Hopefully dirty harry can have a big game in the centre. If harry can start shaking armagh lads like rag dolls we should be in with a good about.

Hope MOD leaves no stone unturned and has team ready for armagh cynical play

Our team have upped their physicality this year --less evident against Longford than against Louth. More of the same please.

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1821 - 25/01/2016 12:19:47    1818995

I'm expecting us to win and no reason why we shouldn't, some momentum after the O'Byrne Cup and Armagh are not the Armagh of old, or even two years ago, I think we can punch enough holes in them to pick up the points.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3748 - 25/01/2016 13:31:24    1819044

No reason we cant start with a win, we have played competitive games over last few weeks, we are at home and Armagh are short a few. This is a must win game that should set us up nicely for remaining games

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2214 - 25/01/2016 20:29:29    1819224

Yes this is one record mod can put back on track, we had never lost (in championship) to Tyrone (forgivable) Armagh (unforgivable) or Westmeath (I won't even say how bad that is) until mod tenure. I expect this to begin a more aggressive approach to Meath on Sunday and I confidently predict a more ruthless Meath than the one that let us down in croke park two years ago. Time to man up, get in refs ear, pint out every cynical move Armagh employ (we all know what they will do) and then employ a few of our own, its time to win again at any cost or anyway. Hon the Royal.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/01/2016 21:17:12    1819239

Westmeath was unforgiveable alright, but we had played Armagh once, and Tyrone twice in the history of the GAA. You make it sound like we had played them year in year out and never lost until MOD came along. You're honestly complaining about ending a one game winning streak vs Armagh?

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1677 - 25/01/2016 21:46:24    1819254

Well said rd.

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1821 - 25/01/2016 21:49:46    1819256

" I confidently predict a more ruthless Meath than the one that let us down in croke park two years ago."

Out of curiosity, why are you predicting a more ruthless Meath team. I'm not saying it can't or won't happen, but I don't understand the reason for your confidence. What has happened between the end of the championship last year and now to suggest that this team has learned to be ruthless? A few O'Byrne cup games against average opposition?

There is no point in saying "because we have to start being more aggressive if we want to win", or "we have to start being more cynical like the northern teams" or "we have to start getting in the refs ear". We all know that we HAVE to do those things. What I am asking is where is the evidence that we actually WILL do those things, or even that we CAN do them?
Knowing what to do is one thing. Wanting to do it is another. But actually going out and doing it is a whole different thing completely. And I certainly haven't seen that we have changed that much since last year to suggest that we are going to go out this year and do it.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 26/01/2016 08:56:52    1819264

All we can do is wait till Sunday and see what progress if any has been made, this is our first proper test since Tyrone last year and it is very important for us to get off to a good start.

At this stage I really don't care if we start winning ugly or unimpressively, any sort of win is better than a loss. I'm hoping we can find a way to win, no matter what it is and stick to it, with a settled team as well (if injuries allow it). MOD is heading into his 4th year now and at this stage he really should have a strong idea of his starting team, key subs and playing system, we can't be at sea for another year.

Ps, I acknowledge with all the injuries though that midfield is a problem, which is all the more reason why kickouts are very important to us because we can't rely on Rooney to catch every ball. Our wide players need to make themselves available for every kickout and fingers crossed Paddy has a few more days like last Sunday.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 26/01/2016 10:05:12    1819285

Well ill start with castlebrao. Too bloody right I'm annoyed at loosing to Tyrone and Armagh, Tyrone had a lot better team in 07 than few years ago, now so had we but man for man it would have been lot harder to beat them that day than few years back. Armagh was a shambles, as anyone knows I watched that game soaked to skin in disbelief, knowing exactly what they would do, the only person in country who didn't was mod the way he set up team. And less said about Westmeath the better.
Afearbeg. Well the point is apart from micky burke and graham Reilly I haven't seen any evidence during O'Byrne cup, but them two yes, getting into the refs ear, and a bit of aggression. Now why I confidently predict it is cause year 4 in what has been the worst 4 years in Meath football in living memory mod was given another chance by county board without any discussion with clubs etc, surely they would have not done so without certain guarantees. I think and hope that on Sunday we will see a new Meath , if not , well then !!!!!

But I am the eternal optimist . Time to get the fingers out, get behind players and management, and believe. Hon the royal.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/01/2016 11:16:38    1819311

Htaem: Totally agree that an ugly win will do just fine at this stage. I'd take winning ugly and often over getting spanked any day of the week. I feel it's a must win game so here's hoping for a big crowd to give the lads all the support they need. As for the previous comment about a new "ruthless" Meath, I'd love to see it, and if anyone's spotted it lately, let us all know, as I haven't seen any evidence to prove it's existence. If it does actually exist, it'll have to be on show this weekend.

moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 486 - 26/01/2016 11:21:32    1819314

moylagh

A couple of wins under the belt could do wonders for this fragile Meath team, they need that bit of confidence and I'm not saying we have to get cynical but we have to be far more clever when finishing off games.

royaldunne

I love the optimism as ever, it's always nice to see and hopefully you're right, hopefully the squad will learn how to be more forceful and aggressive but it remains to be seen. There's nothing more depressing than a timid Meath team, it's the ultimate kick in the knackers!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 26/01/2016 12:35:32    1819343

Hyaem as you know my optimism has taken a battering over past few years in particular against Armagh (that's why this is so important on Sunday) and obviously living in Westmeath, I will never get over June 19 2015 or be allowed to forget about it every day of my life.
But I'm back again, I seen a few traits on Sunday that gave me hope, same against Louth and Laois so here we go again.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/01/2016 12:51:48    1819354

A few players have bulked up (Sean Tobin, Harnan etc) but there have been occasions during recent games when Meath players could/should have shouldered opposition players over the sideline but chose to tackle them instead. Alan Douglas is probably the only new addition to the squad that shows some old-school physicality in his play. Of course next Sunday will be a good test as to whether this team will allow themselves get dominated/pushed about/intimidated or not. It is important that they show confidence and assertiveness - stand up for themselves, but without indiscipline.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 26/01/2016 12:57:30    1819358

We should be targeting points in all our home games; Armagh, Cavan and even Tyrone. We need to make PT a tough place for teams to play and use the big pitch to our advantage. For me, Derry and Galway away from home will be our toughest games. In terms of promotion, teams have lost two games in the past and have still gone up and I'd expect this year to be no different. Getting to division 1 must be our target as anything else would only be a backwards step considering we have finished third for the past two seasons.

Coolnahinch (Meath) - Posts: 22 - 26/01/2016 13:09:56    1819365

The head to head result of Meath vs. Armagh might be very important come April. We need to think of every game like this, not just about two points. With a home fixture and two more competitive games under their belts, they really need to make the most of that advantage on Sunday.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 26/01/2016 13:24:09    1819372

any news on what players were dropped off panel ? I heard the panel was been cut last night or maybe its tonight.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1096 - 26/01/2016 13:27:51    1819375

Douglas, Finn and Smyth are definitely worth holding on to. Not entirely convinced by McDonagh, Battersby and Tobin and with the Ratoath contingent and McEntee from Curraha to return, I can't see them playing a big part this year.

Coolnahinch (Meath) - Posts: 22 - 26/01/2016 13:39:02    1819384

Very little between ourselves and Armagh, so with home advantage I would be expecting a win. This should give us the required boost in confidence to challenge for promotion,
On the injury front will McGill be available for selection?

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2214 - 26/01/2016 13:48:20    1819388

Seems unlikely seadog. No sign of him in the Ratoath team over the weekend so he's probably not fully fit yet. Likewise with Donnacha Tobin but he's probably closer to a return than McGill.

Coolnahinch (Meath) - Posts: 22 - 26/01/2016 14:27:30    1819404

Seadog

McGill played for Rataoth at the weekend..

I think we have better players than Armagh,especially if you consider they are missing the Cross players and no Jamie Clarke.But its their style we struggle with more..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 26/01/2016 14:28:29    1819405