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Replying To Breffni1969: "You don't seem to know much about the fallout within the panel at the meeting to discuss when players broke the COVID training ban.
When you know what happened there you will realise why certain players didn't play this year." None of that has anything to do with the current form of county players in the championship.
As above, it is clearly a case of many players coming to the end of their best years.
To be honest, i can't see any of last year's intake compensating for either the retirements or the falling off in individual form. but i wouldn't put that on Farrell.
There will, however, judging by the demeanour of some of the county lads after their clubs being beaten, be a few more high profile retirements and the need for a more radical overhaul.
BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2523 - 06/11/2021 16:47:49
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Replying To TheUsername: "Its the natural end to a golden era, Jim would have eeked out another two or three All Ireland's, he was that good of a manager.
But regardless of anything you need the quality of players, we were blessed we had 25-30 of the best players in the country all at the same time and the right man to lead it. I dont think the game has seen the like of it before or will for a long time.
Unfortunately, you cant sustain the loss of quality of players we have from 19-22 and not regress, its the natural end sadly. We will be competitive, but nothing like 15-19, will be repeated in the game quality wise as a squad in a long while.
We need to look to our own now, some soul searching to be done. On Dessies mark, i think he put his faith and gave opportunities to lads who let him down, PSmall, Basquel and Costello namely. While the experienced players in the squad looked jaded, Kilkenny, Con, Jamsie and Fenton. Injuries didnt help especially in the back line. The likes of Bugler didnt follow up on their break out, but there is a good player there. To many regressive factors in one season last year.
Dessie himself i think needs to look at his philosophy and approach, maybe teams wont be as fearful of us now, maybe we wont face a blanket every game, maybe that may allow us to be a bit more progressive. Going to be interesting to see. He has it in him, his underage and Na Fianaa teams were more expansive than we have been seeing at Senior. I think the natives will get restless this summer if there isnt a clear pathway or progression from last year, we forget how unforgiving and militant the Dublin crowd can be as we have been sated for so long.
My tip for a break out is Lee Gannon in the half back line, every inch a Dublin senior footballer for my money, while i really like the un-hyped Mark Lavin in the U20's for the half forwards, where i think we need a body, there is qualit t work with there. O Dell, Swan and Archer could go either way in my opinion.
Elsewise id have Ciaran back out in the half forwards line and Con, in the full forward line. Id have Howard back in the half forwards too. Some simple but effective redeployment between the line si think would make a significant difference." Very good post as always Username.
Our established players did looked both mentally and physically fatigued this year.
Looking at the Dublin SFC semi finals yesterday - what a loss Mannion was to the Dubs this year.
One hell of a player...!
Hopefully himself and Jack can be persuaded to come back for 2022.
That would make a Massive difference.
Think it might be another year for some of those u20's you mention unfortunately.
But LG is going to be an excellent player alright.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3725 - 07/11/2021 09:06:54
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Thanks Pal, good to see you about!!
Id be delighted but amazed if we saw Jack back to be honest - but who knows, hes fairly close to Dessie so all bets off i think hed like to play to him for during his stint if all fell wel, so who knowsl. Paul i think had a focus last year away from the game though he may be more likely, hard to know after a year away whether he thinks the juice is worth the squeeze, particularly if you believe all the Jazz that went down between him and the management team. Or maybe all of that might have a new lens with PSmall and Costello choking in the biggest games last year. Hopefully some bridges being built this winter, maybe even with the living legend himself, that would really get the juices going??
Lee was in the extended panel last year, Archer is a year out of U20's - despite the hype and his killer dead ball skills and goal scoring ability, Im not sure hes as developed at winning his own ball and in general play as you need to be at senior. Though hes a lad i know who takes his development really seriously and id have a good assumption hes been working flat out on his game between U20 for a possible senior call up. O Dell maybe a bit slight, but has a touch of the Alan's about him he might have a shot if he can develop a bit of consistency in terms of applying his play making to impact on the game, Swan is a monster and certainly has the physicality for Senior, though shes a tough gig trying to crack the Dublin forward line, I have a feeling he might veer toward the hurlers, he might be a better hurler than footballer in all honesty.
TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 07/11/2021 11:30:12
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Replying To TheUsername: "Rory looked immense at 6, very fit. Though weird seeing Crokes with no Cian." https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2021/1118/1261774-fenton-on-covid-training-regret-we-were-wrong/
Interesting read this, Username.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3725 - 19/11/2021 09:45:02
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Replying To Fionn: "https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2021/1118/1261774-fenton-on-covid-training-regret-we-were-wrong/
Interesting read this, Username." Very honest article pal, like Donegal in 14 we have to hope that last year was the best thing to have happened to us.
A culmination of things i think happened for us last year and we were due, we've ran our luck for a very long time. That piece and others pieces I've read, it really sounds like their were was monotonous lack of meaning to winning.....i fell many in this team thrive on a challenge and its just been lacking since 2019, there just wasn't anything left to prove.
The gauntlet has been laid now and we should be hoping to get our teeth into Tyrone and Mayo who we owe one to now. We're back in mountain scaling mode, we should relish the challenge of competing, cant wait..... i see the provisional league fixtures have been sent out to counties!!
TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 19/11/2021 11:11:29
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