Meath Forum

Meath V Longford

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It should be our main priority to get into div1. Everthing should be built towards getting back to playing against top teams as this will have a huge mental improvement on our players.

Foley91 (Meath) - Posts: 418 - 27/05/2018 21:59:19    2104379

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Replying To grahamc9897:  "I wouldnt be Crying if he got the boot put it that way..But think that we need stability"
I know but too many players has walked away and that has to be sorted we just can't lose them players

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 27/05/2018 22:01:07    2104380

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Replying To Furlong1949:  "Ok here and now. Here and now.
Today May 26th 9.00 2018. Can you name the manager this top class manager who can take over to turn us into this top team you think we should be?

Again here and now today in the present can you name the manager who can take over from inside or even outside that can turn us into top class team.
Dont say McGuiness or Horan they aint coming to Meath, a credible candidate in the county who will turn us into this top class team.

Some of the people that have been mentioned are ex players who have no or little experience of managing senior teams at any level and no or little sucess at any level. They would be more inexperienced then Mick O Dowd even. And how did that inexperienced appointment turn out. It would be Mick O Dowd Mark 2. But worse at least O Dowd would have had some senior experimences ans sucess managing skyrne to county title. These ex players I have heard as potential Meath managers would have little or no experience managing senior teams at any level compared to Barry ( Leinster club title) Coyle ( managing Monaghan to beat All Ireland champions Armagh) O Brien ( All Ireland winning selector) Banty ( brought Monaghan to div 1 from div 4 ) O Dowd ( County title) McEntee ( Club All Ireland).

Whoever takes over would have a worst CV then our last 6 managers. And we were not happy with any of them. Laois got rid of McNulty they ended up in div 4 within 4 years. Derry got rid Lally as coach the current galway coach 4 years later they are in div 4.
laois and Derry replaced McNulty and lally with managers with poorer cvs and of course things worsened.

Again here and now at 9.15 on May 26th name this top class manager that is going to do better job then the most sucessful Meath manager of this decade. eg Club All Ireland and minor final.
Can you list these outstanding candidates that will lead us to the promised land. Any names here and now."
Hiya Furlong,

its good to see someone with your passion and desire posting here and I hope you continue to do so.

Whilst your posts referencing past years events may annoy people on here, your knowledge of the game and of Meath in particular, should not be questioned.

I suppose though that the current management will have to face scrutiny as it is difficult for people to see any real progress under them. Barely surviving in Division 2 this year coupled with today's defeat and possible defeat next time out and with a growing list of names either leaving the panel or not being picked plus no development of any effective style of play has to raise questions.

I am not advocating a change of Manager but I do think if he is to stay on that he will have to show a willingness to change his management style and approach because there has been no improvement.(To be fair there probably has been an improvement in fitness levels but surely that has to be a given in this day and age)

If this forum was around in the early 80's and if you asked people to name a manager for Meath at the time, i doubt any would have answered 'Boylan.'. In the same vein if people were asked to suggest names for the Carlow and Laois jobs in the last few years maybe the current lads would not have been top of the list. Yet all have came in and improved things to different degrees.

So who knows who else is out there that might come in and drive the improvement that we all desire?

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 27/05/2018 22:04:19    2104382

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At times today it looked like the full forward position was about giving that player (whoever they were, as it was rotating from one player to another) some time to take a breather from any defensive duties. They were isolated from the rest of the team, so ineffective as our sole forward inside. Especially with so many players behind the ball and running with it all the time. The corner forwards were as far back as the full back line on occasions.

They had three or four goal chances in the first half, but these were few and far between second half. I was expecting a strong finish but it petered out. I wondered during the match if subconsciously that this group of players do not really want to play the Dubs (for some time, maybe in a year or two or three!) and they lacked the motivation to win the game and instead went through the motions somewhat. Does the back door route appeal to them more, even though that could be short lived.

Longford were deserving winners, they moved the ball well and took some fine scores (although they kicked a fair few wides in the first half).

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 27/05/2018 22:05:49    2104384

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Replying To Furlong1949:  "Ok here and now. Here and now.
Today May 26th 9.00 2018. Can you name the manager this top class manager who can take over to turn us into this top team you think we should be?

Again here and now today in the present can you name the manager who can take over from inside or even outside that can turn us into top class team.
Dont say McGuiness or Horan they aint coming to Meath, a credible candidate in the county who will turn us into this top class team.

Some of the people that have been mentioned are ex players who have no or little experience of managing senior teams at any level and no or little sucess at any level. They would be more inexperienced then Mick O Dowd even. And how did that inexperienced appointment turn out. It would be Mick O Dowd Mark 2. But worse at least O Dowd would have had some senior experimences ans sucess managing skyrne to county title. These ex players I have heard as potential Meath managers would have little or no experience managing senior teams at any level compared to Barry ( Leinster club title) Coyle ( managing Monaghan to beat All Ireland champions Armagh) O Brien ( All Ireland winning selector) Banty ( brought Monaghan to div 1 from div 4 ) O Dowd ( County title) McEntee ( Club All Ireland).

Whoever takes over would have a worst CV then our last 6 managers. And we were not happy with any of them. Laois got rid of McNulty they ended up in div 4 within 4 years. Derry got rid Lally as coach the current galway coach 4 years later they are in div 4.
laois and Derry replaced McNulty and lally with managers with poorer cvs and of course things worsened.

Again here and now at 9.15 on May 26th name this top class manager that is going to do better job then the most sucessful Meath manager of this decade. eg Club All Ireland and minor final.
Can you list these outstanding candidates that will lead us to the promised land. Any names here and now."
I am not going to get into an extended debate with you about the relative merits of all of these managers but I will say one thing. Andy does not seem to be a good man manager of players and he does not seem to have anyone on his backroom team capable of filling that void. As I said earlier Sean Boylan had Brian Smyth and others that filled that role.

Man management and relationship development are crucial in the county game, perhaps more so than in the club where you are dealing with a specific set of players for better or worse. In my opinion, after 2 seasons with the squad Andy does not seem to have held on to the best squad of players out there in the county. Then again that's just my opinion.

If you were at the game today you would have seen that most of the players were trying hard but the conviction and belief was not there. truely they were just not good enough. Also, in my opinion most of the players mentioned above would have improved the team or at least the bench. To lose that many is a grave indictment on the manager so I would say there are quite a few management teams that I would put ahead of ours at this stage. Of course they wont turn us into All Ireland or even Leinster winners in the short term but would have been an improvement on what we saw today.

oldsam_newsam (Meath) - Posts: 638 - 27/05/2018 22:08:36    2104386

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Replying To meath1977:  "I think it could be colm o rourke turn"
Colm O'Rourke is all mouth an no trousers.

GlasgowRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 293 - 27/05/2018 22:09:38    2104388

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Replying To Foley91:  "It should be our main priority to get into div1. Everthing should be built towards getting back to playing against top teams as this will have a huge mental improvement on our players."
we know that but on today we are not even a division 2 team

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 27/05/2018 22:15:14    2104393

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Thought Andy should stay but too many players dropping off the panel, some of these are:

Mickey Newman
Sean Tobin "travelling"
Padraig McKeever "travelling"
Brian Conlon
Harry Rooney
David Toner
Paddy O'Rourke
Barry Dardis
Donnacha Tobin (not sure exactly what happened there)
James Toher

Any county can't sustain that many drop offs. Wouldn't be surprised if I could add a few names to that list during the week.

Barney123 (Meath) - Posts: 676 - 27/05/2018 22:15:54    2104395

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What we need is something very simple.

We need a manager to have the best players in the county playing the best football they can using tactics and a system that they understand and buy into and that are effective.

Below that we need the county board to continue to develop the underage structures so that we are replenishing our stock of good quality footballers. We also need them to ensure we have effective club competitions in order to improve the standards across the board.

Personally I do not care who the manager is as long as they are able to deliver their part of the bargain. If a current manager is not able to deliver that (whoever that may be) then theres nothing personal but a replacement is sought and given the same objective.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 27/05/2018 22:18:41    2104397

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Replying To GlasgowRoyal:  "Colm O'Rourke is all mouth an no trousers."
he won two in a row Meath championships and he knows the club scen and would be well liked by players

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 27/05/2018 22:21:09    2104401

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Was at the game today and can honestly say the better team one. My aggrievence with the team today are
1. Why was graham Reilly left on the field
2. Why did we continue with the sweeper system after she went down to 14 men
3. Why weren't changes made quicker especially in the warm weather, the Wallace's actually brought the much needed pace and fresh legs that where needed and we looked a bit better when the came on.
4 wides and balls dropping short really killed us as well as missed goal opportunities
5 I didn't want to say this but there where some woeful referee decisions
6 what is the story with the static full forward line no movement for the play coming forward

On the plus side
Mc Gill was best on the field for us today followed by Menton keoghan Ben Brennan and James Mc entee
And with Shane Mc entee getting the red card he will miss the next game. ( Brien conlan left the panel because of this nepotism and now it has comeback to haunt The management)

thebigjoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 63 - 27/05/2018 22:24:54    2104403

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Yer all missing what's wrong. Andy should stay were he is but just like Walsh brought in Paddy Tally (Tyrone), Carlow brought in Poacher (Down), Meath need to bring in a top coach who also is a great man manager. Sure we all know Andy's bloodline , man management is not something is his core attribute. Top coaches can improve a team with average players. Meath are an average bunch but a top coach won't have them losing to likes of Longford. Players look uncertain , not fully bought into what Andy is selling and their either jumping ship for that reason or just don't respect him. Players crave structure and want to follow a real coach who they believe in. Players are not improving under Andy individually or collectively and this Meath team is crying out for a top coach

Talking_Sense (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 27/05/2018 22:28:28    2104406

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If I was Gonna Pick A Team or the next day..

1.Colgan
2.Lavin
3.McGill
4.Curran
5.J McEntee
6.Keoghan
7.ONeill
8.Menton
9.Kennelly
10.Eamon Wallace
11.Brennan
12.O Sullivan
13.Joey Wallace
14.Reilly
15.Lenihan

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 27/05/2018 22:30:02    2104410

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Replying To grahamc9897:  "Listen no one is suggesting that there is a manager to take us to the so called promised land..So stop being so sarcastic and grow up.People just dont want to log onto this straight after a game and read you waffling about a game 30 years ago..I do enjoy your posts at times for the record.But when we have had a bad a year as this people are entitled to question management..Between the bad results performances and Players Leaving I think people are suggesting that another manager could do a little better .Theres no magic wand that will fix this
This is a results business and McEntee aint getting them.I would personally give him another year but to be perfectly honest if he was given the boot and the end of the year I wouldnt be Overly upset"
I dont think I am being sarcastic. People having being very sarcastic towards myself and others and dont see people pulling them up. What was I called Grandpa Simpson above. People keep telling me stay in the here and now. And I ask a relevant here and now question. I have no problem with people criticising whatsoever I am critical also. I am literally scared if we go down the road of sacking again. It will get worse. We had between 2007 to 2013 in 6 years we had 4 managers in 6 years. We ended up in div 3..Lost our first two games under O Dowd and were heading to div 4. If McEntee goes this year we would have 4 managers in 6 years again. What are the chances the same thing will happen we will go the way of laois and Derry. I think the chances are high.

Truth be told with exception of Coyler in his first year our last few managers I had my doubts. I looked at their CV and wasn't really impressed. But still we should have given Barry O Brien and Banty another year. We gave O Dowd to many years. Its a balance. I look at McEntees CV and it is top class better then McGuiness or Horan when they took over. I heard Dublin players like Conal Keaney and McAuley raving about McEntee. For me he is our best option. I dont see any credible alternative.

Why I keep bringing up the past is simple what people are expecting McEntee turn around a traditional county in the doldrums in a year or two , outside Kevin Heffernan in 1974 with Dublin its never been done before in the history of leinster football. No manager not even the two greatest managers could do it in a year or two. There asking McEntee to do something unheard of in leinster turn a traditional county in the doldrums in to county that is sucessful consistently over a couple of seasons. It takes seasons to do that. Even outside leinster with the exception of a few Ulster counties eg harte Tyrone McGuiness Donegal turning around counties takes years. Ulster has the best players and managers best teams. Thats my point. Its never beeen done before . The only way is over 4 to 5 year period with a top class manager. For me McEntee is the best bet.

Im not trying to be funny. But people have said maybe 8 or 9 times McEntee must go. I am now asking for the 7th time on this forum can anyone give one credible candidate to take over if he goes. Who takes over. I think that is an obvious and proper question to ask when people are calling for the managers head.

someone mentioned O Rourke. Yep good CV. Definatly a good one. But is he a credible candidate in that he has been in the running at least 3 times and I think pulled his name or didnt put it forward. I dont know what happened. Hes 60 hes very busy in the media/ school principal I would have serious doubts O Rourke will ever manage Meath. His time was late mid 00s. Its doubtful he will put his name forward. And there would be people who would not be fans of O Rourke. I would be. But many wouldnt rate him as a manager.I dont think he really is credible candidate as I dont see him putting his name forward when he is now over 60.

So again and I am not being funny can you name this top class manager to replace McEntee. One name thats credible. We cannot keep sacking managers the last time we had 4 managers in 6 years we ended up in div 3 looking towards div 4. What r the chances it happens again.

Again criticise I actually agree with so much of the criticism no problem whatsoever what people you are entitled to be angry. It is normal reaction. I dont care what people say as long as we dont go down the road sacking managers when we have no viable option lined up. I am literally scared what will happen if he goes. Coz i don't see any hope at all then. Just a massive nosedive. What do i know its only my opinion. Just a viewpoint. Its irrelevant in the general run of things. Im just a bogger from the backend of the county from county Meath who love his county.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 27/05/2018 22:43:19    2104422

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Replying To Talking_Sense:  "Yer all missing what's wrong. Andy should stay were he is but just like Walsh brought in Paddy Tally (Tyrone), Carlow brought in Poacher (Down), Meath need to bring in a top coach who also is a great man manager. Sure we all know Andy's bloodline , man management is not something is his core attribute. Top coaches can improve a team with average players. Meath are an average bunch but a top coach won't have them losing to likes of Longford. Players look uncertain , not fully bought into what Andy is selling and their either jumping ship for that reason or just don't respect him. Players crave structure and want to follow a real coach who they believe in. Players are not improving under Andy individually or collectively and this Meath team is crying out for a top coach"
Is a managers job not to coach..If hes not good at the man management and on Field coaching side of things then why the hell is he there..I dont expect him to be out there involved in every part of Training but he should have a lot to do with it..

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 27/05/2018 22:44:23    2104425

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Replying To oldsam_newsam:  "I am not going to get into an extended debate with you about the relative merits of all of these managers but I will say one thing. Andy does not seem to be a good man manager of players and he does not seem to have anyone on his backroom team capable of filling that void. As I said earlier Sean Boylan had Brian Smyth and others that filled that role.

Man management and relationship development are crucial in the county game, perhaps more so than in the club where you are dealing with a specific set of players for better or worse. In my opinion, after 2 seasons with the squad Andy does not seem to have held on to the best squad of players out there in the county. Then again that's just my opinion.

If you were at the game today you would have seen that most of the players were trying hard but the conviction and belief was not there. truely they were just not good enough. Also, in my opinion most of the players mentioned above would have improved the team or at least the bench. To lose that many is a grave indictment on the manager so I would say there are quite a few management teams that I would put ahead of ours at this stage. Of course they wont turn us into All Ireland or even Leinster winners in the short term but would have been an improvement on what we saw today."
Again players are leaving across the country Wexford 16 players Cork 17 or 18 Derry 19 Offaly 16 Down 14 Antrim all since last year's the amount of players from panels that have left since last year in div 2 3 and 4 team is genuinely extraordinary . Its a massive national problem.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 27/05/2018 22:50:11    2104429

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Replying To ROYALOPTIMIST:  "What we need is something very simple.

We need a manager to have the best players in the county playing the best football they can using tactics and a system that they understand and buy into and that are effective.

Below that we need the county board to continue to develop the underage structures so that we are replenishing our stock of good quality footballers. We also need them to ensure we have effective club competitions in order to improve the standards across the board.

Personally I do not care who the manager is as long as they are able to deliver their part of the bargain. If a current manager is not able to deliver that (whoever that may be) then theres nothing personal but a replacement is sought and given the same objective."
Exactly.

Every player available playing and this only happens when we have a setup players buy into and one in which they feel they are treated with respect and fairness.

New management therefore required. I don't care who. It could be anyone from Cian Ward to Shane McAnarney to Colm O Rourke to Kevin Reilly. Plenty of football people in Meath.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1318 - 27/05/2018 22:56:03    2104431

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Replying To oldsam_newsam:  "Were you actually at the game today? This looks like a post from someone not at the game who listened on the radio and supplemented with facts freely available elsewhere."
Yes I wasnt at the match. I was at most of the league matchs and byrne cup final. Ihave been following Meath for 35 years. Have been at most league games and every championship match with exception of 2014 leinstet final as couldnt get out of bed with sore back was on crutches. Missed the whole championship of 08 (wasnt I lucky )when travelling Austraila with my girlfriend. I have been to every championship match every year since 83 ..I missed today because I had to look after a sick parent , two sick parents actually. I missed 1 game last year also. So I wasnt at the match today. So I am only talking with reports from lMFM and radio tv net. So you are right I dont have the full picture today. That is a fair criticism to make of me. Thats fair enough.
The reason I talk about the past is we can learn from past mistakes. Its just my viewpoint I could be right I could wrong. its a bad day for Meath football.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 27/05/2018 22:57:54    2104432

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Replying To grahamc9897:  "If I was Gonna Pick A Team or the next day..

1.Colgan
2.Lavin
3.McGill
4.Curran
5.J McEntee
6.Keoghan
7.ONeill
8.Menton
9.Kennelly
10.Eamon Wallace
11.Brennan
12.O Sullivan
13.Joey Wallace
14.Reilly
15.Lenihan"
O'Sullivan too inconsistent. Better left as sub I think.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/05/2018 23:29:35    2104445

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Despite the heartbreak at the loss today. While I was driving home I thought of all the people who'd be on here calling for Andy's head. Not one of them have disappointed me. Add to that not one of them congratulated team on winning obc. Why have we so many lil whingers in our county?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/05/2018 23:39:48    2104449

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