Predictions for winner of NFL Division 1?

Pcworld i think Horan feels he needs more pace upfront that's why he has Higgins up there, in last years final I felt when Higgins went to corner back they really missed his pace upfront so I can understand Horan's thinking there but your probably right play your players in there best positions.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 10/02/2014 19:13:33    1544426

If dublin make it to the last 4 they will be odds on to win. They have 4 points from 2 games, and played poorly yesterday. That is a good enough start by anyones standards.

They will be joined by cork, tyrone and more than likely, derry. Westmeath and mayo to go down by the way things are shaping up. kildare and kerry to stay out of danger, but it will be close.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3862 - 10/02/2014 20:09:26    1544455

It seems horan cant do anything right. In the final he was criticised for moving higgins back to corner back, now he is being criticised for not playing him at corner back. Maybe we should play him in goals and just keep nobody happy

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 10/02/2014 20:20:22    1544468

Horan had no choice in the Final last year. Mayo ran out of steam and Higgins was excellent first half but the last 10 minutes of that half Dublin were cutting holes through the centre of the defence.

Horan actually noticed it and put Higgins back there and I thought Horan was right at the time. He realised there wouldn't be much of a game if Dublin kept going the way they were so had to do something to stop it.

So you are damned if you do....and damned if you don't really. Ideally Mayo needed one or two bodies up front to let Higgins play his best position.....or they just need another Higgins ;-)

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 10/02/2014 20:48:20    1544486

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 10151

1544468
It seems horan cant do anything right. In the final he was criticised for moving higgins back to corner back, now he is being criticised for not playing him at corner back. Maybe we should play him in goals and just keep nobody happy

Not sure who is unhappy about this, the Mayo supporters? I would not like to be in horans position this year.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3862 - 10/02/2014 21:55:05    1544536

Horans team more scores from play from the starting 6 forwards and he needs to stop playing defenders as forwards.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 10/02/2014 21:59:02    1544542

I can't see how anyone could criticise Horan for switching Higgins to corner back during the All-Ireland Final.

However he is open for criticism for leaving Higgins marking O'Gara after the Templeogue man had pulled his hamstring. That left arguably Mayo's best player marking an injured man which was a baffling situation that was allowed to happen.

In terms of the league this year Mayo have been unlucky in the 2 games so far. Always difficult when you're on the road in the opening two games. 3 games yet to come in Castlebar should see them comfortable.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13850 - 11/02/2014 11:12:11    1544595

I think I read that Higgins had a direct assist for everyone Mayo goal bar one during last year's league so in that sense you have to say it makes sense.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 11/02/2014 11:51:08    1544619

Lot more interesting to see who will go down than win it. Mayo donegal kildare anyone could go down with wmeath.

foreverroyal (Meath) - Posts: 349 - 11/02/2014 12:18:10    1544638

foreverroyal
County: Meath
Posts: 116

1544638 Lot more interesting to see who will go down than win it. Mayo donegal kildare anyone could go down with wmeath.
________________________
Yeah, I'd say Donegal are certs for Divsion 2, who will join them there is anybodies guess!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 11/02/2014 12:36:56    1544653

foreverroyal, Dongeal in Div 2.

wicklowrunner (Wicklow) - Posts: 637 - 11/02/2014 12:37:32    1544654

He surely meant Kerry who are probably favourites to go down at this stage.

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 11/02/2014 12:46:12    1544660

Cute_Kerry_Hoor
County: Kerry
Posts: 2372

1544660
He surely meant Kerry who are probably favourites to go down at this stage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kerry won't go down. Westmeath, I think, are goners so there is only one drop place left. Kerry will beat Kildare and Westmeath and Kerry's last league game is in Tralee against Cork and there is no way they will even contenance being relegated by Cork ,of all teams. They'll'll draft Cooper back in at that stage who could/will make all the difference because whatever about other limitations, having the best footballer of his generation on board and facing being relegated by Cork - at home- will be powerful forces in their favour.

By the way, GaryMac82 from Derry, you can still get Cork at 8/1 to be relegated as you predicted they would be, you'd better get on it now.

KeyserSoze (Cork) - Posts: 363 - 11/02/2014 13:12:23    1544677

Kerry will certainly not be going down. I wouldn't rule them out winning yet. They have started poorly again but are missing tonnes of players.

To be fair to GaryMC (Derry) he gave his reasons why he thought Cork might get relegated. He made a bold prediction but at least he gave some reasoning which was commendable. He also admitted that he could be wrong. He also predicted Derry would make the league semi-finals. I thought this was a bit mad but they are looking good so far.

What odds on Cork to be relegated and Derry to win I wonder?

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 11/02/2014 13:31:04    1544689

Well my two Cork friends I hope ye're right and I'm wrong. The return of Marc Sé to training tonight will give a boost, we might even see him at centre back.

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 11/02/2014 14:08:26    1544720

Kildare - Kerry should be a good match. Can't be any worse than last year anyway!

If Kildare get anything from our next two games I think we'll get something here too and maybe make a semi-final. Get well beat by Tyrone and Dublin, which let's face it after last year is not unlikely, then I could see us losing this also and probably going down.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 11/02/2014 14:48:01    1544744

@ CKH
Marc O'Se at centre back might not be a bad idea, he's always been good going forward, and he's not a bad centre forward for an Ghaeltacht! Has he been tried there before, I can't think of any time he has??

JMK (Kerry) - Posts: 273 - 11/02/2014 15:41:39    1544770

JMK
County: Kerry
Posts: 183

1544770
@ CKH
Marc O'Se at centre back might not be a bad idea, he's always been good going forward, and he's not a bad centre forward for an Ghaeltacht! Has he been tried there before, I can't think of any time he has??



Not at inter-county level anyway JMK. I think we all agree in Kerry that Marc's days as a man-marker are well gone. He's the most comfortable player on the ball in the country IMO, even more so than Gooch or Declan Sullivan. Even giving him a free role would benefit Kerry.

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 11/02/2014 16:07:51    1544788

KeyserSoze
County: Cork
Posts: 300

1544677
Cute_Kerry_Hoor
County: Kerry
Posts: 2372

1544660
He surely meant Kerry who are probably favourites to go down at this stage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kerry won't go down. Westmeath, I think, are goners so there is only one drop place left. Kerry will beat Kildare and Westmeath and Kerry's last league game is in Tralee against Cork and there is no way they will even contenance being relegated by Cork ,of all teams. They'll'll draft Cooper back in at that stage who could/will make all the difference because whatever about other limitations, having the best footballer of his generation on board and facing being relegated by Cork - at home- will be powerful forces in their favour.

By the way, GaryMac82 from Derry, you can still get Cork at 8/1 to be relegated as you predicted they would be, you'd better get on it now.

I'll dash down to the bookies and slap a tenner on :-)

I watched the Cork v Kildare game, and I fully admit that Cork were very Impressive. It was a very entertaining game of football down in Pairc Ui Rinn, and Cork showed they have pedigree. Indeed Kildare for the 2nd game running some class.

I reckon I gave an honest appraisal of the fixtures and relegation candidates, and how they may likely pan out in my opinion. Cork still have to play Dublin ( A ), Derry ( H ), Mayo ( A ), Tyrone ( H ) and Kerry ( A ), and I reckon 6 points in total will be needed to guarantee staying up.

So where will Cork's next 2 points come from? Derry and Tyrone at home, or Dublin, Mayo and Kerry away? All very te ough games, although naturally Cork will fancy themselves to win their two home games.
There is always a strong chance I would be wrong, as every season has its suprises and upsets ( See Donegal 2013 ). I suppose if everything was predictable, life would be boring and the bookies would be bankrupt.

I'll stick with my prediction for the time being, Westmeath to go down, followed by Cork

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3058 - 11/02/2014 18:37:14    1544864

Are you living in Cork or something, GaryMc82 , or are you so interested in Cork you traveled all the way from Derry? Anyway, it'd be some man who would bet on Cork not winning one of the 5 remaining games, and I admire your bravery if not your wisdom.

KeyserSoze (Cork) - Posts: 363 - 11/02/2014 18:53:37    1544876