We have a whole team of loose markers this year. That's an attitude problem in the team. Kildare were supposed to be the one that got away but the defending was so poor that we never really had any right to beat them. None of our backs have the confidence to get out in front of their men and attack the ball, they expect a sweeper to be there all the time.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 02/05/2012 17:47:08    1164906

After reading some of the Posts I have decided to again post my Meath team that I think should start against Wicklow there is few changes from my last post on this matter:

1.D.Gallagher

2.E.Harrington 3.K.Reilly 4.C.McGuiness

5.M.Burke 6.B.Menton/S.McArarny 7.D.Tobin

8.T.Walsh/B.Menton 9.C.Gillispe/B.Meade

10.P.Byrne/S.Kenny 11.C.Ward/S.Bray 12.G.Reilly/S.Bray

13.P.Gilesnan 14.J.Sherdian 15.A.Forde/C.Ward/S.Bray.

I think if C.Ward can find some form he will be very dangerous in this position with Giles given him direction like another poster said I would also have Bray out the wing and P.Byrne but if G.Reilly improves he will be worth his place on the wing with Bray dropping into the corner and another aspect of the team would be to have C.Ward and Joe swaping but with the change to the square ball rule i think its best Joe stays at in there to cause trouble on long deliveries for the full back and Goal keeper.

ThickandTin (Meath) - Posts: 121 - 02/05/2012 17:54:32    1164915

Must say RossiesRock I do like the look of your team,Just a few questions..

1.Davy Dalton-I have heard about Dalton for 2 years now with no manager picking him,Why is he not on the Panel at this stage if he is the answer to corner back..
2.Brian Menton-Yes he is a good 6 but I would be worried with Walsh/Gillespie at Midfeild..Think the days of the 2 giant midfeilders are over..Johhny Doyle, Bryan sheehan and Sean Cavanagh are Quick Mobile Midfeilders..That is why I would Pick Menton with Gillespie This year!!
-Would love to see O,Rourke and Menton at Midfeild!!(NEXT YEAR)
Certainly Like the look of the 6 Forwards you have picked a mix between pace and power...

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1176 - 02/05/2012 18:13:25    1164923

thickandthin

all you've done there is list all possibles, sitting on the fence really??

D. Gallgher

C.King K.Reilly D. Tobin

S. Kenny B. Menton C. Lenihan

B. Meade T. Walsh

G. Reilly S. Bray P. Byrne

C. Ward J. Sheridan P. Gilsenan


leaves us with Gillespie, collins, b. sheridan, queeney, harrington, o brien, macanarney, o conner, burke if needed. I honestly believe this is our best 15 and gives us a nice balance most importantly is Walsh can blossom into this role a very strong spine, if you took Meade out and had a fit S. O Rourke and P. O Rourke in goals i think this is a formidable 15

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 02/05/2012 18:22:36    1164926

Ok ill repost mine like a few others I've made a couple of changes
1 gallagher
2 burke
3 k reilly
4 oconnor
5 mcanarney
6 menton
7 lennihan
8 walsh
9 byrne
10 tobin
11 bray
12 g reilly
13 ward
14 j sherridan
15 gilsenan.

Now ok byrne in mid field is off the wall I know that but just have a feeling him and walsh could work well together. The subs including b sherridan , collins, kenny, carroll, gillespie, harrington. We have plenty of options on the bench.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 02/05/2012 21:32:04    1165077

think its an absolute farce most of you leaving kenny out of the side, he was be no means the worst player over the league for meath at all, you love making scapegoats, he's the captain and will be in the starting 15

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 02/05/2012 21:52:02    1165097

RoyalDunne I was just thinking the same thing. Since most people seem to be saying the the day of two huge midfielders are gone then its seems players with reasonable height strength and good work ethic are they forward. you can see this in all top teams now. I've watched Gillespie a few time in county level and at club and I'm sorry to say but he's been fairly average in my opinion. I think Peader Byrne might be an excellent choice in centre field with tom walsh. Plenty of power and legs in there. I think McEnarney needs to be moved from CHB hes just too loose. Would some even go as far as making him a third midfielder where he could break off the shoulder of ball one in the middle and attack as we know he can. Menton seems a far better choice at CHB. He too likes to charge forward i know, but he's much more solid in the middle and not too bad at breaking ball which i noticed him doing at club level. I think Gallagher needs to vary his kick outs, who said only midfielders have to catch the ball wing forwards and wing backs are well capable of it if the ball is kicked to the wings, ive seen it done many times, again by counties who are winning trophies. I'm a big fan of mickie Burke however him in corner back just isnt a good opinion. hes a bit loose and tends to get forward a lot wing back suits him an awful lot better i think. graham Reilly needs to play wing forward hes a player fond of running at defenses and often gets far too congested for him in the middle. the team id go for after watching a number of these players at club and county.

1. Gallagher
2. O'Brien
3. K. Reilly
4. King
5. Lenihan
6. Menton
7. Burke.
8. Byrne
9. Walsh
10. Kenny.
11. Bray
12. G. Reilly
13. McEnarney
14. Ward
15. Gilsenan

Id start McEnarney in the corner but from the minute the ball is thrown hes to move into the middle with Walsh who is well able of breaking the ball. Peader Byrne is great for that with kenny and the half back line helping out. its just a thought instead of the traditional big midfielders which just doesnt seem to be working anymore. Id also like to see a lot more of the ball being kicked early into the too men up front who we all know can easily take on their man and get a score. Ward should be given back free kick duties, and of course with Joes arrival back from the states he could make a huge impact sub.

duffer92 (Meath) - Posts: 23 - 02/05/2012 22:00:22    1165108

My Team Would be

Gallagher - Because we have no one else think there are numerous better goalies in Meath (Brennan - O'Mahoney's Lyons - Senchalstown, Nolan - Duleek)

Mickey Burke
Kevin Reilly
Eoghan Harrington/Gary O'Brien

Caoimhin King
Shane McAnarney
Seamus Kenny

Brian Meade
Tom Walsh

Peadar Byrne
Graham Reilly
Stephen Bray

Paddy Gilsenan
Joe Sheridan
Cian Ward

We would have good backs to take in if needed in O'Connor, Tobin, Gillespie,

royalrealist (Meath) - Posts: 124 - 03/05/2012 09:35:04    1165130

don't think brian menton deserves a place royalist?

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 03/05/2012 09:40:24    1165134

Royalrealist

'Brennan - O'Mahoney's'

Give us a break getting the ball out to the halfway line is a par 3 @ O'Mahony's. I'd argue that they'd have won at least 2 more SFC if the kickout wasn't always putting the team under pressure. Fantastic shot stopper but in my opinion, too small and poor kickout

rath_togh (Meath) - Posts: 740 - 03/05/2012 09:45:12    1165141

Thejoeshow. Seamus kenny has been one of the very few outstanding players of past few years and I am a huge admirer of him. But his league form was very poor and I know he is not alone in that and indeed I have included a few in team who would have been worse. But I also feel we need to get the best from each player and the team as a unit. Seamus in my view would be better coming on around have time to inject some pace and level headed play. Use him to his best abilities , perhaps he has been carrying a injury ? I don't know but he has seemed dead on his feet as games progresses. No one would love to see seamus return to form of 12 months ago and in that case he would be first name on sheet. He is our captain and is very much needed , even if its for 35 rather than 70. But if he is back to best in training then by all means I would put him on team.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 03/05/2012 10:13:26    1165159

How tall is Stephen Cluxton, or Shay Given even? Height isnt the be all and end all

lagoreX (Meath) - Posts: 223 - 03/05/2012 10:26:23    1165165

iagore, different sport entirely, in GAA keepers won't have shots for 30 yards its reflex based so in soccer smaller keepers can adjust in gaa a lot of what keepers deal with is high balls in and kick outs, look at cluxton, can kick it a mile and take 45s accurately

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 03/05/2012 10:34:20    1165170

LagoreX

To answer your question Given is 6'1'' and Cluxton 5' 11'', probably 6'' and 4'' taller than Brennan. Being a Ratoath man you might have noticed after having 2 goalies on and off the last 2 Meath minor panels neither would now be even considered ahead of Donnelly for club as he is far taller, stronger and dominant in the air and neither come within 30' of his kickout.

I agree with you that height isn't everything but playing nets in Gaelic football involves mostly catching, distrubution and kickouts. I saw Brennan U21 against Offaly jumping as high as he could and not reaching a ball that dropped under the blackspot. Meath lost.

rath_togh (Meath) - Posts: 740 - 03/05/2012 11:24:11    1165215

You get away with having small players when you are in the lower leagues. But to compete against Cork, Kerry and Dublin you need to have the phyicality.

Jack L (None) - Posts: 3182 - 03/05/2012 12:33:23    1165329

Lads,

Our midfield has not only been poor it's amongst the worst in the country, for going missing and then getting sent off. Menton needs to start here with either McArarney or Burke or Obrien at centre back. I'd also through Tobin into midfield mix. He's only 6'1 but he plays there with his club (he's been by far the best player for Blackhall this year), and is great at winning ball and going on pacey runs from the middle, he wins a ton of frees from there and does score a lot of goals from the middle.. Certainly it's worth giving him a go at centre forward at least. Paddy Gilsenan and Stephen Bray have to start as corner forwards if Joe starts at full forward. Cian Ward does not deserve to start.

Royality (Meath) - Posts: 32 - 03/05/2012 14:05:51    1165411

agree on the needing a taller keeper lads see Shane connolly on Sunday against tyrone he was solid under the high ball think he is 6ft 2 or 3. 5ft 10 or 11 isnt too small for a keeper. anyway hope all is going well in meath wicklow will be gave great heart after their win last weekend against Fermanagh.

lillymadfan (Kildare) - Posts: 1085 - 03/05/2012 14:18:53    1165428

Going on the last game v Louth, in my opinion no way should McAnarney should be considered in any position, but especially at centre back...others mentioned a word for it...loose. I wish him well though.

RoyalSt.Pat (Meath) - Posts: 333 - 03/05/2012 14:24:02    1165432

Rath_Togh
Who cares about Ratoaths keepers, im sick of reading about us
The best keeper we have IMO is Lyons from S'Town
My team for Champ is
Gally
King
Reilly
O Brien or Dalton
Burke
Menton
Kenny
Walsh
Byrne
Tobin
Ward
Reilly
Bray
Joe
Gilsenan

lagoreX (Meath) - Posts: 223 - 03/05/2012 15:13:34    1165476

lagoreX

Cian Ward center half forward your having a laugh!

RossiesRock (Meath) - Posts: 369 - 03/05/2012 17:24:00    1165609