ragingbull
Well-Known Member
I think Mackin could be getting a ban for his punch on McGee after he scored & rightly so
National Football League 2023
- Thread starter Big Jim
- Start date
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
Put that away!!
As the actress said to... oh, better not go there.
Doesn’t look good for him though.
Seamy
Well-Known Member
Looked like we were going to throw it away towards the end there tonight but when it counted most Jarly Óg stood up and showed exactly what he can do.
I'm often his worst critic on here, probably as I see him play his club football week in and week out too and know exactly what he's capable of producing and then not doing it in an orange jersey. When he gets it under the arm and goes direct he's unstoppable. Pacey, athletic and skillful not to mention great in the air it won us the game tonight.
Murnin has improved game after game and was close to Jarly for MOTM I'd imagine. He offers a lot of different things. From winning balls at FF to plugging holes in defence. Vital we keep him fit.
Ethan didn't have just a much influence as last week but still an extremely important option for us.
Forker I thought showed well again tonight, he covers serious ground! Paddy Burns improving game on game too. Division 1 Football is suiting him. Another man covering serious ground and made a few vital interceptions as well as keeping Brennan very quiet.
Rian isn't just at 100% yet and was in and out of it tonight with a needless yellow early on probably affecting his input a bit but yet at the death he claimed the ball on the goal line and that just shows that you why he's captain material.
I said it during the week and I stand by it tonight, Soupy needs a rest. A start from the bench would do no harm for him. He's responded well to that before and it could be what he needs.
Great to see Grugan come in and with the two week break now that'll hopefully stand us in even better stead for the remaining two games.
Atmosphere in the last 5/10 was electric in The AG and great to see so many kids present.
Hoping a few results go our way tomorrow now and we push on against The Tribesmen in a fortnight!
I'm often his worst critic on here, probably as I see him play his club football week in and week out too and know exactly what he's capable of producing and then not doing it in an orange jersey. When he gets it under the arm and goes direct he's unstoppable. Pacey, athletic and skillful not to mention great in the air it won us the game tonight.
Murnin has improved game after game and was close to Jarly for MOTM I'd imagine. He offers a lot of different things. From winning balls at FF to plugging holes in defence. Vital we keep him fit.
Ethan didn't have just a much influence as last week but still an extremely important option for us.
Forker I thought showed well again tonight, he covers serious ground! Paddy Burns improving game on game too. Division 1 Football is suiting him. Another man covering serious ground and made a few vital interceptions as well as keeping Brennan very quiet.
Rian isn't just at 100% yet and was in and out of it tonight with a needless yellow early on probably affecting his input a bit but yet at the death he claimed the ball on the goal line and that just shows that you why he's captain material.
I said it during the week and I stand by it tonight, Soupy needs a rest. A start from the bench would do no harm for him. He's responded well to that before and it could be what he needs.
Great to see Grugan come in and with the two week break now that'll hopefully stand us in even better stead for the remaining two games.
Atmosphere in the last 5/10 was electric in The AG and great to see so many kids present.
Hoping a few results go our way tomorrow now and we push on against The Tribesmen in a fortnight!
Poor football player again but at least a win, Jesus mcquillan should of scored a goal. Thought jarly og was excellent and so was murnin, hard to say the defenders where so good when we play so defensive but hopefully we improve with more people back fit, also caolan Finnegan got bad injury for under 20s so hope he is okay
gael_force_orchard
Well-Known Member
A 2 point win. But that's all it was. It was as bad a game of football as I have seen in a long time. Will get castigated for this opinion, but we didn't do a lot right tonight against what can only be described as a half a Donegal team.
Build up play was slow, any direct runs made where down dead ends and into traffic, we gave away the short kick out option every time and didn't press. They kicked a lot of bad wides as well.
I know we got the win, but I don't see a display like tonight's being good enough to beat Galway or Tyrone.
We are hard too watch at the minute and we are slow in transition. When forwards do break they are knackered by the time they get to the scoring zone and it is leading to handling errors. All because they have to defend so deep and wait for a turnover, by the time that happens there is no focal point in the attack.
That was a poor Donegal team and we struggled to put the away. I will take my oil for this comment, but Armagh are regressing at the minute. Going away from the strengths of the team and sitting far too deep. That type of football won't win anything.
Build up play was slow, any direct runs made where down dead ends and into traffic, we gave away the short kick out option every time and didn't press. They kicked a lot of bad wides as well.
I know we got the win, but I don't see a display like tonight's being good enough to beat Galway or Tyrone.
We are hard too watch at the minute and we are slow in transition. When forwards do break they are knackered by the time they get to the scoring zone and it is leading to handling errors. All because they have to defend so deep and wait for a turnover, by the time that happens there is no focal point in the attack.
That was a poor Donegal team and we struggled to put the away. I will take my oil for this comment, but Armagh are regressing at the minute. Going away from the strengths of the team and sitting far too deep. That type of football won't win anything.
This game could actually stand to us in the long run hopefully - winning ugly.
Style wise, well, Donegal played everyone back and tried to win by a point in a low scoring fight - nearly worked.
Performance wise - very poor. So many sloppy mistakes throughout with our classy players winning it in the end. Donegal are no mugs but they're well off what they used to be.
Soupy - class act. Anyone calling for him to be dropped are dillusional. He's arguably our best player and the work he does is unreal. If we can get the points against Galway (boy we owe them) I'd wrap Soupy in cotton wool until the All Ireland series because if we want to get to an AI final - he's going to be pivotol.
Style wise, well, Donegal played everyone back and tried to win by a point in a low scoring fight - nearly worked.
Performance wise - very poor. So many sloppy mistakes throughout with our classy players winning it in the end. Donegal are no mugs but they're well off what they used to be.
Soupy - class act. Anyone calling for him to be dropped are dillusional. He's arguably our best player and the work he does is unreal. If we can get the points against Galway (boy we owe them) I'd wrap Soupy in cotton wool until the All Ireland series because if we want to get to an AI final - he's going to be pivotol.
Ragingbull - Ciaran should be dropped for that. Great lad but that's a potential match losing lack of discipline. This drives me mad! I've been on about how our lack of discipline has killed us for years now.
Mickey Gormley
Active Member
Same donegal who had lot of men back from injured and drew with galway... 2 points all that mattered and we got it.. few years ago we would have butchered up armagh
JoeH
Well-Known Member
Its just unreal reading the comments here.
It seems like some want to go to CCCC and get one of our players suspended.
The way they played in every game this year is the same and that's more or less what all other teams are doing.
On one hand the team castigated for playing the way they did so as to secure two valuable points. On the other lots of players are praised for the way they played.
No team is there to entertain - it's points they're after.
We have players missing, players just back from injury and we've a squad now that gives cover in all positions.
Why would you kick a ball in when it's more possible to lose it than to get it?
It's a possession game now, probe, create the opening and shoot when the opportunity presents a high percentage of scoring.
I'd rather stay in division one playing this way than playing all out expansive football and being relegated
It seems like some want to go to CCCC and get one of our players suspended.
The way they played in every game this year is the same and that's more or less what all other teams are doing.
On one hand the team castigated for playing the way they did so as to secure two valuable points. On the other lots of players are praised for the way they played.
No team is there to entertain - it's points they're after.
We have players missing, players just back from injury and we've a squad now that gives cover in all positions.
Why would you kick a ball in when it's more possible to lose it than to get it?
It's a possession game now, probe, create the opening and shoot when the opportunity presents a high percentage of scoring.
I'd rather stay in division one playing this way than playing all out expansive football and being relegated
gael_force_orchard
Well-Known Member
I get that it's 2 points and maybe the win stands to us in the long term. But we are winning nothing with that style of play and surrending possession to a short kick out on every opposition restart. Donegal pressed us every time because our midfield isn't firing. We gave them an out at every restart and we were slow and labourious in possession. Sometimes as supporters we are allowed to call a spade a spade. We are not playing well or to our strenghts and tactics on opposition kickouts need to be questioned. We got the win though.
Mickey Gormley
Active Member
We don't need to be playing that well. Just need to get the wins and get a few lads back from injury. I think we had to be very patient and smart.. like we have 7 or 8 men out which will be good to get back and organised if we go toe to toe I think we would have got well beat last week and possibly tonight
Ed Ricketts
Active Member
On the verge of Division One safety despite playing shite all year. I'll take that, and so would 27/28 other counties. Those getting hung up on performance and the style of football need to chill out and take a look at the big picture.
This team is right in the middle of a demographic sweet spot - a very good bunch of experienced lads reinforced with a very good bunch of newcomers. They're no longer building for down the line - this season and maybe the next is the time to do something. And doing something means the championship - the league doesn't matter right now. It's just a playground to try things. To go into training mode.
The cautious football is ugly and boring, but this side needs a mastery of this style if they're ever to win something. No team lifts titles these days going gung-ho 100% of the time. Other top tier teams also understand this, which is why the football from almost every Division One side has been overwhelmingly dull this spring. The adventurous, exciting football of recent years is still in the locker - it can, and will, be unleashed when the time is right. Armagh have been very good defensively to date, especially considering the level of the opposition. There's no doubt that a lot of learning and confidence will be taken from that.
The team is also clearly undercooked in their conditioning. The championship group stages don't begin until the end of May - that's the focus, not league games in February. It also wouldn't be surprising if the underwhelming football from some of the older lads so far is down to bespoke training programmes designed to prevent overloading too early in the season. Men with 10+ years of intercounty football in the legs do not, and should not, be hitting full speed 3/4 months before the business end of things. So I've little doubt the likes of Soupy will be back to something like his best come May and June.
And finally, injuries have been a balls recently. The team has been down players in all lines of the field, including influential and experienced men like Nugent, Morgan, and, for a bit, Grugan. The injury list at midfield has been especially disruptive. The midfield area is key for kick-out strategies (obviously), and also for transitions. Armagh have struggled recently in both these facets, and a lot of that has to be down to the loss of experience in this area of the pitch. Men will be well managed to a return from these injuries and the team will improve. In the meantime, others will improve from their exposure to first team football.
In summation: it's just the league. We're doing grand. Don't get too bothered about any of it. This team is being primed to perform in Clones and Croker this summer - February and March will be distant memories by then.
This team is right in the middle of a demographic sweet spot - a very good bunch of experienced lads reinforced with a very good bunch of newcomers. They're no longer building for down the line - this season and maybe the next is the time to do something. And doing something means the championship - the league doesn't matter right now. It's just a playground to try things. To go into training mode.
The cautious football is ugly and boring, but this side needs a mastery of this style if they're ever to win something. No team lifts titles these days going gung-ho 100% of the time. Other top tier teams also understand this, which is why the football from almost every Division One side has been overwhelmingly dull this spring. The adventurous, exciting football of recent years is still in the locker - it can, and will, be unleashed when the time is right. Armagh have been very good defensively to date, especially considering the level of the opposition. There's no doubt that a lot of learning and confidence will be taken from that.
The team is also clearly undercooked in their conditioning. The championship group stages don't begin until the end of May - that's the focus, not league games in February. It also wouldn't be surprising if the underwhelming football from some of the older lads so far is down to bespoke training programmes designed to prevent overloading too early in the season. Men with 10+ years of intercounty football in the legs do not, and should not, be hitting full speed 3/4 months before the business end of things. So I've little doubt the likes of Soupy will be back to something like his best come May and June.
And finally, injuries have been a balls recently. The team has been down players in all lines of the field, including influential and experienced men like Nugent, Morgan, and, for a bit, Grugan. The injury list at midfield has been especially disruptive. The midfield area is key for kick-out strategies (obviously), and also for transitions. Armagh have struggled recently in both these facets, and a lot of that has to be down to the loss of experience in this area of the pitch. Men will be well managed to a return from these injuries and the team will improve. In the meantime, others will improve from their exposure to first team football.
In summation: it's just the league. We're doing grand. Don't get too bothered about any of it. This team is being primed to perform in Clones and Croker this summer - February and March will be distant memories by then.
Mickey Gormley
Active Member
Plus who wins anything by playing all out attacking football. That's prob what cost us past few years against galway and say against monaghan year b4 stupid goals. We just need to readress the balance of it but comforting enough to think we now actually have a few more bows on our arrow as last year the same commentators were slating us for being so open at the back. Need to chill out let us get safe and go from there. League is so important now as it feeds into championship
I agree and disagree with your first paragraph Joe. Discipline has been our achilles heal as you know and our players should be smarter than that.
This is a discussion board, so it's fair enough for people to criticise what they are seeing (we have been poor - gifted a win by Beagan in Blaney, lazarus vs Mayo and ugly win tonight), but competing in all games at the top level is a positive (we all remember the away days to Longford not that long ago).
I agree with your 2nd paragraph - we can't just hoof it in against a blanket - real football people know that.
I agree Ed. Because of our league position, the Ulster Championship has also become a 'playground'. Its all about the new, Champions League style, All Ireland competition. That's where the gravy is.
That was chronic. Any half decent side would have beat us tonight. Conceding the kick out for the full 70 minutes is absolutely brutal to watch, we’ll never beat any of the top sides doing this.
Murnin and Jarly og had great games, Murnin looks the fittest he’s been in years. McQuillian done right passing that ball at the end it was just poorly executed.
Rian, Turbo etc starved of the ball in full forward it must be frustrating as hell for them standing up there.
£2 for a cup of tea as well I tell the jokes around here
Murnin and Jarly og had great games, Murnin looks the fittest he’s been in years. McQuillian done right passing that ball at the end it was just poorly executed.
Rian, Turbo etc starved of the ball in full forward it must be frustrating as hell for them standing up there.
£2 for a cup of tea as well I tell the jokes around here
topoftheleft
Member
Don’t care what anybody says , that was the worst Donegal team for years. Don’t know what the answer is but that performance was absolute shite . The only plus we take from that is Andrew Murnin
Armaghbeyondthegrave
New Member
Ino fair play to them
A win & 2 points, so we'll done.
But - oh my god - it is hard to watch. Younger supporters may say that this is how football is now, but I am not too sure.
That was a very poor Donegal team - their forwards in the first half were brutal, and it is good McFadden did not start as we could not handle him.
Another point and we will stay up, but we can beat Galway next day.
But please - if we are ever going to win anything, can I suggest a few things:
1 - play a little more attacking and keep Rian inside the opposition half where he can do most damage
2 - kick the ball in long at least occasionally, Murnin and Rian can win it, and it keeps the opposition on their toes
3 - press up on the opposition kick- outs at least some times....
Great support again tonight - this team has real potential - but you have to go for it sometimes if you want to win something.
But - oh my god - it is hard to watch. Younger supporters may say that this is how football is now, but I am not too sure.
That was a very poor Donegal team - their forwards in the first half were brutal, and it is good McFadden did not start as we could not handle him.
Another point and we will stay up, but we can beat Galway next day.
But please - if we are ever going to win anything, can I suggest a few things:
1 - play a little more attacking and keep Rian inside the opposition half where he can do most damage
2 - kick the ball in long at least occasionally, Murnin and Rian can win it, and it keeps the opposition on their toes
3 - press up on the opposition kick- outs at least some times....
Great support again tonight - this team has real potential - but you have to go for it sometimes if you want to win something.