Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has said tactical fouling needs to be nipped in the bud.
His team may sit at the top of Division Two after a solid start since the Glenties man’s return to county football.
But the 2012 All-Ireland winning manager is still getting to grips with the new style of game in which possession is more highly coveted than ever.
McGuinness’ style of counter-attacking football is obviously baring fruit as they remain unbeaten after five game in the National League.
Donegal overcame Louth in Ballyshannon yesterday with four wins and a draw (against Armagh) now the return for McGuinness’ toil so far.
But he admits that it is frustrating that the games is being slowed down on countless occasions by tactical fouling.
“It is challenging. We want to play transitional football. A lot of times it is not possible. There is a lot of tactical fouling going on, a lot of people slowing the game.
“I’m not sure if the officials are up to same level in terms of what the opposition teams are looking to do.
“If the game is to become faster in that way then things like that need to be nipped the bud early on or else it continues on for the rest of the game.
“It’s difficult to progress the ball quickly, probably because of possession football. In possession football, you are pushing 13, 14, 15 players on. The counter-balance to that is that if you lose it then you are in big, big trouble, so you cannot allow a transitional moment.
“Even now when you do get the turnover, you’re probably not going to get up the field the way you want to get up the field because of that dynamic.
“Possession football is then kind of dictating dynamics.
“You either make your case to the linesman or referee and remonstrate, or you accept it,” he told RTE.
McGuinness has welcomed the GAA’s new Football Review Committee, led by former managerial rival Jim Gavin, a group tasked with developing ways to make the modern game a more attractive proposition.
“The committee will look at all these things and I think that’s great,” McGuinness says.
“It’s a really strong committee. Previously I was never asked a question. Managers do need to be part of it, even though sometimes they are the problem.”
