Mick O'Dwyer

cruiserweight

There are some interesting pieces by Mick O'Dwyer in todays Sindo, extracts from his new book I think.

Problems in Laois : http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/i-should-have-walked-when-my-alarm-bells-started-ringing-in-laois-1210825.html

Dublin would have won an AI under me : http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/if-i-had-taken-the-dublin-job-in-2004-theyd-be-allireland-champions-now-1210826.html

Seamus Darby Goal : http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/seamus-darbys-goal-1210828.html

Curse of Alcohol : http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/the-curse-of-alcohol-1210829.html

International Rules Snub : http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/his-international-snub-1210830.html

machiavellianme

Problems in Laois? The problem in Laois was Micko. He sent them back ten years with his methods and cost the county board a fortune in doing so. As for his "fee" to appear at local clubs awards ceremonies...its a pity he didnt leave then. Or someone push him out. The Laois team were doing fine without him. They were up and coming and he knew that and latched on the claim the success. Apart from winning one Leinster (that they probably wouldve won anyway) they did no better under Micko as they were always able to progress so far in the qualifiers.

tonyagrey

machiavellianme wrote: »

Problems in Laois? The problem in Laois was Micko. He sent them back ten years with his methods and cost the county board a fortune in doing so. As for his "fee" to appear at local clubs awards ceremonies...its a pity he didnt leave then. Or someone push him out. The Laois team were doing fine without him. They were up and coming and he knew that and latched on the claim the success. Apart from winning one Leinster (that they probably wouldve won anyway) they did no better under Micko as they were always able to progress so far in the qualifiers.

Take it you are a Laois man........ Bitter! Look at what they have achieved since he left.......... POINT PROVEN

blackbelt

I read the first two articles which are very interesting.

Problems in Laois

I know an insider of the Laois panel quite well and this psychologist was brought in in 2006.It seems that the Laois panel were listening to him more than Micko or the trainers which caused a lot of concern.Its not surprising Micko would have liked to walk out then.

Before the Leinster Semi-Final against Dublin,the psychologist was trying to do his job psyching up the panel in the dressing room and telling them how they were going to beat Dublin very comfortably,10 points was the number given by my source.The reverse happened and a training session ensued with Dublin strolling out 3-17 to 0-12 winners.Evidence that there was a power struggle in the Laois management team.

I've always thought that Micko,no matter how out of date his training methods could be,could at least bring some limited success to whichever team he'd manage.He had great success with Kerry and Kildare but Laois in 2003 was as much as he could get out of that particular team.Dublin,Westmeath and Meath were all in transition as well and while the latter only emerged again this year,this made Leinster less competive in those two-three years.This wasn't necessarily a bad thing for Leinster but if Laois were to make any real progress,retaining the Delaney Cup in 2004 would have signalled it.

The problem is the players themselves although there was clearly some issues there.I'd blame the players mainly with some going to Micko as well.Only they could perform and I'd believe that Micko prepared them quite well but Micko might not have been tough enough.As he said,he was being compromised but he let it happen.Laois always did reasonably well in the qualifiers there after so the potential was there.

Dublin would have won an AI under me.

Is this the name of the article itself or a chapter in the book?I don't believe he would have,not in the 2004-present era anyway.Possibly 2001 or 2002 when Dublin revived somewhat.

Not because he's not a good manager but the success of the Dublin team from 2005-present was pretty much engineered by Pillar,Talty and the players themselves.If Laois won Leinster in 2004 and had got to a semi-final,I would be more inclined to agree or give reasonable consideration to that claim but when Dublin and Meath were not contending Leinster so seriously in 2003/2004,Laois should have grabbed Leinster by the scruff of the neck.Be that as it may,I'll also re-inforce my point that it was the players fault too.Micko had the resources that weren't paying off in 2004 when they got beat by Westmeath.

Now this might seem contradictory to what I said above but I have mentioned Micko and his softness to being put in a compromising position.A manager manages and leads the team to achieve their goals.In a business context,a manager deals with all internal and external factors in the environment and this is no different in sport.I said there was potential in the Laois team and while the players themselves didn't play as well as they could,Micko would have to receive some of the blame.

Take Garvin and Clancy for example,they were the best midfielders in Leinster for a period in 03-04 but they didn't play to their potential in 2004 and 2006 was their worst year under Micko.Had Micko come into Dublin in 2004,how could he possibly manage one of the top three prospect jobs in GAA when he was compromised in Laois?

machiavellianme

Look at the shambles Micko left too. Dropped Cooke, one of our best forwards in years and never gave him a chance in favour of Munnely or Dony Brennan. Nothing against the latter two but theyre way too small for senior intercounty and never put in enough of a threat. And Munnelly cant kick a ball 20 yards, yet he was Micko's flavour of his term. We havent done any worse since he left either. Still capable of beating any team on a good day and progressing in the qualifiers.
The problem now isnt to do with the team. Its the lack of any physical manager. Not necessarily even a good one. The team went soft under Micko. No fight in them and now most of them are afraid of a tackle. Its a mans game. Laois always had that edge and now its gone and they get thumped off the pitch as a result.

cruiserweight

blackbelt wrote: »

Dublin would have won an AI under me.

Is this the name of the article itself or a chapter in the book?I don't believe he would have,not in the 2004-present era anyway.Possibly 2001 or 2002 when Dublin revived somewhat.

Book is called "Blessed and Obsessed". The headline in the paper (online anyway) read, "If I had taken the Dublin job in 2004 they'd be All-Ireland champions now"

blackbelt

Cheers CW,also thanks with the other query I had.

I don't think Mickos tenure with Laois will leave a black mark on his managerial career.I also think he left at the right time.From 2003-2005,Laois could very well have contended Sam.Being in quarter Finals is a success in itself but they never did quite progress from there on.The psychologist and training attendence angle in 2006 was the signal for him to get out of there.

The luck of Micko rubs off on whichever team he chooses.Wicklow put it up to Louth when previously they would not have and then they won the Tommy Murphy Cup.At least in his career he can say he won something with every team he has managed.

blackbelt

Read two more articles.


The curse of alcohol

I think its fair to say Micko is in touch with trends in alcohol consumption.Over the years,I've noticed that it is the older generation that go to the local pub for a drink midweek than any young people.They'd be in town in nightclubs,pubs etc.Micko is a traditionalist so it would be fair to say that he's noticing the tradition dying out around the country.

As for young footballers drinking,I think its fair to say that drink has always been an element in the sport whether it be consumption or the sponsorship by the drinks industry/firms.Guinness was always associated with hurling,well at least in my mind due to the advertising campaign.

Years ago,the manager of my team took a hard line approach to drinking before games going as far as to check everybodies wrists for nightclub stamps etc so maybe its indicative of the increase of alcohol consumption.

International Rules Snub

I'd imagine he'd be a bit upset that he wasn't considered for the International Rules.I don't think he'd be sufficient as far as matching the Aussies in the physical stakes.Years ago,the Irish would beat Australia with their footballing skills and determination.Maybe Micko could have fitted in well during this period but the physicality is playing a more predominant role in the game.

Also,there is a Croke Park issue with Micko.He feels he isn't well liked by the hierarchy.Had Sean Kelly appointed Micko during his term,there would very well have been an outcry or accusations of bias.

I think the managers that have managed Ireland down through the years in the International Rules were sufficient but they can hardly be accused of not trying to counter-act the physical approach the Aussies bring.As far as the Int. Rules is concerned,Ireland will always be naturally on the back foot due to the professional training regime the Aussies have.

cruiserweight

John Bailey has commented very very briefly on some of the stuff in Micko's book

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=85563

Former Dublin GAA chairman John Bailey has declined to react to comments made by Mick O’Dwyer that he was invited to take over the Dubs three years ago.

O’Dwyer claimed in his autobiography that he met Bailey after Dublin’s 2004 championship exit and the offer was put on the table.

"What happened when I was chairman stays with my time in the chair," said Bailey. "I don’t make any comments about people.

"They can say what they like and blow off steam if they want to but I don’t comment on that sort of stuff. That does nobody any good."

blackbelt

Its all speculation.Bailey won't say or give details and Micko is stating he was interviewed down in the K Club.I think Bailey is right not to react to it.There is an argument as to what should be discussed.In the interest of that meeting being private and kept secret as the intention was,it doesn't do Micko any favours should he continue on in management looking for new prospect teams.

In any case,I think Wicklow is his last stop before he retires.He's getting too old and his health will be top priority.I'd imagine his last challenge before he retires is to make Wicklow a top contender in Leinster.