You would think that there was enough evidence yesterday to at least tempt him to give it one last shot
Lads
Conor Gleeson was a loss yesterday . Also can Tom Devine be a factor next year . He has athleticism and a massive physical presence . I think he could be a real foil for the Bennetts and Patrick Curran .
But the killing thing is, TDB is a ready made FB. He was an outstanding Minor in the position in 2012.
Brick and Moran led the charge for ye yesterday Fagan. May not be natural forwards (or even unnatural in Brickās case) but ye were lost when they tired and could no longer get the ball in their hands. Lots of talented forwards in Waterford but without some highly effective ball winners theyāll make no impact in a 5 v. 6 setup.
Barry Coughlan had one of his better games yesterday. For the first 50 minutes of so anyway until he saw off Jonathan Glynn for an early shower. Niall Burke caused him problems when he came on.
I like Derek. I hope he stays. Unlike the devastation of 2008, we have something to build on from our final experience. Heāll know that weāve built incrementally throughout his term, every year being a bit better than the year before. Next year then is the key year. He has a young improving team on the cusp of an All Ireland. They will realise how close they are to the winning line and theyāll work like fuck to get there. He should want to be around for that.
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I spotted Tom Devine on the way out of Croke Park yesterday and was thinking the same thing myself. He terrorised the Galway defence in the league quarter final in Salthill back in April and helped himself to two goals as well.
POM is a player who annoys me, he will never win a tussle or rarely get involved in one. If itās not given to him in the loose heās not worth a fuck. Surely playing him anywhere bar corner forward is a waste of time.
His free taking is good tbf.
The teams of the 00ās played 15 men in their positions & went for it but came up short a few times.
The current panel are probably every bit as talented and Iād love to see them take it on conventionally now that they have experience on their side.
His better game? Shur no fucking ball went in there. He was wrestling Glynn to the ground before a ball went in there within 3 minutes. Heās a spoiler who canāt defend conventionally.
He isnāt a sweet stickman and isnāt great in the air but he has real power and directness. He can break the tackle and at that stage things happen. I think Waterford need to get the best of Patrick Curran if they are to improve .
Tommy Dunne offered the view on the radio tonight that Waterford play seven backs not because Derek has no faith in the backs but because we lack enough genuine forwards. He reckons Derek wants to win the defensive half of the field because we canāt win the offensive half. Not sure I agree but it was a new take.
Decent crowd in Waterford as well to welcome the team home fair play
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Not to mention Barron struck down with the flu and Maurice Shanahan possibly being introduced earlier than the script demanded.
They are really not far off it and Brick apart time is on their side. Canāt be forgotten that Galway had that AI Final day experience coming into the game. If McGrath has it in him, I would stick with him for one more year. A change in approach,particularly for Waterford, could be a real upheaval for them when they are on the cusp.
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I agree and disagree . He is not a conventional ball winner and doesnāt have real pace but he has a brilliant knack of drifting on to scoring positions and he can finish .
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They came up short every year in fairness.
De Burca could play anywhere. Man marker, sweeper, stickman. He can hurling any which way.
Could become one of the all time greats by the time heās finished.
I donāt think Tom Devine will be able to give the commitment as he enters his final year in medical school.
Brick had his best year this year. Iām not sure why everyone assumes heās done.
He has a point tbf.
Brick & Moran are not out & out forwards.
Curran, Ryan & Dunford bring huge pace to the team & defenders utterly hate seeing that.
I wouldnāt fault Derek for his system this year. It worked in all bar 2 games. But, as Galway proved this year, you need to evolve going forward.
Tipperary failed to evolve this year & paid the price in the games that counted,
Curran and Dillon arenāt particularly quick
Meant Dunford.