Tyrone County Football and Hurling

[RedHand88]

We're gonna ambush them. I can feel it in my water.

[GetOverTheBar]

and if u watch mayo, u dont see them pump high ball into andy moran, alway threaded passes just at the right height for him to come onto. this doesnt happen by chance, its worked on tirelessly at training with mc entee from crossmaglen showing them how to get it right. how much work are we doing on this aspect of our game at training?

Mayo are a very physically imposing side though.

Looking at the profiles in the match programme last year for the semi-final with Dublin, most of our players were a stone and a half lighter and a couple of inches shorter than their Dublin counterparts. We lack that natural size and I think some of our lads look like they're blown up and overcompensating for it.

Mayo lads are beasts. They've got their Durcans/Dohertys/Diarmuid O'Connors to do the running around the middle, but by and large, the rest are 13 stone 6ft and up and all power and look it naturally. Just look at their backline, everyone you could go to war with - I don't see that in Tyrone/Kerry backlines and it shows in the big games.

Tom Parsons is a hugely underrated player also for them, he's the type of fella can stand with the Fentons and Coopers in midfield and give them all they want. Tyrone simply don't have that, Colm Cavanagh is capable of it in bursts but either he/Mickey Harte play with the handbrake on - Cavanagh is also very quickly coming to the end, as a fielder he's pretty much at the top of the tree but in the open field of Croke he doesn't have it in his legs.

[southtyronegael]

Think I read somewhere that 2 of mayo's best defenders are only 5'10 so not exactly giants. But crucially they have a mental aggression that more than makes up for lack of size. But then their manager gives them they freedom they need to do their thing.

[Il Bomber Destro]

Think I read somewhere that 2 of mayo's best defenders are only 5'10 so not exactly giants. But crucially they have a mental aggression that more than makes up for lack of size. But then their manager gives them they freedom they need to do their thing.

Higgins and Boyle presumably. Higgins has or did have pace to burn and will down as one of the best defenders of his era. Boyle is small but a very hardy and tough competitors.

I think the issue is that those lads are naturally powerful whereas our lads just look blown up. I think it's a reaction to us trying to over-compensate for not having enough natural big men in our side.

[southtyronegael]

Lee Keegan only 5'11. It not the size of the man in the fight, its the size of the fight in the man.

[Il Bomber Destro]

Lee Keegan only 5'11. It not the size of the man in the fight, its the size of the fight in the man.

Lee Keegan has natural power and speed. We have plenty of good footballers with very good skills but are lacking the natural physicality needed for today's game.

[The Trap]

What has happened in the last 6 months? Last August we were the fittest team in the land, had the best man at S&C, the best panel the county ever had......now we are too small, not doing the right training, have no backs, no forwards, one midfielder and a goalie........

[GetOverTheBar]

Lee Keegan only 5'11. It not the size of the man in the fight, its the size of the fight in the man.

Crucially he's about 13.5st and built like a Rugby League player, with the athleticism to boot and he's got the nastiness in him that all winners have.

[In hiding]

What has happened in the last 6 months? Last August we were the fittest team in the land, had the best man at S&C, the best panel the county ever had......now we are too small, not doing the right training, have no backs, no forwards, one midfielder and a goalie........

[southtyronegael]

Lee Keegan only 5'11. It not the size of the man in the fight, its the size of the fight in the man.

Crucially he's about 13.5st and built like a Rugby League player, with the athleticism to boot and he's got the nastiness in him that all winners have.

yeah but the most important thing he has is the ability to kick points and goals when he gets the chance. You don't learn that in the gym.

[Il Bomber Destro]

Lee Keegan only 5'11. It not the size of the man in the fight, its the size of the fight in the man.

Crucially he's about 13.5st and built like a Rugby League player, with the athleticism to boot and he's got the nastiness in him that all winners have.

yeah but the most important thing he has is the ability to kick points and goals when he gets the chance. You don't learn that in the gym.

So does Tiernan McCann who you have slated.

[GetOverTheBar]

What has happened in the last 6 months? Last August we were the fittest team in the land, had the best man at S&C, the best panel the county ever had......now we are too small, not doing the right training, have no backs, no forwards, one midfielder and a goalie........

I get your point, I suppose in this discussion, everyone seems to be coming from different angles on Tyrone's objectives for the year (s) ahead. Some see them as potential AI winners, some see them as kings of Ulster and see what happens, others can't abide by current systems and decisions.

In my opinion there wasn't a hope Tyrone were beating Dublin last year, I couldn't fathom how some thought they would beat them going on the league game between the two. I adopt the same reasoning right now, Tyrone need not panic over a league loss to Galway, it's largely irrelevant. Tyrone will be judged on the summer. I think they can retain Ulster personally but that will be the height of their ambitions. They have the squad and players and management to do that.

[tyroneman]

If you are coached to effectively play a zonal marking system and defend in groups of 2-3 then it wil be natural that defenders will lose the edge that being 1-on-1 with their direct opponent will give them.

It doesn't make them bad players or mean that they won't ever be able to go man to man but they need good coaching and an opportunity over a number of games to rediscover that ability.

Defending in packs also means you tend to lose personal accountability.

Talent wise this bunch of players could very well be good enough to compete v Dub/Kerr/May we just won't know until they are given more individual responsibility.

Will we win Ulster playing the same style as last year?

Maybe, although probably not if Donegal actually evolve a more attacking game (they have just as good, if not a better panel of players and certianly more marquee players)

Will we beat Dublin in Aug/Sep? No.

[southtyronegael]

Bomber, don't be comparin tiarnan mc cann with lee Keegan. When has mc cann done it in the big games?

[driveherin]

Tiarnan more interested in his tan, six pack and hair than putting in a big hit like Keegan. In other words -  he hasn't got the balls!