Hard to know who best for the job, bookies and media can say what they want but the person they want is sometimes not the suitable person for the job. Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly were perfect together 10-15 yrs ago a mix of young and not so young past players a mix of north and south Mayo. Connolly on his own i don't know north Mayo people might not warm to a southern person, we never warmed to O'Mahoney part 2 and were lukewarm to Horan. Regardless of who is manager he has to pick players from the whole county and not just 'my local and neighbouring clubs. What about Mickey Moran and John Morrison part 2, we didn't sack them it was the clubs and county board

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 12/09/2014 22:00:56    1651519

Word I'm hearing from my Mayo friends is that the County Board isn't all that keen on McStay, although most of that is driven by the fear that he will bring Liam McHale on board who for some reason doesn't appear all that popular in Mayo, now take all that for what it's worth but that's what I was told. Connelly seems to have momentum of late and I'm starting to fancy him for he job.....

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 13/09/2014 12:23:07    1651566

Word I'm hearing from my Mayo friends is that the County Board isn't all that keen on McStay, although most of that is driven by the fear that he will bring Liam McHale on board who for some reason doesn't appear all that popular in Mayo, now take all that for what it's worth but that's what I was told. Connelly seems to have momentum of late and I'm starting to fancy him for he job.....

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 13/09/2014 12:41:04    1651568

Whoever makes the shortlist, I reckon it will have to be a Mayo man.

And he will have a tough job on his hands, as this is a fairly seasoned squad of players who are used to doing things the James Horan way. He will need to win the squad of players over, considering most of them will be dead certs for the Mayo team next year.

There is a serious core of talent in the current Mayo side, If 2 or 3 U21 or Minor players make the jump, Mayo could be back to their best next season.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 14/09/2014 17:25:59    1651924

I wonder if Bradley having left the Antrim post would be a runner? I'd imagine Mc Stay will play some role in either managing role or backroom staff.

BallBearing (USA) - Posts: 72 - 14/09/2014 19:15:38    1651954

Richieq
County: Meath
Posts: 1775

1651568
Word I'm hearing from my Mayo friends is that the County Board isn't all that keen on McStay, although most of that is driven by the fear that he will bring Liam McHale on board who for some reason doesn't appear all that popular in Mayo, now take all that for what it's worth but that's what I was told. Connelly seems to have momentum of late and I'm starting to fancy him for he job.....

Can't speak for anyone other than myself, but I would have serious reservations about McHale as a coach, given that on the morning of the 2004 All-Ireland final, he, as one of the backroom staff under John Maughan, wrote a piece in the Sunday Independent essentially outlining how Mayo were going to play ! Not that it would have made much difference to the end result, Kerry were far better anyway, but it just wasn't a clever thing to do.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 15/09/2014 12:49:27    1652145

Liam McHale wouldnt be a great choice. Didnt make any impact when invloved with Clare where he was more or less running the show. Mayo should look at Tony McEntee or Pat Holmes/Noel Connelly dream team. Were they the management team for Mayo u21 winning team in 06? Would Michael Moyles be a contender.He is involved with Sligo IT was in reunning for Leitrim job last year

HandyMoran (Roscommon) - Posts: 327 - 16/09/2014 11:28:57    1652576

Surely Enda Gilvarry has to ba a contender. Has won AI at minor level as both captain and manager(shows he has leadership and tactical nous). Also has won Mayo SFC and Connacht Junior titles at club level. He knows the talent coming up, has had a little bit of luck at the right time and is respected throughout the county. 10/1 with the bookies and imo impossible to overlook should he throw his hat into the ring.

ceefarr (Mayo) - Posts: 39 - 16/09/2014 15:53:40    1652741

Handymoran,so because McHale didnt do much with Clare,he should be overlooked for Mayo job?Since when were Clare really fighting to win the All Ireland?Chalk and cheese to compare them.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 16/09/2014 16:40:16    1652769

McEntee and O'Neill pulled out of the Down job it seems. Maybe they've had a better offer...

In other news I see Connelly is now favourite. What do ye reckon?

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 16/09/2014 19:18:57    1652845

I think Mayo Co. Board would be insane to pass up on Kevin McStay. There is no way we in Brigids would have won the 2013 Andy Merrigan without McStay. We were eternal bridesmaids ( not unlike Mayo ) and he transformed us into winners in his one year in charge, Meticulous in his preparation, a good man manager and very strong on the line on match days. He has the grey matter and would be well capable of plotting at the same level as Jim McGuinness and Eamon Fitzmaurice.

Selfishly I do hope Mayo pass up on him. He has been sucked into the Roscommon GAA scene, working in the background on various committees and knows theres a bit of potential there. John Evans deserves his 3rd year with us but I am hoping that McStay will be available when the time comes.

facethepuckout (Roscommon) - Posts: 214 - 16/09/2014 21:44:40    1652884

Facethepuckout, with Brigids McStay was left with a squad of players to work with. He didn't have to go finding new talent, or deal with club rivalry and politics. He's a very good coach so if he's appointed manager I hope he unearths some new talent. By that I don't just mean young fellas coming through from the minors or the U21s. Him lr one of his new selectors could find potentially good players in junior or intermediate teams in the county who were never given a chance to realise their potential.

Whoever gets the job, if we ever win an All Ireland, for us it won't rely on brilliant skilful players although that would help a lot. It'll be a McGuinness-like effort of buy-in from the complete squad of confident players and a mental toughness to make the right decisiins and execute them in the last 10 minutes of crucial games.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7346 - 16/09/2014 21:58:10    1652894

What is the reasoning for this big push for Connelly? Holmes won a county and got to a club final. McStay won a club all Ireland. Fair enough Connelly won an u-21 in 2006, but that is 8 years ago. Football has changed a lot since then. I see more reason for Gilvarry to get it than Connelly... I think he would be a step backwards as regards what horan has done and the direction he has taken the team.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 17/09/2014 10:50:59    1652962

Also, why is this ultimatum in place that mayo have to have all the names in by Thursday night? Wait two weeks and jim mcguinness could be available. The county board appear to have picked up where they left off...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 17/09/2014 10:52:54    1652963

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 11947

1652962
What is the reasoning for this big push for Connelly? Holmes won a county and got to a club final. McStay won a club all Ireland. Fair enough Connelly won an u-21 in 2006, but that is 8 years ago. Football has changed a lot since then. I see more reason for Gilvarry to get it than Connelly... I think he would be a step backwards as regards what horan has done and the direction he has taken the team.

Holmes was also a disaster during his spell in charge of Mayo, hardly winning a championship game. One could argue that Connelly managed a fair chunk of the current Mayo senior team to All-Ireland success, meaning that he'd probably get the buy-in of a lot of the players before ever stepping foot on the training ground.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 17/09/2014 11:48:30    1652978

Gleebo, the same point could be made for holmes... The fact is managing lads 8 years ago isn't really a vital criteria as far as managing a county goes. You would imagine that every single candidate would be at the least be able to get guys to buy into what he is doing. They are intercounty managers we are talking about here...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 17/09/2014 12:15:46    1652991

Getting back on topic of the question asked - If not Mc Stay then who is best for Mayo job ?

Answer: James Horan.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7855 - 18/09/2014 20:28:14    1653607

So the official nominations are in and its either MacStay or Connelly/Holmes joint managers. There is merit and doubt about both. I am still undecided who I would like to see in charge. Have joint manager ever won an All Ireland senior title? Not to say it is not possible.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 19/09/2014 11:52:01    1653768

Any idea how long before there's whith smoke?

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 19/09/2014 17:28:15    1654023

So it's Connelly, tell me more about this guy Mayo lads, are ye happy with that?

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 20/09/2014 17:24:17    1654269