@Smallhouse

That's why I'd put McEntee at 4, teams aren't playing 3 man FF lines anymore so you allow him to follow the free man out the pitch and he does what he does best and gets on the ball out in the HB line.

I agree re us lacking any other viable option's at cporner back and god knows we've tried enough guys in there in recent years. Harrington, Burke, Tobin, Harnan all guys who should be playing from the 40 or further up have put in stints in there and been exposed badly at times. That's not a slight on them as players but on picking them in unnatural positions.

As I said i'm not a regular at club games but are there no other standout corner backs worth trying out??

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1994 - 30/11/2015 16:46:49    1810651

SMALLHOUSE

I agree,I also don't think Burke is the answer,but I'm not sure we have much better in that position.If MOD continues to play Keoghan at 6,we are rightly goosed..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 30/11/2015 17:56:07    1810664

He has plenty of time to find a corner back and settle him in O Byrne Cup, McEntee wasted in there, we will need a battler like him out the field as the middle is looking a bit shaky at present don't worry to much about getting forward, need someone who can do his primary job-defend.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2230 - 30/11/2015 19:11:22    1810680

I am with smallhouse on this one. I don't like the idea of McEntee at corner back at all. Its not just that he wasted there, I just don't think he is a good enough corner back at inter-county level.
I don't buy the line that because most teams play with a two man full forward line, that you don't need two corner backs. Sure the other forward will drift out the pitch for most of the game. But when his team is in possession, they will quickly join up with the attack, and the defender needs to be good enough to mark them. I think you need a defender who can attack if needed, rather than an attacker who can defend if needed.
Unfortunately I don't have an answer as to who that person might be. It is probably the position where we are most weak. Of all the lads we have tried there, Burke was probably the best at it so I would go with him. But I wouldn't be confident in it, and I would definitely want to try other lads out.
Keoghan must play corner back. He is by some distance the best corner back we have, so that is where he should play.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 01/12/2015 11:52:16    1810762

anfearbeag- I would agree with you and add that we are also very short off half backs who can defend.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 01/12/2015 12:19:47    1810767

anfearbeag

Some need to watch the 2nd half v Westmeath.McEntee was corner back and destroyed.Anyone who thinks he can play corner back,but play out the field all the time are in dreamland.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 01/12/2015 13:10:06    1810786

Most futile debate ever. Obvious that mcentee is not a defender. He is a top class club forward/midfielder with huge potential to become one of the mainstays of the meath team. To play him there would be absolutely no sense. To be honest the thread has not really developed or put forward any legitimate cases for possible defenders and unless MOD can find some, meath will have the same issues in 2016 as in his tenure to date.

Adamski (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 01/12/2015 14:03:00    1810818

yes people seem to be reluctant to pick their defence..

Seems everyone is agreed that Keoghan should be corner back and McGill full back. Some like myself think Burke is the best option of the dodgy lot,others are so uninspired that they are picking a forward with high potential here...

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 01/12/2015 14:23:46    1810826

I'll just throw in the observation that if a team doesn't have a proper workable defensive plan, any full back line is going to be destroyed. And we don't have a proper workable defensive plan.
It doesn't matter how good your full back is- if you have 2 lads tearing through the middle unopposed, then there is nothing he can do.Or no matter how good a corner back is, if a midfielder kicking the ball in is not put under pressure, then the corner back will look bad because his the corner-forward will have all the time in the world to make his run for the ball. With referees on the look-out for corner-backs stopping the run of the corner-forward, there is nothing the back can do.
Mickey Burke got a run around in the Leinster final a few years ago against Dublin because Ciaran Kilkenny was allowed to roam free around Croke Park, landing balls in to the corner forward at his leisure. If the corner forward had to actually fight for the ball, Burke might actually stand a chance. To be fair, so might McEntee or Toibin. But they are ll guaranteed to get roasted, if we continue to defend like we have been doing.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 01/12/2015 19:24:48    1810925

Future isnt too good if were only mentioning 4/5 players that could play here! Is there not any young talent coming true that could push the regulars

DMman (Meath) - Posts: 17 - 03/12/2015 14:27:48    1811240

DMman

From, what I have seen the answer is no..

Now some people may have seen more games than me,but It would appear that the best players from the minors last year and U21 teams are not defenders..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 04/12/2015 13:15:31    1811417

I am going to be controversial just a little.
keoghan, McGill and Chris O'Connor (he is only late 20s and can go up field too. As for mcentee, i have seen too many good player been destroyed been played out of position, mcentee is a forward end of story and to play him anywhere else is a total waste.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/12/2015 14:46:46    1811442

I wouldn't disagree too much with that Royaldunne. While he was never going to be game-changer, Chris O'Connor was a decent player who was probably a bit hard done by being dropped when he was. He didn't do too much wrong in a Meath jersey. I would have no issue with him being given another shot.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 04/12/2015 16:08:31    1811463

RD

I would pick him there over McEntee for sure,at least he is a natural defender..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 04/12/2015 16:23:48    1811465

RD i'd agree with you on Chris O'Connor being brought back in... god shout out... nothing controversial in suggesting him

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1994 - 04/12/2015 19:27:33    1811480

Don' think it would be much of a risk to bring in O Connor, would also bring in a bit of experience

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2230 - 04/12/2015 20:31:06    1811493

Im glad to see my shout out for Chris O'Connor has got broad approval, i don't think been dropped means no return, he was excellent for the juniors last term is consistently one of bracks best players, now as was said he is not a game changer or the most flamboyant player, but he is solid and is a good defender who does the basics right, i also agree with ziggy in saying he has experience and could be a good role model to the younger lads. Also there is a bit of aggression in him, nothing ott but he can give and take , something i think we missing in back line.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/12/2015 17:45:13    1811584

RD

Defo worth another look at..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/12/2015 18:27:48    1811588

Gavin McGowan has to be brought in to CB allowing Keogan to drop back to CB.

Tones (Meath) - Posts: 17 - 06/12/2015 21:35:03    1811733