The Team:Comment

Alot to go through so I’ll take it bit by bit over the morning and leave a comment after every line of the team.


SHANE MC COY
Comment: The biggest Surprise of all, and it shouldn't be really.

Brought back into the set up by AOR this season Who has been his clubmate at Dromintee (Armagh) over the past few seasons.
Why McCoy left the set up in the first place we'll never know? because, He was outstanding and earned player of the year during that stint.
Maybe his trip into the wilderness had something to do with his move from Roche to Dromintee in the first place or, the new management regime that opted for Snitchie and his better kick-out.
And thats the same worry I have about him on Saturday. (not to mention, making his first start in 8 years, dealing with the pressure of trying to repay AOR's faith in him and denting the confidence of an up and coming goalkeeper in Flanagan.)

No doubt about it, he is a super shot stopper some of the saves he pult off in Parnell park in the time he was number 1 were the best I've ever seen in goals for Louth but, like I said yesterday quick kickouts and accurate and varied arrows will go along way in beating Kildare.

I must confess I haven't seen his kickouts since 2005! or a couple while he warmed up in Drogheda during the league so the jury is still out on this selection but, if his kickout has improved in 8 years then it could be a masterstroke of a selection.

POP RATH
DESSIE FINNEGAN
JOHN BINGHAM
Comment:  The same faces in the same places as per normal here, in our most and only settled line this season. Thats fine, I like that our Full back line is settled.

but, It's hard to know what sort of a side Kildare will line out with a possible reconstruction of their team after the Dublin game it makes it even tougher to assign marking tasks.

Dessie will go on the tallest of their inside forwards....be it Brophy, O'Connor, Dowling or Hurley

Bingham either on Kelly, Smith Seanie Johnstone

Leaving Pop on John Doyle? #inpopwetrust and all that but Pop's game is tight spaces and tight marking inside forwards not roaming and running after the deep lying Doyle?

I feel Bingham is good enough to pick up Doyle and do the roaming and man marking role all evening. It is actually perfect for his game.
Whether he is trusted with the Job of marking their spiritual leader I'm not so sure.

Also: Either Pop or Bingham could be given the task of picking up the fidgety Daniel Flynn* Niall kelly on the forty. Sacrificing their game would go along way in stopping kildare's forward play and it would allow Crilly to play and maybe the more experienced Jobser can pick up Doyle. 

Reminder: Does anyone remember the marking Job Mick Fanning done on John Doyle? not once but twice he shut him down in 2010 and 2007 Doyle will be delighted not to see mick striding over to him Saturday night.

JOHN O BRIEN
DEREK CRILLY
RAY FINNEGAN
Comment: Rayzor is back and hopefully with a bang, we'll need him attacking and making all his trademark mazey runs from Deep if we are to win.

For him to come back in it was Reido or Crilly that was going to be squeezed out.
Injury doubts and the lower risk move means it was Reido rather than Crilly.

I think Crilly plays and stays centre back regardless of who is on the forty (more than likely the previously mentioned Kelly) Crilly will be hovering around that general area picking up running from the middle and then starting off moves. He was outstanding against Laois and when he attacked he was a threat against Wexford too. The more aggressive attacking Crilly is on Saturday night the better chance we have!

PK
BRIAN WHITE
Comment: PK is like the keystone on this team and it seems like a constant job trying to find a partner for him but the fact he's outshining his partners so much is, maybe the reason why, Donnelly and Carroll are not selected!
Brian White comes in this Saturday and I like the partnership.
1. as an attacking force
2. for reuniting the successful 2010 midfield partnership.
and 
3. It's the same type of midfield as Dublin (mobile, high work rate and attack minded)

Sure you can worry about White's defence but Daryl Flynn and Sean Hurley are not the type of midfielders to expose us in that area.

They are big men and good in the air but we more than compensate on the ground and thats where we'll try to hurt them.

Remember: 2007 was the year Brian White and his free kicking talent came to light...he kicked scores from everywhere truth be told it was there, right on the touchline under the stand in Conleth park that that the phrase 'White Special' was born!

CIARAN BYRNE
CONOR RAFFERTY
ADRIAN REID
Comment: This is where it gets messy for me and trying to read AOR's mind.....

Ciaran Byrne on the wing when he's played inside all year so I expceted he'll drift closer to goals when the match starts.
Conor Rafferty on the forty for the first time this season, Raffo has come in for alot of flak this season by Louth fans but he's more than worth his place on the team, he's fit strong and puts in alot of work, he might take a tad out of the ball but how and ever he'll not be put on the forty to create but to cover midfield runners, compete in there and be a kickout target. 

Reido, as I mentioned earlier got squeezed out of the half back line but, I still expect him to attack with abandon, occupying Emmett Bolton and keeping him on the back foot much like Paul Flynn did. 

This is such a phantom half forward line as all 3 players could easily not play where they are named.

DEREK MAGUIRE
SHANE LENNON
COLM JUDGE
Comment: This is the line that is going to win the game for us. end of.
Lennon has been in super form all season, Maguire is Due a goal and a good game to boot and Judge will revel in his new role again.

They need to be more fluid and more aware of each other though, being selfless on Saturday night is key. 

The more open and fluid we are, the better chance we have off unlocking their defence especially on the tight Newbridge field and Goals win games 

allow me to go off on a tangent to explain
GGGGGGoals


In todays game, possession football and defences are making GAA like soccer and the value of a goal is nearly the same value and contributing just as much to the winning team.

Not only are they worth 3 points....its the boost it gives the whole side and psychologically also.

case in Point Lyng's and Banville's goal for Wexford was such a blow timing wise more than anything because they came when We were on top.

I really think we need to score goals Saturday night to win.


Lets have a goal in each half target and policy!

The BENCH
 Comment: Injuries and the frantic nature of the qualifiers will mean these lads are going to be called upon.
Luckily we possess plenty of power and quality on the line. I'll go through the cover.

Flanagan GK
Peach
Donnelly 
Ronan Carroll
Bevan Duffy

Midfield Cover: is very strong and all can play on the half forward line too

Pepe
Jim
Clarke
kevin Rogers
Forward Cover:4 forwards with 4 different talents....all 3 could do a a varied job on the night if needed.


P SheelanG Hoey
Connolly 
and
C McGuinness
Defence cover: Experienced and inxperienced cover for both lines of defence there. Gerry Hoey has to be the unluckiest man in the new regime!?




Thats all for today folks thanks For Reading

will have a 'Kildare Louth Myth Buster' Post at 12 tomorrow

in the mean time 

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