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Obviously nobody's saying he should've dropped the best 3 players in the county during his tenure but there was a balance he could've struck during his time which he failed to do. Don't be intentionally obtuse
Iakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 15 - 06/06/2025 11:42:35 2615295 Link 0 |
Once again someone incapable of having an actual conversation without getting defensive. No he shouldn't have dropped those three; but there were times when they didn't need to play. We fielded a complete B team against Longford in the O Byrne Cup in 2024, players were brought in who wouldn't have made the U20s team, we won, then a week later they were all discarded and we went full strength against Louth in Kinnegad, a Louth team with 5/6 regulars in their team. Surely that was the time to be trying lads out and seeing where they were at, players who didn't perform against Longford weren't seen again. What was the purpose of playing lads who wouldn't make the 20s panel one week and then discarding the whole lot of them and playing a full strength outfit the following week. So the long term planning didn't seem to be in the thinking, which is completely their choice, but a raft of retirements later and we are back in Division 3 and struggling in the Tailteann Cup yet for some reason a lot of supporters are up in arms because we didn't beat a Limerick team who arguably should have beaten us 12 months ago in the league when we had a much stronger panel.
OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 79 - 06/06/2025 13:17:50 2615319 Link 2 |
Yes I agree. When you compare the team that started against Derry in All Ireland Group stage match last year against the team that's down to start tomorrow I cant find any player that Dessie should have started last year. Whittaker the only player I seen this year that if Dessie had stayed on and the players didn't leave the panel that would maybe get into the starting 15. Only 5 lads that started last June down to start tomorrow (Gonoud, Wallace, Connellan, McCartan, Loughlin). Lynam would also be starting tomorrow if he was fit and im not sure whats up with Baker this year. That leaves J Daly, Drumm, Maguire, Dolan, Lynch, A. McCormack, O Toole and Heslin who have left the panel. McCormack in goal wouldnt start before J Daly Smyth at full back wouldnt start before Maguire Scahill wouldnt start before Drumm J Moran wouldnt start before J Dolan Harte might if fully fit start before Lynch McCabe wouldnt start before A. McCormack K O Sullivan wouldnt start before Lynam B Kelly wouldnt start before R O Toole S Smith wouldnt start before Heslin Whittkar might have started before Baker I cant understand how Robbie Forde or Danny McCartan were not used last week or aren't starting tomorrow, both these players are players that Dessie broke into the team. B Kelly was dropped off the panel last year and has getting game time before them this year. Every manager has different opinions about players. Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 553 - 06/06/2025 16:48:51 2615389 Link 0 |