I'm with Jinxie ,not saying Tom Walsh is the answer but Gillespie has been poor,although so has Brian Meade,but he gets picked regardless..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 13:50:15    1106500

Kickouts are the big problem area. A high fielder like Ward is wasted in Banty's system. It's so easy for the opp. half-backs to just line up behind him and attack the ball because Gallagher baloons it down the middle everytime. Is Meade even an outlet for the kickout? No, so don't blame him for Banty being predictable.

Last year Murphy drove the ball long down the centre but O'Rourke had four half-forwards, (incl. Meade and Sheridan here) attacking the ball from behind with McAnarney pushed up onto the breaking ball. It was relatively successfull because the latter two are good at winning dirty ball. O'Brien favoured the same tactic at kickouts with Joe at 11. Very like Kildare who only had one suitable midfielder after Early's injury so they bet everything on breaking ball. Tyrone have been doing this for years.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 06/02/2012 16:13:05    1106683

Just curious as to the whereavouts of summerhill members? County champions with one substitute on panel? surely they have a few members worth considering?

tackleberry (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 06/02/2012 17:19:15    1106784

tackleberry

I would have thought Davy Dalton...

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 17:33:50    1106801

yes I would agree, the whole fullback line is very imprssive in my opinion. Just unusual for county champions is it not? when you look at other county winners they have 5/6 players involved. Anyway, with regards to westmeath, reckon it wont be a game. Westmeath were very unfortunate loasing young talent this year plus the garrycastle mafia absent is a huge loss.

tackleberry (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 06/02/2012 17:39:31    1106803

tackleberry

It won't be a game if Meath perform and show good work-rate,but we have been complacement in these type of games in the league

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 18:23:21    1106841

ill be honest i dont get to many club games with working shifts and all but what is the story with the eoin reilly love in on this message board.i talk to a fair few people who would be well up on the club scene and ive never heard any of them say that hes a great player!is it just a case of a lot of his club men coming on here showing a bit of bias or am i really missing something.

i know its early days but it seems weve our backs sorted out and our forwards look hungry but midfield is the big worry.brian meade is a great tryer but i fear he will be found out even more when the pitches dry up and lads get quicker.if were gonna play ward and meade it needs to be only one of them, id say ward with a pacy enough lad beside him.up front id love to see a cian ward joe paddy gilsenan inside line i think it would be lethal, stephen bray doesnt look up to scratch at the minute too i really hope its a temporary thing

stamullenman (Meath) - Posts: 392 - 06/02/2012 18:52:47    1106879

win this game and we are safe in div 1. If the middle of the field and defenders work as good as they did in the first game we might be looking forward to a final at this early stage

royalsdelaney (Meath) - Posts: 93 - 06/02/2012 19:24:37    1106896

Stamullenman

I would be a great trier but I wouldn't be good enough...

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 20:11:19    1106931

stamullenman

Bray doesn't look up to scratch? not bad for a player to score 4 points from play,link up well with his other forwards and spend a lot of the time tracking back and working hard between his own half and the oppositions 21 metre line! Very harsh comment there..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/02/2012 20:13:29    1106933

Good Lord if Stephen Bray doesn't look up to scratch after last saturday night them he would be the greatest footballer alive on form, can't understand that opinion. Give Walsh a go in the middle and leave the rest as is, the more game time these lads get together the better, a couple of wins in our first two league games will give good confidence going into the home game with Kildare so winning in Mullingar is as important as winning in Navan last Saturday and we would be well advised not to take anything for granted, no doubt Westmeath will rise their game with Meath in their backyard.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3772 - 06/02/2012 21:44:59    1107033

I agree ,winning in mullingar ,sets us up rightly .however banty had the inside sccop on monaghan cause of his ties and indside info and sunday will really be his first test of the year . Did anyone notice on telly he was wearing a blue and white undershirt under his meath top on sat night ?

royalpainter (Meath) - Posts: 874 - 06/02/2012 21:52:29    1107045

he has had that on for all the matches this year I have noticed.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 1018 - 06/02/2012 21:59:11    1107050

What is the significance of wearing this top??
anyway, Further to the above comments, Meath should not look at the glass being half empty, we should be pushing on in this league to try win it, not to keep saefe, I can guarantee most teams wont want to play meath in thhis division so up to us to set the standards. Going on what Ive seen at weekend in this division, Meath are every bit as good as the top teams in this division.

tackleberry (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 07/02/2012 08:11:50    1107053

If we beat Westmeath next and feel we will defeat Louth, thats 6 pts and guaranteed survival, having defeated all three teams at the bottom of the division. With that out of the way, hopefully the lads can then relax somewhat but still aspire to much more and concentrate on having a real go at the stronger teams in the division. With Kildare and Derry at home, these are two matches we must win to be in with a shout of promotion. And right now they look winnable. That leaves Tyrone and Galway, very tough away matches. Lets hope these games aren't written off as the type of games we can afford to loose if things don't start well on the day (or indeed resign ourselves, as always losing in the league anyway). A Tyrone victory is the most probably outcome, but if we could get something from the Galway match, division 1 is attainable. Things never go exactly as you would expect, so I feel we will probably finish 3rd or 4th and miss out. But the important thing is that the team and management try their very best to win every match, rather than merely settle for mid table respectability. The bit of hunger, a winning mentality and self belief is what Meath have lacked when they go on their travels in previous seasons. Address that and we can look forward to possibly hosting Kerry at PT in the near future.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 07/02/2012 09:36:29    1107078

Yes I agree that we can push on and challenge for promotion whether it happens or not.
And to be honest yes of course westmeath will try everything to win 1 it would guarantee manager stays as long as he wants to regardless of any other results as even after winning first ever leinster the one thing that annoyed westmeath was not meeting and beating us. To them beating meath is the holy grail. How do I know this cause I live in the place most of the year. Up point about this weekend is I don't have to drive 80+ round trip to see us playing
But honestly if meath turn up and only play half as good as last week the will still win. Westmeath are in dire problems without the garrycastle lads. Yes this game is the one they want to win and they be happy been relegated if the could beat us. And meath should not think we go up to mullingar come home 2 points in bag. They need to be focused on job in hand and a easy victory awaits them. So no real test for banty if they perform, and if they do not well then I see a sloppy nervy win that will have me and everyone else questioning these players attitudes

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/02/2012 09:56:06    1107087

my whole point about stephen bray is i still think he can improve this year to be honest

stamullenman (Meath) - Posts: 392 - 07/02/2012 10:06:42    1107096