Mayo GAA Discussion

BandMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122631860#Comment_122631860

Sounds like McStay using his media/PR background as he realises that there is a lot of unhappiness and that he might not get back without conditions next season so by creating the narrative that he's already been "ratified" (and therefore that the review process concluded in his favour), thereby putting the ball in the County Boards court as they either have to (a) sack him or (b) stay silent and back him as you know that they come out the villain's of the piece by McStay's media cronies.

FWIW, I heard from a source in the camp that they've already met and issued plans to the players. This is a few weeks ago now.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122633824#Comment_122633824

There's a lot of assumptions, guesswork and rumours to all that. If he's met the board already then so what. Going on about his so called 'media cronies' is very unfair. What cronies? He's a decent guy and he worked in the media and was good at it. Thats hardly a crime.

happyoutscan

I was told by someone in Belcarra last Saturday evening that he was gone.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122636802#Comment_122636802

Sure what would they know in Belcarra ?

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122634786#Comment_122634786

I think some people feel McStay got an easy ride in the media and was not critique in the same manner as others. This is the feeling with certain people but over the last month he has got his fair share. Also for the year ahead, if he is still there, he is on a hiding to nothing unless some progression is shown.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122638261#Comment_122638261

I think it's more than he had a good relationship with the media rather than getting a free ride. He was pleasant, honest and open as opposed to some managers who are often irritable and just trot out cliches.

I agree this year is pivotal for him. The league title was nice but would need to win connacht now.

happyoutscan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122637937#Comment_122637937

Not a clue. Think I was reminding myself it was only the 3rd time I was ever in it.

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122638996#Comment_122638996

I am not a fan of it and he is too open….. I would go as far as he is been naïve. It sends the wrong message to the team and then players are accessible, standards are loose etc. You don't get that crack from top managers who have won lots like Gavin, O' Connor - he would not tell you the time of day…, harte, even McGeeney after all the years trying with his chip on his shoulder is an all Ireland winner manager, joyce in galway has an edge to him even if he has not won it as a manager.

He is a nice guy without doubt, but nice guys don't cut it at the top level. Horan was the only guy in recent years who had this ruthless streak and brought the biggest impact to Mayo football. Would Horan have allowed all this crack with the review and leaks out around meeting players, players unhappy etc…. not on your life because Horan set his stall out at the very start and laid down a marker for everyone to see and gained huge respect and trust from the players. I just can't see anything changing next year if he waits on but the bigger problem is finding someone to replace him who brings the edge.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122640079#Comment_122640079

Rochford is generally seen as a nice guy and came closer than Horan to winning the AI. I don't see any link between McStays interviews and standards. We've managers with all sorts of personalities over the last 73 years but no sam so no pattern there. If mayo had jim gavin or jack oconnor there's every reason to think they may be removed by player power based on past experience.

Audioslaven

The circus is over

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41481310.html#:~:text=Mayo%20GAA%20have%20confirmed%20that,continue%20as%20manager%20for%202025

Be-Jaysus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122640079#Comment_122640079

Agreed.

I feel this up-coming season will end on a whimper.

He should be getting more out of the squad that he has at his disposal.

1 system of play despite having a huge squad .

Likes of T Conroy been isolated & shunted out wide to accommodate half-backs in the half-forward line, who are afraid to take on realistic scoring opportunities when presented, some mind boggling substitution's at key moments , going 15/20 minutes without scoring in multiple games last year,

Self-destructing at the closing stages of games when it seems easier to see them out.

Hes got too many issues to fix in his final year to turn things around imo..

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122644041#Comment_122644041

I'm ok with him staying because I don't know who else would replace him and whether they would be able to bring enough of something new to the team and shake things up.

What we need is another Horan in the winter of 2010.

But with that being said McStay has to change things up, I've said before he's been around the game long enough to know what Mayo are doing now with who they are doing it with is not good enough to even be a valid contender for an All Ireland, never mind win one.

Be-Jaysus

We need to see an All-Ireland semi final appearance & to be competitive in it.

Connacht alone wont save him.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122644306#Comment_122644306

Yes breaking Galway's connacht run and a semi final should be the aim.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122625019#Comment_122625019

I haven't had time to listen to any podcasts lately - what was the upshot of the criticisms?

Just on this, the criticism on the Ah Ref pod (which I'd agree with) was that we've been out of the championship for months now, why has it taken until now to do a review; say in the unlikely case that he was not going to be renewed, it'd leave us starting the search for a new manager very late in the year. No reason the review couldn't have been done & dusted before the All Ireland was played

Blackjack

seems reasonable

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122645151#Comment_122645151

That is so true and also if they decided to call time now, it gave no notice to possible candidates who would potentially be interested but ended up going to other counties as it is a high profile job. Malaghy O'Rourke comes to mind and even McEntee might have been tempted back.

Westernview

If McEntee and O'Rourke are the candidates I'd stick with mcstay. Next season will be the time to start the process in trying to get a proven winning manager if it's possible.

Audioslaven

I think those two guys punched above their weight in small counties (Monaghan and Sligo). I am not surprised O’rourke got the Tyrone job and Mcentee is doing well with limited resources in Sligo. Anyway the point is around not getting it done early and have a plan b in place.

Westernview

It ideally would be done sooner but this piece here states some on the reasons. The chairman had to take a leave of absence over the summer for health reasons so it would be difficult to get it done without him.

As Keys says a lot of the rumour stuff was something that developed in a vacuum - which is not unusual for Mayo football of course. It would be unusual for everyone on a squad to be happy if asked to fill in a questionaire.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2024/09/24/mcstay-ready-to-go-again-as-mayo-review-finally-produces-green-light/

Green&Red

Big weekend coming up, my four semi-finalists are

Ballaghadereen

Breaffy

Knockmore

Ballina

spakman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122659646#Comment_122659646

I'd go:

Tubber

Westport

Garrymore

Ballina

Great that there's so many matches that are hard to call!

BandMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122647264#Comment_122647264

I would have no problem with McEntee being linked with the job. If you look at his time with Mayo, Rochford got all the credit for the tactics, matchups etc. while McEntee (rightly or wrongly) got the blame for the goalkeeping call in the replay. However, if you look at their careers since, you would have to wonder who really was running the show because McEntee has taken Sligo from a very low base to punching above their limited resources while Rochford was involved in a poor Donegal regime (look how they thrived since with pretty much the same bunch of players, and yes, I know, McGuiness etc. etc.) and is getting a lot of grief for the set up at the moment, even though as manager McStay should be having the final call and making the big decisions. I'd say McEntee definitely has his eyes on a bigger prize, but the Armagh job won't be opening up for a while now (surely?) so he's worth keeping an eye on.

MacDanger

Nice win for Ballagh against Ballintubber

flasher0030

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122663495#Comment_122663495

5 minutes into the second half, Ballaghadereen had racked up 2-8. They didn't score for the remaining half hour, scored a total of 2 points in the second half, and still won by 2 goals.

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122659646#Comment_122659646

Hope your picking is as good today as it was yesterday G&R.

Loafing Oaf

Have a ticket for Ballina-Castlebar but not sure I'll be using it if this rain keeps pelting down…

MacDanger

Wet day probably suits Breaffy a bit better than Westport

PARlance

That'll do! That'll do!

Loafing Oaf

well we came in the end. Ballina totally dominated first half but 3 points not a great lead with a strong breeze…