Mayo GAA Discussion Thread

yop

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

How many more big scores are we to concede though before we accept the experiment hasn't worked? Is Horan banking on Barrett filling the hole left by Higgins? All I'm saying is it's a big ask of the lad and perhaps we need a more imaginative approach to fixing the half forwards e.g. playing Barry Moran up front. I realise that leaves us with a lack of pace there but surely it's better than playing one of the best corner backs in the county out of position, especially one that tends to cover the entirety of the field anyway?

Imagination yes, but remember the "game" has changed, last year Higgins pace got him so far before he was dragged back/down and/or tackled without the ball, with the black card this has reduced this significantly.
So him at 1/2 back is more benefit as he will have the pace to dispossess yet the pace to tear open a midfield/half forward line and get good fast ball into Freezer.

Fr Tod Umptious

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

How many more big scores are we to concede though before we accept the experiment hasn't worked? Is Horan banking on Barrett filling the hole left by Higgins? All I'm saying is it's a big ask of the lad and perhaps we need a more imaginative approach to fixing the half forwards e.g. playing Barry Moran up front. I realise that leaves us with a lack of pace there but surely it's better than playing one of the best corner backs in the county out of position, especially one that tends to cover the entirety of the field anyway?

Personally I think this and the final are must win games for the 2014 Mayo team.
There is zero upside to getting knocked out now by Derry, or by Cork\Dublin in two weeks time.
There is a lot of upside to winning the league, it's a Croke Park win, it's a win v Cork or Dublin, it will show, to some extent at least, that there is hunger there for 2014, it's reaching a goal that they publicly stated a few months back, i.e that they wanted to win the league
With all that in mind I'd expect Horan and the team top prepare for this game like it was a championship knockout game, and that includes putting Higgins at 4.
I'd also reckon a final v Cork would be preferable to a final v Dublin.
I still think Dublin are not at as interested as Cork are about winning the league, beating another interested team, that are, IMO, at full strength would be much better than beating, or worse loosing to, a half arsed Dublin.

davegrohl48

It's the first time I'v said it with the current team in a long while but I fancy Derry for this one. McGuckin who is just one of their big physical forwards had us in bother last week.
With the other big forwards who are coming back and Lynch at the centre of the action I think they have the forward line to beat us.
I'm not going to be surprised if Derry rack up a 3 goal return.
The other thing that concerns me is us dominating midfield but the Derry forwards exposing us on limited possession. A victory for Mayo in that case would hide a weakness that needs fixing.
The final test of the defence is this weekend. If it is not working then after either defeat or victory we need to try something majorly different not just patchwork switches.
Otherwise we will arrive in August/September, achieve parity or worse at midfield in a game and get badly beaten due to conceding goals.
I'm seriously not ruling out the idea of Seamus OShea at full back to mark McGuckin. With ball in his hands McGuckin is more likely to be stopped by OShea than either McHale or Cafferkey. McHale is the better option for McGuckin than Cafferkey I would say. Cafferkey continuously allows the full forward to collect and then tries to pick the pocket or hold him up. That is disastrous at full back when you face a big full forward with pace, think McGuckin, OGara, Murphy. I will be very surprised if Cafferkey manages to contain McGuckin this weekend. Similar I don't see any of our other defensive options doing it either.

Rawhead

davegrohl48 wrote: »

It's the first time I'v said it with the current team in a long while but I fancy Derry for this one. McGuckin who is just one of their big physical forwards had us in bother last week.
With the other big forwards who are coming back and Lynch at the centre of the action I think they have the forward line to beat us.
I'm not going to be surprised if Derry rack up a 3 goal return.
The other thing that concerns me is us dominating midfield but the Derry forwards exposing us on limited possession. A victory for Mayo in that case would hide a weakness that needs fixing.
The final test of the defence is this weekend. If it is not working then after either defeat or victory we need to try something majorly different not just patchwork switches.
Otherwise we will arrive in August/September, achieve parity or worse at midfield in a game and get badly beaten due to conceding goals.
I'm seriously not ruling out the idea of Seamus OShea at full back to mark McGuckin. With ball in his hands McGuckin is more likely to be stopped by OShea than either McHale or Cafferkey. McHale is the better option for McGuckin than Cafferkey I would say. Cafferkey continuously allows the full forward to collect and then tries to pick the pocket or hold him up. That is disastrous at full back when you face a big full forward with pace, think McGuckin, OGara, Murphy. I will be very surprised if Cafferkey manages to contain McGuckin this weekend. Similar I don't see any of our other defensive options doing it either.

I disagree with regards Caff. He actually thrives on larger full forwards and had McGuckian in his pocket when switched on to him last Sunday. Despite Brogans tally last year Caff actually had a great game and like wise in 2012. It's smaller, pacer forwards that he struggles with. If Barrett isn't back soon then Higgins has to be moved back into the corner, end of. We are leaking far too many goals.

I've been noticing that we have lost the cutting and fluid attack that we had in such abundance last year, especially from the half backs. Last Sunday I saw what I believe is one of the main causes and that is Andy is playing so far back. He is demanding the ball and then slowing it completely down, taking a few solos then trying to play the corners. This is killing the forward momentum of Boyle, Keegan and Vaughan while also allowing the other team to track back.

The biggest problem I see at the moment is a centre forward. We have an embarrassment of riches in the middle of the field and I'm sure that Horan must be looking at using one of those lads in a forward role. I would really like to get another crack at the Dubs in croker this month. We need to beat them and put the fear out of our heads. If we don't then Jim Gavin will have an easier motivational speech to give in September should we meet then. "Sure we've nothing to fear from these shower, they couldn't beat us with just 14"

wirelessdude01

Why is everyone so fixated on the fullback line being the cause of the high goal tally against us? As far as I am concerned the problem lies with the middle third not doing their collective job. Opposition players playing ball in should be under such pressure when doing so that the ball going in is utter muck and gives the opposition forward little or no chance of making/taking a goal opportunity. Also a lot of runners through the middle are not being tracked by us. No fullback line in the country can defend excellently played passes or well timed runs.

SeanJ09

Rawhead wrote: »

I disagree with regards Caff. He actually thrives on larger full forwards and had McGuckian in his pocket when switched on to him last Sunday. Despite Brogans tally last year Caff actually had a great game and like wise in 2012. It's smaller, pacer forwards that he struggles with. If Barrett isn't back soon then Higgins has to be moved back into the corner, end of. We are leaking far too many goals.

I've been noticing that we have lost the cutting and fluid attack that we had in such abundance last year, especially from the half backs. Last Sunday I saw what I believe is one of the main causes and that is Andy is playing so far back. He is demanding the ball and then slowing it completely down, taking a few solos then trying to play the corners. This is killing the forward momentum of Boyle, Keegan and Vaughan while also allowing the other team to track back.

The biggest problem I see at the moment is a centre forward. We have an embarrassment of riches in the middle of the field and I'm sure that Horan must be looking at using one of those lads in a forward role. I would really like to get another crack at the Dubs in croker this month. We need to beat them and put the fear out of our heads. If we don't then Jim Gavin will have an easier motivational speech to give in September should we meet then. "Sure we've nothing to fear from these shower, they couldn't beat us with just 14"

Thought the exact same thing myself. He did it on countless occasions last Sunday and also the previous week up in Dublin. Infuriating to watch. AOS in the past and for some reason in the league this year has constantly been doing the same thing: receiving the ball, barging through a couple of players and by the time he has done this he has has allowed the opposition to track back rather than giving quicker ball into the forwards. Really costing us at the minute.

davegrohl48

Some real good points being raised. I agree ball has to move quickly. As ye said unnecessary solos or lateral passes allow the opposition regroup.
Caff had an okay game in the final last year. Kicked the ball straight to Diarmuid Connolly giving up a point. Misjudged the bounce n OGara pointed almost goaled. Didn't have a block, didnt have a high catch in the square but did have some good turnovers in the first half. Great game is a big stretch when you look at the full game.

Fowler87

Team:

Hennelley,
Harrison, Caff, Cunniffe,
Keegan, Boyle, Vaughan,
A.OShea, Gibbons,
Higgins, Moran, Doherty,
McLoughlin, Freeman, Sweeney

Wise move starting Boyle at centre half back hopefully it becomes permanent now.

Blackjack

Fowler87 wrote: »

Team:

Hennelley,
Harrison, Caff, Cunniffe,
Keegan, Boyle, Vaughan,
A.OShea, Gibbons,
Higgins, Moran, Doherty,
McLoughlin, Freeman, Sweeney

Wise move starting Boyle at centre half back hopefully it becomes permanent now.

Well if we have to still feckin play the best number 4 in the Country at feckin number 11, this is the Strongest team we have available I think. Maybe Gallagher for Doc, but aside from that, best we have.

SeanJ09

Delighted Sweeney makes the starting 15.

davegrohl48

Aidan OShea will likely sit back as well to protect against Lynch powering down the centre. With Boyle at centre back he's a more frequent passing linkup which is good. He also closes space down quicker as a new option there. Not big but he's pretty sturdy, certainly tackles with ferocity. Shorter man often gets away with a more aggressive hit than a taller player. Refs naturally give bit of allowance. Think he can take to the role, Lynch might trouble him but he would give problems to all centre backs around.

kupus

reasons mayo are going to lose.

backs are shipping goals like there is no tomorrow. THere was a few league games Kildare & kerry (i think) and it looked like everytime there was an attack a goal would be scored. as someone said above it was ball carriers coming through that did the damage. A lot of balls lobbed in were accounted for by the full back line but when its carried through its a different story.

Half back line are not supporting play with each other, there is nobody coming through to help out the man with ball. I dont know how many times I counted man with ball and nobody to help him out.

Midfield. At this stage AOS looks like a liability. He is over carrying too much. Brilliant in the air to get it. But whats the point in getting it if he loses 10 yards later, which kinda goes back to the last point that the half backs have extra jobs to do to make up that midfield lost the ball after a great catch.
Maybe teams will let him catch the ball cos they know within 10 yards they can play the percentages that he will lose it and they can begin an attack.

Half forward line. too much tippy tappy play acting around and not enough direct play. As somebody said above Moran is too happy to slow down play. which gives backs time to regroup.
Shot selection very poor. I know I know (highest scorers in the league) without knowing the stats Im pretty sure they would have the highest number of wides as well, also, too many balls going into goalies hands.

Mayo just do not have a killer extinct to put a game to bed.
Last year, against galway. they eased up. instead of putting a cricket score up against the local rivals. Alright a great score was put up but they could have annhilated galway and set galway back a decade but they just plain eased up.
Do you think for one second if that was dublin doing that to meath or kerry doing that to cork, or tyrone doing that to donegal. they would ease up. Imo I think not.
Fast forward to croke park a few weeks ago and by the end, after shipping goals with balls lost around the middle they were lucky to not have lost with the last kick from the dub forward ( i forget who it was)

I think derry will carry a lot of ball inside and not jsut punt it in.
This will create goal chances. Goals win games.

Barlett

kupus wrote: »

reasons mayo are going to lose.

backs are shipping goals like there is no tomorrow. THere was a few league games Kildare & kerry (i think) and it looked like everytime there was an attack a goal would be scored. as someone said above it was ball carriers coming through that did the damage. A lot of balls lobbed in were accounted for by the full back line but when its carried through its a different story.

Half back line are not supporting play with each other, there is nobody coming through to help out the man with ball. I dont know how many times I counted man with ball and nobody to help him out.

Midfield. At this stage AOS looks like a liability. He is over carrying too much. Brilliant in the air to get it. But whats the point in getting it if he loses 10 yards later, which kinda goes back to the last point that the half backs have extra jobs to do to make up that midfield lost the ball after a great catch.
Maybe teams will let him catch the ball cos they know within 10 yards they can play the percentages that he will lose it and they can begin an attack.

Half forward line. too much tippy tappy play acting around and not enough direct play. As somebody said above Moran is too happy to slow down play. which gives backs time to regroup.
Shot selection very poor. I know I know (highest scorers in the league) without knowing the stats Im pretty sure they would have the highest number of wides as well, also, too many balls going into goalies hands.

Mayo just do not have a killer extinct to put a game to bed.
Last year, against galway. they eased up. instead of putting a cricket score up against the local rivals. Alright a great score was put up but they could have annhilated galway and set galway back a decade but they just plain eased up.
Do you think for one second if that was dublin doing that to meath or kerry doing that to cork, or tyrone doing that to donegal. they would ease up. Imo I think not.
Fast forward to croke park a few weeks ago and by the end, after shipping goals with balls lost around the middle they were lucky to not have lost with the last kick from the dub forward ( i forget who it was)

I think derry will carry a lot of ball inside and not jsut punt it in.
This will create goal chances. Goals win games.

Every team eases up when they've the game won...why risk injury? How many games have been won by more than 20 points? Very few...why? Because teams ease off when the result is clear .

Fr Tod Umptious

kupus wrote: »

reasons mayo are going to lose.

backs are shipping goals like there is no tomorrow. THere was a few league games Kildare & kerry (i think) and it looked like everytime there was an attack a goal would be scored. as someone said above it was ball carriers coming through that did the damage. A lot of balls lobbed in were accounted for by the full back line but when its carried through its a different story.

Half back line are not supporting play with each other, there is nobody coming through to help out the man with ball. I dont know how many times I counted man with ball and nobody to help him out.

Midfield. At this stage AOS looks like a liability. He is over carrying too much. Brilliant in the air to get it. But whats the point in getting it if he loses 10 yards later, which kinda goes back to the last point that the half backs have extra jobs to do to make up that midfield lost the ball after a great catch.
Maybe teams will let him catch the ball cos they know within 10 yards they can play the percentages that he will lose it and they can begin an attack.

Half forward line. too much tippy tappy play acting around and not enough direct play. As somebody said above Moran is too happy to slow down play. which gives backs time to regroup.
Shot selection very poor. I know I know (highest scorers in the league) without knowing the stats Im pretty sure they would have the highest number of wides as well, also, too many balls going into goalies hands.

Mayo just do not have a killer extinct to put a game to bed.
Last year, against galway. they eased up. instead of putting a cricket score up against the local rivals. Alright a great score was put up but they could have annhilated galway and set galway back a decade but they just plain eased up.
Do you think for one second if that was dublin doing that to meath or kerry doing that to cork, or tyrone doing that to donegal. they would ease up. Imo I think not.
Fast forward to croke park a few weeks ago and by the end, after shipping goals with balls lost around the middle they were lucky to not have lost with the last kick from the dub forward ( i forget who it was)

I think derry will carry a lot of ball inside and not jsut punt it in.
This will create goal chances. Goals win games.

I agree that their defense needs to be tightened up, and they should certainly have put the game v Dublin a few weeks ago to bed.
But you should quit with the revisionist history about the Galway game.
A 17 pt win away from home is an annihilation and a cricket score, and Galway have hardly fared too well since.

ColeTrain

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I agree that their defense needs to be tightened up, and they should certainly have put the game v Dublin a few weeks ago to bed.
But you should quit with the revisionist history about the Galway game.
A 17 pt win away from home is an annihilation and a cricket score, and Galway have hardly fared too well since.

A 26 point win would have sent them back a decade compared to a 17 point win

Oldtree

just spoke to these and parking on presentation of match ticket is €6

http://www.q-park.ie/parking-with-q-park/our-parking-facilities/dublin/q-park-clerys

Oldtree

Lovely day for it here we go

SeanJ09

The space Lynch had after he caught that ball was ludicrous.

WesternZulu

Mayo should learn from the Dublin match on how to close out a game playing against 14 men...well lets hope so anyway!

SeanJ09

Surely that should have been a black card for Gibbons there?

Blackjack

SeanJ09 wrote: »

Surely that should have been a black card for Gibbons there?

Yeah, he got a bit lucky i think. Ref is a bit inconsistent as to the colour, but giving cards when they're warranted at least.

Blackjack

Blackjack wrote: »

Yeah, he got a bit lucky i think. Ref is a bit inconsistent as to the colour, but giving cards when they're warranted at least.

apart from just there, when Keegan was dragged down Hughes should have gotten a card of some colour at least.

Mayo very sluggish, making this more difficult than it should be.

Really think we need Dillon back to offer a bit of leadership to the forwards. He played well for Ballintubber in the last couple of days i believe so hopefully back soon enough.

Dammit - Varley on for Mac. I hope Varley has improved from the last few times I've seen him.

SeanJ09

Blackjack wrote: »

apart from just there, when Keegan was dragged down Hughes should have gotten a card of some colour at least.

Mayo very sluggish, making this more difficult than it should be.

Really think we need Dillon back to offer a bit of leadership to the forwards. He played well for Ballintubber in the last couple of days i believe so hopefully back soon enough.

Dammit - Varley on for Mac. I hope Varley has improved from the last few times I've seen him.

Classic Varley point there.

Blackjack

SeanJ09 wrote: »

Classic Varley point there.

Have to agree there!.

homewardbound11

Utter rubbish. If I was to base the championship on that performance I would say we are now a quarter finalist at best. Looked like a side that has a hard training session the night before.

We should now be looking for a centre half forward. Found Andy no longer wAnts to tAke on his man for fear of showing his pace. The most aggressive attachers were our 2 half backs. The only one to hold his head was Sweeney. Very disappointed right through from backs to forwards. As a team we had no composure past the half way line. Derry the newcomers showed more composure in attack

john mayo 10

Poor performance by mayo.Should have pushed on when derry lost their man but never did.Though andy moran was poor today i thought boyle and gibbons played well

SeanJ09

We need some half-forwards. Andy Moran not good enough anymore and DOC disappears from games. Higgins needs to be put back to corner back.

Fr Tod Umptious

That is a very disappointing result.

I really doubt these guys are up for a real crack at the All Ireland.
The failure to win in the last two years will come against them this year.

WesternZulu

Couldn't get a steam of the game so was only keeping an eye on a match tracker on-line.

I really thought that once Derry were down to 14 that Mayo would drive on.

Could be a blessing in disguise, the last thing this Mayo team needs before the Championship is to lose another final in Croke Park and I can't see anyone stopping Dublin.

yop

Poor on many levels. Management now have to review it. Positions of players is wrong.
Poor substitutions.
Need to regroup but I really wonder where we go from here.

harpsman

same oul Mayo.Loads a good footballers. Very few top class players(possibly only Lee(the wink) Keegan and Higgins). Dont have it mentally-will always find a way to lose it when the chips are down. And i think yous are lookin back on pre injury Andy Moran with rose(and green:)) tinted glasses-he was never that good.
By the looks of things Cork will be too good for yous in Semi.

WesternZulu

harpsman wrote: »

same oul Mayo.Loads a good footballers. Very few top class players(possibly only Lee(the wink) Keegan). Dont have it mentally-will always find a way to lose it when the chips are down. And i think yous are lookin back on pre injury Andy Moran with rose(and green:)) tinted glasses-he was never that good.
By the looks of things Cork will be too good for yous in Semi.

Any other tired cliches you want to throw in there while you're at it?

tacofries

On a positive note at least we're not peaking to soon.. who knows, with higgins back in the corner the team could tighten up amd maybe just maybe everypne might hit form progressively each week up to the final!

Heres to the eternal optimist!

homewardbound11

harpsman wrote: »

same oul Mayo.Loads a good footballers. Very few top class players(possibly only Lee(the wink) Keegan and Higgins). Dont have it mentally-will always find a way to lose it when the chips are down. And i think yous are lookin back on pre injury Andy Moran with rose(and green:)) tinted glasses-he was never that good.
By the looks of things Cork will be too good for yous in Semi.

If Dublin win the double I'll take any flack from "yous" looks like both finalists last year are not up for it
Some turnaround since last comment. Where's my straw hat.

harpsman

homewardbound11 wrote: »

If Dublin win the double I'll take any flack from "yous" looks like both finalists last year are not up for it
Some turnaround since last comment. Where's my straw hat.

Im guessing from that gobbledygook youre saying Dublin not up for it-oops, time to hit that edit button:rolleyes:

ColeTrain

harpsman wrote: »

same oul Mayo.Loads a good footballers. Very few top class players(possibly only Lee(the wink) Keegan and Higgins). Dont have it mentally-will always find a way to lose it when the chips are down. And i think yous are lookin back on pre injury Andy Moran with rose(and green:)) tinted glasses-he was never that good.
By the looks of things Cork will be too good for yous in Semi.

I'm not arsed giving a reply to your ****e trolling. We only see you after a defeat with your poor 'analysis'.

harpsman

ColeTrain wrote: »

I'm not arsed giving a reply to your ****e trolling. We only see you after a defeat with your poor 'analysis'.

Thats right-any criticism of Mayo is trolling.Try being a little bit less insular- you ll learn alot more about the world.If you disagree with something try responding with the reasons why,rather than personal abuse and untruthes.

Fowler87

I think James Horan has taken us as far as he can. He's gotten the best out of this group when considering we don't have a real stand out half forward has been some achievement. The team looked dead on its feet today at times both physically and mentally. Positives from this campaign has to be the emergence of Gibbons (lots of options in this area now) and Sweeney. Need to keep the belief regardless of what any bitter people have to say about us

ColeTrain

harpsman wrote: »

Thats right-any criticism of Mayo is trolling.Try being a little bit less insular- you ll learn alot more about the world.If you disagree with something try responding with the reasons why,rather than personal abuse and untruthes.

Personal abuse? Don't be a little girl now.

Your post was a ball of **** and didn't warrant a genuine response.

yop

harpsman wrote: »

Thats right-any criticism of Mayo is trolling.Try being a little bit less insular- you ll learn alot more about the world.If you disagree with something try responding with the reasons why,rather than personal abuse and untruthes.

Ah, you didn't answer the posts which were made last week, but the minute Mayo lose you are back on.
Since you have told us, your Dad is a Mayo man, am sure he is well proud of you.

yop

Fowler87 wrote: »

I think James Horan has taken us as far as he can. He's gotten the best out of this group when considering we don't have a real stand out half forward has been some achievement. The team looked dead on its feet today at times both physically and mentally. Positives from this campaign has to be the emergence of Gibbons (lots of options in this area now) and Sweeney. Need to keep the belief regardless of what any bitter people have to say about us

Agree with you on this, I defended him to the hilt after the defeat last AI, but his tactical decisions and substitutions today and in other games beggared belief.
Confidence is well shot now in the camp I am sure.

Defiler Of The Coffin

We had a similar result last year at this stage and still blazed our way to the final. Glass being half empty though the team looked tired and rudderless and bringing Feeney on with 2 minutes to go for Doc who had been misfiring all day was laughable. The individual performances in the half backs were excellent with Colm Boyle playing his heart out and Vaughan and Keegan giving their all, however they didn't play as a unit and Derry's first goal was the result of the half backs gone AWOL. The Higgins experiment has to end, I can't remember a league where we conceded so many scores. Plenty to work on for the championship, the team badly needs rejuvenation, although it's hard to shake the feeling that this current team is nearing the end of its cycle. Underage needs to be worked on, badly.

yop

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

We had a similar result last year at this stage and still blazed our way to the final. Glass being half empty though the team looked tired and rudderless and bringing Feeney on with 2 minutes to go for Doc who had been misfiring all day was laughable. The individual performances in the half backs were excellent with Colm Boyle playing his heart out and Vaughan and Keegan giving their all, however they didn't play as a unit and Derry's first goal was the result of the half backs gone AWOL. The Higgins experiment has to end, I can't remember a league where we conceded so many scores. Plenty to work on for the championship, the team badly needs rejuvenation, although it's hard to shake the feeling that this current team is nearing the end of its cycle. Underage needs to be worked on, badly.

Listened to midwest review the game after, Billy Fitz made a good point as to why we are so lose. Our 1/2 back line now are more of an attacking force and instructed to so, to the detriment of the job they are meant to do which is defend. They spend so much time attacking that they are either caught up front and/or legless as they have burnt up so much energy.
Higgins should never have been taken off, he should have been moved back to where he "lives" in the backs, I like Kevin Keane as a person but he never got near his man. He is too slow.
Fitz says Horan is running one of the best backs in the Country and I have to agree with him, Higgins is like a man who is totally peed off.
McLoughs in the corner is another mess, should never have been there, but at least if he was to be moved, then take of Andy who is slowing the game down too much and move McLoughs in there, not take the man off!
AOS was out on his legs, he needed to be subbed, he was close to another yellow or a black and yet he goes and takes off Gibbons.

As for Varley!! Sweet God.

Feeney been brought on was a total insult and playing lip service only.

Its only a few hours after the game, but as a fan I am tired, we have had so many lows, yes we have had good wins, but just when we expect a good result we end up blowing it. Dublin 2 weeks ago the same thing. I don't know how the players feel but the league was there to be won, we need to win, its a habit.

I'm sure I will feel different tomorrow, but today I think Horans time is up, he has done brilliantly, but on the big games on the big stage, ultimately his decisions have cost us.

SeanJ09

As someone pointed out above, we did have a similar result against Dublin last year in the League Semi's. Nearly everyone wrote us off for the championship and I seem to remember two out of the three RTE panelists predicting a Galway win in our opening game of the championship.
But ya after today Horan must be thinking about reverting both Higgins and Mcloughlin back to their regular positions. Needs to sort out our full back line and a half forward line. Getting Dillion back is important. Even on his form last year he will have more of an impact than Jason Doc or Andy Moran. A lot of work to be done between now and August if Mayo are to have any chance of AI success.

Defiler Of The Coffin

yop wrote: »

Listened to midwest review the game after, Billy Fitz made a good point as to why we are so lose. Our 1/2 back line now are more of an attacking force and instructed to so, to the detriment of the job they are meant to do which is defend. They spend so much time attacking that they are either caught up front and/or legless as they have burnt up so much energy.
Higgins should never have been taken off, he should have been moved back to where he "lives" in the backs, I like Kevin Keane as a person but he never got near his man. He is too slow.
Fitz says Horan is running one of the best backs in the Country and I have to agree with him, Higgins is like a man who is totally peed off.
McLoughs in the corner is another mess, should never have been there, but at least if he was to be moved, then take of Andy who is slowing the game down too much and move McLoughs in there, not take the man off!
AOS was out on his legs, he needed to be subbed, he was close to another yellow or a black and yet he goes and takes off Gibbons.

As for Varley!! Sweet God.

Feeney been brought on was a total insult and playing lip service only.

Its only a few hours after the game, but as a fan I am tired, we have had so many lows, yes we have had good wins, but just when we expect a good result we end up blowing it. Dublin 2 weeks ago the same thing. I don't know how the players feel but the league was there to be won, we need to win, its a habit.

I'm sure I will feel different tomorrow, but today I think Horans time is up, he has done brilliantly, but on the big games on the big stage, ultimately his decisions have cost us.

There's little to disagree with there, the game has changed even in the last 3 years Horan has been in charge, wide open football with emphasis on attack and the Dublins of this world have it down to a fine art. It's like the management team keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results. We all know the players who aren't up to it at this level but Horan persists with them time after time. It was obvious at half time that we were in trouble and that certain changes needed to be made, but the wrong changes were made at the wrong times, as you said Gibbons should not have been taken off and you could tell by the look on Higgins' face as he went off that he wasn't one bit happy. It's unreal that we couldn't make proper use of the extra man, Derry called it exactly right in not marking McHale, Derry badly wanted the win and each of their players lifted their games accordingly, unbelievable that in the space of two weeks we can draw one game and lose another against 14-men.

All the things we were doing right last year, good hard tackling, rock solid defence, solid in midfield, it all seemed to fall apart in the final last year and hasn't been fixed since. The attacking half backs are a major asset against lesser opposition but we simply can't afford that level of exposure against the top teams. Not saying Derry are a top team but the amount of space they had in Mayo's third was criminal. The half backs were clearly exhausted today and are clearly being asked too much of. The half forwards were problematic last year and it's still killing us.

McLoughlin had a very quiet game today even though he was instrumental in setting up the goal. It's hard to know, he played in the corner against Kildare and I thought he done well that day, plus he seemed to take on a more forward role against Dublin and got MOTM. It really does show how much of a key player he is though, any time he has had a bad game Mayo have usually been in serious trouble.

I know what you're saying about being tired as a fan, today we left with our tails between our legs and meanwhile the Dubs are turning around 15 points against Cork. Two great chances to bring home Sam and today we look like we're on the decline. You'd wonder sometimes if all the heartbreak is really worth it! Still, easy to forget the good times on days like these! Keep the faith!

Oldtree

we are just playing possum in readiness for the championship I'm sure of it.

Fowler87

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

We had a similar result last year at this stage and still blazed our way to the final. Glass being half empty though the team looked tired and rudderless and bringing Feeney on with 2 minutes to go for Doc who had been misfiring all day was laughable. The individual performances in the half backs were excellent with Colm Boyle playing his heart out and Vaughan and Keegan giving their all, however they didn't play as a unit and Derry's first goal was the result of the half backs gone AWOL. The Higgins experiment has to end, I can't remember a league where we conceded so many scores. Plenty to work on for the championship, the team badly needs rejuvenation, although it's hard to shake the feeling that this current team is nearing the end of its cycle. Underage needs to be worked on, badly.

Agree but it will be a shame because Keith had a good game at 10 today and scored a fine point to boot. Starting to find his feet there. Unfortunately the other options we have (lets not forget we were missing our other 2 fbs and also the early Caff injury) or very limited at the moment.

The hunger and fire is fading. Lack of aggression, focus and teamwork in the tackle today is one of our main attributes. But that has been absent for most of this campaign with that second Derry goal basically summing up their state adding also to Horans' defensive tactical change (which others have stated is becoming dated now).

Or maybe we expect too much from this team who have achieved a hell of alot (perhaps overachieved) from where we were in the not too distant past.

seligehgit

Throwing my tuppence in after the long journey home.
The substitution of Jason Gibbons our best player bar none was mind boggling.
Keith Higgins game is suffering greatly with his repositioning in the half forward line and his return to the corner is imperative.
Kevin McLaughlin is more suited to the half forward line than the corner as it allows him to best fulfill his creative potential.
How on earth was Richie Feeney only introduced with a minute left on the clock?He should have come on at half time for either Andy Moran or Jason Doherty.Tad strange introducing Tom Parsons for Jason Doherty.Unfortunately IMO Doc and Andy are not good enough for the championship first 15.Alan Dillon is most certainly not the answer to our woes,impact substitute at best.
Billy Fitz is correct re the gung ho attacking by our half backs.It's fine against weaker teams but we need them to defend firstly against the better teams.Unfortunately it's a catch 22 with the pressure on our scoring half backs to compensate for the lack of quality up front.
What has happened to our exceptional tackling and ability to have a man on the shoulder for the easy offload of the ball at great pace to kick the scores?
Thought Robert Hennelly had a solid day in goal,Colm Boyle stood out in a solid half back line.Yet again Jason Gibbons took all the plaudits in midfield,superb.Mikey Sweeney was the one shining light up front.
At the moment it hard to see beyond an All Ireland quarter final and the Dubs reclaiming Sam.I feel for the lads but we must keep the faith!:)

Fr Tod Umptious

harpsman wrote: »

Thats right-any criticism of Mayo is trolling.Try being a little bit less insular- you ll learn alot more about the world.If you disagree with something try responding with the reasons why,rather than personal abuse and untruthes.

IMO it is trolling.
There are a few non Mayo people who come on here, midweek, after wins, after losses etc, and give good honest and properly structured opinion about whether Mayo are good bad or indifferent.
And I like their posts, and their opinions and appreciate their knowledge and insight.

All you do is come on after a loss and bang out a few old clichés as if you were the first man/woman in the world to come up then.
That is just trolling, plain and simple.
But hey whatever you are into.

davegrohl48

The big positive from today is that it highlights so clearly what our problems are.
1. The concession of goals.
2. The same faces will not work at half forward.

To solve (1) we can move Higgins back and select Seamus OShea as a 3rd defensive midfielder along with AOS sitting back as well. That would force all opposition attacks out to the wings. It's harder to force an overlap from the wing.
To solve (2) Id like to see a forward line of:
Adam Gallagher OConnor McGloughlin
Sweeney Freeman SOS
If Adam Gallagher is losing out due to performance in training that's crazy. He had good games for Mayo when no one else upfront wanted to know. That deserves recognition. Else it makes players unsure of the performance criteria for selection. He hasn't kicked many wides and setup Gibbons for a goal with quick hands against Kildare.
I think we need OConnors consistency and football brain out at 11. Despite what some would say he is a fine passer of the ball. Best in the squad I would think to pick out a scoring assist that others might not see.
Finally I think it is very naive to think Dillon is going to slot in n speed up our play or boost the overall team. Dillon also takes time on the ball and many of his perfect passes are out to the wing out of the danger zone.
Derry are contenders as well. This team beat Dublin yet are not considered contenders!!!!