Sharp Eye wrote:
On Sunday next, Eamon Kelly must pick Two Players with experience of playing midfield. Padraig Guinan and Jason Sampson were not suited to the midfield role yesterday.
For the game against Laois, which we must win Offaly must play 6 forwards. Our forwards will not score much if there are 5 forwards on 7 backs with poor quality delivery from our defence. Remember it took Clare a long time to improve their passing and support play which enables them play the sweeper system.
If we're 5 on 7 at one end of the field, then Laois are 5 on 7 at the other. And as long as we win the game, I'd have no problem if it's by 1-13 to 0-13 or similar.
Similarly, as you point out, it took Clare time to get used to the system and it took Waterford lots of time as well. Laois also worked with it for a year or so before it started to show benefits - however in each of those three instances, the common trend was that all three teams improved, and punched above their weight once they adopted a system that suited the players at their disposal. Are we saying that Offaly is too good to do similar, or that the supporters are too impatient?
By the way I'm not claiming that this is the right tactic for this current Offaly panel, merely that we've given Eamon Kelly the job now so it's only right to let him implement whatever system he feels best.
Taking a step back now and looking at the bigger picture, nobody would go to a soccer game now and expect to see four forwards marking four backs, or to watch an NFL match and to regularly see a defence line out without at least one safety dropping off to help out his corner backs in the vast majority of plays. Every team sport evolves into a situation where attacking players are sacrificed to help out the defence, and hurling will be no different. Six on six at each end of the field will be a nostalgic throwback on the rare occasions it's seen from 2020 onwards I suspect.
Kevin Egan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.