Meath vs. Tyrone

[sam03/05]

Tyrone have serious problems in Midfield, and this is where Meath are very strong. Colm Cavanagh is very poor, but Cassidy is a great impact sub. Anyone think Justy could do a job in midfield?

I would love to see Ronan McNabb start in defence, pure class player, but not sure how fit he is.

Overall I have serious concerns for this game
1/ We will struggle against Meath in the physical stakes.
2/ Reilly, Newman and Bray will cause us serious problems in defence.
3/ we will most likely get cleaned out at midfield/ breaking ball. ( won hardly any of our own kickouts v kildare).

A very difficult game and we will need a massive improvement.

[EC Unique]

I said before Saturday that the winners of Tyrone v Kildare would beat Meath. I see no reason to change my opinion. Looking forward to it.

[Fuzzman]

Who's going to buy them jars?

We will as long as they give us a decent midfielder.

[Redhand Santa]

Tyrone have serious problems in Midfield, and this is where Meath are very strong. Colm Cavanagh is very poor, but Cassidy is a great impact sub. Anyone think Justy could do a job in midfield?

I would love to see Ronan McNabb start in defence, pure class player, but not sure how fit he is.

Overall I have serious concerns for this game
1/ We will struggle against Meath in the physical stakes.
2/ Reilly, Newman and Bray will cause us serious problems in defence.
3/ we will most likely get cleaned out at midfield/ breaking ball. ( won hardly any of our own kickouts v kildare).

A very difficult game and we will need a massive improvement.

Very negative way of looking at things. Despite Colm being poor and Kildare having a good period Tyrone still won the game and could have won by more. Good result from what was a very tricky assignment. Having conceded 5 ponts in a row and missing a penalty Tyrone easily could have lay as the home crowd got behind Kildare. But they showed great composure and character to come again.

I'm sure Meath have plenty of weaknesses too. For all their size and aeriel ability in midfield can they cope with the running ability of this Tyrone team? Tyrone can get men behind the ball and break at pace which will cause them plenty of problems. Stevie got a game under his belt and if stays injury free will bring him on lots for next week. I thought Sean and Mark Donnelly stood up when the pressure was on Saturday night.

Tyrone have had a good season to date and done very well but our fans seem to have unrealistic expectations. The bookies have us favourites and I think they're right. Doesn't mean we will win.

[Fuzzman]

We've been saying Colm is poor now for a long time. There has been some games he does OK but we've just accepted it now that he's nearly an automatic starter there no matter what else.

I think he has a negative impact on Sean as well in midfield and both of them are too easily bullied off the ball. Would Colm be any better if named at 15 and he roamed in and out to MF.

Did we get any injuries from the match on Sat?

[ONeill]

Colm's a strange one. He can put on a decent show when you least expect it.

Hard to predict Mickey these days - the defence could change completely. Can McCrory do a job on Bray? McCarron on Newman?

I wouldn't mind seeing Clarke thrown in around the middle, just to dunt about if we're being outmuscled. Can't see O'Neill getting the same attention. Also, Croke seems to bring the best out in the Donnellys and Penrose. Hoping Harte can find some real form too.

Relatively optimistic and unusually calm about this. I think it's because we've reached the stage we should be at.

[Redhand Santa]

I agree Colm was very poor on Saturday and shouldn't be an automatic starter but I do think a lot of posters only comment on games that he does poorly in. Tyrone got to a league final with him at midfield and he had a decent game up against Gallagher in Donegal. He did well in some of the league games such as the first Dublin one and was good v Armagh last year. So he hasn't been all bad. That said he has now had 2 poor games in a row so wouldn't be surprised if he ends up on the bench.

[Jinxy]

Colm's a strange one. He can put on a decent show when you least expect it.

Hard to predict Mickey these days - the defence could change completely. Can McCrory do a job on Bray? McCarron on Newman?

I wouldn't mind seeing Clarke thrown in around the middle, just to dunt about if we're being outmuscled. Can't see O'Neill getting the same attention. Also, Croke seems to bring the best out in the Donnellys and Penrose. Hoping Harte can find some real form too.

Relatively optimistic and unusually calm about this. I think it's because we've reached the stage we should be at.

Sickening arrogance.

[ONeill]

I apologise for my over exuberance. Dunno what came over me.

[To whom it may concern]

Overall it is difficult to see many changes to that Tyrone team as he will be reluctant to throw in men that are cold or lacking match sharpness. People shouldn't get carried away with Kildare result as Meath should always have been looked on as the more difficult. Kildare have shown signs of decline all year whereas Meath are on the up and came out of Dublin game with credit.

They will pose Tyrone a different set of problems up front. They will expose what is Tyrone's biggest flaw; the fact they are suspect defensively in the open spaces of Croke Park. Cork 09, Dublin 10 & 11 have shown this as did Kerry last year and this year in Omagh. They have a lot of pace inside. Who will go full back as Clarke won't suit Bray? Mattie Donnelly looks made for Graham Reilly.

Peter Harte is a problem. He is undoubtedly a class act but clearly not a No 6. Conor Gormley should probably move back here and shore up the centre. Cassidy is clearly needed at midfield as Meath dominated here against Dublin. Harte clearly doesn't rate him though as he hasn't started him this year.

McCurry is honest and willing but is predictable. Something extra is needed for Croke Park so i'd go with Ronan O'Neill. You have the pace of McCurry and reliability of Mcliskey to come in if either O'Neill hhasn't 70 mins. Not sure if you can trust Coney especially seeing as he has missed so much football this year. I'd go for the following;

McConnell

McCrory
Clarke
McCarron

Carlin
Gormley
Mattie Donnelly

Cassidy
Colm Cavanagh

Peter Harte
Mark Donnelly
Sean Cavanagh

Penrose
SO'N
RO'Neill

[Jinxy]

Overall it is difficult to see many changes to that Tyrone team as he will be reluctant to throw in men that are cold or lacking match sharpness. People shouldn't get carried away with Kildare result as Meath should always have been looked on as the more difficult. Kildare have shown signs of decline all year whereas Meath are on the up and came out of Dublin game with credit.

They will pose Tyrone a different set of problems up front. They will expose what is Tyrone's biggest flaw; the fact they are suspect defensively in the open spaces of Croke Park. Cork 09, Dublin 10 & 11 have shown this as did Kerry last year and this year in Omagh. They have a lot of pace inside. Who will go full back as Clarke won't suit Bray? Mattie Donnelly looks made for Graham Reilly.

Peter Harte is a problem. He is undoubtedly a class act but clearly not a No 6. Conor Gormley should probably move back here and shore up the centre. Cassidy is clearly needed at midfield as Meath dominated here against Dublin. Harte clearly doesn't rate him though as he hasn't started him this year.

McCurry is honest and willing but is predictable. Something extra is needed for Croke Park so i'd go with Ronan O'Neill. You have the pace of McCurry and reliability of Mcliskey to come in if either O'Neill hhasn't 70 mins. Not sure if you can trust Coney especially seeing as he has missed so much football this year. I'd go for the following;

McConnell

McCrory
Clarke
McCarron

Carlin
Gormley
Mattie Donnelly

Cassidy
Colm Cavanagh

Peter Harte
Mark Donnelly
Sean Cavanagh

Penrose
SO'N
RO'Neill

We don't have a strong 11 though.

[Fuzzman]

That's a lot of changes ye have there to whom...

Whilst I think we have recovered well from the Donegal loss and are improving each game, I just worry we have too many players who don't seem to have the championship hunger that we saw from Monaghan yesterday. We don't have any Dooher or Ricey taking charge and giving lads a kick up the arse. We've a lot of nice calm players who work hard but don't really bust their ass.
I think that's where Colm falls down. He doesn't exactly seem to bust a gut to make that ball his the way Cassidy does more often.

When we get to this stage it tends to be those teams that want it the most and are willing to put their bodies in the line to get it. Looking through that team there are a lot of great footballers but not so many blood and guts lads any more. I hope I'm wrong.

I still think we've enough to beat Meath though who won't be used to the smothering blanket that we can set up.

[Hardy]

We don't have a strong 11 though.

I think Damien has great potential, but he's playing/asked to play the wrong game for his strengths. He tries to carry the ball and break tackles. I'd like to see him step back and play the conventional CHF playmaker role - look up and find the right pass at the right time. I'm optimistic that he has the skill for this.

[Jinxy]

I was leaning towards switching Bray out to centre forward before the Dublin game.
Carroll is a lovely passer of the ball but he is a bit light for 11.

[Hardy]

I know what you mean, but I wouldn't chance anything now to jeopardise Bray's run into form. The closer he is to the goals, the more scores he'll get and I have a feeling he might cause a little panic in that Tyrone full back line. With Newman to watch as well, and the threat of Wallace beep-beeping past like the roadrunner, I'm hoping for a busy evening for those lads.