Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

The sponsor-less jerseys Look bizarre alright…..😡 in any case looking back at game yesterday there were a serious amount of regulars/experienced players missing/injured etc…..bennets x 3, Hutchinson, Patrick Fitzgerald, prunty, de bourka, Fagan, and maybe one or two more……is there a slight glimmer of hope for later in the year…….?

and staying out before the first half

Not sure it was coincidence as I was watching on TV but it seemed that once Kiely came on we'd a rake of space out the field. Not sure if Cork adjusted to prevent the goal but having Kiely and Ryan as direct options seemed to stop the hesitation out the field. I'm leaning towards starting the two of them and having one of Dessie/Fitzgeralds floating off them in the peter casey/greame mulcahy role.

Overall I thought we were much better on our puckouts (better shape and structure). Our hurling still isn't there yet, 10+ more wides than Cork. Not sure how much of that is down to not having forwards that can make the ball stick. If you keep Cork defenders close to goal; there's more space out the field. Third quarter it seemed that Cork could push up and meet us at in the middle third and force the hurling error/wide.

It's great to see the hurling intelligence of Leavy and Nolan. Always add value on the ball. Although I'm still not sure what I think of Nolan, would much prefer to see him striking the ball than handpassing. Also not apparent on TV how good he is going backwards.

On Davy; clearly 3 managers have adjusted correctly at half time to Waterford tactics and it's taking too long for the counter adjustment to come back in. He should be pre-empting the opposition adjustment at half time and not assuming that we're going well so keep things like they are. Best teams can adjust on the fly with on field "coaches" and handle everything.

Yes. I'd buy one in the morning if I could.

When and where are next matches. Is it Kk and Wex both home games…?

Ref County board

No sponsor as yet Feb 26th

Opportunity missed to promote new supporters club on front of jerseys in the mean time !

Definitely would be future proof, retro and cool!

I know he is very new to management, but does anyone else think Shane Dowling might be a good fit for us in the future? Like him as a pundit anyway: no bullshit (in contrast to our current manager, who says he thinks Cork are either the first or second best team in the country...) and smart – plus the obvious bonus of having won an AI medal and two Munster titles, and recent ones to boot. He called out Davy's questionable and extreme micromanagement of the puckouts on the Sunday Game. Said he was at the Clare match last year and doubted whether a manager shouting instructions at his keeper for every single puckout would be effective in a stadium of 50,000.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ72RbRcZto&ab_channel=IrelandAgainstRacism)

Also think the senior players, Barron and Gleeson, etc., would probably buy in to someone like Dowling quickly and that would be an important factor in "rehabilitation" after Davy – as Christ knows they will need a reset to counter Fitz's defeatist tactics and mindset. I know it's probably wishful thinking, as he was only just appointed Limerick minor manager in Sept 2023. But believe he could be the kind of boss we could do with to steady the ship, reverse the damage, and renew the players' belief in their own ability.

Sunday game Clip 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r6aaY1mMt0&ab_channel=AntiMisandryIreland

I here he takes good positions out on the field.

I would think you are correct. Davey is just throwing out horsesh1te statements to make ‘himself’ look good/appear to be making progress…😡

In the last 10yrs the only bad leagues Waterford have had were 2014 and 2018 when relegated. We've won it twice, been in two finals, knocked out by Galway (winners) in 2017 and finished 2nd in Covid years where group winners made the final.

So it's not true at all, the league record is much better than championship.

People will read it as self promotion, and maybe it is, but I suppose he has to try and form narratives that give the current bunch confidence so I don't mind it.

Ultimately, championship is all that matters.

With the new structure in the league next season it is important , do we really want to go into the championship having dropped into a weaker division can you imagine the fragile mood as it is Davy is on the shortest leash in recent memory of any Waterford manager .

Care to give one example of any poster saying that?

I for one think a spin in 1b would do no harm. You have space to try things and not worry about results, will likely win all your games and get promoted, and will be able tobuild for championship ,you can rest your marquee players and get things right while at a slower pace

A short spin, anymore than 2 years and that would be a problem,