Tyrone County Football and Hurling

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Bit to be done between now and the next, really meaningful, game involving the two of these teams. We'll see how that goes. 

[In hiding]

I'd expect mickey to boycott the BBC from now on too. They have some cheek

[Thebigdog]

Just watched Mickey Harte's interview with BBC after the game. He's a man on the edge, the criticism is obviously getting to him and he didn't react well when questioned about the style Tyrone play with. A lot of what was in the answer was ok but the tone came across to me that he was rattled.

Seen the interview alright, the man is totally deluded in what he is saying. The world and his wife knows what the problem is. White coats should be called. Bye bye Tyrone.

[redzone]

Just watched Mickey Harte's interview with BBC after the game. He's a man on the edge, the criticism is obviously getting to him and he didn't react well when questioned about the style Tyrone play with. A lot of what was in the answer was ok but the tone came across to me that he was rattled.

Haven't watched it yet but straight after the match during the handshakes he looked to be fuming. No doubt someone has rattled him

[lenny]

Just watched Mickey Harte's interview with BBC after the game. He's a man on the edge, the criticism is obviously getting to him and he didn't react well when questioned about the style Tyrone play with. A lot of what was in the answer was ok but the tone came across to me that he was rattled.

Haven't watched it yet but straight after the match during the handshakes he looked to be fuming. No doubt someone has rattled him

Harte was quite content to take all the praise and adulation during the glory years. He now seems unwilling or unable to accept any criticism when tyrone are suffering disappointing defeats in the big games. In fairness that was an enjoyable game last night and tyrone played their part. Might be the stephen o'neill effect but tyrone and donegal were a good bit more attacking than in the last few years.

[tyroneman]

Harte definitely rattled by some pretty straightforward questioning.

All Sidebottom had to do when Harte was going on about these great point totals Tyrone were racking up before they met Dublin was ask....'fair enough Mickey, so when was the last time you beat Dublin, Mayo or Kerry in the Championship playing that style of football?' 'Do you really think serving up the same again will result in any different outcome against those three come semi final time?'

The only decent results we have had since 2008 in the championship have been v Donegal and v Monaghan. That's it.

Cork, Dublin, Armagh, Mayo and Kerry have all put us out since then, with only 2016 being anywY close. Even then we spent the last 15 min of a 1 point game playing defensive shite and not pushing up trying to get anything.

So I can't see how these tactics are doing anything for us when it comes to winning an all Ireland.

Now maybe it's because we just don't have the players and Harte is going this way to try and keep us somewhat competitive.  We definitely don't have a good enough forward unit, we have (bar Brennan) no reliable free taker and when we opened up v Kildare and last night our defence was found wanting. So if Harte is cutting cloth to suit that's ok, but no reason to take the head off Sidebottom for what were legitimate questions.

[Thebigdog]

Harte talks about people's "lazy analysis" when saying every team plays defensive 'we re no different". The big teams or the big coaches have different gameplans for different matches whereas Tyrone have 1- 13- 1 and that's it. I do believe he and not everyone else suffers from "lazy analysis". Trying to make a fool out of Tyrone supporters it makes me sick!

[omagh_gael]

I'm not a Harte apologist, but to be fair to him we haven't been playing a one man FF line this year. There's been at least two men up for the vast majority of the time with more direct passing going in compared to last year.

I thought one of Sidebottom's earlier questions was on the ball, in that it appeared we were attempting to create much more goal chances. The last phase broke down but I think with a more confident FF line taking this approach over the coming months will make a difference in the summer.

It also annoys me when people give out about our tactics, it's not pleasing on the eye but wake up and smell the coffee. Look at the three teams that we can't eclipse when it matters. Their FF lines allow them to play in a way we can't. We don't have two to three men who are top notch ball winners alongside top class finishers. Kerry, Dublin and Mayo do. They also have expert 90% (or close to) free takers that keep the score board ticking over. We don't (yet).

Mayo have the least potent forward unit out of the top 3 but what they have is 7 top notch defenders who can go man to man no problem and do damage going forward too. Imagine if we had Higgins, Boyle, Keegan etc in defence. Do you still think Harte would play the system we play? No fecking chance. He is implementing what he thinks is our best strategy. Last year it was cruelly exposed and all we can really expect this year is a slight change in balance away from 1-13-1. We are seeing that slight amendment this year and those who think we'll change radically need their heads examined.

[Tyrone Gaa]

Another thing to point out is the role of teamtalk as well. Every match they secure an interview with Mickey but they don't ask the tough questions. A manager should be put in awkward situations and questioned about where he sees the team going or what needs to change. Good journalism from Sidebottom and the BBC.

Teamtalk provide great coverage of our games and I very much appreciate that service but they need to be a bit more hardline to reflect the feelings of Tyrone Gaa fans.

[southtyronegael]

fair play to sidebottom. asked the relevant questions instead of tip toeing round harte  like the irish news, ttm and the tyrone newspapers. mickey couldnt handle it and showed his true colours.

[Aaron Boone]

Sidebottom asked Harte the stereotyped question about new 2018 tactics. Harte rightly suggested were tactics that bad in 2017 before the Dublin game - they weren't, remember the build-up to that match, was like a final.

Sidebottom then said barstool-like he had only seen the Dublin game. So Harte was within his rights to give out and knew he was being interviewed by a bluffer (hence lazy analysis).

[southtyronegael]

the dublin game last year was judgement day for the tyrone team and tactics. it failed miserably so obviously we need to change something tactically hence sidebottoms question.

[redzone]

the dublin game last year was judgement day for the tyrone team and tactics. it failed miserably so obviously we need to change something tactically hence sidebottoms question.

Have the tactics not changed this year?

[southtyronegael]

the dublin game last year was judgement day for the tyrone team and tactics. it failed miserably so obviously we need to change something tactically hence sidebottoms question.

Have the tactics not changed this year?

im not so sure that much has changed. but my point was that sidebottom was well within his rights to ask mickey about it.

[omagh_gael]

I know I shouldn't take the bait but what do you suggest as a tactical alternative, STG? As far as I can see you're a problem picker. Easy place to be picking holes, harder job to offer constructive alternatives.