Agree with a lot of that apart from the Mickey Burke bit, but I've never been his biggest fan. I just don't think his tackling is disciplined enough at this level. I'd have no problem in trying Damian Sheridan at full-back and finding out how it works, after all I've made a few controversial picks in my own team purely to find out how it would go. In saying that, I would be surprised if Damian actually ended up taking the number shirt off the back of Kevin Reilly!

Peader still has a lot to give but he is prone to the odd moment off madness! And whilst he is never lacking in effort, I feel he lacks that small bit of class that a fit Shane O'Rourke or Paddy Smyth might bring to the table.

But the most important point in your message is that we must know the best fifteen before the Offaly game. Who can say that it was not due to this that we were defeated by Dublin last June? EOB must use the leagues for finding out more about his players but come championship time, he must know his best team.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 29/11/2009 18:21:24    497695

Yeah, I think O'Brien is still some distance off knowing his best XV judging by the wholesale changes that followed the Dublin game. I think a couple of players were unfairly scapegoated after that dissapointment, McAnarney in particular, whose wing-back play suits our system better than anyone else on the panel. Caoimhin King must have undroppable status within the squad.

I thought this thread was supposed to be about new players? Ah well, we'll all be dancing this number again once the new year rolls around.

Loyal, I've often admired Joe's kicking from around the 65 and thought to myself, "If only we could clone him and have another Joe on the edge of the square to get under that ball... ", well with Brian Sheridan pushing for a place that might the next best thing. I would still argue that Mark Ward's passing should earn him a spot at midfield, and I suppose the logic goes: Mark Ward to Big Joe > Big Joe to Cian Ward

Chris O'Connor's a better corner-back than people are giving him credit for. The reason Kilcoyne gave him a roasting, (and I would rate Kilcoyne as one the best forwards in the business), is because O'Connor was always dropping off him anticipating the high ball going into Parsons and O'Shea. When Dillon or Moran saw Kilcoyne in space they just whipped it into the free man. Someone else, probably Meade, should have been screening the high-ball in front of Moyles, this was a mistake by O'Brien, management should have know what Mayo were going to do by naming Parsons in the full-forward line.

Compare to the Kerry game, where we didn't have to deal with the high-ball, O'Connor looked excellent - pacy, competitive, tight man-marker. He needs to fill out a bit though if he wants to nail down a starting place.

As for Mickey Burke, yes he's definitely over-eagre in the tackle but O'Malley has this Meath defence playing a very disciplined game so surely it's not impossible to work the kinks out of his game. He's potentially a tigrish, aggressive corner-back in the Mark O'Reilly mould, (I'm thinking '96-'99 era here... ), much needed I would say.

Googan (Meath) - Posts: 105 - 29/11/2009 18:39:20    497708

I hear damien sweeny will be back for dunboyne next year top player should be a good option for full back still only 25 or 26 years old.

TheReaper (Dublin) - Posts: 112 - 30/11/2009 17:02:57    498507

Ard ri & bbd, will u stop comparing lads at club level.. club football is rubbish. Ard Ri Farrell plays for Nobber, surrounded by poor footballers. Ward is feed good ball by good players with the Tones 2 different worlds. Throw Ronaldo on the Dundalk team and what him play poor!!
Compare them at county level, Farrell had a poor year last however scored more from play than Ward who according to most people was class and should have been nominated for all-star..
Listen all I'm saying is take the frees of Ward and see what we get.. I personally think a sharp fit Farrell is more dangerous from general play.

On the Reilly front, dont know the lad but as a footballer he gives me no confidence, kicks the ball away, cant tackle and not quick enough.. everything I dont like in a fullback.
In the 70's he would have been a legend of the game.

Re Moyles and Crawford, yes I think it's time they moved on, why keep them on.. it's not like they can come on with 10 minutes to go and kick a score. Both have served Meath well but it hasnt worked with them in their prime and will not get any better.

Northmeathman (Meath) - Posts: 284 - 01/12/2009 11:54:27    499285

I personally think a sharp fit Farrell is more dangerous from general play.

That's the problem Northmeathman, Brian has neither been sharp or fit for the past two years and there is no indication that he will be next year. I have seen him attempt reasonably easy frees at club level with appalling results. You cannot blame good supply of ball for this as he was handed the ball by the ref. The only thing in his favor is that this time last year both you and I agreed that it was time for Crawford and Joe Sheridan to hang up the boots. We both have to agree now that not only did they have considerably improved years but that they were probably the best two servants of Meath in 2009. Maybe next year Brian will step up his game and deliver what he threatened to deliver when he played in a minor All Ireland final not all that long ago.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 02/12/2009 20:14:59    501154

would eamon o brian not try to get rory donnely to join the royals.. cant think of any better forward in the county apart from stephen bray maybe, surely worth a try

hillman2 (Meath) - Posts: 102 - 02/12/2009 20:50:40    501202