Bryan Sheehan - Free Taker...

[Chinatown]

One of the finest free takers in Ireland???. Is he worth a place based on this ( a few frees/pints in a tight game could be critical) and where could he be placed...massive fan of MFR but I am not sure going forward/this year..Bryan at corner forward??

[neil]

Yeah, Mike Frank has to go. He's a good honest player that when on form can be deadly but the fact is he simply can't score at the moment and the semi-final is not the time to hope he gets it together. Sheehan is a brilliant free taker and I expect a lot of fouling from Cork so he should get the nod.

[animal]

I'd leave MFR alone. His link up play is far superior to Sheehan. His radar was way off alright on Saturday but he was getting onto the ball well. Sheehan does not offer enough from play for me, despite his obvious qualities as a free taker.

[eastciarrai]

leave mike frank alone he'll get the shooting right yet. every game is more match practise. if he's not working you can always bring on sheehan who'd be fired up. if you drop him and sheehan does'nt work you have to bring him on after denting his confidence. i know our frees were poor the last day but we've two weeks to work on it. if its not brokens dont fix it. how simple could it be.

[kerryman]

No no no no. If it ain't broke don't fix it. The forward line is on fire at the moment and Mike Frank's vision in a tight spot to pick out the smart pass has a lot to do with it. The starting 15 should be unchanged against Cork.

[animal]

Couldn't agree more kerryman

[fattim]

Every game is more match practise??? If it anit broke dont fix it??

Lads is it from Killorglin ye all are.... I have been a fan of MFR but Saturday was woeful. The frees that were missed were shocking especially in the first half and all of his runs were across the field towards Gooch crowding things up.

Sheehan to start against Cork in place of MFR

[ArthurG]

I'm with you on that one fattim. MFR was very very poor on Sat. He cannot win 50-50 ball. He was showing for the ball but his lack of pace meant he never won the kind of ball that he should have.

Sheehan won't add any ball winning abilities, but for frees alone (MFR missed too many on sat) he is worth a shot. Otherwise let Sean O'Sull take them.

[eastciarrai]

to be fair he did win enough ball. its not as if he didnt win any. if his shooting improves he'll definately have a few points the next day. as arthur g said sheehan doesnt add any ball winning abilities so you could have a guy there just for frees. if he misses one or two under pressure where are you. he did kick good frees the last day. he'll get stronger with time which will help his ball winning.and no, im not from killorgin.

[watchdahop]

Why don't we just start the same team that started the last day and bring in the subs as we need them. The bench is now very strong.

If it aint broke don't fix it. The system we had worked the last day why change it?

[fattim]

Thats just being naieve saying if it aint broke dont fix it. Ye know MFR wasnt cutting it.

[watchdahop]

Fattim:

The system is working, the high ball into star and Gooch and MFR working off it.
Where does Sheehan fit in that system?
Thats the system I am talkign about. Do you want to dismantle that just cos MFR misses a few shots?
Put Sheehan in there and the whole thing changes I think.

[kerryman]

fattim said:

Thats just being naieve saying if it aint broke dont fix it. Ye know MFR wasnt cutting it.

I don't agree but want to watch the game tonight again to see if you're right. To be honest there were far bigger issues in defence in the first half and I can't see why you're singling out MFR.

[fattim]

Why would "the whole thing change"? Yes the high ball to Star with Gooch playing off him is working but you cant honestly say MFR is contributing hugely to that. I am a fan of MFR and the only reason im singling him out is because of the title of this thread

[dec]

I'd prefer to see MFR starting. While yes Brian Sheahan's frees are great I think its better to start with MFR. Sheahan can be introduced fine and well if things are not great with frees. Fresh legs will be needed up front at some stage during the second half and that is time enough for Sheahan to come on and execute the frees when or if they are needed..

MFR is still an exciting player in my book and does create space and chances for the others..


The management will be able to tell themselves who is showing the greater attitiude in training so that would be a factor also..

[watchdahop]

fattim said:

Why would "the whole thing change"? Yes the high ball to Star with Gooch playing off him is working but you cant honestly say MFR is contributing hugely to that. I am a fan of MFR and the only reason im singling him out is because of the title of this thread

MFR works well with the Gooch they inter change sides and create space for each other. Look at the chance before half time that Hearty tipped over the bar: Star Gooch and MFR were all in that move. I don't think Sheehan would work as well there.
I dont think its as easy as saying take MFR out and put Sheehan in and bang you will automatically have a big improvement.

[fattim]

Agreed---they have different styles......... but I just feel against Cork there will be a lot of frees and its essential these chances are taken

[watchdahop]

I agree the frees are a worry. I guess you just have to weigh up whats going to work better MFR in and frees not as good or changing the system to bring in Sheehan.

[fattim]

Thats where JOC comes in i suppose

[eastciarrai]

watchdahop said:

I agree the frees are a worry. I guess you just have to weigh up whats going to work better MFR in and frees not as good or changing the system to bring in Sheehan.

thats it exactly the frees are a worry but mfr should retain his place

[buck02]

Bryan Sheehan kicked one great free the last day but in the drawn game against Cork he kicked a load of frees wide. The forward line looks much more comfortable with MFR in it. He scored 3 points (one from play) and gave the final pass for 2 points on Saturday. I know he also kicked 5 wides but for a man who cant win a 50/50 ball how was he on the ball so much?

[seamusdarby]

Stick with MFR he a naturalforward always showing for ball and can be a menace, radar a bit off on sat but stick with him. Sheehan overall contribution not enough im afraid doesnt show for enough and too one paced, too predictable in championship football

[Mickmack]

I would say that Kerry lost 5 points from frees on saturday............. we cant afford that

[Jo90]

I'm not sure if Bryan Sheehan's previous poor performances mean anything now seeing that if he's playing against Cork it would be in a completely new role. His new role would be as a corner forward not necessarily to win his own ball, but to receive passes from Donaghy and slot the ball over. This is something that could be worked on in training and could prove very effective because once the ball has been kicked in he would be able to find a bit of space 30 or 40 yards out and he has the accuracy to hit it over from there. The confidence he gained from kicking that 55 yard free would prove massive. That was a huge pressure kick and the way he kicked it so sweetly says a lot about his character as well as his kicking abililty.

[branch]

I'd stick with Mike Frank, a natural forward with great passing ability, I have a funny feeling he'll silence all his doubters in the semi final! I really hope he does! The lads have two weeks to work on the frees, and I am sure that Jack will ensure we don't miss the amount we missed against Armagh!!

[austinstacksabu]

I think this will be the last post I ever put up before Admin kicks me off but anyway, here goes.

People are full of confidence that Mike Frank will turn it on for the semi final. Can I ask where this has come from? Ye were all confident he'd do it against Longford, and against Cork, and hasn't really delivered on either occasion. He is slowly coming back but as I said before both the Longford and Armagh games, not quickly enough. Sheehan may not have the pace that Mike Frank has, but he has ball winning ability, and can take his scores from further out, as well as take frees. Sheehan was lost at full forward, it's not his best position. I've said a number of times that I'd start him in the corner.

But but but, don't mess with a winning formula. I wouldn't. But don't be afraid to raise the white flag MF after twenty minutes and bring in Sheehan then.

[Chinatown]

Time to summarise the views on this thread.

1. We all have massive time for MFR, he has brought us great memories (Cavan '97, etc. etc.)
2. Are are all generally of the view that he will come good/get better, not saying that he has contributed so far this year.
3. Bryan Sheehan, ball winning ability and ability to eek out good passes etc. not of the same quality.

But lets roll forward to the 20th of August, Cork will be massively pumped up with the memories of the last 2 semi final outings, the mind games have started where Morgan has confirmed he would be happy with a 12 point loss. This in mind I firmly believe this will be a very heated exchange from word go..Cork will do anything to stop the supply into Donaghy and co and I believe there will be alot of frees awarded on both sides. In reality there was not a massive amount of frees v Armagh. What settles a team more than to win a free and see it glide over the bar..on the contrary when these are missed it can have the opposite effect. So my twopence is put on Sheehan, give him 25 mins to make an impact/settle the game..this should be a massive incentive to him, then on the 26th minute assuming the game has settled (and has not been abandoned!!!!) release MFR from the traps to the roars of the kerry crowd, myself included..this i believe will have a positive effect on MFR also - win/win suggestion or am i living in clowd cuckoo?

[kerrydoc]

keep mfr for his ball winning and laying off to others. just let gooch or sean sull take the frees

[buck02]

After Gooch kicked 6 wides against Cork I didnt see a thread about whether or not he should start the next day. Maybe its cos that game wasnt on the box and a lot of contributors here didnt see the game.

[kerrygold]

leave mike frank alone and start the same team the next day with the exception of swapping marc and aidan.

there's a nice system developing now thats only two games old,the more donaghy grows into his role the better mike frank and colm will become and more oppertunities will present themselves for the two lads to thrive.

i believe mfr is very near to reclaiming former glories,i hope we resist the temptation to drop him again,lets give him a massive lift and repay him for his dedication in sticking with it during his darkest days and in the aftermat of of '04 and '05.


it will be an investment for the future,its always prudent to buy when shares are at their lowest.

On sheehan,i dont believe he is a fullforward man,his future lies further out the field in time to come.

this way with with mfr russel starting and retaining the same team we have 20 top class players chomping at the bit to start a semi final and hopefully an all-ireland final,thats the best way to be preparing for the business end of the championship.

keep the faith and look at the bigger picture.