Meath Forum

Meath V Longford

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Replying To Furlong1949:  "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."
From 2007-2013 We got to 2 all ireland semi Finals won a Leinster,Beat Mayo,Tyrone,Dublin,Galway,Kildare in the Championship..4 Leinster Final appearances..Nowhere near the walk aways from the panel..Were a million miles off that now..so your point that we were worse off then is completely false..Look at Carlow and Longford below both opposition in the League today but who won the games?? If McEntee is to go its not mine or any other posters call to replace him thats the county boards job..To just keep saying there is no one better just leave him is a little naive..Look at Kildare Promoted to division 1 last year after hammering us twice now cant win anything,.Promotion has done them a fat load of good..Being hammered every week !! Are you honestly saying that there is not another manager in the county that would have us doing better in the league and in todays match..Have you just accepted we cant beat Longford
Andy will obviously finish out the year and then time will tell what happens..

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 27/05/2018 23:42:06    2104450

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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."
Would not be in favour of getting rid of manager now, there may be no outstanding canidates to take over, however could anyone do any worse?

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2136 - 27/05/2018 23:43:16    2104452

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Replying To GlasgowRoyal:  "Colm O'Rourke is all mouth an no trousers."
Colm O Rourke owes Meath football nothing, club, county and schools. Saw writing on the wall for Meath football but County Board new better.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2136 - 27/05/2018 23:49:00    2104458

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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"
Fully agree we seem to need a good coach, but if Andy is neither involved in man management or coaching what exactly would his job be?

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2136 - 27/05/2018 23:56:03    2104459

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Changing managers is not the be and end all, not that I'm defending McEntee after errors I've previously pointed out, I also forgot to mention that Ben Brennan put in a decent shift today, but we have a horrible tendency in recent years to chop and change managers thinking it will bring an instant solution only to see it all fall flat. Colm Coyle left after an encouraging 2007 and disappointing 2008 when he probably should have given it another year, Eamonn O'Brien disposed of horribly after an encouraging two years when he deserved more leading to Banty which started to unravel quickly with internal strife with his initial management team although a win over Kildare in 2012 and ultimately narrow defeat to the Dubs retained respectability. Mick O'Dowd started encouragingly in 2013 and then it all went downhill with injuries to key men not helping his cause, Andy McEntee came in with great fanfare but as yet we are no better off. Is he the man for the job now? Quite honestly I don't know but I tend to lean towards the argument that let's see what happens in the qualifiers and have a full root and branch review at years end, the management need to believe themselves that they can bring about improvement and that may be a big part of their decision come years end. There is no manager with a magic wand to solve the issues with our Senior team so patients and allowing time and space could be more beneficial than going back to square one and looking for a new manager. We simply don't have the overall quality of player right now that we used too, I certainly think we could be doing better but our mental frailty and confidence are huge issues and have been for some time. Once we went two points down today early in the second half, the biggest gap to that point, I swear I could nearly see panic set in and Longford capitalised and went 5 up, that was end game. Games that we win we tend to start well and go on the front foot, go behind and we struggle, the doubts enter the head and we can't pull it around, a far cry from years gone by but that is reality. The overall negativity and apathy towards the team can not help, I'm sure players read these pages, they hear the shouts of the crowd, they are human and will react accordingly. This morning we will learn who we face next and where, we have no right to think we would beat any team in the qualifiers, we must accept where we are at and from there do we work towards improvement. Management and players are working exceptionally hard, of that I've no doubt, but it's mentally that I feel we need the most work, there are some deep scars from recent years and today is another, those scars need special healing and personally I think our mental training and preperation is more important than any physical aspect right now. After the Tipp game in the league I thought the year was a write off, then two wins under pressure gave me new hope, today knocked me for 6 and right now I don't know what's going to happen next but I suppose I'll drive down from the hills of Donegal to find out, in fact there's no suppose I will. I hope we have big crowds for this weeks Junior and Minor games as these players need to realise supporters still care. As for the Seniors well maybe we need a bigger draw to focus minds and body. Mayo in Navan anyone???

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 28/05/2018 00:43:45    2104477

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Replying To grahamc9897:  "From 2007-2013 We got to 2 all ireland semi Finals won a Leinster,Beat Mayo,Tyrone,Dublin,Galway,Kildare in the Championship..4 Leinster Final appearances..Nowhere near the walk aways from the panel..Were a million miles off that now..so your point that we were worse off then is completely false..Look at Carlow and Longford below both opposition in the League today but who won the games?? If McEntee is to go its not mine or any other posters call to replace him thats the county boards job..To just keep saying there is no one better just leave him is a little naive..Look at Kildare Promoted to division 1 last year after hammering us twice now cant win anything,.Promotion has done them a fat load of good..Being hammered every week !! Are you honestly saying that there is not another manager in the county that would have us doing better in the league and in todays match..Have you just accepted we cant beat Longford
Andy will obviously finish out the year and then time will tell what happens.."
Firstly in 2008 Meath players were not leaving the panel but in 2008 Wexford Cork Down Derry Armagh Kildare laois Offaly Westmeath players were not leaving panels. Ten years later In 2018 Meath players and Down Derry Wexford Cork Armagh Laois Offaly players are leaving panels , players are leaving county panels across the country in 2018, they didnt in 2008.

Secondly yes we did well in late 00s..But we had much better players then we had now..After kerry and Tyrone we possibly had the best forward line in the country. In the late 00s we probaly had as good if not better forward line then the Dubs. Thats why we defeated them by 5 goals. in the lates 90s we had Graham Geraghty Stephen Bray Shane O Rourke Graham Reilly Peadar Byrne David Bray and a young Joe Sheridan Brian Farrell and Cian Ward. Compare that today's forward line of Mickey Burke Ben Brennan Byran McMahon Graham Reilly Cillian sullivan Donal lenihan Joey Wallace. Today forward line is a division 2 forward line. The forward line in late 00s was a top division 1 forward line. Very few counties had a better forward line in 00s. We had a problem in the backs and midfield.

Anyway lets look at the players we had in late 00s Graham Geraghty Stephen Bray David Bray Shane O Rourke Joe Sheridan Brian Farrell Cian Ward Graham Reilly Paedar Byrne Seamus kenny Nigel Crawford Brian Meade Anthony Moyles Cormac McGuiness Chris O Connor Niall Mcloughlin Niall mckegue Darren Fay Kevin Reilly Brendan Murphy. That group of players is much stronger then our current group.

Actually that team underachieved. In 2010 we could have won the All Ireland we had better forwards then kildare or down..And Cork were beatable. Dublin were shakey at the end of 00s..With the group of players we had in late 00s we should have won more leinsters in 2008 and 2009 and at least should have reached a final in 2010. Why didnt we?. because we kept changing the manager. Players like Joe Sheridan Cian Ward had 5 managers in 7 years. Changing the manager halted the development of that team the development of tactics, the whole development of everything .. a new manager, new ideas new players dropped players brought in. Even players from that era have said changing the namager every year in late 00s effected the team. In the last 12 years we have had 7 managers , 8 if McEntee goes. In the last 12 years Dublin have had 3 managers.

Boylan wanted a 3 year contract in 2006..he knew there was talent there. But no the supporters wanted him gone. If Sean boylan stayed in 2006 2007 2008 I believe he would have won leinster and went on to win his fifth All Ireland in 2010. We will never know. But one thing for certain having 5 managers in 7 years did not help that 2007 to 2010 team it halted its development and titles were lost.
And by the end of our fifth manager in 7 years in 2012 2013 where were we in Division 3 heading to div 4.

Finally please name this top class manager in or outside county that wil deliver us sucess. This is the 8th time I have asked this. Still no names. 1 name a credible name with the CV to show how good he is . You keep saying there's a manager in the county that would get us to do better in the league. Well under 7 managers in 12 years we have spent 1 year in division 1 in 12 years. It really helped us to obtain div 1 status changing the manager. And only Barry could get us into div 1.

So there are managers in the county that are better then our last 7 managers who failed to get us into div 1. Can you name these managers who won leinster club titles ( Barry) managed a county team.to beat all Ireland champions ( Coyle) was an All Ireland winning Selector and reached all Ireland semi final won leinster and beat Dublin by 5 goals ( O Brien) and a manager who brought an inter county team.from div 4 to div 1 ( Banty) and a manager who won club all ireland and reached minor All Ireland ( McEntee)..Can you name these managers with better CVs in the county then the above last few managers. Managers who couldnt get us into div 1. Yet an inexperienced manager with little experience we be the one to get us into div 1 when none of the above could .

We have lost longford today we have also lost in the championship in the last 15 years to Fermanagh in 03 04 Cavan 05 Wexford 06 08 limerick 08 Armagh 14 Westmeath 15 Derry 16 and longford 18. I would say limerick Wexford Westmeath were worse losts. We have also had dreadful loses in the league in thjs decade to Monaghan Fermanagh Wexford and of course the worst performance ever in Navan v louth in 2012 which relegated us to div 3. One of our worst defeats ever which came after we had 5 managers in 7 years.

Many losess keep changing the manager..What do they say the sign of madness is keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. 7 and if McEntee goes 8 managers in 12 years and 1 year of those 12 years spent in divsion 1. Says allot. Even Cooper and Cavanagh mentioned n the Sunday game tonight Meaths changing and chopping managers is efecting and halting the counties growth. Thats what two of the greatest players of the modern era..think..I dont think they are to far wrong.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 28/05/2018 01:48:22    2104484

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Haven't read anything before this. 1 thing I will say. Was out having a couple with a meath mate who I now know is royalwarrior.....discussed everything Longford and meath. The fact we can do that is why I love the gaa!¡!!!!

Longfordbaz (Longford) - Posts: 145 - 28/05/2018 02:03:56    2104487

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Replying To Barney123:  "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."
Sorry paddy O'Rourke? You really want him back? Or think he is a loss? Colgan is a far better keeper with a better attitude.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/05/2018 07:42:25    2104498

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Replying To meath1977:  "so Harry Rooney Sean Tobin donnacha Tobin padraic Harnan Brian colon power Mac keever ruairi o coileain Jones Newman all of them would not have been good enough today. look I thought Andy was the saviour I Amit now I was wrong. all of these footballers are honest to God lads they would not have walked away without a reason yes some have gone on their travels but was it not up to Andy to try and keep them here."
Everyone knew before a ball was kicked last year yes 2017 that both jones and harnan would not be around this year . It was spoken often here. How the hell is that Andy's fault. Are you really telling me that any manager should stop a player doing studies for their career? Newman was and is quite happy to be part of team. No falling out or difference of opinion, but felt he needed a year out from ic to get over the horrendous injuries he picked up by been brought back too soon by management. Again should he be forced to risk himself like Gillespie was?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/05/2018 07:48:37    2104499

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Replying To GlasgowRoyal:  "I asked that before. Nobody offered an answer, they just procrastinated or passed the buck. I'm as disappointed as any Meath fan today but bulleting the manager, especially with zero plan of anyone to potentially replace him would be pointless."
It's mostly just anyone except Andy. Not one mention of who this great manager is.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/05/2018 07:50:32    2104500

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Replying To seadog54:  "Colm O Rourke owes Meath football nothing, club, county and schools. Saw writing on the wall for Meath football but County Board new better."
He plays Meath fans like a fiddle. Quite happy to snipe away from the comfort of a TV studio or a newspaper column. Andy Mac chose to take up his post at a time when we're going through a drought, something O'Rourke would never do. I know who gets my respect.

GlasgowRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 293 - 28/05/2018 08:34:24    2104506

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Tyrone again. Very short summer for us this year.

SheridansTry (Meath) - Posts: 180 - 28/05/2018 08:46:25    2104512

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Dont believe, im always 100% optimistic about our games, always, but Tyrone!!

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 28/05/2018 08:50:10    2104513

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Replying To SheridansTry:  "Tyrone again. Very short summer for us this year."
Decent draw if you ask me. No point in kidding ourselves. We may as well be playing one of the top teams if we can put in our best performance and see where that leaves us, you can ask for no more.

Royalace (Meath) - Posts: 121 - 28/05/2018 08:53:49    2104520

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One of the toughest draws we could have been given.

GlasgowRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 293 - 28/05/2018 08:57:47    2104524

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The reality is we simply don't have the players to compete in Division 1 or win Leinster championships. And it'll be at least 5 or 6 years until we do. But we should more often than not be able to beat an average division 3 team.

The biggest issue I have with the management team is the 'style' of football they try to play. It's about 7 years past it's sell by date and doesn't look like being successful with us. However there are clearly man management issues as well, anyone who says otherwise has their head in the sand. We do not have all of our best players on the pitch.

I have the height of respect for the lads involved in the backroom team, all heroes of the past, however it's getting to the stage where we may need to start considering alternatives. My suggestion would be Lar Wall who has done a great job with Kells, plays attractive football and by all accounts is an excellent communicator.

GBG (Meath) - Posts: 12 - 28/05/2018 09:16:03    2104532

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Replying To GBG:  "The reality is we simply don't have the players to compete in Division 1 or win Leinster championships. And it'll be at least 5 or 6 years until we do. But we should more often than not be able to beat an average division 3 team.

The biggest issue I have with the management team is the 'style' of football they try to play. It's about 7 years past it's sell by date and doesn't look like being successful with us. However there are clearly man management issues as well, anyone who says otherwise has their head in the sand. We do not have all of our best players on the pitch.

I have the height of respect for the lads involved in the backroom team, all heroes of the past, however it's getting to the stage where we may need to start considering alternatives. My suggestion would be Lar Wall who has done a great job with Kells, plays attractive football and by all accounts is an excellent communicator."
Lar, 5 years over Kells, has he won the championship with them ? Meath wont be Tyrone in 2 weeks not even if they play t their very best it simply wont take out Tyrone

Talking_Sense (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 28/05/2018 10:01:08    2104574

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Replying To Loyalroyal17:  "Dont believe, im always 100% optimistic about our games, always, but Tyrone!!"
Why??....we'd fancy a crack at them in pearse park. There's nothing between the two sides yesterday realistically. You have them in navan???....theyre not what they were either...have a good cut at them, with the right attitude and the supporters making navan a cauldron??!!!....why not....look at carlow yesterday, look at we did to Mayo, derry x2, down monaghan and but for poor refereeing, we could've taken donegal in ballybofey last year. Ask Bernard Flynn, he was livid over the decisions against longford. Tyrone will be expecting a divided meath. Should them different. And if they do win, make sure they earn it!........

Longfordbaz (Longford) - Posts: 145 - 28/05/2018 10:15:40    2104590

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Replying To GlasgowRoyal:  "One of the toughest draws we could have been given."
Monaghan stood up to them in Omagh and we have them in Navan. But then again we at the present are no Monaghan. So it's time to sh 1t or get off the pot.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1062 - 28/05/2018 10:59:02    2104627

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Replying To Longfordbaz:  "Why??....we'd fancy a crack at them in pearse park. There's nothing between the two sides yesterday realistically. You have them in navan???....theyre not what they were either...have a good cut at them, with the right attitude and the supporters making navan a cauldron??!!!....why not....look at carlow yesterday, look at we did to Mayo, derry x2, down monaghan and but for poor refereeing, we could've taken donegal in ballybofey last year. Ask Bernard Flynn, he was livid over the decisions against longford. Tyrone will be expecting a divided meath. Should them different. And if they do win, make sure they earn it!........"
That was my initial reaction but thinking about it this is probably one of the best teams we could have got. We haven't met any big teams yet and i think this game will be the making of us.
Win lose or draw there's no way we can go into this game not prepared. We are going to gain alot from this game.

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 28/05/2018 11:10:40    2104636

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