Agree Bobby o Brien is unproven at county senior level and most people in county have not seen him play a lot
But it's no secret to the people who know that he has everything it takes to be a top no.11 and this year he is really excelling and I am looking forward to seeing him finally flourish for the county
Also Brian power not the finished article but definitely on the road to being a solid inter county player most likely at no.6

head4dblackspot (Meath) - Posts: 513 - 19/01/2016 19:50:16    1817792

Browncows, I agree, as I posted before I thought Finn started well but was quite loose. Still a good player and is doing well and hopefully has a future . I see him being picked on a best of panel team by Meathgaa5. I wouldn't go as far as that. I would probably put Douglas at the moment ahead of Finn - physically stronger and very good distribution which is very important for anyone around the midfield area.

oldsam_newsam (Meath) - Posts: 638 - 19/01/2016 19:59:29    1817795

GlasagusOr- I agree with a lot of what you say, however most of our forwards over complicate the forward play with too many incorrect options including overdoing the lateral passing and poor passing with very little long accurate passing. Corner forwards should be able to shoot from inside 25m. I am always more interested in someone's ability to contest and deliver accurately and defenders should be able to compete man to man if they are good enough irrespective of how the game changes (all the good teams have players who can do so) I do know that conditions are difficult for forwards at this time of year and hopefully things will improve in better conditions.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 19/01/2016 20:15:10    1817800

Gillespie is a massive loss, shaping up as a top class midfielder who could read the game very well, is there any chance he may be back?

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2227 - 19/01/2016 20:30:17    1817806

I wasn't trying to run anyone down Ziggy . You actually proved my point by naming 3 players that nobody outside of Meath ever heard of.They are all good players and there are plenty of good players on the team I was just saying we haven't had an established spine for a a while and we are relying on a lot of hope as usual

Judgemental (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 19/01/2016 20:43:04    1817811

Carroll probably had better credentials than anyone to play 11

Judgemental (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 19/01/2016 20:46:58    1817815

I would agree that we don't have a established spine..

As for Carroll? Nah was never a fan of his..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 19/01/2016 20:51:30    1817820

If we are basing everything on potential and credentials as we seem to be we could do worse than him.

Judgemental (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 19/01/2016 21:10:59    1817826

Carroll always played well against Kildare when loosely marked but he was far too often turned over in the tackle. He's young enough to get back in there if wants it enough and can improve certain areas of his game. I'm hoping Cillian o Sullivan can fill that void

pjgill (Meath) - Posts: 29 - 19/01/2016 21:41:25    1817831

Carroll never got a run of games. Without doubt the best play maker we have but he is gone for now. I would suggest he needs to bulk up as he always got caught up on the tackle. As for O Brien i have seen him a few times but again size is going to be an issue but i hope that is not the case. O Sullivan remind me of a young Tommy Down in that he has a have a go attitude and will probably be there. Finn IMO has been the most impressive of the newcomers and may make it. CHB is a problem and Power is in no way near the solution. He does not even play there for his club (the guys they have there is a great prospect, Mc Gowan i think) and i would have Finn playing any day before Power at the moment. You will find it will be between Menton and Tobin.

The one area we have to the balance between size and speed. We must get to a settled team in the first round of the league and stick with it as if we have any ambition of doing anything everyone needs to be aligned.

pretender (Meath) - Posts: 358 - 20/01/2016 08:09:00    1817840

I think you're being a bit kind to Carroll Pretender. He was on the panel for long enough and never established himself. Lived off that performance against Kildare & never got close to repeating it.

SmallHouse (Meath) - Posts: 291 - 20/01/2016 09:23:01    1817846

Carroll not aggressive enough.Bobby O'Brien is quite strong and without question more aggressive than Carroll.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 20/01/2016 11:03:52    1817876

I don't think McGill is a top class CB but he's the best CB we have. He's had one maybe two good games in the green and gold jersey, unproven as far as I'm concerned. There's no one gonna take his spot once he's back in though.

RedMeath12 (Meath) - Posts: 117 - 20/01/2016 11:15:08    1817883

I would not agree that he is the best CB - He may be in the future but he will have to prove that. Finn is the better of the CB's I saw during the 3 games this year, however, he is not a wing back.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 20/01/2016 12:19:15    1817904

Just to be quite clear, Carroll wasn't dropped off panel, he decided to remove himself, so talk of him playing himself back in ain't going to happen. Now he may return in future if things change.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 20/01/2016 20:46:55    1818113

Jesus great to see Longford can announce a team a few days in advance...
Maybe our beloved county board could take a leaf out of that book and not leave us all turning up on Sunday with no idea who'll be starting...
I won't hold my breath

anyone willing to suggest a 15???

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1994 - 21/01/2016 14:18:36    1818297

Jesus Brian
What difference does it make who's starting
Are you not going if you don't like the starting line up ???
Buy the programme when you get there and you'll know then. What the big deal???

head4dblackspot (Meath) - Posts: 513 - 21/01/2016 14:48:31    1818303

A bit OTT Brian..

I don't know about anyone else,but I would rather us lose sunday and win against Armagh.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 21/01/2016 15:37:34    1818327

Obviously it would be better to beat Armagh, but why can't we win both games Ziggy? Bad attitude to have, should want to win them all regardless of the competition

Meathgaa5 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 21/01/2016 17:47:03    1818362

Meathgaa

of course..

I just remember the last time we won the O'Byrne Cup,we played Down away in the league a week later and we got well beaten..

Spose my point is winning the O'Byrne Cup will mean little if we lose the following week.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 21/01/2016 18:19:04    1818368