Ger Loughnane

Silnoli

Hi,

Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are:

I think Ger Loughnane should dtep down as Galway coach, anyone agree?

kaimera

Why do ya think so?

Silnoli

When he took over the reins in Galway he did promise to quit if galway did not win the All Ireland within two years, so that would be now!!

With Joe Canning Galway would have been destroyed IMO

FatherTed

Well he was signed on for two years and yesterday's performance shows that Galway are back to square one. I thought an outsider like him would overcome the politics of hurling in Galway but his methods and lack of consistancy in team selection have not improved the team. Positions like full back, midfield and centre forward still have big question marks after two years. Time for someone else like Sean Tracy to be given a shot.

Silnoli

With Joe Canning Galway would have been destroyed IMO[/quote]


Meant to say without Joe Canning, Galway would have been destroyed

premierstone

Silnoli wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are:

I think Ger Loughnane should dtep down as Galway coach, anyone agree?

Agreed, he has to go after saturday, if you compare Galway this year to where they were last year they have the two cannings on the team but apart from that they have actually gone backwards, you just get the impression that loughnane's ego is a big problem and he's not actually half as good as he thinks he is

pvt.joker

premierstone wrote: »

loughnane's ego is a big problem and he's not actually half as good as he thinks he is

+1

He has to go now. He has achieved nothing even though he is paid big money, although it's very hard to blame him completely because i'm unsure if Galway are as good as they are made out to be.

buck65

Loughnane wasn't on the pitch on Saturday. Time for a few of the Galway lads to put up their hands and say - We weren't good enough.

Boots09

buck65 wrote: »

Loughnane wasn't on the pitch on Saturday. Time for a few of the Galway lads to put up their hands and say - We weren't good enough.

+1

CyberDave

buck65 wrote: »

Loughnane wasn't on the pitch on Saturday. Time for a few of the Galway lads to put up their hands and say - We weren't good enough.

Galway proved they were good enough in 2005 with practically the same bunch of players but without a overated self important manager like Loughnane. Galway had gone backwards under his stewardship because he is more interested in own legend than actually solving Galways problems. He forgets that it actually isn't him that is the important factor, it's the fifteen players on the pitch.

He continually messed with the positioning of the players and this cannot help. He was at it again Saturday. Damian Joyce was started at full-back on Saturday a position I don't think he has ever started in before for Galway and Joe Deane reaped the rewards. Those dummy teams and bizarre switching he persisted with fooled nobody but his own players.

For a team to have any developement they need to have consistency in selection. A perfect example of this is Cork. How long have Gardiner, Curran and O hAilpin been playing together in the half-back line and they are only getting better.

He also made bad decisions on the line Saturday. Cork were delighted he played the spare man in the Galway defence it allowed the afore mentioned half-back line to dominate. When he did switch the spare man into attack it was to late. Cork had the game won. Also he left the most useful switched too late. Cyril Donnellan who came on with about 10 minutes to go won more ball in that short time than any of the other Galway forwards barr Canning.

Sure they were not good enough but those bad decisions and tinkering with the lineup doesn't help.

mousey007

How Loughnane didn't know his best 15 after 2 years in charge is a complete joke..

GalwayDub2

Theres talk of him announcing his resignation tonight...

CyberDave

GalwayDub2 wrote: »

Theres talk of him announcing his resignation tonight...

Well if he doesn't resign the county board will sack him. It's just a matter of when he will go.

john concannon

buck65 wrote: »

Loughnane wasn't on the pitch on Saturday. Time for a few of the Galway lads to put up their hands and say - We weren't good enough.

I think that he should not be berated by people.I feel that Galway need to go into Leinster or some provincial competition to ever really claim an All-Ireland in the next three years.

We need consistency and with less competitive matches then everyone else we probably won't get it.

We might as well stick with the footballers

mousey007

he will definitely be gone after tonight

mousey007

where do you think he will go next?

Keano

Back to RTE.

It is going to take a lot to turn Galway around. Loughnane didn't have what it took. Will anyone?

I have my doubts. Perhaps if they join Leinster championship and get more competive cames that will bring them on but they are going to continue to play very weak teams and that will do nothing for their hurling or confidence.

CyberDave

Rumour in Galway has it that he may be sticking on for another year. The county board met last night.

Damo.Smith

not a hope,that sounds crazy

CyberDave

Damo.Smith wrote: »

not a hope,that sounds crazy

I know. I know. That was this morning. Now that I have had more time to think of it I know it's not a runner.

HalloweenJack

mousey007 wrote: »

where do you think he will go next?

We'll take him!

Imagine: Micko for the football, Ger for the hurling. We're bound to improve then!

Silnoli

I reckon that if Ger goes, he wont manage again.

He will be so disappointed that he's not succeed with Galway that he wont allow it happen again

yahoo_moe

If you want to take the man on his own word (the McCarthy Cup within two years), then yes, he should be gone.

But to absolve the players of all blame because of a lack of competitive matches isn't a runner - Cork missed league games and a hell of a lot of training this year while Galway went to the league final which ain't so long ago... from a sharpness point of view, Galway should've had them but they didn't.

Personally, I just don't think Galway are that good (which has been brought to light since the backdoor came in by the fact that the best teams in Munster/Leinster no longer knock each other out in the provincials, which makes Galway's path to an AI trickier than before). Last year, they gave Kilkenny a decent game for 50 minutes before letting Eddie Brennan in to grab the win and if I'm honest, I think that's about Galway's level at the moment. Because even with their very own budding Shefflin in Joe Canning, they don't have 10 or 12 truly class hurlers like Cork or Kilkenny have had over recent years.

The Chessplayer

I heard a galway hurler being interviewed briefly on "off the ball" last night, and he seemed totally indifferent one way or the other as to whether Loughnane stayed on, just saying that they will "give it their best shot next year, regardless of who's in charge". I couldn't believe it. I would have expected the Galway hurler to be trumpeting that the team are 100% behind the manager etc, not practically yawning during his interview. :eek:

If this caper about Wicklow is true then full credit to Loughnane. I have always had a huge amount of respect for him. He's not one to suffer fools, nor is he in the game to raise his profile. WW definitely have the potential to go way out in front of the Christy Ring crowd.

phase-3

I think that he was over a great team in Clare and that now he cant produce wins with this Galway team its making him look really bad. I think he should get one more year. But to be successful he has to go into Leinster. Its the only way that they will be tested early and give them a fair idea at where they stand in the running for Liam McCarthy.

CyberDave

HalloweenJack wrote: »

We'll take him!

Imagine: Micko for the football, Ger for the hurling. We're bound to improve then!

There's a big difference between Micko and Loughnane. Micko had always improved any team he has taken over. Loughnane hasn't improved Galway. So, the question is, Had Len Gaynor built the nucleus of a good team in 1993-94 before Loughnane took over? and also the fact that the Clare players on the scene at that time had played in All-Irelands before. The likes of Jamesie O'Connor, Sean McMahon, Colin Lych, Anthony Daly and Lohan IMO had the quality to win an All-Ireland whether or not Loughnane took them over.

mousey007

loughnane should stick to the sunday game!

CyberDave

Anybody heard any developements on whether Loughnane is going or staying?

kraggy

Thought if he was going to go that it would be immediately after the loss to Cork?

Maybe he is staying...

Silnoli

I would have thought he would have gone by now too!! Maybe he's having a think!!???

CyberDave

Silnoli wrote: »

I would have thought he would have gone by now too!! Maybe he's having a think!!???

The longer it goes without any news of him quitting, the more likely it seems that he is staying.

Sherifu

I'd be happy to see him stick around for another year.

kraggy

Sherifu wrote: »

I'd be happy to see him stick around for another year.

Me too. No point in choppin and changin again.

Who else could do it?

Maybe third time lucky for Ger/us.

CyberDave

kraggy wrote: »

Me too. No point in choppin and changin again.

Who else could do it?

Maybe third time lucky for Ger/us.

I heard yesterday that the last training session before the Cork match that Loughnane told Fergal Moore he was playing regardless of whether or not he was injured, Moore told him he didn't think he would be recovered properly from the injury. Loughnane brought him into the dressing room and in front of all the other players declared that this man isn't willing to put in the effort needed and basically went on a rant. He also told Farragher that he was on the team but left him off the team when it was selected.

Other rumours I have heard have got to do with the Portumna players not playing on the team with certain Loughrea players.

All just idle rumours, but I wonder if there is any truth in them.

Justin McCarthy would be a good man in charge of Galway if Loughane does go.

mousey007

Maybe he does deserve a second chance or is it a third choice so but i'm not convinced. I thought they looked unbelievably under-prepared against Cork

CyberDave

At the last county board meeting, there was opposition against keeping Loughnane in the job but not enough it seems. The county board are meeting again this day week, I think. We should know by then. I reckon if they were going to get rid of him, he would be gone by now. The longer he stays without going himself, the more likely it is that he will do another year.

aidan24326

I read somewhere that 15 of 45 delegates present at the last meeting objected to Loughnane being kept on, so presumably the others must be ok with keeping him on for another year. It's possible that at least some of that 15 didn't want him in the first place though.

He was given a 3 year stint initially, not 2 as most people had assumed, so it's a case of either sacking him now or letting him see out his third year.

Hard to know, I'd be curious as to what the players preference would be. Personally I'm not sure it matters who is in charge as I don't think the current team are good enough to win an All-Ireland anyway. Perhaps we've been deluding ourselves in recent years, based on performances over the last 3 championship campaigns the current group of players are just not good enough. The results don't lie.

premierstone

aidan24326 wrote: »

I read somewhere that 15 of 45 delegates present at the last meeting objected to Loughnane being kept on, so presumably the others must be ok with keeping him on for another year. It's possible that at least some of that 15 didn't want him in the first place though.

Its a bit worse than that for the great ger, only 16 delegates of the 45 had an opportunity to speak and only one spoke in favour of retaining him, certainly looks like curtains for him at this stage and i think the fact that none of the players have really come out strongly supporting him says it all really.

mousey007

surely he cant stay

CyberDave

mousey007 wrote: »

surely he cant stay

He was never one to do the expected. If he does stay it won't surprise me one bit.

cruiserweight

Well looks like Ger is staying for one more year anyway

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=99908

Ger Loughnane is to see out his three-year term as Galway hurling manager after meeting with the County Hurling Board last night (Tuesday).

The Clare native’s future was thrown into serious doubt after breaking his promise to deliver the Liam McCarthy cup west within two years of taking over the Tribesmen. This, his second year, evidently, ended with defeat to Cork and with that his position was reviewed as part of the stipulations of his three-year term.

However, it was agreed by both parties last night in the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry that Loughnane would remain in charge of the Galway hurlers for another year at least to see out the initial term.

CyberDave

I don't really know what to think about this. Last year was poor, we didn't even make any progress in the League and that disastrous championship defeat to Clare in Ennis. This year we have showed signs of progress and made it to the League final but the Cork game again, was a disaster. Loughnanes experimentation with players in different positions is more a sign of desperation by him to make things work than a sign that he knows what he is doing. David Forde who played the 2005 AI final at centre-forward switched to wing-back and ending up in the full-back line against Cork. We had a full-back problem and lacked a good ball winning centre-forward when he arrived and we still have these problems. It could be said that the players good enough for these positions just are not in the county, but he hasn't really tried many new players in these positions until the championship this year. Having Damien Joyce at full-back against Cork was a terrible decision by Loughnane. Joe Deane who had a mediocre year if you take out the Galway game had a stormer that day because of that decision by Loughnane, He even won a couple of high balls over Joyces head. Joyce has never impressed me as a corner-back never mind a full-back. There are other players in the county like Athenrys Diarmuid Cloonan, Loughrea's Damien McClearn and Turloughmores Padraig Walsh who should be given their chance at full-back and Johnny Maher of Loughrea could make a decent Centre-forward if given the chance. Also, Loughnane would like to think his reputation is of the outright boss who takes no sh1t from his players, however the Cannings only returned to the team this year under the condition that Ollie be captain and no Loughrea players be on the panel. I know that offer was hard to resist an offer like that considering Joe Cannings performance against Cork. However, there are Loughrea players good enough to make the Galway team, who have never gotten the chance, like the afore mentioned Johnny Maher. He as persisted with players like Richie Murray who have never proven themselves on the big stage. Despite all this, there is hope, that's all we have to go on in Galway, but I just don't think Loughnane will deliver, if anything (despite Joe Canning) we have taken a step back.

BOSTIK

CyberDave wrote: »

He as persisted with players like Richie Murray who have never proven themselves on the big stage.

I can never understand why Galway supporters are so dismissive of this player. One of the few Galway forwards to make any impression in Ennis last year, also scored the goal that kept Galway in it for so long against Kilkenny in the next match. Even against Cork this year he was easily one of your better players, striking plenty of ball and forcing a great save from Cusack at the end. Granted he didn’t have a good day against Cork in the 2005 All-Ireland final, but by and large his good championship performances would outweigh the poor ones.

kraggy

CyberDave wrote: »

I don't really know what to think about this. Last year was poor, we didn't even make any progress in the League and that disastrous championship defeat to Clare in Ennis. This year we have showed signs of progress and made it to the League final but the Cork game again, was a disaster. Loughnanes experimentation with players in different positions is more a sign of desperation by him to make things work than a sign that he knows what he is doing. David Forde who played the 2005 AI final at centre-forward switched to wing-back and ending up in the full-back line against Cork. We had a full-back problem and lacked a good ball winning centre-forward when he arrived and we still have these problems. It could be said that the players good enough for these positions just are not in the county, but he hasn't really tried many new players in these positions until the championship this year. Having Damien Joyce at full-back against Cork was a terrible decision by Loughnane. Joe Deane who had a mediocre year if you take out the Galway game had a stormer that day because of that decision by Loughnane, He even won a couple of high balls over Joyces head. Joyce has never impressed me as a corner-back never mind a full-back. There are other players in the county like Athenrys Diarmuid Cloonan, Loughrea's Damien McClearn and Turloughmores Padraig Walsh who should be given their chance at full-back and Johnny Maher of Loughrea could make a decent Centre-forward if given the chance. Also, Loughnane would like to think his reputation is of the outright boss who takes no sh1t from his players, however the Cannings only returned to the team this year under the condition that Ollie be captain and no Loughrea players be on the panel. I know that offer was hard to resist an offer like that considering Joe Cannings performance against Cork. However, there are Loughrea players good enough to make the Galway team, who have never gotten the chance, like the afore mentioned Johnny Maher. He as persisted with players like Richie Murray who have never proven themselves on the big stage. Despite all this, there is hope, that's all we have to go on in Galway, but I just don't think Loughnane will deliver, if anything (despite Joe Canning) we have taken a step back.

Where did you hear that bullsh1t? The Cannings held the management and county to ransom like that? Not a chance.

Reckon we should give him another chance if only cause there's not anyone else who springs to mind to take over.

But it's the players who have to stand up and be counted. Waterford were able to do it after demanding the manager they wanted, now the Galway lads have to do the same, if it's not too late.

CyberDave

BOSTIK wrote: »

I can never understand why Galway supporters are so dismissive of this player. One of the few Galway forwards to make any impression in Ennis last year, also scored the goal that kept Galway in it for so long against Kilkenny in the next match. Even against Cork this year he was easily one of your better players, striking plenty of ball and forcing a great save from Cusack at the end. Granted he didn’t have a good day against Cork in the 2005 All-Ireland final, but by and large his good championship performances would outweigh the poor ones.

He drifts in and out of games. Yeah, he got the goal against Kilkenny last year but did little else, the same in the Cork game this year, he had the goal chance at the end but nothing else. I was at both games and this year against Cork he just wasn't in the game. Is it worth having him on the team for one off chances when he isn't contributing much otherwise. All Galway supporters can't be wrong about him.

kraggy wrote: »

Where did you hear that bullsh1t? The Cannings held the management and county to ransom like that? Not a chance.

Reckon we should give him another chance if only cause there's not anyone else who springs to mind to take over.

But it's the players who have to stand up and be counted. Waterford were able to do it after demanding the manager they wanted, now the Galway lads have to do the same, if it's not too late.

Proof of this is Greg Kennedy was on the panel before the Cannings returned and he wasn't when they did come back. Check out this:
http://ghurlingadmin.proboards61.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=discussion&thread=578&page=1#4443

BOSTIK

CyberDave wrote: »

He drifts in and out of games. Yeah, he got the goal against Kilkenny last year but did little else, the same in the Cork game this year, he had the goal chance at the end but nothing else. I was at both games and this year against Cork he just wasn't in the game. Is it worth having him on the team for one off chances when he isn't contributing much otherwise. All Galway supporters can't be wrong about him.

Ah, come on Dave. He hurled plenty of ball against Cork this year when most others didn't want to know. He'll be back next year regardless of who's in charge.

CyberDave

CyberDave wrote: »

Ah, come on Dave. He hurled plenty of ball against Cork this year when most others didn't want to know. He'll be back next year regardless of who's in charge.

Well, we will have to agree to differ on this one. I just don't think he makes the consistent impact on games that he has the ability to do. I remember him playing wing forward for the Galway minors and scoring 0-5 from play playing wing-forward against Cork or Tipp, I think, in 1999. I know he is midfield now, but he just doesn't get involved in the action like Jerry O'Connor or Cha Fitzpatrick. Maybe his best position is wing-forward.