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I think people on here hang to much on what other posters put up and what the management team are saying publicly. Lets be honest for a minute. We are 2 games into the new season, albeit 2 games that are little more then trial match's and already on here lads are rowing over where we will finish in the league(I get its a forum for discussion but why nail a lad because he has an opinion different to yours or the management publicity statements?). We could, by all rights go to cork, get our trousers pulled down and kicked round the place. Leopards cant change their spots and we haven't seen anything from the newcomers(yet) to suggest that there is a major shift in form from last year.
Any man in the country involved as a manager in any sport with any sort of ambition is going to aim for the top and will never state otherwise. In this case O'rourke wants automatic promotion. He's hardly going to come out and say ah think we are doing well if we slip and slide into 3rd or 4th.
Realistically though, that's a seriously hard task considering the teams in the division this year. Being his first year, I wouldn't be surprised if we only manage 3rd or 4th as he will get to see up close who has the mentality for knockout football which they wont get for a few months yet. In my opinion i think that's where we have massive shortcomings in that department in some of the more senior members. But as a proud meath man like most posters on here i would love nothing more than a crack in a final at them blue fellas as i think Colm would give us some bite back.
I think the team named tonight is still there to be tweaked but not a million miles away from the starting 15(bar maybe the keeper and 1 or two forwards) from what finishes out the league. If he can get them all singing on the one hymn sheet they will get a fair go at the league final. They main issues for us over the last few years(decade) has been kickouts and frees as we have been giving up massive points per game on just those two issues. If we can get those sorted i don't see why we cant compete with most in the country outside of Mayo, Galway(both debatable), dublin and kerry.
Irish_downunder (Meath) - Posts: 640 - 11/01/2023 09:06:27
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Replying To Irish_downunder: "I think people on here hang to much on what other posters put up and what the management team are saying publicly. Lets be honest for a minute. We are 2 games into the new season, albeit 2 games that are little more then trial match's and already on here lads are rowing over where we will finish in the league(I get its a forum for discussion but why nail a lad because he has an opinion different to yours or the management publicity statements?). We could, by all rights go to cork, get our trousers pulled down and kicked round the place. Leopards cant change their spots and we haven't seen anything from the newcomers(yet) to suggest that there is a major shift in form from last year.
Any man in the country involved as a manager in any sport with any sort of ambition is going to aim for the top and will never state otherwise. In this case O'rourke wants automatic promotion. He's hardly going to come out and say ah think we are doing well if we slip and slide into 3rd or 4th.
Realistically though, that's a seriously hard task considering the teams in the division this year. Being his first year, I wouldn't be surprised if we only manage 3rd or 4th as he will get to see up close who has the mentality for knockout football which they wont get for a few months yet. In my opinion i think that's where we have massive shortcomings in that department in some of the more senior members. But as a proud meath man like most posters on here i would love nothing more than a crack in a final at them blue fellas as i think Colm would give us some bite back.
I think the team named tonight is still there to be tweaked but not a million miles away from the starting 15(bar maybe the keeper and 1 or two forwards) from what finishes out the league. If he can get them all singing on the one hymn sheet they will get a fair go at the league final. They main issues for us over the last few years(decade) has been kickouts and frees as we have been giving up massive points per game on just those two issues. If we can get those sorted i don't see why we cant compete with most in the country outside of Mayo, Galway(both debatable), dublin and kerry." Look I'm not even saying promotion is a must. I'm looking to championship and the fear of needing to beat one of Westmeath or Longford Offaly (think that's the 3) to get into all ire proper, Offaly should have probably beat last twice we played them Longford did beat us and Westmeath are improving all the time. And probably should have beat Kildare last year apart from some terrible finishing.
I'll take 3rd at this stage.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 11/01/2023 11:46:03
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I'm looking forward to this evening game. Hoping to see some making a push for cork game. Think another game before then would do us good
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 11/01/2023 13:12:02
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The last 2 games would not fill you with a whole lot of confidence. Obviously conditions played a big part tonight. Went 40 minutes only scoring 1 point. Similarly in the previous game scored 1-2 early but didn't score for an age then. I know in training focus was on the defence for the first month or so. Really haven't been clicking up front, that surely has to be the focus for the next while. There are very clearly conflicting messages from the management about how often to kick the ball from watching and listening to the sideline. Seemed to kick the ball away a huge amount tonight when Longford had a sweeper. Not sure why Meath played a sweeper all the second half when chasing the game and Longford playing into a strong breeze. O'Hare was excellent, as good of a defensive performance I've seen in the last year. Flood showing a lot of promise too. Dan O'Neill also had a decent game while McGowan and Lynch had a good impact. Other than that few players did themselves justice.
royal11 (Meath) - Posts: 102 - 11/01/2023 21:46:41
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Replying To royal11: "The last 2 games would not fill you with a whole lot of confidence. Obviously conditions played a big part tonight. Went 40 minutes only scoring 1 point. Similarly in the previous game scored 1-2 early but didn't score for an age then. I know in training focus was on the defence for the first month or so. Really haven't been clicking up front, that surely has to be the focus for the next while. There are very clearly conflicting messages from the management about how often to kick the ball from watching and listening to the sideline. Seemed to kick the ball away a huge amount tonight when Longford had a sweeper. Not sure why Meath played a sweeper all the second half when chasing the game and Longford playing into a strong breeze. O'Hare was excellent, as good of a defensive performance I've seen in the last year. Flood showing a lot of promise too. Dan O'Neill also had a decent game while McGowan and Lynch had a good impact. Other than that few players did themselves justice." Unfortunately that's been our issue for a number of years now.
Think back to that Dublin match a few years back where we started like a house on fire but missed chance after chance while our backs were winning everything. The missed chances broke our spirit and we were annihilated in the second half. We don't seem to (a) have the forwards and (b) have the strategies to make sure the shooter is well positioned (so many Dublin and Kerry scores are very simple finishes that any player on the field could score).
Early days yet but this is something that has to be addressed.
Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 12/01/2023 09:44:53
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Replying To royal11: "The last 2 games would not fill you with a whole lot of confidence. Obviously conditions played a big part tonight. Went 40 minutes only scoring 1 point. Similarly in the previous game scored 1-2 early but didn't score for an age then. I know in training focus was on the defence for the first month or so. Really haven't been clicking up front, that surely has to be the focus for the next while. There are very clearly conflicting messages from the management about how often to kick the ball from watching and listening to the sideline. Seemed to kick the ball away a huge amount tonight when Longford had a sweeper. Not sure why Meath played a sweeper all the second half when chasing the game and Longford playing into a strong breeze. O'Hare was excellent, as good of a defensive performance I've seen in the last year. Flood showing a lot of promise too. Dan O'Neill also had a decent game while McGowan and Lynch had a good impact. Other than that few players did themselves justice." Agree on O'Hare, thought he was outstanding last night.
bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1807 - 12/01/2023 11:10:14
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Replying To royal11: "The last 2 games would not fill you with a whole lot of confidence. Obviously conditions played a big part tonight. Went 40 minutes only scoring 1 point. Similarly in the previous game scored 1-2 early but didn't score for an age then. I know in training focus was on the defence for the first month or so. Really haven't been clicking up front, that surely has to be the focus for the next while. There are very clearly conflicting messages from the management about how often to kick the ball from watching and listening to the sideline. Seemed to kick the ball away a huge amount tonight when Longford had a sweeper. Not sure why Meath played a sweeper all the second half when chasing the game and Longford playing into a strong breeze. O'Hare was excellent, as good of a defensive performance I've seen in the last year. Flood showing a lot of promise too. Dan O'Neill also had a decent game while McGowan and Lynch had a good impact. Other than that few players did themselves justice." Agree with this. While we are trying to play a kicking game you have to play the game in front of you. We kicked from far too deep. And with that rain and wind it's almost impossible to play a kicking game. The second half you are absolutely correct. Our full back line was doing well and playing with a big wind the +1 in front of the defense is almost redundant and it allowed them get kickouts off easily and hang onto the ball for long passages. The positives were it was good to see Ronan Jones back. He didn't look hampered by any injury and looked fit. The full back line played very well. Flood and O'Hare in particular. And Daithi McGowan is carrying his club form into county. But we need to improve in loads of areas for Cork in 2 weeks team
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 12/01/2023 11:14:52
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Replying To royal11: "The last 2 games would not fill you with a whole lot of confidence. Obviously conditions played a big part tonight. Went 40 minutes only scoring 1 point. Similarly in the previous game scored 1-2 early but didn't score for an age then. I know in training focus was on the defence for the first month or so. Really haven't been clicking up front, that surely has to be the focus for the next while. There are very clearly conflicting messages from the management about how often to kick the ball from watching and listening to the sideline. Seemed to kick the ball away a huge amount tonight when Longford had a sweeper. Not sure why Meath played a sweeper all the second half when chasing the game and Longford playing into a strong breeze. O'Hare was excellent, as good of a defensive performance I've seen in the last year. Flood showing a lot of promise too. Dan O'Neill also had a decent game while McGowan and Lynch had a good impact. Other than that few players did themselves justice." Totally agree with this. Only thing I'll add is great to see jones back.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 12/01/2023 12:18:35
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Replying To nobull456: "If i remember correctly (and i am open to correction here)i seem to recall maybe a year or more ago i responded to a RD in a negative tone using cynicism maybe. Brian you jumped to his defence ..not of his post but that he was getting treated unfairly,which could be one interpetation. You tried to use reason and advised that RD think a bit more before posting So you challenged how i was treating him .Ok just confused now about how that fits with duplicate accounts.as RD suggests..... Are you me or am i you? Any way RD "keep her lit" and the best of good luck to you and your family for 2023." Am I you… are you me…is there anyone else in here…. Joe are you there… Crinigan is it your turn to post … shut it Jinxie, you'll get your turn ;) … hold on I'll open the account of a non descript poster from a neighbouring county
Usual play ground antics from some… watch for the I'll stand up to nameless faceless bullies and I'll meet you at the next match posts….
Anyways nobull you're dead right I think we've locked horns a good few times, but always respect your opinions and same for the other lads too. Generally we all have the best interest of Meath football at heart and might have differing views but the same objective… to see our county back where we all remember it being, a top team, that opposing teams feared, even in down years… it might not happen under Colm or the next man, but a level of continuous improvements over the next decade is what is need, with the senior team, with underage structures, with the county board and so on.. I think the Moran family are willing to put their money into the mix to help us get back up there, but we've got to show on the pitch that we can do it too
I've honestly no target for 2023 other than an improvement in strength, fitness, physique, skills, game plan, execution, resolving long held issues and that that gets built on in 2024. Not that I want to see it, but a bit of humble pie and a Tailteann Cup campaign in 2023 might do absolutely no harm to the panel.. Boylan built his team off winning a Centenary Cup in 1984 and getting that winning habit in place.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 12/01/2023 14:46:05
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Replying To brian: "Am I you… are you me…is there anyone else in here…. Joe are you there… Crinigan is it your turn to post … shut it Jinxie, you'll get your turn ;) … hold on I'll open the account of a non descript poster from a neighbouring county
Usual play ground antics from some… watch for the I'll stand up to nameless faceless bullies and I'll meet you at the next match posts….
Anyways nobull you're dead right I think we've locked horns a good few times, but always respect your opinions and same for the other lads too. Generally we all have the best interest of Meath football at heart and might have differing views but the same objective… to see our county back where we all remember it being, a top team, that opposing teams feared, even in down years… it might not happen under Colm or the next man, but a level of continuous improvements over the next decade is what is need, with the senior team, with underage structures, with the county board and so on.. I think the Moran family are willing to put their money into the mix to help us get back up there, but we've got to show on the pitch that we can do it too
I've honestly no target for 2023 other than an improvement in strength, fitness, physique, skills, game plan, execution, resolving long held issues and that that gets built on in 2024. Not that I want to see it, but a bit of humble pie and a Tailteann Cup campaign in 2023 might do absolutely no harm to the panel.. Boylan built his team off winning a Centenary Cup in 1984 and getting that winning habit in place." You need to calm down. Honestly it's a new year. All of us got stressed over the pandemic. I seem to have hurt ur feelings, I sincerely apologize if I have.
I have no gripe with you. But you seem to have with me. I'll leave it at that, I'll gladly buy you a lucozade before or after any match. As I will anyone on here whether you or they agree with me or not. I have no axe to grind. It's sport, it isn't life or death. So again my apologies . And from me anyway it's a new year , new start. And I wish you a happy and prosperous one. And let's hope we have something to cheer about when it comes to the royal.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 12/01/2023 16:21:43
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