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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Claretandblue: "One of the most disappointing performances in years, honourable mention to Jason Daly who prevented a ten point defeat, Ronan Wallace was immense and Jack Smith and Sam McCartan deserve credit too. Poster above criticising McCartan who's arguably our best player over four league matches. Management have been free from criticism recently but they need to look at their input. The same 15-17 players always named to start, Robbie Forde for one minute today, the panellists surely won't stick with it when there's few changes and not winning. Three points with the breeze in 38 mins is very poor and there must have been thirty mins between the ninth and tenth points. Another defeat will certainly end promotion hopes and we won't be contenders in the Tailteann cup based on today." What game were you at today? Sam McCartans man scored 4 points, should have had a goal, won frees in front of the goals… that's what happened, how can you say he played all today? I'm not criticizing for the sake of it, the reality is that it's county level and you forget past games. The stakes are too high to say a player has "been" our best player. Every game you are starting again in respect to the players in the squad who deserve their chance when things aren't going well. That's what's wrong with Westmeath football, "ah but he's been great in the league so far" what does that even mean. This is elite senior football. Past performances mean nothing. We build these players up to be something they simply aren't. That's Westmeaths problem. Edman78 (Westmeath) - Posts: 100 - 05/03/2022 17:43:03 2403936 Link
Thats 2 games back to back that Westmeath have gone in at the break -1pt down playing against the wind then early second half turn it around and go 1 pt up and look like they should push on and win but then collaspe and they fade away.Is it a mental or physical thing? Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 163 - 05/03/2022 18:40:24 2403947 Link
Very poor stuff today, hard to put the finger on exactly what was wrong. Just seemed rudderless and maybe lacking leadership. No major problem with the starting 15, Connellan and Gonoud must be injured and were missed in my opinion. We just laced the basics - too many unforced errors, poor passing from hand and foot, too many wrong shot options. Happy enough at half time and expected to push on with the breeze and win. Longford not great either but fully deserved winners, worked the ball in well in 2nd half and took their scores. Surprised at Loughlin being replaced, didn't look injured. Gamble with Baker who must be 'flyin at trainin' didn't pay off but he has a bright future. I believe the kid is only 18 so I think he needs to stay with 20's for this year at least. So after 2 good wins it's now 2 straight defeats with 3 games left against teams who are above us and eyes on promotion. Think we missed Connellan in midfield today. Duncan brought some physicality and Lynam kicked a nice point but they just seemed to get out-worked. Forwards, while all good players individually never really clicked. The 3 boys have a job to pick them up for the trip to Limerick on Sat night. Have to accept that promotion is highly unlikely and that another win is need to avoid the drop. My how thinks have changed in a week. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1129 - 05/03/2022 19:20:01 2403958 Link
Replying To Edman78: "What game were you at today? Sam McCartans man scored 4 points, should have had a goal, won frees in front of the goals… that's what happened, how can you say he played all today? I'm not criticizing for the sake of it, the reality is that it's county level and you forget past games. The stakes are too high to say a player has "been" our best player. Every game you are starting again in respect to the players in the squad who deserve their chance when things aren't going well. That's what's wrong with Westmeath football, "ah but he's been great in the league so far" what does that even mean. This is elite senior football. Past performances mean nothing. We build these players up to be something they simply aren't. That's Westmeaths problem." Sam mcartin is starting to become a vital player. He is only starting his career. More experience will bring him on. Ronan ó toole is not in full flight at the moment. Maybe manage t need to look at themselves. Taking off Luke and Alex Gardner when we needed scores while leaving on David Lynch is unbelievable. So maybe it's our much vaunted management who need to improve mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1799 - 05/03/2022 19:33:13 2403962 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "Not much to be said after that. I'm dumbfounded how some of our players are deemed to be county standard. Mickey Quinn made a laugh of us. It's a pity we cannot clone Ronan Wallace. His commitment is second to none. All the rubbish talk about promotion was shut up today" What's the update on ger egan ? Mattyreilly (Westmeath) - Posts: 153 - 05/03/2022 19:54:44 2403972 Link
Replying To Mattyreilly: "What's the update on ger egan ?" He was out on the pitch before the game but not ready yet mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1799 - 05/03/2022 20:18:03 2403977 Link
In hindsight last week's utter dependency scoring wise on John Heslin doesn't bode well for our form. Some of our forwards are lacking form or confidence. Quite a few lads who started today featured in Leinster under 21 final 9-10 years ago, they're in the last year or two of senior inter county and increasingly it's a young man's game. Longford's physical fitness was way beyond Westmeath today. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1478 - 05/03/2022 20:39:00 2403986 Link
Just a final comment on our football team. Having lost to two weak leinster teams in a row where does that leave us mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1799 - 05/03/2022 21:09:59 2403997 Link
Of course these 2 teams meet again in the Leinster championship on May 1st. Are we expecting James Dolan, Jamie Gonoud and Ger Egan back along with Ray Connellan ? Those 3 or 4 will make a difference. Looks to me as if McCartan needs to play midfield, probably with Connellan so Gonoud and Dolan needed in defence. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1129 - 05/03/2022 21:39:00 2404007 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "In hindsight last week's utter dependency scoring wise on John Heslin doesn't bode well for our form. Some of our forwards are lacking form or confidence. Quite a few lads who started today featured in Leinster under 21 final 9-10 years ago, they're in the last year or two of senior inter county and increasingly it's a young man's game. Longford's physical fitness was way beyond Westmeath today." 12 years ago! That team has provided the bulk of the senior team for a long time now. There isn't a whole lot behind it. jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 443 - 06/03/2022 08:44:43 2404023 Link
Robbie Forde is not getting enough game time for a player who was exceptionally good in last year's club championship. He may not be good enough but sixty seconds yesterday is doing him no justice. Senan Baker is a second level student and an outstanding prospect but personally think he should be seeing game time with the 20s. He's not getting a chance with them and their championship preparations are being hindered. Fola Aroyinde another who's not getting game time. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1478 - 06/03/2022 15:47:45 2404070 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Robbie Forde is not getting enough game time for a player who was exceptionally good in last year's club championship. He may not be good enough but sixty seconds yesterday is doing him no justice. Senan Baker is a second level student and an outstanding prospect but personally think he should be seeing game time with the 20s. He's not getting a chance with them and their championship preparations are being hindered. Fola Aroyinde another who's not getting game time." Agree-a few minutes here and there is not enough to judge a player.McCormack started the first 3 games and did well enough possession and re cycling wise and conditions yesterday might have suited him.Young Baker is definately a player for the future and at 18 should be concentrating on u20 level Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 163 - 06/03/2022 18:06:50 2404110 Link
Yeah, just wondering about McCormack, was he togged vs Longford ? Cox and Baker came in ahead of him. Maybe carrying a knock or Jack trying to keep the other lads satisfied but I too thought McCormack was going well enough. So Limerick this Sat night who are sitting top of the table with 3 wins (Wicklow, Antrim & Longford) with just the 2 point defeat to Louth. I would suggest Limerick are beatable but not based on the last 2 Westmeath displays. I am probably being too optimistic but there's still 3 rounds of games left and teams will continue to take points of each other with a surprise or 2 along the way. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1129 - 07/03/2022 20:13:58 2404360 Link
Two poor performances and results in last ten days but promotion still in our hands as we face three teams also in contention in our last three games. Two wins giving us eight points in total could well be enough as it's a tight group with only Wicklow looking certs for relegation. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1478 - 08/03/2022 11:21:45 2404412 Link
the gaelic grounds beckons on saturday evening . i havent got my ticket yet as i contemplate is the journey worthwhile i think the longford game was a wake up call not just for the players but management . now they know that only total commitment and desire will suffice . the team are good enough to win the next 3 games and get promoted. the question is have they the desire to do it . i wait and see mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1799 - 09/03/2022 10:28:09 2404565 Link
A win on saturday night changes the whole outlook and go into the final 2 games with momentum They definately are good enough but need a big effort from everyone and I think they will do it. Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 163 - 09/03/2022 12:19:27 2404596 Link
Team only good enough if they get promoted. Making statements like they're definitely good enough mean nothing without performances to back it up. We haven't been good enough by a distance in our last two games, deservedly got nothing on both occasions, no hard luck stories or controversies, similar to our hurlers, if we get 4/5 points in remaining games which are tough on paper and 2/3 are away then we'll get promoted, otherwise we're not good enough. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1478 - 09/03/2022 15:35:18 2404644 Link
interesting to see who's on match day squads and extended panel, Shane Allen and Monaghan played well in o Byrne cup, I see he Togged for garrycastle at the weekend and the same with Robbie forde for Moate. Are all them lads only going to live off 1 o Byrne game for the year? This has to be Cooneys last chance to do well this year promotion and Leinster semi anything short of that he had the time to build. PowellJohn (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 09/03/2022 19:50:26 2404691 Link
Replying To PowellJohn: "interesting to see who's on match day squads and extended panel, Shane Allen and Monaghan played well in o Byrne cup, I see he Togged for garrycastle at the weekend and the same with Robbie forde for Moate. Are all them lads only going to live off 1 o Byrne game for the year? This has to be Cooneys last chance to do well this year promotion and Leinster semi anything short of that he had the time to build." Eoin Monaghan hasn't togged for Garrycastle yet this year. As far as I know, the half game he got in the O'Byrne Cup is the only competitive football he's played this year. I'm sure he's not the only panel member that has been similarly idle since January, which does little to develop players. If they're not needed by the county surely they should be released to play some football with their clubs. midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 541 - 09/03/2022 20:51:37 2404697 Link
Any player not starting or playing at least 35 mins in league should be available for club action following day. Forde got a minute or so on Saturday and entirely justified in playing for Moate on Sunday. County team management may have encouraged him playing for his club. Apparently he was excellent in their victory over St. Mary's. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1478 - 09/03/2022 21:13:46 2404700 Link