Interesting debate going on in another thread which I think merits a discussion of its own....
Donegal clearly have the best manager of the three teams mentioned. Tyrone introduced the blanket defence and Armagh brought the physical aspect to a new level.
Who are/were the best overall ? I think Donegal edge it because they have evolved from the primitive Ulster tactic of simply stopping the other team playing and are now a more positive team than the other two. They also have the best player in Michael Murphy and a better midfield (Tyrone didn't have a midfield in the conventional sense..or in any sense)
I'm struggling to think of any Armagh or Tyrone players that would make the current Donegal team ? Maybe the goalkeeping position is up for debate ? What do ye think ?
Quote from: Sidney on September 02, 2014, 01:21:24 PMQuote from: Stall the Bailer on September 02, 2014, 12:28:08 PMArmagh weren't a factor in Tyrone not being the same force in 2004, 2006, 2007 or 2009, as Tyrone didn't play them in 2004, 2006 or 2007, and Tyrone beat them in 2009 when Armagh were in serious decline. Injuries and other things aside, Tyrone were way off the pace of the their All-Ireland wins in each of those years, and none of the teams that beat them went on to win the All-Ireland.Quote from: Sidney on September 02, 2014, 12:03:29 PM
However if Donegal win the All-Ireland they will more than likely not get back to near the same levels as 2012 or 2014 next year given that the phenomenal physical and mental demands required to make their system work at the highest level. As no other team can currently do what Donegal do, it's likely that Dublin will once again win the All-Ireland in 2015 if they are on anything like the same form.
Tyrone's defensive system regularly bamboozled Kerry in the 2000s but Tyrone could never sustain that over successive years, and they were a more talented team than Donegal. Kerry's outrageous pure talent always allowed them back in for more All-Irelands. It's very likely that'll be the case with Dublin (although Kerry also had more pure talent than this Dublin team) as they are comfortably the most talented group of players around now.
It was not just hungry and injuries that prevented Tyrone winning back to back titles. There were many other reasons. Such as the tragedies the panel had to deal with, Armargh being at a similar standard, not be able to build up slowly and only peak for the provincial final to enter the last 8, unlike other counties could do.
It wasn't hungry or injuries that prevent Dublin winning a back to back this year, it was a mixture of not taking goal chances when it mattered, complacency, and no plan b. That is no guarantee that they would have beat Donegal and Kerry if they had addressed these issues.
Donegal clearly have the best manager of the three teams mentioned. Tyrone introduced the blanket defence and Armagh brought the physical aspect to a new level.
Who are/were the best overall ? I think Donegal edge it because they have evolved from the primitive Ulster tactic of simply stopping the other team playing and are now a more positive team than the other two. They also have the best player in Michael Murphy and a better midfield (Tyrone didn't have a midfield in the conventional sense..or in any sense)
I'm struggling to think of any Armagh or Tyrone players that would make the current Donegal team ? Maybe the goalkeeping position is up for debate ? What do ye think ?