Both styles have their merits.

____________


Yeh i completely agree

With the defensive side of the game , 4 teams have tried it , 3 (so far) have won All irelands. (Dublin , Armagh and Tyrone) , Why ? , Simple . They got the balence bang on. They got 10 or 12 men behind the ball when they defended , yet when they attacked they attacked in numbers. It needs a serious amount of fitness and time but as Dublin Tyrone and Armagh have found out , Its all worth it when they do win the all ireland, Now , Donegal last year didn't get the balance right at all, Their defending was phenomonal, their pressure and closing down was fantastic, Where they fell , Was not scoring enough in that semi final and somehow the Dubs managed to win , having only scored two points (to my recollection) from play. Offensively in the second half in particular donegal where virtually non existant.

I as a Dublin fan dont care how we win all irelands, Ideally playing end to end football outscoring the opposition, But if we have to defend in drobes and attack in drobes and get that balance right and win scoring 1-11 or 1-12 and reducing your opponents to less then ten points , Then so be it, It doesnt take the gloss off winning an all ireland just ask us Dubs and Tyrone and Armagh fans. The word is balance though. I believe Donegal got the balance wrong but the idea of the defensive side was bang on and as i said very intriguing.

One thing that has never changed in team sport is that to win games, You have to outscore the opposition, But to pureists , they seem to think the only way you outscore your opponent is by scoring more, Which of corse is true, But your defence is every bit as important as your attack, sure flair players will always hog the headlines, But without a solid defence you wont win a game. I think pureists dont see the two sides of the coin and just want to see attack attack attack where as the defence is every bit as intruging and entertaining as someone scoring a point or goal in my opinion.

If Donegal can get the balance right they will win an All ireland.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13659 - 03/02/2012 19:16:05    1105156

Yeah, I think a lot of people are saying the same thing here. Playing a more defensive style when you're way off the pace might make you a bit more competitive but it's not going to take you all the way. But that's the same as in any sport, isn't it?

But I don't know what I'm missing when I watch GAA Gold on TG4 but to me it just seems awful. Just lads bogging it up the field without looking where it's going. When was this supposed golden age of Gaelic Football? We must be the only field sport in the world where long kicking is considered more attractive than intricate build up play. A team can be super-fit and defend and handpass as much as they want but if they don't have the skillful players to win them the game they'll still be going nowhere.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 03/02/2012 20:00:45    1105184

A please know,surely it can't get any worse? Football is losing the skill factor with these defensive tactics and fouls,along with athletics playing instead of skillful players. Donegal are actually hrrible to watch,Dublin not much better and Kildare to a slighly lesser extent..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 03/02/2012 20:54:06    1105209

I find it funny that the original poster is moaning about this ,as his own team play a similar style of football to be fair.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 03/02/2012 20:55:30    1105210

If Seamus Mc decides to play this way this year at Meath,I for one will be calling for his head,some counties have a trad style ,and Meath people would be disgusted with this style.I don't mind defending well as a team,but when you have the ball and there are max two players in the opponents half-forward line,well that is sickening..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 03/02/2012 21:00:58    1105216

Lol I meant when there is max two players from the opponents half-back line ,but actually it's often two players in the opponents 45 metre line,anyway a lot of the games had me frustrated and bored last year,for example Dublin/Wexford,Dublin/Donegal,Kildare/Donegal(got a little exciting but for long spells was puke)

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 03/02/2012 21:10:43    1105221

I do not think Tyrone and Armagh where as defensive as suggested somewhere above,yes they got men behind the ball,but both teams (especially Tyrone) had excellent forwards and used them as forwards..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 03/02/2012 21:12:07    1105222

Like any sport gaelic ,tennis , snooker people always look back and think the game was better in 70s or 80s but it wasnt more skillful just had more drama. players were not more skillful but were allowed express themselves better. defending was a lot poorer so good skillfull forwards had a field day. its not all doom and gloom,these things have a way of sorting themselves out.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 03/02/2012 21:26:53    1105228

mayo impressed me last year i liked there style of open free flowing football even in the championship against cork i thought they would have resorted to defending in numbers but they went all out attack and still able to bring men back and defend..

dubbydave. (Dublin) - Posts: 3927 - 04/02/2012 10:00:45    1105270

ziggy32001
County: Meath
Posts: 978

1105221
Lol I meant when there is max two players from the opponents half-back line ,but actually it's often two players in the opponents 45 metre line,anyway a lot of the games had me frustrated and bored last year,for example Dublin/Wexford,Dublin/Donegal,Kildare/Donegal(got a little exciting but for long spells was puke)


______________________

A little exciting ? Did you see that game ?

up_donegal (Donegal) - Posts: 659 - 04/02/2012 11:49:15    1105302

The term 'puke football' is so self-serving anyways, designed to make supporters and pundits feel better about losing to or having it put up to them by traditionally weaker opponents.

Thanks for proving my point ziggy, waffling on about Meath's traditional style of play and about how you wouldn't tolerate that kind of thing Meath. Lord save us...

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 04/02/2012 13:11:36    1105334

doublehop

Certain counties would not allow that style of football(I have a feeling Meath may play this way this year).do you not think it's horrible when you see 12 players defending and there is no ball forward? two forwards inside the opponents 45 metre line? It's horrible,I don't care who's playing

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 04/02/2012 13:22:59    1105345

up_donegal

Ah you where wrapped up in it(as a fan),but for long periods it was hard to watch that game

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 04/02/2012 13:26:03    1105349

I believe that the emergence of the defensive and professional approach is a good thing. It forces the others to counteract with new approaches. The return of the big Full Forward is one good reaction long range points is another way to break down the tactics, different styles and new tactics are Vital for the continuing success of our games. Donegal in some respects are hard to watch but it's thrilling in a lot of other respects, knife edge games hard hits high levels of concentration and from the point of view of their supporters, an Ulster title and expectation of another AI.

Do you play the Way the analysts on the Sunday game want and allow the favourites to keep winning( favourites normally win in any case)

Or do you try something different.....?

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 04/02/2012 13:34:05    1105355

ziggy32001
County: Meath
Posts: 982

But be honest... the last bit of the second half and extra time was more than a "little" exciting for... even for a neutral !

up_donegal (Donegal) - Posts: 659 - 04/02/2012 13:41:15    1105362

I for one detest the term puke football, its a product of lazy journalism an is now spouted anytime a match doesn't live up to our rose tinted view of gaelic football back in the old days.

Wayno1 hit the nail on the head, its all about balance. I enjoy a game were every point has to befought for. Donegals main problem was that outside micheal murphy, they didn't have the quality forwards that dublin and kerry did so their style of football wasn't as balanced or attractive on the eye.

stringbean (Tyrone) - Posts: 134 - 04/02/2012 13:53:29    1105371

I would not be disgusted if Meath adopted a Dublin or Kerry like approach. In fact, I would favour such a change in tactics.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 04/02/2012 13:53:37    1105372

Up_Donegal

Yes you are right but that was a few minutes..

Loyalroyal

Kerry defend well there is a difference but,they attack in numbers

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 04/02/2012 14:24:28    1105385

Loyal you can favour any tactics you want but it won't win you Sam you simply don't have players that are good enough.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 04/02/2012 14:29:53    1105387

When the team I want to lose is attacking i always take heart when they go for a long kick pass as it is far more likely to go astray than a handpass which,while taking longer to move up the pitch is far more accurate and far more likely to find its target.

TheRoad (Galway) - Posts: 1339 - 04/02/2012 14:36:33    1105392