Post Mortem Part3

If our MGMT isn't going to think outside the box

I AM!

I'm going to give you some food for thought

Like it or not we have the best talent in the county within the Squad. notwithstanding the 4 emigrates and injured Shane Lennon

(a further knock on Louth this week as Andy McDonnell, Derek Maguire and Liam Shevlin all jetted off Stateside...so that makes it a magnificent 7 of emigrations for louth this year...sign of the times? more on the pitch factors than economic factors if you ask me)

Note: Are we going to have to get players to sign a waiver! when they take the field in January.

but I'll Demonstrate and not just make do with what's there because there is still plenty of talent there.

(Steady on, I'm Sounding abit like Fitzer now,)

Goalkeeper 

1 Neil Gallagher

No Brainer by far our best goalkeeper, has the best all round package within Louth football and not even the finished article yet.

Full Back line

2 Pops, 3 Jaime Carr, 4 Gerry Hoey

These poor three amigo's must be pulling their hair out, the better they play the more they concede. 

By far our top 3 defenders, Gerry Hoey has been a revelation this year, Pops has earned his place on the side  and is now a permanent fixture by merit and Jaime Carr has been consistent all year. 

The problem for them is out the field but our 3 best defenders and more importantly man markers put them in our last line. 

No surprise so far......Here's where it gets interestin'....

Half Back line

5 Mark Brennan,6 Jim McEneaney, 7 Conor Rafferty

Something has to change and change starts in the half back line we've become far too complacent there and just taken that area for granted.

Mark Brennan at right half back will be the nucleus for change he possess's the strength and pace especially on the solo run to play there.

Also I make no qualms about it he is Louth's best tackler.

Not only would right half suit his style of play but the change, of coming on to ball rather than having his back to goal all the time could re-energise him and give Mark the responsibilty of starting the attacks rather than finishing them. which in turn, could give him a massive boost in confidence.

Jim McEnaney has the best Vision and range of passing in the Squad so lets put him in a position where he can see all before him.

 Allow him to Distribute the ball like a American football Quarterback.

The fact he's played on the forty all his life,I'm sure he knows how to mark one....

Left half is a trickey one

Do I persist with Decie or Give Conor Rafferty a Start , Give Ronan Greene a run or Do I Try out JOE BLOGGS way out of left-field.

I go for....... 

Conor Rafferty, Decie's been given enough chances especially by me but I feel it will be good for him in the long run to get his confidence back up and open an opportunity for Conor Rafferty to start, no pressure and have the settling in period he deserves.

But in Reality this applies both.

talented players.time needed.

  
Here comes the Biggest Change

Midfield

8.Liam Shevlin & 9.PK

I had Liam Shevlin pencilled in here before his departure, I felt his size and fitness would have allowed him to play there let and be responsible for the defensive stuff and let PK do what he does best instead of covering Ronan.

Instead Derek Crilly will come in there Strong and powerful enough for Midfield and can compliment PK just as well and if not better than Liam could have.

Half forward line
10 David Reid, 11 Adrian Reid, 12 Ray Finnegan

This has the potential to be the most fluid half forward lines in the country. Or Maybe I've been watching Spain too much in the Euro's! 

But We've tried strength and defence in numbers now, Why not adopt a Skill and attacking approach.

Based on small mobile players with quickness and rapid reactions to the Breaking ball.

David Reid has been the greatest conundrum in Louth GAA this past decade, Louth club 's top scorer and most natural forward if Down's Conor laverty and Mark Poland can do it we're doing something wrong.

Forward play nowadays is about power, more-so than vision So Adrian Reid on the forty with a direct route to goal makes sense.

Finally I'm taking the Shackles off Ray Finnegan and let him roam around the field not having the responsibility of marking someone.

These guys can keep possession cross the gainline and all have a eye to score.

 

Although small in stature they are extremely high intensity, energy and importantly Skill. 


Final Section to Come

Full forward line

14. Ronan Carroll 15. Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke needs ball winners beside him. Playing him inside with Derek Maguire in the wide open spaces of Croker (or navan for that matter) was never going to work, they were too similar.

Ronan Carroll on the edge of the square offers a platform for Darren beside him Aswell as being a focus for our attacks in general.

I'm not saying we bombard the Square with high balls but at least now we have variety in our attacking options. We know Ronan can play there and has the accuracy to Score.

Plus,he could cause havoc with the new square ball rule.

13. Derek Crilly

They say that the full forward line is the first line of Defence, well, in Tyrone it is so with that same ethos we need someone to hound their defenders and set the tone of intensity out the field.

I had Derek Crilly as that man a natural forward but bringing his workrate from on the Wing to the corner could see have seen him turnover defenders at his ease and set the tone for our other forwards.

This role is now will be given to...Rory Moore.

He's not there to make up the numbers, throw him in and give him first taste of inter county football, young enough and on form with the O'Raghaillaghs being a winger in the corner he will have the workrate and ball winnning ability to make an impact in there.

This team will never be picked or some of the players will never play in the positions I have selected for them.

But, I feel they could work and worth a try.....

Most of all, the Selections eradicates staleness and could provide players with some stimulation enabling them to focus on something different could make them play with more enthusiasism and drive.

and dare I say it Hunger

Sure why not, we're in the Qualifiers, what do we have to lose?

MORE TOMORROW!!!