If you look at Mayo, they have only beaten Kerry once since Horan took over, they have not beaten Dublin under Gavin and their other standout results have been a 1 point victory over Tyrone and a couple of wins over a declining Donegal.
Their stock seems to be more based on an ability to run Dublin close but ultimately lose.
Thatâs probably true. They have drawn with Dublin and beaten kerry in the last two championships tbf. I just donât buy into this big four stuff. Tyrone have been the most consistent of the chasing pack in the last four years but theyâve not laid a glove on one of the big guns in that period. I find kerry impossible Judge. Theyâve had massive underage success so could easily improve significantly but Im beginning to wonder is eamon fitz a bit of a donkey. His reputation is built on the 2014 all ireland win.
Well youâre going on a limited basis there. They should have beaten both Mayo and Kerry in that time but didnât. They were comprehensively dismantled by Dublin last year.
I donât know what to expect from Kerry this year, there have been loads of changes in the playing squad and we donât know if theyâll have progressed this year or gone back. Mayo to me seem to be regressing but they usually find a way. I donât see anything from either Mayo or Kerry that should make Tyrone fear them.
Tyrone underwent a big personnel change in 2015 and saw a new system and style of play introduced. If you look at the 2013 semi final against Mayo, only Harte, Donnelly, Colm Cavanagh, McAliskey, Ronan OâNeill and Ronan McNabb of the 21 players used that day are still in the squad.
I think itâs only fair to judge this Tyrone team over the last 3 seasons. Only Cavanagh and McCarron are in their 30s now so in age profile this Tyrone side is approaching its peak with the squad backboned by players in their mid 20s.
Kerry will have a blend of guys in their 30s and other guys just out of underage sides. Mayo will be relying on a load of 30+ players.
McCarthy will put 1-7 on Tyrone Sunday week and thereâll be lads here running for cover.
BA HAA HAA HAA HA!
Will he start?
Over the last three seasons outside of the cannon fodder have literally beaten nobody. Tyrone have it all to prove. Until then you canât mention them in the same breadth as Mayo, Kerry and Dublin.
The mood in Monaghan is very positive. They beat Dublin & Kerry in the league, they should have beaten Mayo too. Very surprised at the lack of talk about us nationally. Why no focus on McCarthy? I think consistency is a big problem but they could beat anyone on their day. I also expect McManusâs performance level to drop slightly this year.
Should we have our own Monaghan GAA thread? - âMonaghan GAA 2018 - The Year to be Above Averageâ
Yes over the last three seasons. If you apply the same logic to Mayo over the past 6 years you will find one win against Kerry and one against Tyrone which doesnât really support the assertion of them being the 2nd best side in the country, on your rationale.
Monaghan at 9/2 seems like very good odds to me to win Ulster and Iâve âŹ50 on it, although historically teams in the preliminary round fare poorly.
Why are Tyrone such strong favourites to beat Monaghan? This makes no sense to us. Theyâve a good record against Monaghan so I can see them being favourites but 1/2 seems odd.
I couldnât tell you. He should. Iâm getting further and further removed from the farney army.
Yes it does. Theyâve drawn with the best team in the land (dublin) and beaten Kerry, Donegal and Tyrone in that period. The only reason Iâd rank mayo ahead of kerry is simply mayo have been at least competing with dubs.
Tyrone in that six year period have beaten basically nobody only the cannon fodder.
Tyrone are media darlings. Theyâre always talked up and hyped up. Theyâre like tomorrow, always coming. The reality is Tyrone havenât won a meaningful match in Croke Park since 2008.
They are flat track bullies brushing aside the weaker counties but have been consistently found wanting against kerry, Tyrone and Dublin over the last four seasons.
It makes sense. Tyrone rarely lose to Monaghan in Championship. Tyrone are going for three Ulster titles in a row.
It should be a closely fought game but Tyrone are quite understandably strong favourites.
You seem to be putting a lot of stock in Mayo drawing games but not much in 1 point defeats.
Margins are small. Tyrone are an emerging team when you look at the age profile. Mayo are a side on their last legs and Kerry are in a stage of transition. Very little between them really.
As I said earlier itâs hard to judge kerry they could come out and win the all Ireland with a whole host of new talented players or maybe drift off into a transitional period. I wouldnât be shocked if Tyrone beat them but Iâd be absolutely astounded if Tyrone beat either Dublin or Mayo. Until Tyrone beat one of the big three you canât mention them in the same breadth as them in my opinion.
Iâd fully expect Tyrone to beat Mayo this year. They should have two years ago and Mayo are going backwards, look at the age profile of their team. A lot of these guys bodies are creaking and injury problems are beginning to happen.
Mayo have been written off now for a few years but thereâs little coming through and every year these guys are getting a year older.
The problem for you is you fully expected Tyrone to beat dublin last year when they were humiliated, you fully expect them to beat every team they face. The facts are Tyrone are overrated due to the absolute dross they face in Ulster. I wouldnât be surprised if Tyrone are beaten in Ulster and dumped out of the championship in the qualifiers by a galway or tipp or kildare.
The fact is lads, nobody has a fucking clue how Mayo are fixed this summer. Itâs only guesswork at this stage.