Dubs go defensive

While you can't knock 4 wins out of 4 so far this League season, there is no doubt that Dublin are playing a far more defensive game this year. The tactic seems to be to have as many men behind the ball whenever possible. Even on Saturday night when Monaghan had Dessie Mone sent off the extra man was kept firmly in defence. Dublin are played a longer and quicker ball into the forwards so we may see a less swashbuckling style than usual this year. There is great pace in the attack so the accuracy of the ball into them will be key. I just wonder if the fans wil embrace this new style? I suppose if it brings long awaited success they will!

Think it will take a few seasons for them to come good.

Armaghgeddon wrote:Think it will take a few seasons for them to come good.

i wouldnt think so - the standards appear to have slipped again this year judging by the league. Galway are horrendous Tyrone are up and down like never before, we are consistently inconsistent. The big 3 this year will be Cork and Kerry and Dublin.

I just wonder though would an NFL title set Dublin back as opposed to bringing them on in terms of the hype it would generate

We have to go to Cork this weekend and still have to go to Tyrone. NFL success is a far way off at this stage. I think Dublin and Cork will both be on 8 points this day week. And I wouldn't read anything into consistency when looking at league matches.

bocerty wrote:

Armaghgeddon wrote:Think it will take a few seasons for them to come good.

i wouldnt think so - the standards appear to have slipped again this year judging by the league. Galway are horrendous Tyrone are up and down like never before, we are consistently inconsistent. The big 3 this year will be Cork and Kerry and Dublin.

I just wonder though would an NFL title set Dublin back as opposed to bringing them on in terms of the hype it would generate

Nope, Dublin will not be in the big 3. Even if they meet Tyrone they would get a beating come championship. Dublin hopefully this year will just take each game as it comes and not have Leinster set in their sights. If anything, if they win Leinster the fans will not see that as a successful year. A successful year would be for them to make the All Ireland final.

In my opinion Dublin wont beat Cork in a championship match, same for Kerry. Tyrone would beat them. Teams that could beat Dublin on any given day would be Mayo, Armagh, Derry, Kildare and Meath.

NFL will breed the confidence that Dublin desperately need. Leinster will be the same old story, so I think the backdoor route would suit them perfectly.

GAA-Fan wrote:

bocerty wrote:

Armaghgeddon wrote:Think it will take a few seasons for them to come good.

i wouldnt think so - the standards appear to have slipped again this year judging by the league. Galway are horrendous Tyrone are up and down like never before, we are consistently inconsistent. The big 3 this year will be Cork and Kerry and Dublin.

I just wonder though would an NFL title set Dublin back as opposed to bringing them on in terms of the hype it would generate

Nope, Dublin will not be in the big 3. Even if they meet Tyrone they would get a beating come championship. Dublin hopefully this year will just take each game as it comes and not have Leinster set in their sights. If anything, if they win Leinster the fans will not see that as a successful year. A successful year would be for them to make the All Ireland final.

In my opinion Dublin wont beat Cork in a championship match, same for Kerry. Tyrone would beat them. Teams that could beat Dublin on any given day would be Mayo, Armagh, Derry, Kildare and Meath.

NFL will breed the confidence that Dublin desperately need. Leinster will be the same old story, so I think the backdoor route would suit them perfectly.

Im lost for words

Some strange things there alright!

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

What attidude enlighten me

mullins wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

What attidude enlighten me

Im taking the 'some strange things there alright!' as the teams I mentioned who would beat Dublin on any given day. Do you think differently?

If I was wrong about that then apologies, but has winning Leinster been of any benefit for Dublin in the past few seasons? Would they not be better off playing against teams from outside the province?

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

I don't think we are in the Top 3 and have never said so. I think we are capable of beating anyone on our day for the past 3/4 seasons - unfortunately it wasn't our day in the last 2 QFs!! I couldn't give a damn about the League tbh - its like United winning the Carling Cup - its the Champo that matters. I think a semi would be an achievement since we haven't been in one since 2002.

Any team could beat any other team on a 'given' day but to see Armagh and Meath in that list ....... it'd want to be some 'given' day ...

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

I don't think we are in the Top 3 and have never said so. I think we are capable of beating anyone on our day for the past 3/4 seasons - unfortunately it wasn't our day in the last 2 QFs!! I couldn't give a damn about the League tbh - its like United winning the Carling Cup - its the Champo that matters. I think a semi would be an achievement since we haven't been in one since 2002.

Any team could beat any other team on a 'given' day but to see Armagh and Meath in that list ....... it'd want to be some 'given' day ...

When was the last time Dublin beat Armagh in a competitive game? Did we not hammer Dublin the past few times we played in the league. Also Jayo, Dublin were in a semi final a couple of years ago and were beaten by kerry

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

I don't think we are in the Top 3 and have never said so. I think we are capable of beating anyone on our day for the past 3/4 seasons - unfortunately it wasn't our day in the last 2 QFs!! I couldn't give a damn about the League tbh - its like United winning the Carling Cup - its the Champo that matters. I think a semi would be an achievement since we haven't been in one since 2002.

Any team could beat any other team on a 'given' day but to see Armagh and Meath in that list ....... it'd want to be some 'given' day ...

Jayo i have'nt seen or heard any Dublin fans talking about reaching the mickey mouse league final or winning it..As for the championship i would hope we can get on a roll and give it a right go this year..

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

I don't think we are in the Top 3 and have never said so. I think we are capable of beating anyone on our day for the past 3/4 seasons - unfortunately it wasn't our day in the last 2 QFs!! I couldn't give a damn about the League tbh - its like United winning the Carling Cup - its the Champo that matters. I think a semi would be an achievement since we haven't been in one since 2002.

Any team could beat any other team on a 'given' day but to see Armagh and Meath in that list ....... it'd want to be some 'given' day ...

Meath never lost to Dublin by that much last year.

As for Armagh, you really think Dublin would beat Armagh playing defensively?

I was actually talking to Boc about Dublin being in the big 3.

samin10 wrote:When was the last time Dublin beat Armagh in a competitive game? Did we not hammer Dublin the past few times we played in the league. Also Jayo, Dublin were in a semi final a couple of years ago and were beaten by kerry

No - it was Mayo in 2006 - trying to forget that one. Forget the league - but we haven't played Armagh in years but I would not fear any Armagh team of the last 3 years.

[quote="GAA-Fan"]

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

Meath never lost to Dublin by that much last year.

As for Armagh, you really think Dublin would beat Armagh playing defensively?

I was actually talking to Boc about Dublin being in the big 3.

See above - you tell us we think we are in the Top 3 and then say YOU were saying it to Boc. This is the kind of stuff we have to put up with all the time. Accused of being up our own a**es when its other people that are making the statements ....

Thread title now has another meaning ............

[quote="Jayo Cluxton"]

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Some strange things there alright!

Same attitude every year. Winning NFL is not going to make a difference. You are beating teams in NFL and think you are in the top 3. Shame on you dubs

Meath never lost to Dublin by that much last year.

As for Armagh, you really think Dublin would beat Armagh playing defensively?

I was actually talking to Boc about Dublin being in the big 3.

See above - you tell us we think we are in the Top 3 and then say YOU were saying it to Boc. This is the kind of stuff we have to put up with all the time. Accused of being up our own a**es when its other people that are making the statements ....

I actually like Dublin, but you were the ones that found what I said was strange when it was far from it. You play against Armagh defensively McDonnell and Clarke will have a field day. You were the one saying that Dublin have gone defensively. Meath were only beaten but 2/3 points? What wrong with saying that Meath can beat Dublin?

Ill admit saying about Dublins attitude was unreasonable but they do have more of a reason than anyone to be confident about this years championship atm because they are performing, not blowing hot and cold. More consistency this year.

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

samin10 wrote:When was the last time Dublin beat Armagh in a competitive game? Did we not hammer Dublin the past few times we played in the league. Also Jayo, Dublin were in a semi final a couple of years ago and were beaten by kerry

No - it was Mayo in 2006 - trying to forget that one. Forget the league - but we haven't played Armagh in years but I would not fear any Armagh team of the last 3 years.

The Armagh team of the past few years went to the shitter with McDonnell, he didnt play to the strengths of the team and instead tried covering the weaknesses. O'Rouke is attack minded, this way suits Armagh.

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

samin10 wrote:When was the last time Dublin beat Armagh in a competitive game? Did we not hammer Dublin the past few times we played in the league. Also Jayo, Dublin were in a semi final a couple of years ago and were beaten by kerry

No - it was Mayo in 2006 - trying to forget that one. Forget the league - but we haven't played Armagh in years but I would not fear any Armagh team of the last 3 years.

actually forgot about that the Mayo semi, Kerry beat Dublin in 2007 semi final by a couple of points, so thats two semi finals since 2002

samin10 wrote:actually forgot about that the Mayo semi, Kerry beat Dublin in 2007 semi final by a couple of points, so thats two semi finals since 2002

Jeeze I forgot the Kerry one - except for Cluxton near the end ....

I don't rate Meath at all. I know they came within a couple of points of us and drew a couple of years before that but we played pure muck those days - pure muck. Fair play to Meath they have got further than us in recent years with an extremely poor team - before getting right hidings (like us!) when they played anyone decent.

not much chance of Kildare beating Dublin or many others for that matter - while some say they dont pay any heed to league football he has too count for something come champo time - bad habits during the league can be hard to eradicate in time for the championship while a head of steam built up could be worth 2-3 points in a tight game.

The top table of football is changing lads - Kerry will still be the team to beat but the make up of the chasing pack could change a little.

I watched the highlights of the Dublin V Monaghan game on Saturday night and at one stage the commentator reported that there was 14 Dublin men in the Monaghan attacking half of the field with Bernard Brogan left as the solitary forward. He then went on to comment about this "New Expansive defence" Dublin had employed.

I seem to remember similar commentators and analysts referring to this defensive format employed by "other" teams as "Blanket Defence", "Swarm defence" and even "puke football". "Expansive defence" definitely has a more positive ring to it and its seems to be working for the Dubs. Cork away and Tyrone away will be a real test for the unbeaten record I'd say and will test their resolve but an NFL title is definitely a possibility for Dublin.

mugsys_barber wrote:

I seem to remember similar commentators and analysts referring to this defensive format employed by "other" teams as "Blanket Defence", "Swarm defence" and even "puke football". "Expansive defence" definitely has a more positive ring to it and its seems to be working for the Dubs.

good point mugsy. i've yet to see a dublin match this year but im looking forward to their visit to omagh should be a good open game. I still think cork are the best team in the country though and the cork dublin match should give a good indication of where dublin are at in terms of development.

Cliché i know but dublin need to be warey of peeking too soon with their training twice a day etc. It may be the case that they are ahead of the pack in terms of fitness, although as i say i havent seen any of their games.

joan_balantine wrote:Cliché i know but dublin need to be warey of peeking too soon with their training twice a day etc. It may be the case that they are ahead of the pack in terms of fitness, although as i say i havent seen any of their games.

There are still a few of them puffing hard in the second half - believe me! I couldn't disagree that there seems to be a blanket defence type game being put together by Gilroy. When the opposition have the ball up to 13 outfield players will funnel back into our own half. When we win the ball there is either a pacey break out or a long ball into the forward line. It is working in terms of results but I am not sure how it will go down with those who prefer the swash buckling stuff!