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Replying To redser123: "There has been plenty of challenge matches going on, they played Monaghan last night." Why the big secrets? Maybe deliberate or not.
In the old days pre-internet we had no problem hearing about challenge games in the lead up to the championship - they were often associated with pitch openings etc. I am sure Sean Boylan had behind closed door sessions and games but most years there was at least a couple of games that we heard about / could go along to.
stillaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 20/04/2022 14:22:11
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In my opinion for what its worth I would suggest a 4 year plan with new management. You should set out your goals like an Olympian and assess how you did when the time is up.
The next manager should do the same whether its to move to the next level or start again.
I understand Kieran McGeeney is now gone into his 7th year with Armagh however I don't agree with contracts over 4 years.
Managers who stay too long in positions can do more harm than good.
I still stand by my opinion on SB, a truly great Meath Gael and gentleman however in my opinion he lost more all Irelands than he won. 4 All Irelands is a great achievement However looking back at 90,91, the team he had in the late 90's and early 00's should have won more than one. We robbed one in 96.
thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1073 - 20/04/2022 14:58:06
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Replying To stillaroyal: "Why the big secrets? Maybe deliberate or not.
In the old days pre-internet we had no problem hearing about challenge games in the lead up to the championship - they were often associated with pitch openings etc. I am sure Sean Boylan had behind closed door sessions and games but most years there was at least a couple of games that we heard about / could go along to." You used to be able to go to trainings too. It's a pity but the game has gone far more professional and tactical so it is more distanced from supporters than it once was
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1527 - 20/04/2022 14:59:05
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Replying To stillaroyal: "Why the big secrets? Maybe deliberate or not.
In the old days pre-internet we had no problem hearing about challenge games in the lead up to the championship - they were often associated with pitch openings etc. I am sure Sean Boylan had behind closed door sessions and games but most years there was at least a couple of games that we heard about / could go along to." Well said, i mean its getting to be a joke how secretive things have gotten. is it that hard to communicate with the local media (admittedly not Andy's strong suit,dies he have nay left) and say we played x,y or z and the games went well, we trued a few things etc...
Things aren't that cloak and dagger, we all (including the rest of the country) know the Meath game plan so what is the point of hiding behind closed doors. We all know break the Meath kick out strategy or lack thereof and pack the defence and meath will falter like ships on the rocks
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 20/04/2022 15:37:31
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Replying To thelutch: "In my opinion for what its worth I would suggest a 4 year plan with new management. You should set out your goals like an Olympian and assess how you did when the time is up.
The next manager should do the same whether its to move to the next level or start again.
I understand Kieran McGeeney is now gone into his 7th year with Armagh however I don't agree with contracts over 4 years.
Managers who stay too long in positions can do more harm than good.
I still stand by my opinion on SB, a truly great Meath Gael and gentleman however in my opinion he lost more all Irelands than he won. 4 All Irelands is a great achievement However looking back at 90,91, the team he had in the late 90's and early 00's should have won more than one. We robbed one in 96." Well said, look at McGeeney with Armagh, year 7 but clear progress in the last 3-5 years
Promoted form division 3 to division 1
Competitve in division 1 and finished 3 this year
Beat some top teams in the league
Always thereabouts in Ulster
Extended runs through the back door
Dealing with their weaknesses and resolving issues that become apparent
Building a squad and having a clear identity as a team
If you compare them to Meath its night and day
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 20/04/2022 15:51:55
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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "You used to be able to go to trainings too. It's a pity but the game has gone far more professional and tactical so it is more distanced from supporters than it once was" I think having a few open training sessions is actually a great way of boosting morale in the squad. It gives the players a sense of much it means to the supporters and might add some resolve to them as they prepare for games etc.
Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 515 - 20/04/2022 15:57:51
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Replying To brian: "any updates, scores, new players or anything coming from what you heard redser?" Not too much Brian, Daithi McGowan from Ratoath was good I heard. Scored a goal. James O'hare very promising young player had some good moments too.
redser123 (Meath) - Posts: 404 - 20/04/2022 21:59:26
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Replying To thelutch: "In my opinion for what its worth I would suggest a 4 year plan with new management. You should set out your goals like an Olympian and assess how you did when the time is up.
The next manager should do the same whether its to move to the next level or start again.
I understand Kieran McGeeney is now gone into his 7th year with Armagh however I don't agree with contracts over 4 years.
Managers who stay too long in positions can do more harm than good.
I still stand by my opinion on SB, a truly great Meath Gael and gentleman however in my opinion he lost more all Irelands than he won. 4 All Irelands is a great achievement However looking back at 90,91, the team he had in the late 90's and early 00's should have won more than one. We robbed one in 96." The fact that a Meath person can come out with a statement like "he lost more all Irelands than he won" about Sean Boylan the man who's achievements have him unquestionably as a top 4 Gaelic football manager in modern history is just absolutely laughable. Look what we done in the 15 years before he got there and look what we done the 20+ years since. The reality is over his tenure from 82-05 no county was more successful bar Kerry. And if you take it from 87-01 no other county was more successful. We won more all Irelands with Sean than without him. And yes we could have won more. 91 the 4 games against Dublin and Colm O'Rourke being sick may have robbed us. Same in 97 with the 3 Kildare games and suspensions costing us a Leinster. But the reality is the 3 finals we lost were to Cork (who had won the year before and got to 4 finals in a row), Down (who won another in 94) and Galway (who won 3 years earlier and drew a final the year before). So yes we could have won in 90, 91 and 01 but we also very easily could have lost in 88 and 96. The reality is it is an incredibly difficult feat to win multiple all Irelands with a team when you aren't from Kerry or Dublin (same as in hurling for anybody but Cork, Tipp and KK). It's probably a handful of managers who have done that. Sean managed to do it in the 80's and then do it again in the 90's with almost a completely different team. For any Meath person to have any comment on Sean other than being massively greatful is wrong in my opinion. His achievements only become more incredible the more time passes and we aren't back at that level
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1527 - 21/04/2022 12:11:00
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Leitrim I think the point is and the players themselves have said this from all of Boylan's teams is that they left a number of all irelands behind them. Sean Boylan's standing is not in any doubt at all but i think the teams in 89, 91, 97 and 2001 all felt the left an all ireland behind them. I agree the probably stole 88 and 96 so these things are probably balanced out but when the great players from those teams tell you they should've won more i would agree with them. Now I'm of course not going to run down Sean or any of the players, i was brought up on the diet of success from the mid 80's and never attended a Meath game which they lost until 1992 so i don't think you could blame the original poster for his "opinion" whether people agree with it or not,
As you rightly say look at what's happened since Boylan left, 1 Leinster title and that's it. Nowhere close to good enough on the back of things and when you see the continued failures of the county board and executive to reinvest in youth in the latter days of Boylan and leaving themselves 15-20 years behind Dublin and what they went on to achieve you lament things a little.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 21/04/2022 12:38:32
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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "The fact that a Meath person can come out with a statement like "he lost more all Irelands than he won" about Sean Boylan the man who's achievements have him unquestionably as a top 4 Gaelic football manager in modern history is just absolutely laughable. Look what we done in the 15 years before he got there and look what we done the 20+ years since. The reality is over his tenure from 82-05 no county was more successful bar Kerry. And if you take it from 87-01 no other county was more successful. We won more all Irelands with Sean than without him. And yes we could have won more. 91 the 4 games against Dublin and Colm O'Rourke being sick may have robbed us. Same in 97 with the 3 Kildare games and suspensions costing us a Leinster. But the reality is the 3 finals we lost were to Cork (who had won the year before and got to 4 finals in a row), Down (who won another in 94) and Galway (who won 3 years earlier and drew a final the year before). So yes we could have won in 90, 91 and 01 but we also very easily could have lost in 88 and 96. The reality is it is an incredibly difficult feat to win multiple all Irelands with a team when you aren't from Kerry or Dublin (same as in hurling for anybody but Cork, Tipp and KK). It's probably a handful of managers who have done that. Sean managed to do it in the 80's and then do it again in the 90's with almost a completely different team. For any Meath person to have any comment on Sean other than being massively greatful is wrong in my opinion. His achievements only become more incredible the more time passes and we aren't back at that level" Totally agree with you!
Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 515 - 21/04/2022 12:45:02
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Replying To brian: "Leitrim I think the point is and the players themselves have said this from all of Boylan's teams is that they left a number of all irelands behind them. Sean Boylan's standing is not in any doubt at all but i think the teams in 89, 91, 97 and 2001 all felt the left an all ireland behind them. I agree the probably stole 88 and 96 so these things are probably balanced out but when the great players from those teams tell you they should've won more i would agree with them. Now I'm of course not going to run down Sean or any of the players, i was brought up on the diet of success from the mid 80's and never attended a Meath game which they lost until 1992 so i don't think you could blame the original poster for his "opinion" whether people agree with it or not,
As you rightly say look at what's happened since Boylan left, 1 Leinster title and that's it. Nowhere close to good enough on the back of things and when you see the continued failures of the county board and executive to reinvest in youth in the latter days of Boylan and leaving themselves 15-20 years behind Dublin and what they went on to achieve you lament things a little." two distinct points here within the one thread....and we should separate them out. So the issue that the players (and Sean himself) may have felt that there was more All Irelands in that first squad ....is a reasonable view
However...LR's main point ... is that Sean's record (particularly with the passage of time) is fantastic ....This is irrefutable imo
In fact in the context of what has followed...i would venture to say that it was one of the greatest Sporting achievements I've seen. I would not have thought that at the time...why?...because...i like many others...felt that in those days...once you had better footballers...you won your fair share...but the interim years have learned what it must have taken Sean to align all the various parties to achieve the success...unreal...now, I think he would also say that alot of the raw material was there by way of playing numbers, tradition, competitive county leagues and structures...but when you look at all that has been pumped into it since his time....with Zero success (other than an all ireland minor) ...you start to realise the extent of his achievements
the other fact is...no one (in a position of responsibility)...has ever sat down & really looked at all the various elements that Sean had in place to achieve that success...and the reason...that stupid arrogance that still exists today that says ...this Success thing is simple enough really, and sure We are Meath
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 403 - 21/04/2022 15:04:26
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Great points too Longwood and you're correct in saying there's a couple of different issues
I think it took Boylan a couple of years to take control and once he did he succeeded. He cut through all the BS and politics of meath gaa, but he was also guided by the players telling him where to shove his mr nice guy attitude as it wouldn't help them win anything... He had a lot of raw materials but TBF he also went out of his way to use different methods of training over the years, found ways of finding diamonds in the rough that no one was looking at from smaller clubs i.e Brian Stafford, John McDermott, Paeder Byrne , found ways to freshen up the approach and keep the players loose i.e. the p155 up in Scotland before Match 4 in 91.. He was also fortunate to have Noel Keating (Kepak) giving him a lot of support in the days before full sponsorship was allowed which has never been fully replaced by any sponsor we've had since i.e. boxes of steaks for the players to eat, helicopters for players when needed Kevin Foley, Kevin Cahill and Graham Gerahghty spring to mind.
Boylan's unique point was his ability to connect with his players and get as much out of them as he could, reading Game of my Life by Fergal Lynch over Christmas gave some insight into Boylan. Lads would've done anything for Boylan as he'd do more for them.
And that's where most managers since Boylan have failed. That connection and human touch. Now obviously the game has changed since then and Boylan might not succeed in this era but he was ahead of his times in many ways so he probably would.
Whomever is in next needs to look back and take the best of the likes of Boylan's personal touch, and have a modern style and game plan. I know RD and some others have feelers within the camp and say that this team would go through walls for Andy, but that just doesn't show out there on the pitch, in fact I'd say it shows the complete opposite.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 21/04/2022 15:54:09
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Replying To brian: "Great points too Longwood and you're correct in saying there's a couple of different issues
I think it took Boylan a couple of years to take control and once he did he succeeded. He cut through all the BS and politics of meath gaa, but he was also guided by the players telling him where to shove his mr nice guy attitude as it wouldn't help them win anything... He had a lot of raw materials but TBF he also went out of his way to use different methods of training over the years, found ways of finding diamonds in the rough that no one was looking at from smaller clubs i.e Brian Stafford, John McDermott, Paeder Byrne , found ways to freshen up the approach and keep the players loose i.e. the p155 up in Scotland before Match 4 in 91.. He was also fortunate to have Noel Keating (Kepak) giving him a lot of support in the days before full sponsorship was allowed which has never been fully replaced by any sponsor we've had since i.e. boxes of steaks for the players to eat, helicopters for players when needed Kevin Foley, Kevin Cahill and Graham Gerahghty spring to mind.
Boylan's unique point was his ability to connect with his players and get as much out of them as he could, reading Game of my Life by Fergal Lynch over Christmas gave some insight into Boylan. Lads would've done anything for Boylan as he'd do more for them.
And that's where most managers since Boylan have failed. That connection and human touch. Now obviously the game has changed since then and Boylan might not succeed in this era but he was ahead of his times in many ways so he probably would.
Whomever is in next needs to look back and take the best of the likes of Boylan's personal touch, and have a modern style and game plan. I know RD and some others have feelers within the camp and say that this team would go through walls for Andy, but that just doesn't show out there on the pitch, in fact I'd say it shows the complete opposite." Interested to know what games or when the current crop of players haven't given their all on the field?
Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 21/04/2022 17:27:12
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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "The fact that a Meath person can come out with a statement like "he lost more all Irelands than he won" about Sean Boylan the man who's achievements have him unquestionably as a top 4 Gaelic football manager in modern history is just absolutely laughable. Look what we done in the 15 years before he got there and look what we done the 20+ years since. The reality is over his tenure from 82-05 no county was more successful bar Kerry. And if you take it from 87-01 no other county was more successful. We won more all Irelands with Sean than without him. And yes we could have won more. 91 the 4 games against Dublin and Colm O'Rourke being sick may have robbed us. Same in 97 with the 3 Kildare games and suspensions costing us a Leinster. But the reality is the 3 finals we lost were to Cork (who had won the year before and got to 4 finals in a row), Down (who won another in 94) and Galway (who won 3 years earlier and drew a final the year before). So yes we could have won in 90, 91 and 01 but we also very easily could have lost in 88 and 96. The reality is it is an incredibly difficult feat to win multiple all Irelands with a team when you aren't from Kerry or Dublin (same as in hurling for anybody but Cork, Tipp and KK). It's probably a handful of managers who have done that. Sean managed to do it in the 80's and then do it again in the 90's with almost a completely different team. For any Meath person to have any comment on Sean other than being massively greatful is wrong in my opinion. His achievements only become more incredible the more time passes and we aren't back at that level" Just my opinion Leitrim.
Just one question for you.
Do you actually believe Colm O Rourke was sick in 91 ? A man with a Flu coming on and doing what he did in 20 minutes ?
You need to go into the gutters and find out what really did go on.
Sean was way too loyal to players and I am sorry but a certain player dictated in 91leading to a fallout in the dressing room.
As for 1990 ? Leaving Mick Lyons standing in front of Micky Mc Quillan when we were been wiped out at mid field with an extra man on the field ?.
As I said , a true gentleman and great gael however 90 & 91 all Irelands were lost on the sideline and dressing room.
thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1073 - 22/04/2022 07:50:33
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Replying To Thejoeshow: "Interested to know what games or when the current crop of players haven't given their all on the field?" Galway
Roscommon
Derry
Offaly
Down
In this current league campaign
Laois
In the last O'Byrne cup
Kildare
Mayo
In the last league campaign
Should i go on?
When the going gets tough a lot of this current squad throw in the towel. When games are there to be won they clam up and for the most part don't get over the line.
Look back to a boylan team, they could be down by 10 or 11 and teams still feared them and their ability to fight back. Every team in the country knows there's a soft underbelly to this current set up (and I'm not blaming Andy for the players not doing it on the pitch) and the one before it under MOD. There's so little fight in these lads that it comes across they just don't care. I know at times i say Andy can act like a raving lunatic on the touchline but we know he's passionate (and i'd never say otherwise about him) but far too many of these lads are happy to have their kit with their initials on them and forget that you should be fighting tooth and nail once you pull the jersey over your head.
Look at the 20's last night absolutely disastrous performance but they fought back from way behind (was it 13 points at one stage) and that should stand to them next season as a large chunk of that starting team i think is still eligible next year and they won their minor age grade.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 22/04/2022 09:57:38
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Replying To brian: "Galway
Roscommon
Derry
Offaly
Down
In this current league campaign
Laois
In the last O'Byrne cup
Kildare
Mayo
In the last league campaign
Should i go on?
When the going gets tough a lot of this current squad throw in the towel. When games are there to be won they clam up and for the most part don't get over the line.
Look back to a boylan team, they could be down by 10 or 11 and teams still feared them and their ability to fight back. Every team in the country knows there's a soft underbelly to this current set up (and I'm not blaming Andy for the players not doing it on the pitch) and the one before it under MOD. There's so little fight in these lads that it comes across they just don't care. I know at times i say Andy can act like a raving lunatic on the touchline but we know he's passionate (and i'd never say otherwise about him) but far too many of these lads are happy to have their kit with their initials on them and forget that you should be fighting tooth and nail once you pull the jersey over your head.
Look at the 20's last night absolutely disastrous performance but they fought back from way behind (was it 13 points at one stage) and that should stand to them next season as a large chunk of that starting team i think is still eligible next year and they won their minor age grade." Brian...Andy is gone.....forget about him. We can argue ten ways till Sunday about the merits or demerits of that . We should leave the u20s "performance" or analysis to the other thread....and part of that is to look really deeply into how last night happened. If I am taking one thing from last night (and last saturday) it is this....We better damn well start a real high level engagement now on what people we want in Charge & participating in Managing our Adult football Teams next year.and for the next 10 years. There was at least 5-6 possible candidates to be part of that debate involved last night, and to me one of the learnings i took from longford & parnell park is...they would all need to explain their part(or responsibility) in this set up...before they would ever be allowed to be part of a conversation about the future
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 403 - 22/04/2022 10:39:13
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Replying To Thelongwoodslasher: "Brian...Andy is gone.....forget about him. We can argue ten ways till Sunday about the merits or demerits of that . We should leave the u20s "performance" or analysis to the other thread....and part of that is to look really deeply into how last night happened. If I am taking one thing from last night (and last saturday) it is this....We better damn well start a real high level engagement now on what people we want in Charge & participating in Managing our Adult football Teams next year.and for the next 10 years. There was at least 5-6 possible candidates to be part of that debate involved last night, and to me one of the learnings i took from longford & parnell park is...they would all need to explain their part(or responsibility) in this set up...before they would ever be allowed to be part of a conversation about the future" Agreed longwood on Andy, i was responding to the query form another poster
And you're 100% right on engaging candidates now. No point waiting until we're out of the championship
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 22/04/2022 12:22:22
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Replying To brian: "Great points too Longwood and you're correct in saying there's a couple of different issues
I think it took Boylan a couple of years to take control and once he did he succeeded. He cut through all the BS and politics of meath gaa, but he was also guided by the players telling him where to shove his mr nice guy attitude as it wouldn't help them win anything... He had a lot of raw materials but TBF he also went out of his way to use different methods of training over the years, found ways of finding diamonds in the rough that no one was looking at from smaller clubs i.e Brian Stafford, John McDermott, Paeder Byrne , found ways to freshen up the approach and keep the players loose i.e. the p155 up in Scotland before Match 4 in 91.. He was also fortunate to have Noel Keating (Kepak) giving him a lot of support in the days before full sponsorship was allowed which has never been fully replaced by any sponsor we've had since i.e. boxes of steaks for the players to eat, helicopters for players when needed Kevin Foley, Kevin Cahill and Graham Gerahghty spring to mind.
Boylan's unique point was his ability to connect with his players and get as much out of them as he could, reading Game of my Life by Fergal Lynch over Christmas gave some insight into Boylan. Lads would've done anything for Boylan as he'd do more for them.
And that's where most managers since Boylan have failed. That connection and human touch. Now obviously the game has changed since then and Boylan might not succeed in this era but he was ahead of his times in many ways so he probably would.
Whomever is in next needs to look back and take the best of the likes of Boylan's personal touch, and have a modern style and game plan. I know RD and some others have feelers within the camp and say that this team would go through walls for Andy, but that just doesn't show out there on the pitch, in fact I'd say it shows the complete opposite." So...here goes.....Sean was ahead of his time...he didn't give that impression to the general country at large & even the GAA media, who closely covered him & his Teams, but in reality Sean set a whole new level of standards when he came in. Whether that was S&C, Diet, Fitness, Managing players loads, Changing environment, to keep Players Fresh , or even delving into lower grades to pick Players to a System.....Sean had a defensive structure in place well before it became the norm . So really smart Counties, got Sean to talks....and picked up a lot of what he was doing & ran with it. Sean was one fo the first County Managers to move away form picking the best 15 club footballers...to one of looking at what he faced...looking at what his strengths where & working out the the ftype of player he wanted & needed to make Meath a success.
Sean brought a professional environment to that Meath set up...that lads at the time never ever experienced before
The Players reacted to all of that. Sean was an extremely difficult man to understand. And teh ide a taht sean was a Great Man Manager is BS. Sean could be to some...but for others Sean could come across as a brutal individual. But what you got with him was supreme honesty & integrity.
Added to his unbelievable work ;load & the thoughts and analysis that he put into the Game , Opposition at the time....he was an Innovator
Now....what have we replaced him with?
We have done nothing but try & "copy" others since. That would not be too bad...if we took the Exact Copy of other successful structures in their entirety...but oh now...we can'tt do that...because we dont have the intelligence to...We Copy...and put our own slant on things...and end result is last night
Andy ..believe it or not...at his core has a lot of what Sean would have had.... But unfortunately not enough...But i would say , he is not alone in that . Ta the Top, we are agenda & personality driven...and that doesn't change as we go down the ;layers.....a lot of disappointing days ahead im afraid, no matter who is in charge....
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 403 - 22/04/2022 13:17:10
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Replying To brian: "Galway
Roscommon
Derry
Offaly
Down
In this current league campaign
Laois
In the last O'Byrne cup
Kildare
Mayo
In the last league campaign
Should i go on?
When the going gets tough a lot of this current squad throw in the towel. When games are there to be won they clam up and for the most part don't get over the line.
Look back to a boylan team, they could be down by 10 or 11 and teams still feared them and their ability to fight back. Every team in the country knows there's a soft underbelly to this current set up (and I'm not blaming Andy for the players not doing it on the pitch) and the one before it under MOD. There's so little fight in these lads that it comes across they just don't care. I know at times i say Andy can act like a raving lunatic on the touchline but we know he's passionate (and i'd never say otherwise about him) but far too many of these lads are happy to have their kit with their initials on them and forget that you should be fighting tooth and nail once you pull the jersey over your head.
Look at the 20's last night absolutely disastrous performance but they fought back from way behind (was it 13 points at one stage) and that should stand to them next season as a large chunk of that starting team i think is still eligible next year and they won their minor age grade." Brian in some of those games you've mentioned Meath did stage comebacks or there were awful errors leading to goals. In the roscommon and Galway games meaths complete lack of any idea how to play with a breeze behind them caught them out. I would say that the brand of football Andy has tried to implement (hard running and men behind the ball) is the hardest for any team fitness wise and at no stage have the players shirked.
Go back years and look at the fitness of the current crop compared to other panels post Boylan. I think it's grossly unfair to accuse them (or the 20s last night) of being uncommitted. Maybe they lack a few hard characters to add steel but the commitment given has been huge and they have fought tooth and nail in games. They have lacked a cohert strategy or some ability sure.
Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 22/04/2022 14:46:59
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Replying To Thejoeshow: "Brian in some of those games you've mentioned Meath did stage comebacks or there were awful errors leading to goals. In the roscommon and Galway games meaths complete lack of any idea how to play with a breeze behind them caught them out. I would say that the brand of football Andy has tried to implement (hard running and men behind the ball) is the hardest for any team fitness wise and at no stage have the players shirked.
Go back years and look at the fitness of the current crop compared to other panels post Boylan. I think it's grossly unfair to accuse them (or the 20s last night) of being uncommitted. Maybe they lack a few hard characters to add steel but the commitment given has been huge and they have fought tooth and nail in games. They have lacked a cohert strategy or some ability sure." Joe I'm not doubting the effort far from it, Could i give the amount of time these lads do and still work and live i doubt it. I'll never accuse them of lacking in effort.
What i'm saying is the Boylan Era lads would've gone through brick walls and the current bunch don't seem to have that in them. When the chips are down teams know that this version of Meath are beaten, in Boylan's days teams feared a Meath comeback even when they were on the bus with the trophy. That's a 100 player issue, which I'm not laying at Andy's door. You have that inner drive or you don't. Those lads in Boylan's days always strived to get as much as they had within themselves out. For this team from what i see a lot of them seemed resigned to defeat when they're behind.
I think the point i'm trying to make is summed up in your last couple of sentences in that the team lacks guys with grit, determination and inner strength like we had in Boylan's day who had the ability and inner drive to drag lads along with them.
Keoghan and Menton our best players of the last number of years as leaders and i'd add the squad as a whole don't seem to be a very vocal bunch who demand more of each other. Now maybe they do behind closed doors and we're not seeing it, but no one seems to be held accountable. As an example, Cillian O'Sullivan has been about the senior panel for 10 years and still runs up blind alleys to this day. In a team with a Mick Lyons etc, he wouldn't be allowed do that after a couple of training sessions. Those Boylan teams were all about the collective and always doing the right thing, giving the ball to a player in a better position etc. That's not there in this current team and as you say maybe that's us not having a coherent strategy.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 22/04/2022 15:09:04
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