National Forum

Is Pat Spillane Right Or Wrong With His Three Improvement Suggestions .

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To TheFlaker:  "That's the point that should be made to the man who brought the golden days into the argument."
As one who can remember football from the Down, Galway and Offaly era of the 60/70s, the Dubs and Kerry of the 70/80s - and longer, the influence of the Ulster teams later, the Dublin resurgence when the brought all that running football into play and down to todays game, I have to say that in the main I enjoyed watching it all - after a little adjustment. Todays game is the same in that it takes a while to appreciate the undoubted speed and skill sets that are part of todays game. I suppose what I am trying to say from a spectators point of view, is what others have pointed out that the game has always evolved and it doesn't always take rule changes to necessarily dictate this evolution. As other posters have said, let's just enjoy both codes and be thankful we have them.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1002 - 13/10/2022 10:15:16    2443807

Link

Replying To TheHuckleBuck:  "Limiting handpasses would encourage even more defensive play. Imagine how effective getting 14 men behind the ball would be when the attacking team is forced to kick the ball into them after every few handpasses.

I expect a change to limit how the attacking team can play would lead to no changes in how teams are setting up strategically now, but welcome in a big trend downwards in how many scores we see in each game."
100% with you there, a lot of proposals regarding limits on handpassing and banning bringing the ball back into your own half etc would play into the hands of defensive teams and so encourage low scoring defensive games.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 684 - 13/10/2022 10:29:33    2443808

Link

Replying To TheHuckleBuck:  "Limiting handpasses would encourage even more defensive play. Imagine how effective getting 14 men behind the ball would be when the attacking team is forced to kick the ball into them after every few handpasses.

I expect a change to limit how the attacking team can play would lead to no changes in how teams are setting up strategically now, but welcome in a big trend downwards in how many scores we see in each game."
While I'm not for limiting handpasses - the aim of the change is to force teams to move the ball quicker up the pitch. You're right in saying that a team with 14 men behind the ball would be very hard to break down if limiting handpasses - but the existence of the rule would mean the aim of every team would be to get a shot away before the defense is set with 14 men back.

The game isn't fundamentally broken but I don't enjoy seeing teams moving the ball into the full forward line and then back out to mid field because nothing is on. The one change I'd make is that where you have possession past the 70 you can't pass it back. This would then allow teams to press up on the opposition using what is a very negative tactic.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 292 - 13/10/2022 10:51:17    2443814

Link

Replying To oneoff:  "As with modern day hurling just become there's more scores don't mean more excitement.

Imo football, in the latter stages of the championship, has become more exciting than hurling. An unpopular opinion I'm sure but most hurling games now you can almost tell by half time who's going to win."
I agree and never mentioned hurling. There are also way, way more wides in hurling as they are shooting from their own half now. I never said more scores means better games. I am saying at the business end of the football championship we have high scoring games that are also exciting.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 13/10/2022 10:55:25    2443815

Link

Replying To Freethinker:  "As one who can remember football from the Down, Galway and Offaly era of the 60/70s, the Dubs and Kerry of the 70/80s - and longer, the influence of the Ulster teams later, the Dublin resurgence when the brought all that running football into play and down to todays game, I have to say that in the main I enjoyed watching it all - after a little adjustment. Todays game is the same in that it takes a while to appreciate the undoubted speed and skill sets that are part of todays game. I suppose what I am trying to say from a spectators point of view, is what others have pointed out that the game has always evolved and it doesn't always take rule changes to necessarily dictate this evolution. As other posters have said, let's just enjoy both codes and be thankful we have them."
The big difference between football in those eras and now is TV, media and social media coverage picking up on any perceived weaknesses in games and blowing out of all proportion to sell newspapers or advertising to an eager audience. Footballers in 2022 are more skilful and way better conditioned than in the 60s. I don't know but think footballers in 60s,70s,80s were a happier bunch though, didn't take the game quite so seriously. The more defensive play today depends on the coaches tactics and defending is also a skill of the game. You didn't have a phone to pickup in the 60s on a Tuesday after a game and read some rant about a boring intercounty game. Could have even been a decent game just not high scoring. Not much to compare it to until the following weekend, little or no media commenting on it. Same with a lot of sports, people online with very little knowledge of any sport demanding that games be high scoring and 'entertaining'. If these online 'supporters' want to set up a new hybrid game of artificial shots at the goal within a timeframe then off with them. Basketball, small court, 5 v 5 constantly moving, indoors, less physical contact than gaelic football, entertaining for a TV audience who want to watch an end to end game with lots of scores. Shot clock is good. Back court rule is good. 3 point zone is good. It's a completely different game. Not a good plan for Gaelic football. There's poor games, good games, great games, same as always. Media highlighting the poor games are creating a non-existent doomsday scenario.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7359 - 13/10/2022 12:02:24    2443825

Link

Replying To foreveryoung:  "You mean that you can't. You're not able to. Doesn't surprise me one iota!"
I could and I did. Your post was rubbish.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 13/10/2022 14:43:35    2443852

Link

The only thing that needs to be got rid of immediately is the advanced mark.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/10/2022 15:23:49    2443860

Link

Replying To Greengrass:  "I could and I did. Your post was rubbish."
Then let us all know why the game you say was "exceptional" was actually "exceptional"! It's not a big ask, is it?

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1925 - 13/10/2022 16:09:37    2443867

Link

Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here
I have read Pat Spillances suggestions about his improvements in the GAA.
No 1 Kickouts to go over 45 M line
No2 No back pass to Keeper
No3 Curtail the number of hand passes

In his Sundat Wo--- article he gives us some wonderful stats which make interesting reading .
But Pat is Pat and while he played the game at a reasonably high level he had alot of work horses behind him that handed him a lot of ball on aplate.
I dont know Pat if you arer ight or wrong but as a Cavan man ( who beat youse in teh 1947 All iReland player in Newyork) I feel you are playing to the Gallery with these radical comments"
I think he is wrong. None of the suggested changes will work, neither 1 nor 3 are easy to implement/referee and none of them would improve the game as a spectacle. In fact, quite the opposite.
I understand the romanticism that drives the conversation but these 'tweaks' to the rules are easily negated by tactics and will require additional rules to further negate that. It come down to tactics/coaching versus spectator needs & wants.

Simply put; there isn't enough space on the pitch to create genuine one-on-one contests or present opportunities for moving the ball by foot without risk - that's basically what Pat and others want to see more off.

Approach that logically then you reduce the number of active players, i.e., 13-a-side or even 12-a-side. This does not need to be rolled out across the board, I'd go far as to say right up to U17 level we could remain at 15-a-side.

Obviously increasing the pitch size is not practical so the only other option is to reduce the number of players on the field.
Why do U13 play on a smaller pitch? Because they simply couldn't cover the area of a full-sized pitch. Equally, at adult level, the conditioning of players and deployment of tactics means that the playing area is too small.

The only negative is less players getting game-time; that could be addressed by the number of substitutes or a roll-on roll-off method as in the ALF.

fizzygravy (USA) - Posts: 145 - 13/10/2022 16:12:56    2443869

Link

Replying To foreveryoung:  "Then let us all know why the game you say was "exceptional" was actually "exceptional"! It's not a big ask, is it?"
Do you really need exceptional explained to you?

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 13/10/2022 17:06:44    2443878

Link

Replying To Greengrass:  "Do you really need exceptional explained to you?"
adjective
forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary:
The warm weather was exceptional for January.

That's the meaning of the word. Not my words, but the dictionary definition.

So, what was rare, unusual, or even extraordinary about this game?

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1925 - 13/10/2022 17:27:16    2443886

Link

Replying To foreveryoung:  "adjective
forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary:
The warm weather was exceptional for January.

That's the meaning of the word. Not my words, but the dictionary definition.

So, what was rare, unusual, or even extraordinary about this game?"
Your AKA trolling is un'exceptional'.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7359 - 13/10/2022 17:35:23    2443888

Link

Replying To foreveryoung:  "adjective
forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary:
The warm weather was exceptional for January.

That's the meaning of the word. Not my words, but the dictionary definition.

So, what was rare, unusual, or even extraordinary about this game?"
Yup, that's the definition and that's what the game was. I would recommend that you google The Argus and The Dundalk Democrat if you're interested in the detail. They're blessed with fine reporters who will paint better pictures than I. Oh and the weather on the day was also exceptional.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 13/10/2022 18:49:07    2443896

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "I agree and never mentioned hurling. There are also way, way more wides in hurling as they are shooting from their own half now. I never said more scores means better games. I am saying at the business end of the football championship we have high scoring games that are also exciting."
"We have faster, more skilled, higher scoring games but people still think there is a major issue. I give up."

So what exactly are you saying here then?

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1380 - 13/10/2022 21:09:56    2443912

Link

Replying To oneoff:  ""We have faster, more skilled, higher scoring games but people still think there is a major issue. I give up."

So what exactly are you saying here then?"
Hurling is gone ridiculous with maybe 50 scores in a game.
It's just puck out, shoot, retrieve the ball, pick out shoot....

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1433 - 14/10/2022 09:01:16    2443924

Link

Replying To oneoff:  ""We have faster, more skilled, higher scoring games but people still think there is a major issue. I give up."

So what exactly are you saying here then?"
I have watched, played and attended gaelic football matches for forty years and in some ways, modern day players are better. There is better coaching, player development and conditioning across the 32 counties and beyond. I don't accept that players are superior footballer now compared to thirty years ago; i would say players are better athletes. Tactics and over coaching is destroying the flow of the game with regard to alot of games, this results in bored supporters. I was at a county final in my adopted county of Kildare last weekend and for long periods Naas, quite skillfull control the ball and ultimately the game. In the big attendance you could hear a pin drop as the crowd just watched; what resembled a training exercise. This led to no atmosphere for all periods. The mindset in the modern game is if we have possession, the opposition can't score which is fine as long as you use the ball and attempt to score.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1913 - 14/10/2022 09:34:02    2443930

Link

Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I have watched, played and attended gaelic football matches for forty years and in some ways, modern day players are better. There is better coaching, player development and conditioning across the 32 counties and beyond. I don't accept that players are superior footballer now compared to thirty years ago; i would say players are better athletes. Tactics and over coaching is destroying the flow of the game with regard to alot of games, this results in bored supporters. I was at a county final in my adopted county of Kildare last weekend and for long periods Naas, quite skillfull control the ball and ultimately the game. In the big attendance you could hear a pin drop as the crowd just watched; what resembled a training exercise. This led to no atmosphere for all periods. The mindset in the modern game is if we have possession, the opposition can't score which is fine as long as you use the ball and attempt to score."
The problem is the gap between teams in that scenario. Naas are miles ahead. Eunans in Donegal will probably do the same tomorrow. This happens at Senior level where big clubs are going through a dominant phase. But it's a bit laughable to blame the coaches of Naas for easily winning a county final because they used controlling tactics. Again we are highlighting one game and forgetting that the majority are not like this.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 14/10/2022 09:40:03    2443932

Link

Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Hurling is gone ridiculous with maybe 50 scores in a game.
It's just puck out, shoot, retrieve the ball, pick out shoot...."
Yet if someone is that say that they'll be shot down straight away.

Many of the skills that people talk about aren't even part of the game anymore.

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1380 - 14/10/2022 09:45:23    2443934

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "The problem is the gap between teams in that scenario. Naas are miles ahead. Eunans in Donegal will probably do the same tomorrow. This happens at Senior level where big clubs are going through a dominant phase. But it's a bit laughable to blame the coaches of Naas for easily winning a county final because they used controlling tactics. Again we are highlighting one game and forgetting that the majority are not like this."
Exactly. Great post Flaker.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 14/10/2022 10:29:48    2443943

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "The problem is the gap between teams in that scenario. Naas are miles ahead. Eunans in Donegal will probably do the same tomorrow. This happens at Senior level where big clubs are going through a dominant phase. But it's a bit laughable to blame the coaches of Naas for easily winning a county final because they used controlling tactics. Again we are highlighting one game and forgetting that the majority are not like this."
I was at this game too. Wicklowsupport is right in saying you could hear a pin drop.

I'd put the blame more on the Clane side. They played good open football to get to the final and then went fully defensive once they got there. Naas controlled the ball - it was made way too easy for them. But they knew they had the measure in a patient game. Never tied to go long - just accepted that Clane would put the defensive structure in place and that they'd eventually take their chances.

Yes - not all games are like this but too many of them are.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 292 - 14/10/2022 11:35:22    2443952

Link