayo management team too much credit there, for what certainly seemed like a belt and braces approach to winning the game after McBrien goaled. Certainly, if PJs management team isn't all that it's cracked up to be, I'm afraid that this Mayo sideline team might have the capacity to school us time after time, going forward. I met a few experienced observers this year, who'd say 'you can't take that Mayo team seriously with Loftus centreback'. Then the big day arrives, and Loftus isn't no6 anymore!! I've seen a good few Galway Mayo games in my time, but I don't think I've ever seen a goal like that one at any of them. In 'fast forward terms', everyone on the field, all 29 of them, seemed to be moving at ×2 at the most, when suddenly McBrien comes at ×16 speed, receives at the 57 from a pedestrian paced Mayo player, executes a one two with an almost static O'Shea, blisters onto the penalty spot, before burying a cracking finish. The no3 covered 45 yards or so in 6 seconds or less, and the only 'resistance' he met, was one accommodating 'pat' from a Galway midfielder around the 50. An astonishing concession really, in these days of blanket defence." there should be a character limit on here! candlewax (Galway) - Posts: 292 - 30/06/2023 11:05:48 2490801 Link
Replying To smallfrank: "Goalkeeping has moved on even from Stephen Cluxtons era, its now a possession based game so they need to be able to create an extra man out the field when in possession , be comfortable on the ball and even come out and cover space for opposition kick outs. Our only overlap is being created by Kelly and McDaid, imagine how much damage they could do with an extra body tieing up a defender. They are also scorers at the moment. Beggan, Morgan, Rafferty." Yes until they are made to look very foolish by being dispossessed out the field and the ball stuck in their unguarded goal. The rules need to be changed to stop all this boring back and forth handpassing across the field which is destroying the game. Teams should be required to kick the ball after say 3 hanpasses. Short kick-outs should be banned. The kick-out should be required to travel past the 45 meter line. This would result in more high fielding, would create more excitement and help to counteract teams holding onto possession for protracrted periods of time and stopping the other team from gerting the ball. Unless changes are made soon, the game will be irreparably destroyed. Massed defences are also ruining the game and this needs ti be addressed soon by the GAA. FatLadySinging (Galway) - Posts: 91 - 30/06/2023 11:18:13 2490806 Link
I think I'd only stick with Joyce for another year if Cian O'Neill was staying on. If Joyce went now, it'd disband the backroom and I think we need O'Neill way more than he needs us. He'd get another coaching role closer to home. It's worrying though that it's been obvious to supporters that we've been relying on one-off heroic performances for over a year and management seemingly thought this would work, before we'd even started the serious matches. I think the Armagh match last year had more of a spread of scorers, but after the All Ireland last winter did Joyce not ask himself why Finnerty, Comer, Tierney or Patrick Kelly didn't even take a shot in the final and maybe how could that be avoided in future? The lack of coaching of the forwards to play as a unit has cost us 2 years running now. And if we had a well coached unit, dessie conneely, Finnerty etc could well slot into it as impact subs, find a pocket of space, receive a handpass and pop it over the bar. But again, the worrying thing is why Joyce didn't ask why Galway lost the All Ireland and why he didn't get ruthless with his backroom. jam83 (Galway) - Posts: 187 - 30/06/2023 12:34:01 2490829 Link
forwards not all that people seem to think they are. we have been heavily relying on scores from our midfielders for all of pjs tenure cavan.galway (Galway) - Posts: 222 - 30/06/2023 12:58:14 2490837 Link
Replying To cavan.galway: "forwards not all that people seem to think they are. we have been heavily relying on scores from our midfielders for all of pjs tenure" Waste of time coaching them lads so, let alone hiring a big shot forwards coach. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3985 - 30/06/2023 14:15:58 2490854 Link
If Padraig stays another year he needs shake up backroom team needs stop picking players that are injured putting injured players on bench brining in same players every jan snd dropping them in March play players in best positions Mcdaid all star midfield his best position, Cathal sweeney a good wing back not wing forward or corner forward coming out needs to hold proper trials when club championship is over not a box ticking exercise, the same goes for Galway minor snd under 20 teams trials are box ticking exercise,, look at minor this year 4 points scored in 63 mins v Derry snd they were training 4 days a week for that ,, Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 1012 - 30/06/2023 14:40:57 2490861 Link
Fatladysings you can continue to lament the destruction of the game but it is what it is. We had to adapt or be hammered regularly. Your right, the game is destroyed and nobody in the GAA shouted stop! What i find disturbing about our loss was the fact that we fielded injured players giving two fingers to our panel. Were scewed now imo by joyces carry on. On a footnote where was the team doctor and ohysio in these decisions? Did they turn a blind eye to this knowing the damage it would do to these players? Kelly is apparently out for the year. How can this action be justified? Where was the charter on player welfare? Where was the medical mantra of " do no harm"? The nature of this loss has set us back bigtime. handpassking (Galway) - Posts: 438 - 30/06/2023 17:08:04 2490885 Link
Replying To cavan.galway: "forwards not all that people seem to think they are. we have been heavily relying on scores from our midfielders for all of pjs tenure" The thing is Galway football teams have always played as individuals. Even the '98 '01 team performances were mostly based on individual brilliance. Contrast that with the great Dublin team, although brim full of talent, always jelled naturally as a team. Kerry too, heads up football, no one player with a monoply on possession. They play to their strengths, and somehow, when the chips are down, manage to cover for a relatively weak midfield. Imo the team play has to encouraged at underage level - cut out soloing, put emphasis on linked play and accurate kicking. Really (Galway) - Posts: 623 - 30/06/2023 20:47:44 2490903 Link