Dublin GAA Discussion Thread: Mod Note - No 'Dublin Dominance' chat allowed!

It seems to happen every great team in all sports. Manager relying on same faces, younger lads can’t break through.

Then when most of the old stars retire or are no longer up to it there is a massive vacuum. Younger players already on panel don’t have the experience to kick on stake their claim.
Then needs a complete clear out waiting for the next generation from the under age teams to emerge.

That’s why I knew we were fecked when Fento left. He was carrying that midfield as it was. Also perfect age to try and bridge gap between younger lads and older retirees on panel.

But in fairness to Fenton he always planned to leave Dublin after 10 years regardless, according to what he said in media.

https://www.the42.ie/brian-fenton-dublin-4-6546768-Nov2024/

Even a below his best Stevo is really the only keeper available to us to find a man from our own kickouts .Our ratio for winning our kickouts in the league overall must be one of the worst .

New rules have shone a light on the Dooobs….no longer can they walk the ball from goalmouth to goalmouth basketball style.

The days of the endless 'throwing' the ball around have gone…… its as simple as that.

And good riddance.

Dean Rock used to dominate them for obvious reasons have not really replaced him since. Then Mannion left. Costello is good at 45's "on his day". But does not seem to have the consistency. I know it was with the wind in the second half, but those 2 pointers suddenly started happening when the pressure was off.

And I realise that @Brendan Bendar above is on the wind up. And is being delberately oblvious to the nuance of Dublin's play over the years. As that poster in general has a history of being very bitter about Dublin (for some reason).

Other counties would take severe offence on other threads if that was said about their county. But Dublin fans in general are made of sterner stuff, not as sensitive as some! It is when a county does not get abuse/slagging, they should be worried then as they are no relevance/threat.

So I am pleased that there are STILL those like @Brendan Bendar who are thinking about Dublin first thing in the morning. That is a good sign. That fear of Dublin is still there from some quarters. Still in conversation albeit not as prominent as in the past.

It has got me thinking, Dublin have definitely gone more direct over the last three years or so. Worked a treat against Mayo in that AIQF where pace was relied on and Kilkenny was benched.

Peak Dublin's strengths used to be that ability to adapt to any style of play during the course of a match. Not just finding the shooting zone and being patient.

When Dublin were flying that key signature move used to be the quick switch of play from one side of the pitch to the other. Players moving at angles at pace. Providing options. Opponents didn't know what to do.

But the glaring issues now are clearly goalkeeper (after Cluxton) and the midfield. Coming at the very time that the new rules lean heavily on a dominant midfield and keeping finding them. @Brendan Bendar is half right there. As with any exaggerated lie, it normally comes from a kernel of truth.

It is not just the freetaking that needs to improve, but the movement of the players, ball winning, and game management. They are all things that can be worked on.

Thankfully the championship is very wide open, and if Dublin knuckle down find a system that suits Similar to how Louth have.It is no coincidence that Louth’s improvement is because of a Dublin legend.

Dublin are more than capable of shocking the top dogs like Donegal/Kerry. There is no real pressure on this Dublin panel, no expectation compared to previous years. So theoretically there should be more freedom in the play, not tension and wild shots.

I wouldn't pay any heed to Bender. He's just anti anything GAA related. Some really strange posts.

Any sign of Paddy Small coming back for Dublin. Himself, O'Callaghan and Costello could be a dangerous full forward line. Would be a handful for any full back line with their constant running.

That full forward line might have put fear into defences few years back but it wouldnt really inspire me now. Paddy Small never really had any pace and with all the injuries he wont be burning any top defenders. He has a sweet left foot but who knows what condition hes in at the minute. His match fitness would take time anyway.

Costelloe has always been hit or miss. When hes good he can be really good but equally when he's not on it he can be dreadful. Never found him to be very consistent.

Con is our marquee forward hes unstoppable when on form but he's not getting any younger either not sure he is capable of destroying defences like he used to do. If i was in Kerry, Tyrone, Donegal full back line i wouldnt be having sleepless nights if i knew i was coming up against that line. Basquel at least offers pace in that line. Our biggest problem is options off the bench. Cant remember when we've looked so poor in that respect.

Cluxton took a free during the league and it was atrocious, around the same sort of distance he scored the 2011 AI final free. Must have been Galway? Unless I imagined it!

I was wondering could Cluxton get back to taking frees? Surely all it takes in practice? Loads of other counties seem to have their keepers stepping up to take 2 pointers etc.

I remember when it was even worse freetaker wise. Redmond was gone. Wayne McCarthy was supposed to be his protégé basically because he used to gather the balls up for Redmond back in Erin's Isle. But Jayus he was a brutal freetaker!

But it got even worse than that back when Paidi O'Se's Westmeath beat Tommy Lyon's Dublin 2004 Leinster QF. You had Paddy Christie stepping up to take 45's!!! That was how desperate it was. And most Dub fans wouldn't guess who was in goal that day. The hint is it wasn't Cluxton. And he wasn't even a Dub!

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2004/0606/182276-westmeath/

There is always the bright side, good chance Kerry won’t win Sam either!😉

To be honest in general I am finding the football more exciting than the hurling. The hurling dare I say it, seems to have a predictability about it with obviously dominant sides. The football if you asked me to put my money where my mouth is, I would be struggling.