Looking at yesterday's game a thought sprang to mind. Here we had 2 teams with nothing on their mind only winning. Winning at all costs. There were forwards defending, constant looping by players trying to keep possesion at all costs. No chances taken anywhere. There was mind games, professionalism, diving, intimidation of officials, managers unapologetic about the lack of enternmaint on offer. Jim McGuinness talking about medals in back pockets. Both teams trained to run non-stop for 70 minutes. Trained to take and give hits non-stop for 70 minutes. No clean catches, almost no foot passing. Very few attempts at long range scores from play.
Basically it was win at all costs. It was played like there was alot of money at stake for the players and management involved. Of course there wasn't any money involved because this is an amateur sport. But to those of us who have been championing the cause of professionalism in the GAA, take a look at the video of yesterday's match (if anyone was masochistic enough to record it). Well this is what every game would be like because unlike yesterday there would be big bucks involved, players liveliehoods and their family's livliehoods involved. Managers jobs and backroom staff jobs on the line, chairman's jobs on the line. Believe me I have seen the future and that was it yesterday.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 29/08/2011 10:27:32    1021338

If Gaelic Football went Professional

I would never watch it again

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 29/08/2011 11:04:29    1021411

gigoer
County: Wexford
Posts: 767

1021411 If Gaelic Football went Professional

I would never watch it again

Well said, I cant believe that that game yesterday would stir someone's mind about professionalism.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3748 - 29/08/2011 11:17:16    1021440

guys, you have missed the point of the thread. no intelligence.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 29/08/2011 11:40:00    1021481

Fair point Goldrick, it was a terrible indictment of the game when played at its most defensive.

I'm a big advocate of professionalism in sport and watching the match yesterday I could only draw parallels between Gaelic Football and Rugby League. It was terrible fare, but as Brolly said, it was also incredibly interesting. One thing I have bemoaned about Gaelic football and hurling is that until the arrival of Tyrone and Armagh in the early 00's, there was no such thing as tactics in the GAA. Granted, you'd occasionally see a team bring the full forward out a bit to leave space for the corner forwards, or another minor change, but nothing anywhere like the tactical revolution brought about by the northern teams. Blanket defence, "puke football" call it what you will but it was as interesting as it was lamentable.
Fast forward to yesterday and I think the blanket defence reached its conclusion. Dublin corner backs soloing to the 45 unchallenged only to run into a mass of Donegal players on half way - shocking stuff it really was.

If you think about it though, a professional game would most likely get around this system quite quickly and as it would be run as a business and would need supporters parting with hard earned cash, it would most likely come in the form of a rule change to prevent such things - 13 a side for example would free up more space. Players contracts may include bonuses for goals/points (although clean sheets may also be included) but importantly, with full time technical coaching chances are more players will be accurate from 45+ yards from goal.

What I'm saying is that in a professional game, you might still see a Donegal - or lets be honest, a Dublin - type team emerge from time to time, same as you see a team like Man City who are based on defence. More likely though is that you'd see a game with less of the handling errors that also ruined yesterday's game, more accurate long passing and score taking.

Early professional rugby matches were exactly the same as the amateur ones with the players holding onto the tried and trusted methods. Then they realised that with improved defenses and more technique in the lineout, it was fooish to kick for touch all the time and a new skill emerged - a little kick in behind a full back to get him turned. This in turn brought about the days of explosive counter attacking rugby which I think is brilliant to watch. Different games I know and no-one wants to see Pierce O'Neill and Sean Cavanagh running into each other under a garryowen, but don't let one nightmare of a game ruin it.

In 3 weeks time Kerry and Dublin will face off for the first time in almost 30 years. It could, and most likely will, be a great one to watch. I don't think a wad of cash could make either set of players more determined to win.

diablodeKingdom (Kerry) - Posts: 210 - 29/08/2011 12:10:43    1021530

gigoer
County: Wexford
Posts: 770

1021411
If Gaelic Football went Professional

I would never watch it again

--------------------

Agree.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 29/08/2011 12:30:56    1021565

In 3 weeks time Kerry and Dublin will face off for the first time in almost 30 years. It could, and most likely will, be a great one to watch. I don't think a wad of cash could make either set of players more determined to win.

____________

I couldnt agree more

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 29/08/2011 12:52:52    1021612

If by going professional you mean salaries, free agents, etc; I think it would mean the end of inter-county teams. The best players would go wherever they could obtain the highest contract. The wealthier counties would be able to pay the highest.

mikeyjoe (USA) - Posts: 415 - 29/08/2011 17:23:59    1022090

some good points there from diablondekingdom


I wonder how this years crop of GAA players would fare against the aussies in the compromise game. they certainly wouldn't lack in fitness and defence strategy but could they kick overs from distance.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 29/08/2011 19:00:18    1022182

In a world where everything is driven by the pound, shilling and pence, it's important to remember that the GAA represents a unique alternative. All across the country players train in all sorts of conditions to represent their kith and kin and in so doing, more often than not, attain a level of fitness comparable to most professional athletes. These young men and women give it their all in a manner that has kept soccer and to a lesser extend rugby, at bay; and when you consider the universal appeal of soccer (God knows why as far as I'm concerned) this is no mean feat. I have brought many friends from foreign country's to both football and hurling matches and not one has ever left disappointed.

We have something unique and wonderful and any change as fundamental as introducing professionalism would alter the very nature of the organisation and make it no different from any other sport on offer. It cannot be allowed to happen.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3148 - 29/08/2011 19:24:23    1022201

marty boyle could make a few bob on the acting circuit.

9801 (Galway) - Posts: 126 - 29/08/2011 20:25:51    1022290

i like it better when the gaa can remain the number 1 sport without going professional and in fairness the game would need to take off in england and theUS for that to be a possibility.

BettystownRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 3353 - 29/08/2011 21:55:16    1022431

As it stands i wouldn pay 2 euro to a football game, its needs rules first, its an amatuer sport in every sense.

freetaker1 (Limerick) - Posts: 758 - 30/08/2011 09:04:44    1022473

It encouraging to see the views of most people on this topic!

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 30/08/2011 09:20:14    1022490

Festinog,

Do you not think its a disgrace that a central council and county boards full of well paid administrators can preach an amateur ethos to the players who make them their money? This rubbish about GAA being unique in the world because its amateur and the players give their all for their "kith and kin" really annoys me.

Take any amateur player in any code, and you will see that they train as hard as they can, in all kinds of weather. Its not just GAA players. The difference in practically every other code is that the elite players can earn a nice living from their ability.

If I were a very rich man, I'd bankroll a professional version of the game just to see how good these guys would be if treated properly.

diablodeKingdom (Kerry) - Posts: 210 - 30/08/2011 10:11:06    1022534

festinog you may not be a big soccer fan, but the Man Utd v Arsenal game on Sunday was vastly superior to the dirge served up in Croker on Sunday, plenty of goals, supreme moments of skill, and Arsene Wenger been shown up for the has been manager that he now is? However roll on Sunday when we will truly see what is the greatest game in the world, when the men of Tipp & Kilkenny clash, not to mention Galway & Dublin in the Minor.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 30/08/2011 10:13:22    1022539

I think the GAA is a little too puritanical about amateurism. I'm thinking specifically of the fuss made over Setanta o hAilipin and the 'Paddy Power' incident. If a lad garners fame by excelling on the hurling pitch he should be allowed to make use of it. He has earned it after all, tho I must say I prefer to see them pooling the fruits of their labors.

I'd like to see more money spent on their welfare too. It shouldn't cost so much money to play for your county. Take a look at the 'amateur' South African players who won the Rugby World Cup in 1995. I wouldnt say they were too out of pocket!

Count_Awesome (Kildare) - Posts: 736 - 30/08/2011 10:19:33    1022546

Well said Count_Awesome - you're living up to your name!!

diablodeKingdom (Kerry) - Posts: 210 - 30/08/2011 10:26:52    1022563

s goldrick
County: Cavan
Posts: 898

1021481 guys, you have missed the point of the thread. no intelligence.

Eh, to retort, let me assure you that I have plenty of intelligence to get me by thank you very much. I would respectfully question the intelligence of persistant mentioning of professionalism in the GAA when the basics are that it simply can not be afforded and would lead to elitism in the association and destroy its basic core. The last thing I thought of or would think of whilst watching Dublin/Donegal last Sunday was professionalism

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3748 - 30/08/2011 10:30:58    1022572

If the game went professional, a lot of players would retire young. You imagine the Gooch gets a knock in training today, he will be given full time physio, sent to Oxygen chambers and treated like a god until he has recovered, if the game was professional, he could be replaced by a loan signing etc. An Irishman I know who is a physio for Watford FC once told me that the players on his local GAA team are treated better than the Watford players when they get injured, this is because the injured Watford player can be replaced when injured by a new signing whereas the club player can't be. Sounds mad but it's true

Faithfull (Offaly) - Posts: 573 - 30/08/2011 10:44:36    1022594