Messages

[I'll repost for you so as you are a newbie]

The Dubs are two of the remaining footballing counties left, they're so good.

I'll repost for you so as you are a newbie. I type as I talk, sorry.  What I was saying is that Dublin, when they play attacking football are watchable, easy on the eye so to speak.  Probably what I should have said was, "and in fairness to the Dub's,  Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Galway are the only football counties now, the rest is basketball"  Meath beat themselves playing the Shaquill O'Neill game against Dublin and now it seems they, Dublin, are unbeatable -

Until Saturday that is when Cluxton gets frustrated with the ball going over his head every five or six minutes and starts taking short kickouts with the swagger of David Beckham to take the two best midfielders in gaelic football out of the equation and the whole foooking basketball thingy starts all over again.  Jeeze, can't wait to see Clancy pointing at the scoreboard with five minutes left.

What has him being a "newbie" got to do with it? Are you saying that his command of the english language might not be as good as yours? Or are you looking to give a dig and couldnt come up with anything better?

[Meath men dropping to the ground like they were shot and rolling around like Ronaldo more like.We've been considered a small weak team for a many a year it's about time we showed some fight.]

Well I guess ye weren't on form after all.......

That's true, we weren't on form. Not at all. But it takes nothing away from Laois' victory. Obviously into the bargain with underestimating ye, ye played a smart game, and played to win. I can only say that I'd love to see Meath doing the same thing, so well done, and the best of luck to ye. The cynical fouling was somewhat irritating as the game wore on, but that's the way most teams choose to play these days (and indeed, always have chosen to play).

Cynical fouling?
Meath men dropping to the ground like they were shot and rolling around like Ronaldo more like.
We've been considered a small weak team for a many a year it's about time we showed some fight.

Laoislad, in my opinion that is bull$hit.
If you have facts to back up where players were rolling around Ronaldo like then post the examples here.

Ye played well and deserved your win but dont ruin the good feelings between the supporters with sarcastic comments like above and inaccurate statements calling Meath players cheats like this one.

Meath players were unfairly tagged with a reputation in the 90s way beyond what was appropriate and these reputations start with people firing out accusations without foundation and not being challenged.

Btw, also concentrate symbolising Dublin instead of firing slurs at Meath players.

Post of the year!
Excellent stuff agorm you cheered me right up fair play to you. 
If yer Meath boys had have had half as much passion on Saturday they won have won handy.
Keep fighting the good fight though Banty agorm.

No we wouldnt have won handy...we were crap. Cleaned out at midfield.

[Meath men dropping to the ground like they were shot and rolling around like Ronaldo more like.We've been considered a small weak team for a many a year it's about time we showed some fight.]

Well I guess ye weren't on form after all.......

That's true, we weren't on form. Not at all. But it takes nothing away from Laois' victory. Obviously into the bargain with underestimating ye, ye played a smart game, and played to win. I can only say that I'd love to see Meath doing the same thing, so well done, and the best of luck to ye. The cynical fouling was somewhat irritating as the game wore on, but that's the way most teams choose to play these days (and indeed, always have chosen to play).

Cynical fouling?
Meath men dropping to the ground like they were shot and rolling around like Ronaldo more like.
We've been considered a small weak team for a many a year it's about time we showed some fight.

Laoislad, in my opinion that is bull$hit.
If you have facts to back up where players were rolling around Ronaldo like then post the examples here.

Ye played well and deserved your win but dont ruin the good feelings between the supporters with sarcastic comments like above and inaccurate statements calling Meath players cheats like this one.

Meath players were unfairly tagged with a reputation in the 90s way beyond what was appropriate and these reputations start with people firing out accusations without foundation and not being challenged.

Btw, also concentrate on Dublin instead of firing slurs at Meath players.

I accept your explanation that you're not questioning my statements. Though I don't know why you then finish with another accusation of "failing to back them up". I haven't failed in any way.

Look at 33 and a half minutes, roughly. 29 and a half minutes a bit dodgy too.

Hi Hardy, I looked at those pieces of play. In both cases the player held his head initially but both Peadar Byrne and Graham Reilly got up quite quickly and I dont think it supports your assertion that Meath were indulging in these type of tactics and, by implication, they were influenced to do so. In fact, in the second incident Tony Davis said that it was a bad tackle and that Sheehan was lucky was lucky not to get a yellow.

However, I suppose that we will just have to agree to disagree on this one.

Some pretty stark statistics on the Sunday Game last night. Not one of 18 starting forwards from Meath, Clare and Sligo scored from play and Meath only kicked the ball 27 times. I think Banty will probably call it a day with Meath but you never know.

[Look at 33 and a half minutes, roughly. 29 and a half minutes a bit dodgy too.]

I accept your explanation that you're not questioning my statements. Though I don't know why you then finish with another accusation of "failing to back them up". I haven't failed in any way.

Look at 33 and a half minutes, roughly. 29 and a half minutes a bit dodgy too.

Will do.....We havent covered ourslelves in glory this year irrespective of our own uindividual interpretations of the various games.

I am certainly in two minds regarding the future for Meath football. There were some awful decisions by management yesterday and that might be enough to swing it against Banty. He has said he will make a statement so he might quit anyway.

It is probably back to drawing board, lets hope some continuity can be maintained with the current management structure. People say that improvements have been made and there has been some. The worry would be that not sufficient improvements have been made to bring us along and if we have any more injuries or fail to identify a decent midfield then it will continue to be barren for a long time.

Oh for the days in which our arguments were about a last minute free to win a final or over tickets for a big game!

[If you're saying my statements don't stand up, you'd better have a good reason for it.]

If you're saying I need to back them up, you're implying they don't stand up. What did you mean by saying that you talked to so many people and none of them saw it, other than to cast doubt on what I'm saying? If you're saying my statements don't stand up, you'd better have a good reason for it. You have the tape. Go and look at it.

Hardy,
It was you that made the statement regarding the players - not me......I said that I didnt see anything in the game to justify what you said. I simply asked you to indicate who was involved and at what stage of the game (even roughly) as to when it happened.

When people make accusations like this be it in print or in the internet be prepared to back them up. The same goes in normal life, work etc.

I looked at our recording last evening but we just focused the main highlights of the game and jumped between those. I am not sure if I could sit watching the whole game, after all I went to the game and most of yesterday afternoon and evening was taken up between travelling there and back etc. Maybe during the week I will play it all but with Olympics on I am not sure if I have the time tbh

Lastly, your statement "If you're saying my statements don't stand up, you'd better have a good reason for it" is a little surprising considering I am not the one making statements and accusations and failing to back them up.

Where did I say you made it up? I just asked you to back up your accusations against Meath players in your attempt to slag off the manager.

Whether we agree or disagree on Bantys influence on the players actions is irrelevant if we don't agree on whether The players acted like that I the first place.

As I said you made the statements .......back them up.

Hardy, fair enough you may be the only poster here out and out against Banty. It is just that in recent times any time I read anything about most games all that seems to be here is some statement against the manager probably from yourself. there aren't too many Meath posters and your postings probably get more prominence so I apologise to others posters if I was too general in that statement.

What I do have a problem with Hardy is your statement which you repeated again there about the players feigning injury and your attempt to pin that on Banty also. The only comment on the actual game that you made was this comparison with Tyrone and saying that the players were clutching their faces etc. essentially you have accused the Meath players of cheating and that Banty is behind it.

I have the game taped. Can you post here which players and the time in the game that this stuff was going on. I am very interested because no one around me in the stand commented on it and I spoke to 5 or 6 other supporters and it wasn't mentioned. We had plenty to give out about but This wasn't mentioned by anyone.

Regarding the rest of your comments and his lack of a plan, I am not saying he is the messiah. There are many successful managers that a few years previously would not have been perceived to have a plan. I can see progress made this year and, with better luck on the injury front providing an improved midfield and a new goalie I can see a positive direction for the team. If Banty is to be replaced what alternative are you suggesting?

A lot of talk about Meath here but since the bet Kildare I am not going to dance on their grave! However, I think the focus should be on Laois who I thought were outstanding. The obviously made a conscious decision to shoot on site with the wind in the first half and they kicked some outstanding scores. They started the 2nd half with some vital scores and that was critical. I thought they fought really hard and played some great football. Meath, to their credit, never stopped trying but once or twice made poor decisions  and didn't put in enough high balls to their FF line. Are Meath making progress under Banty, doesn't look like it to me. I think they are too obsessed with muscle and so the balance of the team is wrong. I think Laois could run Dublin close.

I agree with you but it is up to Laois posters to focus on them. We, naturally, will focus on our own county.

Also, Banty bust his gut from the sideline today in the spills of rain trying to motivate the players. That isnt obvious from the television.

Every game this year himself and the management team have been discussing what changes can be made, where the problems are from early on. We have archaic structures in the county with a merry go round of a county board and nearly all that is written about on here is Banty!

If Banty decides to fight on and can bring forward the same management team then the county board etc need to specify exactly what management team they propose to replace him with and not just another single name that has to go off and get a team behind him.

Seriously, please tell me the nightmare is over now. Banty, of course, is at it again, trying to sell this year's debacles as progress, to add to last year's progress that saw us win three matches between league and championship. "Listen, we played six championship games this year and that's great for Meath football". Right.

Listen, we lost two championship matches this year and drew one. Against Carlow. And somehow we've turned into Tyrone, with players collapsing and face-clutching. Where did that come from? That was the last positive about Meath football we had to hang on to. Oh, I forgot. "The heart is BACK in Meath football" - S. McEnaney.  Thanks Banty.

Go on Laois.

First of all I didnt see the interview as I was on my way back from the game. However I read the interview ion HoganStand and I dont see too much nightmare material in it.

Whats this about turning into Tyrone and face clutching? Did you not see that Laois essentially decided to foul out the field and basically took it in turns to do so to spread out the yellow cards? I am not having a go at Laois in that ....we have had plenty of sinners in our defence over the years.  I didnt see face clutching etc and spoke to about 4 or 5 different suporters afterwards and they had a lot to give out about but not that.

As I said I didnt see an interview but he did say "The future is bright for Meath football". I dont have a problem with that. He does wear his heart on his sleeve and his management team (perhaps not himself) have developed new players this year. To even imply that the source of our problems lie with the manager considering our poor record at underage and leinster club championships is almost delusional imo. That said he DID make several serious errors in selection in my opinion including picking Ward today, causing confusion with Kevin Reilly who could never have been fit & not having an alternative to Gallagher.

I dont want to doing a 1 man defence of Banty but there is a limited number of Meath posters on this forum and there seems to be a definite agenda against him. Of course he made mistakes and I think he made bad calls in todays selections. I am not sure if he will even decide to stay. If it was me deciding I would give him another year as I do think there were positives albeit within a lot of negatives this year. With a bit of luck on the injury front and a new goalie we will have a stronger panel next year.Our biggest problem and Banty's biggest failure is thedivision 3 league position for next year.
Banty is on a tightrope of course but what is our alternative, we have gone through the managerial appointment process several times in recent years and the peoples chioices like O Rourke, McEntee etc have not been interested. More change will mean more instability and I think we have had enough change for changes sake.

Didn't sound great on the radio.

Kildare game aside we have had a poor year it has to be said. Hopefully the core of the Meath support are smart enough not to try and dine out on the kildare win. The state of things were brought into sharp focus after getting relegated. But the kildare put a stop to it all. Unfortunately the 6 day excuse will probably be trotted out.

I was at the game. I didnt hear too much of the Meath support that were at the game trying to dine out on the Kildare win.  Most supporters know full well what the problems are and most know that many of the problems predate the arrival of Banty.

Banty made mistakes in his selection for today. Cian Ward shouldnt have started. I am not sure what was going on regarding Kevin Reilly as the change to bring in Bray and bring back Carroll to the back line destabilised the team. Once again silly losses of possession and going into blind alleys cost us as did very por kickouts and a penalty given away from nothing.

That said, Laois built on their previous wins and were fully deserving of their win even though some of their tactics to keep Meath out were a bit cynical in the second half, they seemed to be clever at taking tactical yellow cards and this was mentioned on their local radio a couple of times. Also, Munnelly took Keoghan out of it.........he didnt hold back and succeeded in taking our best player from last week out of the game.

Some of our shot and passing choices were poor. Also, Bray, and Farrell to a lesser extent, should never have gone for a point at the end! Like WHY? Did he not know that the game was almost over??

I'm embarrassed to have bullshit like that spewed about in the name of my team.

Hardy,
Are you letting your dislike of Banty colour your view on every issue that crops up in relation to the team?

I don't know. But it doesn't apply in this case anyway, because I didn't comment on an issue in relation to the team. I commented on my personal reaction to a statement by the  manager.

I'm only giving my opinion here like everybody else. Don't worry too much about it. Embarrassment is a feeling. Nobody can help their feelings. We can choose whether to express them and I chose to do so on this occasion, whether wisely or otherwise you can let me know. But I'm not going to stop saying what I think of Banty or giving my opinion on his sayings or doings just because the bandwagon has set off in a different direction.

I just see this as another bout of bantyspoof. It's always about Banty. "Anyone who wants to travel to our game next Saturday will get some fight from me." What does that even mean? How exactly is Banty going to fight and who cares?

But, as I say, I could be wrong and Banty may truly be the saviour of Meath football. Sure that'll be great if if so.

Of course you cannot help how you feel about him.
Myself, I dont think he is the best manager we ever had but I dont particularly dislike him either. Overall, irrespective of todays result I would give him, Evans and Giles another go at it next year. Hopefully O Rourke and Kenny will be back to bloster things along with a fully fit Kevin Reilly.

I'm embarrassed to have bullshit like that spewed about in the name of my team.

Hardy,
Are you letting your dislike of Banty colour your view on every issue that crops up in relation to the team? My initial reaction to Banty's interview was not one of embarrassment - I see it as part of the effort to get the team turned around for next week.

I agree with Heffo. He asked for an extension but didnt dwell on it and is getting the team and the supporters jizzed up for. Sometimes a manager needs to show some emotion. Also, by being as vociferous as this he might get the supporters jizzed up for it and make people realise that they do have a battle on their hands and it will hopefully translate over to the players. After all, complacency in the county will translate over to the players.
So full marks to Banty on this and I am saying that in advance of the game.

On the negative side, I think that he should have made a couple of changes in the team. Kevin Reilly can t be fully fit. He would be better off starting Harrington instead. Also Joe has been ineffective to date at full forward and Queeney deserves a chance with oe, perhaps, replacing Brian Meade at midfield. Joe might end up having a stormer and get a few goals but, based on the recent games, changes are needed in my opinion. One positive in relation tom Banty however is that he is much quicker than Boylan in latter years at making early changes when they are necessary.

I'm embarrassed to have bullshit like that spewed about in the name of my team.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but I think he's played a blinder here. Too many managers give the impression they're already beaten before the 6 day turnaround - fair play to him for having some balls.

I agree.