New Rules - How Should Armagh Set Up? What Will Be The Big Changes Tactically Nationwide?

[POINTMAN]

I’m sure we’ll still manage to free up McKay or someone else to be the extra man in defence. 1v1’s will happen but not as often as the rule makers are hoping.

Imagine trying to mark Oisin Conaty 1v1? Scary.

I agree - while you have to keep 3 forwards in the opponents half, it does not mean you will only have 3 staying back. I would think that there will always be at least 4 back marking the opposition's 3 attackers, and more likely an extra cover man too. So in effect, there will not be too many times a defender is left totally 1 v 1.
I would think that McKay would be one of our go to man markers, along with Barry and Paddy Burns. But not the likes of Forker who would be exposed for pace, but he will definitely be one for providing the sweeper / cover etc.
The middle 6/7 players will need to be extremely fit and mobile to get up and down the field regularly and I suspect that this grouping is where most subs will be used.

 

[Wide ball]

Marc O'Sé talks about team prospects under the new rules
https://extra.ie/2024/12/29/sport/gaa/football-2025-teams-better-placed

he does not expect Armagh to win, largely owing to the difficulty of winning a second, but also because they Armagh had devised a system where no man was left alone in defence and the new rules will affect that strategy. He does rate Donegal and Tyrone , as he thinks that McGuinness is a good man to come up with a strategy to use the new rules.

I don't think he is miles wrong tbh, I think it's wide open this year and Donegal with there long range kickers and with Jim McGuiness will be fancied as will Galway as they have a great team that can play any style and Tyrone are always good and with alot of young players from the recent winnings under 20 teams could beat anyone, then you have Kerry and Dublin who are always there, I think us in with that 5 wouldn't suprise me if we beat all 5 or if we lost all 5 very little between all teams named,I think going forward the new rules suit our team very well, I do think it will still be defensive as said previously, alot of pundits expect a really open game, I just don't see that happening but if say it did I'd agree with o'se I wouldn't be as confident in our defenders 1v1 as I would other teams, that isn't a slight on our defense as any defender having to mark the best forwards in the country will struggle, I don't see it playing out so open though

 

[Armamike]

O'Se is pointing out the obvious in that it is really difficult to retain Sam. I think most football people realise that. But the big lesson for me over the years is not to pay too much heed to pundits and their predictions and their talking up or talking down oi any team's chances. They have to write and say something but how often do they call it right, especially before the season starts? They don't know what's going on within a squad, what injuries will occur etc., which teams will perform or not on any day. It's all crystal ball gazing. Last year just reinforced that for me.

 

[GAAMAD]

O'Se is pointing out the obvious in that it is really difficult to retain Sam. I think most football people realise that. But the big lesson for me over the years is not to pay too much heed to pundits and their predictions and their talking up or talking down oi any team's chances. They have to write and say something but how often do they call it right, especially before the season starts? They don't know what's going on within a squad, what injuries will occur etc., which teams will perform or not on any day. It's all crystal ball gazing. Last year just reinforced that for me.

That article is such a load of crap.

Galway left sam behind them? Bullshit. Armagh beat them in the final with a 6/10 performance. Armagh had far more gears in them than Galway. I have no sympathy for them. They showed very little going forward, they were terrible actually. Tell me how they deserve to win an All-Ireland final with that performance.

He reckons McGlynn is the best man marker in the game - false.

He reckons Galway have one of the best front 3 in the country In Finnerty, Walsh and Conroy. Give me Murnin, Conaty and Turbitt any day of the week

 

[pablo]

Cathir O'Kane in Irish News salivating about Tyrone. And next to Tyrone, Donegal.
I love it when he is wrong, which in 2024, happened a lot when writing about us

 

[JoeH]

It's really funny people predicting who will do well and not one football kicked in anger.
It's all about filling the columns with stuff that people find contentious/annoying that creates some sort of debate.

My tuppence worth:
Tyrone were poor last year and with same personnel playing can't really be much better regardless of manager change.
Derrys wheels spectacularly fell off and it's hard to put them back on - however they are a team full of fantastic players.
Donegal - can't see how the return of Murphy (injured or otherwise) helps - bound to cause aggro within the camp - he can only be back for one year. Not sure if they have the players to make the last few steps.
Galway have the potential - have they the belief?
Kerry, Dublin, Mayo not really good enough at present
Ourselves - got the ultimate prize. Very difficult to retain but whoever can beat them in championship will be close to picking up Sam.

 

[armaghtimmy]

It's really funny people predicting who will do well and not one football kicked in anger.
It's all about filling the columns with stuff that people find contentious/annoying that creates some sort of debate.

My tuppence worth:
Tyrone were poor last year and with same personnel playing can't really be much better regardless of manager change.
Derrys wheels spectacularly fell off and it's hard to put them back on - however they are a team full of fantastic players.
Donegal - can't see how the return of Murphy (injured or otherwise) helps - bound to cause aggro within the camp - he can only be back for one year. Not sure if they have the players to make the last few steps.
Galway have the potential - have they the belief?
Kerry, Dublin, Mayo not really good enough at present
Ourselves - got the ultimate prize. Very difficult to retain but whoever can beat them in championship will be close to picking up Sam.

Dont think the return of Murphy will cause any agro at all.. man is a living legend up there, will only inspire them on every night they have his presence at training etc, especially the younger lads

 

[GAAMAD]

It's really funny people predicting who will do well and not one football kicked in anger.
It's all about filling the columns with stuff that people find contentious/annoying that creates some sort of debate.

My tuppence worth:
Tyrone were poor last year and with same personnel playing can't really be much better regardless of manager change.
Derrys wheels spectacularly fell off and it's hard to put them back on - however they are a team full of fantastic players.
Donegal - can't see how the return of Murphy (injured or otherwise) helps - bound to cause aggro within the camp - he can only be back for one year. Not sure if they have the players to make the last few steps.
Galway have the potential - have they the belief?
Kerry, Dublin, Mayo not really good enough at present
Ourselves - got the ultimate prize. Very difficult to retain but whoever can beat them in championship will be close to picking up Sam.

I agree with you on Murphy. His last 2 years he looked leggy. Add another 2 years out of inter county football, and i dont think he is goign to have the return many expect.

Heres is my two pence worth

Galway are Galway - Decent team, hard to beat, but don't have the minerals with it comes to it imo.

Tyrone will get a kick out of O'Rourke. But he isn't a miracle worker. They have been ket the last 2 years. McCurry looks leggy, and I don't think the young boys coming through will make the impact they are touted to do so just yet. They have alot of the same type of player along the middle 8.

Kerry will be there or there abouts - but i wouldn't fear them.

Dublin I feel will struggle with the loss of a few big names. Again won't be easy beat but nothing to fear.

Mayo - Could be dark horses. Lots of people writing them off but if things fall right for them I can see them causing problems. They are a team I wouldn't want to face in a 1/4 or semi final on a warm day in Croke park.

Derry - I think that ship has sailed. Fell off massively last year after the league. I would fancy us big time to turn them over again.

Conclusion - Donegal and Mayo are the 2 teams I would hope to avoid. Although lets be realistic, there is 4/5 teams that could turn each other over.

 

[Armaghball]

I agree with you on Murphy. His last 2 years he looked leggy. Add another 2 years out of inter county football, and i dont think he is goign to have the return many expect.

Heres is my two pence worth

Galway are Galway - Decent team, hard to beat, but don't have the minerals with it comes to it imo.

Tyrone will get a kick out of O'Rourke. But he isn't a miracle worker. They have been ket the last 2 years. McCurry looks leggy, and I don't think the young boys coming through will make the impact they are touted to do so just yet. They have alot of the same type of player along the middle 8.

Kerry will be there or there abouts - but i wouldn't fear them.

Dublin I feel will struggle with the loss of a few big names. Again won't be easy beat but nothing to fear.

Mayo - Could be dark horses. Lots of people writing them off but if things fall right for them I can see them causing problems. They are a team I wouldn't want to face in a 1/4 or semi final on a warm day in Croke park.

Derry - I think that ship has sailed. Fell off massively last year after the league. I would fancy us big time to turn them over again.

Conclusion - Donegal and Mayo are the 2 teams I would hope to avoid. Although lets be realistic, there is 4/5 teams that could turn each other over.

Would have 0 fear of Mayo tbh, capable of taking a scalp but will always fold under pressure. Donegal will be strong but think we have what it takes to beat them. If all Murphy did was come on and kick a couple of 2 pointers, thats a huge swing in a tight game. He hasn’t the legs to be getting up and down, but leave him inside and he won’t have to.

All Ireland is there for the taking for us if we get ourselves playing at our best

 

[ArmaghMartin]

Murphy as finished before he retired for Donegal. Him being back won't make a big difference.

I feel the dubs will surprise a few this year. I keep seeing everyone is writing them off. They still have serious quality in that side.

Kerry will be the favourites to win it. Galway again will be there or there abouts.

I fear for us if Rian doesn't play this year. He is a massive player for us and would be a devastating lost.

 

[Armaghball]

Murphy as finished before he retired for Donegal. Him being back won't make a big difference.

I feel the dubs will surprise a few this year. I keep seeing everyone is writing them off. They still have serious quality in that side.

Kerry will be the favourites to win it. Galway again will be there or there abouts.

I fear for us if Rian doesn't play this year. He is a massive player for us and would be a devastating lost.

Hopefully he gets back to his best. If not, he’d be some loss but that’s what a squad is for.

 

[Wee man]

That article is such a load of crap.

Galway left sam behind them? Bullshit. Armagh beat them in the final with a 6/10 performance. Armagh had far more gears in them than Galway. I have no sympathy for them. They showed very little going forward, they were terrible actually. Tell me how they deserve to win an All-Ireland final with that performance.

He reckons McGlynn is the best man marker in the game - false.

He reckons Galway have one of the best front 3 in the country In Finnerty, Walsh and Conroy. Give me Murnin, Conaty and Turbitt any day of the week

Having watched the final again this week he is right about one thing - Shane Walsh missed some serious chances
I counted 5 kickable frees / marks that he missed, and some of them came at crucial times in the game.
In saying that we also missed 2 very scoreable frees/ marks (Turbo and McElroy).
But if Walshes 5 had of gone over it could have been a very different outcome.
In my opinion one of thee biggest bottles of all time.

 

[Armaghball]

Armagh last in O'Se's list of All-Ireland contenders - The Sideline Eye

Kerry legend Marc O’Se believes that Armagh will struggle to defend their All-Ireland crown in the upcoming season.

thesidelineeye.com

Pin it to the wall. Was listening to a podcast recently as well that more or less said we won the All Ireland by default being last man standing. The disrespect shown to us in the media is unreal at times. We beat Kerry, beat Galway, the team that beat the Dubs.

Cannot wait for the summer football and the wee upstarts from the north upsetting the big boys again.

 

[GAAMAD]

Armagh last in O'Se's list of All-Ireland contenders - The Sideline Eye

Kerry legend Marc O’Se believes that Armagh will struggle to defend their All-Ireland crown in the upcoming season.

thesidelineeye.com

Pin it to the wall. Was listening to a podcast recently as well that more or less said we won the All Ireland by default being last man standing. The disrespect shown to us in the media is unreal at times. We beat Kerry, beat Galway, the team that beat the Dubs.

Cannot wait for the summer football and the wee upstarts from the north upsetting the big boys again.

People seem to forget how many games of championship football we have actually lost over the last few years. Its astonishing

 

[Armaghball]

People seem to forget how many games of championship football we have actually lost over the last few years. Its astonishing

Monaghan in a mad game in Newry in ‘21 (with a keeper thrown in at the deep end) Donegal in Ulster ‘22, Tyrone in a group game in 23. Only other defeats have been penalties and if I remember rightly even the league games we lost were by a kick of a ball or less in the last few years as well.

Will take a very, very good team to beat us.

 

[JoeH]

He's also conveniently forgotten about the six a row from Dublin
The narrative suits them when they want it to

 

[Armaghball]

Think the new rules will suit us. We have long range kickers, speedy forwards who can win their own ball and vitally imo we’re much fitter than other teams bar probably Donegal, and we have by far and away the best bench in the country.

 

[Armaghball]

Looks like from online chat and pundits chat. This years all Ireland is between Tyrone and Donegal. No other team has a look in.

See that, hopefully someone rings Geezer and tells him not to bother training the boys this year, waste of time bothering.

 

[Armaghniac]

See that, hopefully someone rings Geezer and tells him not to bother training the boys this year, waste of time bothering.

TG4 is now showing the Div 1 League final (as the intermediate club was postponed) .
On that day, the general view was that the Div 2 final was far behind the Div 1 one, yet both Donegal and Armagh gave a lesson to Derry. You have to keep at it and be the last one standing.

 

[jpowell100]

TG4 is now showing the Div 1 League final (as the intermediate club was postponed) .
On that day, the general view was that the Div 2 final was far behind the Div 1 one, yet both Donegal and Armagh gave a lesson to Derry. You have to keep at it and be the last one standing.

It just shows the all Ireland is won in September (July now) and not April