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The small lad scored 0-13, seven from play. He clearly wasn't as daunted with his positioning, as you were on his behalf.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3911 - 23/04/2023 00:32:43 2472611 Link 2 |
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I agree Kilkenny are the main threat but I wouldn't count out Dublin and Antrim as they always have a potential upset up their sleeves.
Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2282 - 23/04/2023 09:34:05 2472636 Link 1 |
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Actually I never had an issue with him at all in the team and am delighted for him that he had a good game. As you know well yourself, players of his stature are not normally the first choice of managers in the modern game...they tend to prefer the big awkward type ahead of the small more skilful type. That was the basis of my comment rather than having reservations about the player or his positioning.
PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1968 - 23/04/2023 10:06:46 2472646 Link 3 |
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Are we not in transition as well? What does that even mean? Isn't every team in transition, even Limerick? Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 906 - 23/04/2023 12:22:20 2472688 Link 0 |
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I don't know the win/loss percentage of managers in the modern game who prefer to pick big awkward types first choice over small more skillful types, but I can't imagine that it is a winning percentage. Awkward doesn't really cut it, at hurling's highest level 99 times out of 100. Then again, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3911 - 23/04/2023 12:23:22 2472689 Link 1 |
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Of course due to injuries and retirements, etc every team is in different stages of transition I suppose but some are further along than others. Upsets happen though.
Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2282 - 23/04/2023 13:24:34 2472710 Link 0 |
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I think Dublin, Antrim and Wexford will upset eachother, but realistically Galway will have too much for those.
katser (Galway) - Posts: 2481 - 23/04/2023 13:59:42 2472721 Link 0 |
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A bit of a curate's egg of a performance. The 2 goals for Wexford early on were very softly conceded and Galway yet again didn't threaten a goal of their own. The backs are still hitting "hail mary" balls into the forwards hoping the likes Whelan, Concannon and Niland can win possession when they are often outmarked 3 to 1 and they are not exactly huge men like Johnny Glynn, Niall Burke or Joe Canning who could catch aerial ball when required. Makes no sense and that will not beat the "bigger teams" later on as they say. Positives were the displays from Evan "cannot score from play" Niland who proved his doubters wrong as well as Grealish (despite the shaky start) and the Mannions who hurled a lot of ball. Good to see Fintan Burke back also. tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 23/04/2023 14:23:37 2472734 Link 2 |
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Some of the lazy fouling by the Galway backs leading to needless frees conceded plus the 15 bad wides will also have to be improved on dramatically for the next day v KK.
tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 23/04/2023 15:00:17 2472740 Link 1 |
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I hope you're right. You can't take anything for granted in these matches. Galway Abu.
Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2282 - 23/04/2023 16:47:29 2472792 Link 0 |
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agree with most of this. Niland had a great game and deserves all the praise coming his way. Well done. however, I hope I am wrong on this but I feel its the worst outcome. He has now cemented his place in the team for the year after saturday, where he faced a pretty useless wexford side. His lack of physically wasnt an issue at all, and it wont be against the lesser teams. Problem is when we play KK Lim Tip or Cork and he will be found out and it will be knockout and too late... I do hope I am wrong but small lads rarely win all irelands for ya especially in the past few years. but there is always the chance he could be a Joe Deane or Podge Collins so hopefully I am wrong on this.
clare_sparrow (Galway) - Posts: 441 - 24/04/2023 11:35:01 2473161 Link 1 |
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Yes, those physical monsters in blood and bandages are certainly putting the wind up everyone they face, aren't they? Niland isn't made of glass ffs, he will be fine. The man scored 0-7 from play, anyone who does that deserves a huge amount of credit, did anyone match that this weekend? Found out, indeed. I would suspect that if we are indeed 'found out' this year it won't be because Evan Niland isn't built like a shed. Will you be saying the same thing next week if he plays well against Kilkenny and we win, or will we dismiss them as 'pretty useless' also? Can we assume if you don't fancy Niland you haven't much time for Liam Collins either? Peter Casey wouldn't puck a ball for you? Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 906 - 24/04/2023 11:57:17 2473178 Link 1 |
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It's a moot point really, because Galway aren't overwhelmed with offensive alternatives to Niland that WILL WIN ALLIRELANDS FOR YA at the moment. If we had those alternatives, Henry would be selecting them, I'm sure. In a worst case scenario, Niland is still an exceptionally good freetaker, and we'll likely be getting loads of frees from Owens and Thomas Walsh when the business end of the championship kicks off.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3911 - 24/04/2023 11:57:19 2473179 Link 1 |
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I don't think size is necessarily the issue. What I saw from Galway, especially in the last 20 minutes was the same stuff I have been seeing for years. Hit and hope shots from miles out. Rarely working the ball in or playing cross field balls into space for the the likes of Niland/Concannon and Whelan. Did we even miss any goal chances?? hard to remember the last time we created a goal chance let alone scored one. We should have won that game by 20 points with the possession we had. Serious lack of team ethic once we get past our own 45. There will be a game where they will all go over the bar and we'll think we're brilliant. We are very capable of beating anyone but if we continue to play as individuals it is hard to see us doing it a few times in a row. We have no lack of skill or size just team play. Shefflin see's it and said as much after the game. However he is there a while now and if he can't change the mentality I don't know who can. I am utterly depressed!! Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1894 - 24/04/2023 12:00:03 2473182 Link 1 |
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I think you might find, especially if you look at the odds, that we are one of the 'bigger teams', tommy. There aren't many 'bigger' than us, Limerick certainly, who else? I would be surprised if Evan Niland was being kept awake at night by anonymous 'doubters' on sites like this one. There were plenty of positives. We started poorly, absorbed the two early goals, adapted, took over and squeezed the life out of Wexford in the second half. The in-game management and decision making inside and outside the line were pretty smart. It's easy to be wise after the event and claim that 'Wexford are poor', what they were, is understrength, and if we meet them again this year they will give us plenty of it. Saturday is a bigger match for them and they will likely field a stronger side. Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 906 - 24/04/2023 12:04:26 2473187 Link 1 |
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Galway v Dublin is being played in Parnell Park. Galways graveyard Albara (Galway) - Posts: 30 - 24/04/2023 12:11:14 2473188 Link 1 |
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Limerick have Lynch, the 2 Caseys, Darragh O Donovan to name but a few under 6 foot.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14247 - 24/04/2023 12:16:27 2473194 Link 1 |
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You made great points and some of your concerns are also concerns of mine but if we play more physical teams than Wexford such as Kilkenny or Limerick, etc I'm sure Shefflin is smart enough to either not start him or yank him if he's getting eaten alive. It's a great problem to have as a lot of counties wish they had this guy to use or not use….
Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2282 - 24/04/2023 12:17:26 2473195 Link 0 |
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Pretty useless weford team?Hopefully might get a chance to meet in a leinster final and we will see then how bad we are then.
Tiger1 (Wexford) - Posts: 280 - 24/04/2023 12:19:07 2473197 Link 1 |
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Limerick's Peter Casey is no giant and KK's Eddie Brennan was no giant either but they have / had strength and pace which Niland can work on as time is on his side.
tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 24/04/2023 12:25:37 2473203 Link 1 |