Replying To Lockjaw: "My second attempt to post...
Yesterday we badly missed a natural left-footed forward I thought. With the way the wind was blowing second half, it suited a Paddy McBrearty type run, bombing out on the loop and arcing points over. Obviously Paddy is gone now, and I'm not sure how far away Ciaran Thomspon is.
I could be wrong, but I think the majority of our points second half were left footed efforts, albeit from naturally right footed kickers. That's good. But the problem was we needed about 3 or 4 more. That's not even taking frees into account either.
Speaking of which, Cork were very disciplined in that regard, think they only conceded one scoreable free which Murphy nailed early on?? Fair play to them, they probably have the best free taker in the country in Sherlock, and when they smelt blood they went for it.
Our plan A is very good when it's working. But I thought we lacked a bit of imagination yesterday. There seems to be an obsession with ball retention. It's very rudimentary as a tactic, but the big bombed ball into the square on occasion has its merits. Especially when we have men like Murphy, McGee and Langan who would certainly give a full back line food for thought under a high ball...
Anyways, lets see what the draw brings."
With Thompson injured, Donegal don't have a dependable left footed 2 pointer option
The problem is opponents know they only need maximum heat on Donegal players outside the arc when Donegal are looping left to right for right footed 2 pointer shots, when Donegal is going right to left round the arc there is alot less threat of someone shooting with their left foot, so opponents can risk dropping deep into the arc to prevent incision runs as they know the left foot 2 point threat is unlikely.
Replying To SurelyToGod: "What do you disagree with or do you just not like Jim's failings being highlighted?
To be clear, I rate McColgan very highly as a wing-half back or as a wing forward. Similarly, I rate McGuinness highly as a coach but once things go wrong on the pitch he really struggles to make positive changes from sideline."
This is Jim's 3rd year. 2013 was his 3rd year too and it was our worst season. He produced a masterclass v Tyrone and then we faltered badly to Monaghan before Mayo put us out of our misery. Maybe the 3rd season on the go is toughest on the players at this intensity.
Also I know hes the messiah to us but maybe the pressure on him is having an effect. He is human and is under incredible scrutiny from press, hated by the country and feels the weight of all our hopes and dreams. He has cooked up a plan for Kerry but unfortunately there's now 14 teams than can beat anyone on their day at the highest level.
If we get Dublin in the draw, it will be Ger's ban v Jim's escape all in the build up.
Replying To benjyyy: "The lack of variation is a problem and has been a problem for a long time. Its not about Plan A and Plan B because a good Plan A has variation in it. So many of our problems stem from being too predictable.
When you get a championship ready, organised and disciplined defense we really struggle to get shots off from the areas we want playing the way we do. Teams know we aren't going to kick the ball in so can commit more players to minding the arc and that also hampers our ability to get shots at 2 pointers off.
I just cant understand why we cant try to build in an option to make use of the offensive mark, which is a disproportionately advantageous rule. All you have to do is have a forward make a dash towards the sideline and hit a 25m pass from the 40. If you make the catch its almost certainly a score as you get 2 chances at it.
I'm not suggesting to throw away the gameplan overall but you have to mix it up a little. The way you create mistakes in defenses is by forcing defenders to make decisions. We are so predictable that defenders are on autopilot most of the time, they dont have to think at all"
The predicatability is an issue yes, one stage in 2nd half we had the 3 on 3 inside, Gallen was well in front of his man the exact situation that the new rules allow to be exploited but kicking it in is just not part of any plan. Also too much predictability in terms of Langan seemingly the only man either given licence to or willing to take on 2 pointers. McHugh, Mogan, Murphy all have the ability to kick a 2 pointer, as another poster pointed out at this stage you shouldn't really be in a county panel playing anywhere from half back up and not have the ability to kick a 2 pointer on occassion. Need to start firing a few shots, even if their wides it'll force teams to think a bit more.