Mayo GAA Discussion

To be honest, I find this post a bit disingenuous. Are you telling me that nobodies arm comes into contact with the side of someones neck when they go up to fetch a ball in any hugh fielding attempt in open play? Are all those frees too?

You are talking about watching it back, well I have done the same and still seen the same things. I think you are annoyed with the team going into blind alleys in the game, and so are now punishing them in your own way by refusing to acknowledge what is the common consensus basically everywhere except here, that the ref had a bad game and gave a huge amount of tight calls to roscommon.

Im not making excuses either - we might well have lost anyway, but Im not going to pretend it didnt happen either. The ref was poor in the game and his performance aided roscommon - whether you want to hear it or not doesnt concern me.

We have had better weeks

Listening to Ah Ref here. Your man Enda having a rant about supporters not being kept updated on injuries... That's never been the case and I can hardly see it changing.

They're also suggesting a mix up that's needed in middle third. Diarmuid O'Connor to CB. Carney and Flynn midfield. Ruane to half forward. RO'D to 11.

I agree a change is needed but wouldn't be putting Ruane in the half forward line.

They had a right cut at Sheridan as well. Squad selection, style of play and his availability to look at players all coming under fire.

They used the example that Galway played just one of their all Ireland winning minor team (as a sub) for their U20's this year... Whilst we seem to have taken on the full minor squad from last year and ignored a team of 19/20 year olds who have been playing senior/intermediate football for a couple of years now. A year or two of players who have been overlooked and not developed.

The style of football was the main thing for me. I'm nearly sure that every sideline ball and free kick went backwards yesterday. Frustrating to watch.

Mayo losing doesn't make that a bad decision IMO

Ruane can’t field a ball. Big problem. Tyrone exposed it in the final that time big time. Maybe if he was at wing forward might take the pressure off him a bit And something has to be done about centre back. Loftus and Doherty are not defenders. Diarmuid would be suited to that role

Wouldn't mind seeing DOC there to see how he gets on. Coen could also do a job there imo - frees up a wing back spot for Hession/McHugh/McLaughlin. If Swannie got back to some form & fitness, I wouldn't mind giving him a go there either

Also agree on Coen rather than Diarmuid!

The Loftus project reminds me of using Kevin McLoughlin as a sweeper!!

I actually liked McLoughlin as a sweeper!!

No, I don't see any huge positives from Loftus at 6 and plenty of possible downside (although I don't think it has really been exploited yet)

The most important thing in bringing players through at that age is not that they are winning games, its that they are following a development programme that will leave them ready to make the step up to IC, when needed. We have seen that Callinan and Touhy are both nearly there and at this stage of their development and would be much better off having been on the bench last Sunday than playing last night. And as it transpired they would have been just what was needed off the bench. With McBrien and Hession out, Callinan could have been an option on Smith or Murtagh. Would have been a great learning experience following on from his league final performance. I think and Touhy could have helped the midfield issues as even though he is not fully developed physique wise, his fielding and mobility would have been a great asset off the bench with the way the match transpired.

Hard to believe that 2014 was the last time Mayo beat either Galway or Roscommon in Championship football at home

No point in having him on the bench then.

I think Bob was played in midfield in one of the latter league games (Monaghan maybe??). And it didn't work out for him at all.

Completely bossed by the opposition.

What Touhy offered was ability to win primary possession from kick outs. And a kick passing option. Would he have made a difference, maybe not. Would his development have been better served facing a confident Roscommon team that playing alongside a bunch of barely 18 year old's in their first competitive game outside minors, definitely. For one he would have gotten high octane championship experience in what was essentially a game that did not matter.

There is a group of quality players who have come through post 2018 who have never got out of connacht at U20. Mullin(😪), Hession, Touhy, Callinan, E.McLoughlin, Coyne, McBrien etc... It shows getting integrated into development squads and getting game time with senior panels does a lot more to bring through inter county players than winning a couple of u20 games.

I think our pendulum has swung way too far to the negative regarding the seniors. I understand the criticism of midfield and Loftus at 6, but we won the league looking very good in the most part doing it, with these in place.

The loss of McBrien was significant and I pointed out here before that we don’t have a like for like replacement.

Carr as well takes pressure of AOS , because he takes minding with his eye for goal. Add in Hession who can do lots of roles like another attacking threat as against Tyrone or as a man marker like against Kerry.

if those three are back, we are well set for a decent championship.