Mayo GAA Discussion

I'd actually love to see him used as an impact sub*. I just don't like (lazy) journalism/comments making it look like an open and shut case (even if a majority might agree with it), not discussing the nuances of it or pointing out failings/facts that aren't true (Suggesting Aidan going out for throw ups is Aidan showing he doesn't want to play full-forward is farcicle stuff. That's a management call based around giving us the greatest opportunity for possession/scoring. Nothing to do with Aidan's playing preferences at midfield/FF). Seeing people writing off a player in February who was probably the club player of the year just gone (kicking all sorts of frees in the process), was right up there in the top 3 as Mayo player of the year last year and has only just returned from holidays and still not near top gear is just odd to me.

Lots of reasons not to want Aidan starting. Maximising his potential late on (ageing legs take a serious toll) and introducing more movement/pace into the forward line two big ones but the biggest for me is using him can weaken us defensively at times. Ironically enough, when this was one of Aidan's strengths for the vast majority of his career.

Last year when we were coughing up numerous goal chances they were coming from a large variety of sources. Part of that was familiarising ourselves with a new defensive system, part was the system itself being demanding and relatively unforgiving to mistakes and part was individual errors. The most common of the individual errors was Aidan getting breached around the middle (Conor Loftus' lack of defensive strengths/pace at CHB second by a distance and both of those well clear of any other repeated cause), causing an overload chain along the lines we'd then need our scramble defence to cover which wasn't working out often enough (having 2 of Coen and Loftus lacking some pace probably didn't help there either so you'd hope we'd be closing more of those doors this year regardless). We haven't seen it yet in Salthill or Castlebar so perhaps they've made steps to resolve it but I'd fear it's still a major issue we have with Aidan at full forward. If we're going to use him there I'd like to see us locking him on the edge of the square and giving the opposition the question of what to do with that rather than giving them a (relatively) easy breach around the middle.

Any discussion of whether we do or don't play him, especially one from a journalist in a newspaper, should be (even briefly) looking at the pros too, something that editorial badly lacked. When used properly in there, Aidan is our most potent attacking threat. He won't score 1-6 a game like Cillian/Ryan and often won't score 2 or 3 like Tommy or Jordan.... but he's currently looking (still) our best bet of getting those lads putting up those scores and the best option to maximise our overall scoring.

He requires a fairly specific matchup that often pushes teams to break up their normal defensive unit. He causes them to have to tweak other defensive plans (instead of a sweeper sitting on the D it now has to be 15 yards deeper or they need a 2nd sweeper) or risk getting taken apart as many experienced last year in the league (easily could have happened against Dublin too if he hadn't uncharacteristically fumbled a few and others weren't poorly kicked straight to a sweeper when a ball was never on). Sure, lots of games he might/will get swallowed up in there with bodies... but at that point it's up to the lads not being swamped to make hay. Something for lads like Tommy/Jordan/Jack/Bob/Diarmuid/Paddy/Sam or 'the team' to capitalise on.

*The most important part of discussions about not using him for frees or not using him at FF is who you're replacing him with. I've said it in the past, anyone calling for someone to be dropped and not giving the specific change they'd like to see is being disingenuous at best.

Until we see one of Carr (pace & direct running to beat 1v1s & create overloads), McHale (probably offering the most creativity to potentially unlock goal chances for others) or CO'C (longer range shooting) lay down a claim to the jersey (Cillian you'd imagine the closest but yet to recapture form at club or county since his injury - he looked bright & seemed to cause problems in the brief cameo against Dublin.... hard to know whether the multiple misses will spur him on or sap his confidence further. 50/50 but you'd imagine he's mentally strong enough for it to be a motivation) it's hard to justify calls for dropping Aidan. We absolutely need to try the lads in there (at least when they're back fully fit) but we should be looking for them to stand up and make themselves a must pick rather than attempting to attack the confidence of who's currently in there.

Your reply is so long winded and contradictory that it's difficult to reply to. You said in the first line that you'd love to see Aidan as an impact sub. Well that's what Laffey and myself are saying. But later on you say it's hard to justify dropping him. And giving an opinion on whether he should start or be on the bench is not attacking his confidence. Its just an opinion on team selection. Otherwise by the same yardstick you would be accused of attacking the confidence of conor Loftus - which you clearly weren't.

Also after all the managers he has played under over 14 years there is little need for pros and cons 'nuance'. Your views remind me of Billy Joe Paddens repeated opinion that managements are not using Aidan correctly. Well that ship has sailed but its still the discussion for some.

Gerald’s won by two . I seen their Junior team win Connacht before Xmas. They have some savage forwards

Its 2024, and many "elite" GAA county's are forking out incredible sums on backroom staff.. (border-line professional level)

We are splashing out 300k on a pitch that was waterlogged inside 12 months of completion ;-), Media room was also leaking water, tripping electricity,

(No accountability or breakdown of where the money actually was spent ) ... but gradually adding a few hundred plastic seats every season until completion would financially tip us over the edge somehow .... so now our fans have to suck it up for previous past mistakes , and sit our Backsides on Wet Concrete & Moss on a Winter night.

Where's the ambition , or should i say a common sense approach ?

We are letting these Crooks away with murder because we allow them.

The debt is such a noose around the neck of any plans for progress. We are in danger of falling behind in terms of stadium improvements and playing/coaching facilities.

In contrast Galway are looking to build a centre excellence at the former Galway airport site. And that's in addition to the Renville development announced last year.

https://hoganstand.com/article/index/330627

https://www.galwaybeo.ie/sport/gaa/galway-gaa-getting-sports-centre-8280335

They have their issues but at least they have stuff in the pipeline.

The Galway Airport thing will not happen.

Wasn't Pat Mc Donagh wondering where the money was going a while back?

I'd have to imagine they're talking about the stuff back in 2019.

They've since singed a new 5 year deal in 2022 so can't imagine McDonagh's issues were too serious.

Are there any other 'county' grounds in Mayo when you take McHale Park out of it? Or are the rest of them club grounds? It always surprised me that Mayo didnt have their own training complex for their county teams to train in. I think that should probably be the priority in Mayo rather than doing anything to McHale Park right now

McHale Park itself was a club ground until recently enough, it wasn't until the mid 2000's iirc that Mayo GAA took out a long term lease / control imo.

And no other grounds, no. Until they got control of McHale Park, the chaos of the Mayo team "finding a pitch to train on" was a fairly regular thing iirc. I certainly remember it from my youth in the 90's.

Pretty sure that Tuam, Athenry and Ballinalsoe are not independent of the local clubs.

Ballina would be on a par with Ballinasloe and Athenry I'd say.

Tuam and Athenry are, with the local clubs having their own separate facilities. Not sure about Ballinasloe.

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Apart from Ruane,Durcan that Looks close to what Mayo will be starting with come championship time. Maybe a role in the team for Sam Callinan, Rory Brickenden but watching both in action on Wednesday in the Sigerson cup final I don't think it would be wise to play them at 3 or 6.