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#1
GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...
Last post by screenexile - Today at 10:05:03 PM
Quote from: David McKeown on Today at 09:08:59 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on Today at 08:55:21 PM
Quote from: David McKeown on Today at 08:49:02 PM
Quote from: JoG2 on Today at 05:58:47 PM
Quote from: David McKeown on Today at 03:03:17 PM
Quote from: Itchy on Today at 01:02:45 PM
Quote from: Tones on Today at 11:28:47 AMIs it really? Most counties have goals at the start of the year, get promoted, avoid relegation, beat neighbours etc. do they really need a coping mechanism of devaluing competitions, I seriously doubt it.  There are about 26 counties under the new system never going win Sam, Derry don't need another Ulster but will probably win it, any other county would relish it.

I believe JoG2 was referring the fans attempting to devalue a competition as a defense mechanism for if they don't win it. Armagh will have failed this year (again) if they do not win Ulster. How anyone can think different is beyond me.

What if they lose Ulster but play in an All Ireland final. Is that a bigger failure than winning Ulster and then going out in the groups?

You're changing angles here. What is having a good year, which reaching an AI final for most teams is, got to do with questioning the value of the Anglo Celt cup which you did? A hypothetical appearance in an AI final shouldn't come into the equation.
You're Armagh yes, very surprising considering the last 15+ years winning nothing. Derry winning 2 years ago was incredible, winning back to back was, well incredible. The thought of winning a treble, well that's the stuff of dreams. Worry about any attack on a Sam after.

The answer is the Ulster Championship is not viewed in isolation You've said Armagh will have failed this year if they don't win Ulster. I disagree. They could miss out on Ulster and make an All Ireland final which to me would be far less of a failure than winning Ulster and going out in the group stages. Similarly I'd rather have been promoted this year than win Ulster. That's not to say doing both wouldn't be nice but simply that Ulster can be viewed in isolation.

You are holding the Anglo Celt up as some kind of be all and end all for the season. It's not. For me If your county would prefer to win an Ulster and nothing else this year then it's extremely meaningful. If your county would prefer a deep run in the All Ireland series then Ulster is less meaningful.

Hmm, honestly if you said to me now win Ulster and go out in group or lose in Ulster and lose in a semi final I think I'd take an Ulster given a fair chunk of our team were in primary school when we last won it.

(Pointless argument anyway because if you win Ulster and go in as top seed there would be something seriously wrong if you couldnt at least make a preliminary QF)

That's a perfectly valid view but I don't think it's one universally shared. I don't feel that way and I feel a provincial championship is as meaningful as it once was.

When you have 6 teams capable of beating eachother in a one off game in a competition it's certainly an achievement to win it!!
#2
General discussion / Re: European Leagues.
Last post by gallsman - Today at 10:02:21 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on Today at 09:49:41 PMHe shouldn't have went for that tackle but I still think he got the ball. The ball changed direction and I just don't see how it would have without that tackle touching the ball

Don't think he touched it at all, and if he did, he came through Dembélé's foot to do it.

Two lose like that from two goals up is pathetic.
#3
General discussion / Re: European Leagues.
Last post by Captain Obvious - Today at 09:57:13 PM
Looking like a Manchester City v PSG Oil Rich Champions league final.
#4
GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...
Last post by tonto1888 - Today at 09:54:23 PM
Quote from: balladmaker on Today at 07:32:03 PM
Quote from: David McKeown on Today at 03:43:32 PM
Quote from: tonto1888 on Today at 03:32:44 PM
Quote from: Blowitupref on Today at 02:53:00 PM
Quote from: Tones on Today at 01:48:29 PM
Quote from: Itchy on Today at 01:02:45 PM
Quote from: Tones on Today at 11:28:47 AMIs it really? Most counties have goals at the start of the year, get promoted, avoid relegation, beat neighbours etc. do they really need a coping mechanism of devaluing competitions, I seriously doubt it.  There are about 26 counties under the new system never going win Sam, Derry don't need another Ulster but will probably win it, any other county would relish it.

I believe JoG2 was referring the fans attempting to devalue a competition as a defense mechanism for if they don't win it. Armagh will have failed this year (again) if they do not win Ulster. How anyone can think different is beyond me.

Armagh will have failed agreed, Armagh will continue to fail until the County Board grows a set and get rid of McGeeney but they aren't devaluing it.  Who's these fans devaluing it two people on a discussion board, most counties would love to win Ulster, doubt Fermanagh, Antrim and Monaghan are sitting there thinking as sure it means nothing.


Would be a failure for Armagh not to reach the Ulster final. Derry will be strong favourites to win the final should they reach it.  Armagh comfortably bounced back to Div 1 and in 2025 will be their 4th year in the last 5 years to play in Div 1 and the last two years they reached the All Ireland quarter final only losing out on penalty shootouts.

Would another manager have got much more out of Armagh than McGeeney has? I highly doubt it when you consider Armagh haven't won U20/21 Ulster title since 2007 and U17/18 Ulster title since 2009 plus club football especially Crossmaglen hasn't been as strong as they use to be.

theres an opinion within Armagh that we have left behind an Ulster and at least one AISF in the last 2 years due to the negative tactics we have seen. So maybe another manager might, and I stress might, have achieved more than McGeeney. Or we could have got thumped in all those games

It's a tough one for me. I think Geezer deserves a lot of credit for building a strong squad with 23/24 players who I would consider all to be good inter county footballers albeit without too many superstars.

That said I think he also deserves criticism for an ultra conservative approach to games against good teams. Is that because

a he doesn't think Armagh are good enough to go toe to toe with a big team.

B Armagh are not good enough and he's trying to cover weaknesses

Or

C He lacks the ability to take Armagh to the next level.

For me the jury is still out. I would love to see us really go for teams with a fast flowing direct style of attack that we showed in some games over the last three years (Dublin at Croke Park for example). That way I think Armagh and Geezer could be fairly analysed.

If you listen to Monday's GAA Social Podcast, you'll hear Paddy Burns saying that they're sent out to play attacking football every game, and for some reason it doesn't come to pass every time ... he was adamant Kieran McGeeney sends them out to attack, attack, attack. 

Must have been the players who dropped turbo for a more defensive player against Monaghan then
#5
General discussion / Re: European Leagues.
Last post by imtommygunn - Today at 09:49:41 PM
He shouldn't have went for that tackle but I still think he got the ball. The ball changed direction and I just don't see how it would have without that tackle touching the ball
#6
GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...
Last post by Itchy - Today at 09:47:12 PM
Quote from: Blowitupref on Today at 06:52:12 PM
Quote from: Itchy on Today at 06:19:46 PMI just want to point out this stat. Cavan are unbeaten in championship against Tyrone in Breffni for more than 40 years.

How many Cavan v Tyrone championship matches has been played in Breffni the last 40 years?

That's irrelevant
#7
General discussion / Re: European Leagues.
Last post by gallsman - Today at 09:42:21 PM
Araujo is excellent, so that was a moment of complete madness. Cancelo is and always has been an absolute moron.
#8
GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...
Last post by bennydorano - Today at 09:39:43 PM
Quote from: balladmaker on Today at 07:32:03 PM
Quote from: David McKeown on Today at 03:43:32 PM
Quote from: tonto1888 on Today at 03:32:44 PM
Quote from: Blowitupref on Today at 02:53:00 PM
Quote from: Tones on Today at 01:48:29 PM
Quote from: Itchy on Today at 01:02:45 PM
Quote from: Tones on Today at 11:28:47 AMIs it really? Most counties have goals at the start of the year, get promoted, avoid relegation, beat neighbours etc. do they really need a coping mechanism of devaluing competitions, I seriously doubt it.  There are about 26 counties under the new system never going win Sam, Derry don't need another Ulster but will probably win it, any other county would relish it.

I believe JoG2 was referring the fans attempting to devalue a competition as a defense mechanism for if they don't win it. Armagh will have failed this year (again) if they do not win Ulster. How anyone can think different is beyond me.

Armagh will have failed agreed, Armagh will continue to fail until the County Board grows a set and get rid of McGeeney but they aren't devaluing it.  Who's these fans devaluing it two people on a discussion board, most counties would love to win Ulster, doubt Fermanagh, Antrim and Monaghan are sitting there thinking as sure it means nothing.


Would be a failure for Armagh not to reach the Ulster final. Derry will be strong favourites to win the final should they reach it.  Armagh comfortably bounced back to Div 1 and in 2025 will be their 4th year in the last 5 years to play in Div 1 and the last two years they reached the All Ireland quarter final only losing out on penalty shootouts.

Would another manager have got much more out of Armagh than McGeeney has? I highly doubt it when you consider Armagh haven't won U20/21 Ulster title since 2007 and U17/18 Ulster title since 2009 plus club football especially Crossmaglen hasn't been as strong as they use to be.

theres an opinion within Armagh that we have left behind an Ulster and at least one AISF in the last 2 years due to the negative tactics we have seen. So maybe another manager might, and I stress might, have achieved more than McGeeney. Or we could have got thumped in all those games

It's a tough one for me. I think Geezer deserves a lot of credit for building a strong squad with 23/24 players who I would consider all to be good inter county footballers albeit without too many superstars.

That said I think he also deserves criticism for an ultra conservative approach to games against good teams. Is that because

a he doesn't think Armagh are good enough to go toe to toe with a big team.

B Armagh are not good enough and he's trying to cover weaknesses

Or

C He lacks the ability to take Armagh to the next level.

For me the jury is still out. I would love to see us really go for teams with a fast flowing direct style of attack that we showed in some games over the last three years (Dublin at Croke Park for example). That way I think Armagh and Geezer could be fairly analysed.

If you listen to Monday's GAA Social Podcast, you'll hear Paddy Burns saying that they're sent out to play attacking football every game, and for some reason it doesn't come to pass every time ... he was adamant Kieran McGeeney sends them out to attack, attack, attack. 
I was surprised that that was news to Niblock and Murphy tbh, I've heard or read that in the papers b4 on more than one occasion as well. I don't believe it tbh.
#9
General discussion / Re: European Leagues.
Last post by imtommygunn - Today at 09:29:08 PM
The red card was ridiculous(as in what was he thinking and the complaining like that too)and as for xavi being sent off well that's just embarrassing. All that being said I still hope they win as not a big fan of psg.
#10
General discussion / Re: European Leagues.
Last post by jcpen - Today at 09:27:51 PM
The ref in this Barcelona match is losing the run of himself.