GAA Hurling 2019

There were more than a few misinterpretations on various media channels as to what was said, some of them I'd suspect quite deliberate, along the lines of ''Ah sure ya have to go to college to play IC hurling now'' from some ex players. Now another few misinterpretations from yerself, though not sure if deliberate or not. 

None of what you quoted above there was ever said. That's the first point. The point DMG was making, at least as I understood it,  was that these lads are of a different generation to a lot of the analysts on TV & ex players, even recent ones, and they are more inclined to question the coaching or the reasoning for doing what they are being asked to do than previous generations.I would suspect Cody is very much the exception to this rule, nobody questions him, but nobody has a winning record like him either, so that's fair enough. 

One of the reasons they are inclined to question things is because this generation of young people tend to do that anyway (that's a societal thing and little to do with hurling). The point about being in college had fcuk all to do with what they are learning or what courses they are doing, it had to do with the environment they are in, where students are generally encouraged to think for themselves. They are also in contact with peers from other counties where the game, and various managers they have played under, would be discussed between them on a far more frequent level than say, 10 years ago. They are also playing Fitzgibbon competiton together and get to work under more different managers with different methods. 

All the top counties management styles and training methods would be known among the rest of them to a degree they haven't been before. And what's this got to do with anything ? On the field, its pretty simple, belief in whatever the game plan is. I actually took it as a bit of a veiled swipe at the current Waterford management, as it makes sense in that context. 

D Fitz has got Wexford to buy into his methods, same with Kiely & Kinnerk in Limerick. The Clare boyos were hit & miss, more miss than hit it has to be said, it's thought the Cork players don't want Meyler back. Galway players removed Anthony Cunningham, Waterford players removed Michael Ryan (and are about to remove Fanning as Healy hinted at above, though it will be done by 'resignation' or through the CB), the Dublin CB removed Cunningham just about before the remaining players he hadn't managed to shed already also disappeared, Westmeath players got rid of Joe Quaid. Not altogether sure on Tipp Ml Ryan, maybe you might have info there yourself, but it wouldn't surprise me if his departure also had some player input. 

And that's the point, these 3rd level lads, whether because of or in spite of the education & the environment they are in, are not slow to spot a manager's deficiencies, and it shows in their performances when the chips are down. The simplistic stuff being spouted by Duignan, Ken McGrath etc on TSG and a whole heap of ex players across various media wouldn't cut any ice in a modern IC dressing room, far more experienced managers, such as the ones mentioned above, were all perceived by their own players as having some weaknesses, result being none of them are in charge any more. That's really the point he was making, but obviously had to stray clear of the personal attack on anyone's opinions. 

Examiner's John Fogerty expressed it pretty simply today, said something along the lines of the modern IC player believes in the tactical stuff, a whole load of ex-players (and Joe Public) don't. It's not really much different to believing Dunphy is a superior analyst to Gary Neville on the basis that he is more entertaining.