Meath Forum

Meath v Clare

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Team should be out tomorrow or Sat morning. All players fit (with exception of Lenihan) I would imagine Andy would go with the following:

Colgan
Lavin
McGill
Burke
Keoghan
Power
S McEntee
Menton
Flanagan
J McEntee
Brennan
Biggy
J Wallace
O Sullivan
McKeever

If I was picking I'd have Conlon in for S McEntee to take him out of the firing line a bit but other than that I don;t see many changes from the Roscommon game beig made.

ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 557 - 01/02/2018 12:15:26    2073058

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Replying To ratlag:  "Team should be out tomorrow or Sat morning. All players fit (with exception of Lenihan) I would imagine Andy would go with the following:

Colgan
Lavin
McGill
Burke
Keoghan
Power
S McEntee
Menton
Flanagan
J McEntee
Brennan
Biggy
J Wallace
O Sullivan
McKeever

If I was picking I'd have Conlon in for S McEntee to take him out of the firing line a bit but other than that I don;t see many changes from the Roscommon game beig made."
I am not sure biggy will be named. Other than that I pretty much agree

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 01/02/2018 12:31:35    2073064

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Replying To royaldunne:  "I am not sure biggy will be named. Other than that I pretty much agree"
He's one I would drop as well for many of the other games if they were this sunday, but after how he played against them last year down ther I think he may be left in. If not then I would possibly be startig Tobin, or else McMahon with O Sullivan Coming out to the half forward line. I think any of Biggy, Tobin or McMahon coming on in the second half with cause serious problems for Clare along with E Wallace.

ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 557 - 01/02/2018 12:43:50    2073071

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Replying To ratlag:  "He's one I would drop as well for many of the other games if they were this sunday, but after how he played against them last year down ther I think he may be left in. If not then I would possibly be startig Tobin, or else McMahon with O Sullivan Coming out to the half forward line. I think any of Biggy, Tobin or McMahon coming on in the second half with cause serious problems for Clare along with E Wallace."
You make a valid point, his performance last year versus Clare was outstanding, maybe the game to get his mojo back? We need biggy to be performing if we are to be promoted.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 01/02/2018 12:51:55    2073072

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Replying To ratlag:  "He's one I would drop as well for many of the other games if they were this sunday, but after how he played against them last year down ther I think he may be left in. If not then I would possibly be startig Tobin, or else McMahon with O Sullivan Coming out to the half forward line. I think any of Biggy, Tobin or McMahon coming on in the second half with cause serious problems for Clare along with E Wallace."
Biggy will be starting this one. He has to be back on form by now. This time last year he had a few games in when he was playing club he hasnt been playing club so think this is where is he is slacking off. Dont think hes going to leave him as a sub when Andy knows what Tobin is capable of, have feeling he will do what he has done last 2 games...stated Graham then subbed him with Tobin.

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 01/02/2018 12:57:19    2073074

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Quote from Andy
"We've just got to lick our wounds , and come back stronger next week ".
Now that's the attitude, none of this bs that we should be happy with the point, it was a point dropped. The more Andy talks the more I want him installed as manager for life. Lol

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 01/02/2018 14:48:48    2073105

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Quote from Andy
"We've just got to lick our wounds , and come back stronger next week ".
Now that's the attitude, none of this bs that we should be happy with the point, it was a point dropped. The more Andy talks the more I want him installed as manager for life. Lol"
Great to hear his attitude alright, especially when he said that point felt more like a loss than a win. Dont think we will ever forget last years game against Cork, he was totally p***** off aswell over that so much so he didnt travel home with the on the bus.

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 01/02/2018 15:00:21    2073109

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Replying To Loyalroyal17:  "Great to hear his attitude alright, especially when he said that point felt more like a loss than a win. Dont think we will ever forget last years game against Cork, he was totally p***** off aswell over that so much so he didnt travel home with the on the bus."
Yeah. He is the real deal. None of this pussyfooting around grown men. If a lad needs a arm round the shoulder then by all means. But when we blew a win for no reason then let the hairdryer treatment begin.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 01/02/2018 15:35:15    2073125

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Again I'm been lied about. I will repeat I said if all them I mentioned plus subs had their best game for Meath then we would give even dubs socks, as we would certainly worry them. Now when has the last time any team including Dublin had 6 forwards have personal best games all on the same day? And subs the same. It was a hypothetical answer to a question. It ain't going to happen but if all 6 were firing on all cylinders then yes we would give them socks.
Has the educational system in Meath broken that much in recent years? Or are some people naturally just, ..... well."
I'm pretty intelligent, and very well educated, and understood you fully. I still think you are talking nonsense though.
1. You have picked 6 out and out forwards. If they are to play at their best, they would have to play as forwards- that's their game. They might cause Dublin some difficulty, if they could actually get some ball. The reality is that Dublin would be to busy tearing through our defence with their midfielders and half backs to care about what our six forwards were doing.
2. Two of the forwards have played a grand total of 5 county matches between them. Brennan didn't set the world alight in the O'Byrne cup, and Mckeever played half a decent match against Mckeever. So you are judging their best by what they have produced in the meath county championship, which by your own admission is of a poor standard.
3. You will never get a situation where everyone plays the game of their life at the same time- it just doesn't happen. I know you said "if" they did, but if my auntie had balls and all that.
4. You don't get to play at your very best against Dublin because they have good defenders. You can't argue that player X played really well against a lesser team and if he played like that against Dublin he would cause them trouble. He played that well BECAUSE it was a lesser team. You don't get the opportunity to play that well against the better teams.

I'm afraid that it's just the same over-optimistic guff which is your trademark - you think all your ducks are swans.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 01/02/2018 18:07:16    2073184

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Replying To Loyalroyal17:  "Biggy will be starting this one. He has to be back on form by now. This time last year he had a few games in when he was playing club he hasnt been playing club so think this is where is he is slacking off. Dont think hes going to leave him as a sub when Andy knows what Tobin is capable of, have feeling he will do what he has done last 2 games...stated Graham then subbed him with Tobin."
I disagree. As I said earlier, the game plan from what I have seen this year is to defend for the first half, then let rip for the second. If that changes against Clare them fine, I'd put Reilly in from the start. Otherwise I'd leave him off, and bring him on with 20-25 minutes to go.
Graham Reilly is not a particularly good defender, but on his day is probably the best forward we have. So why play him for the 45 minutes we intend to sit back, and the replace him for the last 25 when we intend to go forward. Surely it should be the other way round.
Problem is, a lot of people are stuck in the past, and if a player doesn't start, then he must have been "dropped" which therefore must be a negative. But the game has moved on. Most games are won and lost in the last 20 minutes, so it is equally as important if not more so, that you have your best players on the field playing at 100% for that period when the game is decided. That's why I would start a more defensive half-forward, or even another half back, and bring Reilly on at half time or 10-15 minutes into the second half. 25 minutes of him in full flow going forward is far more useful that what McEntee is asking him to do at the minute.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 01/02/2018 18:19:59    2073187

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "I'm pretty intelligent, and very well educated, and understood you fully. I still think you are talking nonsense though.
1. You have picked 6 out and out forwards. If they are to play at their best, they would have to play as forwards- that's their game. They might cause Dublin some difficulty, if they could actually get some ball. The reality is that Dublin would be to busy tearing through our defence with their midfielders and half backs to care about what our six forwards were doing.
2. Two of the forwards have played a grand total of 5 county matches between them. Brennan didn't set the world alight in the O'Byrne cup, and Mckeever played half a decent match against Mckeever. So you are judging their best by what they have produced in the meath county championship, which by your own admission is of a poor standard.
3. You will never get a situation where everyone plays the game of their life at the same time- it just doesn't happen. I know you said "if" they did, but if my auntie had balls and all that.
4. You don't get to play at your very best against Dublin because they have good defenders. You can't argue that player X played really well against a lesser team and if he played like that against Dublin he would cause them trouble. He played that well BECAUSE it was a lesser team. You don't get the opportunity to play that well against the better teams.

I'm afraid that it's just the same over-optimistic guff which is your trademark - you think all your ducks are swans."
EDIT- Mckeever played half a decent game against Roscommon.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 01/02/2018 18:21:35    2073189

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "I'm pretty intelligent, and very well educated, and understood you fully. I still think you are talking nonsense though.
1. You have picked 6 out and out forwards. If they are to play at their best, they would have to play as forwards- that's their game. They might cause Dublin some difficulty, if they could actually get some ball. The reality is that Dublin would be to busy tearing through our defence with their midfielders and half backs to care about what our six forwards were doing.
2. Two of the forwards have played a grand total of 5 county matches between them. Brennan didn't set the world alight in the O'Byrne cup, and Mckeever played half a decent match against Mckeever. So you are judging their best by what they have produced in the meath county championship, which by your own admission is of a poor standard.
3. You will never get a situation where everyone plays the game of their life at the same time- it just doesn't happen. I know you said "if" they did, but if my auntie had balls and all that.
4. You don't get to play at your very best against Dublin because they have good defenders. You can't argue that player X played really well against a lesser team and if he played like that against Dublin he would cause them trouble. He played that well BECAUSE it was a lesser team. You don't get the opportunity to play that well against the better teams.

I'm afraid that it's just the same over-optimistic guff which is your trademark - you think all your ducks are swans."
I will always be optimistic. Always have always will be. When my youngest was born he was given a less than 50% chance of survival. Not once did it cross my mind that he wouldn't make it, I had absolute faith in him. And now he is one and half and while still has some medical issues he is grabbing my phone as I write this. Some people are optimists by nature, others are pessimistic, when recession hit , rather than cutting back on stuff in company , I spent more on advertising etc, we got through it without laying one person off. In football if the management, players and supporters don't believe they can beat anyone on any given day, what's the point??
So yes if we face Dublin this year I will absolutely believe we will beat them. That's my natural instinct, never concede defeat before you even start.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 01/02/2018 18:46:22    2073196

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "I'm pretty intelligent, and very well educated, and understood you fully. I still think you are talking nonsense though.
1. You have picked 6 out and out forwards. If they are to play at their best, they would have to play as forwards- that's their game. They might cause Dublin some difficulty, if they could actually get some ball. The reality is that Dublin would be to busy tearing through our defence with their midfielders and half backs to care about what our six forwards were doing.
2. Two of the forwards have played a grand total of 5 county matches between them. Brennan didn't set the world alight in the O'Byrne cup, and Mckeever played half a decent match against Mckeever. So you are judging their best by what they have produced in the meath county championship, which by your own admission is of a poor standard.
3. You will never get a situation where everyone plays the game of their life at the same time- it just doesn't happen. I know you said "if" they did, but if my auntie had balls and all that.
4. You don't get to play at your very best against Dublin because they have good defenders. You can't argue that player X played really well against a lesser team and if he played like that against Dublin he would cause them trouble. He played that well BECAUSE it was a lesser team. You don't get the opportunity to play that well against the better teams.

I'm afraid that it's just the same over-optimistic guff which is your trademark - you think all your ducks are swans."
Completely different subject anfearbeag and just a question..

This is a part of any sport i completely understand anfearbeag "3. You will never get a situation where everyone plays the game of their life at the same time- it just doesn't happen" That is very true,only really special sports people like Ronaldo ,Messi,Brian O'Driscoll , and Michael Jordan could always find that top notch performance every time...but how are Dublin always able to at least get 10 or 11 players and then 3 subs performing at a high standard nearly every game ? Every team in the history of sport have good day and bad days...But Dublin are always reaching that bar every time for near enough the last six years ! Thats a very long time to be always at top of your game and very unusual for Amateur sports !

People might say Dublin have very special players right now ! If you watch Dublin club football most don't stand out as special footballers ..i would go as far and say a lot look average at best !

Jim Gavin a tactical genius ? Personally i don't think there is much tactics in man on man..

Money spent on top class preparation ?

Leinster the weakest it has ever been and Dublin don't have to peak until the semi final ? But yet if that is the case Dublin don't have to peak late in the championship it should mean tighter score line games in leinster against opposition !

Or maybe its all of the above together that makes Dublin special ! Barcelona were special but replaced and bought special players but didn't completely dominated the sport for 6 or 7 years...even the all blacks had a special team and unbeaten 20 something matches until they met a average irish rugby team who just did the basics better than anybody else who beat the All blacks in Chicago !

I find this Dublin team odd at best because they are rewriting the rules on peak performance and i don't really see them as this special snow flake people think they are !

WhyTheLongFace (Meath) - Posts: 876 - 01/02/2018 19:40:00    2073211

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I hate to regress but I miss Stephen Bray.

https://youtu.be/6HDmEFWabfM

This is the standard our forwards need to get to...

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 01/02/2018 19:51:03    2073215

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Replying To royaldunne:  "I will always be optimistic. Always have always will be. When my youngest was born he was given a less than 50% chance of survival. Not once did it cross my mind that he wouldn't make it, I had absolute faith in him. And now he is one and half and while still has some medical issues he is grabbing my phone as I write this. Some people are optimists by nature, others are pessimistic, when recession hit , rather than cutting back on stuff in company , I spent more on advertising etc, we got through it without laying one person off. In football if the management, players and supporters don't believe they can beat anyone on any given day, what's the point??
So yes if we face Dublin this year I will absolutely believe we will beat them. That's my natural instinct, never concede defeat before you even start."
Genuinely delighted to hear about your little one RD, and glad to hear that your business survived the recession. My own went through some tough times as well, but thankfully we seem to be through the other side. You do remind me of a quote from the brilliant General Melchett from Blackadder:

"If nothing else works, then a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through"

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 01/02/2018 20:26:48    2073221

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Replying To bert09:  "I hate to regress but I miss Stephen Bray.

https://youtu.be/6HDmEFWabfM

This is the standard our forwards need to get to..."
Exactly.........we simply have no forward like him . His vision, and intelligence in using open spaces to pick up a pass was copybook stuff . Don't understand why we do not develop more of this .

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1224 - 01/02/2018 20:34:57    2073224

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "Genuinely delighted to hear about your little one RD, and glad to hear that your business survived the recession. My own went through some tough times as well, but thankfully we seem to be through the other side. You do remind me of a quote from the brilliant General Melchett from Blackadder:

"If nothing else works, then a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through""
Hahaha. Yep that's me all over :).
Thanks for the good wishes.
And delighted your business is going strong.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 01/02/2018 21:39:27    2073243

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "I disagree. As I said earlier, the game plan from what I have seen this year is to defend for the first half, then let rip for the second. If that changes against Clare them fine, I'd put Reilly in from the start. Otherwise I'd leave him off, and bring him on with 20-25 minutes to go.
Graham Reilly is not a particularly good defender, but on his day is probably the best forward we have. So why play him for the 45 minutes we intend to sit back, and the replace him for the last 25 when we intend to go forward. Surely it should be the other way round.
Problem is, a lot of people are stuck in the past, and if a player doesn't start, then he must have been "dropped" which therefore must be a negative. But the game has moved on. Most games are won and lost in the last 20 minutes, so it is equally as important if not more so, that you have your best players on the field playing at 100% for that period when the game is decided. That's why I would start a more defensive half-forward, or even another half back, and bring Reilly on at half time or 10-15 minutes into the second half. 25 minutes of him in full flow going forward is far more useful that what McEntee is asking him to do at the minute."
Thats easy to say about Reilly but can we rely on him to go hell for leather in the last 20 minutes or whatever. Going on his form lately im not so sure. In the past id 100% put my house on it but really not convinced...

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 01/02/2018 21:39:29    2073244

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Replying To Loyalroyal17:  "Thats easy to say about Reilly but can we rely on him to go hell for leather in the last 20 minutes or whatever. Going on his form lately im not so sure. In the past id 100% put my house on it but really not convinced..."
It's hard to tell if you can rely on him to do it, because he hasn't been asked to lately. Instead he is being asked to play as an extra half back for 45 minutes, which I don't really think he is suited to doing. Firstly, because I don't think he is a naturally good defender, and secondly because if we do get the ball and break forward, he is having to make 60-70 yard runs up the field, before trying to get back again. I just don't think he is able to do that, which is why you see him standing with the hands on the hips in the middle of the field before the first half is even over. Play him further up the field so he is making 30-40 yard runs instead of 60-70 yards, and keep for the part of the game when we actually intend to attack.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 01/02/2018 23:44:26    2073278

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "It's hard to tell if you can rely on him to do it, because he hasn't been asked to lately. Instead he is being asked to play as an extra half back for 45 minutes, which I don't really think he is suited to doing. Firstly, because I don't think he is a naturally good defender, and secondly because if we do get the ball and break forward, he is having to make 60-70 yard runs up the field, before trying to get back again. I just don't think he is able to do that, which is why you see him standing with the hands on the hips in the middle of the field before the first half is even over. Play him further up the field so he is making 30-40 yard runs instead of 60-70 yards, and keep for the part of the game when we actually intend to attack."
Genuinely think you are making sense on that. You have him down to a tee and this is exactly what we need to do with him. We all know too well what is able to do if he is let. lets hope he can be given the chance to showcase his abilities, we need him positioned right Sunday if we are to get anything out of him. Must be very frustrating for him all the same. Lads are writing him off the team which is not fair. Hes not a defender by any means, give him the ball and let him run with it & get the scores...what he does best. Any luck he will have those hands all over a ball and not on the hips Sunday!

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 02/02/2018 09:15:22    2073301

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