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Another 17 scores conceded. Regardless of whether you did or didn't like McEntee, do or don't like O Rourke and do or don't agree with his treatment of some players, the defending of this team is deplorable. Thats now 17 scores against Limerick, 16 scores against Louth, 17 scores against Derry, 16 scores against Clare and 19 scores against Cork. There is little to no point in talking about this great kicking game, and fast ball in early to get goals etc if we are leaking scores like this. Whether its easy to watch or not, this team needs to focus on getting men back behind the ball, being compact and hard to break down before they look at an attacking strategy. McGill is a massive loss and anyone who says otherwise is simply clueless. He is a top footballer, and a leader as well, who would give huge re-assurance to Flood and O Neill either side of him. He's not there though and the other lads like Keoghan and McEntee need to step up and organize things a hell of a lot better or else we will watch Dublin kick 20 + scores against us. It is early doors for O Rourke yes, but defensively we have definitely regressed and its something he needs to look at and take responsibility for ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 557 - 06/03/2023 10:43:23 2462205 Link 2 |
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I wasn't at the game because of a club league game so I can't comment on the specifics of the game really. People here slating the team and calling them a waste of space is completely wrong. There's no shortage of effort and honesty from the players and once they have then I won't slate them as they are giving it their all. Overall viewpoint is extremely worrying that we have got less scores than the opposition in all 5 games. Goals papering over the cracks. The reality is the defensive personnel has gotten significantly worse. Our last good year in 2019 had a back 6 of Lavin, McGill, Gallagher, James Mc/Ronan Ryan, Harnan and Keoghan. I think only Adam O'Neill from the current team would get into that in place of Gallagher. Also the attacking philosophy is all well and good and we did need to kick the ball more because the running game meant we couldn't get enough scores. But the reality is the new style as of yet hasn't even improved our scoring output really. Bar the Cork game we haven't got to 15 scores in any of the other games and that was the whole point of the kicking game. The draw probably will have us safe as Derry will likely beat Clare. But there's a serious amount of work to do and there's not much time to do and not many players coming back into the team to help with it LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1467 - 06/03/2023 10:48:48 2462209 Link 12 |
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Leaving the game yesterday it's very hard to not be critical on what's going on with Meath this season even with the very new coaching staff, there's elements on formations, structures, etc that take months & years to build up which I fully accept but there's also some glaring issues that can be solved now and are not being addressed. Half back line selection is a big problem, Keoghan is not a centre half back, corner/wing back is his position, JOC is a wing forward & McEntee is far too slow for a 7, everyone we've played have ran through the middle of us with ease and picked off easy scores. Harkin, O'Neill & Hickey (when fit) have to be worked into that half back line to get some pace and tacklers in there. We've two attack minded midfielders that constantly leaves us exposed on our 45, it has to be drilled into them that one of them provides cover. Yesterday, Limerick in the second half had about half a dozen short kickouts in a row to the left back, at no point did any player push up on this and more worryingly no one on the sideline was roaring at the players to push up on it, all stood there with their arms folded catching flies, the only one to do anything about it was Shane McEntee who was late to react each time and instead of instructing the forward line to push up he did it himself and left space in behind him. The debacle at the end over the 45's was a mess, Harry missed his (it happens) then Flynn has a free (on the 45) and decides to go short where Limerick have 15 players back, results in a 45 where he's looking around for someone to take it then puts it down himself and unsurprisingly goes wide, not criticizing Jack for missing because he clearly didn't look comfortable over it but how a management can send a team out and not have a player selected to take all the 45s is beyond me, Harry was more than capable last year. A Derry & Kildare win in 2 weeks will keep us in Div2 next year but we would be far better off with a run in Tailteann Cup this year to give time to build the team. LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 24 - 06/03/2023 12:04:30 2462235 Link 2 |
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Massive concerns about the result yesterday. The lads tried so let's not go there. Seem to be going for goals when the point is the easier option . Let's be honest we have had one decent performance in five now and some would argue we were lucky in cork. The performances are worrying at this stage especially defense wise . This needs addressing asap . Can they bring a defence coach from somewhere? I think it's safe to say things aren't going to get any better in the short term. We were in a downward curve when mick O'dowd was manager and this looks to be the same again. meath1987 (Meath) - Posts: 127 - 06/03/2023 13:13:44 2462262 Link 0 |
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Did nobody tell Limerick " we are meath" hurlit (Meath) - Posts: 416 - 06/03/2023 13:43:59 2462279 Link 5 |
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Well that was a shock, not. Apart from the second half performance against Cork this was the level they played all year. There's lots of people on here talking about the experience in defence. I don't know what games they have been watching Keogan has been the worst defender we have this year. He is now existent in defence never breaking up an attack given away far to many storable frees. His defensible frailty is masked by his attacking, a defender's role is to defend first and foremost. I would position him in his best position at 2. Move O'Neill to his natural spot at 3 he was the best full back in the county 2 years ago for the Tones. Move Flood to 4. We need to find centre back quickly maybe Costello could we tried there. Mc Entee has been a great servant to Meath but he is not good enough time to move on. Then there's the mid field Jones just isn't working there. He's a great athletic man but simply can't win enough primary ball. I've no doubt if we can fix this then the forwards are there to do the business. We'll that's my opinion anyway. latouche25 (Meath) - Posts: 520 - 06/03/2023 13:56:57 2462289 Link 0 |
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Problem is the 3 best midfielders in the county are in the panel in Jones McGowan and Flynn. So all well and good saying lets fix the midfield issue. Fix it how? With who? There is no other midfielders in the county that could do better than those 3. Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 871 - 06/03/2023 14:25:16 2462310 Link 1 |
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Bryan menton is better than all 3. Unfortunatley with the disastrous last 3 games it seems unlikely he will join the squad for championship. Conor Gray has come on a lot the last year or so, I am not sure that he's that far away. He's a Traditional midfielder that meath need. Himself and Eoghan Frayne will probably join the squad as soon as meath 20's is over.
Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 143 - 06/03/2023 14:40:10 2462319 Link 0 |
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Just asking so don't bite my head off. But has Flanagan improved since he went to summerhill ? I know age is catching up with him and he was tried before. But just wonder would he be an option now when with a stronger club. ?
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/03/2023 15:12:46 2462337 Link 0 |
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Isn't Garrigan involved? Look at how he set up the Meath Ladies. They had a very very obvious structure and game plan, based on having players behind the ball. So I don't think a defensive coach is needed. Maybe management have decided they want to try play a more traditional style, but it's not working and we are being carved open in every match.
Tinchy1 (Meath) - Posts: 60 - 06/03/2023 15:17:48 2462340 Link 1 |
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Sorry yes he is but I ruled him out because it looks like he has definitely taken at least this year out. I've seen gray quite regularly including some of the 20s games and he has big potential but I don't see him being at all ready this year especially if he hasn't any league game time to get used to senior inter county football. I'd be drawing a line through him for this year anyway even if he does come into the panel which if he does I would imagine is to get him up to speed for next year . Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 871 - 06/03/2023 15:39:07 2462351 Link 0 |
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In my opinion he hasn't improved. He is doing absolutely fine for Summerhill without being anywhere near fantastic. No doubt he is a good solid senior club midfielder but nothing more IMO
Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 871 - 06/03/2023 15:40:59 2462353 Link 1 |
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In fairness Brian M has been a great servant to Meath, but his time has come and gone. A great worker up and down the field, never the best at winning primary possession from kickouts, something we badly need, Flynn has had little time to settle in, so I would not give up on him yet. Its early days in rebuild and I am not expecting a whole lot of progress at least until this time next year.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2151 - 06/03/2023 15:46:34 2462355 Link 7 |
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The Meath ladies game plan of defending the D was an excellent game plan for the ladies game because there is very few players can kick a score from long range. Wouldn't work as effectively in mens football. Hopefully Garrigan is not just a 1 trick pony with that set up and can create a good structured game plan that suits the players we have available although I have yet to see even smidgen of any kind of defensive game plan coming to the fore in the games which a concern given we are near the end of the league and heading towards championship Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 871 - 06/03/2023 15:53:35 2462360 Link 1 |
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This wont be popular but Keogan is not a six and the positional sense of the half back line is extremely poor so the full back line are exposed. Our half backs have been really poor this year defensively. Once you are running towards your own goals your starting position is wrong and this is frequent with whoever has been playing in the half back line. Northmeathman (Meath) - Posts: 284 - 06/03/2023 16:24:38 2462366 Link 0 |
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Any chance of Nash and McBride coming back from the AFL?? It's going to take time, but I think the real hope is the lads from the underage teams that have won Leinsters and the All Ireland make the break through. I know winning things at underage doesn't guarantee success but it's promising. Better to have a winning mentality at that age than not. NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 28 - 06/03/2023 16:57:38 2462378 Link 0 |
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There are probably a few that could come in but is it late in the season at that stage. That said they could make a marked improvement in some areas.
stillaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 224 - 06/03/2023 17:13:10 2462385 Link 0 |
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Posters on here have short memories criticising Donal Keoghan, the best defender Meath have had for the past 10/12 years. The problem with Donal at the moment is that he is trying to do too much. He is trying to shore up a poor defence and also trying to launch attacks, with very little support from those around him. Conor McGill, Donal and Bryan Menton have kept this team going for a number of years (we would probably be in Division 3 long ago without them). Now it is time for other lads to step up to the plate and take ownership.
kingofclubs (Meath) - Posts: 321 - 06/03/2023 17:30:04 2462392 Link 4 |
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To be fair I think the criticism of Keoghan has been very fair . I think nearly every Meath fan to a man and woman absolutely love the man and appreciate what he has done and given to the senior team over the last 10/12 years but I don't think that should make him immune to criticism for this seasons performances as long as it's respectful and constructive which in his case I think it has been. Also I think even those critical of him recognise it's more because he's out of position . Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 871 - 06/03/2023 18:02:15 2462402 Link 1 |
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Nobody was critical of what he did in the past. But we are in the here and now. Bryan Menton and McGill are gone just like Lyons and O'Connell. Why not place him in his best position at corner back and build from there. Putting him in a position that doesn't suit is no addition to him or the team. Yes he has been a great servant to Meath over the past decade and is a total gentleman off the field but he is not a centre back.
latouche25 (Meath) - Posts: 520 - 06/03/2023 19:49:08 2462423 Link 1 |