The all weather pitchs seem to divided people all right.For us its a no brainer,the better surface suits the way we play.Normally that is.The ball moves quicker an that suits us even better.Some sides we play have a tendencey to how do i put this ,leave the grass grow a bit before our games just so it makes it harder to ping the ball about.For me its a great surface to play quick flowing football,an the full size pitch allows ya to move the ball about knowing ya have plenty of space.From what iv seen an heard maybe sides who prefer a more physcial approach or even a side that has maybe older or unfit players,well i could understand there reservations about playin on it.
On the Aul managers rant,i heard Saturday Horse that it was a 3rd division player who received a call from a private number.Either way its not on.Aul managers will always divide the masses.Historically they select the majority of there players from 2 or 3 clubs an rarely look down the divisions.More often than not as well they are or have been recently envolved with clubs an can be a bit biased towards the players they know an trust,but thats their right an it may be a correct way of lookin at things if it works for them.
Clubs an moreso players over the last 10 or so years have lost the sense of value that was always attached to the honour of being selected for the Aul representitive side.In Dublin for instance a player would jump at the chance to represent his league and be deemed the best of the best to be selected,no so in the Cork Aul anymore I feel. But its not just down to the clubs an players.The Aul approach the whole thing wrong,its run cheaply.
You dont have to spend a fortune,just run it well.Its the little things that give players confidence an pride.Tracksuits,best of gear,refreshments after games an training, a simple thing like a match ball for each player during training an even more importantly training thats organaised an as close to how the pros would do it is what ya need to be aiming for. But unfortunatley for us its,a bag with 3 balls in it an a chicken supper if your lucky out in the Ardmanning,tis what we have come to expect even though it pains me to admit it.
Nobody is surprised when the unexpected or the unbeliveable happens in the Aul anymore,par for the course some may say an thats a sorry state of affairs if we are very honest with ourselves.
Originally Posted by marty
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