They were only consistently competitive in a weaker D2 (league) and with four home games. It will be tougher next year and what if we have four away games. Will we regress to the usual two wins (plus a draw) and hope to avoid the drop on the final day. Our championship form is getting worse, consistently worse. The weather conditions and pitches in the matches vs. Westmeath and Tyrone were completely different as was the gameplan (set up) ... one would expose a lack of fitness/stamina more than the other (it's not just about the opposition).

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 24/07/2015 11:16:41    1758327

It seems Joe Sheridan isn't supporting the current set up.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 24/07/2015 11:20:32    1758328

Sour grapes?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 24/07/2015 12:22:19    1758368

Htaem and royaldunne, like yourselves I love the GAA and agreee with ye regarding the politics that goes on sometimes. A local GAA journalist that I know said that politics in the GAA, particularly local GAA politics is worse and more petty than Dail Eireann.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 24/07/2015 12:22:55    1758369

Definitely sour grapes from Joe. Needs to move on.....

onthebench (None) - Posts: 35 - 24/07/2015 12:28:19    1758375

I don't know who or what is to blame for our poor finishes to games, but here's some stats from our 11 championship games under MOD that don't look great for the management team or the players (can't let them away either), also I'll include some comparisons for arguments sake:

1) In our 11 games since 2013 we've outscored the opposition in the final 20 mins on only 3 occasions (v Wicklow 13, Wexford 13 and Carlow 14). Under Banty we played 10 championship games and outscored the opposition 7 times in the last 20mins. I don't have EOB's last 20 minute record but of his 13 championship games we outscored the opposition in the 2nd half 8 times, under MOD we outscored the opposition in the 2nd half again only 3 times out of 11 (Wexford 13, Tyrone 13 & Carlow 14).

2) In those last 20 mins under MOD we've scored a combined total of 2-37 (43) and conceded 6-48 (66), that's a difference of -23pts. In our last 20 mins under Banty we scored a combined total of 7-42 (63) and conceded 5-29 (44), that's a difference of +19. Again I don't have enough info from the last 20 mins of games under EOB but it's roughly similar to Banty's record, if not slightly better.


Now I know stats aren't everything but our final 20 minute championship performances under MOD make for awful reading, the players must take responsibility as well of course, MOD can't catch or kick the ball for them. But again we haven't won a 2nd half of championship football since June 2014 v Carlow and we haven't won the 2nd half of a close game since July 2013 v Tyrone, but we still lost the game by 2. Also we've never scored a goal in the last 20 minutes under MOD in a game that was still up for grabs (ie excluding games v Carlow and Dublin 2014 because both those games were already over by half time) but we have conceded 5 goals in the final 20 minutes of tight games.

Ps, if any of my stats are wrong I apologize but I've checked them over and I think they're pretty accurate, I'm open to correction though.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 24/07/2015 12:37:29    1758381

I would not say defo sour grapes...

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 24/07/2015 12:53:33    1758394

Htaem

Thats interesting.also worth nothing that Wicklow were coming back at us when they got 2 men sent off...

Carlow? well that would not have been hard...

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 24/07/2015 12:57:03    1758395

Micko cleaned out the more experienced players that were in and around the county set up when his reign started, this decision is now coming back to bite him, there is no strenght or depth in the squad. In my opinion Joe Sheridan and the likes of Cian Ward who are consistantly putting in performances at club level should be still in and around the squad. We are at least 5 years and im been generous saying 5 years behind genuine title contenders such as Dublin, Kerry, Donegal etc.and that is not down to the massive financial investment excuse its down to a lack of overall investment in GAA in Meath. Not to be pessimistic but I cant see the Glory days returning anytime soon, a serious shake up is needed and a change of management at senior level is not solving the overall problem

royaldub10 (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 24/07/2015 13:15:49    1758408

Htaem thanks for those stats. They make interesting reading.
Look we were tired against Tyrone too make no mistake, we were tired against Wicklow too only they had 2 guys sent off, we were tired against Roscommon Laois Cavan and most others we played .
Does anyone have the stats for this year and last in particular about games we were winning or close at ht that we went on to draw/loose? Off top of my head, Tyrone, Westmeath, Laois, rossies, anymore, and let us never forget what happened to us 3 times v Monaghan (the same Monaghan who were relegated with us to div 3) look how well they have performed with very little underage success, proper man,men at top and you play to your strengths is all we need to be competitive (lets not forget under banty we beat Monaghan)

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/07/2015 13:37:12    1758418

I fear if we let mod continue we will become the new Offaly.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/07/2015 13:38:36    1758420

The clubs will decide IF it gets that far. It is now becoming more apparent that some clubs are allowing "ah sure nobody else wants it...better to have some chance of continuity with Micko" type attitude. Others think " ah sure maybe he can get some help with more experienced backroom".All very defeatist and apathetic.

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1224 - 24/07/2015 14:36:19    1758447

No bull , agree. Very worrying attitudes.
I would just like to say Joes comments are the view of majority of supporters too.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/07/2015 14:55:10    1758458

You do get rid of Sheridan, ward, O'Connor etc if there are better young lads or at least young lads with potential to be better but sadly this is not the case...for example how valuable would it have been too bring Joe on around the middle against westmeath when the tide was turning, he's only 31 for Christ sake, he can give us 20 mins here or there, same with cian if we need a goal. Then too have the audacity, after ridding the panel of loads of experience, too blame this for poor results. Stinks of management with no plan at all, winging it.

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 890 - 24/07/2015 18:18:43    1758550

JINXIE

If MOD is in charge for the next 2 years,what are your expectations for the team?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 24/07/2015 18:22:39    1758552

RD, are you heading to Cavan tomorrow? :)

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 24/07/2015 19:51:20    1758575

Glas not a hope, never.
I wish them well, but if i am honest they could win by 20 or lose by 20. Either way it wont make one bit a difference to me, the only thing i will have interest in is it should have been us playing only for managerial issues.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/07/2015 20:49:07    1758589

Don't think its all sour grapes from Joe, but must be hard to take, seeing lads on the panel that will never change a game in our favour. I know I would have liked to see Joe coming off bench in last few games, always seemed to lift team and supporters alike. MOD made the decision to go with inexperience and youth, so now has to pay the penalty for abject failure.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2145 - 24/07/2015 21:26:41    1758606

Just want to say Sean Boylan interview was fantastic, and he didn't either endorse or revoke mod, gave honest opinion, gentleman as always.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/07/2015 14:36:53    1758735

True

Although the did hint at the excuses made for injury,he was careful,but reading between the lines he seemed to suggest yjay we should be doing better.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 25/07/2015 14:53:08    1758744