That was disheartening today. I dont think we got the line up right from the off. And we certainly didn't get the tactics right either. We should not have been standing off every Donegal kick from the get go. Fair enough after a few if they beat the press, but we didnt make them beat a press. Second half we allowed them countless short outs as we didn't press fully or drop off. So that's on management.
Secondly, when we did lose possession, we were found out of position and on a number of number of occasions didnt even bother to track or try and track back. Id like to see it again though for their goal, two of our starting half forwards were on the edge of the D and never tracked a runner, they stood static. That is inexcusable, especially as one of them was anonymous for the entire time he was on the pitch. That angered me.
Our players will have any keeper hung drawn and quartered. No movement, no effort to move, no nous on giving an option. Rafferty lost 8 kick outs in that first half. He lost them because no one moved or made a run and its not as if the players didn't realise Donegal would push up.
Shot selection was poor at times. Tackling at times cost us as well. Forget the goal we should have had or a fee soft frees they got, they dropped more sjots short and left more scores behind them.
There is talent in that squad but not quite at the level we think it is. It was showed up by poor tactics. Mackin was a huge miss and I also believe that Rowland was a miss. Mc cabe has to play at corner back and Rowland at chb, we were open today up the middle. We were not open during the league as Mackin and Rowland understood danger and how to position themselves. Morgan ran down blind alleys and I just don't think he is a county level footballer.
One player on that team I just do not rate at all and I dont believe should ever be starting or in the squad. Won't name names.
Management will change later in the summer but now is not the time. I think we have players who need to lose the fear of championship football and need better direction and tactics. We will see more out of this team next year I believe. Today is dissappointing yes, but see how we go in the back door. We may still make a quarter final and learn a bit yet. But we will at some point need more on the line to drive this team or what is left of it on, as a few lads are not getting any younger.
