Waterford GAA Discussion Thread 2013- Mod Warning Post #1

Brad1234 wrote: »

Having been at the game tonight, I was disappointed with the loss but encouraged by the start of the year. Knowing mcgrath's style of management I had a fair idea this is how they will try to play but I think tonight is only the start of it and it will evolve and improve substantially on a better surface. Back 7 I was happy with. Sok fair enough made a balls of the second goal but come on suggesting he's weak in the air he caught one on the crossbar tonight had exceptional championship last year and is the best in the county by a mile so grow up a bit and cut out the over reaction. Full line, barry Coughlan grew into it after a tentative opening and then the goal was a killer but plenty there for me to say this guy is a good defender, his recovery pace is impressive and forde was whipped. Shane fives probably only outdone by Mickey Cahill up the other end but what a turn around from this man exceptional. Connors was Connors very hard to get excited cause he does his job all about the team so you have to love it.

Half back line I wouldn't change it for the year the makeup and the balance is all right, they were outstanding as a unit. People here said Philip mah had a lot to prove but I think he just proved to real hurling folk what we always believed. Nagle needs a special mention I criticised him and never thought he'd make it but he again outstanding. Long May it continue. Also made the point bout squeezing the space brick push up on noël mcgrath and he isn't half as effective, second half noël was on his third position,

Midfield is the same way they've always been Shane Sull outstanding at times then goes out of it, thunders in it again then gone again.probably best deliverer of a ball to a forward just want more of it. Think him and molomphy is a better blend. Moran for me can do way more does a lot of pleasing on the eye stuff but gives it away to much and again how fit is he was blowing fair head in second half. Easily our most game breaking and changing player and when pushing on we have no better but I believe he needs to do more team ethic stuff,

Now the forwards there lies the problem. Pauric mah missed 1 free I believe (need a new free taker wtf) generally showed well missed some bad ones from play although one was over. But showed he's coming back from breakthrough year form. The rest Barron started off great but he just doesn't look to me like a forward never seems confident to have a pop at the post, gets lost when on possession over whether he should shoot or lay it off, I think he's a converted back but again was game, all you can ask in feb. Dillon felt he looked like a kid that has played so much at a young age, looks a bit tired and stale. I've great time for the kid and would have no doubts long term but I think he is possibly suffering from what pauric mah did last year. Hope I'm wrong but for he such a cute hurler his movement wasn't great and he got blocked a few times which is so unlike him. Then again only one game so he'll show his class over a longerterm.

Full line where do we start, Shane Walsh started fine on a naive full back. Moved him corner after 15 to get Maurice in it. Pointless and game over for him. When they made it two inside with him made it even more pointless. Didn't use his attributes at all for the night that was in it. Took him off and may as well have after 15. Not that I'm saying he was bad but it was one of the few small little gripes I had with management, never move a guy away from his natural instincts to replace him with Maurice who has no interest in being around the edge. Brian Sull ya I dunno where he can go from here. Pity always felt it was gonna happen but it hasn't but the problem is who's knocking him down for the shirt.

Maurice my god he personifies frustration. Out in half line or don't bother. For a big guy he is brutal in the defensive tackle. His decision making is awful at times then he does a mazy run like in the first half on the outside of two lads and if the pass was a bit better for Shane Sull ud say that's 'class'. Second half hanging in behind defenders. Getting on balls and by the time he has his body opened to strike he's at an impossible angle. Again knocking around at least four years like Brian where is he going how has he improved. I'm looking at this not on a anti west anti east angle (I couldn't give a bollox with all that parochial ****e) but Waterford are now on a short passing movement game and if u had two lads in full line with shocking decision making and another with no movement questions need to be asked.

Molomphy brought in to late to have an effect as were the other subs and he just clogged the midfield even more when again my only other gripe was that was a time we needed to go more orthodox and push for win rather than trying not to lose. The Other subs got no time to put a stamp on it and to be honest I wasn't overly endeared with the bench there were guys there I've seen before a Donal breathnach from ring was a lad I'd like to see or a ray barry to see can he be more than one game wonder but they'll come.

On the system at times it looked cohesive and great other times the conditions didnt suit to continually play that way and it's all a preparation for summer which ultimately is the goal. Only fear I'd have is the system doesn't evolve and we continually have a clogged up middle with little attacking threat and don't push to win the game rather than hang in.

Dare I say it if Bennett steps up quicker than I think and if u could manage to get mullane back I think he'd have some bandwagon of a season.

On tipp well average. Completely ran out of ideas at times gifted two goals more accurate shooting and you'd have 5 more points to claw back. Cahill some hurler prob motm. forwards give them time some style but stuffed up them don't want to hear it. Goalkeeper puck outs had no snow them and looks to me like a fella lost a load of weight but has bad footwork. With not to many to add there won't be any all Ireland in that group, sentiments echoed by tipp people sitting with me.

Brad1234 wrote: »

There was 6 guys from one club on the side over a third of the team so obviously they are going to get a bit of attention but I'll clarify why I criticised shanahan more than Sullivan. Before you'd go to the game if you asked 100 supporters who you thought you're main forward is I'd say 75 who say shanahan and the rest would give you a sound bite depending on the colours

If Waterford are going to progress we need Maurice to iron out the issues that have been shown since he came on the scene but last night it was just more of the same. It's frustrating but he is our only forward where you could say could get double figures in scores if on his game naturally and my theory is we will go down the road like we did with dan but unfortunately with way hurling is improving in Waterford will he get as many years as dan to fulfill his potential. I'd agree I would have got Brian Sull at half time he wasn't attacking anything but for me he's never really in a fixture in the side and do we really think he'll start come the summer. I certainly don't but if you looked at the bench last night who was going to come in and start pinging balls over the bar in the corner we had no forward on the bench really, all natural midfielders or backs. Seamus being a ball winner.

So I also mentioned barry Lismore and breathnach were lads I would like to see and they didn't seem on the bench. So there are two options you could see straight away and then you can whip fellas like Sullivan early doors cause they ain't up to it.

Criticising mcgrath for having bias to dls school players is ridiculous. A lot of his players are the make up of the squad anyway so course he is going to pick them and possibly at the start be a bit top heavy with them such as Roy Keane was when he went into management but he'll soon have to learn that he has to pick his best combinations and I'd have no fear he'll do that and I'd be amazed if he showed bias to certain players.

On the other two Shan deserves more attention as he is going to be around for years, Brian Sull will he be on the panel in a year! With likes of curran Bennett foran gleeson coming through I doubt it. I can see you have no east west agenda but you do with mcgrath which clouds your judgement. One game if same happens in the summer you can go to town.