I don't know how Mayo can win. Blanket definitely isn't the answer. I think playing complete football and hoping for a bit of luck is the way to go. If any team deserve some luck its probably Mayo but I will be supporting the Dubs in the final.
As a mayo man, i think we should push right up on cluxtons kickouts, but we need to put lads like doherty, regan, mcloughlin and diarmuid o'connor up on him as they are quick to react and pacey if he does go short. And if he does go long, we can have aidan o'shea and seamie o'shea in the middle who are more than capable of winning ball in the air.
Anyone thinking that playing open football against the Dubs is the best option is in cloud cuckoo land. All you do then is allow them to blow you away with pace/athleticism.
Need to get the tempo of the match down. Would also go with the twin tower approach and try to put goals on them, though Mayo would need to deliver good ball in not like terrible deliveries in the semi last year.
Replying To GeniusGerry: "Mayo can do it, the negativity among their own fans really surprises me. Kerry showed yesterday in the first half that Dublin are vulnerable. Calling the goals gifts is laughable, they pushed up and forced errors. Cluxton was a mess under a bit of pressure and it's a pity the half time whistle came when it did.
Mayo have the players to do the same and have better backs than Kerry. Put AOS in on top of their FB line and close cluxton down at every opportunity. Even then it'll be a long shot but this defeatist attitude that seems to be common among their fans is depressing. I hope the players have more belief in themselves."
You can't go into an AI final with negative thoughts in your mind. Dublin are very good but beatable. Kerry could have beaten them on Sunday so why not Mayo. Talk about Kerry''s goals being gifts is rubbish. They were opportunistic strikes by alert, confident forwards. A high percentage of scores in all games are the result of turn-overs or enforced errors. The high ball into the square did not work for Kerry as the ref failed to punish fouls on Donagh, so it''s unlikely that O'Shea, with history from earlier in the year, would get much protection either.
Replying To GameOfTyrones: "Nope not mixing them up .Diarmaid was playing fine until injury, Great game against Kildare.Been a little quiet lately but he tips away with distant points here and there.
Cillian has had one or two good games ,he played decent against us and he stepped it up when they played Westmeath but I don't think he played amazing the last day against Tipp ,yes he always gets high scores but he does take the frees . Been missing some of them to lately. I have watched him from his very first game of the championship. His very first game against London he was black carded after 5 mins. Galway he didn't show up . Fermanagh not really, Kildare his brother and Evan Regan really outshun him,westmeath he had a good game(although missed a lot of frees and scored mostly from play if i recall correctly), against us a decent one , against Tipp off form again .
I know Mayo fans reading this hold him in serious high regard but his form is very much like Mayo's this year ,stop start . I always thought he was an amazing player but this year he isn't as good as usual , he may have a cracker of a final and prove me wrong.Evan Regan is their second highest scorer and for the life of me I don't know why he has been dropped for Doherty. Maybe due to inexperience against bigger teams or because he is not exactly a physically strong player like Andy or Cillian I don't know but I really think he should be given a start considering his speed and finese that he would bring against Dublin ,not to mention his free taking from the right side of the pitch which is pretty decent,no Dean Rock but very decent."
Jees couldn't agree about our c o Connor he's second to dean rock for championship top scorer ..there's not many intercounty teams he wouldn't make in fact dublin would probably be the only one ! I'd have regan n ahead of doc tho . And to b fair to Doherty he's scored goals this year for them