Ard Rí - I think you're a bit wide of the mark. When has Moyles been shown as this lumbering slow player that you describe? Fair enough he's no Peadar Byrne when it comes to pace but that was never what he offered. I guarantee you in a foot race he would be just as quick as Joe if not quicker. Anyway if your point is that he still has a lot to offer then I agree. You also make the point that he looked slow against the Dubs at RCB. Again I would agree with you. In the cornerback berths we need two pacey players who will haunt their man they'll be that close to them. But Moyles at CHB or CHF doesn't need exceptional pace. Neither of these positions require a guy to outrun their opponent. Even on Kennelly (who I rated as one of the best performers in the country), Kennelly's all about dropping into spaces where he can always offer his teammate an outlet. He'll run all day but not at exceptional pace. Hence the suggestion of Moyles on the likes of Kennelly is very valid.

The 2007 championship is less than 3 years ago. In our run (with a fairly ordinary management and squad), Moyles was crucial to everything. He was playing at CHF and linking up everything. I can't understand how people have forgotten this so quickly. Don't tell me a lad like Moyles has lost so much pace in that space of time that he can't fill either CHB or CHF. The lad is the unsung hero of Meath football for the last while. Filling in at fullback when it is so obvious he is not a county standard fullback. He just got on with business. If we're going to mount a serious challenge for anything this season then we need the composure of Moyles out on the pitch in a position where he can dictate play.

TheFlyingTeacup (Meath) - Posts: 286 - 26/02/2010 10:02:07    573672

Sorry Teacup but have to disagree with you here. Playing Moyles at CHB would be ok against the weaker counties and even No.3 against the stronger ones, but personally I would not be very confident with him at CHB playing in the white hot intensity of a championship match up against the likes of Cork, Tyrone, Kerry or even Dublin. He certainly had an Indian Summer so to speak against Waterford, Roscommon, Westmeath etc but with all due respect to them, these are teams are the bottom rung of the ladder in the country.

That said I am a big fan of Moyles and what I am basically trying to say is where would he be more benefical to the current Meath team? My opinion is that he is a better option at No.11 where he can decide when are where to run, rather than to having to keep tabs for 70 minutes on some young up and coming player with bags full of speed and energy. To be fair, he is versatile in the mould of Coyle which is a huge bonus in that he can play both in defense and attack. I like everyone else wants to see Meath reaching the bar set by the great teams in the past, we should be in Div 1 of the league and realistic All Ireland challengers and I just dont see how we would be with Moyles at No.6 - might get away with it at Full back but no.11 for me given his current age would be the better option.

I'm

Laytown Legend (None) - Posts: 424 - 26/02/2010 12:03:23    573811

TheFlyingTeacup

When you are in your early 20 s three years is nothing, indeed you are expected to improve a good deal. However when you are close to, or over the 30 mark, three years does take it's toll. Trust me I know. I agree that 2007 was his best year and he played at CHB for most of that year with Kevin Reilly at no 11. 2010 will be different. He lost a considerable amount of pace between 2008 and 2009 and at his age he won't get that back. I would play him at no 10 rather than no 11 as I think he does most damage from the wing. One way or the other it would have to be the half forwards for me. We need though to be focusing on good young players who will deliver for the future.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 26/02/2010 13:57:22    573981

Fair points from Laytown and Ard Rí. I wouldn't be averse to him playing at No. 10 or No. 11 but either way he should be in the 15. My own preference would be for him on the half forward line as well but this thing of writing him off is nonsense.

TheFlyingTeacup (Meath) - Posts: 286 - 26/02/2010 14:23:25    574021

Just on a side note, any who does the Fantasy Football in the Premiership .... check out who is leading it overall!

TheFlyingTeacup (Meath) - Posts: 286 - 26/02/2010 14:25:10    574025

#1 in the world out of over 2 million players - the man should be player manager!!

Royal_Gunner (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 26/02/2010 14:36:56    574045

Unbeleiveable! - he's some 500 points ahead of me!

Laytown Legend (None) - Posts: 424 - 26/02/2010 15:19:43    574120

Player manager?

TheFlyingTeacup (Meath) - Posts: 286 - 26/02/2010 17:21:03    574290

Just looking back on the 2009 championship who would people rate as the best performing centre-half backs that season? Brian Flanagan, maybe but most certainly Graham Canty and Mike McCarthy. Not spring chickens either of them but routinely displaying all the qualities you would look for in an inter-county centre-back, a big physical presence to anchor midfield, comfortable on the ball, good distribution and tidy man-markers... remind you of anyone?

In the modern game it's often the wing-back who has to drop back and offer coverage in front of the full-back line while the centre-back is still required to be an accomplished man-marker, one of the qualities that made McGeeney so dominant in his position. For me this rules McGuinness out as a centre-back in the long-term. Right now, as long as he's fit, Moyles should be started in his best position, centre-half back.

McGuinness reads the game well, wins breaks and supplies good foot-passes to the forwards but these are all qualities you would look for in a modern half-forward. It's what makes Galvin so effecitive for Kerry. Moyles at 6 and McGuinness at 12.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 28/02/2010 11:37:00    574996

I am going back to this topic again as I think that Anthony had a particularly poor game on Saturday night. Now I will make allowances for the fact that it is his first game in the league, did he play in the O'Byrne cup?. However his decision to come constantly come back to defend when there was no need for it and leave his man to set up attack after attack has to be questioned. I don't recall him making any vital moves when he moved back. Queeney was another who moved back repeatedly but in his case he did make two vital interceptions. Moyles also gifted them at least one point because of what I would describe as a lazy pass. He was put at wing forward, a decision I would agree with, but he must do the job of a wing forward first, he then can track back when necessary but must not leave his man with an acre of space in which to operate.
Having said all that I think Meath have a death wish at the moment. They should have more consideration for us auld fellows with weak hearts. How many times is that this year that they let a five or six point lead slip and were left hanging on at the end. One thing about Meath teams of the past was that if the were even three points up with 15 minutes to go you were not going to catch them as every player would defend that lead with his very life. They wouldn't necessarily all move back but would not be giving some of the wayward passes that we witnessed last Saturday. If Eamon O' Brien does nothing else for his tenure in that position but to instill this attitude back into his players, then he will have earned his keep.

On another point if the mark is retained, and I believe it should be, then Mark Ward has a future with Meath as his high fielding is a joy to behold. The problem for Mark is that without the mark he does not have the ability to break free with the ball when he catches it. Also having being awarded the mark he tends to rush his shot often giving away possession. He should be made slow it down until a player is in position. Crawford also will have a big part to play this year but age will catch up with him in the next few seasons.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 09/03/2010 12:04:51    582993

I feel that the defensive system of O'Brien always means that Moyles will be utilsed, but not as a man on man marker. He is too loose for a place in the full back line but O'Brien likes to use him in the half forward line, then dropping back to cover. I'd continue with him as a wing back/ wing forward, but would like to see him pushing further up the field.
At the minute we could have the six best forwards in Ireland, but the sole proviso going out on the field as a team is to keep the opposition's score down. Maybe this harks back to that dark night in Limerick in the qualifiers two years ago, but we are simply too defensively set up.
When we are behind we throw the shackles off but when in front we get nervous and fail to bury teams. Both the Armagh and Westmeath games in Navan are perfect examples of this, as was the Limerick and Roscommon qualifiers last year.

Roger (Meath) - Posts: 481 - 09/03/2010 13:00:31    583080

I'd still like to see Moyles tried again at 11. He has the ability to pick out passes. It was his first game this year and we all know how it takes a while to get your eye in again.

TheFlyingTeacup (Meath) - Posts: 286 - 09/03/2010 13:33:54    583115

I agree with the Tea saucer that moyles is worth a shot at 11 but then where does Joe play since Queeney at 14 is an absolute must! If Moyles is to play at 11 then i think Joe and Queeney would have to be played in the full forward line which is unlikely to happen! I also feel that EOB will start Joe at 11 in champo no matter what! Moyles should definately be given a chance at 6, he can pick out passes very well and his lack of pace wouldnt be exposed as badly here as it was when he played at 3 last season, in this case McGuinness could be moved to wing back! The reality is Moyles is unlikely to start for Meath in the championship this year, but I feel our defeat to Cork in 2007 was caused partly by his absence and he still has much to offer!

GGisGod (Meath) - Posts: 15 - 09/03/2010 16:08:12    583279

Teacup will now also respond to names such as Teaspoon and Teasaucer.

GGisGod (Meath) - Posts: 15 - 09/03/2010 19:11:40    583548

It's crazy to think that some people here think he isn't worth his place.
One of the few intelligent, classy footballers that we have and just because he's over 30 lads reckon he's finished.
Put him centre back and we'll be a different team in terms of both attacking and defending.
Lets not forget the disastrous defeats we've had in the last few years when he hasn't been available.

Coylers Elbow (Meath) - Posts: 1075 - 09/03/2010 19:19:46    583555

GGisGod

Moyles is now in his thirties. At this age a year is a long time in football and 2007 is now 3 years ago. At no 6 I think he would be an absolute disaster. It's the half forwards or nothing. All right if he is introduced or moved back late in the game, but definitely not started. McGuinness is fine here and even Regan played well the last day. I have a feeling that Anthony will not be on the starting 15 come next May.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 09/03/2010 19:52:18    583609

I believe Moyles is worth his place, but only at 3 or 6. I think he would be better off used as an impact sub than trying to fit him into the team as a forward! If M Ward hits another dip in form than maybe he could be tried at 8 or 9!!

MyGeneration (Meath) - Posts: 124 - 09/03/2010 20:28:54    583663

I think Moyles has to play at 11 or 6.

TheFlyingTeacup (Meath) - Posts: 286 - 10/03/2010 09:40:16    583839

I still think Moyles has something positive to offer this Meath team and think he will do a job wherever he is picked.
Some say he struggled on Walsh in the semi last year but if I remember correct he slipped for the goal and also how many experienced full backs have been taken to the cleaners by Walsh.
His distribution is key also and from I have seen the last two years there is too much lateral and short passing and when we do go forward a lot of the time the balls can be quite aimless.
The strength of this Meath team is in it's forwards so we need to give the service to allow them to do the damage they can.

Royal_Gunner (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 10/03/2010 10:39:47    583885

Look, why attempt to fix something if it aint broken.Cormac McGuinness is not great turning with a ball ,remember the county final with Seneschalstown a couple of years back.He lined out as a wing forward, I think that day, was terrible and was eventually taken off.Yet have McGuinness facing the play and he is a different animal altogether.
He filled the troublesome centre half back spot last year and was to many our Player of the Year. O.K he may be a little loose on occasions,might drift out of the middle but the Navan man, who rarely wastes a ball sorted out a big problem for us in 2009.He is again our best option for the number 6 jersey.

Anthony Moyles on the other hand is not a full back,far,far too loose a la Laois 3 or 4 years back in Navan and he has not the type of physique to handle the Tommy Walshs out there.If you are going to play Anthony try one of the half forward positions.

The full back position is still our biggest worry. If Kevin Reilly is fit then he is the man for the job but--.Some may think me mad with this suggestion but in the early stages of last year I always felt Caoimhin King was in the wrong full line. Would like to see him get a run at number 3 rather than 14.

Auldfella (Meath) - Posts: 472 - 10/03/2010 11:52:58    583993