All Ireland series

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gael_force_orchard

Well-Known Member
pablo said:
That keep ball approach is very frustrating. Westmeath used it very much to their advantage on Saturday night after getting that early lead-meant they were very awkward to play against. I think somebody earlier remarked that in second half, on two occasions when Westmeath had possession, they used up approx 12 to 15 minutes on the clock. That put a bit of rushed panic into our play and we were badly trying to force the issue to score quickly knowing that the clock was against us. They dropped to the floor a lot with 'injuries' managing to disrupt flow and any possible momentum. Lots of errors and uncertainty on our part, plus the fact that Westmeath gained possession fairly easily from their own kickout and hold onto the ball made it a very tricky night.

There have been few comments about McGeeney 'shaking hands' and seemingly having words with ref afterwards. Its not like McGeeney to make issue or complain about frees awarded or not awarded (although I could be wrong here). I wonder if that was about the ref not stopping play when a few of our players genuinely went down injured? As I mention above, play stopped quite a few times for Westmeath players that went down, but there were at least two occasions when I saw an Armagh player injured and needing attention with no stoppage-effectively leaving us with 14 players against a possession hogging team
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It was myself made the point on 15 minutes being wasted in two phases of play and us not knowing whether to stick or twist during those phases. Sideline Eye have now independently (as much as they can be independent) verified the two phases of play at exactly 14 minutes, I was a bit out on timing but the point stands.

We didn't know whether to press or continue to sit deep during those two phases. As a result we lost half of the second half. Remarkable that we actually won that game from 4 points down considering the second half was essentially 15 minutes shorter during normal time.

I don't tend to criticise refs much, but he added an extra 2 minutes to extra time then looking for the draw. Managers are going to have to plan on how to be more aggressive/adventurous in play when the opposition are constantly recycling to kill time, the onus is on the team trailing to stem the tide and change the pattern of play. I felt we really didn't know what to do and it nearly cost the game.
 
pablo

pablo

Well-Known Member
gael_force_orchard said:
It was myself made the point on 15 minutes being wasted in two phases of play and us not knowing whether to stick or twist during those phases. Sideline Eye have now independently (as much as they can be independent) verified the two phases of play at exactly 14 minutes, I was a bit out on timing but the point stands.

We didn't know whether to press or continue to sit deep during those two phases. As a result we lost half of the second half. Remarkable that we actually won that game from 4 points down considering the second half was essentially 15 minutes shorter during normal time.

I don't tend to criticise refs much, but he added an extra 2 minutes to extra time then looking for the draw. Managers are going to have to plan on how to be more aggressive/adventurous in play when the opposition are constantly recycling to kill time, the onus is on the team trailing to stem the tide and change the pattern of play. I felt we really didn't know what to do and it nearly cost the game.
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thanks for that and making the original observation re: time WM hogging the ball. Its something that Galway also do-control possession and dictate the pace of the game, albeit they have more options to mix things up if needed. Hopefully the experience of last Sat will invoke some ideas as to how to play against that type of game
I guess the time keeping was more likely the point McGeeney was making to the ref.
 
W

Wee man

Well-Known Member
gazman317 said:
Poor from the Armagh fans I seen that left the game early on Saturday
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Have to admit, I did feel like leaving with 10 mins to go.... (but didn't !!) I found it one of the most frustrating games I can remember watching. Between the numerous scoring chances Armagh scuppered, their lack of bite, and watching that s**t WM keep ball time wasting, it was like a form of torture.
With 10 mins to go I honestly thought we looked well beaten and I would be one of the more optimistic supporters !!!
As for the support getting behind the team when they were down. Where I was standing, I felt the supporters were getting really frustrated with the team - one particular play in the first half, when Rian (I think) played the ball back ways when an attack was clearly on triggered a very vocal angry reaction. True, when the goal went in all was well again and the atmosphere completely changed , but that was the first time I could sense the crowd really losing patience with the team.
 
pablo

pablo

Well-Known Member
niall1980 said:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with WM keeping the ball like that. If we could do that we may well be Ulster champions at the moment.
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WM played a very smart game and had the talent to retain the ball and use it. Nothing wrong with that at all. Any frustration is from Armagh uncertainity how to deal with and counteract it, plus finding themselves in a position having to chase a game against a possession hogging team. WM did all the smart things as much as it frustrated us to watch it
 
R

Revenge

Member
pablo said:
WM played a very smart game and had the talent to retain the ball and use it. Nothing wrong with that at all. Any frustration is from Armagh uncertainity how to deal with and counteract it, plus finding themselves in a position having to chase a game against a possession hogging team. WM did all the smart things as much as it frustrated us to watch it
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I think Dublin counter this tactic quite well with aggressively pushing up to force a mistake but u have to be very Disciplined.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
pablo said:
That keep ball approach is very frustrating. Westmeath used it very much to their advantage on Saturday night after getting that early lead-meant they were very awkward to play against. I think somebody earlier remarked that in second half, on two occasions when Westmeath had possession, they used up approx 12 to 15 minutes on the clock. That put a bit of rushed panic into our play and we were badly trying to force the issue to score quickly knowing that the clock was against us. They dropped to the floor a lot with 'injuries' managing to disrupt flow and any possible momentum. Lots of errors and uncertainty on our part, plus the fact that Westmeath gained possession fairly easily from their own kickout and hold onto the ball made it a very tricky night.

There have been few comments about McGeeney 'shaking hands' and seemingly having words with ref afterwards. Its not like McGeeney to make issue or complain about frees awarded or not awarded (although I could be wrong here). I wonder if that was about the ref not stopping play when a few of our players genuinely went down injured? As I mention above, play stopped quite a few times for Westmeath players that went down, but there were at least two occasions when I saw an Armagh player injured and needing attention with no stoppage-effectively leaving us with 14 players against a possession hogging team
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But remember that Geezer scared the sheee-ite outta poor Joe McQuillan after a game when he was on the line in AG. That got Geezer a few week break in the stand. I remember him being behind the goals in Sligo!!!! :confused:
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
Revenge said:
I think Dublin counter this tactic quite well with aggressively pushing up to force a mistake but u have to be very Disciplined.
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Yess and no. As @niall1980 said below your post, they didn't against Roscommon for large periods and when they did it was obvious they were extremely physical which mostly went unpunished - even surprisingly the commentator mentioned it (imagine being down on Dublin!!). Almost all refs let them have a free reign in Croke Park (no not all) and they do get away with "things" NO other county would, but let's not be down on refs ;)
 
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