Left Right Out
Member
Would be happy to see that team running out
2020 league
- Thread starter cailín beag88
- Start date
Mickey Gormley
Active Member
Bullshit I blame totally the management. A why is he not starting our best team pure argorant. B HE should have address the gaping hole between or chb an midfield. I think he's trying to be smart an like pep. An try an revelutionise gaelic what was he actually at. All 3 goals came from lapse of concentration.
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Mad thing is, Rory went down to block the ball and Westmeath 13 kicks the back of his thigh quite high up. If that had have been out the field it would have been allowed as a great tackle and we'd have been applauding it. To balance the imbecile and some spectacular bad decisions, there were a few he gave us and again I just scratched my head. Presumably it's now a non contact sport for northern teams!
Someone else mentioned "we now are just poor at tackiling" baffling because of our manager. Sorry to say this, but how can we be wrong every single tackle by every single player and yet it seems fine for the opposition. It's every player in every position that gets blown up for seemingly nothing. Maybe it is the blinkers but jesus if we're that bad how the hell are we even in this division and some even fancying our chances of promotion?
We win a ball that is thrown and ref gives it as a wrenched ball even though there is zero contact. You could list endless incidents like that. I will not accept that every tackle we make is wrong. Some suggest it is. Our issue in defence is massive, but it's not simply the tackle I'm afraid.
We didn't deserve that draw today. There. I said what you all think, but I'll still take it.
Rufus T Firefly
Well-Known Member
I felt very confident of victory at half time, with an eight point lead. However confidence in such circumstances represents a juvenile mistake for any self respecting Armagh supporter. Sure enough, within 15 minutes, we were behind and the outlook seemed bleak. To be fair to the players, they showed that bit of character and worked a goal when it was absolutely needed.
An excellent first half, where we pushed up on their kickouts and really pressured them in the final third. We took some lovely scores to cap an excellent 35 minutes. The second half was the stuff of nightmares. As Cavan showed a number of weeks ago, when teams run at us we are vulnerable and Westmeath run through us like a dose of salts - their full back run past me (and I was sat behind Geezer) and ended up at our small square to pass the ball across for a fisted finish. What was really alarming for me was that they were able to do this despite being one and two men down (due to black cards) and were able to retain possession and run down the clock, awaiting the return of players to make up their full complement.
Furthermore, their black cards were down to cynicism - something we lacked when they ran through our defence. We need to become a wee bit more street wise.
Lastly, the ref come in for a lot of criticism. I try and watch these things objectively. As an example, Shields ripped the ball from a Westmeath players grasp and a free was awarded. There were howls of anger and indignation from the Armagh supporters around me, but in that instance it was a 100% free to Westmeath. You could analyse many more specific frees given and argue both ways.
The biggest decision of the game was the penalty. My immediate reaction that a foot blocked it but it was not foot against foot; it was blocked from two or three yards and therefore should not have been a free. I'm open to correction on that. Another incident was where Soupy was pulled down going through the middle. A free was given but there was no card, although you could argue what value a black card would have been, given we could not capitalize on a two man advantage. Furthermore, I thought he was looking for a reason to disallow Jamie's goal when going in to the umpires.
Regardless of the ref, we definitely have big issues in our defence and in terms of our lack of cynicism and unless they're resolved, thoughts of Division 1 and Super Eights will remain but pipe dreams.
An excellent first half, where we pushed up on their kickouts and really pressured them in the final third. We took some lovely scores to cap an excellent 35 minutes. The second half was the stuff of nightmares. As Cavan showed a number of weeks ago, when teams run at us we are vulnerable and Westmeath run through us like a dose of salts - their full back run past me (and I was sat behind Geezer) and ended up at our small square to pass the ball across for a fisted finish. What was really alarming for me was that they were able to do this despite being one and two men down (due to black cards) and were able to retain possession and run down the clock, awaiting the return of players to make up their full complement.
Furthermore, their black cards were down to cynicism - something we lacked when they ran through our defence. We need to become a wee bit more street wise.
Lastly, the ref come in for a lot of criticism. I try and watch these things objectively. As an example, Shields ripped the ball from a Westmeath players grasp and a free was awarded. There were howls of anger and indignation from the Armagh supporters around me, but in that instance it was a 100% free to Westmeath. You could analyse many more specific frees given and argue both ways.
The biggest decision of the game was the penalty. My immediate reaction that a foot blocked it but it was not foot against foot; it was blocked from two or three yards and therefore should not have been a free. I'm open to correction on that. Another incident was where Soupy was pulled down going through the middle. A free was given but there was no card, although you could argue what value a black card would have been, given we could not capitalize on a two man advantage. Furthermore, I thought he was looking for a reason to disallow Jamie's goal when going in to the umpires.
Regardless of the ref, we definitely have big issues in our defence and in terms of our lack of cynicism and unless they're resolved, thoughts of Division 1 and Super Eights will remain but pipe dreams.
Last edited:
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
Someone attending the match has just told me that their number 9 punched Oisin O'Neill in the stomach, did anyone else see this incident?
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Absolutely. The manager got so fixated with being arrogant and revolutionary that he dropped his concentration and let three goals in, one which was a penalty that should not have been awarded but at least he scored two for us or does he not get credit, just criticism
Last edited:
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Yep down at the left side of the stand as you looked out! Crowd went ballistic.
gael_force_orchard
Well-Known Member
I dare say profanities aren't allowed on the site.
northarmaghgael
Active Member
The problem with the defence is that we have too many attack minded footballers. Sheridan, JoeMc and AF all like to get forward. The plus side is there is always numbers in attack. The bad side is what we saw today, in exposure and free men being left without an Armagh man near them. That game today was crying for a Donaghy to anchor the full back line. Have to agree that having Sheridan at 6 has to stop.
I believe the problem lies with the management. We can sit here all night and say the referee had a mare of a game, however that 2nd half display was one of the worst I’ve seen in McGeeneys time as manager. Why did he take Oisin O’Neill off? Why didn’t he bring on Donaghy? Do we not have defensive structures in place that is worked on at every session? For an inter county team who train together 5 or 6 days a week, they must have some sort of plan to close up the defence when the opposition start to build up momentum - obviously not.
On a side note, what a game Niall Grimley had. Talking to a Westmeath man leaving the ground, he was saying that he would challenge Brian Fenton as one of the best midfielders in the country.
I believe the problem lies with the management. We can sit here all night and say the referee had a mare of a game, however that 2nd half display was one of the worst I’ve seen in McGeeneys time as manager. Why did he take Oisin O’Neill off? Why didn’t he bring on Donaghy? Do we not have defensive structures in place that is worked on at every session? For an inter county team who train together 5 or 6 days a week, they must have some sort of plan to close up the defence when the opposition start to build up momentum - obviously not.
On a side note, what a game Niall Grimley had. Talking to a Westmeath man leaving the ground, he was saying that he would challenge Brian Fenton as one of the best midfielders in the country.
gael_force_orchard
Well-Known Member
Look I'm gonna say it. We can't defend and we can't tackle. I'll elaborate tomorrow. 10 years (A decade) we have been open down the middle. It was there in plain sight in the first half and we should have been punished in the first half. I don't understand refs at the best of times, but I've read the posts after this, refs don't beat us, we bloody beat ourselves. I'm sick of the sob stories about refs. End of the day we have bloody problems with our defence and tackling. I'm incandescent with frustration at the way we go about football. Massive thought needed. Massive thought
DOUGIE
Member
Correct and right,yes we had a few in the 2nd half were we pulled the shirt of the westmeath player,but every time we touched them it was a free,it would interesting to see the free kick stats for the 2nd half.
DOUGIE
Member
Yeah but oneill never really made an issue of it,he crouched over and then got back up
Donaghy if fit. McCabe is a better option also
Seamy
Well-Known Member
Hughes
Morgan/McKay
Forker
Hughes
Shields
Donaghy
P Burns
O'Neill
J Óg Burns
Grugan
Soupy
Grimley
Clarke
O'Neill
Nugent
That'd be my 15. Forker showed his worth at FB against Kildare. Himself and Donaghy in the middle would tighten things up. Can't justify not having Paddy Burns in there. Left isotalted today with a weak spine and having to pick up more than one man. Would like to see him tried at WHB for pace and attacking.
Morgan picks up too many cards for my liking and can be a bit liable in there in terms of discipline. Similarly, McKay can be a small bit immobile at times but is robust and can provide a good physical presence.
I think. J Óg Burns is probably best suited to MF. His strong attacking running game from deep is a great asset.
Soupy as a link man in the half forward line is another strong option. Can shoot from deep and again, strong attacking runner.
Jamie back in the FF line speaks for itself.
Leaves a good bench with Duffy, Rafferty, Morgan/McKay, McElroy, Sheridan, Hall and a few others... That's where I'd be looking anyway.
Still in the promotion hunt anyway so destiny firmly in our hands. Good to see the 'new members' spouting the McGeeney out language again too
Blame the management all you want pal but at least be right in what you’re saying
Centrehalf
New Member
Great debate once again which is what this forum is all about.
I have to agree on the tackling point - we are terrible at this - it's one thing that we are consistently bad at no matter what clown is reffing.
The management definitely has to take some criticism after the last 2 away performances. Hopefully things can be put right next week against a sticky Fermanagh outfit.
I have to agree on the tackling point - we are terrible at this - it's one thing that we are consistently bad at no matter what clown is reffing.
The management definitely has to take some criticism after the last 2 away performances. Hopefully things can be put right next week against a sticky Fermanagh outfit.
Centrehalf
New Member
I think anyone will agree we have problems at the centre of our defence and our tackling is very poor. However, defence starts from corner forward, if defenders are bombing forward others should drop back to fill the holes they have left. No full back in my opinion should be playing in the oppositions half. I might be old school but that it is what I believe, the centre of the defence should never be left exposed.
Muckser
Well-Known Member
On a side note anyone else checked their season ticket account records. I was sitting beside a chap today who mentioned his wasnt updated for the laois game. 2 of us just checked and we are the same. Happened me before and was told tough shit when emailed them so checking if more impacted?
Armagh_paul
Well-Known Member
Our poor defence will cost us promotion. All teams have to do is run through the defence going by reports in the Laois and WM games