National Forum

New Donegal Manager

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Shame on the clubs if they don't propose a few alternatives. That backward mentality of having someone in because 'he's a nice chap' or 'a good GAA man' is not going to win All Irelands. The county board needs to be run like a corporation, based on results and doing whatever is necessary to achieve that. It's quite obvious that it has been run like failed 3rd world state for far too long, populated by folk who are afraid to do what's best for the intercounty squad.

StockholmGael (Donegal) - Posts: 112 - 30/08/2021 10:10:24    2376279

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Replying To Commodore:  "I support Declan getting another year, but he and his team need to focus on defense and change our system of play, which while successful in 2018 and 2019, has now become too predictable."
We win two handy ulster titles against weak opposition in 18 and 19. I would hardly call it success. And thats where the problem is, to many people in donegal think success is winning ulster.
Did mcguinness not teach us anything, we are as good as anyone in the country if managed right, and should be looking for an all Ireland every year.
Will we win it every year, not a hope, but at least have the ambition to win it.
Did you honestly think tryone, kerry, dublin, or mayo start the year thinking if we win our province its a good year.
Again think small, and you only get small results

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 30/08/2021 10:10:28    2376280

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Replying To StockholmGael:  "Shame on the clubs if they don't propose a few alternatives. That backward mentality of having someone in because 'he's a nice chap' or 'a good GAA man' is not going to win All Irelands. The county board needs to be run like a corporation, based on results and doing whatever is necessary to achieve that. It's quite obvious that it has been run like failed 3rd world state for far too long, populated by folk who are afraid to do what's best for the intercounty squad."
I'm dam sure you must be a paid up member of a club. If you are why didn't your club not nominate somebody. Easy talking now that what clubs are for.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 30/08/2021 10:28:54    2376289

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Unless we show ambition we are going to descend into mediocrity, Jim McGuinness turned a bunch of talented journey men into All Ireland winners,
Bonner hasn't got what it takes to land us an All Ireland, nice guys finish last as they say.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2756 - 30/08/2021 10:39:50    2376298

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Replying To The keeper:  "We win two handy ulster titles against weak opposition in 18 and 19. I would hardly call it success. And thats where the problem is, to many people in donegal think success is winning ulster.
Did mcguinness not teach us anything, we are as good as anyone in the country if managed right, and should be looking for an all Ireland every year.
Will we win it every year, not a hope, but at least have the ambition to win it.
Did you honestly think tryone, kerry, dublin, or mayo start the year thinking if we win our province its a good year.
Again think small, and you only get small results"
Two handy ulster titles never heard that before. It's not that we have a bagful of ulsters. Did we not beat Tyrone in semi final to win one of them. But that probably doesn't matter because bonner was manager. Too win an all Ireland we need to win ulster as a stepping stone. Listening to people on here you would swear we were on the Kerry forum. At the moment we haven't the players to win an all Ireland and that's fact.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 30/08/2021 10:52:09    2376306

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Two handy ulster titles never heard that before. It's not that we have a bagful of ulsters. Did we not beat Tyrone in semi final to win one of them. But that probably doesn't matter because bonner was manager. Too win an all Ireland we need to win ulster as a stepping stone. Listening to people on here you would swear we were on the Kerry forum. At the moment we haven't the players to win an all Ireland and that's fact."
We have the players but not the manager, Bonners race is run, time for change.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2756 - 30/08/2021 11:40:36    2376325

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we have more than enough players to win an ireland / to do as well as tyrone or mayo . we need a manager that stops making bull**** excuses for rubbish defending and players crying off with soft injuries . Bonnar is too nice and needs to go

ballyshannon (Donegal) - Posts: 176 - 30/08/2021 11:49:27    2376329

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "We have the players but not the manager, Bonners race is run, time for change."
We need at least 4 defenders any suggestions.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 30/08/2021 11:58:14    2376338

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Two handy ulster titles never heard that before. It's not that we have a bagful of ulsters. Did we not beat Tyrone in semi final to win one of them. But that probably doesn't matter because bonner was manager. Too win an all Ireland we need to win ulster as a stepping stone. Listening to people on here you would swear we were on the Kerry forum. At the moment we haven't the players to win an all Ireland and that's fact."
We haven't the players? Sadly that is the attitude just there that i am talking about. Thinking small.
It was the exact same attitude before mcguinness took over, and thankfully he seen different and aimed bigger, and look what we achieved.
And what is wrong with having the same mentality as a kerry or dublin? We have as much talent as anybody in Ireland, only difference is, we dont have the same attitude.
Tryone are going for there forth all Ireland on the 11th, let that sink in.
Yet were happy with winning one every 20 years if were lucky, why? Because of thinking small instead of mcguinness attitude of we are as good as anyone.

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 30/08/2021 12:02:18    2376340

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Not against Declan getting another year at it. I haven't seen any viable alternatives bar the obvious one who if was interested we would know by now. He can also point to shortened league and losing Murphy against Tyrone as legitimate excuses. I don't buy into the we haven't the players mentality. We absolutely have but sometimes the best team is not always the best players. That would involve some tough decisions and I don't see that streak in Declan. There is nothing between ourselves and Tyrone and they are now in an AI final with a starting 15 not necessarily their best 15 players. Anyone of Langan, McNiallais or Thompson would've made a huge difference to Kerry at the weekend at half forward so we are blessed with these types of players. However not sure starting all suits. You also need your Meylers, Frank Burns, McGeary and Sluddens who can play but have an edge with a huge appetite to work. Have we players in the county who could be moulded similarly? Absolutely.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 30/08/2021 12:09:54    2376343

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Replying To panamasam:  "Not against Declan getting another year at it. I haven't seen any viable alternatives bar the obvious one who if was interested we would know by now. He can also point to shortened league and losing Murphy against Tyrone as legitimate excuses. I don't buy into the we haven't the players mentality. We absolutely have but sometimes the best team is not always the best players. That would involve some tough decisions and I don't see that streak in Declan. There is nothing between ourselves and Tyrone and they are now in an AI final with a starting 15 not necessarily their best 15 players. Anyone of Langan, McNiallais or Thompson would've made a huge difference to Kerry at the weekend at half forward so we are blessed with these types of players. However not sure starting all suits. You also need your Meylers, Frank Burns, McGeary and Sluddens who can play but have an edge with a huge appetite to work. Have we players in the county who could be moulded similarly? Absolutely."
Exactly. Eric Cantona once referred to his international colleague Dider Deschamps as a water carrier. But I think he later admitted that every team needs a few water carriers in order to be successful. I think that's where we're at, we have a lot of nice footballers but certain games dictate that certain players are more suited. It's getting that balance right that's the key. Is Bonner the right man to be making those decisions? I'm not so sure.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 30/08/2021 12:22:25    2376349

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Replying To StockholmGael:  "Shame on the clubs if they don't propose a few alternatives. That backward mentality of having someone in because 'he's a nice chap' or 'a good GAA man' is not going to win All Irelands. The county board needs to be run like a corporation, based on results and doing whatever is necessary to achieve that. It's quite obvious that it has been run like failed 3rd world state for far too long, populated by folk who are afraid to do what's best for the intercounty squad."
We need educated people in place, who can think long-term and beyond their own personal gains, purely to helping make Donegal football powerful.

The problem is that most of the Clubs are run on a parochial basis, usually with a 2 or 3 families dominating the Club Committee, which often drives more sensible people away from the Club, after they become disillusioned with at times idiotic decision making, which is detrimental to the Clubs success at different grades.
An example of when this become detrimental is when they see a group of talented players at U14 or U16 coming through, they stick one of their own Cabbage heads in to take them at minor level and the wheels fall off the cart.

This may not be the case at every club, but it is in many, and quite often these are the Club delegates then sent to County Board to vote on key decisions. This is why we often see names thrown in for the Donegal job of guys who have no solid track record of winning, because its not about his record, its about the fact he is "Our man" who has the backing of clubs in a certain area.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1121 - 30/08/2021 12:35:25    2376355

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Replying To panamasam:  "Not against Declan getting another year at it. I haven't seen any viable alternatives bar the obvious one who if was interested we would know by now. He can also point to shortened league and losing Murphy against Tyrone as legitimate excuses. I don't buy into the we haven't the players mentality. We absolutely have but sometimes the best team is not always the best players. That would involve some tough decisions and I don't see that streak in Declan. There is nothing between ourselves and Tyrone and they are now in an AI final with a starting 15 not necessarily their best 15 players. Anyone of Langan, McNiallais or Thompson would've made a huge difference to Kerry at the weekend at half forward so we are blessed with these types of players. However not sure starting all suits. You also need your Meylers, Frank Burns, McGeary and Sluddens who can play but have an edge with a huge appetite to work. Have we players in the county who could be moulded similarly? Absolutely."
Get your point ok but who are the players that. We can mould like Mc geary burns sludden and meylers. If Murphy scored the penalty I believe we could have win. We have a lot of talented players but I'm still on about our defence all good footballers but we're lacking a Mac namee hampsey and mc geary type players. In my mind to be competing for all Ireland's we need these type players . have we got them in the county in my mind not at the moment but I dearly hope I'm proved wrong . If bonner gets back in he has to take in a few new back room men to freshen things up. Outside of the squad we had this year is there any body that not there that could make a difference, I don't know nobody springs to mind. We have a lot of good young small players but you can only play so many. People can say I'm pro bonner I'm just giving my honest opinion I was on this forum long before bonner got the job. I was laughed at for standing up for Rory Gallagher who I feel is still a good manager but things didn't work for him with Donegal but he probably learned from the mistakes he made with Donegal to make him a better manager now. Until I think there's a better option than bonner I will continue to back him as I said before if the players weren't happy I don't think bonner would put his name forward so that's good enough for me. At the end of the day I'm a Donegal gaa man who wants the best for my county I don't have hidden agendas like a few of the posters on here who just can't stand bonner or rochford .

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 30/08/2021 12:45:48    2376362

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We win two handy ulster titles against weak opposition in 18 and 19. I would hardly call it success. And thats where the problem is, to many people in donegal think success is winning ulster.
Did mcguinness not teach us anything, we are as good as anyone in the country if managed right, and should be looking for an all Ireland every year.
Will we win it every year, not a hope, but at least have the ambition to win it.
Did you honestly think tryone, kerry, dublin, or mayo start the year thinking if we win our province its a good year.
Again think small, and you only get small results

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 435 - 30/08/2021 10:10:28

I definitely would call it success, he won back to back Ulster title with a relatively young Donegal side, also winning a Division 2 title and McKenna Cup, its important to have young players winning Ulster titles like this.
Donegal until 2010 had only won 5 x Ulster titles ever, in the last 10 years we have won another 5 x Ulsters, matching what had previously taken us over a Century to achieve, this in itself has shown a huge improvement in our Counties fortunes.

Dublin, Kerry and Mayo usually have minimal competition in their respective Provinces, apart from the odd upset or shock, Dublin breeze through Leinster each year. Winning Ulster has never been guaranteed or easy, to be Ulster Champions still carries significant weight.

I agree with you in that our mindset should be focused on winning All Ireland's, I think having a great manager is more difficult that developing great players, as it really is difficult to get that top class manager with the thinking and vision required to take it to the next level.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1121 - 30/08/2021 13:14:55    2376387

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Exactly. Eric Cantona once referred to his international colleague Dider Deschamps as a water carrier. But I think he later admitted that every team needs a few water carriers in order to be successful. I think that's where we're at, we have a lot of nice footballers but certain games dictate that certain players are more suited. It's getting that balance right that's the key. Is Bonner the right man to be making those decisions? I'm not so sure."
I agree, we have been playing a nice attacking front six, and then putting Ryan McHugh or Peadar Mogan etc in the half back line, and then wondering why we are so open at the back.

In 2011/2012, McGuinness sacrificed the half forwards, he basically had a 2 man inside forward line (Murphy and McFadden), McBrearty dropped deeper, and quite often our listed half forward line was Mark McHugh, Leo McLoone and Ryan Bradley/David Walsh, who all dropped back to create a 6 man half back line with Anthony Thompson, Karl Lacey and Frank McGlynn. These guys were all physical, the minute the opposition entered Donegal's 45, they knew about it.

Declan Bonners tactics are almost a mirror opposite, he basically setup a 6 man half forward line, with O'Donnell, MacNiallais, Thompson, backed up with Michael Langan, Ryan McHugh and Peadar Mogan/Eoin McHugh. So Hugh McFadden drops back to the half back line, while the rest of the guys all work on the Counter attacking game, so you have usually have 3 full backs covered by Hugh McFadden and maybe one half other half back.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1121 - 30/08/2021 13:28:23    2376394

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Get your point ok but who are the players that. We can mould like Mc geary burns sludden and meylers. If Murphy scored the penalty I believe we could have win. We have a lot of talented players but I'm still on about our defence all good footballers but we're lacking a Mac namee hampsey and mc geary type players. In my mind to be competing for all Ireland's we need these type players . have we got them in the county in my mind not at the moment but I dearly hope I'm proved wrong . If bonner gets back in he has to take in a few new back room men to freshen things up. Outside of the squad we had this year is there any body that not there that could make a difference, I don't know nobody springs to mind. We have a lot of good young small players but you can only play so many. People can say I'm pro bonner I'm just giving my honest opinion I was on this forum long before bonner got the job. I was laughed at for standing up for Rory Gallagher who I feel is still a good manager but things didn't work for him with Donegal but he probably learned from the mistakes he made with Donegal to make him a better manager now. Until I think there's a better option than bonner I will continue to back him as I said before if the players weren't happy I don't think bonner would put his name forward so that's good enough for me. At the end of the day I'm a Donegal gaa man who wants the best for my county I don't have hidden agendas like a few of the posters on here who just can't stand bonner or rochford .

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 1033 - 30/08/2021 12:45:48

We've been unfortunate with injuries in recent years, its seriously impacted our full back line, with Kieran Gillespie and Conor Morrison both out long-term, these two guys are animals, proper top quality full backs. Now I hope Conor Morrison can make it back, not sure if Kieran Gillespie will recover his pace fully. Paddy McGrath never made it back after 2019 injury, I suspect his pace is gone too.

Its not strictly that we don't have players, we've just lost key next generation players at a crucial time. I think our weakness at full back has not been helped with out current system of player, which leaves us more exposed at the back. My preference would be for Donegal management in 2022 to address this and rebalance it.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1121 - 30/08/2021 13:40:31    2376399

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Rory boy. You are some GAA authority,still touting Bonner as this manna from heaven type of a manager. Would u care to guess how long Keane is going to last in Kerry? This is a guy who was unlucky not to have taken Dublins scalp after a replay . Already the knives are sharpened with the O Sheas and others calling for his ouster, he will be gone.He got 3 years, Donegal has to keep Bonner forever, got to be kidding!This hidden agenda stuff ,is that just a figure of speech for u ,Bonner goes ,just my opinion.

thelowball (USA) - Posts: 400 - 30/08/2021 13:55:14    2376408

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Replying To thelowball:  "Rory boy. You are some GAA authority,still touting Bonner as this manna from heaven type of a manager. Would u care to guess how long Keane is going to last in Kerry? This is a guy who was unlucky not to have taken Dublins scalp after a replay . Already the knives are sharpened with the O Sheas and others calling for his ouster, he will be gone.He got 3 years, Donegal has to keep Bonner forever, got to be kidding!This hidden agenda stuff ,is that just a figure of speech for u ,Bonner goes ,just my opinion."
Your opinion doesn't really matter your just a typical keyboard warrior plenty talk but no answers. Name them players again you mentioned to get Donegal back on track it's a Monday and I could do with a laugh.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 30/08/2021 14:25:46    2376424

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Just another figure of speech from u , the keyboard thing. Coming from the greatest'warrior' on here,there will be lots of laughs for u Rory, while the rest of us will be crying. As for namin players, that's the managers job!

thelowball (USA) - Posts: 400 - 30/08/2021 15:00:46    2376437

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Your opinion doesn't really matter your just a typical keyboard warrior plenty talk but no answers. Name them players again you mentioned to get Donegal back on track it's a Monday and I could do with a laugh."
Listen the lad is entitled to an opinion without been talked down at..

You need to calm down a bit

eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1595 - 30/08/2021 15:01:46    2376440

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