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Replying To wicklowsupport: "I watched Oisin's interview with Michael Sargent after yesterday's game against Offaly. I thought it was a revealing interview. Conversion of chances seems to be our achilles heel. I'm not privy to any inside knowledge and I'm not saying one player can transform an attacking unit but i have to ask the question - is matthew ging not one of the best forward in Wicklow? Under the new rules, the advantage is with forwards but our forwards are not scoring goals and are only scoring 2-pointers intermittently. This makes it hard to win games. People involved in football in the county should listen to Louth chairman interview about how the county has progressed, he was interviewed on rte's morning ireland programme." One swallow my friend....not fit at the minute heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 156 - 11/05/2025 21:32:13 2608592 Link
Replying To heavyheart19: "One swallow my friend....not fit at the minute" We need as many as we can get. I know one won't fix the problem but it would be a start. Watch yesterday's game, Louth had some stand out forwards but equally their half backs and midfielders were contributing on the scoreboard. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2103 - 12/05/2025 13:44:35 2608829 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "We need as many as we can get. I know one won't fix the problem but it would be a start. Watch yesterday's game, Louth had some stand out forwards but equally their half backs and midfielders were contributing on the scoreboard." Ive been saying for a while that this possession football has become ingrained in our younger footballers. Those young fellows were scoring freely for their clubs prior to these possession tactics bring coached into them. Noe it's all about a fear of losing the ball. Hence you play a game and score 11 pts. I have also said that, in my opinion, based on what I saw over the past few yrs was that Fogarty was the best attacking half back on show. He has had restricted playing time with the county. Someone at yesterday's club game said that he played for his club and scored 3 pts, and C Fee played some of the game also and scored a few pts. This round the houses type of play that Wicklow play doesn't seem to be working. Then again, maybe that's as good as we are. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1623 - 12/05/2025 14:43:44 2608869 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "Ive been saying for a while that this possession football has become ingrained in our younger footballers. Those young fellows were scoring freely for their clubs prior to these possession tactics bring coached into them. Noe it's all about a fear of losing the ball. Hence you play a game and score 11 pts. I have also said that, in my opinion, based on what I saw over the past few yrs was that Fogarty was the best attacking half back on show. He has had restricted playing time with the county. Someone at yesterday's club game said that he played for his club and scored 3 pts, and C Fee played some of the game also and scored a few pts. This round the houses type of play that Wicklow play doesn't seem to be working. Then again, maybe that's as good as we are." You're absolutely right - the pace of the modern game has flipped the traditional script. Teams now prioritize explosive acceleration, mobility, and transitional speed over pure physical dominance. That shift is especially visible in how defenders are being selected: corner-backs and half-backs are often former midfielders or even forwards - lads who can break lines, cover ground, and counter fast. How come they were playing did you hear of anyone else on show, stand out. StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 46 - 12/05/2025 18:17:19 2608967 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "Ive been saying for a while that this possession football has become ingrained in our younger footballers. Those young fellows were scoring freely for their clubs prior to these possession tactics bring coached into them. Noe it's all about a fear of losing the ball. Hence you play a game and score 11 pts. I have also said that, in my opinion, based on what I saw over the past few yrs was that Fogarty was the best attacking half back on show. He has had restricted playing time with the county. Someone at yesterday's club game said that he played for his club and scored 3 pts, and C Fee played some of the game also and scored a few pts. This round the houses type of play that Wicklow play doesn't seem to be working. Then again, maybe that's as good as we are." Are you saying that we have the raw material in terms of quality forwards who are being restricted by Oisin's tactics? Based upon what I've seen of the team this year, here are my observations - we have two forwards who can score in general play: Kevin Quinn and Oisin McGraynor. The rest of the forwards are inconsistent. Oisin is rotating his forwards but with limiting effect. We are being opened up defensively by better teams which is part of the learning curve, provided the players are learning. Dean Healy is our key leader but his days with our county footballers is drawn to a conclusion. Back to our lack of firepower - we aren't scoring goals and we aren't scoring two-pointers. Players are over playing the ball, i'd like to see the players being instructed to go more direct. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2103 - 12/05/2025 19:19:47 2608988 Link
Replying To StrandedinWW: "You're absolutely right - the pace of the modern game has flipped the traditional script. Teams now prioritize explosive acceleration, mobility, and transitional speed over pure physical dominance. That shift is especially visible in how defenders are being selected: corner-backs and half-backs are often former midfielders or even forwards - lads who can break lines, cover ground, and counter fast. How come they were playing did you hear of anyone else on show, stand out." No, I only got scanty information. I see that Gavin Fogarty was named on the subs but didn't play on Saturday as was Conor Fee. Perhaps Oisin has adopted the common sense approach that the lads would be better off getting games than warming the bench I think Tochair might be under pressure now to stay in Div 1. This would be totally down to county commitments if it happens as it seems they lost a few games by a point while their players were tied up with county and u20s. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1623 - 13/05/2025 00:09:32 2609039 Link
You're absolutely right - the pace of the modern game has flipped the traditional script with the new rules. Teams now prioritize explosive acceleration, mobility, and transitional speed over pure physical dominance. The muscle men are on the way out. That shift is especially visible in how defenders are being selected: corner-backs and half-backs are often former midfielders or even forwards - lads who can break lines, cover ground, and counter fast. Anyone else on show at the game StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 46 - 13/05/2025 08:31:23 2609065 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "Are you saying that we have the raw material in terms of quality forwards who are being restricted by Oisin's tactics? Based upon what I've seen of the team this year, here are my observations - we have two forwards who can score in general play: Kevin Quinn and Oisin McGraynor. The rest of the forwards are inconsistent. Oisin is rotating his forwards but with limiting effect. We are being opened up defensively by better teams which is part of the learning curve, provided the players are learning. Dean Healy is our key leader but his days with our county footballers is drawn to a conclusion. Back to our lack of firepower - we aren't scoring goals and we aren't scoring two-pointers. Players are over playing the ball, i'd like to see the players being instructed to go more direct." Stats speak for themselves. We are not getting enough return regularly from our forward division in whatever combination. These forwards can score for their clubs. If the players are overplaying the ball, this is the way they have been coached for the past few years. They are finding it difficult to balance keeping the ball and having a go. Two pointers are proving the new secret weapon. Up to this season with the new rules, losing possession was the "mortler". I am not sure we are moving on. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1623 - 13/05/2025 09:01:38 2609070 Link