Dublin's all out attack will make average teams like Meath/Westmeath/Kildare etc looking terrible but Donegal's all out defence and all out counter attack can make any team look average.

Meath this year tried Dublin's system and let's be honest it didn't work. We exposed a poor Kildare team and that was it really. Armagh playing more to Donegal's type of play made us look very average and Dublin showed what they will do to any county who try and play their style against them.

So what will/should be the template for the counties out of the top 4 going forward? Two years ago we all predicted all out defence, last year all out attack and now I don't really know! If I was to chose my counties style it would be a swarm defence that breaks with numbers going forward when they win possession. The problem with this is it requires dedication that most counties will never be prepared to put in.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 15/09/2014 08:52:09    1652025

It's a fair argument however people forget that Mayo , Dublin , Donegal and Kerry all have fantastic players . I watch club team playing this 'system ' of swarming defence and it looks dire . It's more than just playing defensive .. It doesn't work unless you have the forwards and quite frankly a top class manager which most of the top sides have ...

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 15/09/2014 09:37:02    1652046

Develop your own system. That is my answer, it is pointless trying to mimic a game that may have run it's course at this stage byway. Meath should play to their strengths and work to a method around it.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 15/09/2014 10:25:55    1652066

I agree with Donegalman on a county stage. everything progresses so fast that copying another style is recipe for disaster. Sure copy the idea but implement it differently and in your own unique way.

At club level then copy a template that works for your own team. My club team are playing more of a Tyrone/Donegal game. We leave a full forward line and try to turn over and break quick. Ideally we should always have someone on the shoulder but if not then the forwards need to be free.
You never want to get caught in possession so every single training we do is only 1 play per person.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 15/09/2014 11:31:52    1652099

So WHAT SYSTEM TO CHOOSE?
You are better forgetting what others do, and look at your own team's strengths and Indeed their main weakness. The modern game hinges on the following

1. Winning you own Kickouts - Whether the opposition kick a score or kick a wide, the ball ends up with your keeper to kick it back into play. Winning your own kickouts are vital, as it gives you possession.

2. Keeping possession - The more you have the ball, the less the opposition will have it. So naturally part of any teams training should be practicing holding the ball, and working your way into attacking positions. Great amount of training will go into ball carrying and passing.

3. Scoring - You need to score more that the opposition to win, and there is always a chance your main sharpshooters will be marked out of any given game. You need a clear plan of attack, an alternate plan or alternate list of attacking plans Involving players from various other positions. Once you score, the opposition will then have the ball and which lead to defence.

4. Contesting oppositions kickouts - Do you push up and force them to kick long and ensuring a midfield battle if you have a strong midfield. Or if you feel the opposition will be stronger in that area, let them kick short to their own defence, and rely on your team forcing turnovers as they work their way up the field.

5. Force Turnover's - You must force the opposition to turnover possession, which will be either by direct tackling and Intercepting a mistimed or misplaced pass or shot. Doing this without conceding free's or picking up black, yellow or red cards requires discipline.

6. You've forced a turnover - your back at step 2 again.

CONCLUSION
Ok so I listed a very basic run down of modern Gaelic football, yet this is what you need when looking for your own teams strengths and weaknesses. The system of play you choose, should be drafted with your team's key players in mind.
Knowing your own strengths/weaknesses will help you decide where to force turnovers, Example: Your defence, midfield or push up on the opposition in their own defence. It will also dictate whether you play a defensive, attacking or neutral style of football.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 15/09/2014 12:16:41    1652122

Use whatever system suits your particular panel of players but the great teams from Ulster over the past decade like Armagh, Tyrone or Donegal have brought in their own systems and it is this that makes them stand out. Dublin have been great to watch over the past two years and they will still start among the favourites next year but a lot of counties just do not have the strenght of squad to play this way. Some of the more traditional counties like Cork, Meath, Derry and Galway appear to have lost their way and while once you could have described their football style now they does not appear to be any.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 15/09/2014 12:57:59    1652152

@GaryMc82 Good post, every team must play to its strengths. Having said that the standard of modern football is very high. The conditioning and skill of the players is amazing at inter county level. Its very difficult for club football to replicate either system.

Still think Dublin need better competition in the run up in Leinster but to be fair to Donegal they took their chances unlike Dublin who squandered three clear cut goal chances. That ship has sailed and good luck to Donegal in the final.

spmccann (Dublin) - Posts: 209 - 15/09/2014 13:19:56    1652170

Byanthon
County: Tyrone
Posts: 950

1652152 Some of the more traditional counties like Cork, Meath, Derry and Galway appear to have lost their way and while once you could have described their football style now they does not appear to be any.

I agree with you on that, they seem to be currently very rigid and one dimentional on how they play. Derry have a very strong team, but they seem to lack that conviction needed to make headway in Championship.

Tyrone on the other have shown in the past 2 years to be quite versatile tactically, with only their defence really letting them down on occassion. In saying that, I felt you were the better team against Monaghan and that the ref blew up to soon. Also having Mattie Donnelly sent off so early against Armagh was a huge blow. What do you expect from them going forward into next season?

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 15/09/2014 13:24:24    1652173

spmccann
County: Dublin
Posts: 200

1652170
@GaryMc82 Good post, every team must play to its strengths. Having said that the standard of modern football is very high. The conditioning and skill of the players is amazing at inter county level. Its very difficult for club football to replicate either system.

It is very high, and club players normally require a year or two conditioning before they can step on the Intercounty pitch.

The likes of Meath, Kildare and Galway need to look at their own squad strengths, and develope a system of play to suit the key players they currently have. But also they should have a hard look at the general style of their club football, and build upon the strongest parts of their Club styles.

Take Donegal for example, they have always traditionally played a short hand passing running game. Thats from the clubs right up to their county team, which I seen a lot in the 1990's and 2000's. They actually played very good football, but were perhaps a little naive defensively and missed out a lot on Ulster titles and National Leagues.
Jim McGuinness Identified the main weakness ( The Defence ), and primarily worked on improving it when he took over in 2011. Once they became comfortable with that, he basically worked on transitioning from this defensive shell to their traditional running and hand passing game.

Each team should play to their own particular playing strengths, while of course addressing their own weak area's. It's all well and good trying to play the Dublin or Donegal system, until you meet Dublin or Donegal. Then they will most likely overcome you, as the system is tailored for them specifically and suits them that bit better.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 15/09/2014 13:54:49    1652189

Michelle Doherty vs Georgia Salpa?

Hmmmm....

So many interesting thoughts

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 15/09/2014 14:53:51    1652217

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 13086

1652217
Michelle Doherty vs Georgia Salpa?

Hmmmm....

So many interesting thoughts


Both of them with Michelle Keegan and a block of Kerrygold thrown in, and it's a party.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 15/09/2014 17:43:43    1652329

Dont want to know what kind of stuff your into Gary,but i wouldnt need a block of Kerrygold,to have a good night with that trio.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 15/09/2014 17:50:54    1652334

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 1089

1652334 Dont want to know what kind of stuff your into Gary,but i wouldnt need a block of Kerrygold,to have a good night with that trio.

I think the kerrygold is for Gary. He wants to be mammy if you get my drift.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 15/09/2014 21:30:41    1652441

it is misleading to say that dublin have an all out attacking system or donegal have all out defence...when donegal were probing in the first half against dublin the dubs had 12 men behind the ball, the dubs played 13 men behind the ball against mayo last year...kerry regularly play 13 men behind the ball with only o'donoghue and geaney/donaghy up front...it really is time to stop this nonsense of labelling teams as an attacking or defensive team...unfortunately most of this lazy analysis comes from so called tv pundits who really have no tactical awareness of the game

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 19/09/2014 16:08:36    1653965

mayotyroneman
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1225

1653965 it is misleading to say that dublin have an all out attacking system or donegal have all out defence...when donegal were probing in the first half against dublin the dubs had 12 men behind the ball, the dubs played 13 men behind the ball against mayo last year...kerry regularly play 13 men behind the ball with only o'donoghue and geaney/donaghy up front...it really is time to stop this nonsense of labelling teams as an attacking or defensive team...unfortunately most of this lazy analysis comes from so called tv pundits who really have no tactical awareness of the game

Yep in the second half we also had 12 men behind the ball , but we were in the wrong half of the f...king pitch.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 19/09/2014 21:09:49    1654099

The players at your disposal should really dictate your play , for instance was it genius of Kerry to put star on the square and put high ball in on top , lets say hes not playing that same tactic would fail , but one thing Donegal have proven is if you have a system back it 100% in good and bad times and it takes time to evolve , this Donegal team I can watch , wasnt a fan of the 2012 version , too many counties chopping and changing coaches and playing styles alien to them , and when failing are left in limbo land .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 19/09/2014 21:25:41    1654107