Mayo may need outside voice to freshen up squad amid 'the noise'

by Caoimhín Rowland

The joys of not knowing what the maddening noise around you is actually saying is often under-appreciated in sport, especially by managers and players.

In Mayo, the noise at this time of year reaches fever pitch. But it’s fascinating to see the success of Hansi Flick at Barcelona, a remarkable turnaround led by a youthful, exuberant squad under a German manager who hasn’t a clue what the vociferous Catalan and Spanish press are shouting about him.

If those at the helm in Mayo think our press barks too loud, “lose one game and it’s the end of the world,” it’s a common refrain, they’d find little comfort in Spain.

The media market around Barça and Real Madrid is a sporting pressure cooker that breaks referees, club captains, even former legends.

Xavi managed Barcelona during the poisoned chalice era, post-Messi, amid financial turmoil and backroom chaos.

Once the most composed central midfielder of his time, he cracked on more than one occasion under the weight of constant scrutiny. Flick’s ability to stay above it all makes his current run all the more impressive.

When Xavi’s shock departure was announced last summer, reports suggested he was stepping down because of the press and the subsequent pressure.

He understandably denied that, pointing instead to performances and a feeling that he had taken his boyhood club as far as he could.

But it was hard to ignore how often he snapped, how the media glare revealed a temperament far removed from his calm, possession-based playing days.

Enter Flick, formerly of Bayern, with not a lick of Spanish. And yet here he guiding Barça to the Spanis La Liga title.

A match-up rich in history, Barcelona once managed by Paddy O’Connell during the Spanish Civil War, Inter, at one point, guided by Ballina man Jim Donnelly.

Proof, if needed, that there’s still life in a much-maligned competition often monopolised by oil-rich super clubs with little connection to storied clubs.

Back home, as the news cycle trickles on from another Connacht Final defeat, the conversation turns, inevitably, to a new Mayo manager.

The names being floated would do well to live far away from the maddening noise of this county.

There’s plenty of talent within, but Mayo needs an outside voice. Someone who can shake things up, snap the county out of its malaise, and reclaim a Connacht crown.

Fine margins define the top level. What’s needed now is pedigree and a manager with a proven track record.

In Mayo, it’s hard to escape the noise. Win the Connacht Final and belief floods in suddenly Sam is back on the horizon.

Lose by two points, and it’s back to despair. That simple, harsh duality is what makes the next selection so critical.

The group series has descended into something of a farce.

Announcing the draw ahead of the provincial finals confused and annoyed in equal measure. Mayo now enter what is essentially the Ulster championship. As McStay said after the match, “We’re sore, but we’ll pick ourselves back up.”

Supporters were far from satisfied despite the wins en route to the Connacht Final. Lacklustre showings against Sligo and Leitrim drained optimism before the Galway clash.

And McStay, to his credit, has fronted up in every media appearance. But let’s be honest, the Connacht Final was a referendum on his tenure. Silverware is the demand. It’ll be five long years since Mayo last lifted the Nestor Cup.

The players are hurting, as McStay acknowledged. But they’ll dust themselves off, enter the ‘quasi-Ulster’ group, and hope to nick something crucial in the opener against Cavan. It’ll be a massive test and one that could well define his exit.

Supporters are calling for fresh blood.

For me, it needs to be someone like Hansi Flick, someone who doesn’t have to hear, let alone endure, the typical Mayo noise.