No, to be fair if Meath football wasn't at a low ebb then you wouldn't see half the amount of replies to this thread. I think we all know that this team has dramatically under-achieved over the past five years. Has there been a more talented crop of forwards available to a Meath manager since since the late eighties? I don't think so. Even when Boylan stepped down as manager he was quick to point out in an interview that there are a lot of talented footballers in Meath. The All-Ireland itself hasn't been genuinely competitive for years. Asides from Kerry or Tyrone there haven't been any serious challengers since Galway declined as a force. Cork will get there, probably next year and may go on to dominate football for some time.

But we should at least have won a Leinster by now. Dublin have gone through a few managers and have been vulnerable on numerous occasions, this year being a prime example.

Problem as I see it is that while we can match the big teams in terms of scoring power and physicality our management teams seem to be about a decade behind everyone else and that's being kind. A lot of these lads have All-Ireland medals in their pockets or have some association with Sean Boylan but just how qualified are they to manage an inter-county side?

Tyrone in 2008 were working with a lecturer in sports science, they had a sports psychologist working with players on a one-to-one basis, they set specific goals for players in training and they developed a quick foot-passing system that could slice through the blanket defence. Kerry had a very similar set-up, they had fitness programmes tailored towards players' ages so the older heads like Mike McCarthy and Darragh O'Se could prolong their careers. That's where the bar is set right now. With Colm Brady departed from the back-room I think Meath are further than ever from reaching that standard.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 08/03/2010 21:23:02    582724

sorry Ollie ,if you think Dublin are vulnerable this year ,you would want to think again.I think they are putting together a serious squad of players 3 out of 3 in the league and with an injury list as long as my arm when they get there injured players back they will be still the team to beat in leinster .

DELGADO (Dublin) - Posts: 72 - 10/03/2010 16:55:31    584362

kildare will win leinster this year,in my opinion dublin are still short of being a top team but should still have too much for us come championship time, but kildare are the only team in leinster that actually seem to be improving. dublin will take 2 or three years to build a new team, and we have been at a standstill since 01 with no sigh of improvement im afraid.

millhouse (Meath) - Posts: 892 - 10/03/2010 17:25:18    584415

DELGADO
County: Dublin
Posts: 56

584362 sorry Ollie ,if you think Dublin are vulnerable this year ,you would want to think again.I think they are putting together a serious squad of players 3 out of 3 in the league and with an injury list as long as my arm when they get there injured players back they will be still the team to beat in leinster .

I meant 2009, although Dublin are still there for the taking. Right now they have an edge on most teams in country in terms of fitness. Gilroy's training regime sounds intense, can't understand why it's being permitted given recent concerns about player burn-out. Might come back to haunt ye in the long-term.

Dublin are still lacking as a footballing side. Everything goes through McConnell and Fennell at midfield, your half-back line can't kick a ball, Cullen would ideally be back there but again, another star frozen out? Fitness ain't everything.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 10/03/2010 17:48:52    584464

I'll go out on a limb by saying I never fancied Brian Cullen as a tight enough defender for Inter County football.Sure he could spray passes with the outside of his foot here there and everywhere,maybe he'd be more suited to playing in the half-forward line because he can kick a nice point,but he's way too loose playing as a defender.

johnboywalton58 (Meath) - Posts: 71 - 10/03/2010 19:08:07    584573

johnboywalton58
County: Meath
Posts: 52

584573 I'll go out on a limb by saying I never fancied Brian Cullen as a tight enough defender for Inter County football.Sure he could spray passes with the outside of his foot here there and everywhere,maybe he'd be more suited to playing in the half-forward line because he can kick a nice point,but he's way too loose playing as a defender.

Yeah, I know more than a few Dubs who have said the same and they all claim that his best form in a Dublin jersey came as a wing-forward. Well able to kick a football though.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 11/03/2010 16:26:13    585450

its getting from bad to worse, good teams dont loose to tipp, kildare went down there and won by a cricket score, a very bad laois team scored 24 times against the same westmeath team that we struggled to beat a week ago, i think any chance of getting into div 1 has gone, gone be with the days we could look forward to playing in a leinster final against the dubs and beyond,i really dont know where we go from here,i suppose we have the world cup to look forward to this summer.

millhouse (Meath) - Posts: 892 - 14/03/2010 18:37:52    587772

millhouse
County: Meath
Posts: 368

587772 its getting from bad to worse, good teams dont loose to tipp, kildare went down there and won by a cricket score, a very bad laois team scored 24 times against the same westmeath team that we struggled to beat a week ago, i think any chance of getting into div 1 has gone, gone be with the days we could look forward to playing in a leinster final against the dubs and beyond,i really dont know where we go from here,i suppose we have the world cup to look forward to this summer.

I'm really starting to think you aren't from Meath at all.

itsgreenandgold (Meath) - Posts: 312 - 14/03/2010 19:26:04    587823

meath football is in a very bad way!

lowerormond (Tipperary) - Posts: 1267 - 14/03/2010 20:28:20    587914

In over 30 years following Meath I would have to admit to being very worried at the display that was given in Thurles yesterday. There is something serious going on. It was embarrassing to be in Thurles yesterday as a Meath supporter, this team showed no leadership, skill, hunger or even workrate, we had a back six, three of whom would not get on a junior team and seemed intent on handpassing the ball out of defence time and time again, turning into trouble and leaving the forwards making runs and not getting a quick delivery, this was was like the Westmeath secondhalf performance, only worse. When our forwards did get the ball they ran into tight corners and rarely were in good scoring positions, sadly there seemed to be little leadership from the sideline either, long gone are the days when Seanie would be scampering up and down the sideline cajoling and encouraging, the Meath management seemed content let things pan out when some players were looking lost.
Any truth in the news that Brian Sheridan was dropped off the panel, (Big Joe looked like he had been abducted by aliens yesterday, the chap was all over the place) and Caoimhin King, who rang to say he was back in the country was told don't call us we'll call you, we can ill afford to be without someone of King's experience at the moment. Instead of talking about promotion we are once again looking over our shoulders with the prospect of Division 3 a real possibility next year, believe me it was that bad yesterday. Yes the penalty decision was bizarre but a better team than Tipperary would have beaten us by 20 points.

The only bright spot yesterday was the return of Shane O'Rourke.

DaveW (Meath) - Posts: 75 - 15/03/2010 10:08:22    588127

This thread has been running for over a week now and I was reluctant to post anything to it until this morning. Wasn't at the game yesterday so I don't know what went wrong but if memory serves me correctly it must be over 30 years since we last lost to Tipperary. I was at the game in Parnell Park between the Dubs and Monaghan though and was amazed at the quality of football served up by comparison to what Meath have been playing since January. The speed of the game, the accuracy of passes and the tackling of the man in possession were a class above anything Meath have been capable of so far this year. We will probably beat Offaly in the first round but are unlikely to progress much after that with the displays we are currently giving. We may even get humiliated again like 2008 at this rate. Knowing the Meath players I have no doubt that they are capable of a greater level but they are not just delivering it. So what is wrong. There may be two answers to this, the players are unwilling to improve their game and the management are unable to get an improved performance. I think it is both. We need a manager in there who will kick *** and not apologise for it. Eamon O' Brien is probably too nice for the position he needs to be more assertive and this may not be possible for him. Not-with-standing the fact that he is a friend of mine, if things don't improve dramatically over the next month or so I will be calling for his removal. Yes Meath are at an all time low and I can go back well over 40 years nearer to 50 in fact.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 15/03/2010 10:29:19    588146

What a disaster! Where is the passion, commitment, and desire,....and thats just the managment. We need to clear out half of this team, bring in alot of younger players from the 21's and minors and start all over again, this team unfortunatly is never going to achieve any success and we should just face that fact, and no matter how many positional switches EOB makes your not going to make a sows purse from a pigs ear. I know it wont happen and we will just muddle on hoping to stay in Div2 and maybe get a nice draw like last year in the qualifers, There is no ambition in the county board and this seems to have permiated down through the ranks, Oh god help us all, Rant over...for now!

boylanabu (Meath) - Posts: 111 - 15/03/2010 11:02:50    588179

I couldn't understand some of the changes made both prior to and during the game. Harrington is no full back and most people around the county would know that, Burke will never be a CHB, too loose and moves forward too much. Much better suited as a WHB or WHF. Should have given Joe a chance in the second half, at least getting the ball which is more that can be said for Queeney in the first half. What's the story with Brian Sheridan? Is EOB not a fan, does he think he dosen't have the tallent. I believe there is more talent in Brian that Queeney, Lewis, O'Connor (who has started in the forwards this year), McAnarney, Mooney and I'd even add David Bray to that list. I say give him the same chances that these guys have had and lets see what he is made off. We need to get back to our traditional long ball game and dispence with this short passing. Clearing the ball long first time at least gives you some breathing space if a mistake is made.
On a positive note good to see SO'R back and kicked 2 good scores.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1210 - 15/03/2010 11:06:01    588185

Was very dissapointed at the display on and off the pitch yesterday, In the drive home i was never so disapointed. the displays on and off the pitch were very bad. For a start we defended good and were unlucky with the peno decison. Joe and Queeney were very poor, but i blame ourselves for making big hype out of January performances and blowing Jamie out of the water. The man has not started a championship match and still has to learn his trade. Great to see shane O Rourke back. Rumour has it Brian Farrell wasnt even picked to travel with the squad on Saturday, and his training form is supposed to be very good. Also in response to the comment on C King, thats a disgrace, he should be back with the panel by this stage. Both these lads were central to our good runs in 2007 and 2009 and we need them back playing football. Midfield is going well which im delighted at, but our forwards are not firing, it was another case of the bray brothers yesterday and they dont seem to be aware that there is four other men in the forwards as well. This isnt great to see. EOB please sort out our problems ASAP, i would much rather drive to Killarney to see Meath V Kerry than Thurles

upmeath (Meath) - Posts: 92 - 15/03/2010 11:14:37    588204

You will not get performances from players if they do not want to play for the manager, this is what it looked like yesterday.
Why are Meath playing a style of football that no club in meath plays? Are the selectors looking at the same games we are watching? A good crowd travelled down to Thurles yesterday from Meath, they at least deserved a team that was preapred to work their socks off even if things were not clicking. Time is ticking for some of these players and they need to take the handbrake off soon. Its a frightening statistic that we have not even appeared in a Leinster final since 2001.

DaveW (Meath) - Posts: 75 - 15/03/2010 14:29:05    588508

I actually bothered to go down to Thurles. Id say there cant have been more than 150 Meath supporters. I thought Shane O Rourke was the one bright light from the day and we defended reseanably well despit the pressure we were put under. The keepers kick outs are too easy to attack and its absolutely killing our midfield. Im extremely worried about our ability to stay up. We probably need another win from somewhere. Any suggestions. I think we should give this fella from seneshalstown a crack in the nets. Anyone agree?

James T (Meath) - Posts: 611 - 15/03/2010 14:51:49    588541

James T, Slagging off Paddy again! Surprise surprise!

I did'nt make it down yesterday but listened to it on LMFM. I heard on the grapevine last night that some players are unhappy with the management, was this the case in Coyles second year as well? We seem to be heading backwards again which is worrying.

AnMhi96 (Meath) - Posts: 72 - 15/03/2010 15:17:22    588593

DaveW you got it right in one. The Meath teams of the past number of years have been playing a style of football that is alien to the clubs. I too have stated this on many occasions over the past two or three years and you hear the same said on he terraces. Meath style was never the short hand pass game that goes nowhere or worse, goes backwards. That is the style of game played in Kildare and even when they play it it looks terrible. Our forwards are used to the long early ball that they can contest. The sooner we revert to this style of football the better. Incidentally oppositions hated us for playing that sort of game and the media were also very critical of it. Let's get back to where they all hate us again because we break their hearts with our style of football.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 15/03/2010 17:19:00    588791

ARD RI, i agree totally during our glory years we were allways a direct team[long ball], even in 07 we played that style throughout the championship with relative success, we really should play to our strenghts especially with o rourke back ,its the only way we will trouble kildare or dublin come summer ,if we continue playing this short ball which is alien to us we are playing into their hands. i allways maintain the more passes you make the more chance it has of breaking down.

millhouse (Meath) - Posts: 892 - 15/03/2010 18:00:07    588872

One of Meath's and Ballinabrackey greatest footballers Peter Moore passed away today.He played midfield on 1967 All Ireland winning team.May He Rest In Peace

mightyquinn (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 15/03/2010 19:10:01    588972