OK lads & ladies, time to leave the cracker of the game that was Down vs Tyrone in the weekend that was in it, and just in case To whom it may concern casts any more devastating aspersions on those lads that give so much for the County on that particular thread (entitled to your opinion absolutely, but not to slate on a public forum -- the game itself is only the tip of the iceberg of the time and effort).
'Tis well in advance, but I actually think that that defeat to Down could be a blessing in disguise -- takes us out of the Ulster dogfight and gives time for the injuries and bruises (and bruised egos) to heal.
Thought Fuzzman's post captured it well (in that thread), and just to repeat it:
In recent years Tyrone have often been on the right side of these epic games and the verdict has always been how they will drive on from this and progress
When we won the AI in 2005 the media suddenly we're all praising Tyrone's training methods, underage culture, Club Tyrone etc etc.
None of that would have been mentioned had Kerry got a 3rd goal near the end and won the match
Likewise on Sat night we came very close to STEALING this game but for once we came out on the wrong side of this exciting game
Yeah maybe Down aren't world beaters but for a 1st round match they certainly battled harder than any other team I've saw this year.
Maybe the Tyrone managment do have the stance now of purposely not being TOO fit this time of the year and to try to compensate for the easier runs other teams have to the 1/4 finals such as Kerry, Cork or Dublin.
After the game I too took part in the doom & Gloom outlook that we're a spent force and not a shadow of 2003 or 2005 with hunger, intensity and a great forward line being our main attributes.
So what's the pluses and negatives?
-ves
MF still a huge problem and currently our HF & HB line isn't compensating for this
Forward line is missing a Star forward and I hate to admit it but Sean is wasted in FF and needs to be running facing the goals not with his back to it.
MH seems to have become too loyal to some of his old servants too often and is slow to change them. Is this just stubborness or can't he see it?
Hub looks past it
Dooher was poor Sat but think he's more to give. Not fully fit yet.
+ves
Joey and Justin are two great footballers if they can stay fit
We've some good defenders waiting to break thru
Brian & Tommy McGuigan, Mugsy, McGinley,
I think IF we had a fit team
I would have
Lucky Dip Keeper
PJ
Joey
McCaul/Swift/Carlin/McGee
Ricey
Gormley
Jordan
Cavanagh
Justy
Dooher
B.McGuigan
Mulgrew
Mugsy
Tommy
McGinley
With Penrose, McCullagh. Mellon who played great on Sat all waiting to come in there is a descent enuf team there to get to the 1/4 finals and who knows with a run of matches maybe the final as long as they don't meet Kerry.
People talk about a lot of miles on the clock but with the exception of Holmes & Dooher & maybe Hub who else would U say you would drop from the team. Ricey? No!!
I think we were all hurt by Sat night with Down being so DOWN played for months or years now but I think if you look over the years and teams who went on to win AI's, how often did you leave the 1st round match to hear someone say
"Not much odd's who they meet next, they won't go too far"
Wouldn't disagree too much with that.
'Tis well in advance, but I actually think that that defeat to Down could be a blessing in disguise -- takes us out of the Ulster dogfight and gives time for the injuries and bruises (and bruised egos) to heal.
Thought Fuzzman's post captured it well (in that thread), and just to repeat it:
In recent years Tyrone have often been on the right side of these epic games and the verdict has always been how they will drive on from this and progress
When we won the AI in 2005 the media suddenly we're all praising Tyrone's training methods, underage culture, Club Tyrone etc etc.
None of that would have been mentioned had Kerry got a 3rd goal near the end and won the match
Likewise on Sat night we came very close to STEALING this game but for once we came out on the wrong side of this exciting game
Yeah maybe Down aren't world beaters but for a 1st round match they certainly battled harder than any other team I've saw this year.
Maybe the Tyrone managment do have the stance now of purposely not being TOO fit this time of the year and to try to compensate for the easier runs other teams have to the 1/4 finals such as Kerry, Cork or Dublin.
After the game I too took part in the doom & Gloom outlook that we're a spent force and not a shadow of 2003 or 2005 with hunger, intensity and a great forward line being our main attributes.
So what's the pluses and negatives?
-ves
MF still a huge problem and currently our HF & HB line isn't compensating for this
Forward line is missing a Star forward and I hate to admit it but Sean is wasted in FF and needs to be running facing the goals not with his back to it.
MH seems to have become too loyal to some of his old servants too often and is slow to change them. Is this just stubborness or can't he see it?
Hub looks past it
Dooher was poor Sat but think he's more to give. Not fully fit yet.
+ves
Joey and Justin are two great footballers if they can stay fit
We've some good defenders waiting to break thru
Brian & Tommy McGuigan, Mugsy, McGinley,
I think IF we had a fit team
I would have
Lucky Dip Keeper
PJ
Joey
McCaul/Swift/Carlin/McGee
Ricey
Gormley
Jordan
Cavanagh
Justy
Dooher
B.McGuigan
Mulgrew
Mugsy
Tommy
McGinley
With Penrose, McCullagh. Mellon who played great on Sat all waiting to come in there is a descent enuf team there to get to the 1/4 finals and who knows with a run of matches maybe the final as long as they don't meet Kerry.
People talk about a lot of miles on the clock but with the exception of Holmes & Dooher & maybe Hub who else would U say you would drop from the team. Ricey? No!!
I think we were all hurt by Sat night with Down being so DOWN played for months or years now but I think if you look over the years and teams who went on to win AI's, how often did you leave the 1st round match to hear someone say
"Not much odd's who they meet next, they won't go too far"
Wouldn't disagree too much with that.