Donegal GAA Discussion Thread

Got entirely what they deserved. Nothing.

Bonner should be sacked before getting back to Donegal. A disgrace.

Donegal are a poorly coached team. No pace to their play all year.

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.

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.

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

GUBU

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.

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.

Who do people think would be a good choice as manager. They need to get it right which will be no easy task.

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.

More like this needed.

Big Hugh has struggled for a while now.

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.

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.