Replying To Gleebo: "I would kinda worry though that Aido has lost a yard of pace and that has not been lost on opposition managers. Certainly, he got burned for pace by J McCarthy for the goal at the start of last year's All-Ireland and it also happened in the Galway match where he started centre-field, until he was moved to full-forward, where he actually played quite well.
The tactic of bringing him in for the throw-ins has been neutralised also, as often an opposition midfielder steps across him, and the refs are usually following the ball in the air and miss it."
I'd go further and say that some refs don't throw the ball in straight to give the other guys a chance, same as they ignore 90% of fouls committed on Aidan because he's a big lad and shouldn't need their help. I can't remember the last time he won a throw-in and he used to win nearly all of them up to a couple of years ago. He might have gotten slower but he hasn't gotten shorter!
Replying To HuddHastings: "I think he just about squeezes into the starting team for the final, i reckon 14 of the starters are nailed on and its probably one of McHale/AOS/Carr who will get that final spot,in which case AOS will probably get the nod.
He really was awful on saturday, the transformation when he went off was like night and day. I know everyone has the occasional off day but there are dozens of examples now of him not doing the business against the top 4-5 teams in big games. Its definitely a trend for a number of years now
Seems like there are always excuses made for him too,"they dont know his best position","the ball into him is bad etc". Cant use that excuse after saturday as the whole gameplan was built around him in first half with loads of ball going into him. The occasional winning of a throw in or turnover really arent enough when you look at what newbies like ryan o'donoghue and conroy are contributing (tackles, turnovers, scores, speed)
I think he will start the final and actually should do ok against Jason Foley who is a major weak link in that kerry backline but will be interesting to see what they do with him next season with cillian o'connor back in the team, i dont think horan will play both together as he seems to be favouring sheer pace above all else at the minute. Both lads slow it down far too much"
I think he tries to do too much... takes on too much responsibility and tries to be everything everywhere. He's never had the pace and mobility for that and as Gleebo pointed out whatever pace he had wouldn't be improving. He needs to do a job for the team, not every job for the team.
Replying To Pericles: "I think he tries to do too much... takes on too much responsibility and tries to be everything everywhere. He's never had the pace and mobility for that and as Gleebo pointed out whatever pace he had wouldn't be improving. He needs to do a job for the team, not every job for the team."
Aidan ó Shea will start final and deserves to imo. Aidan has been poor against Dublin on more than one occasion but always seems to play well v Kerry and Tyrone. Also I was listening to Newstalk radio last night and an ex Mayo player (sounded like Andy Moran) said that Aidan had a foot injury all last week and it was known he would last full game. Aidan has been a titan for Mayo over the last decade.
Replying To totalrecall: "Stay off the Jamaican woodbine's man...."
First year in a long time I have the final a 50/50 game in my book no matter who wins the other semi, I suppose if it's Tyrone then I'd make Mayo favs, if it's Kerry then it's 50/50. Mayo have to win this one. Young team they have now are very impressive, I hope for their sake Horan drops O'Shea to the bench.