Quote from: yellowcard on February 27, 2023, 01:18:40 PMQuote from: Captain Obvious on February 27, 2023, 12:57:23 PMQuote from: Armagh18 on February 27, 2023, 12:38:02 PMQuote from: yellowcard on February 27, 2023, 12:30:15 PMRealistically a balance has to be struck. We were far to open defensively against Galway last year.Quote from: seafoid on February 27, 2023, 12:04:53 PMQuote from: yellowcard on February 27, 2023, 11:02:31 AMAnd what did you expect to see in February ?Quote from: Armagh18 on February 27, 2023, 06:43:41 AMQuote from: Saffrongael on February 26, 2023, 09:51:20 PMForwards coach as far as I know. Think he's responsible for a lot of the route one football we've played in recent years which has made us so good to watch.
What exactly is Kieran Donaghys role ?
In fairness from speaking to a good few lads on the panel, he is absolutely an top class speaker and great man to have involved in the set up.
If he is the forwards coach then he must have took time off since the start of the season as we have gone back to the lateral defensive tripe that we seen in Ballybofey during last years Ulster championship. Which is baffling when you consider the turnaround in our form after that match in the games against Tyrone, Donegal and Galway. Exciting attacking football where we kicked the ball to inside forwards, created loads of goal chances and got the supporters off the edge of their seats. If we continue playing the sort of football we seen on Saturday the big crowds that are currently following Armagh won't be long dwindling away again. The most disappointing thing of the weekend in Tralee was the actual match itself. Armagh are being stifled by fear at the minute and our players don't suit this slow possession based build up stuff. We need it fast and frantic but for some reason we have gone back to this over analytic approach.
Armagh's priority in this League is staying up.
The fancy stuff will come later.
I expected to see a continuation of the type of football we played after the Ballybofey defeat last season. Playing the type of high octane attacking football that suits the players we have. Keeping 3/4 forwards up the pitch and transitioning quickly and pressing the opposition on kick outs.
Too open defensively has been the Achilles heel in all the championship defeats under McGeeney. High octane attacking football as pleasing as it is to watch it leaves the defence exposed, should be no issue if the defence is worked on during the league that's what even Kerry did last year.
Flooding the defence just by getting loads of bodies back is totally different to working on our individual defending. Kerrys attack was successfully stifled on Saturday but at what expense. McCambridge for example shut down Clifford well but he had loads of protection in front of him so I don't think we learned anything new about his ability to defend one on one in space.
If some supporters want us to play more defensively then fine but then don't expect the attack not to suffer as the ball will have to be worked up the pitch much more slowly through the hands. You'll see more of Murnin playing midfield as other players like Hall, Duffy, Kelly and Cumiskey are sacrificed to help form that defensive shield. We'll sit back on opposition kick outs and keep that rigid defensive shield in place. We'll keep the score down that way and will be competitive and will bring the game down to the last 10 minutes in most games but it won't improve our chances of being successful that some seem to think. And we will be bored to death in the process.
Ah come on! I doubt that there are any supporters that want to see that. The team does need to play different tactics to cope with certain opposition. This was an away game against the All Ireland Champions with vital league points at stake. If they play like that next week against Donegal I'll be disappointed.