KEVIN CASSIDY: Coaches need to quit the complaining

WEEK Two and it’s still hard to find any negative aspects of these new rules. Last weekend, across all divisions, we were served up another mouthwatering serving of action with scores galore and free-flowing football.

For me, these rules are working and that’s all that has to be said about them.

The only people who seem to be in any way negative towards them are the coaches out there. The only reason that they are negative is that they are slowly losing control of how the game is played.

Coaches can no longer control players on a football pitch like a PlayStation game because in the modern game, with these new rules, players need to use their own initiative and play the situation that’s in front of them.

Coaches do not like this because they are simply no longer in control of the situation. Players now must be entrusted to use their own ability in order to create opportunities and this is alien to most coaches out there.

I saw Kieran McGeeney smirking once more at a reporter as he said he didn’t think you were allowed to have a bad opinion on these new rules.

My question to Kieran would be to list two things he saw wrong with what we have witnessed over the last two weekends.

Was it the number of scores he didn’t like. Did the one-to-one contests not appeal to him? Did the fact that teams are now trying to speed the game up not tickle his fancy?

Was it the fact that every single person leaving all of those GAA games, along with everyone at home, were excited by what they were watching?

I’m around GAA pitches a long time and I for the life of me can’t think of anything negative to say so I’d love to hear what his complaints are if he has something negative to say.

This is in no way having a go at Kieran, who was a fantastic player and had now done the same in management.

It is more about encouraging managers and coaches to admit we need change and to encourage them to let go of the shackles a little bit here for the good of the game.

Anyway, enough of the rules, I think they are brilliant and that’s all that matters to me.

Last weekend, we saw how teams may play slightly differently within these new rules.

Take for example, Kerry, who, as we predicted, used the kick pass a lot more than most teams and it was interesting to see that they did not mention fatigue or the need for an extra sub after their enthralling game with Derry. As the old saying goes, the ball moves a hell of a lot faster than the man does.

Galway also, as predicted, have a two point machine in Shane Walsh and when you add in Damien Comer then you can see why these new rules might play to their advantage.

Derry were impressive enough I have to say. Were it not for some sloppy mistakes at the end, they would have taken the points against Kerry.

I was taken in by the fact that big Tohill, Glass and Rogers absolutely loved the idea of the ball being kicked out the middle to them and they did quite well on the kickouts.

This weekend Donegal make the long journey to Kerry. The pressure is now slightly off Jim’s men as with the two points last week it gives you that little cushion.

I’m sure the aim is to just win your home games as I’m not sure Jim will want a league final to face into with Derry awaiting them in the championship.

It’s a free shot for Donegal and I expect to see a few new faces come in this week but Michael Murphy won’t be one of them.

With things working well on the inter-county pitches, I think it’s time Croke Park turned their attention to the club scene. If these rules are going to be a problem, then it’s policing them at club level is where it may occur. Clubs need guidance and I hope that comes sooner rather than later.