Team named. Same as last day from 1-9. Farrell on the 40, Shane O'Rourke to 15 (for Ward), Morgan in at 13 for Gilsenan.

Finnertys_Perm (Meath) - Posts: 440 - 18/02/2011 09:02:05    870426

Thats disapointing to hear that no changes are made to the backline, Paddy Gilsenan is very unluky to be dropped he worked harder then most of the forwards, we might just get by sligo with this team but it doesnt bode well for the rest of the league and championship if the management arent brave enough to blood new players particlular in the backline and midfield i think the forwards will come good and get enough scores but the backs could be the weak area and a certain midfielder thats getting more chances den any other player i can remember for meath.

tailteannpark (Meath) - Posts: 174 - 18/02/2011 09:58:13    870450

tailteannpark
County: Meath
Posts: 57

870450
Thats disapointing to hear that no changes are made to the backline, Paddy Gilsenan is very unluky to be dropped he worked harder then most of the forwards, we might just get by sligo with this team but it doesnt bode well for the rest of the league and championship if the management arent brave enough to blood new players particlular in the backline and midfield i think the forwards will come good and get enough scores but the backs could be the weak area and a certain midfielder thats getting more chances den any other player i can remember for meath.


Agree with you there bout Gilsenan being hard done by and a lack of changes at the back.
I also see your point about the certain midfielder. If Meade is our best option at midfield, then why is banty wasting the league using him at chb and carrying a passenger in midfield. Why not put Meade midfield and let either McGuinness or menton try and settle at chb.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 18/02/2011 10:57:24    870509

I would imagine only reason that Paddy Gilsenan has lost out is that U21 Championship v Dublin is next Wednsday night. He will be a vital part of that team if we are to beat Dublin.

mash58 (Meath) - Posts: 73 - 18/02/2011 11:20:36    870537

Really surprised with the team for Sunday.After the last day surely the idea of playing Brian Meade at centre back clearly will not work.He is our best midfield option and should be played there.Cant understand the thinking behind playing 2 wingbacks in the corners when there are better tighter marking defenders on the panel.Midfield were outplayed by Laois until Crawford came on at halftime and still no change.Didnt expect Cian Ward to keep his place but Paddy Gilsenan is unlucky.Sligo should not be underestimated.

noneutrals (Dublin) - Posts: 316 - 18/02/2011 12:18:01    870594

They have dropped the wrong ward, i cannot believe how they persist with certain players who
are clerly out of their depth

atta (Meath) - Posts: 711 - 18/02/2011 12:23:21    870599

18/02/2011 11:20:36
mash58
County: Meath
Posts: 49

870537 I would imagine only reason that Paddy Gilsenan has lost out is that U21 Championship v Dublin is next Wednsday night. He will be a vital part of that team if we are to beat Dublin.


Fair point alright. Had forgot that game was so close.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 18/02/2011 12:51:20    870631

Any time a tean is announced, there is always talk of "we should be blooding new players". My understahding is that there have been a number of trial games and various friendlies in the January period where we were playing two games a weekend in order for the new management team to assess the depth of talent available. Evidently, this search was not successful and hence we have largely the same panel as last years with some fringe players coming and going.

On the basis of the panel we have, he is trying out some ideas- Meade/Menton at CHB, two wing backs at corner back, trying out Gilsenan and Mooney in the forwards, looking at midfield. On the basis that the squad is now settled following January, I would have though we, as a county, are experimenting with whats available in those on the basis of those positional changes. If we went all out with a brand new team, the calls would be of "we need to do well i the League to build for the championship.

I'm personally happy that he is trying a few things out and in due course we will know if GO'B and CK are corner backs or who is the best CHB or midfielders.

DowdtoFoleyGoal (Meath) - Posts: 292 - 18/02/2011 13:47:14    870674

Although its early days, would like to see a different emphasis on the makeup of the backs and midfield. Hopefully the stickiest back/man marker in Meath can be identified and introduced. We dont want him to make beautiful surging forays upfield, just to mind the house and keep his elite opponents score count down to a minimum in each match. I dont know but would be a bit concerned that we may not yet have found such a defender to curb a forward of the quality of David Kelly, Michael Murphy, Kildares Kavanagh or Tyrones Kavanagh or O'Neill or even a Gooch!.
Hopefully I will be proven wrong and eating lots of humble pie next Sunday evening when one of the lads v Sligo stands up and puts D.Kelly in his pocket. This would be a good start.
I think the right mix of scoring forwards will be found before the June Bank holiday and that they will have found their scoring accuracy and a big reduction in wides by then.
Just dont know about midfield yet. I think one of 4 or 5 players will have to stand up and raise their standard consistently throughout matches and put their stamp on these games for the team cause. The sooner this happens the better.
Anyway its great to be looking forward at this time of year with hope. an Mhí abú.

spillanesmeat (Meath) - Posts: 103 - 18/02/2011 14:14:54    870704

Have to disagree with Dowdtofoleygoal its plain to see watching club football to see who would be the better corner backs, halfbacks midfielders etc, if these guys that are being played are the best in the county its goin to be a short championship, if sean boylan had the same attitude back in the 80s and 90s he would not have discovered alot of the stars he unearthed, even Eamon Barry and Obrien blooded a good few players, as the saying goes "nothing ventured nothing gained".

tailteannpark (Meath) - Posts: 174 - 18/02/2011 14:59:30    870755

Thought there would have been a few cd be hanges made to the back line for tomorrows match. Putting Brian Meade at mid field would be a wrong choice. that position suits Menton alot more i dont think Paddy Gilson will be dropped after the way he played last time. meath still need alot off improvment particularly around the alf back line. i think Banty will play his cards right and we'll beat sligo

NavanGirl (Meath) - Posts: 121 - 19/02/2011 18:53:45    871511

Dowd-Neither of those guys would make a good CHB even in club football -they do not even play there with their clubs. Midfielders do not make good CHB's. O'Brien tried King at fullforward when it was quite obvious to anyone who knew a little about the game that it would not work. Trying things that make little sense is of no use in itself. I agree with spillane's comments and NavanGirl it's the players on the field who win the matches not the guys standing on the sideline. The best of luck to all involved for the coming year.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 19/02/2011 19:13:36    871525

any word on stephen bray must be due back soon... will be a big addition to the cause

legendinmaking (Cavan) - Posts: 202 - 19/02/2011 20:32:18    871589

Browncows- your point about those guys not playing CHB for their clubs is well taken, however I am hoping we have a manager who might see things that we mere mortals don't see (well I'm hoping this is the case!!!!!). In support of our management team, when you used to look at the Meath forwards under Boylan, a number of those guys (Curtis, Giles, Brendan Reilly, Evan Kelly) were not forwards for their club but played there at intercounty.

While I would like to get promotion to Div 1, I'm happy for us to experiment if it means we unearth a decent midfield pairing, tight marking backs and an additional runing forward to go with Graham Reilly.

DowdtoFoleyGoal (Meath) - Posts: 292 - 20/02/2011 11:36:18    871715

Your additional running forward is Alan Nestor, he is very similar to Graham Reilly and he can be a huge addition to the Meath Half-Forward line. And he already has 3 championship caps for Meath.

12Royal (Meath) - Posts: 987 - 20/02/2011 13:26:01    871774

I like the look of Nestor but he struggles to get into the DIT team, so why should that be good enough for Meath?

boynesider1 (Meath) - Posts: 84 - 20/02/2011 13:34:07    871786

Get Nestor in there and sam wont be long coming home.

TheConqueror (Meath) - Posts: 15 - 20/02/2011 14:56:56    871827

Nestor is a championship player.
I don't care what he does during the league or for DIT on heavy pitches in the rain as long as he is fit and healthy for the summer.
He'll cut loose on the good ground.
One of the main reasons we capitulated against Wexford in 2008 was because he had to go off injured at half-time.
Pace to burn and deadly accurate.
I firmly believe he can have the same impact Graham Reilly did last year.

Coylers Elbow (Meath) - Posts: 1075 - 20/02/2011 17:24:00    871921

Yeah Nestor will add serious pace. He's very injury prone and had a bad one i think last year. if he's fit he's unmarkable. will be needed against the dubs and kildares very mobile half back line.

Southie (Meath) - Posts: 10 - 20/02/2011 19:18:56    871997

Dowd -point taken, however as I recall Brendan Reilly ended up a very good forward for Meath and also played forward for his club. Meath lost an All-Ireland against Down by trying things that was never going to work and one of them was playing Reily at corner back. Giles as a player-it was obvious from the first time I seen him could play anywhere. I do not disagree with trying players in different places but players with little speed with make poor defenders. Of course you need more than speed as a little football ability helps. On the match today many of our backs lack pace which will be needed come mid summer and the ones with speed foul too easily making childist attempts to tackle. Our midfield which have been rediculed often was on top today.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 20/02/2011 19:48:12    872026