Down Club Hurling & Football

whitegoodman · June 04, 2011, 03:26:41 PM

Quote from: Mourne Rover on June 04, 2011, 01:46:12 PM
It's only to be expected that there will be plenty of talk about big Dan's best position, but people need to look at our defensive displays before and after his move to full-back. We tried all sorts of systems and tactics, but we could not stop conceding goals from simple long balls towards our square. The Donegal game in the first round of the USC last year was only one example but it was among the worst. We were the better side throughout, but two goals went in from two breakaway attacks in the first quarter and we were very lucky to get to extra time as a result.

As soon as Dan went to no 3, the goals against us dried up and our forwards always had a decent chance of running up a winning total at the other end. Dan is a long way from the finished article at full back, as Armagh's goal showed last week. He made a fine catch but followed it with a careless pass and was missing from the square when the ball came back in and ended in the net. However, it was exactly the kind of goal which used to regularly cripple us when he was used further out the field.

Dan is a brillliant midfielder but we have at least a couple of viable options there. The alternatives at full back do not really exist. McArdle gives everything he has, but is not big enough for the position and struggled for pace aginst Armagh. Rooney played there under Ross in 07 but had to be moved out to half back as it simply did not work. McKernan had a similar experience, and it is highly unlikely that Fitzpatrick would do any better.

At some stage we may produce another full back and Dan can revert to what is undoubtedly his natural position at midfield. Until then, we will play well and lose big games if he is not at the heart of our defence.

Agree with this completely. People tend to forget how bad we were in there before Dan went in. It is a specialist position and it wouldnt do dan any good to be moved in and out regularly. I would give Fitzpatrick a break for a while as his confidence must have eroded completely at this stage and certainly dont think he is an option at FB. Colgen could be an option for midfield but him and King would be very similar type players so maybe murphy would be the better option with King providing the perfect foil for his powerful running game.

Any one else hear that sexton, aidan carr and sean murdock have all left the panel??

naomhmiceal · June 04, 2011, 04:26:12 PM

the irish news gave Fitzpatrick a decent rating and said that Vernon started to dominate when he was subbed, i thought King had his best game in a while against Armagh. In 2 or 3 years Niall Donnelly for full back!

whitegoodman · June 04, 2011, 04:40:04 PM

Niall Donnelly could be a very good call for full back in 2 or 3 years time. May struggle for pace slightly but a very good prospect

NP 76 · June 04, 2011, 05:18:25 PM

niall is an excellent prospect but as you say WGM lacks pace was MOTM in the Mc Crory final but struggled in the semi final and final against speedy forwards but very brave and seems to be natural at full back . To say we were very bad before Dan went to fb is a bit harsh on Benny Mc Ardle who did a good job through the league and against Donegal in the championship until he got injuried .

whitegoodman · June 04, 2011, 06:15:10 PM

Wasnt really having a go at mcardle more how much we struggled in that positon dating back to the brian burns days. As someone else said on here mccardle may not be big enough or commanding enough to play 3. Thought he struggled very badly last wk too.

NP 76 · June 04, 2011, 06:33:34 PM

I know you werent having a go and agree totally with you . We havent had a natural full back since Burns and thus had to make one and i think Dan has grown into the role in a short period of time . Colgan may be an option at full back but he lacks pace although a good reader of the game . There is more options around the middle with Murphy back Colgan and maybe James needs to maybe needs to give Fitzpatrick a rest to get his hunger back

PAULD123 · June 05, 2011, 09:00:34 AM

Short of a lazarus like recovery from Ambrose, I don't think we have anyone better than Fitzpatrick. I can't see hhow giving him a rest would benefit either, it surely would hurt his confidence even more by basically saying he isn't trusted for the important games.

I still favour that we move players around in the process of the game, beacuse I really believe that when those periods come (and they always come) where the opposition start to take midfield from us, the only man who can win it back for us is Gordon. It is great having him at fullback but he's no use to us there if our midfield is wiped out and the result is that their corner forwards are pinging points over.

An alternative would be to make a switch in most every game. We could replace Fitzpatrick, move Gordon forward for the last 20 mins, and bring on someone to allow Rooney, McCardle, or whoever to drop into fullback. In the last 20 the fullforward will be slightly easier to mark as he has run around for 50 minutes.

It amazes me that everyone believes that a player must be picked for a position and then must play there for 70 minutes. There are different energy level uses in different positions, so we could look to capitolise on that, with clever switching.

here comes 6 · June 05, 2011, 09:11:25 AM

can yous give it a break? there wasnt as much talk about last years run to the All- Ireland. Its becoming a bit of a joke the amount of pages that there has been on this. Wise yourselves up and move on

whitegoodman · June 05, 2011, 01:56:00 PM

Wind ur neck in would ya, its a discussion board, u no to discuss things. The local discussion board for down usually discusses either one of the county teams or the club scene or both. Dont like dont read

knockitdown · June 05, 2011, 02:06:15 PM

Quote from: whitegoodman on June 05, 2011, 01:56:00 PM
Wind ur neck in would ya, its a discussion board, u no to discuss things. The local discussion board for down usually discusses either one of the county teams or the club scene or both. Dont like dont read

+1

DownFanatic · June 05, 2011, 05:09:52 PM

Kilcoo beat Clonduff in a cracking Feis 7's Senior Final today in Castlewellan.

Reigning All Ireland Junior 7's champions St Johns retained their Down title with a win over Dundrum in the Junior Final.

Kilcoo also won the Minor title beating Shamrocks.

PAULD123 · June 05, 2011, 08:41:00 PM

Quote from: whitegoodman on June 05, 2011, 01:56:00 PM
Wind ur neck in would ya, its a discussion board, u no to discuss things. The local discussion board for down usually discusses either one of the county teams or the club scene or both. Dont like dont read

Totally agree

eyeswideopen · June 05, 2011, 08:50:55 PM

Quote from: Naomh Pol CLG on June 03, 2011, 11:39:46 PM
We couldn't field against Saul......don't ask.

I find it rather strange that St Pauls were unable to field against Saul in Div 4 on Fri night yet they could put a reserve team out today to beat Darragh in they Championship.
I also wonder how many of those guys today played junior championship last year!!!

st pauls mcgrath · June 05, 2011, 09:10:28 PM

Quote from: eyeswideopen on June 05, 2011, 08:50:55 PM
Quote from: Naomh Pol CLG on June 03, 2011, 11:39:46 PM
We couldn't field against Saul......don't ask.

I find it rather strange that St Pauls were unable to field against Saul in Div 4 on Fri night yet they could put a reserve team out today to beat Darragh in they Championship.
I also wonder how many of those guys today played junior championship last year!!!

you may open your eyes because as manager of the reserve team i can 100% guarantee you not one of those boys playing today played junior championship last year and if you dont believe me then how about you make the trip to bangor and i will go through the team sheet player by player.
friday was unfortunate, we haven't got a large panel looking to play senior football this year. alot of boys were away and a number including myself are carrying injuries. there are a lot of promising players still not ready for senior football who we had looked to possibly step in but all but one were unavailable. how about less of the smartarse talk and take your defeat like a man tonight.

maldini · June 05, 2011, 10:12:12 PM

Quote from: st pauls mcgrath on June 05, 2011, 09:10:28 PM
Quote from: eyeswideopen on June 05, 2011, 08:50:55 PM
Quote from: Naomh Pol CLG on June 03, 2011, 11:39:46 PM
We couldn't field against Saul......don't ask.

I find it rather strange that St Pauls were unable to field against Saul in Div 4 on Fri night yet they could put a reserve team out today to beat Darragh in they Championship.
I also wonder how many of those guys today played junior championship last year!!!

you may open your eyes because as manager of the reserve team i can 100% guarantee you not one of those boys playing today played junior championship last year and if you dont believe me then how about you make the trip to bangor and i will go through the team sheet player by player.
friday was unfortunate, we haven't got a large panel looking to play senior football this year. alot of boys were away and a number including myself are carrying injuries. there are a lot of promising players still not ready for senior football who we had looked to possibly step in but all but one were unavailable. how about less of the smartarse talk and take your defeat like a man tonight.

dont think he's a Darragh man, dromara it seems from past posts!