Have neither Meath or Donegal alternative jerseys.? Very similiar colours. With all the money put into County teams a different Jersey shouldn't be hard to manage

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 02/02/2020 18:05:31    2264541

Can someone please explain to me why we cannot kick a point when we are in a good position first time round, it was the same against Tyrone and now Donegal today...they seem to be trying to walk the ball into goals, when it obviously doesn't work...at the start today we kicked two long range points and then that stopped, so obviously we have the ability too...is it Andy not letting them do it?
McCurry and the other Tyrone boys could kick away from 30 to 40 yards out, anytime Donegal turned us over in the 2nd half today, they punished us with those type of points.
It's a brutal type of system to watch and so disheartening to work the ball up to the attacking 21 and then the forward turns and passes back out to midfield...if this is the system we continue to play this year we are in for a long spring and a short summer!!

Northmeathman123 (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 02/02/2020 18:07:31    2264542

Very disappointed. We are lacking seriously up front.
Apart from oreilly who actually took some good scores. Toners point was what we should have been doing in first half , menton is having a poor start to the year hopefully it's just a dip in form and nothing more serious , Brennan showed some steel in getting in their faces when he came on.
Think there needs to a fair few changes for next week

Hon the royal.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 02/02/2020 18:22:40    2264549

Oh that was hard to watch!

cabbage (Meath) - Posts: 162 - 02/02/2020 18:27:32    2264552

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 02/02/2020 18:43:12    2264564

This is only the league and results will soon be forgotton so often it is used totry new ideas or players. Am i the only one wondering why big crowds pay €20 to go to these games and expect to see teams at their best

Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 518 - 02/02/2020 18:47:32    2264567

I might be classed as old fashioned ,but do you not need inside forwards that can win their own ball..??Of course it's a 50/50 shot but in the absence of any penetration from runners we are at nothing!Hard to watch and I feel for all the lads because I know the effort put in,but don't remember a big loss like that in years where we just seem to give up the fight!Team look totally demoralised and Kerry and Dublin away still to come.Badly need Shane Walsh and Mickey back inside to give us options!Anway lads,heads up,its only February!!

JD1677 (Meath) - Posts: 68 - 02/02/2020 18:51:48    2264569

I might be classed as old fashioned ,but do you not need inside forwards that can win their own ball..??Of course it's a 50/50 shot but in the absence of any penetration from runners we are at nothing!Hard to watch and I feel for all the lads because I know the effort put in,but don't remember a big loss like that in years where we just seem to give up the fight!Team look totally demoralised and Kerry and Dublin away still to come.Badly need Shane Walsh and Mickey back inside to give us options!Anway lads,heads up,its only February!!

JD1677 (Meath) - Posts: 68 - 02/02/2020 18:57:06    2264578

Really disappointed with todays performance and in particular how management had our team setup from the start. First of all, we were playing with a gale on our backs in the 1st half and continued to play with extra men in our defense and when kicking, it was usually backwards or sideways. At a minimum, there should be at least two men in full forward line at all times when wind on our backs and should be kicking in from midfield forwards. Currently none of our outfield players kick accurately forwards or even look up. Our inside forwards are probably cold, bored and frustrated and come out looking for handy ball on 45 line where we pass over and back. Wallace's, McMahon, and O Sullivan are all similar players that never kick. Menton likewise and James McEntee continue to run with heads down. Not criticising effort but coaching and tactics have to be. This is not the traditional Meath way. It looks awful. I must add, some questionable substitutions and order that they were made. Players look completely devoid of confidence which management must instill. I thought there was a great support there today but supporters were bitterly disappointed.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 508 - 02/02/2020 19:02:50    2264583

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 887 - 02/02/2020 19:23:16    2264594

Yes it was hard to watch. Ok for the first 25 minutes or so by the writing was on the wall when the first goal went in. Looking at TG4 this evening both penalties awarded were actually fouls committed outside the square and this mistakes by the ref. Playing with the wind with a sweeper was daft and pushing up would seem to have been the best approach although Patton in the Donegal goal is a superb striker of the ball be it long or short. We have limitations, big limitations and confidence looks to be flagging even at this early part of the season

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1205 - 02/02/2020 19:28:39    2264598

That was an abysmal display today.

Tactically we are so far off the pace it is insane.

I thought we defended tigerishly in first half and turn led over Donegal time and time again. But we were punished by the ref.

Not the appear like I am being fussy but from where I was both fouls for the penalties were outside the box. Will have to watch it back.

We had the wind in first half and we persisted with lateral and backward passing. A short kickout game nearly caught us out on 5 occasions. Brennan's longer kickouts were swallowed up by Donegal.

Forwards again is our other problem area we had so much possession in the third half of the pitch and found the right players in the right positions only to not take the shot and to overplay the possession.

Once the third goal was scored we were 9 down with 30 to play and we still lost by 10. Donegal got their first point from play 5 minutes into second half!

Today I accepted the we will most likely not pick up any points from this campaign and if that's the way its going to be then blood the players and write off the league.

I would believe that the match 15 today would stuggle in Division 2

Royalio11 (Meath) - Posts: 757 - 02/02/2020 19:29:13    2264599

How can management expect to instill confidence in this team with the way we set up in first half with a very strong wind in our backs, no ambition whatsoever, every possession had to be recycled backwards or sideways, there was never an outlet for quick ball to inside forwards, this, in a game we had to win. MacMahon/both Wallace brothers and COS are too similar in style, this was evident against Tyrone last week but again this setup was deemed good enough today. At worst we looked like a group of lads who had met just before start of game. At best we are back to playing like we did 2/3 years ago, coupled with the lack of belief and fear of making mistakes.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2141 - 02/02/2020 20:00:22    2264617

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2141 - 02/02/2020 20:18:09    2264631

Congratulations to Donegal. Best kickout in the country, Pattton. Murphy is one of the modern greats. Bonner/Rockford managment team, quality management, lots of quality young players, a team to look out for in the coming years and I wouldnt be surprised they are All Ireland champions in 2 to 3 years time. They will be an All Ireland final at least in the next 2 to 3 years. Well done Donegal , better team won. Well done again Donegal.And great gaa supporters.

So lets looks at negative first.
Lack of penetration of front, sloppy at the back and while goalie steadied the ship and is a great shot stopper, problems with kickout continue. But Meath have had problems with kickout and midfield going back years. There has been problems at centre field well over 10 or 15 years, we havent had top class midfielder since McDermont. Only when we had Gillespie and Meade at centre field in 2012 , 2013 I felt we were really good at midfield. Both our last best years in leinster. Kickout problems are related to midfield and we also need more running of the ball for kickouts, its an issue. At times we lack height in the half back line and half forward line. Breaking ball its all related. This didnt begin today or yesterday, its being going on a long time. Again failure to deal with Ulster teams and tactics, something thats being going on for at least 15 years.

Meath we are not good enough. Its simple as. I was hoping we could improve in the league on super 8s but its not happening. We are in trouble and Mayo is a must win game, lose that and its pretty much curtains. What we can hope for then is get more players back from injury. Get more div 1 experience and try and get a victory in div 1. If the league is over, its the championship, get players back from injury and aim for super 8s again. Playing the top teams will help. And if we go down, we should be young enough to go up again. Even though div 2 again this year is an unreal competitive division looking at the results in first two weeks. Its never easy getting out of div 2.

Div 1 is a steep learning curve, best teams in the country , all the evidence is pointing to Meath are not good enough. But we just got keep at it. These games v best teams in the country , best players in the country, is invaluable experience for Meath. I suspose the question is will we learn from it. Are will we continue to be a kind of top div 2 team but not good enough for div 1 team. A team.that can reach super 8s but are losing badly at that level. Thats the level it seems we are at the moment. Still there is the championship. All GAA in every county when the championship comes the hope is a bit stronger. But at the moment Meath are getting a tough lesson by the best teams in the country. Thats what sport is at the elite level. Brutally tough. We just gotta keep at. Hopefully over a couple seasons can make headway and there is still championship to come which is still the most important of every season. But it looks at the moment we are not good enough for div 1.

So for the positive, the return of injured players.
Also It is much better to be worrying about relegation from div 1 then div 2. Mayo , we have chance. Galway have a dreadul record in Navan , havent won their in 40 years and Monaghan in Clones is a local Derby. If we go down , even if we could get 1 or victories it would all help. Playing 10 games v best teams in the country in the last 6 months is invaluable experience.

We cannot use the injuries as an excuse , but they are headache. Missing half your defence and 3 best forwards and couple more players. would be headache for every team in the country. If we could get over Mayo , there is a month today til Galway game at home. We should a few back by then, especially lenihan and Walsh.

If the league is a total washout.s still for the championship when we have lavin, Gallagher and Harnan into the defence , Campion and S McEntee and Kane ( who also injured as options) but particularly lenihan Walsh Newman forward line, that will be interesting. They are the three best forwards we have, a different level in what we had today and they have never played together and not even two of them have ever started a game for Meath together as far as I can see. Even Newman and lenihan.

The one positive in the last 2 games is Thomas Reilly has stepped up . And when you get Donal lenihan Shane Walsh beside him for possibly the Galway game and games following that we will have better options upfront. Players who can win ball and score. This below team does look stronger. The season is not over , its only starting. The league might be a kick in the stomach , but the championship is still 4 months away. 4 months is long time in football. Listen If the championship is a washout also. Then its back to drawing board for McEntee and he needs a rethink. For me this is 6 or 7 year job and McEntee at the start of the league was only half way through his tenure, his job. Maybe this season will be not good. If it not, we regroup, try get out of div 2, and 10 games v top teams this year , will help us next year. Hopefully there wouldnt be massive exodus of players next year. But thats for next year, the train wil leave the station again and new players comig through, we keep at it and keep at it.

But it will be intereting to see how we will do with 3 of our best defenders back and 3 best forwards and few others. Its not excuse for not staying in div 1, but its not help or positive , its a headache a concern and worry. Here could be potential chanpionship Meath team playing in July in leinstet final or a massive game in the qualifiers this summer.

1 Marcus Brennans
2 Seamus Lavin
3 Conor McGill
4 Shane Gallagher
5 James McEntee
6 Padraig Harnan
7 Donal keoghan
8 Brian Menton
9 Ronan Jones
10 Cillian Sullivan
11 Thomas Reilly
12 Dara Campion
13 Donal lenihan
14 Shane Walsh
15 Mickey Newman

Add those 7 players and S McEntee, N kane to the bench.see how that team plays, thats a good question. Maybe it will not be good. Maybe it will not make much impact. Time will tell. But I definatly feel if you ads lenihan, Walsh and Newman to the team it takes the blunt egde of the forward play.
If you look at a forward line where Sullivan and Reilly are on the 40 ( Reilly has played allot of Club on the 40). Along Campion who showed v kerry last year he has potential and Newman, Lenihan and Walsh inside, I think we would have more scores in the forward line, thats s much superior forward line to what we have currently. Thats what I think. Maybe I am wrong.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 02/02/2020 20:35:55    2264639

Poor today and that against a team that I think won't set the football world on fire either.
On the Plus side, keep Brennan in the goals, the goals were not his fault and his early kick outs were fine. A few went astray late on but moral was by then on the ground. Thomas O'Reilly was a success and will be there for the future.
On the Minus side, we are not putting pressure on the kick outs and funnel back on necessity rather than to a plan. Our forwards other that the aforementioned Thomas O'Reilly don't have the confidence to shoot when the opportunity presents itself, and in this company you only get mili-seconds to do so. Free taking, I know that Michael Newman and Shane Walsh are missing but you simply cannot go on any GAA pitch now without a 95% freetaker, end of. (In the preceding hurling game Padraig O'Hanrahan had a 100% return today, so it can be done even on a windy day)
Referee: I presume the assessor will be a little critical, the first 'penalty' was outside, was the second a deliberate foul or clumsy? As I said leave it to the assessor.
Where do we go from here? I am reluctant to have a go at the management but we badly need a fresh look at coping with the blanket defence. Even when we had lots of bodies back they pilfered a clinical goal and were bearing down on goals for the two 'so called penalties' Donegal never gave us a chance like those. It's time we acquired an exponent in that direction because to date we have not coped. Time to send a recruiting agent North!

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1062 - 02/02/2020 20:40:48    2264644

Talking_Sense (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 02/02/2020 20:41:21    2264645

Niall kane and Dara Campion are injured also iwth another 7 players. Kane if fit would be pushing hard to start in the defence, after Campions excellent performance v kerry last year, he would starting or very close to starting. Its not an excuse, we are not good enough at the moment, simple as, and all teams are missing player. But the forwards look blunt, the same way they did v Dublin . If you had forward line of 10 Cillian Sullivan 11 Thomas Reilly 12 Dara Campion 13 Donal Lenihan 14 Shane Walsh 15 Mickey Newman. Its a completely different forward line, its not as blunt as today, all those players can win ball and score. We have pacey small skilful player who can run with ball and create space, but not great at scoring from play, But if you add Campion, Lenihan, Newman and Walsh to the mix up front, its much more dynamic and less blunt, more options upfront. Maybe this year will be a washout league and championship. But having Walsh and Newman back for Galway game hopefully and couple more , it lessens the headache and concern with injuries. Its not an excuse, We are not good enough. If we lose v Mayo, we are on the verge of relegation.Its all about experience and even 1 victory this level with help us later on in the year. Our league could be finished next week in terms of staying in the div. But the year is not . 4 months til championship. 4 months is long time in football. If we go down, we need to use this time as experience a massive learning process. But so far div 1 has being a very tough experience for Meath and with Dublin and kerry away and Monaghan in Clones, a rejuvenated Galway under Joyce and Mayo who need points in Navan, its going get even tougher. At the moment it doesnt look like Meath can break the div 2 team hoodoo, it does look at the moment we are a yo yo team. There is a serious gap between div 2 and div 1. Even though div 2 is a brillant div and the most exciting. Already this year its really being very competitive. But to try and go from 9th or 10th or 11 th best team in the country into the 6 or 7, is a massive task and Meath are failing miserably at the moment at achieving that.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 02/02/2020 21:07:24    2264661

Why are we not using the mark. We should be lampooning balls in the edge of the square at every opportunity. Instead of this messing about with hand passing. Drive it in, 60 yards, into a big target man. With a bit of luck it could break nicely

LoyalRoyal66 (Meath) - Posts: 80 - 02/02/2020 21:12:11    2264664

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1062 - 02/02/2020 21:16:29    2264666