Mayo GAA Discussion Thread

Oldtree · 30-03-2014 01:56PM

Back to the basic mistakes again, 11 or so wides will always make a huge difference to the outcome of a match and the fitness of mind and body was not there for the last 10 minutes whereas Dublin looked fantastic and had lovely accurate kicking, we were lucky to get a draw. We need to be able to adapt mid match and move away from the plan and as an example when the centre attack isn't working go to the wings after 3-4 goes, switch it around, don't show such an obvious plan.

On the plus side AOS looked to be getting a better read of the game and was in the right spot at the right time making him a devastating player in midfield, we won a lot of ball from the kickouts and there were some spectacular saves from H, well done there.

davegrohl48 · 30-03-2014 03:18PM

I would think after the Derry game we will be looking at a settled 15. That will bring on the defensive n attacking ability of the team. One example is they can really work on getting good ball to Freeman if it is known who the half forwards are going to be. Still reliant on individual moments from McGloughlin n Cillian to get vital scores. Not really too much control when we're attacking. I felt when it was 15 v 15 Dublin were opening us up easier compared to us. Costello n Brogan in particular wrecked havoc in first twenty minutes.

Fowler87 · 30-03-2014 03:35PM

**** could have done with that Cork win

yop · 30-03-2014 03:55PM

Fowler87 wrote: »

**** could have done with that Cork win

V true.
But it means Tyrone are in the mix big time now - After the Cork game,

PLAY F A PTS
CORK 6 98 90 9
TYRONE 6 102 96 8
DERRY 5 101 81 7
MAYO 6 130 123 7
DUBLIN 6 107 100 7
KERRY 5 88 75 4
KILDARE 5 94 111 2
WESTMEATH 5 65 109 0

ColeTrain · 30-03-2014 04:07PM

It was a disappointing finish to last night. There is obvious concern about the fact that we continue to leak big scores. For all the talk about Higgins not being played in his natural position, putting him back there will not magically fix everything. Barrett has to return and there will be serious work done to fix things in the coming weeks i'm sure.

After Omagh we would have been delighted to take 7 out of 8 points and have our Division 1 status secured if it was offered.

TBF to Horan, it can't be easy for him naming a team right now with a lot of big players just coming back. Then he has the Castlebar lads to try and fit in, along with the likes of Harrison, Gibbons, Drake, Sweeney and A.Gallagher putting down markers.
It's vital we make the semi-final in order to get some momentum going with a fully fit squad so we can hit the ground running in Connacht.

Also, I think a lot of supporters need to get a grip, not on here but I read a lot of stupid stuff on Facebook and on different sites with the usual "forget about an All-Ireland with this team". They'd be doing well to remember that we had to go down to Cork and win our final game last year just to stay up and we breezed into an AI Final. Right now we have a better points tally going into our last game with four away games played.

glack · 30-03-2014 04:14PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

It was a disappointing finish to last night. There is obvious concern about the fact that we continue to leak big scores. For all the talk about Higgins not being played in his natural position, putting him back there will not magically fix everything. Barrett has to return and there will be serious work done to fix things in the coming weeks i'm sure.

After Omagh we would have been delighted to take 7 out of 8 points and have our Division 1 status secured if it was offered.

TBF to Horan, it can't be easy for him naming a team right now with a lot of big players just coming back. Then he has the Castlebar lads to try and fit in, along with the likes of Harrison, Gibbons, Drake, Sweeney and A.Gallagher putting down markers.
It's vital we make the semi-final in order to get some momentum going with a fully fit squad so we can hit the ground running in Connacht.

Also, I think a lot of supporters need to get a grip, not on here but I read a lot of stupid stuff on Facebook and on different sites with the usual "forget about an All-Ireland with this team". They'd be doing well to remember that we had to go down to Cork and win our final game last year just to stay up and we breezed into an AI Final. Right now we have a better points tally going into our last game with four away games played.

I didn't think much of Harrison last night. Alan Brogan was first to almost every ball. Deserved to be substituted at half time.

yop · 30-03-2014 04:18PM

glack wrote: »

I didn't think much of Harrison last night. Alan Brogan was first to almost every ball. Deserved to be substituted at half time.

Hasn't performed well in last 2 games, but I remember Boyle and Cunniffe and I thought they were never going to be any use. It will take time, I think he has what it takes, though the time is now!

ColeTrain · 30-03-2014 04:19PM

glack wrote: »

I didn't think much of Harrison last night. Alan Brogan was first to almost every ball. Deserved to be substituted at half time.

In fairness to him it wasn't an easy task and he done well against Cork two weeks ago. I can't see him forcing Cunniffe or Barrett out but he will add good backup.

yop · 30-03-2014 04:39PM

If Mayo and Dublin both lose next Sunday and Kerry win they go through to the semi finals in 4th place.

ColeTrain · 30-03-2014 05:31PM

yop wrote: »

If Mayo and Dublin both lose next Sunday and Kerry win they go through to the semi finals in 4th place.

At least it's in our own hands now. Two points and we are in the semis. As has already been said on here, if we can't beat Derry at home in a must win game then we don't deserve to head to Croker.

yop · 30-03-2014 06:31PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

At least it's in our own hands now. Two points and we are in the semis. As has already been said on here, if we can't beat Derry at home in a must win game then we don't deserve to head to Croker.

We have to beat derry by more than Dublin beat Tyrone.
Tyrone and cork both looked strong today.

ColeTrain · 30-03-2014 06:39PM

yop wrote: »

We have to beat derry by more than Dublin beat Tyrone.
Tyrone and cork both looked strong today.

Just 2 points will be enough.

That will put us onto 9. Dublin will go through if they beat Tyrone, a draw is enough for Tyrone but they are out if ourselves and Dublin win.

1 Derry 6 4 1 1 10-94 7-78 9
2 Cork 6 4 1 1 7-97 8-86 9
3 Tyrone 6 3 2 1 9-95 8-92 8
4 Mayo 6 3 1 2 12-94 13-84 7
5 Dublin 6 3 1 2 6-89 7-79 7
6 Kerry 6 3 0 3 9-82 4-76 6
7 Kildare 6 1 0 5 8-88 10-104 2
8 Westmeath 6 0 0 6 5-63 9-103 0

Barlett · 30-03-2014 06:39PM

yop wrote: »

We have to beat derry by more than Dublin beat Tyrone.
Tyrone and cork both looked strong today.

No after the results today, we just have to win and we're in the semi finals doesn't matter what happens in other games. Although I did hear today that teams finishing 1st & 2nd will have home advantage for the Semi-Finals...couldn't find anything online about it though

harpsman · 30-03-2014 06:53PM

Very poor show in 2nd half last night-Dublin probably deserved to win it in the end-what Ive noticed from Mayo in last 3 Croke Park games is a total lack of imagination among the forwards when theres a bit of pressure on. Only saw 2nd half last night but apart from a few frees and a lucky goal they didnt create much-might have been down to the fact that they took foot off the gas after Cluxton got sent off,assuming theyd win handy enough. It wont have done their self doubt much good not closing out that game.

Fr Tod Umptious · 31-03-2014 09:12AM

keane2097 wrote: »

Dreadful stuff in the second half. You could see as soon as the match restarted that Mayo's intensity was gone - they thought they were playing out time.

There's definitely a sense when watching this team play that they sometimes feel they're entitled to win games and forget that you actually have to go and do it.....

seligehgit wrote: »

Found the game tonight a thoroughly disappointing affair from a Mayo vantage point,I know I'm going against the majority here but I think it is looking ominous for the championship.

Our failure to close out the game with a 6 point lead and extra man is a big setback.....

I think that they are two very important observations

Since this time last year my biggest fear about possibly losing the 2013 final was as much the fear that Mayo would not be able to go back to the well in 2014, and thus usher in another 5+ year barren spell, as it was losing the game itself .
All the promise that we saw in the win v Cork and the loss v Kerry in 2011 would be once again wasted.

I have always though that in order to prove to themselves and the world that they are a better team in 2014 than in 2013 they would have to go out and win the league.
Saturday night they had guilt edged opportunity to secure a SF place, and they failed to do it, and that is worrying.

Fair enough they did not lose, and they have another chance on Sunday next at home against an already qualified side, but in order for me to be realistically confident about Mayo's chances of winning the 2014 All Ireland they have to win that game and the next two with the same intensity that got them to last year’s final.

Anything less is just papering over the cracks.

GBXI · 31-03-2014 12:04PM

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I think that they are two very important observations

Since this time last year my biggest fear about possibly losing the 2013 final was as much the fear that Mayo would not be able to go back to the well in 2014, and thus usher in another 5+ year barren spell, as it was losing the game itself .
All the promise that we saw in the win v Cork and the loss v Kerry in 2011 would be once again wasted.

I have always though that in order to prove to themselves and the world that they are a better team in 2014 than in 2013 they would have to go out and win the league.
Saturday night they had guilt edged opportunity to secure a SF place, and they failed to do it, and that is worrying.

Fair enough they did not lose, and they have another chance on Sunday next at home against an already qualified side, but in order for me to be realistically confident about Mayo's chances of winning the 2014 All Ireland they have to win that game and the next two with the same intensity that got them to last year’s final.

Anything less is just papering over the cracks.

There's absolutely no solid logic behind that statement. What Mayo need to win the AI this year (based on what we saw last year) is to find another classy forward or to improve the forwards that we have. This is all assuming that our defensive and mid-field game is as good as it was last year. More than likely though, this year will be very different to last, as are most years from previous ones.

Based on the league, I would be very encouraged at Mayo's hunger/desire levels which would have been my main concern having lost 2 finals in a row. This Mayo team are different though - the best I've ever seen and most likely the best since '51. They won't go out of this year's championship without a very good team beating them. And they certainly aren't in any way mentally weak as is being inferred above.

MaroonAndGreen · 31-03-2014 12:21PM

This team are still able to win the All Ireland and I actually think we are going to be better this year.

keane2097 · 31-03-2014 12:50PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

This team are still able to win the All Ireland and I actually think we are going to be better this year.

I think you're right that they're still good enough to win one, but I'd be concerned about what I've seen from them so far this year if I was a Mayo fan.

I've had a suspicion that July/August 2013 was this particular Mayo side playing to 100% of its capabilities. I find it hard to see them being better than that this year. That said, if they could hit that standard this season at the right time it would be plenty to win it all IMO.

Standard overall is likely to be worse this year unless Donegal catch fire again.

Fr Tod Umptious · 31-03-2014 01:25PM

GBXI wrote: »

There's absolutely no solid logic behind that statement. What Mayo need to win the AI this year (based on what we saw last year) is to find another classy forward or to improve the forwards that we have. This is all assuming that our defensive and mid-field game is as good as it was last year. More than likely though, this year will be very different to last, as are most years from previous ones.

Based on the league, I would be very encouraged at Mayo's hunger/desire levels which would have been my main concern having lost 2 finals in a row. This Mayo team are different though - the best I've ever seen and most likely the best since '51. They won't go out of this year's championship without a very good team beating them. And they certainly aren't in any way mentally weak as is being inferred above.

I’d love to agree with you and I hope you are right, but I just think that putting in the effort to get to a final for a third season in a row is a huge ask for these guys.

As I have said before it was the win v Cork and the loss v Kerry in 2011 that told me that this team had huge potential, and 2011 was the first step on that ladder, 2012 was the next, i.e get to the final, but 2013 should have been the final step, i.e winning it, and they failed, they failed to go out and play, and manage, the best game of their lives and put the whole bloody fiasco that has been Mayo football since ‘51 to bed.
They failed to give it 110% when the chips were down, unlike the Clare hurlers, who did do it.
I cannot see where the improvement will come in 2014.
Losing v Derry, or losing a semi-final, or losing the final will do this team no good at all, they need to go out and win it.

MaroonAndGreen · 31-03-2014 02:49PM

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I’d love to agree with you and I hope you are right, but I just think that putting in the effort to get to a final for a third season in a row is a huge ask for these guys.

As I have said before it was the win v Cork and the loss v Kerry in 2011 that told me that this team had huge potential, and 2011 was the first step on that ladder, 2012 was the next, i.e get to the final, but 2013 should have been the final step, i.e winning it, and they failed, they failed to go out and play, and manage, the best game of their lives and put the whole bloody fiasco that has been Mayo football since ‘51 to bed.
They failed to give it 110% when the chips were down, unlike the Clare hurlers, who did do it.
I cannot see where the improvement will come in 2014.
Losing v Derry, or losing a semi-final, or losing the final will do this team no good at all, they need to go out and win it.

Dont agree with you either to be honest, avoiding relegation is the main objective in the league every year really.

If we get to the league semi then great, another game against a good side to help us prepare for championship. But I wouldnt be saying we have to win it, we have to win against New York in the first championship game, and then we have to win a Connaught semi final and hopefully a Connaught final after that.

They are the must win games. And they are the games that James Horan and the lads will be targeting.

If we can win a league title during our preperation for the championship then thats brilliant, but its really not a neccessity and I dont see failure to win the league as a failure at all to be honest.

Fr Tod Umptious · 31-03-2014 03:17PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Dont agree with you either to be honest, avoiding relegation is the main objective in the league every year really.

If we get to the league semi then great, another game against a good side to help us prepare for championship. But I wouldnt be saying we have to win it, we have to win against New York in the first championship game, and then we have to win a Connaught semi final and hopefully a Connaught final after that.

They are the must win games. And they are the games that James Horan and the lads will be targeting.

If we can win a league title during our preperation for the championship then thats brilliant, but its really not a neccessity and I dont see failure to win the league as a failure at all to be honest.

IMO each year teams have different objective for the league
For Mayo 2012 was at least getting to a SF, because their first Championship game was not until 24th June v Leitrim, the extra games would come in handy.
In 2013 it was to avoid relegation, as their first Championship game was on May 17th v Galway, in what was expected to be a tough encounter.
They made it to the SF as it turned out, arse backwards really, as they could just as easily have been relegated in the last game. But in the SF itself once Dublin had a large lead early in the 2nd half Horan emptied to bench to give some guys a run.
2014 should be a lot more than avoiding relegation; it should be going out and winning it outright to put a marker down. Winning a national title would do this team no harm., it would actually do them the world of good.
Why should they be content with avoiding relegation ?
They are going to piss their way through Connaught again, so no real challenge until August, a few good wins over Derry, Tyrone, Dublin or Cork in Croke Park is what they need.

TheNap · 31-03-2014 03:20PM

Would Moran not be a better target man at the edge of the square than Freeman .

Caused Vincents a lot of problems on Paddys Day when he was in there

davegrohl48 · 31-03-2014 03:35PM

TheNap wrote: »

Would Moran not be a better target man at the edge of the square than Freeman .

Caused Vincents a lot of problems on Paddys Day when he was in there

No its well proven at club and county that he can't deliver as good as Freeman. Freeman had rubbish ball kicked into him. Get the ball 60/40 favouring Freeman and he'll win it. Moran is much slower allowing full back chance to get a punch on that same 60/40.
With the ball in their hands there simply is no comparison between the two of them. Freeman will not panic n knows how to find space. Moran is easier to defend against, keep low hit hard n you only have to mind his right foot really.

ColeTrain · 31-03-2014 03:36PM

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

IMO each year teams have different objective for the league
For Mayo 2012 was at least getting to a SF, because their first Championship game was not until 24th June v Leitrim, the extra games would come in handy.
In 2013 it was to avoid relegation, as their first Championship game was on May 17th v Galway, in what was expected to be a tough encounter.
They made it to the SF as it turned out, arse backwards really, as they could just as easily have been relegated in the last game. But in the SF itself once Dublin had a large lead early in the 2nd half Horan emptied to bench to give some guys a run.
2014 should be a lot more than avoiding relegation; it should be going out and winning it outright to put a marker down. Winning a national title would do this team no harm., it would actually do them the world of good.
Why should they be content with avoiding relegation ?
They are going to piss their way through Connaught again, so no real challenge until August, a few good wins over Derry, Tyrone, Dublin or Cork in Croke Park is what they need.

It's all good and well saying that but the fact is that the team is gearing up for the Championship.

There was a serious amount of players missing for the opening couple of games and the team was only back training a couple of weeks so it's hard to have any serious expectations. There are still some players lacking match fitness while others are further along.

With that being said, winning the league would be a big boost for confidence and now that we are seeing a full strength team coming together, Horan will definitely be going for it.

Fr Tod Umptious · 31-03-2014 03:47PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

It's all good and well saying that but the fact is that the team is gearing up for the Championship.

There was a serious amount of players missing for the opening couple of games and the team was only back training a couple of weeks so it's hard to have any serious expectations. There are still some players lacking match fitness while others are further along.

With that being said, winning the league would be a big boost for confidence and now that we are seeing a full strength team coming together, Horan will definitely be going for it.

well exactly, they squad is now almost full, they are a home win away from a semifinal place, they should go for it now rather than be content with anything else

davegrohl48 · 31-03-2014 04:03PM

Re going for a league Title it is tied in completely with the three major things that need improving based on league games.
- AOS releasing the ball early. I really think this will help him last games better.
- The defence conceding lots of goals. Won't get into how to solve that but it's at least a 2 part solution between full backline selection and pressuring the counter attack/pass coming through.
- The delivery into Freeman.
Improve to some degree all three and we're right up there with Dublin.

People often look for big dramatic improvements. But if you look at those three Mayo can improve a lot of that on the training ground and bring it into competitive games, starting with Derry game.

The pace in the middle eight will have to be maintained. So if Higgins moves back it has to be someone really mobile to slot in. Similar if Doc ever subbed. That is how you stop teams developing from the half backline or from finding men on their own kickout.

yop · 31-03-2014 04:16PM

I can't find the article but Horan stated that the 2014 league goal was to win it, I will see if I can find it but he stated that somewhere, I mentioned it here month ago but I can't find the link.

Kalyke · 31-03-2014 04:30PM

yop wrote: »

I can't find the article but Horan stated that the 2014 league goal was to win it, I will see if I can find it but he stated that somewhere, I mentioned it here month ago but I can't find the link.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/horan-gears-up-for-major-tilt-at-league-250784.html

yop · 31-03-2014 05:08PM

Kalyke wrote: »

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/horan-gears-up-for-major-tilt-at-league-250784.html

Cheers for that. Wasn't sure where it was

eljoker · 31-03-2014 08:35PM

I only watched the highlights but it looked like a cracker on Saturday night. Dubs are 13/8 to win sam again. It a very very short price but thinking about it when they are on song who can beat them?

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