McKenna would of been perfect 4 years ago but for some reason hasn't played county for years probably his own choice, heffron would start but again his choice he opted out years ago and Morris would be a good addition to midfield but when everyone is fit we have plenty there all in all mcgeeney has most of everyone you'd want on the panel
National Football League 2023
- Thread starter Big Jim
- Start date
Positives from the league
Murnin, playing the best stuff he has ever done hopefully injury is minor.
Mccambridge, been really solid good to see him get a run.
Rafferty, seems to be improving all the time,
They are the 3 best for me but I'd say burns, McKay and Duffy have also been good.
And with a week's rest would be good to see where our injury list is at
Murnin, playing the best stuff he has ever done hopefully injury is minor.
Mccambridge, been really solid good to see him get a run.
Rafferty, seems to be improving all the time,
They are the 3 best for me but I'd say burns, McKay and Duffy have also been good.
And with a week's rest would be good to see where our injury list is at
Thanks, Plato!Doesn't mean it's going to happen this year
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
32 is only a number
PutTheHighBallInLow
Active Member
You still up
Ed Ricketts
Active Member
A lot of emotion flying about this evening, and over the last week or so. A lot of toxicity too, with plenty of malicious rumours and mean spirited score settling. I don't think this sets the scene very well for any sort of level headed discussion. Perhaps it would be best if a few of us took the next couple of weeks off - I'm not sure if too many posts here over the last while do anything for anyone.
But my thoughts on the craic anyway, for what they're worth...
Today wasn't too bad. Typical enough league game, with neither side on it 100%. Plenty of errors from both, with Tyrone just a bit more efficient in front of goals - especially from distance. They have a wee bit of their swagger back in recent weeks, while we've been treading water a little and losing key players. To go down by only a couple of points in Omagh in those circumstances is no shame really. It's pretty obvious the relegation damage was done earlier in the spring. Turbitt had some good spells, Forker was clearly up for it against the neighbours, and Campbell seemed to have found something in that second half that had been eluding him for a while, hopefully that's him kick started for the championship.
I never believed that the league was any sort of priority this year, and that has been forefront in my mind when trying to look at everything that has happened over the last couple of months. I suspect the plan was to ride through it giving away as little as possible, sneaking enough points to just stay up, and to try a few things tactically. Relegation surely wasn't in the plan, but it's not really the end of the world.
My rationale for believing that the league was an after thought is that I don't see this Armagh team as one really building for the future any more. I look at the age profile of several of our most important players, and the length of time that the management has been in place, and I see a team that is running out of road. A serious rebuilding job is on the horizon, so whatever this current bunch are going to do they have to do it very, very soon. In that context, it makes sense to go all-in on championship football. What value has league status to men that will be retired from inter-county football in 18 months?
I also think I understand what the management were trying during the league. The swashbuckling stuff in recent years was great to watch at times, but it produced undeniably inconsistent results. Teams that actually win things need consistency, so we absolutely needed to broaden our tactical approach. No team wins games at the business end of things without an oven-ready defensive system, and we needed to build a good one to compensate for the lack of outstanding individual ability in our defence. Almost to highlight this reality, when we opened up just a small bit today, 18 points were put on us by a Tyrone team with a forward line that wouldn't be among the top five in the country.
Hopefully we can find a better balance between this defensive system and our attacking strengths as we press in the championship season - but I'm mindful that this balance maybe just doesn't exist. Maybe we just don't have enough good defenders to allow for a brand of football that both excites and wins. Maybe we also don't have enough good clutch forwards to drag us over the line in an ultra-defensive slogfests. Maybe whatever we try, we're destined to come up just a little short on both ends of the field?
The championship could be almost anything for us this year - I'm still looking forward to it.
But my thoughts on the craic anyway, for what they're worth...
Today wasn't too bad. Typical enough league game, with neither side on it 100%. Plenty of errors from both, with Tyrone just a bit more efficient in front of goals - especially from distance. They have a wee bit of their swagger back in recent weeks, while we've been treading water a little and losing key players. To go down by only a couple of points in Omagh in those circumstances is no shame really. It's pretty obvious the relegation damage was done earlier in the spring. Turbitt had some good spells, Forker was clearly up for it against the neighbours, and Campbell seemed to have found something in that second half that had been eluding him for a while, hopefully that's him kick started for the championship.
I never believed that the league was any sort of priority this year, and that has been forefront in my mind when trying to look at everything that has happened over the last couple of months. I suspect the plan was to ride through it giving away as little as possible, sneaking enough points to just stay up, and to try a few things tactically. Relegation surely wasn't in the plan, but it's not really the end of the world.
My rationale for believing that the league was an after thought is that I don't see this Armagh team as one really building for the future any more. I look at the age profile of several of our most important players, and the length of time that the management has been in place, and I see a team that is running out of road. A serious rebuilding job is on the horizon, so whatever this current bunch are going to do they have to do it very, very soon. In that context, it makes sense to go all-in on championship football. What value has league status to men that will be retired from inter-county football in 18 months?
I also think I understand what the management were trying during the league. The swashbuckling stuff in recent years was great to watch at times, but it produced undeniably inconsistent results. Teams that actually win things need consistency, so we absolutely needed to broaden our tactical approach. No team wins games at the business end of things without an oven-ready defensive system, and we needed to build a good one to compensate for the lack of outstanding individual ability in our defence. Almost to highlight this reality, when we opened up just a small bit today, 18 points were put on us by a Tyrone team with a forward line that wouldn't be among the top five in the country.
Hopefully we can find a better balance between this defensive system and our attacking strengths as we press in the championship season - but I'm mindful that this balance maybe just doesn't exist. Maybe we just don't have enough good defenders to allow for a brand of football that both excites and wins. Maybe we also don't have enough good clutch forwards to drag us over the line in an ultra-defensive slogfests. Maybe whatever we try, we're destined to come up just a little short on both ends of the field?
The championship could be almost anything for us this year - I'm still looking forward to it.
Jamie's Coffee
Active Member
Saw some posters saying that Div 2 is where we belong as it’s our level etc. Well we certainly deserve to be relegated but it’s not ‘our level’ this squad is a div 1 squad esp with the forward talent we have. The reason we were relegated is because we switched tactics completely from last year and began playing an ultra defensive game that produced awful results. It was bad to watch, made for low scoring games & most importantly didn’t get us results. Our strength is our attacking play and the way we set up drained the life and legs out of our forwards.
I couldn’t see the reasoning behind it several games ago and ultimately it led to our relegation - so disappointing & baffling
I couldn’t see the reasoning behind it several games ago and ultimately it led to our relegation - so disappointing & baffling
Shea is definitely good enough but it seems like he doesn’t want to be involved for whatever reason
armaghtimmy
Well-Known Member
Shea also spent some time in Oz I think, county is just not for him it seems which is fair enough, so people can stop mentioning him at this juncture
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
Going by McGeeney interview, Murnin was hamstring so unlikely to play vs Antrim. Rian should be there or thereabouts so presumably if he’s not fit for Antrim he should be for (hopefully) Cavan.
SaintSeamy
Active Member
Couldn't give a rats ass about relegation if we are in an Ulster final this year lads.
Last year showed us that this team responds to disappointments (albeit, against a poor Tyrone side and a Donegal team at the end of the road). We have straightforward games now to get the confidence back.
Last year showed us that this team responds to disappointments (albeit, against a poor Tyrone side and a Donegal team at the end of the road). We have straightforward games now to get the confidence back.
Apart from the defeat yesterday and relegation- what did people think of McConville and McPartland being thrown on in the last few minutes - when we needed scores? A panic move or just giving the lads a run out? Was it fair on them / should they have had more minutes in other games?
SaintSeamy
Active Member
It's hard to know when we aren't privy to training etc but I thought McConville could have played a bit more in the league.
armaghtimmy
Well-Known Member
Its disappointing no doubt, but some of the overboard comments yesterday by certain posters who you think would know better and have seen it all before was ridiculous and I suspect a source of embarrassment today (maybe accompanying a hangover!) Dublin and Derry played there this year, both are probably in the top 4 contenders for Sam this summer, hasn't done them much harm. Div 1 is not the holy grail some would have you believe, a div 2 campaign will brings its own benefits. Div 1 is of course the preference lets be clear, and any player with any inner ambitions will want to play there, but its hardly the catastrophe dooms day merchants would have you believe!!
William Of Orange
Well-Known Member
Got to see the game yesterday no doubt an improvement however our inability to win these close games is the only thing about us over the past 3 years that is consistent . I heard people at the game talk about the roar when Campbell scored for us to go one point up , how many times have we been in this situation and fallen short , Monaghan 2021 , various Donegal games , Galway in extra time last year , and their has been others as well , big chances that we cant take , good performances but no win . Really frustrating and no sign of this changing going by our league campaign this year , has to be a mentality thing and given the management team that we have , it should be a department something that on paper the team should be very strong on .
ShiftYa
Well-Known Member
We’d have to string together 3 championship wins in a row to do that, something we haven’t done in a long time. Definitely achievable especially with the side of the draw we’re on, Cavan and Down(who I’m tipping to beat Donegal) will carry momentum into both games if we get that far so anyone on here taking them for granted will be in for a shock.
SaintSeamy
Active Member
We absolutely should be beating those teams though...we are far enough into McGeeneys tenure to know that, we have players with a ton of experience and we have the forwards to do it.
If we can't capitalise on this run now, then serious questions will have to be asked...but I'm reserving judgement until after the championship.
We should be in an ulster final this year.
armaghtimmy
Well-Known Member
Down who failed to get out of Div 3, wouldnt really be carrying anymore momentum than us to be honest, as although relegated, it was division 1 where we lost games by narrow margins against the top teams in Ireland, and we would have already won two championship wins to banish that verse downs one..... I dont see how they would come in with anymore 'momentum' than us.
Ulster final is the absolute minimum we should now target, if we cant win against antrim (which I think they will have harder tarining games to be honest), cavan and down/donegal then we are nowhere near the team we think and last season was an absolute flash in the pan!!
ShiftYa
Well-Known Member
We’re far enough into his tenure to see how every other Ulster campaign has went. If anything recent history would say we should expect to be beaten.
Down just hammered Offaly and if they manage to get past Donegal (the other Div 1 side that’s been relegated) their tails will be up going into a semi.