MAYO FOOTBALL MANAGER James Horan says he has no idea how referees are going to manage with the ‘crazy’ new rules brought in for the early part of the season, but he says his side will find a way to cope.
Horan will take charge of Mayo for the first game of his second stint when they open their FBD League campaign this Sunday against Leitrim at Carrick-on-Shannon, but he admits to being concerned by the new rules.
Five new rules have been brought into the game on a trial basis, which include limiting the consecutive number of handpasses to three; the use of a sin bin; and a new forward-only sideline kick rule.
But Horan is skeptical and expects plenty of trouble for overworked referees in the games ahead.
“Let’s see how they are. Look, I wouldn’t be a fan of them. I think they’re a little bit crazy to be honest,” said Horan, who is back at the helm in Mayo after a four-year absence.
“I don’t know what we’re trying to do to referees. How they’re going to be refereed I just don’t know. You’ve seen it in quite a lot of games already where they’ve been used.
“I’m not sure what’s going to be brought in for the national league so we’ll just have to wait and see. We have to play with what’s there.
“We’ve done a little bit of work on it and we’ll make sure the players understand it. We’ll play whatever’s happening.”
This year’s FBD League will be played on a knock-out basis, with the winner of the Leitrim versus Mayo game going on to face Galway in Tuam Stadium the following Sunday in the semi-final. Sligo and Roscommon will face off in the other semi-final, with the final pencilled in for Sunday, 20 January.
Horan has inherited a very experienced panel from Stephen Rochford, but he says he is keen to see how some new players get out in an inter-county competition they’re keen to succeed in.
“We’re out to win the FBD for a start. It’s been a while since we won a competition so it’d be great to get that feeling again,” Horan told Mayo GAA TV.
“Obviously we have a number on long-term injuries, but outside that we have a very strong panel to pick from. We’ve brought in a lot of new guys to the extended panel so we are very keen to see what they can do in the FBD competition.
“And we have a number of experienced guys pushing hard because they don’t want to miss out as well.
“We are away in Carrick in the first game and we are looking at guys that are performing well in training. You’ll be starting whether you’re 17 or 36.”
Fair play to ya Chris,don’t be afraid to fail , hope Wales go all the way.
They need to scrap that poxy yellow card rule , to many players are missing huge games for silly yellow cards . That ref was trigger happy with his cards , poor Ramsey gonna miss this biggest game of gis life for an accidental handball ,bullshit
Considering the length of this tournament, should have been an amnesty by the semi’s….. Stupid rules….
Crazy that there’s no amnesty.
Yellow Cards in consecutive games should result in a one match ban….. Other than that they shouldn’t count. Very harsh. He was brilliant today…..
Agree Ryan,he should at least be able to appeal it.
Totally agree. No way should you miss a semi or final..carry it forward and maybe make it a 2 game ban for next qualifying tournament? ??-
Belgium : A country that bottles great beer and big tournaments. Fair play to Wales.
England to sign up Colman in £10 million deal.
Emotional Cookie-monster motivates an entire country. Sports people of all grades appreciate the hard work that goes into creating the winning team effort. That was a proud moment for our Celtic comrades!!
Bale vs Ronaldo Semi-final… can’t wait
Team player v me feiner
I really hope they go all the way
Portugal have really rode their luck in their last 2 games and have not been at all impressive…. Wales have every chance….. could they repeat Denmark and Greece as being underdog champions? Either way I fancy them against Portugal.
Amazing amazing achievement by Wales which kind of puts were we are as a football team into perspective. Look at how they beat Belgium- playing football & not in anyway hanging on. We on the other hand seem to have this slight sense of euphoria about the euros yet we literally can’t play football. Still long ball rubbish. The sense is that we are on the right track – we’re not. And the media is still on about how great our fans are. Some joke.
Fair play to Wales. We have vastly improved since the last tournament. no disrespect to Brady but she’s a not Bail.
damn autocorrect. Brady is not Bail
Well england were you watching…??.I rest my case!!
What case is that?