I know a few of the lads in the Minor squad and they were sayin the s&c on a Wednesday night is for the ones who cannot get it in the schools
McKenna Cup
- Thread starter niall1980
- Start date
I know a few of the lads in the Minor squad and they were sayin the s&c on a Wednesday night is for the ones who cannot get it in the schools
They were also told to do it in their own clubs. To be hauled on a Wednesday night 2 weeks before makes no sense. They’re kids for Christ sake
They are also expected to be at Callanbridge this Friday night evening and Sunday morning at 8.30 am.....that is ridiculous in my opinion. The county board do not even run a bus to get them down....it is the players responsibility ie parents or club. My sister will land home from Work in Dublin on Friday evening and either she or her husband, who is self employed , will be expected to get their son to Armagh and then wait till he’s finished. Won’t be home till 10 o’clock at night. Is this acceptable? No it’s not in my opinion
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Absolutely not acceptable at all.
Everyone should strive to be the best at whatever they do, but these lads are the Minors/U17s from what you're saying. They will play a couple of league games maybe around March and then a Championship match (or two if they're lucky/good). I'd imagine most if not all will be playing with their schools as well. Where in the name of all things sensible has the sense of enjoyment in all this gone?? I'd say exactly the same for the senior lads. Every one of them will be fit, as an athlete should be and will I'm sure know and enjoy doing a certain amount of fitness work. Jaysus I haven't played in years nor have any chance of ever doing it again, but I walk every day and cycle as often as I can. That's just common sense for a healthy(er) life. Surely these lads do their bit knowing they need to, so they can be ahead of the rest. Our sport is being driven away from being normal. I get what you're saying dab about payments and I agree with the sentiment, but I doubt if that has any bearing on how they treat players - of course I could be wrong as I haven't been inside a changing room for some time. I seriously doubt if Joe (and I'm only using him as an example as I'm sharing a conversation with you) would have made Oisin or Francie train any harder or just because he was getting a few quid - and no I doubt he got anything. Just an analogy. But even if he got £1k a week I still don't believe he would have treated them any different. He just wanted the best he can get from any player.
Sadly I think the sport has been forgotten in an attempt to win the competition.
portadownarmaghfan
Well-Known Member
As Pat Mustard would say, Soup is off the menu for the foreseeable future.
cast no shadow
Member
Warning!!!! RANT!!!!!
Tend to agree with the comments here and also with the contentions of o’rourke and brolly on the matter! From the moment a lad goes to these squads they become different form their club mates, for me at that age this is wrong!!! A form of selection that we have no need of!
These situation continues to senior level! We have created a vacuum! Let’s be honest we all know some of these lads - when they get to 28 their still wearing their skinny o’neills Tracksuits, bouncing between gap years to Australia, personal training coaching qualifications and county training! Why because they don’t have time to do anything else! Shea heffron is to be admired! A lad who has a professional career planned, football should be secondary to personal and career development. Football should not be career development. Our community has overcome so much because of a strive to do better, education and career progression has been fundamental to that!!! My fear is we have a generation of gaels who just want to mooch around with no focus on or care for what they want to do with their lives after football!
For me however the issue is not with the county board or even the coaches or lads for that matter. We have a situation that has developed throughout the association which compromises our amateur values. This situation will continue to comprise the association to the point when we have a Semi-professional bastardised plc.
A good start would be to end these development squads!
Tend to agree with the comments here and also with the contentions of o’rourke and brolly on the matter! From the moment a lad goes to these squads they become different form their club mates, for me at that age this is wrong!!! A form of selection that we have no need of!
These situation continues to senior level! We have created a vacuum! Let’s be honest we all know some of these lads - when they get to 28 their still wearing their skinny o’neills Tracksuits, bouncing between gap years to Australia, personal training coaching qualifications and county training! Why because they don’t have time to do anything else! Shea heffron is to be admired! A lad who has a professional career planned, football should be secondary to personal and career development. Football should not be career development. Our community has overcome so much because of a strive to do better, education and career progression has been fundamental to that!!! My fear is we have a generation of gaels who just want to mooch around with no focus on or care for what they want to do with their lives after football!
For me however the issue is not with the county board or even the coaches or lads for that matter. We have a situation that has developed throughout the association which compromises our amateur values. This situation will continue to comprise the association to the point when we have a Semi-professional bastardised plc.
A good start would be to end these development squads!
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
When did I say that?
However, judging by the blasphemous comments on GAABoard regarding said subject, I think the broth is permanently off the menu.
bennydorano
New Member
After a promising year in 2017 it looks as though 2018 will be spent threading water in Division 3 as the loss of so much talent is surely going to be insurmountable. If all the Harps boys who were asked to go to the County did we'd likely end up in a relegation battle, we've nearly too many committed as it is.
Armagh are no doubt establishing as professional a set up as is possible behind the scenes, wanting that attitude & commitment from the players is understandable, but I think a lot of players are realising how big a sacrafice it is for very limited returns. The pool of talent is draining on a weekly basis tho, last year's optimism is gone.
Armagh are no doubt establishing as professional a set up as is possible behind the scenes, wanting that attitude & commitment from the players is understandable, but I think a lot of players are realising how big a sacrafice it is for very limited returns. The pool of talent is draining on a weekly basis tho, last year's optimism is gone.
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
It seems a few new players are called in then see little match time. Their club form suffers due to little football, then they get fed up with county and pack it in. A new batch (of Gremlins) are called up, and the cycle repeats.
Ultimately, is the county set up good for Armagh football? Any talent that is out there, a county call up probably hinders them as footballers. Those on the periphery anyway.
Players getting regular county action are living like monks. And even if their football doesn't suffer due to county setup, every other aspect of their lives does.
Makes you wonder what the attraction of being a county player is. Although having the best looking blonde in the county hanging off your arm might help. (You know I'm right!.. About the blonde thing anyway)
Ultimately, is the county set up good for Armagh football? Any talent that is out there, a county call up probably hinders them as footballers. Those on the periphery anyway.
Players getting regular county action are living like monks. And even if their football doesn't suffer due to county setup, every other aspect of their lives does.
Makes you wonder what the attraction of being a county player is. Although having the best looking blonde in the county hanging off your arm might help. (You know I'm right!.. About the blonde thing anyway
)
Muckser
Well-Known Member
armaghforsam
Member
Is Ryan Kennedy the only new face from last year panel? Think all those other players were involved at some stage last year. Conor white might also be a new addition.
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
white was in the McKenna squad last year
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
is Aaron Findon a goalkeeper for this coming year?
Muckser
Well-Known Member
Just listen in order 1st name isn' it. 2 keepers on list
