Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

The kickouts are as big an issue as ever and could hold us back from being serious contenders. Tom Flynn is not fully fit and will definitely improve 50/50's but we're still useless at retaining our own. I don't blame Gleeson or the keepers. Runners are static.

Thought our kickouts were the worst they've been the last day. Usually like yourself I would be quick to defend the keeper but for whatever reason Gleeson couldn't spot the runners the last day. Steede on a few occasions was unmarked beside the new seats and he wasn't spotted. McDaid and Silke at times unmarked in the pocket between the full back and half back line and he only spotted it on a few occasions. At least its something that can be worked on but it has to improve.

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Gleeson is a big fella and has a presence about him and looks a good shot stopper but I'd be seriously concerned about his kickouts. Even if we get players making runs free out to the wings, I'm not convinced he'd be able to pick them out with any regularity. His kicking from the ground doesn't look very smooth.

But the only option is to either stick with him or go back to Power.

It's early days. Kicking accurately from the ground takes alot of practice but it can be learned. It would take longer to teach the facets of his game that he's good at than the ones he needs to work on. I'd stick with him and have the goalies drill the kick outs to death. The movement outfield still needs to be better too.

The 'mood music' from the hurling side of the county isn't as bad as you'd expect. The league this year is focused on trying a few new players in new positions. There's another AI in the current crop of Galway hurlers.

Galway team for the Meath match:

1 Connor Gleeson
2 Seán Kelly
3 Seán Mulkerrin
4 Johnny Heaney
5 Liam Silke
6 John Daly
7 Cillian McDaid
8 Ronan Steede
9 Tom Flynn
10 Eamon Brannigan
11 Damien Comer
12 Michael Daly
13 Martin Farragher
14 Shane Walsh
15 Adrian Varley

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Gleeson is a big fella and has a presence about him and looks a good shot stopper but I'd be seriously concerned about his kickouts. Even if we get players making runs free out to the wings, I'm not convinced he'd be able to pick them out with any regularity. His kicking from the ground doesn't look very smooth.

But the only option is to either stick with him or go back to Power.

Power injured for the moment.

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Galway team for the Meath match:

1 Connor Gleeson
2 Seán Kelly
3 Seán Mulkerrin
4 Johnny Heaney
5 Liam Silke
6 John Daly
7 Cillian McDaid
8 Ronan Steede
9 Tom Flynn
10 Eamon Brannigan
11 Damien Comer
12 Michael Daly
13 Martin Farragher
14 Shane Walsh
15 Adrian Varley

I like the look of that team be interesting to see how Farragher gets on with hopefully more direct ball been given in to him than previously.

MfMan wrote: »

Oh to be young and full of optimism! The league doesn't appear to be yielding up a needed crop of new forwards yet unfortunately.

I’m 54, pal.

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Galway team for the Meath match:

1 Connor Gleeson
2 Seán Kelly
3 Seán Mulkerrin
4 Johnny Heaney
5 Liam Silke
6 John Daly
7 Cillian McDaid
8 Ronan Steede
9 Tom Flynn
10 Eamon Brannigan
11 Damien Comer
12 Michael Daly
13 Martin Farragher
14 Shane Walsh
15 Adrian Varley

They're exactly the changes I was looking for. I think we'll see more goals with Farragher in there. Silke a better attacking option than GOD and hopefully Daly holds the centre and stops the runners coming through for the goal chances we are coughing up. The only one I'm still not sold on there is Tom Flynn. He needs to start putting in some serious shifts on the restarts. otherwise you're better off play Conroy or a defensively minded player with an engine. i think G'OD would be worth a look there. Could solve our issue of being too open at the same time. Its a pity Duggan and Cooke are missing. We'd have serious options then.

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Flynn is our best ball winner in midfield. By a distance I'd say. Steede is a good kick passer and long range point scorer but he's not going to win too much primary possession. Has the potential to be a decent partnership as they are both good at different things.

Cooke a big loss alright as he seems perfect for Joyce's style of football. No Duggan or O'Curraoin now so I think the only other options in midfield are Conroy, D'Arcy and Enda Tierney. Not sure they see Conroy as a 70 minute performer any more. Have a feeling his role might be 20/25 minutes off the bench this year.

Flynn is best at the moment due to our kick out style but if we had better movement on kickouts I think his percentage would drop significantly. Outside of that his contribution is poor and he doesn't really get about. He has the odd good game but they are rare. Against running teams like Kerry and Dublin he's lost. He's still a good option against teams with big midfielders. Steede likes to attack, we need someone that's happy to hold the fort when he does.

Double post

spurshero wrote:

Let’s win tomo first and see where we are then . Meath are not as bad as table suggests they were very unlucky v Mayo and were far from disgraced down in Kerry last week . They will get a result soon let’s hope it’s not tomo .

As I sit here in Navan I'm somewhat worried. And maybe tomorrow will show what mindset PJ has instilled in these lads. Go from 2002 up to recent times how many "easy" games have Galway footballers been red hot favourites and lost. Antrim, Sligo, Westmeath, Tipp to name but a few when the wheels fell off in games we couldn't lose. PJ was a ruthless player. He never took a point when a goal was on. And hopefully he'll instill that cut throat attitude in these lads. This is probably the first game Galway are clear cut favourites. They need to handle that mantle as well. Couple more steps and we could be in a league final. With that can come belief. Match belief and talent and you never know.