Down Club Hurling & Football

[Smurfy123]

Still big question marks over the sideline
No kickout strategy after 2 years
Why take off Kerr
Why no Johnstone
It's the big calls we are payin for and most big calls he has got wrong
Louth last year
Today
Mayo last year

[marty34]

Still big question marks over the sideline
No kickout strategy after 2 years
Why take off Kerr
Why no Johnstone
It's the big calls we are payin for and most big calls he has got wrong
Louth last year
Today
Mayo last year

What's a kickout strategy?

[thewobbler]

Still big question marks over the sideline
No kickout strategy after 2 years
Why take off Kerr
Why no Johnstone
It's the big calls we are payin for and most big calls he has got wrong
Louth last year
Today
Mayo last year

What's a kickout strategy?

For the better teams, it's along the lines of:

1. If you have to go long, only kick it in the direction of their best fielder if you've a better fielder.
2. If they're generally better in the air, then go to break it every time. Every time.
3. Then swarm the break.

The strategy favoured by overthinkers has 13 different variations, each with shrowded secret calls, to ensure that players refuse to use instinct when hunting the ball. I mean why would they want to do that?

[RadioGAAGAA]

There is a bit of science to the break ball.

Yet all the video analysts in the world don't seem to bother!

[Smurfy123]

Well explained wobbler
Down kick the ball to the same side of the field every Tom dick and Harry know this
Why not mix it up without getting over technical about it. Keep it simple
Just change it up a bit

[marty34]

Well explained wobbler
Down kick the ball to the same side of the field every Tom dick and Harry know this
Why not mix it up without getting over technical about it. Keep it simple
Just change it up a bit

Lol.

Is this your kick out strategy??

[supersub]

Some ridiculous comments here. No need to get personal or use profanities when referring to lads representing the county. That's nothing short of disgraceful.

Yes Down lost today after being in a commanding position. However that is how sport works. Nothing is certain and two halves can be polar opposites for no apparent reason.

There are certainly positives coming from this current panel and with a few tweaks they could be a serious outfit. But this pining for players who aren't there is really fantasy stuff. It's very possible that the likes of O'Hagan, McGovern, Harrison will never play in the same down team together again. They may be available but such is the way it goes, you rarely have what you think is your 'best' team or panel available.

[whitegoodman]

What is fantasy about 3 players back playing for their county ?  Not sure about Harrison but the other two will be lining out for their club and will likely make themselves available.  It's not as if we are talking about lads that have refused to commit over the years or that that have career threatening injuries.

Haven't seen two many go overboard on comments, is an honest assessment of a players performance not allowed anymore, are we all too precious these days.

Anyway I'm more concerned by what looks to be pre determined changes along the line on the last two games.  Nothing else would explain some of the changes today.

[stiff breeze]

A major problem is down rely too much on individuals and not on the collective . That can be levelled at down teams throughout the previous years . One or two players will have a great day one game and be anonymous the next . Outside of Darren o Hagan through the years  I struggle to think of anyone that gives a 7/10 performance nearly every game . The top sides have consistent performers , so that if a few main men are marshalled the collective still achieves . Too much is built around Mooney , it took him to be the difference maker last week in a key moment and he was again this week for 35 minutes . Then he went out of the game and the whole team collapsed as a forward moving unit . On a positive , the lads like Daniel Guiness and the whole new full back line are solid if unspectacular and are good additions .

[Ed Hardy]

Best football Ive seen from Down in a long long time in that 1st half, such a pity it was followed by 2nd half collapse. What will really annoy the players is that even when Cavan really put the pressure on Down, they still had opportunities to kill the game off. Few strange calls from the line today but  there is a significant improvement in this team. Div2 next year will definitely improve them again. Obvious again how much we struggled to win kickouts (basically been a problem since Gordan, Rodgers, and King retired) Maybe next year Jack Hazard could be in with a shout of no.1 Jersey, definitely need few more options in MF. Would Ryan McAvoy, Charlie Smith, O'Rawe be worth a look in there? Couldnt fault the players for effort today, roll on 2021.

[Johnnysboys]

Disappointing today no doubt. But a few players were found out. We have some lads with serious pace and some with a serious lack of pace.. Jerome and Mooney were better marked in the second half and we seemed to be devoid of ideas without them. As Cavan grew into the game we struggled to get a foothold and it all wasn't just kickouts - decision making on the ball was poor, I'm sure shaelan will take his mark next time and strike the ball unopposed for a score ( that would have put us 4 up) shot selection was poor, our sweeper when they pushed up on him was poor and the line make changes etc but every single bit of criticism can't be about them.
We need to build now, prepare for the onslaught of division 2. Mayo, Cork, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, Laois, Clare - there are winnable games in there.. sustain ourselves in the league and build for ulster again.. finally - a few players from a certain club need to wind their necks in causing all sorts of problems in the set up.. it's your county you're playing for, if you think it's a professional setup or not means nothing - and the fact you are only in to the panel - conduct yourself with a bit of decorum. And thon other imbecile calling out a fellow players young family needs a good kicking. But you mirror what you see with your club on the pitch in a regular basis...

[Smurfy123]

Well said Johny
Some incidents this week from certain players upsetting the apple cart
Disgraceful comments towards a players young family
The lad should have been told to leave training
Another dropped from the 26

[supersub]

What is fantasy about 3 players back playing for their county ?  Not sure about Harrison but the other two will be lining out for their club and will likely make themselves available.  It's not as if we are talking about lads that have refused to commit over the years or that that have career threatening injuries.

Haven't seen two many go overboard on comments, is an honest assessment of a players performance not allowed anymore, are we all too precious these days.

Anyway I'm more concerned by what looks to be pre determined changes along the line on the last two games.  Nothing else would explain some of the changes today.

Well I'll put it another way, how long have you/we/they been saying - when x, y & z come back etc. Quite possibly by the time one or all of them come back others will be away. It's an ever evolving situation, so you can't take a team and just theoretically put 3 players into it. It may never happen.

And calling out 6 players by name and equalling them as shite is absolutely over the top in my book and no need whatsoever. Nothing about being precious or any of that usual rhetoric.

[5times5times]

Well said Johny
Some incidents this week from certain players upsetting the apple cart
Disgraceful comments towards a players young family
The lad should have been told to leave training
Another dropped from the 26

Whats this about?? Im guessing Kilcoo??

[imtommygunn]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1327658562420690944

Winning penalty in the hurling. The keeper too.