Finn Harps on Saturday

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Originally Posted by cheifo

Think due to disappointments in recent years you are being a little hard on yourselves! There is a bit more savvy about Longford this time around and nine wins in a row before tonight would indicate that. Would you not agree Harps were well organised and defended brilliantly last night?
I expect you to have the league in the bag by the time you come up to ballybofey where you will all be made very welcome in your hundreds to celebrate!

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Yeah harps defend really well especially mcnulty who won every single ball in the air all night long and made it very frustrating for us. First half we were poor as we have been In the last few games but as in every other game we really came out 2nd half and were unlucky not to win it. I think the reason for such disappointment from the fans anytime we don't pick up a win is becuase we know deep down what a fantastic squad this is and even when we are winning games 3-0 we know we can do even better with a few tweaks here and there so hopefully we will get to see that at some point in the future.

in hindsight we were spoiled rotten the last three months.. that game last night reminded me so much like down in Cobh... the next few games are key..Pat Sullivan was missed last night.. if we can get Rhys into midfield I wouldnt be as worried!
btw great catchin up with the harps lads esp nige whos gone all trendy so noone would recognise him!!

We probably did enough to win it. Really stepped up in the second half of the second half. A bit contrary to some opinions about our midfield, for me Rice really stepped up in the last 15-20 minutes and drove us on. A bit disappointed, but like others have said, I'd have taken 4 points ahead with 7 to play.

I Agree Rice Broke up countless plays but he cannot do the creative role
I'm not and was not trying to have a go at Rice and Salmon, I am trying to make a point that we are mostly up against a 5 man midfield our 4 cannot cope with that, O Connor is having to come inside to help leaving space on the wing,
We imo need Rice to break up play which he is excellent at and Salmon to get on the loose ball and pass to a holding midfielder/playmaker I don't mind if it's Kevin O Connor or Rhys Gorman both of whom can pick a pass to the strikers or wingers,
it's all very well hitting the ball in the direction of your team mate and hoping for the best but you need someone who pass at the right weight and pace thereby putting our guys through on goal

Was very impressed with your right back on Saturday night. Who is he? I assume he came in for Pat Sullivan for the game. Was very good with the ball at his feet and got forward at every opportunity with Cowan.

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Originally Posted by harpstilidie

Was very impressed with your right back on Saturday night. Who is he? I assume he came in for Pat Sullivan for the game. Was very good with the ball at his feet and got forward at every opportunity with Cowan.

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Jamie hulhall, our first choice right back. He was our best player on the night IMO. calm and assured in possession, good positioning and excellent going forward. Came back from a serious injury last year to take Noel Haverty's place in the team. One to keep an eye on in the future.

Think the players need to show more understanding of the conditions. The majority of balls that were played were long aimless balls that were taken by the wind. Made it easy for harps to defend.

Didn't do enough to win the game in my opinion. Once we get back on track on Saturday, that's all that matter at this stage of the season.

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Originally Posted by DOC1982

The majority of balls that were played were long aimless balls that were taken by the wind. Made it easy for harps to defend.
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Difficult to attack, but easy to defend. I'm struggling to get my head around your logic. If they were taken by the wind, surely they'd be just as difficult to defend as to attack?

Because the defence are facing the ball, so have much more time to read the flight of it to make a clearance. Even if it's taken by the wind, as a defender it's easier to see this happening and compensate. Forwards have to run to the spot the ball is going to and then try and win the challenge/lay it off somewhere.

My point was that how many long balls went straight out or straight to the keeper. Only time in the game on Saturday night that chances were created were from short passing.

In the last 4 games or so we've started with a long able approach first half and it's only in the second half we seem to get it down and play and as a result win games, why can't we play like that for the full 90

Perhaps because opposition teams can't maintain the same level of pressing throughout the game in most cases?

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Originally Posted by Mr A

Perhaps because opposition teams can't maintain the same level of pressing throughout the game in most cases?

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They don't have to do much pressing when we are hitting aimless long ball but I do think it has to do with teams tiring.