It is said the definition of stupidity is repeatedly doing the same thing expecting different results. Thankfully, the majority of society has copped onto that reality. The farmer that mows hay when there’s rain forecast generally won’t do it again, the player who goes out to partake in a match donning brand new boots absolutely won’t.
Could you confidently say the same about sports administrators not repeatedly cocking up in exactly the same way? I’d bet on a lot of things, but not that.
EXHIBIT A: RUGBY WORLD CUP
Examples here are multiple. (i) Even though Ireland still have a potentially hazardous Pool game remaining against a Scottish outfit that are becoming more obdurate and sure of themselves with every outing, talk of Ireland going to win the thing out fails to cease. Does nobody remember 2007? (ii) The small matter of the All Blacks.
Yes, France proved that they are, in fact, human, but those who have had the misfortune of crossing paths with Brodie Retalic et al since have gharishly learned the consequences of Wounded Lion Syndrome.
(iii) Expanding on the latter point, whether it be at the hands of them or not, pummellings such as the one they dished out to Italy, and we have seen other teams take – headlined by Romania failing to score in at least two matches – do nothing for the promotion and/or development of rugby.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s fantastic to see nations such as Chile and Portugal and Japan and, yes, Romania, emerging as competing nations, but, seeing the drubbings some of them have shipped would leave one to conclude that some lopsided lashings could actually be harmful to the development of the game in the countries in question.
RTE commentator Hugh Cahill was correct, I feel, in his assertion that the Brains Trust within the sport seriously need to take a closer look at Italy’s continued participation in the Six Nations Championship. No, not just because of the hammering they took from New Zealand – that has happened to better than them and will do again – but the fact is that, even at club level via Zebra and Treviso, Italian rugby has never been able to keep pace with those in whose ilk they are supposed to number. Where I would differ with the broadcaster is in his nomination of South Africa as potential replacements.
Not that the Springboks wouldn’t add zest to the competition, of course they would. However, logistically, their presence therein would surely be problematic.
My initial gut reaction was to nominate Argentina to step in for the Azzuri but they are, of course, already part of the Rugby Championship (as are the Boks) along with the All Blacks and the Wallabees.
Therefore, if World Rugby have the cajones to do something about it, the likes of Georgia or, my personal choice, Portugal, would be far more doable. Plus, after Joy Neville’s abomination of a performance as TMO in their match against Australia!
EXHIBIT B: MANCHESTER UNITED
Where does one even begin to evaluate the rocky horror show that is the ongoing mess that is Old Trafford? Seemingly devoid of leadership on the field and, as increasingly looks to be the case, off it as well.
But here’s the thing, while defenestration of Erik ten Hag will of course be a lot of people’s trigger-happy ‘solution’, though have we not been here before?
From David Moyes to Louis Van Gaal to Jose Mourinho to Ole to Ralf Ragnick and now ten Hag. Even the charade that are Chelsea have surely copped on at this stage that the revolving door policy doesn’t work.
It’s hardly coincidence that the three clubs who have had managerial stability for the most elongated period – Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool – are streets ahead of the majority of their domestic opponents. Oh, and Tottenham are a team transformed minus Harry Kane. What does that tell you?
What Manchester United need is somebody in charge of the club who gives a sh*** about the place.
EXHIBIT C:
HAS THE GEM LOST ITS GLEE?
I think my feelings regarding the split season in GAA are fairly clear at this stage. What the new system does allow, however, is the lack of need for county managers to rush in their composition of panels for the forthcoming season.
Yet, as club championships around the country reach their final furlongs, that process goes up by a few gears. Unfortunately, though, due to the change in the GAA landscape, it’s also the time of year when stars will announce their decision to bring the curtain down on their time on the biggest stage.
Be that as it may, few if any would have seen the abdication of Austin Gleeson coming. Ironically, it would seem Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald was the one person who wasn’t shocked. Revealing that he basically had to “force” the Mount Sion maestro to commit to the white and blue ln the season past.
The question this observer would ask is why? Why would such a gifted star, who clearly had plenty more in the tank, hang the familiar blue helmet up at this stage?
It would appear, as my friend and fellow county man Gordon Manning put it in the Irish Times “After ten years on the inter-county hamster wheel, he needed a break” while the player himself commented that he “didn’t have the drive to go again”.
Once more, the question has to be why. Why are players retiring from county action earlier? Why, indeed, are some players reluctant or flat out refusing answer their county’s call altogether?
My own view? The enjoyment has gone out of our games. Paralysed by analysis, scientific psycho-babble and managerial paranoia. If the most successful manager at a given time, say, John Kiely or Dessie Farrell or Mick Bohan began getting their players to bungee jump onto the field, the sheep would dutifully skip out the gate behind them. Individuality is doused with insecticide.
All the while, the brainwashed seem blissfully unaware that the antedote to the delerium has been staring them in the face all along. Dublin don’t do blanket defence or triangulated, elaborate movements. Yes they utilise science and data – probably more than any other team in the country – but they manage to do whilst looking like the most laid back team around.
For you see, the fundamentals of our games haven’t changed. They who score the most will win. For generations, teams have figured ways to win by trainlng Tuesdays, Thursday and, possibly, having a kick/puc around the night before a match.
Perhaps it’d be no harm if things went back that way, it might add a bit of enjoyment for players and fans alike.
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