why do people still go to gaelic football games?

pgj2015 · 10-09-2020 10:34pm #1

its not the same game as it was, 99% of games are horrible to watch, 30 men in 1 half of the field, frees going backwards, players running out of options at midfield as the 1 half of the pitch is so crowded. club games are the same now as well. the rules have to be changed, you shouldnt be allowed have your whole team in your own half.

I played the game for over 20 years btw, the only games i would go see are ones involving mayo, dublin or kerry, the rest you couldnt pay me to go watch.

Billy Ocean · 10-09-2020 10:44pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

its not the same game as it was, 99% of games are horrible to watch, 30 men in 1 half of the field, frees going backwards, players running out of options at midfield as the 1 half of the pitch is so crowded. club games are the same now as well. the rules have to be changed, you shouldnt be allowed have your whole team in your own half.

I played the game for over 20 years btw, the only games i would go see are ones involving mayo, dublin or kerry, the rest you couldnt pay me to go watch.

Different strokes for different folks I'm alot less fond of soccer than I used to be with the money taking away alot of the sole and character, to many mercenaries these days.

pgj2015 · 10-09-2020 10:50pm

Billy Ocean wrote: »

Different strokes for different folks I'm alot less fond of soccer than I used to be with the money taking away alot of the sole and character, to many mercenaries these days.

Then i would suggest getting into the league of Ireland, real football not ruined by money. I prefer a league of ireland game now over most gaa championship matches.

Billy Ocean · 10-09-2020 10:51pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

Then i would suggest getting into the league of Ireland, real football not ruined by money. I prefer a league of ireland game now over most gaa championship matches.

I would enjoy a local game of junior soccer

10-09-2020 10:54pm

A dire viewing experience.

Insect Overlord · 10-09-2020 11:23pm

I've given up playing the game altogether. It's just not fun any more. Too "professional" at Senior level, and too many atrocious referees ruining games at Junior level.

pgj2015 · 10-09-2020 11:23pm

another change i would make would be that you can not be tackled by more than 2 players at the same time.

The Lost Sheep · 10-09-2020 11:25pm

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I've given up playing the game altogether. It's just not fun any more. Too "professional" at Senior level, and too many atrocious referees ruining games at Junior level.

What would you do to change/improve refs? Is it the rules of the game or how refs are trained?

pgj2015 · 10-09-2020 11:25pm

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I've given up playing the game altogether. It's just not fun any more. Too "professional" at Senior level, and too many atrocious referees ruining games at Junior level.

it was always too professional at senior level, too many games, no nights out, drinking bans, running you into the ground for the sake of it etc

Billy Ocean · 10-09-2020 11:30pm

1 rule which I believe would improve football is no backwards or sideways hand passing except within 45 metres of the opponents goal, team holding possession around midfield and defence running down the clock is a complete eye score, handpassing can be used as a positive like the famous Meath goal against Dublin in 1991.

tastyt · 10-09-2020 11:32pm

I remember a couple of years ago there was talk of them changing it to 13 on 13 but they never tried it, I think it would be worth ago at least to see would more space help the game open up a bit.

A shot clock might be an idea too, maybe 60/90 seconds to shoot once you get possession or you lose it. Problem with this is that it’s grand on big championship days, very hard in a junior b game .

I also think there needs to be 2 refs , one in each half. Pitch is too big, players too fit and all sorts going on off the ball for 1 ref to expect to control things

54and56 · 10-09-2020 11:34pm

For the hang sangwiches and hot cupa tay at half time.

10-09-2020 11:37pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

another change i would make would be that you can not be tackled by more than 2 players at the same time.

Who gets penalised?... the defenders?
All an attacker would have to do while being chased is to chase after a defender to make it two against him.
How would the defenders know when to change over tackling rights mid flow?

Billy Ocean · 10-09-2020 11:37pm

tastyt wrote: »

I remember a couple of years ago there was talk of them changing it to 13 on 13 but they never tried it, I think it would be worth ago at least to see would more space help the game open up a bit.

A shot clock might be an idea too, maybe 60/90 seconds to shoot once you get possession or you lose it. Problem with this is that it’s grand on big championship days, very hard in a junior b game .

I also think there needs to be 2 refs , one in each half. Pitch is too big, players too fit and all sorts going on off the ball for 1 ref to expect to control things

Don't know if it would be feasible but for 2 refs to work well you might need particular refs to work as a partnership all year and build up an understanding. If you had a scenario where a ref in 1 half of the field is very strict while at the other end a ref is letting alot go it could lead to issues.

Insect Overlord · 10-09-2020 11:38pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

it was always too professional at senior level, too many games, no nights out, drinking bans, running you into the ground for the sake of it etc

I was happy to train and skip nights out for Senior football, but the tactical aspects of my own position (goalkeeper) just keep changing too much. It's almost irrelevant whether or not you can stop a shot now.

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

What would you do to change/improve refs? Is it the rules of the game or how refs are trained?

It's just the same old lads reffing every game here. Nobody else is willing to do it. The rules of the game don't really matter to these guys any more. I'd like to think the newer generation will be better, but anyone who's decent gets promoted above Junior games anyway!

pgj2015 · 10-09-2020 11:38pm

tastyt wrote: »

I remember a couple of years ago there was talk of them changing it to 13 on 13 but they never tried it, I think it would be worth ago at least to see would more space help the game open up a bit.

A shot clock might be an idea too, maybe 60/90 seconds to shoot once you get possession or you lose it. Problem with this is that it’s grand on big championship days, very hard in a junior b game .

I also think there needs to be 2 refs , one in each half. Pitch is too big, players too fit and all sorts going on off the ball for 1 ref to expect to control things

I would agree with 13 v 13 but not the other 2 ideas.

what baffles me is most people act like the game hasn't changed beyond all recognition, its horrible to watch, its not worth paying good money to see.

pgj2015 · 10-09-2020 11:40pm

gilberto_eire wrote: »

Who gets penalised?... the defenders?
All an attacker would have to do while being chased is to chase after a defender to make it two against him.
How would the defenders know when to change over tackling rights mid flow?

im saying two against 1 is ok but no more than that. if there are 3 defenders clearly tackling the forward then its a free to the forward.

afro man · 10-09-2020 11:46pm

tastyt wrote: »

I remember a couple of years ago there was talk of them changing it to 13 on 13 but they never tried it, I think it would be worth ago at least to see would more space help the game open up a bit.

A shot clock might be an idea too, maybe 60/90 seconds to shoot once you get possession or you lose it. Problem with this is that it’s grand on big championship days, very hard in a junior b game .

I also think there needs to be 2 refs , one in each half. Pitch is too big, players too fit and all sorts going on off the ball for 1 ref to expect to control things

At the moment you have ref, two linesmen and 4 umpires and they still can't control things.. Umpires need to have the power or balls to make calls for refereee

The Lost Sheep · 10-09-2020 11:47pm

Billy Ocean wrote: »

1 rule which I believe would improve football is no backwards or sideways hand passing except within 45 metres of the opponents goal, team holding possession around midfield and defence running down the clock is a complete eye score, handpassing can be used as a positive like the famous Meath goal against Dublin in 1991.

I dont think that is the problem though maybe trial it in some competition

tastyt wrote: »

I remember a couple of years ago there was talk of them changing it to 13 on 13 but they never tried it, I think it would be worth ago at least to see would more space help the game open up a bit.

A shot clock might be an idea too, maybe 60/90 seconds to shoot once you get possession or you lose it. Problem with this is that it’s grand on big championship days, very hard in a junior b game .

I also think there needs to be 2 refs , one in each half. Pitch is too big, players too fit and all sorts going on off the ball for 1 ref to expect to control things

2 refs isnt a good thing when there is so many issues with rules and you already have 2 linesmen and 4 umpires to manage a game with the ref. Give the other officials more power and train them better before adding an extra official on top of things.

Insect Overlord wrote: »

It's just the same old lads reffing every game here. Nobody else is willing to do it. The rules of the game don't really matter to these guys any more. I'd like to think the newer generation will be better, but anyone who's decent gets promoted above Junior games anyway!

What training do refs receive? Improve the training and development systems for refs.
Its the same refs at all levels over and over no matter what sport.

Billy Ocean · 10-09-2020 11:47pm

afro man wrote: »

At the moment you have ref, two linesmen and 4 umpires and they still can't control things.. Umpires need to have the power or balls to make calls for refereee

As a commentator said in a game I watched last weekend, are alot of umpires there just to watch the match?

Billy Ocean · 10-09-2020 11:49pm

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

I dont think that is the problem though maybe trial it in some competition

2 refs isnt a good thing when there is so many issues with rules and you already have 2 linesmen and 4 umpires to manage a game with the ref. Give the other officials more power and train them better before adding an extra official on top of things.

What training do refs receive? Improve the training and development systems for refs.
Its the same refs at all levels over and over no matter what sport.

On your 1st point regards handpassing, I think pedestrian handpassing is a big issue.

FintanMcluskey · 11-09-2020 12:05am

tastyt wrote: »

I remember a couple of years ago there was talk of them changing it to 13 on 13 but they never tried it, I think it would be worth ago at least to see would more space help the game open up a bit.

A shot clock might be an idea too, maybe 60/90 seconds to shoot once you get possession or you lose it. Problem with this is that it’s grand on big championship days, very hard in a junior b game .

I also think there needs to be 2 refs , one in each half. Pitch is too big, players too fit and all sorts going on off the ball for 1 ref to expect to control things

The Galway hurling team that lined out in the 2017 AI had an average height of 6"1 and average weight of 90kg if I remember correctly.

The only way to negotiate those stats is to reduce the player numbers and open up space.

I believe the Dublin footballers have similar stats

Uncle Pierre · 11-09-2020 12:28pm

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I was happy to train and skip nights out for Senior football, but the tactical aspects of my own position (goalkeeper) just keep changing too much. It's almost irrelevant whether or not you can stop a shot now.

Played in goal in football myself for a good few years during the 1990s and 2000s. It's definitely changed a lot since then. Not sure I'd fancy it now, since my big "just give it a hoof anywhere at all" kick-outs wouldn't be acceptable any more!

I was always much more of a hurling man though, and that remains the case. Don't watch very much football any more at all, outside of what my own club is involved in.

Would still rather watch it than soccer (at any level) though. And I used to be big into soccer when I was younger, so this is not an old-fashioned "GAA man just hates soccer" thing. But by God, it's boring, when you're used to hurling.

StupidLikeAFox · 11-09-2020 12:44pm

Looking at the old games it was real catch and kick stuff, no real tactics, hoof it in the general direction of your player and hope he wins it. More entertaining and unpredictable but it was only a matter of time before some tactics came into it. The main thing now is that no team wants to waste possession or take risks, which makes sense but obviously reduces the spectacle unless you are fascinated by the tactical end of things.

I don't think any rule change will force a team to throw caution to the wind and revert to a reckless (but exciting) way to play

pgj2015 · 11-09-2020 5:57pm

StupidLikeAFox wrote: »

Looking at the old games it was real catch and kick stuff, no real tactics, hoof it in the general direction of your player and hope he wins it. More entertaining and unpredictable but it was only a matter of time before some tactics came into it. The main thing now is that no team wants to waste possession or take risks, which makes sense but obviously reduces the spectacle unless you are fascinated by the tactical end of things.

I don't think any rule change will force a team to throw caution to the wind and revert to a reckless (but exciting) way to play

There would still be a lot more chances created if you couldnt have your whole team in your own half.

11-09-2020 6:02pm

Is the pitch too big?

Are the balls too heavy?

heroics · 12-09-2020 12:09am

I don’t know what everyone goes on about tbh. Watched some of the older games on on tv and it’s brutal. Kick and hope stuff everywhere. No tactics no game plan other than kick it towards the biggest player for the kick out and hope for the best etc

I’m playing football 20 years now and still love it. That being said I wouldn’t be a great watcher of games much rather be playing.

pgj2015 · 12-09-2020 10:30am

heroics wrote: »

I don’t know what everyone goes on about tbh. Watched some of the older games on on tv and it’s brutal. Kick and hope stuff everywhere. No tactics no game plan other than kick it towards the biggest player for the kick out and hope for the best etc

I’m playing football 20 years now and still love it. That being said I wouldn’t be a great watcher of games much rather be playing.

The game has got very slow, no space on the overcrowded pitch. players walking around, and terrified to loose possession when in control of the ball, very little kicking of the ball. I think it has become very cynical and dirty as well, then you hear about the sledging etc

Davys Fits · 12-09-2020 11:28am

People complain about hoofing the ball aimlessly into the forwards being not nice to watch. Is handapssing the ball out of defence attractive to watch? At least a hoof refers to a foot kick. Gaelic football resembles basketball more than any other sport I know. The ball just gets handpasses up and down the field until such time as someone is close enough to kick for a score or the opposition wins it back and repeat.
The hanspass is the rot of Gaelic football and to a lesser extent hurling. Its too easy, allows players to run all day long and is desperate to watch and does liitle to engage you. The term 'slick handpassing' makes me sick.

Gael85 · 12-09-2020 11:36am

pgj2015 wrote: »

There would still be a lot more chances created if you couldnt have your whole team in your own half.

This is the root of the problem-blanket defences. People complaining about teams closing games playing keep ball. Why doesn't opposition press instead? Nothing worse seeing a team losing with 15 bodies behind the ball and making no effort to get ball back. The blanket defence was executed perfectly by Tyrone and brought to the next level by Donegal. What is overlooked is both teams teams had brilliant inside forwards. Now you see bluffers at county and club level copying and pasting same game plan when don't have the quality of player to carry out the task.

Dyr · 12-09-2020 11:43am

I'd sooner see 13 v 13 than all sorts of situational and positional rules that would turn it into rugby, a bit more space for players to run into might open it up more for foot passing

as for the "handpass" that players get away with now in hurling, its turning into rugby with sticks, you might as well ban the forward handpass and be done with it.

Davys Fits · 12-09-2020 11:51am

Bambi wrote: »

as for the "handpass" that players get away with now in hurling, its turning into rugby with sticks, you might as well ban the forward handpass and be done with it.

Is there really an argument that throwing a ball is any less skillful than hand passing the ball legitimately? Not much Id say, get rid of it altogether or limit it to one for both codes.

12-09-2020 11:56am

There’s not a thing wrong with football. The OP was completely incorrect about it anyway, either that or they woke up the other day and it was 2016.

Dyr · 12-09-2020 12:00pm

Davys Fits wrote: »

Is there really an argument that throwing a ball is any less skillful than hand passing the ball legitimately? Not much Id say, get rid of it altogether or limit it to one for both codes.

handpass was made to be more difficult and less effective than throwing the sliotar because no one wants to see it been flung around

The idea that if you recieve a handpass then you cannot handpass yourself is a good one, would encourage even more dragging and pulling though

pgj2015 · 12-09-2020 1:55pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

There’s not a thing wrong with football. The OP was completely incorrect about it anyway, either that or they woke up the other day and it was 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_8hEQ0MWTw

This sums it up.

12-09-2020 2:03pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_8hEQ0MWTw

This sums it up.

It really doesn’t though.

pgj2015 · 12-09-2020 2:15pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

It really doesn’t though.

it does, its rubbish now. apart from dublin, mayo and kerry, you couldnt pay me to go watch a match.

12-09-2020 2:16pm

That’s fine, don’t go or don’t watch then. It certainly isn’t as portrayed in that “comedy” video above though.

doc_17 · 12-09-2020 2:19pm

This sh1t comes up all the time and Dublin seem to be exempt from criticism. Nobody is better at getting men behind the ball than Dublin. Nobody.

Their attacking play as a unit is what sets them apart. And the home advantage.

pgj2015 · 12-09-2020 2:25pm

doc_17 wrote: »

This sh1t comes up all the time and Dublin seem to be exempt from criticism. Nobody is better at getting men behind the ball than Dublin. Nobody.

Their attacking play as a unit is what sets them apart. And the home advantage.

Dublin don't need to have everyone behind the ball, they do it the odd time but most of the time they play great football to watch.

RedDevil55 · 12-09-2020 2:27pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_8hEQ0MWTw

This sums it up.

In general, football is higher scoring than ever at the moment. Even at club level in Mayo this year, teams are putting up 17 or 18 scores regularly in a 60 minute game.

It's all down to personal choice at the end of the day. I've very little interest in hurling. The all Ireland semi-finals and final is all I watch usually in hurling but any televised league or championship football game I'd always watch.

12-09-2020 2:52pm

RedDevil55 wrote: »

In general, football is higher scoring than ever at the moment. Even at club level in Mayo this year, teams are putting up 17 or 18 scores regularly in a 60 minute game.

It's all down to personal choice at the end of the day. I've very little interest in hurling. The all Ireland semi-finals and final is all I watch usually in hurling but any televised league or championship football game I'd always watch.

Exactly. It’s like they’ve just seen the Pat Spillane puke clip, mistakenly thought it was today, and ran with it. Seriously out of touch with current football.

KIB4Life · 12-09-2020 8:21pm

Gael85 wrote: »

This is the root of the problem-blanket defences. People complaining about teams closing games playing keep ball. Why doesn't opposition press instead? Nothing worse seeing a team losing with 15 bodies behind the ball and making no effort to get ball back. The blanket defence was executed perfectly by Tyrone and brought to the next level by Donegal. What is overlooked is both teams teams had brilliant inside forwards. Now you see bluffers at county and club level copying and pasting same game plan when don't have the quality of player to carry out the task.

Tyrone’s team of the 2000’s I feel get unfair criticism mainly because of what Spillane said and he has even back tracked on what he said about the puke football. They put pressure on teams higher up the field and if teams were slow with their build up or slow in possession there would be three or four Tyrone players around swarming the man in possession.

They had some brilliant forwards in the likes of Dooher, McGuigan, Cavanagh could switch from midfield into the forwards, O’Neill, Canavan Mulligan, then they had the likes of Ryan Mellon who could do a decent job in the half forward. That’s one of the best forward lines man for man and in terms of balance that has ever been in the GAA and was one of the main reasons why they won their All Ireland’s.

As well as this they had some brilliant man marking defenders in the likes of Gormley and Joe and Justin McMahon as well as the bould Ricey. One thing their defenders also liked to do was attack and could score and put the forward on the back foot by forcing the forward up the field to track them.

As for this thread I think football is evolving and turning back around to a more attacking game it’s is very possession based but that doesn’t make it boring in my opinion. Anyway I enjoy Football and enjoy lots of sports and I think this sport bashing is kinda sad saying oh why do people still attend football games, the reality is that people are dying to see a football game with no one allowed into game. My club were playing in the county semi final today and I would have paid €100 to go in and watch the game live in person.

shockframe · 12-09-2020 10:13pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

There’s not a thing wrong with football. The OP was completely incorrect about it anyway, either that or they woke up the other day and it was 2016.

Topic brought up after 2 years of top class games and players.

And right in the middle of a remarkable club season.

Ain't no pleasing some

Billy Ocean · 13-09-2020 12:53am

Donegal's 1-13-1 formation in 2011 against Dublin was the biggest threat to football in the last 20 years, you do get an odd horror of a game like all sports but i think its improved a bit in recent years as teams realised that conservative approach only gets you so far and why in my opinion Tyrone won't win an all ireland once Harte is the manager. Personal choice but amazes me how some people find football more entertaining than hurling.

mickdw · 13-09-2020 1:05am

Billy Ocean wrote: »

Donegal's 1-13-1 formation in 2011 against Dublin was the biggest threat to football in the last 20 years, you do get an odd horror of a game like all sports but i think its improved a bit in recent years as teams realised that conservative approach only gets you so far and why in my opinion Tyrone won't win an all ireland once Harte is the manager. Personal choice but amazes me how some people find football more entertaining than hurling.

Jesus, i couldnt watch hurling. Its just alien to us around these parts. If you have played football yet never held a hurl, its easy to see how football could be favoured

PTH2009 · 13-09-2020 1:21am

mickdw wrote: »

Jesus, i couldnt watch hurling. Its just alien to us around these parts. If you have played football yet never held a hurl, its easy to see how football could be favoured

saying that Hurling is still played in so called Football counties. Cavan recently started back fielding a senior hurling team and Tyrone and Donegal have appeared in a few third tier finals (Nicky Rackard Cup). A lot of Ulster teams in Divs 2 and 3 of the NHL. I doubt there's that many who attend the NHL games from Ulster/footballing counties

Billy Ocean · 13-09-2020 1:32am

PTH2009 wrote: »

saying that Hurling is still played in so called Football counties. Cavan recently started back fielding a senior hurling team and Tyrone and Donegal have appeared in a few third tier finals (Nicky Rackard Cup). A lot of Ulster teams in Divs 2 and 3 of the NHL. I doubt there's that many who attend the NHL games from Ulster/footballing counties

Arguably the glens of antrim is the most passionate hurling area on the island

PTH2009 · 13-09-2020 1:44am

Billy Ocean wrote: »

Arguably the glens of antrim is the most passionate hurling area on the island

yeah the hurling club championships in Antrim always seem really competitive and they really put it up to other clubs around the country. Outside of Antrim a few hurling clubs from Down and Derry have done well in the Prov/All Ireland championships

Dunloy Beat a good Mount Sion team in 2003, Cushendall often had the beating of Leinster/Munster champions and very unlucky not to get over the line. Loughgiel Shamrocks won the AI senior club in 2012

Billy Ocean · 13-09-2020 1:46am

PTH2009 wrote: »

yeah the hurling club championships in Antrim always seem really competitive and they really put it up to other clubs around the country. Outside of Antrim a few hurling clubs from Down and Derry have done well in the Prov/All Ireland championships

Dunloy Beat a good Mount Sion team in 2003, Cushendall often had the beating of Leinster/Munster champions and very unlucky not to get over the line. Loughgiel Shamrocks won the AI senior club in 2012

On Derry, Slaughtneil gave ballyhale they're fill of it last January in All Ireland Semi Final

Hesh's Umpire · 13-09-2020 8:58am

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

It really doesn’t though.

To be fair, if he's resorting to a Rorys Stories video as evidence, it's a pretty tenuous argument!

why do people still go to gaelic football games?

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