Is there an A/B scenario in round 2 of the qualifiers in play then where Provincial losers move to the other side? In that case your right we won't beat either of those.
We can't get Galway in a QF. Dublin or Kerry. So no SF.
Highly unlikely but if the draw went that way we would have an outside chance of a semi. I wonder at this stage if Bonner knows he's probably done would we just go for broke in the next match or matches. He may as well try something a bit different at this stage just don't know if he has it in him but playing the same way he has to realise it's over for him. An AI Semi might be the only thing to keep him there next year.
2 wins and we’d get to and AI semi. We’d need to get Galway in the QF and a handy one next weekend. It’s doable but highly unlikely.
Agree 100% with everything Nidgeweasel says there. Not going to bother posting about the match because I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said.
Re management, that's for when the season ends in the next few weeks. Never mind the relative lack of experience, but I couldn't see Kavanagh or Lacey taking over Donegal while Murphy is still playing.
Re: underage management. They are considerably worse than senior management and it is a big problem.
Anyone who has watched our minor teams in particular over the last few years will have seen the same type of nonsense in terms of zero risk, no attacking plan and negative football. And then that same manager talks about 'development' without realizing the irony of his words. Completely tone deaf. The Under 20's manager is another one who is out of his depth but at least this year that group had Eamon McGee and Leo McLoone in coaching.
We have nobody internally that I can see who is in a position to take the step up to senior management with the exception of Rory Kavanagh (who still probably needs more experience at underage county) and possibly Karl Lacey (who is a coach and not a manager). Michael Murphy cannot be the answer either so it will need to be external.
Whatever the remainder of this season may bring it is clear that Declan's time and his backroom team's time is now up. The team is drifting through games with no intensity in anything they do. We have better defenders in place this season but defensively have you ever seen a worse team with bodies back than this Donegal team? All standing there like statues as the opposition manage to waltz inside for a handy shot. If you watched Kerry against Cork and the ferociousness of their tackling and hunting the ball when Cork were on the attack - championship fettle.
Donegal sleepwalking through championship games, afraid to take on any sort of risk, afraid to go for the jugular and win games. It is shameful for a team that has good players capable of causing damage.
As for the players generally, Paddy McBrearty is not fit and he is not effective. He is not working back and he is not putting in a shift when Donegal (occasionally) try to press teams. Ryan McHugh has been completely off the boil for well over a year but consistently gets a free pass. Can never fault Hugh McFadden's work rate but he is is being targeted by the opposition. Jamie Brennan is not at the races and is not yet over his injury.
Hard to see where we go from here but it's impossible to see a turnaround with this management team based on the past few years. Declan is a great servant to Donegal football and was the right man for the job in 2017 and will be an addition somewhere else in Donegal but it can't be with the seniors.
Re: Hugh McFadden - He is not at the level and is being targeted by the opposition.
Not sure there's been much progress made on this front nearly four years on. Had hoped Rochford would shore up some of those shortcomings but that doesn't appear to be the case.
Malachy o Rourke would be a good choice imo.
Big Hugh has struggled for a while now.
Pauric didn't see this coming. He was very complementary earlier in the year when the writing was on the wall. As for the positive impact Hugh McFadden had? Man dear.
The rest of the piece is spot on. It just feels like he is late to the party.
More like this needed.
Heard Pauric McShea had a rip at the shi** we had to watch on Sunday using his Democrat article. I know Declan and the team are hurting but some things need to said. I’d like to know what Rochford makes of it? Either his coaching isn’t up to scratch or he isn’t being listened to. Either way, it’s a cost the county can’t afford.
That's it in a nutshell. Our attacking play is right from the basketball coaching manual, plays set out, lads running patterns, nothing off the cuff or instinctive. It's been this way for a while and it has been talked about on here for the last two years and still the county board sit back and leave it continue. Far too much emphasis on coaching these days, not nearly enough on playing football.
Spot on analysis. It's criminal the brand of football being inculcated in our youth. The fear in their play yesterday was so obvious. I just hope that some former players within the county have the guts to call this sh1t out.
Who do people think would be a good choice as manager. They need to get it right which will be no easy task.
We have a major issue with football in the county. The county final last year was a disgrace. Players are coached to within an inch of their lives. They are not encouraged to be creative or take risks. Heads up football is non existent. Patterns of play that are turgid and predictable have become the norm.
There is nobody in club management in the county worthy of the county manager position. Our underage county managers are as bad and possibly worse than the senior management. They are equally negative in their approach.
We have the players but robotic play is the norm across the board in the county. There is no short term fix, it is too ingrained.
Declan’s time is up. Murphy needs to play on the 45 or closer to their goal. Insane what happened yesterday with him, Rodgers took him to the cleaners and kicked 3 points from play. Michael also needs to pass on the dress from the ground. It’s a long time since I was confident watching him kick it off the ground.
I don't know is it a culture thing in Donegal where the county board are happy with mediocrity. Look at Kerry for example if you don't deliver the All Ireland within a few years you are out. Keane came after Bonner and he's gone. Bonner wouldn't survive there Donegal is a big county with good players they should always expect to be up there and go toe to toe with anyone.
Massive disappointment another one that got away. To lay the blame at the management solely is simplifying the whole process in their reappointment when their previous term came to an end the county board left a very short time frame for applications there were a number of people interested in the role but didn’t have sufficient time to put together a proper and professional application there certainly seems to be a closed shop approach. The ship sailed for this current management after the Ulster final of 2020, we have limped along since then.
Jaysus....that was hard to take. While I'm not overly surprised at the result, what annoys me the most is that we knew exactly what was in store and had zero game plan to account for it. FFS sake....3 times we put a big man in the square, Caolan McGonigle got a fisted point from one long ball but then there was none coming in. What's the point of putting a big man in the square without at least sticking a ball in there....Rodgers - 3 points from play and a MOTM performance. Playing Murphy deep (often as the last man back) was a disaster. Why not stick him back in the square and let the other forwards feed of any scraps? Paddy Mc and Jamie Brennan, two lads that should be outside the first 15. Conor O'D and Doherty worth a gamble now. Regardless of the results of the remaining games, Bonner and Rochford have to go. Be interesting to see who would throw their hat in the ring. Rory Kavanagh, Lacy? What about Ricey McMen - he might bring that bit of aggression that we're missing.?OMcFF would love to see him come in - right up his alley.
GUBU
I'm not happy with it, and furthermore I think Bonner should be gone. But hearing some of the comments after the match you'd swear Donegal have been an exclusively ultra defensive side since the Jim McGuinness days.
Mod Edit
Warinng issued.
a **** disgrace
He sacrificed the attack side to solve the rather leaky defence. High possession, Low risk going forward, which is fine against weaker teams but it is predictable... And this type of game was inevitable against an RG team
@windy shepard henderson there were some rather brutal ones when Rory Gallagher was in charge of us too, not sure I'd say worst in memory. Don't think either of us will trouble Kerry but Kildare were horrendous to be putting the dubs as back
come on , as a natural that was the worst ulster final in memory , it was brutal , dublin or kerry will devour any of either team if they meet , if donegal decide to be happy with this its a joke
Everyone seems to have forgotten that Donegal were one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the country under Bonner for a few years. Granted, its fallen apart since last year (maybe since the Cavan loss) but you'd swear reading some of the comments that donegal only know how to defend.
No ambition, no creativity, no courage. We got what we deserved. What a waste of talent.
In Bonners first year or two we were celebrated for kick outs, quick transition, had none of that today. It was like we were trying to give them time to set with the possession game plan. A Rory Gallagher team was always going to be very difficult to break down given time
The Doherty mark was about the only bit of inventive play.
