Based on players available, underage structure to work off, club system etc?

John Evans in Roscommon or Kieran McGeeney in Armagh? Or is Jim Gavin just the best around full stop?

sportsfan14 (USA) - Posts: 281 - 28/04/2015 12:53:45    1718439

Eamon Fitz
won an all ireland with the weakest kerry panel in 20 years beating Cork, Mayo & Donegal along the way
Still has to beat us tho.
Jim is doing a great job, but look at the panel he has

Jason Ryan on the other hand......disaster area that one

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 28/04/2015 13:42:52    1718467

I think that the Roscommon Manager is up there, I think that Jim Gavin is very good but he has soooo many great players to pick from that would start on any other county team so its not a fair test.

youngfella27 (Armagh) - Posts: 110 - 28/04/2015 13:46:57    1718473

Eamonn Fitz in my view

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/04/2015 13:51:40    1718479

Eamon Fitz is def one serious Manager… even a few years back in Jack O'Conner's book he tailed Eamon to be a successful manager, he has all the correct attributes, great man manager, Tactician, ruthless, blinkered.. I have said time and time again that one of the worst things the Kerry County Board ever did was letting John Evans slip through the net.. he was proven at club level with Laune Rangers - he went for the Kerry job but was passed over.. he has a manifest or blue print made out from schools level to Minors and seniors the County Board declined and he went to Tipp… no coincidence that Tipp have consistently improved at underage level won a minor and now again are in an U21 final….

My top three… Fitzmaurice.. Evans.. and McGeeney

Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 28/04/2015 14:04:13    1718485

The weakest Kerry team in 20 years is still better than most Liam. No more than yerselves Kerry have an innate self-confidence that gives them an advantage in big games. If we're talking about achievements it has to be Gavin for me. But ye have a savage squad of talented footballers.

A great manager can make a winning team from a squad of players not rated by most. Harte and Boylan were two of them I thought. Malachy O'Rourke would be my pick for best manager aroind. A title in the toughest province and keeping Monaghan in the top division where they dud really well. A fair chance of winning Ulster back after losing out last year.

John Evans comes a close second. He setup a lot of tge football structures in Tipperary that has given them a competitive senior team. Niw two leagye titles in a row and into Division one. They'll be serious opposition for any team this summer. Not looking forward to meeting them.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7336 - 28/04/2015 14:06:02    1718489

I think Keiran McGeeney is very good, as is Eamonn Fitzmaurice, based on what they have achieved, but I think Jim Gavin is completely over-rated, when he took over Dublin were already 2011 champions, he has a phenomenal group of players to choose from, and last August against Donegal he was found out as having no plan B.

KevMcG (Donegal) - Posts: 8 - 28/04/2015 14:06:33    1718491

Eamon fitz for sure, very shred tactician

ben1977 (Donegal) - Posts: 364 - 28/04/2015 14:08:28    1718492

John Evans, the Monaghan manager basically any manager outside the top 3 teams is doing a thankless job.
Easiest job is the Dublin managers sure where could u go wrong with the pick and sponsorship.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 28/04/2015 14:09:02    1718493

Eamon fitz without shadow of doubt, wouldn't have mcgeeney near the top at all, Monaghan management have to be given great credit, also would agree with Evans (and we let him go) but for me if it wasn't fitz id have to say pat Flanagan with what's at his disposal, look at what he did at Westmeath and sligo now look at Offaly.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/04/2015 14:20:46    1718498

Mick O'Dowd


Nah but in all seriousness. It's hard to say.

I'd go with Jim Gavin based purely on the fact that we have been in 9 tournaments during his tenure, We have won 7 or them.

I know he has the panel, But that brings an extra pressure because of such high expectations.

I'd say Eamonn Fitz only he hasn't beaten Jim Gavin in a competitive championship game yet. That could change this year time will tell,..

Apart from those two. John Evans and Kieran McGeeney have been mentioned, But too early to say, Their current teams have to do something in the championship before i make a judgement. But i do think they are two very good managers.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 28/04/2015 14:22:29    1718500

Mickey Harte - based moreso on last decade's achievements but he is a legend of the game
John Evans - has to win at least a connaught title to be considered IMO but doing very well
Kieran McGeeney - Will improve any team he manages but again must win silverware
Jim Gavin - Having a great panel isn't always enough, it takes a top manager to get them pulling in the 1 direction
Eamonn Fitzmaurice - Difficult to judge on last season alone, but going incredibly well
Malachy O'Rourke - needs to beat a top team in Croker

I'd probably rate those as the top 6 at the minute. For any of the other 5 (or any manager for that matter) to overtake Harte will take at least 3 years of sustained success (relative to their county's ambitions). Jim McGuinness is better than all mentioned above IMO

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 28/04/2015 14:23:07    1718502

John Evans on current form.
He has led his team up two divisions to play at the top tier next year. If he has a good run in the championship then he will cement his place among the best managers of the modern era.
Jim Gavin & Eamon Fitz are working with household names and some of the best stars in GAA so its difficult to know how good they are. How would they do managing Roscommon?

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 28/04/2015 14:29:02    1718508

Kerry were written off on Munster, let alone Ireland. Agreed with those saying Fitz.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7822 - 28/04/2015 14:46:30    1718518

Shocked at how many people are seriously suggesting McGeeney. On the basis of what? His 6 years of non-achievement with Kildare? Their debacles against Wicklow and Louth? Surely it's not on the basis of a division 3 NFL title with Armagh?

Seriously lads, Mickey Harte may have seen his best days, but for anyone to suggest that Kieran McGeeney is a better manager than him is madness.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 28/04/2015 14:49:16    1718523

Tir Conaill Abu
County: Donegal
Posts: 1078

1718508
John Evans on current form.
He has led his team up two divisions to play at the top tier next year. If he has a good run in the championship then he will cement his place among the best managers of the modern era.


For much the same reasons I'm saying Malachy O' Rourke- under his management Monaghan have won division 3 and division 2 titles and got to a division 1 semi final and won Ulster

McGeeney is a mad call...cant have that.

Mickey Moran is a fella i think is a serious manager. Liam Kearns is another fella I think could have done a job with a top team. Did a serious job with Limerick.

would love to see Pat Gilroy take another job, people forget what a laughing stock we were when he got the job and the incredulity that followed appointment. Andy Kettle RIP with a stroke of genius there..........

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 28/04/2015 15:25:27    1718550

true Liam,
Don't know where people are getting mc Geeney from?Jobs like Kerry and Dublin do give managers huge playing resources but they are also very high pressure jobs.As for Evans,he is doing a very good job but the league will count for nothing if he cant land at least a provincial title for the sheep stealers soon.For me Eamonn Fitz has done brilliantly as a young manager especially when you include his success with the schools team so would have him no 1(at the minute )

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 28/04/2015 15:49:27    1718563

Jim Gavin for his consistency over several years including under 21s and more importantly consistency in senior ranks in the league and championships.
John Evans would be my second choice by a country mile again for consistently improving team performances.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 28/04/2015 15:55:28    1718565

Horsebox
Was bad enough that Kerry let Evans slip through the net.. At least he was only finding his feet in Kerry at that stage. We had him here in Meath and let him go. I mean the dogs in the street in Meath could see the difference he made to the Meath team when Banty drafted him into the set-up. He was even prepared to be part of Graham Geraghty's backroom team if the Co. Board were not prepared to appoint him on his own. But no we overlooked both men and gave the position to MOD a man with no experience of managing county teams at any level.

Greenwood (Meath) - Posts: 210 - 28/04/2015 16:07:57    1718571