A big ask for both Mayo sides to go up there and come away with wins.
The Ladies team has disappointed greatly and while it is obviously a young squad bereft of leadership and experience, I'm afraid McHales appointment and all the hassle and negativity around it, has flowed over into the squad. Some elders walked away, others were told to walk away, while some talented but extremely inexperienced players have been thrown into a situation where they are out of their depth. Not a great environment for young players to develop in.
As for the lads, I stick by what I have said in previous posts. Blood the newer lads, stick with them, ditch the lads we know are not good enough or don't offer anything different, slowly work our most important players back to fitness. The only date that should be pinned up on the dressing wall is May 4th, Connaught Final Sunday. THAT must be the aim. No other date matters. The aim must be to have a fully fit squad in full contact training by the Sligo tie in April, then step it up to May 4th. Win that final and no one will give a shite where we finished up in this years league.

Apologies for the very long post….

BJP at around 28 mins on the most recent podcast made the exact same point I tried to make after last weekends match but it got lost in the understandable avalanche of frustration on the blog!

IMO it’s an interesting one and a very important one. Mayo in an attacking sense look far too focussed on the 2 point rule, the arc. There’s way too much obsession with it.

As if it’s now something you have to take into account that influences your attacking strategy instead of recognising the golden opportunity the new rules present from a ‘space’ perspective. The fact that the opposition cannot bring everyone back creats greater space…BUT only in the initial stages of an attack, where there are excellent opportunities for overlaps if a team is brave enough to move quickly and with intent. Any lateral stuff, which Mayo are very clearly still doing, and we are back to a slow ‘drab & crab’ attacking situation like we saw last weekend in C’bar, because now the opposition have their quota fully back and it’s 12 v 12 (or 13 if you’ve the keeper up but which to date that doesn’t appear much of an advantage to Mayo). When you turn over a team OR win a kickout in midfield (not short), the new rules now mean that there is far greater space to exploit. Mayo have ignored this. Moreover, our team look like we’re seeing the arc as some magic line. I say, forget about the arc. Pretend it’s not there, unless circumstances dictate that a 2 pointer is essential. Just to note, you have to be conscious of it from a defensive perspective.

Furthermore we don’t have the natural long range shooters, certainly not as many as other teams. We just don’t. People can talk about lads coming back and sure, some of them can on their day can kick a boomer, but on all known form over the past few years it’s not something we’ve seen. In fact we’ve seen the opposite - a reluctance to shoot. Like it’s drilled out of them until the perfect moment appears, which it very rarely does. Now in 2025 we are relying on the same lads to start launching scuds. I just don’t see it as being a good approach for Mayo. Not at all. We’ll have no success from it.

We need to take a Blitzkrieg approach! Similar to what BJP pointed out. Hit the opposition fast and often. It’s just seems an absolute NO-Brainer for me. That’s what’s so frustrating about Mayo at the moment (and it’s not just this year). Ok we won’t score all the time but we’ll create a hell of a lot more opportunities and importantly, easier ones to convert. Donegal are doing it, as are others with more shrewd tactics. You’ll see more goals and more straightforward points will be scored and we’ll do it fast. If I was McStay I’d be implementing a ‘shot clock’ at trainings. Get the lads into a system that increases the chances of success in attack and when the opponent is most vulnerable to it. It’s so obvious. Why aren’t we doing it??? What’s worse is we have the players with speed to implement it!! Ok it’s better if we can kick the ball 30 yards upfield but if we opt to play a running game, we have EMcL, Hession, Tommy (when he’s back)! These are lads who strike fear into defences with their running threat. Even Ruane and Flynn. They are good moving forward with the ball but only in a fast game. These boys are far less effective when play slows down. Mattie looks like an average club player at best in a slow game. Whereas he can look like one of the top intercounty midfielders in the country when the game is open, fast, end to end. An ideal landscape for him to flourish. But Mayo arent playing this way. We have a daft strategy of having Stevie C or McBrien charge up field! All that does is block space for our forwards AND burn up energy in our defenders which is detrimental. I’m not saying McB shouldn’t be used on occasion in attack. He proved last year he can be very effective, but bursting through in a lightening attack.

Management clearly aren’t utilising their resources correctly. That’s just so plain to see. Our strategy is arseways. The players couldn’t be enjoying it. Some have walked away. Supporters have walked away. We are at a low ebb, but with a change of tactics, it could be enormously different. Talk of key players coming back. Yes that’s good news but it won’t make any difference if we continue with current strategy and approach.

Most are completely ruling out Mayo of having any sniff of an All Ireland this year. That’s a terrible indictment of the current set up. However, it’s understandable based on what we have seen on the pitch, the mood and lack of wins over the past 18 months. But I actually believe, and I really do, that if we had a different strategy and approach that we could win it this year. We have players that have some excellent attributes. Morale just seems totally shot. The system is broken.

I was a vocal fan of the current management getting the gig 3 years ago and I hate saying it but I just don’t see any progression. I can’t point to any positives and I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel unless they completely change things. We need a complete shift in strategy and mental approach.

This stuff too about a Connacht Title being a progressive year? Seriously folks. We should be aiming way higher! Yeah, it’s nice to win but if we end this year and all we have to show for it is the Nestor Cup, then for me that’s another failed season.

If we had Jimmy McGuinness or someone with his mentality do you think we’d be thinking small? No we wouldn’t. Donegal 2 years looked like Mayo do now. They are now one of the top teams around. It’s ample evidence of how crucial it is to have the right manager. It all comes ‘from the top’. McGuinness is lauded as a genius tactician. All he actually does is make things simple. But that simplicity is why he’s brilliant. He doesn’t overcomplicate. His players play with massive belief and with a clear gameplan. Galway, credit to them, have been doing the same the past few seasons. They are the two best teams at the moment for me. I’m not saying they have the best panel of players but their respective management’s are currently maximising what they have to work with, or close to it and that’s a managers job.

Meanwhile, Mayo look lost and confused…on the pitch….on the line…in the stands and terraces.

Why the big secret about us naming our squad, full panel with starting team ? I know the excuse about injuries etc. and one or max two changes could be expected....but it doesn't help or encourage supporters who are planning to travel tomorrow if we don't get visibility to what squad is available....

Good points Mayo, but I think we all fall into the same trap every single year, take a single weekend of league football and project what we've seen out to the end of July. Pundits across the board are the same and I love it but it's not at all accurate. I don't think Kevin and the team care about this year's league, they will be well aware that this year it's shit or get off the pot, that pot is the AI championship. So my expectation is we'll see a very different Mayo from April.

Sorry I don't have any time for we'll see a very different Mayo in summer.
That's just blind hope.
We should already be showing some semblance of at least a running game attacking strategy?

Excellent post Mayonaze, hard to disagree with a word of it.
Patience is gone, frustration is mounting. Results, and more importantly in the league, performances need to improve quickly.
You Three, I don't think Mayonaze is basing his post on last weekend - there's at least last year to look at the same approach.
What makes it even worse now is that we're still following same approach despite the new rules.

Under the old rules, okay, maybe we can make a case somehow our most effective strategy.
But.
How are you to limit the opposition score less than ours with these tactics?
The opposition have the 2pter and more space and the solo and go.
Sumner scorelines are going to be 18pts minimum. Yer not going to be winning games with 17pts.

Fair enough, but if I were in their position I would put zero effort into league performance/position as when the AI exit hits, no one cares about it. Their performance will solely be based on championship. If it all falls apart, folks look back to the league(but that's a game they can't win, lost an AI because they went too hard/soft in league is interchangeable). Don't get me wrong, my eyeballs hurt last weekend but as a supporter my job is to support and I'll back the team to the hilt

@Mayonaze, long but very good post. I agree with you on every point other then the mgmt one getting the gig 3 years ago. I thought at the time, a fresh face was needed, someone who knows the club game really well to bring through 2/3 more players to add to a squad that was strong at the time. Personally Dempsey imo had the best team, but unfortunately now we will never know. One thing I was very confident of, when players hear the same voices over and over again (Rochford & Buckley) the message and drive goes very stale. Not to mention the lack of players being developed and the S&C has set us back for the next management team.

I think the next manager shouldn’t be a big name, for the sake of it. The IC experience that got this current mgmt the job has had nothing but a negative impact on the team, and reflects shocking bad on our chairman who doesn’t know what’s needed.

I think the next mayo manager has to come from the club scene, who knows where the talent is in the county, or at least where it could be developed. The next manager has a full rebuild job on their hands, and will have it far harder than McStay has. Personally one of Heffernin/Dempsey/Deane should be next manager, but unfortunately they aren’t “sexy” names.

Brilliant post Mayonaze! Very well written. Billy Joe's point on Donegal really made sense to me too.

Mayonaze, so if a Connaught title win alone represents failure in your book, what would represent success? Because if you think we are anything other than a top 8 to 4 side then you are deluded. Nothing we have produced in the last 2 years suggests we're a top 4 team. That's not harsh criticism, that's just reality. We're behind Galway, Dublin, Kerry, Donegal, Derry, and a fully stacked Tyrone. On our day we could beat any of those, but we wouldn't be favourites in any game v them. In truth, if we played Roscommon in the morning I think they'd beat us.
That's why it's all on May 4th for me. Win that, get top seed with a fair chance to progress to the last 8. With this squad and management, that's success in my book.

But a top 8 team should aim at winning Sam is the point, a reasonable one I think.

Any of the top 8 can win sam.

We should be aiming to win sam every year.

We lost to Derry on penalties last year who won the league and for a good while were big favourites for sam until they ran out of gas.

We lost to Galway by a fluke of a point ( though we lost that game ourselves to by letting go of the lead we had)

I don't think we will win sam this year but thats because our guys are not playing to their 100% potential and thats down to management and our awful hand passing and refusing to kick pass.

When we have our full deck and everyone playing to their potential we are a top 6 team sort out management and start kicking the bloody ball forward and we can match any team the guys have lost their confidence. Again management there.

If we don't at least get to a semi this year sorry but need a change of management.

@JP, exactly.

Pebbles, the point I’m making is that in my opinion, we have sufficient quality players to mount a decent chance at it. I think most would agree that ‘on our day’ Mayo could beat anyone. If that’s the case then we should have a chance at an All Ireland. Who gave Armagh a chance last year? But I’m not just basing the point on them. Two years ago most in the country would have ranked our squad stronger than Donegals. Personnel hasn’t changed drastically, but yet we’ve really slipped down the pecking order for most. As a result, expectations from supporters has plummeted with some now content with a provincial title. I’m not. I doubt the players are either. The reason we’ve dropped off is down to poor form, poor strategy and to a degree, baffling team selections/substitutions. The majority of players form has plateaued or regressed.

It’s not deluded to think that a change of strategy could significantly alter where Mayo are at. Yes, we are a ‘top 8 team’ and like JP said, a top 8 team should be aspiring to win Sam and it’s the job of management to maximise the potential of the players they have and to concoct a strategy that maximises the chances of success. Unfortunately for us it appears they’re failing on both fronts. Like I said in my earlier msg, if we had JmcG do you think we’d be in the position we’re in? Highly unlikely. There’d be a buzz and a clear plan. Morale would be totally different. We, supporters would be excited avd there’d have been well more than 6K in Cbar last wknd!

@You Three, I’m basing my opinion on the past 18 months. When we were losing league games in 2016/17, sure we grumbled, but deep down we knew we were going to be in the shake up come August/Sept. I stood on the MacHale Road side of the pitch last Sunday and was really disappointed and underwhelmed. It’s very different. Wouldn’t mind if you could see us trying to play the right way. Fast attacking… we aren’t. It’s crab like, just like last year. We look all over the shop. I’ve always been very much that the league counts for little. I still think that but you’re looking for green shoots, some cause for optimism …I’m seeing very little…so looking at championship more with hope than any expectation. But things can change…and quickly. But will our management do what’s required?? My gut feeling is no.

@mayonaze, very valid points in both your posts.
And it doesn't take any high flying science to see the merits of the quick break tactic. If we could even mix our tactics and not be so predictable.
Hopefully, return of Durcan, Carney, a bit more from McBrein and McLaughlin and we will get motoring.
Important game on Sunday

Bonus column by Colm Boyle now available for Patreon club members. Bonus pod to come later this evening too!

Interesting post Mayonaze, some of which I agree with and some of which I don’t. So we would love to be competing for Sam but do you really think this present team are even close to the 2012- 2017 team who despite numerous opportunities and a good set up failed to achieve that desired goal. How many of the present team would have got into the 2017 team for example. I too am not fond of the possession game and lateral movement but I watched Dublin on Saturday night and that is exactly what they did against the wind whereas Kerry squandered possession against the wind. This fear of turnovers and losing the ball is frustrating for lots of us who especially enjoyed the way our teams played in that 2012 - 2017 era, but there day of the rampaging full back line a La Keith Higgins is gone and it has been replaced by pragmatism. Galway’s lack of adventure and over pragmatic approach probably cost them the AI last year. While Jimmy seems to have all the solutions at the moment it’s still only February. Finally I d be delighted to win a Connacht title this year. I never devalued them even when we were winning 5 on the spin

I'm starting a petition to have DMB re-instated as number 3 !! 25,000 signatures should get it across the line

Full back line play has completely changed with the new rules.
No safety valve for a lot of the game.
I see Kelly back at full back for Galway, a good move as their full back not great on one to one and Kelly's speed reduced by injury.

Team named.2 changes to last weeks.rod and o Shea in for towey and c.Mchale.
Actually think this is the team that will be played.hopefully mchale is brought on fairly early.
Towey and boland are both prob better coming on against tired legs

Which McHale @ CP?

Cian Mchale not starting

@towinjustonce ….our team of 12-17 would hammer the current team. But…that doesn’t mean the current squad couldn’t win the All Ireland. Our team of 12-17 would beat all the teams around now. The problem then was we came up against the greatest team of all time. We also had some rotten luck. There is no standout team now. Any one of 6-8 teams could potentially win the All Ireland. It’s open season…!

My point is that with the right system we could go really close but we aren’t set up right. Too many things going wrong. It might change. I hope like everyone here that it does.

Tyrone in 21, Kerry 22 and Armagh 24…, none of them were as strong as Mayo 16/17.

https://x.com/MayoGAA/status/1893000852706586729

Link to team named

Mayonaze potentially Mayo 16/17 were stronger than Tyrone/Armagh (21/24) and maybe Kerry (22). However they all got over the line and a big challenge arguably for us in 16/17 was holding nerve and getting over the line. If we won any all Ireland, I’d take issue with another fan coming along saying their team, that never won it, were better than us. I do agree the 16/17 team would hammer this current group unfortunately.

The issue for me is twofold. Players are not high enough quality and the management are not innovating and on the surface, are not getting max out of the team. I actually think of the Donegal Mayo league game in 23 when Mayo were flying and Donegal at a low ebb. It’s almost roles reversed just two years later.

I’m also suprised at how tetchy McStay is in the media. I used to think Horan dealt with local media with a degree of apathy and McStay with all his media knowledge appears to be down a similar path ie holding team selection, defensive response to questions

Can’t disagree with you there Mayonaze. Anyway let’s all hope for the best

@mayonaze 100% agree with your points, the best strategy for Mayo is to kick early and kick it dead. We are one of the best high pressing teams out there. With kickouts now generally 50/50 our chances of winning it and going again are great. Mayo are a hard watch now. I remember my disappointment when McStay's first comments after being appointed were about focusing on defense over attack. I'd prefer losing with style over winning with the boring brand of football we see now. But im also a Spurs supporter so losing in in my DNA?

Could make an argument we had better championships overall 13-15 , bar the replay in 15 I think that’s the truth , probably closer in 16/17 finals but crikey we were electric in 2013 especially , till the final and we should of beaten Kerry in 14 semi but no point in annoying the head I suppose . I don’t believe any of the finals and winners have been anything to get excited about since the dubs six in a row finished .

I understand peoples opinion that it can’t be classed as a rivalry cause we didn’t beat them in a final or semi from that period 13-17 but it’s been pretty drab since in terms of the pull a mayo v Dublin game had at the time . The 17 final was absolute quality .

I was in Armagh the last time we played there ,I think 2012, a lovely stadium.
I am old enough to remember going to see Mayo in the old Athletic grounds in the late Seventies or early eighties.

The last time we played there, Jr, was two years ago but I also recall being there in 2012 as well. It is a lovely stadium alright.

Blame the Whiskey.