Messages

Yes Mouview, this is confirmed.
May she rest in peace

Think it was Marty Mc that got 1-2

Anyone at the game - anyone stand out? Not too worried about result - hard to see the Mayo lads having too much interest playing a college team on a wet miserable Wednesday night

What do you think we need Barney - a new corner back, a FB,a wing back and a CHB. I can see Heaney starting at CHB. Navin/O Malley at FB, maybe Trevor Howley at Corner and E Dev or Mullins at wing back.
Thats 3 personnel changes in the backs - it would take a while to gel but try it out in the league

Howley  Navin/O Malley  K Higgins

Dev/Mullins  Heaney  Gardiner

What do ye think??

Was just looking at some of the teams posted - very dodgy defence there Barney. I don't think theres a need for wholesale changes in defense. JOM will try to unearth 1-2 new defenders but you can be sure that he will also try to win every game he plays to get the confidence up.
What i see happening is that he'll start with 12-13 of last years team and give the likes of Navin,Mullins,Cafferkey, Campbell, Devenney games throughout the league. His main onjective will be to unearth a new FB to release Heaney to CHB.
P Gardiner will be a definite starter and JOM has the height of respect for him which showed in the county final when he played the corner forward as well as Gardiners own man in front of Gardiner to stop him attacking. Gardiner is a vital outlet for the team...although i agree that he has to improve his defending.
One person i really feel who needs to step up is Barry Moran - he has shown nothing for 2 years so he has to make a push this year.
This team is good enough to win Sam, just needs a bit of tweaking and 1-2 new players - and JOM should be able to do that - fingers crossed

Boxing Day....tut,tut

Too many people seem to be obsessed with having a big full back line. Think back to Tyrone's full abck line when they won Sam in 2005.
Ryan McMenamin - 5' 9"
Chris Lawn - 5' 9"
Michael McGee - 5' 7"
It's all about getting pressure out the field and the type of defensive system thats used ie maybe playing an extra defender.
If we do happen to meet Kerry and Donaghy again, by all means play DB but in any other game he would be skinned alive at FB.
It's not a dig at him but it's just that FB is such a specialised position. Neither DB or Nallen has played at FB.
As Bod Mor said, it will end up being Navin or O malley

Doyle's left hand is well dug into her

I just don't think he's a good enough man-marker for corner back - the same goes for J Nallen at No.3. My full back line would prob be     K Higgins   L O Malley  A Higgins/T Howley
They need to be tried out in the league but it is the only line on Mayo's team that needs a major shuffle

I can't see how T Howley will be at no.6 before Nallen or Heaney -  he's not ready for it yet. I don't know if he has the temperament to make it to the top as i've seen him playing a few times last year and he mixes the very good with the very bad. He seems to lack concentration at vital times.
I know you said that he's very good at club level but inter county is miles ahead of it.
I would like to see him start in the corner and if he proves himself there foe a year or 2, then bring him out - kinda like an apprenticeship
Also, Heaney at corner back

Louisburgh won by 4-5 points

Mayo are going on a Caribbean cruise in January - any players not going are getting a cheque to the value of the holiday

Who's the other one ?

Liam Moffatt i presume - he's in DCU doing physio or sports science

Declan, what did he say about Mayo's preparation for this years final?

Total BS - McD might be taking a break because of a long term back injury...thats the height of it. He hasn't played for the club since Brigids beat them because of this injury.
He deserves a break for a month or 2 but it would be great to have everyone on board for the start of the league