I won't be going crazy in his defence, but I have to confess he'd be one of the first five names on my teamsheet every time.
Silken Thomas wrote:
A very nice lad I'm just gonna comment on Séan Ryan the footballer. A lot of people believe he should be a starter I just can't agree. The very things that make Séan special at Intermediate level and previously at Junior A and Underage are what is taken for granted at Senior level.
His strengths lie in superb upper body strength, explosive speed and being a dangerous ball carrier. Unfortunatly pace and strength are a pre-requisite on the big stage.
But here's the thing though - can you honestly say that we have three potential half forwards who have the required strength and pace? I agree that in an ideal world all thirty-something panellists would have these attributes, but in very few counties is that the case, and certainly not in Offaly. Also, as we saw last year against Down, when he does get the ball into his hands, things happen. Not something you can say about every player, or most players.
Silken Thomas wrote:
At roughly five foot nine inches in height despite a great ability to get off the ground Séan is not a kickout option. In addition time spent honing his hurling skills has left him with little or no weak foot in football. Likewise there is a huge difference in bulldozing past club players and the likes of Derek Heavin or Brian Cullen. Realistically he is just too one- dimensional for the inter county football scene.
The difference between Ryan and Phelan (for example) is that Ryan's spring and his power allows him to compensate for his height by at least four inches. Obviously he'd be mismatched against a 6"4 midfielder, but put him against your average 6"0 wing back and he'll do fine. Certainly I'd much prefer to see Kildare aim their kickouts at wing back rather than bang them down the middle at lads like Brennan and Heffernan next May.
The weak foot thing is an issue, but when there are six two footed forwards in Offaly that have the pace and power that as you say, should be pre-requisite, then I'd begin to consider leaving off Ryan - until that happens, and it looks to be a long way off, he'd be on my team sheet every time.
Kevin Egan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.