Dublin are the best team in the country, but are beatable in this year's championship.

When they play a team a level below them, they wipe the field with them and they do this much more consistently than any other top team.

So I believe that they will beat Monaghan by ~10 points.

But for them to win the All-Ireland they will have to play and beat two top teams and for sure they can be beaten in either of these games. Their current price at 4/9 to win the All-Ireland seems ridiculously short to me.

BlastCalyle (Mayo) - Posts: 216 - 06/08/2014 10:58:28    1632284

In the last three years, that's true Snuffy. However, I am referring to this year's championship when I say they haven't had a test. I expect Saturday will be the first (hopefully it's the only one and you are humbled, but that is wishful thinking). Laois, Wexford and Meath with all due respect are not top sides. One division three team and two sides who had mixed campaigns in division three. Laois did pose a minor threat in the earlier stages but Dublin never really looked uncomfortable. In other words the dubs have not faced (this year!!) a side as organised as the three remaining ulster teams at the back and therefore they have been given free rein to attack. I don't feel they will do that this weekend. I expect a much closer affair this time. Never underestimate an ulster team, particularly a monaghan one with nothing to lose. Nobody expects them to do anything and that tends to be when they surprise everyone.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 362 - 06/08/2014 11:01:23    1632288

BlastCalyle
County: Mayo
Posts: 52

1632284

Dublin are the best team in the country, but are beatable in this year's championship.

When they play a team a level below them, they wipe the field with them and they do this much more consistently than any other top team.

So I believe that they will beat Monaghan by ~10 points.

But for them to win the All-Ireland they will have to play and beat two top teams and for sure they can be beaten in either of these games. Their current price at 4/9 to win the All-Ireland seems ridiculously short to me.

Blastcalyle, what is a top team by your definition? You think Dublin can beat Monaghan by roughly 10 points and then somehow be humbled by…….who exactly? Monaghan were last year's ulster champions, current division 2 champions (where they comprehensively beat Donegal in the final) and they lost the 2014 anglo celt by three points to Donegal. In this year's final, Monaghan played very poorly and still only lost by three. I think Saturday will be a much closer call than you do.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 362 - 06/08/2014 11:12:32    1632303

Is Marty Duffy reffing the Dublin v Monaghan game?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 06/08/2014 11:23:51    1632310

Blastcalyle, what is a top team by your definition? You think Dublin can beat Monaghan by roughly 10 points and then somehow be humbled by…….who exactly? Monaghan were last year's ulster champions, current division 2 champions (where they comprehensively beat Donegal in the final) and they lost the 2014 anglo celt by three points to Donegal. In this year's final, Monaghan played very poorly and still only lost by three. I think Saturday will be a much closer call than you do.

I think teams that are still in the championship that can trouble Dublin are Donegal, Kerry & Mayo.
Donegal tend to win by small margins regardless of who they are playing.
Dublin tend to win by large margins unless there is a real chance that they will lose.

So I think you have to ask yourself, do you believe that Monaghan will still be in the game, looking like they have a real chance of winning going into the final 10 minutes?
If the answer to that is no, (which I think would be the answer from most neutrals), then in all likelihood, Dublin will win by ~10 points.

btw, I would love to see Monaghan win.

BlastCalyle (Mayo) - Posts: 216 - 06/08/2014 11:27:46    1632315

06/08/2014 11:27:46
BlastCalyle
County: Mayo
Posts: 54

1632315
Blastcalyle, what is a top team by your definition? You think Dublin can beat Monaghan by roughly 10 points and then somehow be humbled by…….who exactly? Monaghan were last year's ulster champions, current division 2 champions (where they comprehensively beat Donegal in the final) and they lost the 2014 anglo celt by three points to Donegal. In this year's final, Monaghan played very poorly and still only lost by three. I think Saturday will be a much closer call than you do.

I think teams that are still in the championship that can trouble Dublin are Donegal, Kerry & Mayo.
Donegal tend to win by small margins regardless of who they are playing.
Dublin tend to win by large margins unless there is a real chance that they will lose.

So I think you have to ask yourself, do you believe that Monaghan will still be in the game, looking like they have a real chance of winning going into the final 10 minutes?
If the answer to that is no, (which I think would be the answer from most neutrals), then in all likelihood, Dublin will win by ~10 points.

btw, I would love to see Monaghan win.

I bet you would! ;)

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 06/08/2014 11:31:33    1632321

Dublin to win by 6-10 points, maybe by only pulling away as late on as the final 5 minutes. Monaghan will let them know they've been in a game but I'd still be totally shocked if Dublin were beaten.

fire_in_belly (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 06/08/2014 11:37:48    1632328

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 5236

1632310 Is Marty Duffy reffing the Dublin v Monaghan game?

Yeah he is. Not too pleased with either ref assigned as neither lets the game run. They love blowing that whistle. Also there will be loads of throw balls. And Ensure you take frees and sidelines from the correct position. Honestly when I seen that I thought that id prob just hit the road after our game. Now I know that I wont but it did cross my mind as what should be a great game will now probably be very stop start

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 06/08/2014 11:38:27    1632331

Ah no how can he still be getting the big games this man is not good enough.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 06/08/2014 11:44:37    1632334

Dublin are the in-form team without a shadow of doubt but they haven't been tested in the championship this year. They've beaten 2 average Div2 teams and a Div3 team. Monaghan have overcome 2 Div1 teams and a Div2 team to get here. Dublin have played against teams who tried to play football against them. Monaghan have played teams (bar Kildare) who shut up shop. Monaghan will NOT try to compete with Dublin playing football. They will do their thing and try to prevent Dublin play.

Typically Monaghan concede 14 scores per game & score the same, 73 scores for v 73 scores against in championship '14 so far. Their problem is that they simply don't score enough. Interestingly, Dublin have also scored 73 scores in the championship although it's only taken them 3 games v Monaghan's 5 games. They average 24 scores for & 13 against & typically hit the net twice to Monaghan's once…. Unfortunately, Dublin will probably win…… but if Monaghan get a decent star, who knows……. This week Ireland Ladies brought New Zealand Ladies RWC 23yr unbeaten run to an end this week. Dublin will be beaten, who & when?

Monaghan's character and application will be 100% but that 100% be enough to spoil the Dublin party?

MeathGAAHead (Meath) - Posts: 87 - 06/08/2014 12:24:00    1632361

Monaghan will park the bus on Saturday, I would almost be certain of that and providing their tempo and application is where it needs to be I would expect a relatively low scoring game. The key for Dublin is to double mark McManus and co and give away little or no scoring frees. We must make them kick under pressure for every score they get. Our strategy must be the full court press and by that regard I won't be concerned with our wide count as when their backs have the ball we must be at our best. If we are to score goals I expect them to be as a result of turnovers. If we score them any other way then the so called blanket defense will no be executing properly. I'd start rock as frees will be crucial. It will also be important for 4 of our 6 forwards to make the Monaghan backs run a marathon in the first half and then bring on the fresh replacements as space develops.

I expect a tough night at headquarters, a lot will depend on how good Monaghan are on the night but I'm confident of a Dublin win by 3+.

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 06/08/2014 12:33:06    1632367

Dublin to double mark Mc Manus. Surely not Seanie. That sort of thing will ruin football. Think of the children.

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 06/08/2014 12:48:34    1632376

@Cleatus

Everything depends upon how Monaghan set up but if they play with two forwards inside our third then I would very much hope we double up on him. One player to compete for the ball, the other to pick up the break

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 06/08/2014 13:02:37    1632389

There is no doubt that if Dublin play to their ability they will win by somewhere between 5 and 10 points - Monaghan will struggle with Dublin's pace which comes from everywhere. James McCarthy is a hugely under rated player and for me along with MDMA the key man for Dublin - both of them carry a huge amount of ball and attack straight through the middle and would be responsible for creating over half of Dublin's many goal chances. What I'd like to see from Monaghan are both of these guys man marked irrelevant of the blanket, Gavin Doogan would be my choice for MDMA, just to stick with him at all times, never let him out of his sight - the Dublin posters can correct me but not sure if anyone has tried this tactic before. Not sure who I'd choose for McCarthy, Jinxy might be the best bet but it would be a big ask.

If we nullify MDMA & McCarthy, get a good start and a bit of luck then who knows what might happen - I'd imagine the hits in the first 15 minutes will be massive - Kieran Hughes will have to learn some manners, he's no good to us on the line - he's a brilliant player but the messing needs to stop.

We've had another great season as Monaghan fans, coupled with the Ulster title last year making this a memorable time which leaving Tullamore, Mullingar and Portlaoise in 2011 and 2012 seemed like a long time away. No matter what happens on Saturday evening we can be very proud of these players, they have given the county an incredible boost

Bermuda Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 106 - 06/08/2014 13:31:52    1632408

Double marking Conor McManus will leave Kieran Hughes and perhaps Chris McGuinness unattended presumably? MOR might attempt to use McManus as a distraction. In 2013 he was double marked in the ulster final and Kieran Hughes did the punishing that day. McGuinness has shown he can punish with a goal when given the slightest bit of space. Maybe that would be the best thing for Dublin to do!

In relation to the comments on top teams being Donegal, Mayo and Kerry. Yes, they could well be. However, until sides like that play other top sides we cannot be sure. I think on most days there is little to separate Monaghan and Donegal. Monaghan got it wrong on Ulster final day but Donegal haven't been as impressive as they could be. They laboured against a poor Derry, did the job as expected against Antrim and didn't look at their very best against Monaghan, they were recipients of soft frees and had bad calls go their way (although never looked like losing it regardless). Mayo would be a worry in that i think the side-line is letting them down. They made some bad calls towards the end and almost let Cork take them. They haven't put teams to the sword the way they need to (Monaghan do this on occasion too!). For what it's worth, if Monaghan fail to progress i would love to see Mayo win sam. However, Kerry have impressed me the most, the hammered cork in the Munster final and always looked in control against Galway save the first 10-15 mins where Galway had great chances but couldn't put them away.
For Saturday, I expect us to 'park the bus' alright and frustrate the Dublin attacking game and try to win kickable frees and attempt the play to create a goal on occasion. I don't think it's gonna be pretty but I have to believe. This is a real david v goliath here and the fact so many write us off only inspires us to prove them wrong.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 362 - 06/08/2014 13:38:09    1632416

Yes Clondalkin it's Duffy!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8812 - 06/08/2014 13:50:01    1632427

seany16
County: Dublin

The key for Dublin is to double mark McManus

Does this mean that young Ollie Lyons is a better defender than any of the Dubs, He man marked him on his own Saturday night. So much for the all out football

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1076 - 06/08/2014 14:09:25    1632446

I was 100% confident of victory but since I found out he's reffing it I'm only 99% now.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 06/08/2014 14:13:18    1632453

It's a pity that Monaghan didn't have a little more time before this game, as I think they could in that scenario rattle Dublin.

As it stands, It will be a massive task for them

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 06/08/2014 14:15:17    1632454

I don't think the tired legs will come into it - the Monaghan boys will be buzzing after winning on Saturday night

Bermuda Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 106 - 06/08/2014 14:22:43    1632461