A bit worrying but still earlyish days Woukd have liked to see some kick out strategy Some odd positional choices snd even stranger omissions
If it's just trying to get to your best 15 imo you should be within one or two of it now and develop a way of playing that suits your best team but it doesn't look that way
Seemed to be a couple of tantrums and one player who came on as a substituted played for his club afterwards- maybe that was with permission though
Lots of talent got the 2003 minor team to AI Semi under this manager albeit after a fortunate Leinster Final You need a bit more than just talent as you get older excellent though they are eg Freyne, Gray, Moriarty

ABK67 (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 06/03/2022 13:05:43    2404053

There's the core of a good team there. Hogan, Kelly, Emmanuel, Gray, Frayne and Moriarty is a fantastic spine albeit missing a 6. McCarrick has done well so I think he'll start. Caulfield is excellent and Mark Coffey has been playing quite well so I think they'll be the wing backs. I think we're unsure of our corner back, our 6, Oisin Martin was there yesterday and although he was great for Tones last year I don't think he's a 6. And then in the forwards bar Frayne and Moriarty none of the forwards are really putting their hands up and saying they must start. I think there's 9 guys guaranteed starters and then 6 spots up for grabs (corner back, centre back, wing forward x2, corner forward x2). What worried me is that we were much the better team and then we conceded a poor goal from a kickout and the heads and the shape completely seemed to go. We were up 3 and from then on were outscored 2-5 to 0-1. There's some great talent there and moments of individual brilliance but we'll need some improvement if we're to get anywhere near a Leinster title

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 06/03/2022 16:44:01    2404080

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 06/03/2022 18:04:55    2404108

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 06/03/2022 20:26:58    2404139

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 06/03/2022 20:43:44    2404142

Looking at yesterday's team that would leave, Aaron Chinchilla, Adam McDonnell, Josh Carolan and Niall Finnerty to all come in.

Aaron could take a corner back spot, Adam would do a job in the half back line, Josh would be a good option at wing forward or even midfield and move Emmanuel to 11 with a full forward line of Finnerty, Frayne and Moriarty.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 403 - 06/03/2022 20:51:13    2404145

An avid reader, but new to this end of things.

Am very excited by our recent minor success, impressive u20 appointments, development squad, C Ó Bric succession plan & Bective stud commitments to the cause.

I'd like to believe, & I'm obviously only guessing, that its not that the management are still working on their best 24. I'm as much a believer in lads playing themselves off a team/panel as I am on to one. this can only be achieved by giving lots of lads chances.

I just hope that there are enough of tough challenges played between now and championship. There's no lack of senior club teams in dyer need of matches this time of year.

I agree with lots from nearly all posters on many of their posts & worries & have few humble points of my own. My opinions are only based on Dublin & Laois games & limited minor & club games both live & streamed over 3 years.

1. I'd be of the opinion that Billy Hogan will play in goals, but D Pluck acquitted himself very well there V Laois & 2nd half V Dublin. 3rd choice from Ratoath what I've seen is quite good also.
Fullback line. McCarrick has been a revelation in the games I've seen. Had never seen or heard of him until now. I actually thought Seán O'Hare was very good V Laois & Ben Donnelly good V Dublin. Liam Kelly has had brilliant flashes but needs all of these games after all the football he's missed injured. With the embarrassment of riches in terms of wingbacks it wouldn't surprise me to see a Jamie O'Shea, Adam McDonnell or Chinchilla back there as few teams play 3 man full forward lines anyway.
2.I agree with posters re the lack of an obvious centre halfback. For this reason I think it could fall to someone like Josh Carolan which to me would be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul as he proved himself a brilliant free scoring half forward for Simonstown last year. Does anyone know if Oisín Kelly is back training? Think while unspectacular & conservative he's big, strong, fast, a kick passer & plays the old style CB role. Seems to be forever recuperating from the surgery though. My personal favourite of the wingback options is Seán O'Donoghue. He's been immense for Maynooth freshers this year & has actually scored a lot. Before the 2 games I saw I would have thought that he, Caulfield, Chinchilla, O'Shea, McDonnell, Leonard could easily start in the halfback line, following the Dublin match I've added Corbett & killian Smith to that. I think that Adam McDonnell gave exhibition performances V Offaly Leinster Final & Derry in the semi (after a year out) & V Ratoath in the SFC last year but felt the whole halfback line struggled last week v Laois, Emmanuel included.
3.Gray & Emmanuel I think will play at midfield but there are 2 Ashbourne lads there in Browne & Cully (the man mountain) who are well equipped to play there if required, Browne with 2 years SFC starts under his belt. I hadn't considered Kinlough much before with 3 years underage but did well at #12 as a 3rd midfielder v Laois.
4.Half forwards. I would like to see a scenario where Meath could play a physical & creative Emmanuel, Carolan or McDonnell type at 11 & afford then to play frayne inside with Moriarty. While I'm a huge fan of of Kinnsella he hasn't worked out at 11 yet but could do. Caulfield could yet play wing forward ala his role with trim as could any of the glut of attacking wingbacks available.
5.We have 2 brilliant full forwards given a decent supply. I fully expect Moriarty to be starting for the Seniors come championship given our abysmal scoring rate after 4 games. Moriarty & Frayne need to be close to goal & we need a few more chipping in with more scores. David Bell, Oisín Ó Murchú, John McDonagh & more scoring forwards haven't played in this competition yet but could well be in the management's plans. Finnerty could be the man here too. Daire Lynch, while good V Laois but we are not scoring enough. You can carry one of these in a forward line but him, Martin, Leonard, Coffey, Kinlough when picked in a forward line are workers & 1/2 is all you could have at a time & expect to score enough to win tough games.

My team for what it's worth, & probably not worth much:

Hogan

O' Shea, Kelly, McCarrick

O'Donoghue, McDonnell, Chinchilla

Emmanuel, Gray

Kinnsella , Carolan, Kinlough

Bell, Moriarty, Freyne

Plus: Pluck, Donnelly, O'Hare, Corbett, Caulfield, Browne, Coffey, Leonard, Ó Murchú, McDonagh, Finnerty



*I know Sheridan (oldcastle) was a starter last year but I'd rather not pretend. Unfortunately never saw him play before or since. Could well be starting /on playing panel for all I know

meathloaf (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 07/03/2022 08:00:42    2404163

Finnerty and McDonnell played with there clubs on Sat afternoon having been used subs earlier in the day for the 20s. Strange

Baller2019 (Meath) - Posts: 5 - 07/03/2022 11:52:19    2404215

3 main goals for this 20's team are:

1. Keep Marty Clarke away from Sean Emmanuel
2. Keep Tadhg kennelly away from Sean Emmanuel
3. Keep ALL AFL scouts away from Sean Emmanuel

redser123 (Meath) - Posts: 404 - 07/03/2022 18:27:38    2404350

Meathgaa5 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 08/03/2022 10:15:32    2404394

Heard a rumour today a lot of lads getting very pissed off lack of involvement with the 20s and getting little to no game time, played a challange on paddy's day against Derry and lost, full team was played lads not getting chances to show what they have in there locker, bad managing not giving lads a chance?

Meath112233 (Meath) - Posts: 38 - 19/03/2022 19:11:13    2405858

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/03/2022 20:25:52    2405867

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 19/03/2022 21:14:10    2405872

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 23/03/2022 17:23:30    2406743

redser123 (Meath) - Posts: 404 - 23/03/2022 20:03:23    2406764

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/03/2022 07:48:28    2406772

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1489 - 24/03/2022 11:45:42    2406812

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 24/03/2022 12:15:53    2406824

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 24/03/2022 13:33:38    2406846

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 24/03/2022 14:15:47    2406853