Armagh vs. Cork Sunday, April 12

border rabbit · April 13, 2009, 10:42:18 PM

Just home from a very enjoyable weekend in Cork. Its just a pity the match was the only blimp on the whole weekend, jaysus it was rubbish. Ive been running around after armagh for years and to say it was totally inept would be understatement.

I dont blame the players. Ive tried to avoid criticising the management setup but i dont see a single positive coming out of this years league. Does anyone know exactly what way we are trying to play? Some players seem to be just running around. And as for Aidan Orourke at centre half forward, is this what we've reosrted to?

McDonnell doesnt help his image with some of the muppets he has around him on the line. O'Kane and Hollywood seem to just walk about behind him scratching their heads, shouting the odd stupid instruction. And dont start me on that Spa they have carrying water, he seems to think at times hes the manager. We're rapidly becoming a laughing stock.

Im really worried about the match with our neighbours.

Carbery · April 13, 2009, 10:45:03 PM

Quote from: border rabbit on April 13, 2009, 10:42:18 PM
Just home from a very enjoyable weekend in Cork. Its just a pity the match was the only blimp on the whole weekend, jaysus it was rubbish. Ive been running around after armagh for years and to say it was totally inept would be understatement.

I dont blame the players. Ive tried to avoid criticising the management setup but i dont see a single positive coming out of this years league. Does anyone know exactly what way we are trying to play? Some players seem to be just running around. And as for Aidan Orourke at centre half forward, is this what we've reosrted to?

McDonnell doesnt help his image with some of the muppets he has around him on the line. O'Kane and Hollywood seem to just walk about behind him scratching their heads, shouting the odd stupid instruction. And dont start me on that Spa they have carrying water, he seems to think at times hes the manager. We're rapidly becoming a laughing stock.

Im really worried about the match with our neighbours.

Who is the Armagh water-carrier?

border rabbit · April 13, 2009, 10:53:27 PM

The Harps or Mullabrack chaps may divulge his name, but to see him giving instuctions from the line is embarassing!

Skiddybadoo · April 13, 2009, 10:54:54 PM

Cheers, TAM. My concern would be that we won't know how to play a different system without a change in personnel. The non-traditional HF line we've operated seems to be ingrained. The reason I suggest both Paul McKeown and P Kernan is that they are defenders first and foremost negating the need for continual cover. At least if we break a move down we would have players in the former no man's land HF line to receive the ball.

A tricky one indeed. We pretty much know that Tyrone will be a well drilled outfit, working hard to win back the ball when defending and attacking in supporting numbers when in pocession. A fear of this system makes me think McDonnell will continue to be very reserved and not play with 6 forwards in any formation.

Look at the great scores we have taken over the last few League seasons esp. the Dublin & Roscommon games last year. We played with an attacking abandon, that seemed natural and devoid of tactics because there was no need for any. Get the ball, give it qucikly to someone better placed and support. Sounds simple, but on those occasions they made it look simple by playing freely.

Is the modern game too tactical? Does it need to be over complicated? Wexford last year to me at least didn't need to have any plan to beat Armagh, we contributed to our own downfall by playing 'systems'. Westmeath didn'temploy any system of note in the game they nearly overtured Tyrone in this year.
Traditional positional football. Is there still a place for it?

I can apprecite your comments on Toal. And setting aside my club loyalties - I believe he's as talented aplayer about our club since Corvan - I know he can easily deliver at this level and so does McDonnell.

P.S. All the very best of luck to the U21s on Wednesday night.

Benny Barnaveld · April 13, 2009, 10:55:51 PM

Quote from: border rabbit on April 13, 2009, 10:42:18 PM
Just home from a very enjoyable weekend in Cork. Its just a pity the match was the only blimp on the whole weekend, jaysus it was rubbish. Ive been running around after armagh for years and to say it was totally inept would be understatement.

I dont blame the players. Ive tried to avoid criticising the management setup but i dont see a single positive coming out of this years league. Does anyone know exactly what way we are trying to play? Some players seem to be just running around. And as for Aidan Orourke at centre half forward, is this what we've reosrted to?

McDonnell doesnt help his image with some of the muppets he has around him on the line. O'Kane and Hollywood seem to just walk about behind him scratching their heads, shouting the odd stupid instruction. And dont start me on that Spa they have carrying water, he seems to think at times hes the manager. We're rapidly becoming a laughing stock.

Im really worried about the match with our neighbours.

Agree with this.
Vernon has been a big plus though.
I also thought Henderson in particular was going to bring omething to the table, but he has not really featured in the last few games.
In several of the matches, he was changed very early, even though there was no ball coming in. Which is not his fault
McDonnell does not seem to be able to get anything like the best out of his players.

Skiddybadoo · April 13, 2009, 11:00:19 PM

Quote from: border rabbit on April 13, 2009, 10:42:18 PM
And dont start me on that Spa they have carrying water, he seems to think at times hes the manager. We're rapidly becoming a laughing stock.

No pun intended, I'm sure.

Benny Barnaveld · April 13, 2009, 11:06:44 PM

Lol

Another point from Sunday.
I know Cork are a big team, but they physically dominated us.
Same with Meath, and Monaghan. The days of Armagh being as the rte commentators would call "a big physical team", appear to be waning.

BerfArmagh · April 14, 2009, 02:34:12 PM

Very poor performamce on sunday. Its been a long time since I have seen an Armagh team simply give up. The team was a shambles, physically inferior to Cork (Is it me or have we no big men in the county?) Cork chould have stuck over 20 points....

Midfield was wiped out, Vernon tried v hard but was completely over run. Its been a long time since I have seen Andy Mallon get a roasting like that, likewsie Donaghy, shannon, indeed all the backs..

Clarke looked disillusioned .... Mc Donnell looked like he was trying, but I think all the retirements has affected him....

To be fair to the manager, the team is in a period of transition & will be for the next few years... don't expect too much
God help us in the first round

marym · April 14, 2009, 02:45:24 PM

Was at game. A lot of people there were remarking how big and strong Cork looked. Martin Carney on Today Fm said man for man they are probably the biggest team around. Ray Silke was at the Laois match and he walked through them while they warming up . He said he felt tiny himself in comparsion. The other thing people were remarking about was their speed. Miskella , O Neill , Cussen and Kavanagh were not playing at all . They are all pretty big as well

BerfArmagh · April 14, 2009, 02:59:09 PM

nothing to do with there performance against Armagh, but I really fancy Cork to make the AIF this year...