Would not say we have been found out. It has been well known that Galway have major issues at midfield for the last couple of years. At the moment, I see the Galway team looking like this come champioship:
1. Faherty
2. Coyne
3. Hanley
5. D.Burke
Here, I think you have the best full back in the country and two very good corner backs.
5. Bradshaw
6. Blake
7. Mullahy
By all accounts Blake was poor against Kerry and he was poor against Mayo. His lack of pace is a major negative for him. I can see Declan Meehan coming in here for Mullahy too. Bradshaw is guaranteed to start as he seems to be a favourite under Sammon, How he wasnt taken off against Mayo was beyond belief!
We have plenty of options in the backs, players like Sice, Fitzgerald & Dec Meehan are not on this team but could all offer something.
8. Cullinane
9. Bergin
Midfield is the major concern because there is no other options than these 2 (Niall Coleman, Mark Lydon & Gary O'Donnell will not improve things). The problem is currently highlighted even more as Bergin isnt playing particularly well. I do not think Bradshaw is big enough for midfield. Same with Blake who was tried there when Ford was manager. I genuninely cannot see what we can do to improve this area. Someone suggested that Ford should have tried Fitzgerald there against Kerry. Not sure it would work but it would be something different
10. Armstrong
11. P.Joyce
12. Bane / Clancy
Was surprised that Armstrong was left out on the wing for the entire league. Would have been intersting to see how himself & Meehan got on together inside.
13. Conroy
14. M.Meehan
15. N.Joyce
Maybe it woule make sense to switch Joyce and Armstrong but Meehan is unstoppable at the moment. Problem is getting the ball to him enough. Conroy will have to play as a third midfielder.
Biggest disappointment of the league for me was that despite out obvious failings at midfield, We continue to kick the ball out down on top of them. Why not try some variation. Dublin have master kickouts to the wing where Shane Ryan gathers the ball with ease. Last weekend, Donegal also varied their kickouts quite well. Why not try something like this???
I really hope that they dont start loading the half forward line with midfielder, like Lydon, Joyce, Coleman because it never works and you just lose the balance of the team. It is an easy trap to fal into. If Conroy is playing as a thrid midfielder, then there should be three forwards in the half forward line!!!
1. Faherty
2. Coyne
3. Hanley
5. D.Burke
Here, I think you have the best full back in the country and two very good corner backs.
5. Bradshaw
6. Blake
7. Mullahy
By all accounts Blake was poor against Kerry and he was poor against Mayo. His lack of pace is a major negative for him. I can see Declan Meehan coming in here for Mullahy too. Bradshaw is guaranteed to start as he seems to be a favourite under Sammon, How he wasnt taken off against Mayo was beyond belief!
We have plenty of options in the backs, players like Sice, Fitzgerald & Dec Meehan are not on this team but could all offer something.
8. Cullinane
9. Bergin
Midfield is the major concern because there is no other options than these 2 (Niall Coleman, Mark Lydon & Gary O'Donnell will not improve things). The problem is currently highlighted even more as Bergin isnt playing particularly well. I do not think Bradshaw is big enough for midfield. Same with Blake who was tried there when Ford was manager. I genuninely cannot see what we can do to improve this area. Someone suggested that Ford should have tried Fitzgerald there against Kerry. Not sure it would work but it would be something different
10. Armstrong
11. P.Joyce
12. Bane / Clancy
Was surprised that Armstrong was left out on the wing for the entire league. Would have been intersting to see how himself & Meehan got on together inside.
13. Conroy
14. M.Meehan
15. N.Joyce
Maybe it woule make sense to switch Joyce and Armstrong but Meehan is unstoppable at the moment. Problem is getting the ball to him enough. Conroy will have to play as a third midfielder.
Biggest disappointment of the league for me was that despite out obvious failings at midfield, We continue to kick the ball out down on top of them. Why not try some variation. Dublin have master kickouts to the wing where Shane Ryan gathers the ball with ease. Last weekend, Donegal also varied their kickouts quite well. Why not try something like this???
I really hope that they dont start loading the half forward line with midfielder, like Lydon, Joyce, Coleman because it never works and you just lose the balance of the team. It is an easy trap to fal into. If Conroy is playing as a thrid midfielder, then there should be three forwards in the half forward line!!!