Replying To waynoI:  "In my opinion, A huge part of it comes down to ..Mayo's inability/reluctance to transition/evolve the panel considering how long theyre on the road, and the resulting baggage their previous failures

I thought about this in the immediate days after their defeat to Kildare on Saturday and done a bit of research. 9 Of the starting XV in the All Ireland final defeat against Donegal in 2012, started against Kildare last weekend. Andy Moran likely would've started the final in 2012 too had he been fit. That's two thirds of a team. A team that has played a staggering 23 championship games, in the past 3 years alone.

If you compare that to Dublin and Kerry, who have been successful/remained competitive while evolving and going through periods of mini transition, the contrast is clear to see. 7 of the starters for Dublin in the All Ireland final just 3 years ago against Kerry have either left, or haven't started in this years championship (McCaffrey, O'Sullivan, O'Carroll, Bastick, Connolly, Flynn, B.Brogan). Incredibly, Only 5 of Kerrys starting XV in that same final, started against Cork in their most recent Championship (Crowley, Murphy, Moran, O'Donoghue, Geaney).

Mayo have had ample opportunity to find new faces over the last few years in the league but they still rely heavily on the older guard whereas Dublin and Kerry for the most part are able to bring these lads in, They have a nice blend of youth and experience. When you have that many miles in the legs, how do you expect to keep on going to the well year in year out, especially this year though, with more games and a quicker turnover between games.

Not only do Mayo have more miles in the legs than any intercounty team, they also have more scars. Whatever about failure driving you on, These guys have tonnes of hurt following them around.
2/3rds of the starting team on Saturday where there when they lost the final to Donegal in 2012, When they lost to the Dubs in the final in 2013, Lost to Kerry after throwing away a 5pt lead in the semi in 14, Lost after a replay by 7 to the Dubs in 15, and the finals of 16 and 17. That's incredible heartache. A lot of those games they where in cruise control, And should have won, but the lack of experience to see out these games cost them dearly. Dublin and Kerry used their experience and know how to do what they had to do, by hook or by crook. Im not saying they didn't have the bottle, but when push came to shove, the more experienced teams, the teams whove been there and done it, didn't and don't panic.

So, Mayo with that panel will never win an all Ireland and unless they start to integrate some fresh blood to the starting XV and allow the more experienced lads a role whereby they come from the bench to impact game as oppose to starting them and bring inferior/less experienced players on when the game is in the melting pot, they will continue to work hard, never say, but ultimately fall on their sword. They cant be scared of change, Donegal are doing it. Dublin and Kerry have done it over a number of years while remaining incredibly strong, It wasn't all that long ago Mayo where winning Minor all Irelands and Mayo club football is fairly strong.

They need to go into a year, with relatively low expectations too. The Mayo fans are brilliant, But the furore around Mayo for sam year in year out only adds to the pressure and expectancy which, on a Mayo team with miles in the legs and previous baggage can only hinder rather than help preperations…


Thoughts ?"

Replying To yew_tree:  "Maybe you should tell that to the Galway footballers homepage who keep having a pop at mayo...even the great Padraig Joyce had to post a slab down to the Galway fans on it over the weekend."

Replying To suckvalleypaddy:  "way too much talk about Mayo and it seems to be coming from everywhere but Mayo. Brolly said this Mayo team would never have beaten any side from the past 30 years or so in a final, that is some u-turn on his earlier gibberish, amazing how he gets away with it."

Replying To yew_tree:  "Brolly is gone so far at this stage all you can do is laugh the way he changes his mind so often.

There is an obsession with Mayo from outside the county. Wish we would just be left out of it now and let us rebuild. Talk about what teams are left..."

Replying To Mfs:  "Joe Brolly is so obsessed with Mayo you'd swear he was living there."

Replying To Mfs:  "Joe Brolly is so obsessed with Mayo you'd swear he was living there."

Replying To cacsmckilly:  "Mayo are a fine team but lack bottle. Its best they do no compete at the top level until they grow a pair. I would say Dublin have as many recent all Irelands as they do because they kept meeting Mayo in the late stages."