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Okay, the people have spoken and even though the vote produced a majority in favour of the proposed players’ rating initiative the margin wasn’t, in my view, clear enough to proceed with it.
202 of you cast a vote on the issue, with 55% in favour and 45% against. As I indicated previously, a more decisive majority – of at least two-thirds of all votes cast – would have been needed to go ahead with the feature and the margin fell well short of that. Absent the kind of conclusive vote in favour that I think was needed and also bearing in mind (a) all of the sincere and well-argued comments that have been made against going ahead with it and (b) the small number of people who provided their ratings on the Kildare game, I can see that this is one that simply isn’t going to fly. On that basis I’m happy to drop the idea.
I like the notion, though, of having a vote on a Mayo MOTM for each of our league and championship games and I think it’s a nice idea too to extend this into some kind of annual players’ award. I’ve had a rummage round with the poll thingy that I use on the site and from what I can see it doesn’t have the functionality of voting 1, 2, 3 nor does it allow voters to add in other choices. That leaves us with two options: either I set up a poll containing a short-list – say, of 5 or 6 players from each game – for everyone to vote on or else I just put up one containing the names of all the Mayo players involved after each match. Regardless of which option is used, everyone would just get to vote for one player but in both cases the spread of voting should be sufficient to give us a MOTM and two honourable mentions for each game.
Does this sound like a runner and, if so, which option would you prefer? I don’t propose to run another poll on this one so if you could just reply via the comments that would be helpful in providing me with a steer on which might work best from the voters’ perspective.
I like the idea of 5/6 players to choose from. It would be safe to say there is never as many options as that for MOTM. Good work WJ. Pity I didnt get to meet you in The Liffey Arms or maybe I did and didn’t know 😉
We should really be wearing name badges at these gatherings, Trevor, it would make life so much less complicated! I’m hoping to be in Omagh on Sunday (not 100% sure yet but think I will be) so if you’re travelling we might be able to meet up at the Club ’51 pre-meet in the Silver Birch up there.
Name badges – there’s an idea. Wonder if that would fly on Sunday 😉 Regardless of whether we go equipped with sticky labels or a pen, if I see either of you floating around there or on other match days I’ll be sure to introduce you.
I prefer the first option WJ – all the names. Might make it a bit messier for you, but coming from a research background I feel it’s also more scientific and removes any potential bias introduced by your good self 😉
The one with all the mayo players after each match for me Willie Joe. Keep up the good work.
Like the idea of working off all the players
I might be inclined to go with the second option, if going by the comments, a lot were concerned by negative ratings for young and new players. This could work in reverse for these new lads if they got a few votes.it could be a confidence booster.i know some have said it would be parish or club loyalty, but if they get that confidence , I don’t care where it comes from. That said I would be happy to go along with the first option if others decide its best.
Obviously, I meant to say the *second* option there …
Great idea W j on name badges, maybe name discretely stitched on your Mayo top, so not to look like a waiter ,( nothing against them ) but it would have been easy to get an order in the Liffey Arms on Sunday if it was too obvious . It would be great to put faces to all the names we know so well. Maybe some like myself like to hide behind a nickname , but not among my own.
Don’t think you’ll make it at Basketball Willie Joe, a lot of misses there 🙂
As regards MOTM, I wasn’t in favour of the previous one but having a short list of 5/6 players sounds good to me. Mind you if you do decide to go down that road, the first one or two might be easy enough, but trying to decide on five and six could pose a few problems. Either way a MOTM decided by our own supporters and running along side the usual comments, will make this brilliant Mayo Blog even better…
Yeah WJ, good work there, maybe including the full list of players would be a good idea, with people just able to choose one player e.g. it would then maybe end up something like below, based on the ratings for the Kildare game:
Jason Gibbons : 25% (MOTM)
Rob Hennelly : 18%
Adam Gallagher : 16%
Andy Moran : 14%
Kevin McLoughlin : 12% etc…..
Hopefully that should give a good break-down of who people thought played well on the day……
I agree with this option too, Willie Joe. Thanks…
Well, if we’re going to go with the Three Stars award then you’re going to have allow the entire team to be candidates (bar cameo appearances), or else you may not get a fair reflection of who the second and third choice performers are.
I think it’s a sound idea, it’s a big part of the National Hockey League in North America and always seemed very fair.
WJ, it is great to see that democracy is still alive and well despite us living in a Nanny state of unaccountability and entitlement.
I think a MOTM award is a very good idea and I am happy to go with whichever system is the handiest for you. You never know, the players themselves might see it as a badge of honour to be awarded the coveted Mayo GAA Blog Man of the Match Award.
You could put the feelers out for sponsorship and it could end up as the “Mike Ashley Sports Direct Mayo GAA Blog Man of the Match Award” 🙂 🙂
MOTM with all players would be good. In general most commentators on this blog are reasonable and worth listening to and I am sure the players would be aware of this. I think that people would need to evaluate players on how well they do their own individual jobs not on the spectacular. A player who scores 7 point has had a good day but is this any better than a defender who held a good player scoreless. I know in my club team our goalie has been MOTM on at least 4 or 5 times each year for the last number of years.
I was also in the Liffey Arms and met Liveinhope as well as a few others. Not too sure about the name tags but WJ you could give a short speech – maybe in the Silver Birches.
This analysis from Edwin McGreal in the Mayo News is worth a read in the context of rating the performance of players in the Kildare game.
Yeah I’d be inclined to agree with the majority above and go with choosing between all of the players.
Also like HopeSpringsEternal’s idea about using percentages.
Great piece, I thought. I’ll admit that I wasn’t overly enamoured with Kevin Keane’s performance on Sunday, but seeing the stats there made me think twice about it. Equally Keith Higgins – easy to see through that piece how positive his net contribution was – even just his picking up of the breaks in midfield.
And Kevin McLoughlin’s contribution can’t be downplayed – however this weekend I’d love to see him have a really good day out. He’s such a talented footballer and I’d love to see him regain full confidence.
Quote from the article:
“LEE Keegan started slowly but really came into it in the second half when Mayo were launching a comeback. He ended up with 12 plays, below his championship level of involvement but hardly insignificant either. Shane McHale handled the ball 11 times and didn’t give it away once, although wing back Brendan Harrison was quiet, in possession of the ball just a handful of times. ”
Fair play to Edwin for having a go but is he evaluating the backs on how many times they handled the ball and how well they used it? When I was playing a back was evaluated generally on how little his man handled the ball and how well he was prevented from using it!
There is a danger with statistical analysis and it is this: we tend to measure what is easily measured and ignore the more difficult stuff.
Couldn’t agree more diehard, regarding rating defenders. A defenders job is first of all, to defend his patch and keep his man as quite as possible, after that he can assist his fellow defenders in closing down space and covering back. All this can be done without hardly touching a ball while at the same time running himself into the ground. These guys are the unsung hero’s of any team – but how do you rate them ??
I remember when I was all those years younger I played as a back sometimes and my job was to stop and possibly kill the other fucker!!!
Thanks Dan!
Joe Mc, I’m here breaking my sides laughing, and no black cards either 🙂
Hi WJ i would prefer listing all of the Mayo players but as i mentioned in an earlier post this maybe a lot of extra work for you. Will support whatever the majority decide.
Option 1 would be my preference.
personal preference is for listing all the players….in case we forget who was actually playing 🙂
Excellent alternatives WJ to the binned player ratings and will like most go with whatever one is decided.
The Mayo team for Sunday’s game against Tyrone has been named, one chance Jason Gibbons for Tom Parsons…..
1) Robert Hennelly – Breaffy
2) Kevin Keane – Westport
3) Ger Cafferkey – Ballina Stephenites
4) Colm Boyle – Davitts
5) Lee Keegan – Westport
6) Shane McHale – Knockmore
7) Brendan Harrison – Aghamore
8) Aidan O’Shea – Breaffy
9) Jason Gibbons – Ballintubber
10) Cathal Carolan – Crossmolina Deel Rovers
11) Keith Higgins – Ballyhaunis
12) Adam Gallagher – Mayo Gaels
13) Kevin McLoughlin – Knockmore
14) Andy Moran – Ballaghaderreen (Capt.)
15) Darren Coen – Hollymount/Carramore
Does anyone know who the subs are best of luck on Sunday ye might need the sap nabs for Sunday ha ha
Like the idea of 5 / 6 player choice. Great work on the blog WJ. 🙂
Option 2 for me but i will be very happy to go along with the majority
You rate them by how well they carry out their job, which is to defend their patch. Keep your opponent scoreless or at the least below his average.
I was ok with the player ratings but whatever.
I think the next best thing is to name all the players, so option 2 for me.
Thanks all for the replies. It looks as if putting up a poll with all players included is the favoured option so let’s go with that. I’ll put it on the site on Sunday night and then we can declare a MOTM and two other podium finishes the following evening.
Great stuff Willie Joe, I can see this MOTM really take off and will definitely enhance what is already a great site.
Yeah think MOTM is ok WJ.
Edwin McGreal’s analysis shows why this blog should forego player ratings.
McGreal is a pro, we are amateurs. His analysis is empirical, posters’ analyses are impressionistic. It’s likely that the team stats man, whoever that is now, is also providing this kind of feedback.
Yeah, fair play WJ, you really do put in a great effort to make this site such a good resource for Mayo supporters from all over the world. Its so well set-up and your definitely on the ball, in terms of providing up to date information, well done I say….