Donegal for me I think the black card will work in there favour with attacking in numbers will be hard for any defence not to body check or drag bk the man,but only if they can keep there players fit.

knowtherules (UK) - Posts: 181 - 05/02/2014 13:56:08    1541754

Mayo

orange and blue (Tyrone) - Posts: 1080 - 05/02/2014 14:02:42    1541758

Have a feeling that Donegal could have a say this year, otherwise it's a hard one to call..

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 275 - 05/02/2014 14:11:40    1541765

Between Dublin,Mayo and Donegal. Also this black card is going to have an impact on certain games. How referees use it and interpret it is the big question. There have been quite a few bad decisions by refs over the years, I thought Derry went out of the championship last year through a bad decision ( should have had a penalty) I. Think linesmen and umpires should be able to consult more with a ref especially on a hard call. If we get our running game as per 2012 going again I think Donegal will be hard to stop. Saw a lot of our players run impeded in 2012 when going for the return pass I think the black card will address that and that goes for the Donegal backs as well as any other county. And do you know what ::we might have one of the best ever championships And that would be good to see, no controversy what so ever and no bad injuries to any player. And of course the best team to win and be worthy champions.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 05/02/2014 14:21:25    1541773

If Donegal win it's not cause there the best team we all know that by now, best system maybe but definitely not the best team.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 05/02/2014 14:27:33    1541777

If Donegal win it's not cause there the best team we all know that by now, best system maybe but definitely not the best team.

__________

Dont agree mate.

I do believe if Donegal win the All Ireland this year that they will have done it with (in my view anyway), Players that individually arent as good as maybe Dublin, Kerry and Mayo. Though having said that, Individual players dont win an All Ireland, teams do, Its how players come together as a team, And every year the best "team" wins the all ireland.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 05/02/2014 14:46:58    1541794

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4530

1541777 If Donegal win it's not cause there the best team we all know that by now, best system maybe but definitely not the best team.

If what you say is true, then show me a team that would win an All Ireland by implementing the Donegal system? Now tell me why they aren't doing it?

I think the argument that Donegal only won because of their "System" is true to an extent, but not in the way you mean.

They had quite a few excellent senior players in 2010, but as a team they lacked commitment, organisation and direction. McGuinness demanded commitment, gave them organisation and gave them direction. At that stage, a crop of very talented U21 players came through from 2009/2010 which McGuinness used to bolster his 2011 team alongside 6 or 7 of the 2010 senior players.

It was this that made Donegal a formidable team.

"Any team can copy our tactical system, but it only works if you have the players to implement it" - Mickey Harte

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 05/02/2014 16:16:34    1541867

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4530

1541777
If Donegal win it's not cause there the best team we all know that by now, best system maybe but definitely not the best team.

Bloody hell Clondalkin you are not going to give us any credit at all are you?

No matter who wins Sam in 2014, it will be because they will have beaten all comers & that by definition makes them the best team.

Now we can have all sorts of discussions about the most defensive team, the most attacking team, the most open team or the luckiest team but at the end of the day the team that wins Sam is the best team. To say anything else is begrudgery and not at all like you!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/02/2014 17:04:53    1541899

The All-Ireland really is Dublin's to lose, now I've said before that any team can be caught on the day and Dublin are no different but they have a surplus of talent that no other county can complete with and so they really should retain Sam.

Also I think this is the first time in a while where there's only 1 top tier team (Dulbin obviously), for the moment there's no top 2, 3 or 4 etc teams, there's Dublin, then the top challengers (ie Kerry, Mayo and maybe 1 or 2 more) and the dark horses etc etc.

Having said all that I still think we'll beat Dublin if we meet this summer, I'm completely convinced of that ;-)

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 05/02/2014 17:24:25    1541909

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 2049

1541899
clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4530

1541777
If Donegal win it's not cause there the best team we all know that by now, best system maybe but definitely not the best team.

Bloody hell Clondalkin you are not going to give us any credit at all are you?

No matter who wins Sam in 2014, it will be because they will have beaten all comers & that by definition makes them the best team.

Now we can have all sorts of discussions about the most defensive team, the most attacking team, the most open team or the luckiest team but at the end of the day the team that wins Sam is the best team. To say anything else is begrudgery and not at all like you!!

+1

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 275 - 05/02/2014 17:26:14    1541911

No i in team its all about systems.workrate nowadays you can look around at the top five or six team they all have top managers playing good system without them their results would suffer.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 05/02/2014 17:26:24    1541912

Having said all that I still think we'll beat Dublin if we meet this summer, I'm completely convinced of that ;-)

___________________


Genuinely believe the only teams that can beat Dublin this year in the championship, Are Meath and Tyrone.

Not worried about any of the others.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 05/02/2014 17:32:19    1541915

The buzz word is Dublin have a panel no one can compete with, as if it was bought. we are lucky that a good percentage of our 21s over the last few years have made the step up seemingly easier than previous eras. Hard work and lucky that the players are actually good is the reason, this in turn keeps everyone fighting for places, but like every county their is still guys that we cant be without if we are to Retain Sam.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 05/02/2014 17:40:47    1541926

waynoI

Genuinely believe the only teams that can beat Dublin this year in the championship, Are Meath and Tyrone.

Not worried about any of the others.


I think one side of my mouth is probably going to contradict the other here but anyway, would you really worry more about Tyrone or Meath than say Kerry or Mayo? because to be fair those two teams are better than Tyrone and Meath. My confidence of Meath beating Dublin is unshakeable and comes from the fact that I grew up watching Meath do just that, so basically I have to admit that my confidence isn't exactly logical, certainly not when you look at recent form.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 05/02/2014 17:52:54    1541934

Don't forget Htaem that in 2010 after Cork won Sam ,everybody including the bookmakers really fancied Cork to win in 2011. Fair enough they lost some of their top players through injuries but the great bench they were supposed to have did not materialize They lost that year's quarter final to Mayo. In 2010 Cork looked to have a serious, serious squad of players yet they won one All Ireland. I know Dublin's present squad have two but keeping a happy bench is another thing. The thing in Dublins favour is Cork and Kerry are rebuilding as are Tyrone. I'd rate Mayo a big danger , let's face it Mayo's backs done well against Dublin and only for Connolly and B Brogan Dublin could have been in big trouble. Mayo's forwards were the big let down for them. How Donegal do is another thing If they are back to something like 2012 then they can mount a serious challenge It will be very interesting and I think whoever adopts to the black card the best will win
Let's take an example from last Sunday :::::: Aiden o Shea got a black card just before half time, now in the heat of championship football no team would want to loose their best midfielder even though a sub can replace him. For instance Donegal :: M Murphy get a black card before half time, of course it would affect Donegal. Same with Dublin. MD Mcauley gets a black card :: of course it would affect Dublin. It will be very interesting as the championship progresses how refs are going to deal with the black card. I hope it is consistent

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 05/02/2014 18:02:49    1541940

Look I am also convinced that Meath will beat Dublin. But I'm even more convinced Dublin will win all ire. This is simply cause Meath are solely focused on Leinster if we beat Kildare I'd really fancy chancdsy v dubs. That said Dublin would dust themselves downy and steam role to another all ire. Meath would probably get beat in quarter.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/02/2014 18:03:23    1541941

SamOnErrigal

Don't forget Htaem that in 2010 after Cork won Sam ,everybody including the bookmakers really fancied Cork to win in 2011.


That's true of course and I know there are no guarantees in sport, that's what makes it so great, if we all knew who was going to win we wouldn't bother watching sports.

My reason for believe Dublin are going to win this year is simple, look at all the flaws of the main contenders = Kerry aren't what they once were but remain a constant danger, Tyrone, Cork and Donegal are rebuilding and Mayo can't be trusted to win an All-Ireland. But what's Jim Gavin's biggest problem?......figuring out which top players to drop to the bench or even off the squad, it's not a bad complaint to have!

But again I stress, nothing is guaranteed.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 05/02/2014 18:20:57    1541952

I think one side of my mouth is probably going to contradict the other here but anyway, would you really worry more about Tyrone or Meath than say Kerry or Mayo

_________________

I personally would yeah, But i cant speak for everyone. I'd imagine most Dublin fans will shoot me down but its just my belief.

Look, Dont get me wrong, We are All Ireland champions, We have won two of the last 3 all irelands, No matter who Dublin come up against in the summer, I will be confident that Dublin will beat them including Meath and Tyrone.

But Tyrone and Meath are two teams who are up and coming. Meath worry me because theres a good chance we will meet them in Leinster and i reckon if Dublin arent fully on the ball, They can be beaten by an improving Meath team another year further on in their transition. A team who Leinster probably means more to than Dublin.

Tyrone are a team who just, They always make me worry. Cant even explain why, They just do. I don't like going into a Dublin v Tyrone game.

Playing Kerry (who we have beaten in 6 of our previous 7 meetings between league and championship, with most of their senior players another year older and new fellas yet to have proven themselves, And a side unlikely to change their philosophy and their style of play) dont worry me. Mayo, Same story. Feel they had their best chance of winning sam last year and they didnt do it.

Please Htaem, Excuse the following as i know it sounds arrogant but i dont mean it to come across as such, Its just my opinion.

But in my view the only team capable of stopping Dublin, Are Dublin themselves. They have a huge panel, So many luxuries. To think they brought on Rock, O'Gara, Kev Mc, etc in games last year, Then add that to the fact you have guys like Costello and Hudson coming though now aswell, Its scary. If that panel can keep themselves focused and if they approach each game with 5% more determination and hunger than last year, Then they will win the All Ireland. If they dont, They will lose to the eventual winners. If however they lose focus, Their summer could be over before its even begun.

But such as the professionalism of Jim Gavin, His management team and more importantly, The players chomping at the bit in reserve to get in to that team, I cant see us right now taken anything for granted, And if Dublin dont take anything for granted in 2014, Then you will be hard pressed to find anybody elses name on Sam Maguire in September.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 05/02/2014 18:58:14    1541965

Wayno
No team is unbeatable , we won 2 in a row in 06 and 07 and lost the 3 in a row in 08 to Tyrone and we had a savage team that came back and won the allireland the year after in 09, but saying that I still think ye win the all Ireland this year and best of luck to ye.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 05/02/2014 19:18:35    1541977

wayno

Ok fair enough I take your points regarding Kerry and Mayo, who now could be seen as older challengers who've failed to get the job done in recent terms, obviously Kerry have gotten the job done 36 times in their history so there's no question about their mental strength!

Certainly you're right about Leinster meaning more to Meath at the minute, but the same can be said of Kildare aswell who I think will do well under Ryan and have to be seen as real contenders for Leinster also. Tyrone fit roughly into the same category as Meath and Kildare, they are an up and coming team who have the potential to be very dangerous and their style can be difficult to deal with aswell.

Anyway finally I don't take your last point as arrogance, it's just an opinion and one which I happen to agree with, there seems to be this idea that you have to be false modest and you can't speak truthfully about your own team, I don't see it that way, call it as it is. Fact of the matter is Jim Gavin does have an excellent squad to pick from (by far the strongest in Ireland) and that's why the Dubs are clear favourites to win Sam and rightfully so.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 05/02/2014 19:32:12    1541986