Down Club Hurling & Football

[Sheedy]

Worse result than the Armagh game, absolutely embarrassing. No hiding place for anyone after that.

[downtothecore]

Utter collapse; most humiliating defeat we've ever suffered. Time for new management

I've been a big fan of this management team but I think some of the performances this year have been shocking. Clones against Armagh, both 2nd half performances against Fermanagh and Wicklow. Laverty needs to resign or be moved on. He's moved us on a bit but I think it's time for something fresh

If they stay in div 2 it will all be forgotten about. If not he will go...

[snoopdog]

Iown are always able to drop to the level of the teams they are playiing. We dont have the players but those that were on the pitch today shpuld have seen tgat. They all had a mare. Especially Murdock. He missed som amoint of kickable scores and was non existent at midfield. Burns is the o ly man who can take any credit from today.
How.they didnt see that out is criminal. But all the non match gping Down fans who thonl Lav should go , whp wpuod they replace him with? We dont have the quality.
Ive said it for years the underage set up is a farce and Down will struggle umtil that is sorted. All pur teams are B Championship level. Thats not a coincidence.
The day belongs to Wicklow and fair play to them. They deserved it.
A good year up until Clones. All downhill after that.

[thewobbler]

Down just need to evolve folks.

Our (relatively successful) gameplan for the past few years has been to work every play around the 4-5 main men. Understandable. The right move at the time.

All of those big players had forgettable second halves today. It happens.

But the next ones up aren't used to doing it.

It's now to evolve.

Mayo's full forward line scored 2.16 this evening. With two teenagers in it.

That's the way forward.

[Mourne Red]

Down just need to evolve folks.

Our (relatively successful) gameplan for the past few years has been to work every play around the 4-5 main men. Understandable. The right move at the time.

All of those big players had forgettable second halves today. It happens.

But the next ones up aren't used to doing it.

It's now to evolve.

Mayo's full forward line scored 2.16 this evening. With two teenagers in it.

That's the way forward.

Best take on today. We run the ball 40/50m instead of kicking it, take very little risk in attack. Look at Kobe McDonald today, didn't care about losing the ball kicked it whenever he could, had a bit of flair in his link up play.

Our game plan is still tied to the old rules a bit like Donegals is (perhaps why we won against them). 

[snoopdog]

Down just need to evolve folks.

Our (relatively successful) gameplan for the past few years has been to work every play around the 4-5 main men. Understandable. The right move at the time.

All of those big players had forgettable second halves today. It happens.

But the next ones up aren't used to doing it.

It's now to evolve.

Mayo's full forward line scored 2.16 this evening. With two teenagers in it.

That's the way forward.

Best take on today. We run the ball 40/50m instead of kicking it, take very little risk in attack. Look at Kobe McDonald today, didn't care about losing the ball kicked it whenever he could, had a bit of flair in his link up play.

Our game plan is still tied to the old rules a bit like Donegals is (perhaps why we won against them). 

We dont have players of the Kobe mould. We prob have never jad as poor a forward unit.

[thewobbler]

That's the evolution conundrum Snoop.

Wicklow and Fermanagh full forward lines caused infinitely more problems in the last two games than Down's did.

Is that a calibre of player issue or a trust they can do it issue?

It might be both. I don't know.

[Dayman]

We were always gonna get caught by someone who really wanted it. Shouldn't have happened after being 12 points up though.

Management has its issues (not pushing up on kickouts at the start of the second half being a big one) but we had the chances to win that - 3 or 4 missed chances at the end? Not sure that can be blamed on them.

The most concerning thing is Murdock's form, he loses the ball so often and just seems to play in his shell. I thought he'd be our talisman for the next 10 years ala Benny but he's not hitting that at all. Aside from that, Burns is by far our most important player and if it wasn't for him we'd not even be close to where we are now.

Even if we'd won today, staying in Division 2 next year is the litmus test for this management team.

[LosDodgers]

Probably the most disappointing game in my life time as a down fan.

First half we were excellent. Could have been 20 up at HT.

Second half was genuinely embarrassing.

Lav is the right man for the job, but we really really need to have a look at ourselves

[Ed Hardy]

Absolutely brutal 2nd half yesterday, so flat and zero leadership out on the pitch. Could see the game slipping away and nobody had the ability under pressure to take the simple score. Subs didnt work out either.

Im not sure if changing the manager is the correct thing to do, (as I think a Down man should be the manager of Down, and there isnt many stand out candidates) but maybe time to change the backroom team and shake things up that way. However the style of play needs sorted, the new rules means the endless running and carrying is gone. Ball needs kicked in, and scorers need left inside. Ryan Magill was left inside for periods yesterday and the same against Fermanagh thats not his game at all. Also cant get away with playing just one Mf (Murdock) most teams playing with 3/4 bigger  men across the middle we are going with 1!

 

[snoopdog]

To lose to a Div 4 team after controlling the 1st half is unforgiveable. Doen have played 8 times in last few years at Croke park and have struggled in all but 1 of those games against Laois in 23 SF. Cant explain why? Is it pitch size?  But they were leaderless yesterday when it mattered, they sleep walked through the Tailteann and got caught yesterday and in Tullamore. Got lucky against a poor Fermanagh side. I wasnt suprised they ballsed that up yesterday. Laverty praised his backroom team and coaches in lead uo to the game but Meenagh was a big loss and he wasnt replaced with same calibre.
There is something not right is it mental prep? Is there a physchologist in the set uo? There should be.
There can bw no excuse for that 2nd half.
But fair play to Wicklow it meant the world to them yesterday. Down wouldve trudged around the pitch with the cup with a big forlorn head on them. This we deserve to be in Sam head on them. You dont deserve to be in Sam and you proved yesterday why you dont. Your not good enough. 1 game doesnt mean you should be playing sam maguire football. Donegal proved they werent all that losing to Cork and Dublin.
How do you be so prepared for 1 game in the year and not the rest.
Also as i said before the underage set up needs sorted before we do anything. Is there anyone in the U20s this year that would be an addition?

[5times5times]

Added pressure on Div2 next year, that top  5 get into Sam, unless we get to a Ulster final.

Dublin Monaghan Tyrone Derry Louth 

[LosDodgers]

Added pressure on Div2 next year, that top  5 get into Sam, unless we get to a Ulster final.

Dublin Monaghan Tyrone Derry Louth 

That's not how it works.

Wicklow essentially take the runners up in D3 place next year (same as Kildare did this year) so winners of D3 will be in Tailteann as long as someone below them (or relegated D2 team) don't get to provincial final.

If two lower ranked teams get to provincial final, then 6th in D2 will go to Tailteann Cup.

[grounded]

How many times in the second half did you see Down players losing possession cheaply and refusing to chase back at full pace, actually watching the Wicklow players steaming forward.
    I'm sure its something we all seen or coached at underage level and shouted at the player to try and discourage it. It's just a bad attitude and surely something the management have seen all throughout this year and previous years.
   
   
   
   
   

[snoopdog]

How many times in the second half did you see Down players losing possession cheaply and refusing to chase back at full pace, actually watching the Wicklow players steaming forward.
    I'm sure its something we all seen or coached at underage level and shouted at the player to try and discourage it. It's just a bad attitude and surely something the management have seen all throughout this year and previous years.
   
   
   
   
   
[/qu
Down players didnt want it enough. They let down all the loyal supporters who have followed them all year. From the high of Letterkenny we never thought the next few months wouldve brought such lows. Despite Laveetys claims that the players had bought into the TC, anyone going to the TC games could see they clearly hadnt.
Maybe its the best thing for them. Lets see how good they are next year, its on the players now. Are they good enough to compete with the Dublins, Tyrones,Louth, Monaghan, Derry.? And thats only div 2.