Thanks for the link, so Dublin are only 3rd in the roll of honour. Looks like they don't often take it seriously - much like this year.

oldsam_newsam (Meath) - Posts: 638 - 18/01/2016 20:53:19    1817508

Cheers Royaldunne. Hopefully wee cross paths once again in the Summer.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 19/01/2016 09:49:41    1817540

There seems to be an awful lot of love for Mickey Burke and his displays at chb. Indeed his effort is always genuine but he would get torn a new one by a mobile forward like Kilkenny or Heslin. I fear Meath are not progressing and have still no genuine game plan.

Judgemental (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 19/01/2016 12:58:44    1817616

Royal Dunne who would you put in goals actually name your preferred 15 if all were fit ?

Judgemental (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 19/01/2016 13:01:04    1817618

I agree that Paddy's shortcomings are becoming an issue but to be honest, I would have less faith in McHugh. It's strange that for the past three or four years these have been the only two goalkeepers involved come championship. Surely there are alternatives but then again, maybe no one else is interested in coming in if they're only going to be playing second fiddle to O'Rourke. Why should they bother putting in the effort if they will only spend the next few months in the dugout? Chances are, McHugh won't play for us for the rest of the year. Other goalkeepers in the county will be aware of this and realise that their time would be much better spent helping out their club.

MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 526 - 19/01/2016 13:22:46    1817629

Ziggy as you say two Meath players got into the team of the week but the half back got a bit of a roasting in the second half- not what I would expect for a team of the week player !. I thought overall our midfield has been poor when put under a little bit of pressure (you need two players in this area with a high work rate and Reilly is still our best forward) and we do need a CB . Too much lateral passing among our forwards holding up the ball and then passing to the opposition. These are parts of our game that needs to be vastly improved if we are to improve from last year. Kicking the ball under no pressure to the opposition sweeper is not what I expect from inter county players

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 19/01/2016 13:34:29    1817634

Browncows

Wasn't just the half back line.Some of the reason was because of a sending off to a defender.MOD didn't really make a change in defence

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 19/01/2016 14:28:02    1817665

Browncows

I am a huge fan of Brian Power and he will only get better.I would look to have him CHB

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 19/01/2016 14:31:13    1817668

There seems to be an awful lot of love for Mickey Burke and his displays at chb. Indeed his effort is always genuine but he would get torn a new one by a mobile forward like Kilkenny or Heslin. I fear Meath are not progressing and have still no genuine game plan.

Judgemental (Meath) - Posts:4 - 19/01/2016 12:58:44 1817616


Well said Judgemental

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1994 - 19/01/2016 14:50:25    1817679

Meath have no proper full back, no centre half back ,no fully developed midfielder ,no excellent playmaker at 11 and no well established 14. Loads of half backs maybe one genuine corner back loads of half forwards only one heavy scorer. They rely on Reilly who is a good player but offen drops the head when things are going bad he doesn't come across as a team player his decision making is often questionable he is good when he has no time to think.

Judgemental (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 19/01/2016 17:07:36    1817741

Wait a minute did you not hear these new Championship structures will sort everything out. We will have great players from 2018 on when they are put into practice

numberedjerseys (USA) - Posts: 369 - 19/01/2016 17:34:44    1817747

Judgemental

Ah here you are going slightly over the top..

Conor McGill - proper full back
Brian Power - proper centre half back
Bobby O'Brien - proper centre half forward.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 19/01/2016 17:37:03    1817748

Brian Power is very overrated in my opinion ziggy

TheNotorious (USA) - Posts: 14 - 19/01/2016 17:44:24    1817750

Don't think so,he will only get better too,but has to play in his proper position.Not sure he has actually done that for Meath yet..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 19/01/2016 17:48:25    1817751

The game is more complicated (and tactical) than many years ago when teams just went man to man. Nowadays, half-backs and half-forwards have to be more versatile than before (multi-task). So having plenty of both to choose from is a good position to be in. Even if many are much of a muchness rather than a few that really stand out. We had a poor full-back line in the past when Reilly was injured or when DK was CHB, but with Keoghan, McGill and possibly Smyth in the full-back line, things should be better this year. Next up is to stop teams running at us through the middle (half-back line). So players with improved physicality and athleticism needed here. We have decent inside forwards, capable of scoring plenty, but they are better suited to a team that likes to kick pass much better, more intelligently and more frequently. The problem is over the past few managers we have been more and more a running team (moving the ball through the hands to retain possession) and possibly too afraid or lacking confidence to kick pass. They need to mix things up much better. Of course the squad needs to improve their fitness levels, body strength, tackling ability and workrate. Then sort out kickouts, gameplans and develop a system of play that maximises their potential as a team.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 19/01/2016 18:42:18    1817767

Ziggy he may have potential and I hope he proves us wrong but he is not proven as half back. Bobby o Brien has potential too but he's hardly I'm the top 10 no 11s in the country. McGill looked good last year but hardly an established core. The 3 players you named are all unknowns to the rest of the country

Judgemental (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 19/01/2016 18:42:30    1817768

Ziggy, I think all three have a way to go before they are proven in these or any positions on senior team, McGill is best we have in this position but jury still out on other two. Especially O Brien. I know options are severely limited, so hopefully all three mature into decent players.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2227 - 19/01/2016 19:07:45    1817777

Judgemental,

re poor scoring averages ... I meant to say they play too much of a running game with passing through the hands; they (#5-12) need to kick pass much better and more often, let the ball into the inside forward line quicker and more directly. We have the players to do the business if they get enough quality ball into them and early. Not just half-backs and half-forwards (in particular) running at opposition trying to hand pass through them exclusively or taking wild shots at the posts (under pressure) or trying to carve out goal chances and then the move breaking down/losing possession when a point was on for sure. Graham Reilly and COS appear to be the only ones who can kick a score more likely than not. Others need to be able to do so also or else let the ball in quicker to those than can score.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 19/01/2016 19:16:13    1817780

Its obviously a wait and see,but Judgemental seemed to just dismiss that we had nobody who could even potentially fill those roles..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 19/01/2016 19:41:52    1817787

Glas

Gillespie was a really good foot passer from deep and did it often,his lose has been huge on many levels.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 19/01/2016 19:43:15    1817788