GALWAY MANAGER Pádraic Joyce is confident the Tribesmen have developed an edge in their play to capture the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time since he won his second All-Ireland title in 2001.
A mean defence which has only conceded one goal in nine championship matches and an ability to carve out wins in tight games against the likes of Dublin, Mayo and Donegal is testimony to the way Galway have strengthened since going down to Kerry in the All-Ireland final two years ago.
“We looked to get a bit more of an edge into Galway,” said Joyce. “We would probably have been seen as something of a soft centre over the years but I think the lads have proven in the last couple of years that there is a good edge to them and they can mix the game either way they want.
“Even when I played myself in my own time we lost a lot of games by a point coming down the stretch with teams we shouldn’t be losing to, but we did. And I think teams have been pressing, ‘let’s get Galway down the stretch and they will wilt or they will fold’, but thankfully I think that perception is gone now because we have gone down the stretch, particularly this year, with some of the top teams in the country and we stuck it out.’
Joyce said it has become more and more difficult for the management team to select the starting side and after an injury-stricken league campaign gave an abundance of opportunities to the extended squad, the Galway manager was straight up about the task they face making selections.
“Very difficult,” he added. ‘I’d be getting phone calls as to ‘why I’m not on and why I should be on’ which is great. Over the years you wouldn’t get as many of them but the lads themselves know that it is really hard.
“John Daly was an All-Star centre-back two years ago, Kieran Molloy should have got an All-Star. They can’t even make the six at the back at the minute. It’s great. Brilliant competition in the squad and brilliant for management but, have to say, the lads understand that and realise that but there is still great competitiveness there. When the lads are playing, those that aren’t will shake their hands and wish them well.”
Joyce is now in his fifth year in charge of the Tribesmen. This is their second All-Ireland final appearance. He played in four of them, including the draw and loss to Kerry in 2000, along with the wins over Kildare in 1998 and Meath in 2001.
He has 39 players in the squad and a backroom team of 23. So, which is easier or, perhaps more aptly, which is less difficult, playing or managing?
“It’s easier as a player because you only worry about yourself. Management you have to worry about the 62 people that are involved in the whole squad, getting everyone there logistically, where you go, where you stay.
“Every decision will come back down to me but we are lucky that we have a great logistics man in Sean Rhatigan who looks after a lot of it but between the two of us we will get it right.”
The delusion continues
You stay as long as you want Brendan. Another 26 years would be great.
“I will do my best with what I am working”. because what youre working with had nothing to do with you? jog on.
I cringe every time I hear or read anything out of Rodgers’ mouth now. He has lost his way as a coach. The fans that he didn’t lose after Stoke are now beginning to turn on him.The media smells blood, and will keep putting the boot in.
Even if he wins the Derby, and the games after that, he is now only ever one or two defeats from “crisis”.
Sooner or later, Rodgers’ had to go – and it is probably sooner.
The big question in the media is “who replaces Rodgers?”. A bigger, more relevant question is: who in the LFC hierarchy is qualified to make the decision on who replaces Rodgers? The answer, fatally for Liverpool fans’ ambitions, is no-one. That’s a much bigger problem, and a harder one to resolve.
big sam is the man or Tony Mowbray
so much money spent and they are rebuilding again? id be pretty pissed and start with sacking this bluffer.
Only reason he is still in a job is because the Board haven’t agreed a deal yet with anyone else to manage the club. Dead man walking is Rodgers.
Totally agree that he is a dead man walking – everyone knows it.
Here’s the thing, though: who on the board knows anything about football? Henry and Werner don’t. Ayre is a commercial guy, really, with limited clout. Mike Gordon seems to be FSG’s “LFC guy” – he is a hedge fund manager. That leaves Dalgleish, if he is even involved.
I’m sure they have a few former players on the other end of a phone if they need advice, there intelligent people the yanks, the thing about them is, if they don’t understand something they will always seek out information off people to find out. It’s a business for them. I’d let Rodgers go and bring in Kenny and Carra for the interim and write off this season, if it’s not possible to get a Klopp or Ancelotti now.
Look at recent history of managers. Rodgers Hodgson Kenny. Ancelotti is to expensive maybe 6 or 7 mill a year. I just don’t see fsg spending the dough on a manager.
The big problem is a lack of vision. FSG bought LFC because it was going cheap, but they never had – and still don’t seem to have – a strategy for the club, apart from “sell it at a profit”.
Klopp, Ancelotti – even Guardiola! – won’t win anything at LFC until the vision and institutional leadership is sorted out. That, and increasing the wage bill, are necessary if LFC is to compete for anything ever again.
Should of gone last season but offered his backroom instead
Rumour is he’s gone by the end of October.
Have.
I think he should be worried… This Liverpool looks worst the last year and this time he cannot blame Balotelli…
Loads of stories coming out over twitter Yesterday evening, can’t see him being there come the end of the month.
Lose tomorrow, and he’ll be gone Monday
gone next week anyway if the rumours are true