National Football League 2024

[The Big Easy]

I’ll throw in my tuppence worth and it will likely be an unpopular opinion.
Meath were extremely poor and just resorted to hoofing it into the big lads in FF. so let’s take this hammering with a pinch of salt.
McConville played well but bloody hell he’s a greedy bugger. If he shifted the ball early twice (instead of running in circles) we would have had two goals. Young McGrane was so obvious. The lad sprinted from his own 21 and was clean through - how he did not pass that I dunno. It’s not the first time McGrane did this either. Last week too he did it & didn’t get the pass (can’t recall who didn’t pass it that time, maybe Jarly).

And Burns towards the end. If that’s a Dublin, Derry or Kerry that ball is shifted to the right & in the back of the net. We need to be more clinical not just a safe option.

I don’t get Oneill at 10. Surely we can play a forward there who can penetrate & take a score. What exactly defies he give us at 10. He’s a natural defender.

On a separate note lads, how many would accept Mickey Harte as the Armagh manager??? That was strange yesterday……imagine being from Tyrone and looking at that.

 

[Diarmi]

Great win on Saturday night and to do so with 12 points to spare is a great bonus. Leaves us sitting on top of the table with +13 with Donegal +12. We've seen it before where the fine margins of score difference etc are critical at the end of the league so the more we can rack up the better.
It was great to see Cian McConville get the start and even better when he came on to replace a defender, maybe a sign of a change of mindset? The gaols, coming when they did, were the difference and shows how a game can be decided by the aforementioned fine margins. There seems to be a trend this year for teams to try to run at defences and break the line. Monaghan had great success with it against the Dubs and Derry, particularly Murphy, have also been employing the tactic. This suits a small skilful player and Conaty and Cian fit this profile. Maybe the nippy corner forward can make a comeback!!
It's hard to know how much of the win can be put down to our performance or the poor quality of Meath. Indeed it's also hard to know if our performance is down to the players on the field or a change in tactic by the management. Time will tell I suppose. For now I'm happy as we can't be in any better position than we are.
I hate the two week break now as it can disrupt the momentum. We have been in this position before with two wins form two only to come back after the break and lose the next 2/3 games. Let's hope that's all in the past.

 

[William Of Orange]

Managed to get the Monaghan Kerry game on the dodgy box via GAAGO.
Think there is deferred coverage on later though.
Seems alot of games are only accessible for those outside of Ireland.

In brackets so no one else can see

[god bless the dodgy box]

 

[winsamsoon]

I’ll throw in my tuppence worth and it will likely be an unpopular opinion.
Meath were extremely poor and just resorted to hoofing it into the big lads in FF. so let’s take this hammering with a pinch of salt.
McConville played well but bloody hell he’s a greedy bugger. If he shifted the ball early twice (instead of running in circles) we would have had two goals. Young McGrane was so obvious. The lad sprinted from his own 21 and was clean through - how he did not pass that I dunno. It’s not the first time McGrane did this either. Last week too he did it & didn’t get the pass (can’t recall who didn’t pass it that time, maybe Jarly).

And Burns towards the end. If that’s a Dublin, Derry or Kerry that ball is shifted to the right & in the back of the net. We need to be more clinical not just a safe option.

I don’t get Oneill at 10. Surely we can play a forward there who can penetrate & take a score. What exactly defies he give us at 10. He’s a natural defender.

On a separate note lads, how many would accept Mickey Harte as the Armagh manager??? That was strange yesterday……imagine being from Tyrone and looking at that.

I would accept Mickey Harte without hesitation, it has been happening for years. It's not a feature that I like in general but we aren't going to stop it until the top dogs implement sanctions to counties that are touting the best managers with substantial financial packages. If anything Tyrone seemed to lie down to Derry by selecting such a young inexperienced team.

Its clear already after two games that some teams are using the league for different purposes and definetly picking and choosing games that they are targeting for wins and those they can potentially afford to lose.

 

[OneofTwo]

I would accept Mickey Harte without hesitation, it has been happening for years. It's not a feature that I like in general but we aren't going to stop it until the top dogs implement sanctions to counties that are touting the best managers with substantial financial packages. If anything Tyrone seemed to lie down to Derry by selecting such a young inexperienced team.

Its clear already after two games that some teams are using the league for different purposes and definetly picking and choosing games that they are targeting for wins and those they can potentially afford to lose.

We already have the substantial financial package being spent on our set up so the only thing we would be changing would be a management team. Any man that says the wouldn't accept any manager if they were to get Sam is liar IMHO.

 

[POINTMAN]

Speaking of Derry - I think they are very capable of winning Sam this year. They went close last year and add to that some new players- McFaul, young Murphy who got man of the match yesterday and the new left back who has been really impressive- plus the confidence generated by Glen's win. Add in the know how of Saint Mickey - and they will be hard to stop. They already show progress from last year.
Not really sure that we have shown much progress - hard to tell given that Meath were so poor - but we need to get our game strategy defined and be more aggressive in our overall approach.

 

[Peter grimes]

Interesting point about tonight. A lot of pundits go crazy about teams pressing the kickout and how it must be done to be successful
In the first 15 Armagh heavily pressed Meaths kickout and Meath got 3 good points directly from winning these long ones with Armagh badly exposed.
4-2 behind and Armagh totally
Changed their tactics. Gave Meath the kickout and dropped off.
The game flipped on its head. Meath proved totally unable to break down Armaghs defense. Armagh forced numerous turnovers and destroyed Meath on the break.
Certain tactics despite what many think are not the optimal strategy 100 percent of the time and praise should be given to Armagh for altering things during play and changing the course of the match.

Which pundits are these?

Some references to Meath being poor at the moment. I think that is true. I would very much prefer to playing in Division 1 but one of the benefits of playing in Division 2 is that the teams are not as good, not as prepared and probably not as fit. This gives us the chance to time our prep for slightly later in the year. I am guessing this is part of our management’s thinking. I’m not getting too stressed about the deficiencies in our play at the moment.

Still think there will come a point later in the league when teams staring down the barrel of Tailtean cup will become more dogged opponents. Especially if Meath are in the bottom 2. Cork would need to beat Kerry to get to a provincial final so they would need to get a shift on.

 

[The Big Easy]

We already have the substantial financial package being spent on our set up so the only thing we would be changing would be a management team. Any man that says the wouldn't accept any manager if they were to get Sam is liar IMHO.

On that basis you think Derry wins Sam because Mickey is in???

 

[The Big Easy]

Which pundits are these?

Some references to Meath being poor at the moment. I think that is true. I would very much prefer to playing in Division 1 but one of the benefits of playing in Division 2 is that the teams are not as good, not as prepared and probably not as fit. This gives us the chance to time our prep for slightly later in the year. I am guessing this is part of our management’s thinking. I’m not getting too stressed about the deficiencies in our play at the moment.

Still think there will come a point later in the league when teams staring down the barrel of Tailtean cup will become more dogged opponents. Especially if Meath are in the bottom 2. Cork would need to beat Kerry to get to a provincial final so they would need to get a shift on.

Really good point made here.

Derry are going flat to the mat to win every game. Mickey expects nothing else. I wouldn’t be surprised if Derry gets a lot of injuries over the next month or so. A lot of miles on the clock on a lot of fellas there.

Geezer appears to take a more cautious approach with still a lot of starters not even on the panel yet. It’s all about timing your run. I think the likes of the Oisin & Rian, Murnin, TK, Duffy etc will start getting game from match 4 onwards - as a nice lead in to the championship.

 

[Armaghball]

Really good point made here.

Derry are going flat to the mat to win every game. Mickey expects nothing else. I wouldn’t be surprised if Derry gets a lot of injuries over the next month or so. A lot of miles on the clock on a lot of fellas there.

Geezer appears to take a more cautious approach with still a lot of starters not even on the panel yet. It’s all about timing your run. I think the likes of the Oisin & Rian, Murnin, TK, Duffy etc will start getting game from match 4 onwards - as a nice lead in to the championship.

Is Murnin carrying a knock?

 

[OneofTwo]

On that basis you think Derry wins Sam because Mickey is in???

No, but he was 100% one of the best options they had available. They went far and wide looking for the right man if you listened to Glass on GAA Social.

 

[winsamsoon]

Really good point made here.

Derry are going flat to the mat to win every game. Mickey expects nothing else. I wouldn’t be surprised if Derry gets a lot of injuries over the next month or so. A lot of miles on the clock on a lot of fellas there.

Geezer appears to take a more cautious approach with still a lot of starters not even on the panel yet. It’s all about timing your run. I think the likes of the Oisin & Rian, Murnin, TK, Duffy etc will start getting game from match 4 onwards - as a nice lead in to the championship.

The danger of this though is that the players coming in at later stages are game rusty and can be a mile off the real pace of football, We haven't the luxury of the likes of the kerrys who can spring the two cliffords when in toruble, that is why it was essential that we got 4 points from these two games.

From Hartes perspective he is a believer that winning is a habit and the more wins the more confident the team feels, they will want to keep the run going. I suppose ideally you would love to find a happy medium but I def don't think Armaghs approach to the Louth game can be attributed to personnel alone.

 

[JoeH]

Speaking of Derry - I think they are very capable of winning Sam this year. They went close last year and add to that some new players- McFaul, young Murphy who got man of the match yesterday and the new left back who has been really impressive- plus the confidence generated by Glen's win. Add in the know how of Saint Mickey - and they will be hard to stop. They already show progress from last year.
Not really sure that we have shown much progress - hard to tell given that Meath were so poor - but we need to get our game strategy defined and be more aggressive in our overall approach.

Not entirely sure of that.

Tyrone kicked some bad wides - especially second half - and they're not the team they once were. They picked up a few knocks as well yesterday.
That was a full on Derry team and like other posters their strength in depth will be tested as injuries are picked up.
They've been quite lucky over the past few years with injuries and as much I wouldn't like players to be injured the law of averages suggest they are due.

For me Kerry looks like the stand out team - especially squad wise. Dublin will always be there and then so far Derry and Mayo are showing up.
The games in March will certainly show where counties are as theres little time after that to fix ahead of championship

 

[Wide ball]

Not entirely sure of that.

Tyrone kicked some bad wides - especially second half - and they're not the team they once were. They picked up a few knocks as well yesterday.
That was a full on Derry team and like other posters their strength in depth will be tested as injuries are picked up.
They've been quite lucky over the past few years with injuries and as much I wouldn't like players to be injured the law of averages suggest they are due.

For me Kerry looks like the stand out team - especially squad wise. Dublin will always be there and then so far Derry and Mayo are showing up.
The games in March will certainly show where counties are as theres little time after that to fix ahead of championship

I think this year is wide open, think Dublin and Kerry are slightly ahead of most but Dublins team is getting older and don't seem to have any fresh faces, Kerry look weak in midfield and probably need fresh forwards also, mayo have the same problem as every year 1-9 they are as good as any but up front they lack scores, Derry lack depth, there are flaws with all teams at the minute, and any team from Armagh Donegal and all division 1 if they got on a run could win it all, for me if injuries clear up Galway have a great shout but it should be a wide open all Ireland, after saying that it will probably be a Kerry v Dublin final

 

[Pat Cully]

I think this year is wide open, think Dublin and Kerry are slightly ahead of most but Dublins team is getting older and don't seem to have any fresh faces, Kerry look weak in midfield and probably need fresh forwards also, mayo have the same problem as every year 1-9 they are as good as any but up front they lack scores, Derry lack depth, there are flaws with all teams at the minute, and any team from Armagh Donegal and all division 1 if they got on a run could win it all, for me if injuries clear up Galway have a great shout but it should be a wide open all Ireland, after saying that it will probably be a Kerry v Dublin final

Hopefully we’re in the mix

 

[Pat Cully]

Last weekend was different in only two ways …. Meath are worse than Louth and we took our goal chances
Had turbo taken his goal chances the Louth game would have been a different game

Plus Conaty was very good… a bit like Brian Mallon and Marsden the way he carries the ball

 

[Berfaboy77]

I think this year is wide open, think Dublin and Kerry are slightly ahead of most but Dublins team is getting older and don't seem to have any fresh faces, Kerry look weak in midfield and probably need fresh forwards also, mayo have the same problem as every year 1-9 they are as good as any but up front they lack scores, Derry lack depth, there are flaws with all teams at the minute, and any team from Armagh Donegal and all division 1 if they got on a run could win it all, for me if injuries clear up Galway have a great shout but it should be a wide open all Ireland, after saying that it will probably be a Kerry v Dublin final

Whoever beats Derry will win AI

 

[OneofTwo]

Last weekend was different in only two ways …. Meath are worse than Louth and we took our goal chances
Had turbo taken his goal chances the Louth game would have been a different game

Plus Conaty was very good… a bit like Brian Mallon and Marsden the way he carries the ball

Good comp that now you think about it!

 

[Hoops]

I think this year is wide open, think Dublin and Kerry are slightly ahead of most but Dublins team is getting older and don't seem to have any fresh faces, Kerry look weak in midfield and probably need fresh forwards also, mayo have the same problem as every year 1-9 they are as good as any but up front they lack scores, Derry lack depth, there are flaws with all teams at the minute, and any team from Armagh Donegal and all division 1 if they got on a run could win it all, for me if injuries clear up Galway have a great shout but it should be a wide open all Ireland, after saying that it will probably be a Kerry v Dublin final

It’s absolutely wide open. The groups play a big role in making it more open too, we would’ve had a totally different championship if Mayo didn’t make a cod of that group last year after hammering Kerry in the opening game. The likes of Donegal improving this year could throw a real spanner in the works in the group stages, and I think the winner of div3 can make the cut, probably either Down or Westmeath, either of those would be tricky games too.

 

[Wide ball]

It’s absolutely wide open. The groups play a big role in making it more open too, we would’ve had a totally different championship if Mayo didn’t make a cod of that group last year after hammering Kerry in the opening game. The likes of Donegal improving this year could throw a real spanner in the works in the group stages, and I think the winner of div3 can make the cut, probably either Down or Westmeath, either of those would be tricky games too.

Mayo just done a mayo, they are great value and always entertaining, like they win the league then lose to the Rossie's then beat Kerry then lose to cork the. Beat Galway, they where crazy last year but when reading it they seem to struggle against defensive teams, but they are always great to watch