DoctaDee wrote: » You don't have to do too much searching thru the forums to find countless "opinions" of BB being the 1 man team ... stop BB stop Dublin is the old chestnut. I'd agree that they're far from a 1 man tean FWIW. I don't know whether you and others post regarding BB to illicit some response from Dubs - but anyone down in Killarney last February will understand that Bernard was far from being an ordinary player
keane2097 wrote: » Why not just argue the points being made instead of going on about some "one man team" thing that neither of us said? I don't think performances in Killarney in February are the sort of thing to prove you're worth your place in one of the best forward lines in the country for September. Brogan was excellent in 2010, good in 2011, poor in 2012 and borderline is a passenger this year. There's a pattern there,I would think Gill's post above is a decent theory as to where it's coming from, but either way the Bernard Brogan of the last two seasons is nothing like a blue chip forward. EDIT: Just saw your edit. On Brogan being "ordinary" - he certainly has been extremely ordinary, if not downright poor, in this year's Championship and wouldn't be in the top 20 of forwards for the season to date. Last year he was certainly a lot closer to ordinary than extraordinary also. 2010 he was certainly extraordinary, and in 2011 he was at least very good, but if he's still playing at current levels next year and the year after? You have to acknowledge the ship has sailed at some stage.
Moneymaker wrote: » Don't think Kerry have shown their hand yet to be honest. I'm confident, but cautious. It's never so simple as turn up and win when its Dublin and Kerry.
Fr Tod Umptious wrote: » Well why have they not shown their hand ? What sort of hand did they show v Cork ? They got a a scare at home v Cork, going for what looked like a very comfortable position in charge of the game to being in a position where they were hanging on You would have expected them to then go out and thump a inexperienced, tried 3rd division team in Croke Park, but they didn't Fair enough they ere not hanging on but their performance asked more questions than it answered. So why where they holding some thing back ? This year Pat Spillane criticised Mayo for essentially taking their foot off the pedal v Galway and Roscommom when the game was over, he implied that good teams like Kerry never do that, never let up on the intensity. If that is the case why did they not hammer Cavan into the ground ? Kerry have no other hand to show, that is their problem.
keane2097 wrote: » What Pat Spillane thinks is not illustrative of anything.
Fr Tod Umptious wrote: » Yea I agree, but I'm sure I heard and read others say it too. It's a bit like the debate you are having with the guy about Brogan, I am no fan of the theory that a team or a player are 'going to come good' at a certain time, when to date they have been average. And there are some who believe that that is the case with Kerry in 2013.
InchicoreDude wrote: » I see your point and agree with it. However, sometimes teams can improve as the season progress. In fact every good team should improve. They should strive to learn something from each game they play. That means a team that has been average can "come good" in later stages in some instaces. Not saying that is necessarily gonna happen with Kerry but has certainly been the case with other teams in the past (even Cork & Clare in the hurling this year, both have improved with each game they have played)
keane2097 wrote: » Personally thought he should have been dropped pretty early on this year, Dublin's forwards on the bench are way too good to be putting up with passengers.
corny wrote: » Overstating it a bit. Dublin have really only had one contest this year and Brogan played well in it. Against Cork it was obvious to see he kicked a couple into the keepers hands and hit the post when he should have scored but he had a good game in general play. He won a lot of dirty ball out of front of Shields and used it very well for the most part creating a couple of scores for others. I agree he isn't the player he was but its rubbish to say he's a passenger with the options Dublin have. KK, Flynn and Rock are the only Dublin forwards who've consistently been good this year. Mannion excelled in the non contests and against Mickey Burke (Brogan would have destroyed him) but was largely anonymous against a decent defender. Connolly was a hindrance in the build up play against Cork and has done little damage with the ball all season. O' Gara, Andrews, Cullen and Costello have done little to indicate they'd fair better than BB when the going gets tough either. McManamon will always be used from the bench. Dublins high scoring totals this year haven't really come scintillating play from the forwards. Its the numbers coming from deep doing the damage. That and Stephen Cluxton. Brogan can still be a match winner. He'll take Kerrys best marker next day or another double team effort but its not a forlorn hope he'll be just that.
winteractive wrote: » Kerry have plenty of things to fear from Dublin but Brogan is not one of them.
Ed Winchester wrote: » Watch who picks him up. Guaranteed its Marc O'Sé.
ProudDUB wrote: » I'd bet my house on Marc O'Se marking BB too. Anyone who thinks he should be dropped needs their heads examined. I bet the people who say that never go to Dublin games in person. They only watch them on TV. If you think that what he scores is the only bench mark for how well he is playing, that is fair enough. But there are loads of things the telly does not show. He automatically draws other teams best markers, and if he so much as looks at a ball, 2-3 players automatically descend on him, coz it is in their heads what he can & not what he is actually doing in a game. There is a reason why Paddy Andrews (before he got injured) and Paul Mannion are having the good seasons that they are. Trust me, if BB wasn't there, there is no way in hell they would be getting the scores that they are. And as for his scoring being the only way to measure how well he is playing...well why not ask that Cadogan lad from Cork how much he enjoyed marking him in their recent quarter final encounter & you'll soon have your answer !
keane2097 wrote: » I'd expect Marc to pick up Brogan alright, Enright's pace would be a better match for Mannion and I'd think Griffin would be the best match up for Rock/Andrews/O'Gara in terms of physicality.
Poor_old_gill wrote: » I always find stories of Enright's pace surprising because he has such am unorthodox gait that he never looks like he is moving particularly quickly- he looks quite cumbersome when running. I have been assured though that he is very quick!
manster wrote: » Anyone else hear that Cluxton is struggling with a hamstring injury?
Poor_old_gill wrote: » Really? Excellent, Kerry might aswell start going easy in training as they'll win the game handy now so