Kerry have a few problems to sort out before we need to change to the Ulster Football template.
Intensity. Kerry definitely lacked intensity in the last 3 games.. Their tackling was very poor in technique, ferocity and amount of tackles. Our forwards bar a notable exception that is Sean O Shea are woeful tacklers.
The workrate is no where near where it should be.
Settled pattern of play. I thought Kerry were very very good against Cork. They were intense, strong and fast on that evening. They were as intense in the forward line as they were in defense. This intensity earned them the ball and the good players made the space to get the scores, it is a more natural attacking ad hoc style based on good footballers working hard, supporting each other so as not to run into the tackles, playing the ball around close and far. The management tampered with this style to face Galway, and the team became more predictable and slow, and one-paced in the build up. Galway were happy to let them have the ball, take it off them and score a few points as necessary to eke out a victory. And even at that we could have beaten them. If Killian Young had not been sent off, it could have been very close. So, if I were to offer some advice to the new management, back the fact that you have the best footballers, get them fit, teach them to tackle, and ensure they work their socks off, but have an attack minded set up. You need a few defenders that are fast and tight and can cope with the resultant exposure that attacking football will give you. If we have these it will give us a chance of winning.
Kick out strategy. Kerry are not winning enough ball on the kickouts. One simple tactic that this Kerry team don't seem to employ is the simple act of Calling the ball and breaking down the ball to each other. Work in pairs, the best positioned calls the ball, and breaks it to the other. this is very effective on the oppositions kick out, but Kerry don't employ it. And in general play they don't do it either. This simple skill aside, the kick out needs the ultimate in teamwork, and coaching to effect it properly given the way the game is played today. The goal keeper is effectively like an NFL quarter back. These guys call different plays, each team player knows what he has to do, be it make a dummy run, block a runner, or run to receive the ball. The quarter back needs to be a big personality, be a leader in the team, and someone that can take the pressure, and be a super kicker of the ball, long and short. Shot stopping is down the list of the talents they require. Rory Beggan and Stephen Cluxton are the best in the business. I said it last year, but a player of the ilk of Brian Sheahan should be considered, if not Brian Sheahan himself. Whoever they get, they need to coach the kick out strategy.
Panel selection. The entire Kerry panel should be picked each year on their form for their clubs, and that goes for established players also. Some Kerry Footballers only play for Kerry, and have very few games to play every year. They are in a comfortable position. They cannot be match fit, and further these better players need to show leadership with their club teams that they can bring to the Kerry set up. The team showed little enough leadership when the ''fat was in the fryer'' this year. If it were not for the young guns, and Donaghy( and he only started in the last 2 games) we would have no one to bring the fight to the opposition.
The Management team. I think you need a mix of personalities. They need to challenge each other more, and in turn challenge the players more. The manager will be an interesting selection, but the entire management teams to be considered also.
Just throwing it out there, but I thought John Evans did well in his spell in Roscommon and Tipperary. Well worth considering with Liam Kerins, Donie Buckley, Pat O Shea, Peter Keane, Jack O Connor.
What about one of the O'Shea Brothers being in the set up. Declan O Sullivan? They have the X factor?