"I don't buy into this being the best Mayo team ever or this being the best management ever," Mortimer told breakinplay.ie

"For me, they're (Horan) the same as previous managers, (John) Maughan and Mickey Moran got Mayo to All-Ireland finals.

"We played Donegal in an All-Ireland final (2012), they didn't play well and they beat us. We played Dublin (in 2013) and it was their worst game of the year and they beat us.

"Kerry in the semi-final (this year) - the decisions that were made on the sideline are there to be seen, I don't need to say it. Five points up with five minutes to go and they didn't win the game.

"You can only blame yourselves and your circle, you can't blame pitches, you can't blame officials."




Forgetting the first part of the article where he seems to be very bitter in his comments towards horan, The second part of his comments which i posted above is 100% true in my opinion

The all ireland finals Horan got it tactically wrong, Particularly against Dublin who where simply awful on the day but still beat them with relative ease, Mayo taking a few scores in the final few mins from frees made the score alot closer. Dublin played with 13 men basically for the last 10 mins aswell.

His commitment to the Mayo cause was something nobody can take away from him, But in terms of his achievements, well... Its no better/worse than management teams before him.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 24/10/2014 11:56:40    1666798

Would Mayo have done better in those finals if Mort was in the team
I totally agree with him about Horan bad decision making cost them

wfkerry (USA) - Posts: 933 - 24/10/2014 12:24:08    1666809

His comments on the tactics are bang on but he isn't the first person to say it so not really that controversial.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7885 - 24/10/2014 12:25:19    1666810

He's obviously bitter but I do believe he could have made a difference for Mayo as an impact sub in the last 3 seasons.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 24/10/2014 12:28:16    1666813

Not sure if he would have been any addition to the squad. I have seen him play for his club on a number of occasions over the past couple of years and his performances were not great. He was a disruptive influence to the work ethic that the Mayo squad were adopting and his failure to buy in to it was the reason he was not selected to play.

Torcaill (Australia) - Posts: 204 - 24/10/2014 13:22:22    1666842

'13 will be the one they'll have most regrets about.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7824 - 24/10/2014 13:32:48    1666849

In 2010 Mayo lost to Sligo and Longford. Then Horan took over and in 2011, 2012 and 2013 they knocked out the reigning all-Ireland champions. They had a nightmare start to the 2012 final but unlike previous Mayo teams in such situations, they managed to drag themselves back into the game and fought hard until the very end. In 2013 they led for most of the first half, ended up losing by a point and I don't think they were ever more than 3 points behind at any stage (possibly 4 behind for a minute or two) so I don't understand where this ludicrous notion that Dublin won comfortably comes from. True, they should have held on against Kerry in the first game this year, but remember they had just produced 30 minutes of absolutely outstanding football with 14 men to put themselves 5 points up in the first place. There is no doubt in my mind that the current Mayo team has more steel, substance and all-round ability than any other I have seen. They are still serious all-Ireland contenders and are well capable of beating any team - including Kerry, Dublin and Donegal.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 996 - 24/10/2014 13:40:47    1666855

wfkerry
County: USA
Posts: 724

1666809
Would Mayo have done better in those finals if Mort was in the team
I totally agree with him about Horan bad decision making cost them

I have no doubt about it

He would have scored 2-5 points a game

He has always been a thorn in Dublin's side

Mayo were screaming out for natural forwards and for me...

Horan cast probably his most natural forward out of the squad while he was in his prime

Horan's bullish, no nonsense approach was understandable but without question

It cost Mayo in the case of Mortimer.

Daft, Horan failed. Simple as that...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 24/10/2014 13:45:23    1666856

jimbodub, Have you seen him play for his club over the past few years?

Torcaill (Australia) - Posts: 204 - 24/10/2014 14:28:05    1666888

Torcaill nailed it with his comment about Mort being "a disruptive influence". He was and still proves to be now that he is finished playing. He, no doubt, had superb talent, but, you cannot accomodate that at the cost of squad's discipline which he no doubt would test to the limit.

Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 601 - 24/10/2014 14:28:50    1666889

Conor averaged about 4 points per game for mayo. Considering he was our main free taker for all those years I don't think that's a hectic return. James Horan wanted to try out new players and give them a run. In doing so he found a new corner forward and free taker who is averaging about 8 points per game. There would have been room on the team/panel for conor but he was not happy with that. You cant have one player dictating to the manager.

xxx (Mayo) - Posts: 1275 - 24/10/2014 14:30:56    1666890

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 13125

1666856
wfkerry
County: USA
Posts: 724

1666809
Would Mayo have done better in those finals if Mort was in the team
I totally agree with him about Horan bad decision making cost them

I have no doubt about it

He would have scored 2-5 points a game

He has always been a thorn in Dublin's side

Mayo were screaming out for natural forwards and for me...

Horan cast probably his most natural forward out of the squad while he was in his prime

Horan's bullish, no nonsense approach was understandable but without question

It cost Mayo in the case of Mortimer.

Daft, Horan failed. Simple as that...


I would agree with everything in that post bar one important detail: Mortimer cast himself out! And just a matter of days before a provincial final. With hindsight, Mortimer has identified some of Horan's flaws, but his observations reek of bitterness, and it's hard to see what else Horan could have done at the time.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 24/10/2014 14:35:41    1666893

Conor played in 2 all Ireland finals. Scored one point from play in 2004 and none from play in 2006. I don't think that makes him anything special either. Personally I think its a bit of a joke a man that played corner forward on a losing team in an Ireland final failed to score from play on the day but writes a book about the day.

xxx (Mayo) - Posts: 1275 - 24/10/2014 14:55:26    1666905

xxx
County: Mayo
Posts: 1244

1666905
Conor played in 2 all Ireland finals. Scored one point from play in 2004 and none from play in 2006. I don't think that makes him anything special either. Personally I think its a bit of a joke a man that played corner forward on a losing team in an Ireland final failed to score from play on the day but writes a book about the day.

Conor Mortimor wrote a book?!!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 24/10/2014 15:00:42    1666908

Ya

xxx (Mayo) - Posts: 1275 - 24/10/2014 15:04:37    1666910

A bit like Kevin Cassidy, Mortimer thrives on controversy and sticking the boot in. If he was so concerned about Mayo football he wouldn't have thrown the toys from the pram and stayed on the panel, he didn't sacrifice the last two years of his life to Mayo football but Horan did even though it might of been easy for him to walk away too, no doubt about who is the bigger man here, it's James Horan irregardless of mistakes or lack of Sam

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 24/10/2014 15:41:28    1666920

Conor Mortimor is bringing out a book ?? What exactly does he think is worth telling ? He was a stylish, fluffy footballer who didn't do anything particularly memorable. Nothing wrong with his ego though.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 24/10/2014 15:52:34    1666923

Everybody makes reference to Horan's tactical errors in the 2013 final but beyond his decision to substitute Alan Freeman, which he explained at the time, and some vague reference to Richie Feeney nobody seems to be able to put their finger on said mistakes...

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 24/10/2014 17:40:24    1666944

I would take his comments with a pinch of salt. There are not many in Mayo who missed him. It's all sour grapes really. The idea that Horan's team was no better than those who got the final in 04 and 06 is a joke. Both days Mayo were beat out the gate. True it was a class Kerry outfit but they weren't unbeatable….Ask Armagh or Tyrone. Horan did get some stuff wrong with Mayo but overall he brought them on so much. They were practically at rock bottom in 2010. They have won three Connacht titles on the trot, 2 all Ireland finals (one of which they really left behind them against Dublin) and narrowly pipped to the post in a farcical SF this year to the eventual champions. The last time Mayo were at that height was 96.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 24/10/2014 18:06:34    1666952

roundball
County: Tipperary
Posts: 2175
1666944
Everybody makes reference to Horan's tactical errors in the 2013 final but beyond his decision to substitute Alan Freeman, which he explained at the time, and some vague reference to Richie Feeney nobody seems to be able to put their finger on said mistakes...

Well for me his not playing Feeney this yr was wrong (the man is playing good ball for Mitchells), use of Enda Varley in the last few years, Playing a suspect Michael Conroy and rarely subbing Donal Vaughan (who can play well but continuously is caught out of position ). He also used Barry Moran sparingly this year despite him being fit for most of the season.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 24/10/2014 18:11:36    1666954