2020 league

O

Orchard Bhoy

New Member
Muckser said:
Just home...what are speed limits
.ahem ahem...

We kicked 2 balls into keepers hands while ours cost us directly 2 from knockouts. Our kick out strategy puts pressure on us.

Many were off the boil. Shields hooked early and McCabe I'm sorry isnt county standard. Aidan Forker was missed as was grugan.

We have big midfielders use em


Donaghy and burns were out best defenders again today and burns pass was the closest to a goal all game
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I think you are being very harsh on McCabe, he was nowhere near our worst player. If anyone deserved subbed at that stage, your clubmate Sheridan should have been. Anyway, an abysmal performance with no clear attacking plan and a lack of desire in my opinion. We should have come into this game full of confidence after last week, and had we played our normal attacking game, I believe we would have won quite comfortably. Blaine struggled at times, but again he can only hit what is on. A kick out to a man on the sideline of the 21 is risky and plays into the opponent’s hands. Next week is huge and I hope to see a few changes. Jarly Óg in from the start, with Jamie in full forward and hopefully Grugan and Forker back.
Finally, a mention to the huge number of fans that travelled down tonight, fantastic to see. We deserved a better performance but unfortunately we didn’t get it.
 
Berfaboy77

Berfaboy77

Active Member
We were absolutely brutal tonight, completely flat in the first half. 2 points in 35 mins and one a free. I’m a geezer fan, but tonight the wrong team started, and the game plan is all wrong. We never caught a ball in mid field, kick out strategy is non existent. Don’t get me started on our tackling/defence.... there 4 of that back 6 either not good enough or their legs have gone. As bad a display as I’ve seen in last few years.... god it was a depressing drive home. Pints were good in the hotel though
 
G

gar

Member
Just in from Portlaois. Gutted would be an understatement . Armagh had at least two thousand supporters at the game with great expectations. Right from the throw in things went wrong. In fact both the start and the second half throw in were deemed a foul against us each time. Was I the only one didn’t see a foul. Tonight we were second best all over the field. Our attempts to penetrate their blanket defence in the first half were dire. Time and time again though, Conor Turbitt screamed for the first time ball to be hit into space he had made but time after time we checked and played the ball back allowing the blanket in place and we had little off the shoulder as we carried into the tackle and lost possession. Mark shields guilty a few times. Indeed at one stage Brendy Donaghy ended up on a give and go move on the twenty one yard line yet turned to off load but there was no one there and his attempted shot off balance was symptomatic of our first half performance . Conor I think did break through but fisted over the bar. I felt a goal at that stage would have asked questions of the Laois team . Again in the second half we elected to fist where we should have rattled the net. We needed that ruthless streak.

Admittedly the first ten minutes of the second provided hope. We upped the pace and attacked with vigour but Laois had the measure of our defence and our discipline didn’t help with the ball moved forward on a number of occasions.
As stated we struggle to break down blanket defences. We badly missed Ruairi Grugan . He has that vision and pass that can unlock a defence . Without him tonight we at times looked clueless.
laois were down to 14 men at a vital stage in the second half . How the ref gave a hop ball while we were in possession baffles me. Anyone enlighten??
What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday night I had dreams of travelling to Tralee castlebar etc. As l left the ground tonight I had memories of Sligo Antrim etc.
Where exactly do we stand. Next weeks match is crucial. Kildare will ask the questions and we need to find answers or the real struggle begins. Tonight hopefully was a blip , well we will soon find out.
 
H

Holdthemiddle

New Member
Just home. Bad day at the office is an understatement.

I have no wish to criticise individual lads on a discussion forum but our first have was as poor as I can remember - we looked leggy and the tactics took us back 4 or 5 years to every man behind the ball and conceding possession from every kick-out allowing Laois to build momentum from the back. The referee did baffle me with some decisions but our tackling was poor.

We opened the second half with greater tempo, stepped up on our opponents and gave them a game for 10/15 mins but that subsequently fizzled out and with it, any hope of a meaningful comeback.

Next week at home to Kildare is really important. Tonight was a reality check.
 
A

Armaghball

Well-Known Member
sweetleftfoot said:
Unfortunately couldn’t back up the win last week.. superb forwards to compete but defence is a major worry and has been the past few years. Win nothing with the likes of Donaghy, Burns, McCabe at the back..intermediate and junior footballers
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Wind your neck in. Donaghy been our best defender and a class act for years. Burns was our player of the year not long ago as well.
 
Ard Mhacha 13

Ard Mhacha 13

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
This time last year, people might have said Og Burns wouldn’t be good enough. How do you expect to know if a player is good enough until he gets games, a la Burns. Give the lads a chance.

Some inexperienced maybe, but give the lads a chance before chucking them out the door. All of our 2002 team were inexperienced at one stage.
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Now don't be trying to bring logic into it :eek:
 
A

Armaghball

Well-Known Member
sweetleftfoot said:
Ah yes the great saviour Jemar Hall returns.

agree that it is early in the season so we will see where we are at come end of the season.
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You wouldn’t be slagging Jemar off if you actually watched Armagh. He was one our best players last year. Just because he isn’t a big name he gets underrated. Convenient you left out the other 2 lads that were mentioned.
 
A

Armaghball

Well-Known Member
Dylan53 said:
The point is that he plays against senior completion in Kerry.

There’s nothing wrong with having Junior players. Jamie Clarke would still be Jamie Clarke if he weren’t from Crossmaglen, but I find it troubling the majority of an intercounty team is made up of intermediate and junior players. 2 or 3 is fine, 10-15 is not
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Please name these players from Senior clubs who are so much better than the likes of Hall, Donaghy, Shields and whoever else plays for intermediate/junior clubs.
 
C

cailín beag88

Well-Known Member
Ok deep breath folks,
Today was a bad day but there is no way you can start singling out players especially based on their club .everyone had a poor game and they will know that.
We just didn't show up today are was as bad as tonight looked no.
To criticise Donaghy seriously?
Jemar hall as well?
We have had a set back tonight.
Well done to all those who travelled we always seem to bring a crowd even If we only go to see us got beat and complain on the forum
Not many positive to take away from that game..
Damm theses European teams making us all argue among ourselves.
On to the next game.
Stayed In portlaoise tonight aside from the match it was great but we be glad never have to come back.
 
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