Time for realism.
At this point in time, Galway, Kildare and Down are better than Meath.
Need to win at least 3 out of the other 4 games against Roscommon, Laois, Westmeath and Cavan to finish mid table, which is about Meath's level.

kingofclubs (Meath) - Posts: 321 - 02/02/2015 10:31:07    1689068

Another point I would like to make,is the fact that last year proved we were off the mark in a physical sense.Armagh are no great shakes,but physically they killed us,poor McMahon played at 11 that day and was battered,a year on and we are playing players who are nowhere near the physical levels that are required..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 02/02/2015 10:32:22    1689069

Jackgoff

Yes I would not question the attitude or pride in the jersey at all,people playing out of podition,not many near physical enough for this level are a bigger problem.For a start you must be physically strong enough to cope against the big teams before you can do anything else,and Galway are not even good or physical..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 02/02/2015 10:36:01    1689074

In my post of last week I hoped that the team would take the field 'mentally prepared' and I just feel that our management team are not capable of consistently getting the mental preparations right. I realise that this squad is missing a number of regulars but the team did not appear mentally tuned in for the first 20 minutes yesterday, we were way off the pace, totally at sea when Galway ran at our defence at pace and didn't appear to have any plan when we did try to attack. Sadly we all know this has happened a number of times over the past 2 years when the game was effectively over after 20 minutes. I don't think the mix at midfield is at all right, I don't blame the two players as they are both young and learning but are just too similar in style, we need a fast, strong, mobile player in the centre to compliment a high fielder, I would actually like to see Donnacha Tobin tried at midfield, he is strong, mobile and combative as well. I would also prefer to see Keogan play at corner back, he is one of the best corner backs in the country but not as effective at centre back. We have all seen many players tried in different positions over the past 2 years but it doesn't appear that MOD has made any progress in getting a settled team in place and we don't appear to have a game plan for either defence or attack, at a minimum I think he needs to bring someone else in with better tactical nous, look at the way McGuinness and Fitzmaurice have brought success over the past couple of years through reinventing players and tactics

Royal_Rover (Meath) - Posts: 72 - 02/02/2015 10:39:01    1689077

To put my money where my mouth is, here is the team I would pick.

1. P O Rourke

2. D Dalton
3. C McGill
4. D Keogan

5. G Reilly
6. P Harnan
7. R O Caoilean

8. D Tobin
9. H Rooney

10. A Forde
11. M Newman
12. B Menton

13. C Ward
14. S Bray
15. S O Rourke

Impact Subs: P Byrne, E Wallace, S Mattimoe, B O' Brien

Two talking points are probably G Reilly as wing back and O Rourke in ff line. G Reilly has everything likes of Lee Keegan and James McCaffrey have, except that he can also pick a score. Would be great to see him running from deep as onto the ball instead of having to take the ball from standing start or having to curve his runs while.
O Rourke is two footed and big and strong and very skillfull. He should be played in ff line and kept there, while being coached by the best coaches we have for the role.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1319 - 02/02/2015 11:03:04    1689094

Ziggy much of what you say is spot on but in fairness I think you underestimate what Galway are about. We have a lot of talent more than Meath at the moment given our u21 success etc and a new manager who brought Sligo a long way from a limited player pool. I was with two of my Royal mates at the match and while they were shocked with the Meath performance they did not expect to win given the sea change that may be slowly happening in the West. Also the poster who said Galway scored nearly everything they created seems to forget that we kicked 4 relatively straight forward chances into the goalie's hands and missed two close in frees. Add to the fact Galway were missing 6 very likely championship starters. Galway are clearly adapting a new style which basically involves not exposing the full back line as we have leaked many silly goals in recent years. While the pitch was poor it has been closed for 4 months to allow for major drainage works and will be a far better pitch when this work beds in. I thought the match would go to Tuam but obviously the powers that be thought it playable. For what its worth I think you will see a Royal response on Saturday night. I would be hope Galway will be in the promotion mix but unfortunately we won't be choosing from a full hand until March and maybe longer if Corofin progress.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 02/02/2015 11:09:32    1689095

Re Craigan >> "Why is Stephen Bray playing in the half-forwards? He should be wrapped up in a box of cotton wool until the hard ground of croke park in June. Not playing in the half forward line on the 1 February."

Either you weren't at the game or you weren't paying attention. Bray was playing in the full-forward line throughout. Him and Newman as an inside pair.
Yes he was named on the 40 but he didn't play there.

There are an awful lot of comments about this game to wade through, but what stood out for me was the fact that yet again we come up against a blanket defence and yet again we were at a loss as to how to break it down. The odd time the diagonal ball did work into the ff line, Bray or Newman were turning back into about 10 Galway shirts, there was no support coming through to take the ball off them. The one time we did lay the ball off to a runner, Newman got in for the goal chance - which could have swung the game, albeit we wouldn't have deserved to win.

I am hoping for a rocking atmosphere in Navan next Saturday night & a good crack at the Lilies. We need a big response to yesterday.

SmallHouse (Meath) - Posts: 291 - 02/02/2015 11:18:28    1689097

Kingofclubs mentioned beating Roscommon, Galway played Roscommon 2 weeks ago in the fbd league final with a similar team that lined out yesterday and Roscommon absolutely destroyed us we were lucky to lose by only 5 points in the end. I wouldn't underestimate them

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1678 - 02/02/2015 11:57:10    1689112

Kiloughter

But that is the point Galway have a new manager yet had a clear plan,our management team? Well this is their 3rd year,that had a lot to reflect on from last year,but it seems they have made the same mistakes,which is shocking.

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 02/02/2015 12:10:11    1689126

smallhouse

I said before the game that I feared Newman would be isolated and it was proven to be the case,he had a poor game,but if O'Dow wants to pick Wallace and McMahon they should be like terriers in and around Newman..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 02/02/2015 12:12:06    1689127

It's very difficult to know what to say at this point. What I can say for sure though is that is very easy to distinguish the posters who actually go to matches from those who don't.

MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 498 - 02/02/2015 12:16:06    1689131

was there much of a meath contingentin salthill yesterday? be surprised considering the a leagues started yesterday

srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 02/02/2015 12:31:05    1689140

Galwayfball

If you look at my post I said Meath need to win at lest 3 out of 4 of remaining games. Roscommon away will probably be the hardest of these.
FBD League and other pre season competitions mean nothing. Meath were level going into injury time against Dublin in the O Byrne Cup 2 weeks ago... the same Dublin team that played Cork yesterday.

kingofclubs (Meath) - Posts: 321 - 02/02/2015 12:31:58    1689142

srgt_slaughter the Galway PRO told me just under 4k at the match. I was in the terrace across from the seated stand and Meath support seemed to be spread out. The seated stand could have been different but hard to guage.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 02/02/2015 13:11:09    1689168

Yeah agree with that Ziggy. The support was way too slow (non-existent) in coming the odd time the passes inside got past the sweepers.

SmallHouse (Meath) - Posts: 291 - 02/02/2015 13:24:17    1689180

Irish Independent player ratings :
Meath - P O'Rourke 7; D Tobin 6, C McGill 6, M Burke 5; P Harnan 6, D Keogan 6, B Menton 7; H Rooney 5, A Flanagan 5; G Reilly 6, S Bray 6, A Tormey 5; B McMahon 5, M Newman 6, J Wallace 5. Subs: D Carroll 6 for McMahon (h-t), J Queeney 6 for Tormey (BC, 49), D Dalton 6 for Harnan (63), S Tobin 5 for Wallace (63), C McConnell 5 for D Tobin (66).

kingofclubs (Meath) - Posts: 321 - 02/02/2015 13:26:25    1689181

Crinigan most of the players you talk abouth played for meath , over the last few years. What did we win with dem

Doitmyway1212 (Meath) - Posts: 72 - 02/02/2015 13:37:07    1689187

Ziggy all we here from and Royaldunne it the same old ways , we need to put players in there right places ". Carroll. Newman bray. 15. 14. 13. Any of these numbers '. Tall men in back line and mid field

Doitmyway1212 (Meath) - Posts: 72 - 02/02/2015 13:41:15    1689193

To Doitmyway

What did they win? A Leinster title in 2010, putting 5 goals past Dublin on the way...oh and two All Ireland semi-finals. That enough for you?

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1319 - 02/02/2015 13:50:43    1689199

Crinigan doesn't seem to realise that impact subs should be capable of making an impact

bluegossun (Meath) - Posts: 70 - 02/02/2015 13:50:50    1689200