ffs jack mccarron sent our keeper for an ice cream cone never mind a kicking one
Ulster Senior Football Championship 2021
- Thread starter Big Jim
- Start date
Not much he could do for 3 of them, 1 was his mistake from the kickout. I still think we concede 3 even with Blaine in goal. Defense needs sorted if only McGeeney stops picking his favourites. Mark McCann, great upcoming keeper, strong kicker and hes strong enough to deal with high-ball in. Decent shot stopper too
Who is the big games in the leagues this weekend, would like to go and watch a humdinger of a match maybe catch a glimpse of these so called better defenders we have in this in this county. As for that mccann fella i remember watching him for the abbey school not much hope there to be fair has had awful bother with his knees of late
Pete Mcgrath
Member
Sounds like an advert for Mauds and Rostrevor
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
What a completely ridiculous statement. Kennedy & Forker both injured in the league & lucky to be back playing. O'Hanlon & Finn newcomers to the current team so obviously replacing other players. Shields injured & unavailable, not sure what the story was as regards Donaghy but he played numerous matches under Geezer so surely he should fall into the "favourite" category but got very limited game time this Season.
Geezer wants to win, he picks a team that he thinks will win, if you think otherwise the heat is really getting to you.
JoeH
Well-Known Member
Who would you have in defence?
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
Forker, Shields, Burns and maybe Paul Hughes are probably the only 4 who would improve that didn’t start. I know the first 3 had injuries but does anyone know where Paul Hughes has been?
Donaghy probably would have tightened us up as well.
I’d agree with Hughes but if we are pinning hopes on donaghy we are in trouble. Nothing against him, he’s been a great servant, but he’s had a lot of injuries and is at the end of his career
Lads with all the analysis that’s being done I will ask a question that I have before, are the players there to take the team to the next level? There has basically been the same core squad there for the last 3-4 years, with a strong contingent there for longer. We are massively under achieving at underage age level and our clubs are not competitive at Ulster. Our schools football doesn’t count bar the recent burst from St Ronans. Although the county championship has become more competitive that is more to do with Cross rolling back as opposed to others catching up. When we dominated in the late 90’s early noughties the likes of Clans, Mullaghbawn, Ogs, Harps and of course Dromintee always competed with us and we were winning AIs at that stage. This meant that Armagh was stronger. We also competed well at underage with the minor and U21 All Ireland’s and competing at later stages in both competitions on a number of occasions. Simply not happening or likely to happen in the future.
I will be honest we have an honest bunch of players with a few stars in the O Neill’s but really looking don’t think we have the players to step up. I would love to be proven wrong but I don’t see it. The quality simply isn’t there. I am 45 and there are players on the Armagh squad that I have played with/against and I last played for Cross last in 2011. That’s 10 years ago. That doesn’t say a lot for the players coming through.
I will be honest we have an honest bunch of players with a few stars in the O Neill’s but really looking don’t think we have the players to step up. I would love to be proven wrong but I don’t see it. The quality simply isn’t there. I am 45 and there are players on the Armagh squad that I have played with/against and I last played for Cross last in 2011. That’s 10 years ago. That doesn’t say a lot for the players coming through.
Armagh_paul
Well-Known Member
Having a few days away from all the talk and reading some posts it does make you wonder if we all have our orange tinted glasses on when it comes to evaluating this team. In my opinion I believe we are a few defensive players from at least challenging consistently and winning Ulster - then who knows what will happen in the AI.
Over the last number of years there have been a number of key problems identified outside the county and from within. It wasn't that long ago where counties believed we were one dimensional in attack i.e. relying on Jamie Clarke too much. In those few years everything has changed, we have no dimensions at the back but have about 20 options up front. With that being said we have continually failed to address said problems at the back and without a defence we are screwed and it is ridiculous to think we are going to beat teams with all out attack.
Bad habits came back to haunt us last week where we seem to panic when taking a lead against teams. All the hard work was ultimately for nothing and a part of me wants to be more forgiving, the players ran themselves into the ground and they simply didn't have the energy left towards the end. Ultimately the players shouldn't have had to play themselves into the ground. I think the tactics were too risk to play so early in the game.
I don't get to see the club football much but out of curiosity how many players, play out of position for the county team? This isn't a pop at Hughes but it boggles my mind that even though we have over 40 clubs in Armagh we are playing an outfield player on goal. We essentially play a part time goalkeeper.
Armagh seem to be getting the "they need another year before they win Ulster" talks. I don't really buy into that. If we have a team capable of challenging for Ulster they should have beat Monaghan last week, regardless of the circumstances. Monaghan are a team in decline who rely on players that are past their prime yet they ripped us apart at the beginning and despite a spirited comeback and taking a two point lead we still didn't have it in us - we almost always seem to lose these tight games. I think I have come to the realization we haven't got a good team, great forwards and a good MF but other than that we have nothing.
Over the last number of years there have been a number of key problems identified outside the county and from within. It wasn't that long ago where counties believed we were one dimensional in attack i.e. relying on Jamie Clarke too much. In those few years everything has changed, we have no dimensions at the back but have about 20 options up front. With that being said we have continually failed to address said problems at the back and without a defence we are screwed and it is ridiculous to think we are going to beat teams with all out attack.
Bad habits came back to haunt us last week where we seem to panic when taking a lead against teams. All the hard work was ultimately for nothing and a part of me wants to be more forgiving, the players ran themselves into the ground and they simply didn't have the energy left towards the end. Ultimately the players shouldn't have had to play themselves into the ground. I think the tactics were too risk to play so early in the game.
I don't get to see the club football much but out of curiosity how many players, play out of position for the county team? This isn't a pop at Hughes but it boggles my mind that even though we have over 40 clubs in Armagh we are playing an outfield player on goal. We essentially play a part time goalkeeper.
Armagh seem to be getting the "they need another year before they win Ulster" talks. I don't really buy into that. If we have a team capable of challenging for Ulster they should have beat Monaghan last week, regardless of the circumstances. Monaghan are a team in decline who rely on players that are past their prime yet they ripped us apart at the beginning and despite a spirited comeback and taking a two point lead we still didn't have it in us - we almost always seem to lose these tight games. I think I have come to the realization we haven't got a good team, great forwards and a good MF but other than that we have nothing.
Eireogatron
Well-Known Member
We have one of the best forwards in the county playing number 3, ohanlon (a forward) playing @ 5 and I'm afraid the likes of McCabe, mackin are (imo of course) nowhere near county level at any competitive standard. Morgan is our best defender and he still gives handy scoring free kicks away with an alarming regularity. I'm not trying to throw anybody under the bus here and certainly don't doubt the commitment of all members of the squad but this is how I see it in footballing terms.
We're 2002 vintage going forward but 1995/96 vintage at the back.
We're 2002 vintage going forward but 1995/96 vintage at the back.
Diarmi
Well-Known Member
I think too many people pigeon hole players into positions. Certainly there are players who are out and out defenders or attackers but there is a large cohort of players who could play in either the half back or half forward line especially the way the game is played now. Rory Grugan and Rian O'Neill made some of the best tackles against Monaghan and were defensively excellent but both are forwards.
Every team needs at least two man markers and a strong full back so really you are talking about a full back line after that you need the proper coaching and defensive setup but not necessarily out and out defenders.
Every team needs at least two man markers and a strong full back so really you are talking about a full back line after that you need the proper coaching and defensive setup but not necessarily out and out defenders.
Eireogatron
Well-Known Member
Understand you point, and yes some players can shuffle between the lines but it will only get you so far. If you look at the best teams over the past number of years, the half back line is pivotal - Keegan, Higgins, McCarthy, McCaffrey, McHugh etc. The likes of Aaron Kernan, Jordan, Tomas o'se etc as you go further back. By putting square pegs in round holes, yes you can get a man to "do a job" but you'll never progress imo. Forwards like grugan and O'Neill can absolutely tackle back, but if you put them in that HB position for the game you would see a very different scenario imo
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
Hate to think what Kerry would do to us
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
It's ok, we're out. You don't need that "hate" in yer wee heed!!Hate to think what Kerry would do to us