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Meath 2023

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Replying To southmeathgael: "Div 3 and the Tailteann cup beckons after that draw im afraid. It was crucial we got 4 homes, including Derry Kildare and probably cork at home. Can only see 2 points I'd be relatively confident of and that's home to louth. I'm sure Dublin in Navan will insure we don't get a hiding. We usually start slowly so cork away not a good start. Derry will be a hiding up there. Limerick clare and louth are the 3 games that'll determine it all for us, and would you bet on us in any if them right now ???? Kildare could end up sending us down in Newbridge" If we were to judge to last years form then as you say things could go sour very quickly, however, would expect a boost from new management, well within their ability to sort out our recurring flaws. Even a modest improvement should see us safe. Promotion this year is a very big ask and nothing to suggest we can improve to than extent. Top half of table, Leinster Final it which we dont collapse and maybe take a scalp or two in championship would make for a good start. No denying COR has a massive job on his hands going forward. seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2195 - 04/11/2022 16:24:00 2446511 Link
Replying To ratlag: "While I did say we need to be realistic and not put to much pressure on the lads this is just completely over the top negative. Even as poor as we showed last year there is nothing to say that we shouldn't be beating Louth, Limerick, Cork at a minimum and potentially Clare at home as well. "Div 3 and Tailteann cup beckons" is a sad sad view to have and a completely unfair one as well" Exactly, as poor as we were last year, sure what else do we have to go on right now ? We can hardly go on anything else can we ? Same panel pretty much and a new manager that could take time to bed in. Our away record in the league has been very poor way before this current crop of players came along, so 4 away games isn't ideal. Clare and ourselves seem very evenly matched, and louth impressed me last year, particularly their midfield and forwards so they aren't to be taken lightly. I'm being realistic is all, not negative. Ya know if you keep your head in the sand, it still gets wet don't ya. ? southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 937 - 05/11/2022 09:12:24 2446526 Link
Replying To southmeathgael: "Exactly, as poor as we were last year, sure what else do we have to go on right now ? We can hardly go on anything else can we ? Same panel pretty much and a new manager that could take time to bed in. Our away record in the league has been very poor way before this current crop of players came along, so 4 away games isn't ideal. Clare and ourselves seem very evenly matched, and louth impressed me last year, particularly their midfield and forwards so they aren't to be taken lightly. I'm being realistic is all, not negative. Ya know if you keep your head in the sand, it still gets wet don't ya. ?" I wouldn't regard what your basically saying, that we will probably be relegated as you being just realistic. Since the GAA went back to a 4 division league in 2008 we are amazingly consistent as being a division 2 team staying in division 2 in 12 of the 14 seasons (only 1 relegation and 1 promotion in that time). The amount of times I've heard going into various seasons that 'we probably going to be relegated this year' has been huge. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 05/11/2022 11:34:52 2446542 Link
Replying To southmeathgael: "Exactly, as poor as we were last year, sure what else do we have to go on right now ? We can hardly go on anything else can we ? Same panel pretty much and a new manager that could take time to bed in. Our away record in the league has been very poor way before this current crop of players came along, so 4 away games isn't ideal. Clare and ourselves seem very evenly matched, and louth impressed me last year, particularly their midfield and forwards so they aren't to be taken lightly. I'm being realistic is all, not negative. Ya know if you keep your head in the sand, it still gets wet don't ya. ?" I agree us and Clare are evenly matched but we are still better than Louth, Limerick and Cork even based on last years form so to say that we are destined for relegation is being overly negative. I don't dismiss any games as gimmies but we are probably the 3rd/4th best team in the league behin Dublin, Derry and possibly Kildare. I fyou genuinely think we are going to be relegated then thats your opinion and thats fine but I think you're completely off the mark and not basing your opinion on facts. ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 05/11/2022 11:55:46 2446544 Link
I think we'll see an improvement in the county team this year with the new management team in place. I think Andy did a good job all things considered in his time with Meath but he ended up staying to long, unless you are competitive at the top end of inter county football or your making continuous progress 6 years is just too long for a county management team to stay in place. I think COR being brought in as manager just will create a lot of positivity just because of the fact of who he is. This generation of Meath players may not remember COR as players from my generation would but his time involved in St. Pat's teams and on TV will hold him in good stead as well as hearing him being talked about by the older generation. One thing the new management team I think should do is mix up the type of forwards playing for Meath compared to recent years. Nearly all our forwards are small mobile players, we need some big men playing in the forwards who can impose themselves on opposition defenders and win their own ball. I would welcome if COR on us kicking the ball more, recently we are easy to defend against as we are so predictable with every attack being about small players running at the opposition. Priority no. 1 for new management for me has to be working on kickout strategy. Last year was a bit better but we are still didn't look as well prepared as other teams. It's one area I felt criticism of Andy was justified. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 06/11/2022 11:31:02 2446611 Link
Replying To bdbuddah: "I think we'll see an improvement in the county team this year with the new management team in place. I think Andy did a good job all things considered in his time with Meath but he ended up staying to long, unless you are competitive at the top end of inter county football or your making continuous progress 6 years is just too long for a county management team to stay in place. I think COR being brought in as manager just will create a lot of positivity just because of the fact of who he is. This generation of Meath players may not remember COR as players from my generation would but his time involved in St. Pat's teams and on TV will hold him in good stead as well as hearing him being talked about by the older generation. One thing the new management team I think should do is mix up the type of forwards playing for Meath compared to recent years. Nearly all our forwards are small mobile players, we need some big men playing in the forwards who can impose themselves on opposition defenders and win their own ball. I would welcome if COR on us kicking the ball more, recently we are easy to defend against as we are so predictable with every attack being about small players running at the opposition. Priority no. 1 for new management for me has to be working on kickout strategy. Last year was a bit better but we are still didn't look as well prepared as other teams. It's one area I felt criticism of Andy was justified." Kick it to who? Mcentee played a running game cause he had too . Ya have to cut your cloth to measure . We'd all love traditional meath football again, but we havnt got the ball winners imo southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 937 - 06/11/2022 18:45:25 2446662 Link
Replying To southmeathgael: "Kick it to who? Mcentee played a running game cause he had too . Ya have to cut your cloth to measure . We'd all love traditional meath football again, but we havnt got the ball winners imo" Saw enough of shane walsh to suggest he's well able to win his own ball. 6 points against kerry in 2019... I wonder why some of the players have failed to progress? bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1807 - 07/11/2022 17:41:35 2446786 Link
Replying To southmeathgael: "Kick it to who? Mcentee played a running game cause he had too . Ya have to cut your cloth to measure . We'd all love traditional meath football again, but we havnt got the ball winners imo" We may not be able to find a Michael Murphy or Daniel Flynn. But I still think picking forwards that have all got exactly the same attributes (small, fast and pacy) leaves us very one dimensional. I know it may be hard to find a big men who can shoot the lights out but finding big men who are fairly good fielders, can lay the ball off and can impose themselves physically on opposition defenders is surely possibly. This would mix up a bit the way we can play. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 07/11/2022 21:06:47 2446809 Link
Going by last year, I think everyone would probably agree that the Dubs (100%) and Derry (80%) are the favourites to get promoted. After that I don't think there's whole pile between ourselves, Clare, Kildare and Cork. Kildare and Cork are very unpredictable, especially Cork who have bags of talent but just can't seem to get it together. Would expect to beat Limerick and Louth. Very difficult to call how it will pan out with new management but if we keep playing as we have been doing for the past number of years, then mid-table is about the best to hope for. moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 485 - 08/11/2022 12:32:59 2446865 Link
Replying To bert09: "Saw enough of shane walsh to suggest he's well able to win his own ball. 6 points against kerry in 2019... I wonder why some of the players have failed to progress?" He has failed to progress. I know he had a bad injury which didn't help, and hopefully it was just that mcentees style didn't suit him. We need a player like him to come good, but he had a very average year for meath and against decent opposition in the club championship southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 937 - 11/11/2022 07:28:54 2447140 Link
Replying To southmeathgael: "He has failed to progress. I know he had a bad injury which didn't help, and hopefully it was just that mcentees style didn't suit him. We need a player like him to come good, but he had a very average year for meath and against decent opposition in the club championship" Unfortunately I think this is true. Maybe he had a bit of fearlessness when he played in 2019. And he is still a really useful player and had some great games for Na Fianna in the championship. But in the semi final Conor McGill just look superior athletically and won the vast majority of their contests. For his size and strength he actually isn't great in the air. I think he prefers to play 11. This is where he played most underage for Meath. Where he plays for DCU and where he often ends up for Na Fianna. I love his attitude on the pitch and he tries his heart out and workrate isn't an issue. I just hope it is a confidence issue with Meath that can be fixed. But I fear as a 14 at county level he isn't the answer. Would still have him in my team somewhere but think asking him to be the focal point of a kicking game isn't something he'd excel at LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 11/11/2022 16:33:49 2447216 Link
Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "Unfortunately I think this is true. Maybe he had a bit of fearlessness when he played in 2019. And he is still a really useful player and had some great games for Na Fianna in the championship. But in the semi final Conor McGill just look superior athletically and won the vast majority of their contests. For his size and strength he actually isn't great in the air. I think he prefers to play 11. This is where he played most underage for Meath. Where he plays for DCU and where he often ends up for Na Fianna. I love his attitude on the pitch and he tries his heart out and workrate isn't an issue. I just hope it is a confidence issue with Meath that can be fixed. But I fear as a 14 at county level he isn't the answer. Would still have him in my team somewhere but think asking him to be the focal point of a kicking game isn't something he'd excel at" Never looks at ease playing for county, to easily dispossed and seems in two minds what option to take. No doubt he tries and has talent, as you say hopefully its a confidence issue and something new management can work on. seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2195 - 11/11/2022 21:52:37 2447261 Link
Hearing of some big departures coming out of Meath has anyone heard the same? Head4BlackSpot1990 (Donegal) - Posts: 24 - 22/11/2022 12:52:27 2448410 Link
Replying To Head4BlackSpot1990: "Hearing of some big departures coming out of Meath has anyone heard the same?" Like who? We aren't exactly blessed with many of them. BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 997 - 22/11/2022 13:23:00 2448417 Link
Replying To BigJoe14: "Like who? We aren't exactly blessed with many of them." I believe Menton has retired Meath32245 (Meath) - Posts: 75 - 22/11/2022 19:32:23 2448463 Link
Replying To Meath32245: "I believe Menton has retired" That be a big loss. Great servant and leader on that team. Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 23/11/2022 16:06:37 2448544 Link
Replying To Crinigan: "That be a big loss. Great servant and leader on that team." I agree, a big pity if so. A midfield partnership of Menton and Daith McGowan would have been very promising. stillaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 23/11/2022 17:57:41 2448557 Link
Replying To Crinigan: "That be a big loss. Great servant and leader on that team." 100%,he will be a massive loss if he's gone.A true leader on the field.I was hoping he might give it a year or so under COR.Best of luck to him if it's true. Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 294 - 23/11/2022 19:53:05 2448565 Link
Replying To Head4BlackSpot1990: "Hearing of some big departures coming out of Meath has anyone heard the same?" Know of two. Two of the bigger name players. One has been mentioned the other not yet. But yes we are going to be hit with a few less players royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 23/11/2022 20:50:44 2448567 Link
Replying To Meath32245: "I believe Menton has retired" I heard this also from someone who knows him well. Selwyn (Meath) - Posts: 383 - 24/11/2022 07:29:33 2448569 Link