Messages

Why is no armagh man mentioning the most obviously horrible management decision.  Gareth Swift in the first half along with Kieran Toner was by far our best player.  He had been instrumental in clawing back the 8 point lead to 3.  Half time comes and he is switched to full forward.  Because of his absence we are no longer able to win a ball around the middle and he doesent get a single touch.  A horrrible decision by the management team only exacerbated by the removal of Forker for Mackin.  Mackin has absolutely no football brain whose only talent is to solo the ball and then kick it blind.  Forget about him he simply isnt good enough.
            The Mc Keever discipline situation is reaching crisis point.  He now seems to revel in trying to bully his direct opponent while not concentrating on playing football.  The man has serious talent but is going to get banned soon so we may get used to being without him. Waving to he crowd while we are getting heavily defeated is also pathetic.   Aaron Kernan is playing his way off the team.  Non existant tonight.  Lacks the physical strength needed for 11.  Imagine what Graham Canty would do on him.  Paul Kernan not good enough either.  Terrible decision making on the ball while Danny Hughes was probably man of the match.  Management are providing no protection to full back line who I thought did well in trying circumstances.  Also what is the kickout stategy.  Toner was amazing in first half.  Then no ball kicked to him in second with Charlie Vernon playing while obviously unable to move. 
             Have to say all my previous optimism has evaporated.  James Mc Cartan showed himself capable of setting a team out with a system and style which will prove hard to beat.  Our strategy substitutions and system were an embarrassment.  We are in big trouble and am not shy to say it.

I would have said we had twice as many supporters as Laois.  Big disillusionment in that county at the minute over the state of their football team.  One thing I would notice about our support tremendous though it was is the age profile.  Vast majority 50+.  Are we losing the 25 to 35 demographic ?

Unbelievable the change in philosophy this year from the Armagh team.  At one stage Brendan Donaghy and Paul Duffy were both in the opposition full forawrd line.  Great to watch no doubt but will it be too cavalier when it comes to the heat of championship football.  I wouldnt be so sure about Mackin.  He drives me crazy with his inability to release the ball first time.  Always has to carry the ball into traffic. 
                 Aaron Kernan experiment didnt work nearly as well this week.  He was marked very tightly and also was too fond of a solo when we needed the ball in quicker.  Midfield was very poor.  Toner almost non existant.  If Vernon is injured which seems to be a regular occurance we are in trouble.  Great pity to see Dyas get injured.  He was looking sharp and was passing the ball tremendously early on. 
                 I hope the rumours about Martin O Rourke not being asked back are totally untrue.  He is badly needed.  Feeney while an honest tolier is not in O Rourkes class when it comes to winning break ball.  Clarke needs games.  Very much off the pace last night.  You knew almost straight away it wasnt going to be his night.  Very sluggish and didnt even have one shot all night.  Great for Henderson.  The man has serious ability and has a turn as good as anyone in football.  Next week against a hard tough team like Kildare will be very interesting for him.  All in all a great win.  Lots to work on but a lot to be encouraged about.