I was also quite pleased leaving Navan on Sat Night. Most players looked a lot fitter than they did this time last year. We had a meltdown in midfield for half of the second half where Monaghan proceeded to kick 6 or 7 wides. Alot of people here are saying if monaghan had their shooting boots on then the result would have been a lot different. But I don't necessarily agree with that. Credit the backs in some cases for hasseling the Monaghan forwards. And if we looked at our first quarter performance we should have been out of sight on the scoreboard as we also kicked 6 very poor wides from easy positions and players not even under too much pressure. Players were electing to kick with the weaker foot and we saw McEnarney, O'Connor, Bray, Ward and Reilly all doing the same thing. 1-15 is a good tally and last year we were complaining about not scoring a sufficent amount of points but when you look at some of the misses and we also dropped the ball into the goalies hands on 3 occasions from relatively easy chances then there is hope for the upcoming games. We're on top of the division as of now so lets hope it continues.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1210 - 06/02/2012 10:47:19    1106301

Diego..

1-13 from play is pretty good for your first league outing,the thing I liked about the forwards is that thye linked up and played as a team,we often have played like individuals,let's see the before-mentioned continue.
Meltdown at midfield yes,but we only had one midfielder,Mark Ward was the only one competing for the ball,and had little support in the breakdown

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 11:10:21    1106323

Lads.

I genuinely cannot believe that none of you have figured out the reason why we went slack at midfield in the second half the other night.

Two words for you - Seamus Kenny.

It's hardly a coincidence that when Seamus went off - we missed out on a lot of breaking ball and hence we were under a lot of pressure.

We contested midfield well in the first half - particularly Mark Ward who won a lot of his own ball. But modern midfield is all about winning dirty ball as opposed to high fielding and that is where we need Kenny most.

Brian Meade was not great but I don't think he deserves some of the stick here after just one league game. Gillespie needs more game time as does Walsh.

Like others - I would like to see Menton tried at midfield but I think that it's now essential that O'Rourke recovers well.
Midfield is a problem area - but at least we are trying to develop options. Hopefully we can get a good combination before long.

Overall I was pleased with the other night and in relation to Monaghan's wides - we also kicked a good few ourselves in the first half.

As for the Monaghan goal - anyboday sitting the town end of the stand will know that it took a wicked deflection off Shane McAnarney. So much so that he could actually be credited with both goals on the night. What pleaseed me though - was our response to the goal where we workd hard from the kick out and kicked some good points. I'm not sure if we would have done that last year.

Like I said - i was generally happy with the performance but I am under no illusion that we still to improve greatly going on.
A win is a must now on Sunday and then who knows how we develop after that.

BRING_ON_GURTY! (Meath) - Posts: 712 - 06/02/2012 11:41:17    1106354

ziggy32001

What did you make of Tom Walsh when he came in?
I know he wasnt in for long, but He won anything that came out around the centre and came short for a cuple of Kickouts and collected them, which the other lads hadnt tried even once up to that point.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 06/02/2012 11:45:00    1106357

Personally, I reckon that we should blood 2 new midfielders into the system. It is not enough to be tall in midfield, there has to be more to a midfielders game. Every inter county player should have the ability to score in front of goal or be a threat, we simply are no threat to teams. The lads we have in the middle do not offer this threat. In fairness we are excellent at collecting breaks, so Id suggest changing our stlye in the middle and go with a character like Peadar Byrne who will ruffle the feathers and give us a different option.

tackleberry (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 06/02/2012 12:16:51    1106385

tackleberry

A bit of a contradiction to say a player should be a threat in front of goal and then mention Peader.

Wouldnt be the most potent of lads infront of goal.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 06/02/2012 13:02:36    1106431

We need a more physical presence in midfield. Our creative midfielders are a little soft, so they can be overpowered, even intimidated somewhat. We need a John McDermott type to assert themselves at centrefield. I'm all for giving Tom Walsh more game time here.

Many suggest Bryan Menton, and I'm sure he would do a fine job, but the problem is as soon as Kevin Reilly gets an injury, he would have to revert to the full back line. We need to develop players for specific roles that they will play consistently, not merely mr versatilities.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 06/02/2012 13:52:32    1106502

Was going to say what Jinxie said in regards Peader,but he got there first!,I think Peader has let the county down too often..

Back to Tom Walsh,yes Jinxie I would like to see him partner Ward for the Westmeath match,he is a big lad,but maybe more aggressive than Meade and Gillespie? I would like to see him for 70mins or at least start him there to see how he goes. I reckon come championship I would put Ward on the bench,but because of his style ,he could do a great job for 20mins in a match,he can win a ball and compete,and players who are tired could struggle against him.
O'Rourke is vital in this area,competes well,gets forward well and and very good passer of the ball,Idealy I would like to see Menton or Walsh with him come championship,but I would like to see at least one of these tried out in the league so I can have a proper opinion on the matter..

I honestly believe we are about 4 players short of maybe winning an All-Ireland ,a good midfield combination,a corner back,and a keeper.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 14:00:36    1106507

GlasagusOr

Agree fully with that post.

If we were looking for the most versatile players, the Anthony Moyles would still be playing and probably one of our better players.
It would be a shame for Menton to fall into that trap where he never makes a place his own because he's being help in reserve to fill a host of positions for players who might get injured.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 06/02/2012 14:02:04    1106511

Tom Walsh for definate at midfeild for Sunday if Kevin Reilly is still injured.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 1018 - 06/02/2012 14:07:59    1106516

In my opinion Menton can do a good job in a number of positions,but his best position is number for me,we haven't seen him in midfield at county level to make a judgement yet.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 14:10:21    1106519

I meant to say Mentons best position is number 6 :)

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 14:11:35    1106522

Would we drop Brian Meade though?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 14:12:20    1106524

The think with Ward is that he possesses all the neccesary attributes for a good Midfielder.
He's a good fielder. Can pick a pass, and when he's in the mood, he can kick a point.

However, the thing that he lacks, is the thing that I dont think can be thought or trained. That thing is agrression. The likes of McDermott and McEntee were able to physically boss the centre. Throw lads outta their way. Go through a crowd to get a ball. Even Jimmy McGuinness had this. He was far from gifted technically, but he had immense drive about him.

This is the thing that I think Ward lacks, and Im not sure how you get that into him. I think its a natural thing that you are born with. Hope Im wrong tho.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 06/02/2012 14:12:45    1106525

Lads is Donal Keoghan Injured? Would like to see him tried at corner back,very good player

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 14:14:23    1106527

I know what you mean about Byrne, but what I wanted to see was more attacking football from our midfield. S o Rourke is great at it when fit, need somebody who is not immobile and willing to have a go.

tackleberry (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 06/02/2012 14:24:00    1106538

tackleberry

I agree in theory with your point.

The top teams midfield weigh in with 2 or 3 points a game which is a huge help in a tight game.

Although Peader wouldnt feature in any of my Meath teams in the future.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 06/02/2012 14:31:57    1106550

what was the attendance?

BettystownRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 3353 - 06/02/2012 14:43:53    1106565

Stop scapegoating the midfielders. Gallagher drops the ball on top of Mark Ward everytime and Kenny's left to hustle for the breaks typically with four opp. players tearing out of him. We would not be competitive without this man. Meade and Toibin seemed to be there simply to make up the numbers on Saturday. Kildare or Tyrone will destroy us at midfield unless we wise up with the kickouts, no matter how well Kenny is playing.

We have good midfielders. Ward, Meade, O'Rourke and even Gillespie are capable of delivering good long ball to the forwards but they're not allowed do this under Banty. We're a running team now. We don't kick the ball inside our own 65. Only Bray and Kenny were seen kicking a pass in the first half. You need big, physical backs to play that kind of running game that Cork or Donegal play. O'Connor, Lenehan, even Toibin are too light. Shame because they're natural footballers.

Depressing watching Galway outclass Derry with a brand of football we used to play. Or Thomas O'Connor developing into a great target-man for Kildare. Not our game anymore unfortunately.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 06/02/2012 15:56:00    1106654

Ollie 99

To be fair I thought we mixed and matched fairly well,you need to be able to kick,hand-pass and run

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 16:09:02    1106676