Naysayer - Not at all. I wouldn't say people on about negative football see it entirely as 13 men behind the ball. It does take an impressive workrate. Players know their jobs when without the ball. Once they regain possession then players are up in support. There's a number of counties dropping back players alright though and you'd have to wonder what their at. Players seem back for sake of it with no method to their play at all. When there's a clash of these polar opposite approaches, personally I'd be more impressed of the attacking approach if it wins out. There'll be some interesting battles of both approaches to come.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 23/07/2014 21:37:47    1625060

I prefer positive defensive football over negative attacking

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 23/07/2014 21:46:20    1625066

I don't personally consider "Defensive football" and "Negative Football" to be the same thing.

Negative football for me would be a team using Rugby tackles, biting, eye gouging, punching, stamping on players and blantantly Injuring an opponent etc. Basically serious Cynical foul's, that stop opposition teams from playing at all costs, without any other game plan in place.

Now defensive football is a very different thing, especially when performed by a team that know how to defend and execute such a game plan with an attacking edge. That in Itself is art, and a joy to watch by those who like to see all the skills our game has on display.

Legendzxix Using the term "Negative Football" v Attacking football in the title of this thread clearly sets your own stall out, which is you consider all defensive footbal to be negative.

Then again, anybody from a county that has consistantly been knocked out of the All Ireland series by "Defensive" sides. Will no doubt fail to see the difference between "Defensive" and "Negative". As clearly getting knocked out of the All Ireland series itself, will be seen as a massively "negative" thing.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 24/07/2014 12:40:42    1625254

Negative football for me would be a team using Rugby tackles, biting, eye gouging, punching, stamping on players and blantantly Injuring an opponent etc. Basically serious Cynical foul's, that stop opposition teams from playing at all costs, without any other game plan in place.

Those aren't cynical fouls they are assaults. Cynical fouls in this context are deliberate fouls where the punishment doesn't fit the crime. For instance, when Donegal won sam they had perfected a low impact foul that didn't warrant a booking in the current guise, miles out the field any time they lost possession. They weren't actually being punished at all while robbing their opponents of a scoring chance. Most of the fouls you mentioned are red cards, which unless it is the last kick of the game, doesn't really help your team at all.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 24/07/2014 13:16:17    1625281

Should the title of this thread not read ATTACKING FOOTBALL V ULSTER FOOTBALL?

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 932 - 24/07/2014 14:03:32    1625325

Ruanua can you please explain what you mean by the term "negative attacking "?

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 932 - 24/07/2014 14:07:01    1625330

DUBJOHN
County: Dublin
Posts: 150

1625330
Ruanua can you please explain what you mean by the term "negative attacking "?

Jaysus D.J. you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you? And here we were thinking all Dubs were savvy, knowing & at the cutting edge. At least you keep your posts short, you do have that much in your favour!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 24/07/2014 14:29:50    1625349

Rua i think you've just proved me correct! you're still trying to read my last post aren't you!

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 932 - 24/07/2014 15:17:13    1625405

Apologises rua that last post of mine was meant for mucky!

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 932 - 24/07/2014 15:19:27    1625406

@GaryMc82 - ah sure look it's a negative approach, everyone's entitled to their opinion. As I've said I did enjoy the Ulster final. Hardly a need to say any more. Regards championships that have slipped away, sure tis all part of the championship unless you win it out! Derry might want to focus on getting through rounds themselves and as a division 1 team not get undone by lower league opposition. I'm sure ye'd like to be in Tipperary's shoes, who beat Longford, and are preparing to take on Galway.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 24/07/2014 17:48:52    1625501

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 3436

1625501
@GaryMc82 - ah sure look it's a negative approach, everyone's entitled to their opinion. As I've said I did enjoy the Ulster final. Hardly a need to say any more. Regards championships that have slipped away, sure tis all part of the championship unless you win it out! Derry might want to focus on getting through rounds themselves and as a division 1 team not get undone by lower league opposition. I'm sure ye'd like to be in Tipperary's shoes, who beat Longford, and are preparing to take on Galway.

Ah it's not a negative approach at all, It's a defensive approach. It's only negative to those getting their ass handed to them.

I agree about Championships slipping away. I wish Derry had been part of a weaker Provincial Championship, as It would be easier to win matches and build momentum. To be able to reach the All Ireland QF's with relative ease would be such a boost to our players, and they would be really up for it every year, as they would be straight into the glamour games in Croker.

Instead we get Donegal in the Ulster QF, in what was massive match in the North West, that had been built up all year after the draw was made. A massive home game, with huge expectation on Derry to actually win this time. We lost narrowly, and this was devasting on many levels as it was at home and we were favourites. And are told to pick ourselves up for Longford in a round 1 qualifier!!

Attacking football and lack of motivation for the Qualifiers rd 1, the reason why we didn't win Ulster and aren't going to feature in the All Ireland QF's this year.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 24/07/2014 19:49:48    1625567

That's right Gary, if only Kerry fans could see their team win an All-Ireland or 2 they might lose that chip on their shoulder!
That earlier description you had about what negative football is - do you believe there has ever been a negative team in football then? Because I have never heard of, or seen, any side play in a manner like the one you described. In my definition of negative football, and of course it differs for everyone, a referee having to tell a team to send one of their 7 defenders into the other half of the field before he throws the ball in for the second half would be a good example. I consider a team who line up with 7 backs in one half and 5 forwards in the other when the ball is about to be thrown in to be negative, but I appreciate lots of people see that differently.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 24/07/2014 20:15:46    1625577

i would just call that defensive and cautious

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 24/07/2014 20:24:22    1625583

Fair enough Fabio, but for me it says that one team is more preoccupied with thinking of how they can stop their opponents scoring than trying to score themselves, dedicating as they are more resources to their defensive end of the pitch than the attacking end when a 50:50 ball is contested in the middle. I consider that to be a negative approach. In your view is there a limit? If they had 11 players in defence and 2 in attack for the start of the half is this team then just being a little extra defensive and cautious, but not negative? Of course how they would get the ball to their 2 forwards who would be surrounded by 6 defenders, would be fascinating from a tactical perspective I am sure.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 24/07/2014 20:44:58    1625591

exactly you have to find the correct balance..donegal for instance lacked enough of a balance in 2011 most notably the semi final whereas they had an excellent balance in 2012 putting up great scores in the process

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 24/07/2014 21:11:02    1625606

Would you say Donegal were negative in 2011 then Fabio? I believe they were, as were Dublin in the infamous 14 point game, but I am sure others would say it was a perfect defensive strategy and had McFadden goaled instead of pointed it would have been a perfect plan.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 24/07/2014 21:22:05    1625614

Ohtobearosie
Did you not see that Ulster were the only Provience to show an increase in Attendences in this years championship. So why are more people going to watch so called poor , ugly games in Ulster as the southern media more or less refers to the Ulster championship.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 24/07/2014 22:00:50    1625632

well in the 2nd half against dublin i would say they were way over cautious when they were clearly in control and should have pushed on and won the game especially with the extra man...inexperienced side though at the time and things were going well for them so i can see why they were

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 24/07/2014 22:01:29    1625633

@GaryMc82 - You're proving my point as well. Supporters of negative football tend to get very negative. The qualifiers give all counties an opportunity sure we availed of it from Q2 in 09.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 24/07/2014 22:01:55    1625634

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 3437

1625634
@GaryMc82 - You're proving my point as well. Supporters of negative football tend to get very negative. The qualifiers give all counties an opportunity sure we availed of it from Q2 in 09.

Ah now Legendzxix, did I start a thread with "Negative football" in the title? Did I brand defensive football as Negative?
No dude, It is you radiating those negative vibes.

Clearly you experienced something negative in your past as a Kerry fan, possibly against one or more of these Defensive football team's. As a result you now associate negativity with defensive football, most likely due to those negative feelings you harbor deep inside.

You need to let go, and realize that diversity is in football styles is a good thing. Even if some prefer the defensive approach over the all out attacking approach.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 25/07/2014 13:53:32    1625844