KERRY FOOTBALLER DARRAN O’Sullivan insists he would prefer to lose with his county sticking to their traditional football principles rather than conforming to the defensive and tactical style that is becoming more prevalent in the modern game.
O’Sullivan and his Kerry teammates saw their 2012 campaign grind to a halt with last Sunday week’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Donegal and while the Glenbeigh-Glencar attacker is adamant that his comments are not sour grapes, he does reason that ‘the best footballers aren’t the best players any more’.
“It’s football and I don’t know is it being played in the right way. People will take that up as sour grapes and that we can’t move with the times. People will say you’re only slating Donegal but I have a lot of respect for them. They are a good team and they have brought their game to a whole new level. Their fitness was phenomenal the last day.
“The only reason I play football is because I enjoy it. I couldn’t see me playing with another county that plays less free-flowing football. I wouldn’t enjoy being told to stay back. That’s not what I do. I would rather see a game 22 points to 21 with good scores.
“I would always maintain that Kerry would pick their best footballers because that is the way it is. The Kerry public are demanding that way. They want football played the right way and I don’t think they would accept it if that changed and that is fair enough. I would agree with that because I am a Kerry fan at the end of the day as well.”
“But the game has changed. The best footballers aren’t the best players any more. The best players are the guys who can run and run. If you look at players nowadays, they are pure athletes. The basic skills are being let behind a small bit. I’m not saying anything bad. It’s about winning; do it whatever way you can. But from a spectator’s point of view I can’t imagine it’s the nicest thing to watch having so many men behind the ball.
“Wing-forward is a very hard place to play at the moment. It is very demanding, physically. There are not many wing-forwards that play 70 minutes all the time. You have to be extremely fit. I love training with Kerry. Playing the games is a bit different, it’s gone very tactical now which is fine but it’s more about spoiling now. A lot of teams go out more to stop teams rather than playing themselves.”
As regards the outcome of this year’s championship, O’Sullivan feels Cork are best placed to triumph.
“I just think Cork are the best team out there. At the moment they are the only team who can do both. They can do the running game and the kicking game. But if Donegal won I wouldn’t be one bit surprised.”
O’Sullivan was speaking yesterday in Croke Park at the launch of Ulster Bank GAA Force is an initiative which supports local GAA clubs across the country by offering them the chance to win support packages to refurbish and upgrade their facilities. The overall winner will receive a package worth €25,000, with four runners up (one from each province) receiving € 5,000 each. Ulster Bank, Official Sponsor of the GAA Football All-Ireland Championship, is now calling on clubs to register for this year’s competition on www.ulsterbank.com/gaa.
You could sign Ronaldo, Messi, Ramos, and Neymar and Mbapee and United would still be sat mid table. As long as they have a manager who refuses to play football and who also sets up teams to draw matche or grab a one nil win, United will not go anywhere. They have a serious squad of talent if used the right way. Sanchez, Pogba and Fred have not become bad players
@Philip Morgan: Draconian football. Game has moved on since his unreal achievement at Inter. Klopp and Pep have moved with it. José won’t. How a team with Martial Mata Fred Pogba Matic De Gea Valencia Rashford Sanchez Lukaku etc are where they are is not baffling. It’s obvious. It’s José. Simple as that. Imagine how someone like Eddie Howe would have that team playing.
@Mike Lyn: Eddie Howe, now there’s a name I never thought of. Young manager with lots of experience, and plays quality football. Always sets up his teams positively and players play for him.
@Conor M: Bang on. Perfect fit only for, would he be given time frame ,and capable of managing big egos. He is a class act. Conducts himself impeccably all the time, win lose or draw.
The same could be said about Fabinho at Liverpool. He has looked very average in the handful of games he has played in and you don’t hear anyone giving out about Klopp over it.
Most players need time to settle in. Next season we will see how good Fred is, that’s if he is still there.
@Maureen: Of course he will be there unless you’re going to buy him are you ?
@Mike Lyn: Well the likes of Falcao and Di Maria didn’t last long at United. It wouldnt be much of a surprise if he was flogged off at the end of the season if his form doesn’t improve soon. It seems to be the United way lately both on and off the field!
@Maureen: ah will he go on off with yourself using rational arguments this is a United article
I imagine the chasm between the Ukranian league and the Premier league is significant never mind coming into a team that is out of sorts. In my eyes it is harsh to judge him until next season. If United were playing well judgements might be made sooner. He’s also suffering from the fact he was the only big signing United made this window and everybody including his manager keeps going on about what a disappointing window it has been.
We’ll learn a lot from Mourinho if he throws Lukaku back in on a regular basis when he’s fit. It’s then when we know if he knows what he’s doing. Fred is nowhere near worth 50m but he’s not had the chance. I’m personally not expecting a lot from him. This lad could easily be another Djemba Djemba.
@Simon Doherty: for you a pool jersey for Xmas kid.
@Shane Doherty: Thanks Dad.
@Simon Doherty: what’s wrong with that
Ya tosspot
There’s a number of things you can blame Mourinho for at Utd; his inability to play attacking football, his inability to get the best out of Lukaku, Pogba and Sanchez, making Ashley Young captain, his ongoing moaning about not being able to sign more players despite spending a fortune, but you can’t complain about a new signing being integrated into a team that’s struggling!
Waste of money.
Gary good player respect you as a player but as a man united fan his opinions are just wrong