Armagh v Cork - NFL Round 1 - Sunday 5 Feb

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

I mean hes no midfielder.
He can certainly do a job for us in the forward line as we seen last year. But i have seen him couple of times when hes out round the middle he tends to jump into the other midfielder whilst their competing for the ball. Which leaves an opposition player free to gather up the loose ball.

Midfield is Mal Mackin's best position by some distance.

[Hermit]

Midfield is Mal Mackin's best position by some distance.

Not at county level

[Patrick-Armagh]

Mackin did well as a half forward, who could cover a lot of ground, tackle, win the ball, be a physical presence and get the odd score. I don't see him being an out and out midfielder.

As for the first game against Cork, I hope we go out and have a real go at them. Play three men in the full forward line. By all means have the likes of Mackin and Padden in the half forwards to do the dirty work. The chances are that we will lose this no matter what type of game plan we use. I'd rather see the likes of McVerry, Duffy, Campbell and Rafferty being able to at least have a go at a quality team like Cork. If it doesn't work out, so what. At least they will have been given the chance to go out and play against some of the best players in Ireland and judge themselves against that sort of standard. Better that than just shoving 13 men behind the ball and play damage limitation.

[sliothar]

We are going to struggle in Div 1 this yr and I have long felt the Armagh set up always seems to do better in the C'Ship when in Div2 with a chance to experiment/build without the Cross and also some other experienced players.
In Div 1 the competition is so fierce that we are playing weakened sides against Co teams with players fighting to get C'Ship game time in strong panels with all players available from game one.
While I would tend to agree tactically with Patrick-Armagh, regarding, going for it more. I do think that if we adopt that approach with the players available to us we are in for a few hidings in Div 1.

[stew]

You are always better off playing at the highest level when you can, there is no point in playing in a lower league when it can be avoided just because you think you will struggle. Cross aside I think the young players and the fringe players will benefit greatly by playing against the best in the land, that and the fact Armagh are always tough to beat. I think we might get a result against Cork, the panel will be up for it and with Cork you never know what you are going to get.

We can stay up, we can continue to develop the panel and one or two starters may well emerge from playing in Division 1. The future is bright, the future is orange.

[pomaceous]

As for the first game against Cork, I hope we go out and have a real go at them. Play three men in the full forward line. By all means have the likes of Mackin and Padden in the half forwards to do the dirty work. The chances are that we will lose this no matter what type of game plan we use. I'd rather see the likes of McVerry, Duffy, Campbell and Rafferty being able to at least have a go at a quality team like Cork. If it doesn't work out, so what. At least they will have been given the chance to go out and play against some of the best players in Ireland and judge themselves against that sort of standard. Better that than just shoving 13 men behind the ball and play damage limitation.

We need to take Cork on and aim for something like championship intensity. Difficult to achieve at this time of year.

The Irish News think our relegation is an inevitability and many would agree. Inevitability is too strong a word. I would back Cross to at least make their AI Final and so we can count on the Cross contingent's availability for the last 2 games only (Donegal & Down). Stevie seems likley to be available for one further game (Laois). 5 points might be enough to stay up and these were always going to be the games we were targeting.

Before that we need to target the home games against Mayo and Cork. The matches away to Kerry and Dublin admittedly look like a test too far for the team right now but something tells me that if you put it up to Cork you might just catch them cold - they are doing a fair amount of experimenting themselves as they try to establish alternatives to injured/retired players.

Hopefully the team selection v Cork will indicate a desire to attack and take scores from play.

Do other posters know when we can expect to see Grugan and McParland?

[drici]

Match on TG4.

[mrgaa1]

Match on TG4.

delayed viewing I believe

[armaghniac]

Its likely to pretty chilly next weekend, if some reports are to believed. People will stay by the fire!

[green flag]

Can Cork be defeated?. Yes but with the resources available at the moment a cautious approach would seem adviseable, lets not forget the man to man tactics against Derry,a similar game plan against Cork and Armagh will lose.