Allianz NFL 2022

[The16thMan]

Kerry fixtures are as follows:

Sun Jan 30 - Kildare vs Kerry - Newbridge 1.45pm
Sat Feb 5 - Kerry vs Dublin - Tralee 7pm
Sun Feb 20 - Kerry v Donegal - Killarney 1.45pm
Sun Feb 27- Monaghan v Kerry - Clones 2pm
Sat Mar 12 - Kerry vs Mayo - Tralee 7.30pm
Sun Mar 20 - Armagh vs Kerry - Athletic Grounds Armagh 2pm
Sun Mar 27 - Kerry vs Tyrone - Killarney 1.45pm

League Final on April 2/3

Not a bad run of games in my opinion, got the other semi finalists from 2021 at home and in my opinion, got the weaker 3 teams away from home so it looks like the fixtures are kind. However, Armagh are a bit of an unknown at the moment.

[brucewayne]

Is Star with them again this year?

[thehermit]

Yeah you'd be hopeful we stay up anyway given those fixtures. There should be enough motivation for the first two games to win them anyway!

I just hope the Covid situation improves so outdoor events can go back to full capacity. It will be hard to stomach not being able to go to League games for a third year if restrictions are kept after 30 Jan.

The three away games are handy spins for myself anyway - might even do an overnight for Armagh, I've never been up there for a game.

[The16thMan]

Given Kerry and Kildare is on the 30th the day before restrictions are lifted and capacities currently are at 50% (on venues below 10,000). I assume only 4,000 will be allowed into that game because St. Conleths Park only holds 8,200. They might have to put some sort of ticket system in place.

[Whosinmidfield]

What are people thoughts on Okunbor’s position if he’s to play a role for us this year, will he be best utilised at full back, half back or midfield? The game he played for Brendans was at full back marking Donaghy but for Na Gaeil he’s been deployed at midfield. With Foley having a good year at full back and Dylan Casey another very good option there, full back possibly isn’t the answer. A very athletic midfield option could be his role although does Joe O’Connor offer all the same attributes without the raw edges? Then there’s the half back line. Could he be developed into the 6 role? Maybe doubtful that he’d have positional sense for the position but maybe Tally will see his physical attributes as the perfect starting point and be confident he can develop the other attributes needed. Wing back I think would be the easiest position for him to slot into from an adapting to the position point of view. It’ll be an interesting one to see how Jack looks to use him.

[horsebox77]

I think we have to avoid the mistakes made with Timmy Walsh when he returned, people unfortunately expected a stronger version of 2009 Tommy but what materialised was a pale shadow initially. The Tommy of 2019 and 2020 was a better version that the one that initially returned.

The difference between Tommy and Stefan is Tommy was established before he left and the time frame away was much longer, still I wouldn’t rush Stefan in too early, I would envisage the mistakes of others will be etched on Jack’s backroom team and the Na Gaeil man will be afforded club ball and realignment with the moves and shape of the round ball game first.

As for where he could line up, I think we in Kerry have never been blessed with players who are athletic and versatile, the prime example is teams like Tyrone always had two or three players that could slot in anywhere with effortless ease and could competently fullfill a role as required.

However, I think Stefan is one such player that could fill a roll from two to nine depending on the opposition, as for could he fill the number six role, I don’t know has the the speed of turn or on the toes swiftness to fill the pivotal role, but I think we could have a situation where a defensive unit will be deployed as opposed to a traditional centre and two wing men, I think looking at Tally previous history, he invariably has two full back line, one sweeper in front at the ‘D’ with four men in the half back line with midfielders that can defend but also break at speed, looking at the body type, think the form two midfielders to fill this role would be Diarmuid and Joe… Stefan could be the horses for courses option depending on the oppositions capabilities

[kerrybhoy06]

I agree with horsebox, rushing him in after very little football would be a mistake.

I see his future role being as a wind back or midfielder.
He could play centre back but he’s lack the positional discipline to be a holding centre back

The boy has talent for sure but I think everyone needs to take a deep breath and remember that he has played about 5/6 club games in the last few years and it’s a big step up

[Mickmack]

Dec 23, 2021 20:26:04 GMT horsebox77 said:

I think we have to avoid the mistakes made with Timmy Walsh when he returned, people unfortunately expected a stronger version of 2009 Tommy but what materialised was a pale shadow initially. The Tommy of 2019 and 2020 was a better version that the one that initially returned.

Is it even valid to draw comparisons.

Was Tommy not badly injured when he came back?

[sullyschoice]

I would presume that management will look at Stefan inside at training and see what sort of role he might play.

My opinion on him was that he was a very strong athletic lad but don't expect any subtle skills.

Having said that, In 1998 championship Brian Lacey kicked the ball once in all matches and he was a.huge influence that year.

[Mickmack]

Dec 23, 2021 23:39:27 GMT sullyschoice said:

I would presume that management will look at Stefan inside at training and see what sort of role he might play.

My opinion on him was that he was a very strong athletic lad but don't expect any subtle skills.

Having said that, In 1998 championship Brian Lacey kicked the ball once in all matches and he was a.huge influence that year.

All Joe McDonnell did in the 2008 final was pull Donaghys jersey. I could nearly do that myself.

[sullyschoice]

Dec 23, 2021 22:57:37 GMT Mickmack said:

Dec 23, 2021 20:26:04 GMT horsebox77 said:

I think we have to avoid the mistakes made with Timmy Walsh when he returned, people unfortunately expected a stronger version of 2009 Tommy but what materialised was a pale shadow initially. The Tommy of 2019 and 2020 was a better version that the one that initially returned.

Is it even valid to draw comparisons.

Was Tommy not badly injured when he came back?

Tommy could hardly move when he came back. I think he still suffers from mobility issued now though nowhere near as bad.

I was hugely excited by his brother Barry John, who I thought was a better minor but It never happened for him and I think he lives away now.

[Ballyfireside]

Playing sport is like the compatibility between nuts and bolts - maybe Tadhgeen's 'thread' was easier to reformat as he went younger, though his interchangeability also remained truly remarkable - 'a dandy footballer' was how Ballydonoghue's Eddie Dowling described him, i.e. he could play 2-15 at u18 and if this was an indicator, how do others compare? Did the Aussies ID this at the outset?

While this 'nuts and bolts' comparison may help explain the phenomonon, remember that scientists know more about nuts and bolts than the 1% they know about the brain.

Changing must be an absolute nightmare for players - you'd sense they'd be their own worst enemy, expecting to perform where they left off, watching laddos they were better than put them to shame, etc - almost like cutting off your arm and having the same expectation - frustration kicks in and all that goes with it.

Has anyone on here been close to such scenarios?

[horsebox77]

Good preview here from a Kerry perspective.

[dc84]

Looking forward to this now , I'm not bothered about winning it and other than beating dublin I don't really care about results either.
Last year we were flying it early on but ran out of steam by semi final we need to manage our s and c better this year.
Midfield is going to look a bit odd in first few games and hopefully we don't flog o shea 2 much him and Clifford don't need to prove anything in the league...

[john4]

This year I think we need to be a bit more arrogant in how we approach Dublin with the aim of putting daylight between us and them at the end. The few 1 point wins are hollow for me. We need to shake off the misery of the last few years, draw a line and move on from there. A bit like Tyrone the day in Killarney a few years ago we need to put this Dublin domination to bed.

[Annascaultilidie]

Jan 23, 2022 10:59:45 GMT john4 said:

This year I think we need to be a bit more arrogant in how we approach Dublin with the aim of putting daylight between us and them at the end. The few 1 point wins are hollow for me. We need to shake off the misery of the last few years, draw a line and move on from there. A bit like Tyrone the day in Killarney a few years ago we need to put this Dublin domination to bed.

Kerry won an All-Ireland between losing those games to Tyrone and beating them in Killarney.

Indeed Kerry won All-Irelands between each of these three losses.

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 23, 2022 10:59:45 GMT john4 said:

This year I think we need to be a bit more arrogant in how we approach Dublin with the aim of putting daylight between us and them at the end. The few 1 point wins are hollow for me. We need to shake off the misery of the last few years, draw a line and move on from there. A bit like Tyrone the day in Killarney a few years ago we need to put this Dublin domination to bed.

I think we will.
A lot of Dubs are not overly confident in their team or management this year.
Yes they have arguably 5 of the best footballer still playing but I think the FF line is not that impressive.
Their best forward won't tog out and that speaks volumes.

[sambo]

Anyone have any idea when tickets go on sale for league games. Will it be Ticketmaster or Tickets.ie???

[royalkerryfan]

Lads anyone traveling down from Dublin for the Dublin game might consider flying down.
The train was mad money but return with Ryanair was 70 euro for a 40 min trip.

[dc84]

Jan 23, 2022 12:25:40 GMT royalkerryfan said:

Jan 23, 2022 10:59:45 GMT john4 said:

This year I think we need to be a bit more arrogant in how we approach Dublin with the aim of putting daylight between us and them at the end. The few 1 point wins are hollow for me. We need to shake off the misery of the last few years, draw a line and move on from there. A bit like Tyrone the day in Killarney a few years ago we need to put this Dublin domination to bed.

I think we will.
A lot of Dubs are not overly confident in their team or management this year.
Yes they have arguably 5 of the best footballer still playing but I think the FF line is not that impressive.
Their best forward won't tog out and that speaks volumes.

Jeez I wouldn't be that confident! A full forward line that knocked in 4 goals against us last year if I remember rightly.. also as far as i can see we still don't have anyone to take on o callaghan. Mccaffrey and cluxton are the bigger loses imo. Up front they still have class Kilkenny,O Callaghan, rock, howard, scully,small costello Will still be a handful.
It's at the back and midfield they struggled last year against mayo (and ourselves) does mcarthy,Cooper, Fitzsimons still have the legs? That is the big question for me we outscored them by 6 points in the 2nd half last year and mayo something similar they had no answer to the younger legs as those games wore on.
They are still up there in top 3 or 4 but the much vaunted squad is definitely not as strong as it was.would anyone be shocked if they win it again?

[horsebox77]

Looking back at the three games to date and on current form and availability, if I had a selector hat on, I’d like to see the following taking the field against Kildare; Ryan, O’Donoghue, Foley, Tom Sull, Breen, Morley, White, Seanie, Adrain, Horan, Paudie, Savage, Clifford, Geaney and Killian. In defence, I would like to see game time for Casey, Graham and Crowley, up front, Paul O’Shea and Brosnan.

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 23, 2022 20:44:40 GMT dc84 said:

Jan 23, 2022 12:25:40 GMT royalkerryfan said:

I think we will.
A lot of Dubs are not overly confident in their team or management this year.
Yes they have arguably 5 of the best footballer still playing but I think the FF line is not that impressive.
Their best forward won't tog out and that speaks volumes.

Jeez I wouldn't be that confident! A full forward line that knocked in 4 goals against us last year if I remember rightly.. also as far as i can see we still don't have anyone to take on o callaghan. Mccaffrey and cluxton are the bigger loses imo. Up front they still have class Kilkenny,O Callaghan, rock, howard, scully,small costello Will still be a handful.
It's at the back and midfield they struggled last year against mayo (and ourselves) does mcarthy,Cooper, Fitzsimons still have the legs? That is the big question for me we outscored them by 6 points in the 2nd half last year and mayo something similar they had no answer to the younger legs as those games wore on.
They are still up there in top 3 or 4 but the much vaunted squad is definitely not as strong as it was.would anyone be shocked if they win it again?

I had this very debate with a friend yesterday and they are honestly not that impressed with the team.
They had a fairly decent side out yesterday all be it down to 14 but they weren't great.
Con and Kilkenny are the danger men. Rock is in his last year, Costello is a league player, scully,Howard,Fenton will chip in with scores but not prolifically. All is not well in that camp.

[kerryexile]

I agree with the people saying Stefan needs time. He is in the privileged position of having all the natural (uncoachable) attributes but he is unproven in the coachable ones. I'm sure that right now Jack has ideas on how he could be deployed in the championship and will have coaches working with Stefan but if he doesn't show signs that he can deliver in the league then Jack may have to pursue other options. Stefan doesn't have to play blinders in the league, just show an understanding of the role, show that he can execute it and improve as the league goes on.


This is an interesting article from the RTE website
www.rte.ie/sport/football/2022/0111/1273059-stefan-okunbor-former-cat-looking-to-kingdom-future/

[keane]

Big year for Gavin White. Flatters to deceive and makes way too many mistakes to my eyes, makes flashy runs with little end product that make you think he's doing better than he is. Time to become a proper Kerry footballer or alternatives should be looked at.

[taggert]

Jan 23, 2022 21:31:35 GMT keane said:

Big year for Gavin White. Flatters to deceive and makes way too many mistakes to my eyes, makes flashy runs with little end product that make you think he's doing better than he is. Time to become a proper Kerry footballer or alternatives should be looked at.

Totally agree with this. Not known either for feats of defensive prowess.

[Deleted]

Jan 23, 2022 21:31:35 GMT keane said:

Big year for Gavin White. Flatters to deceive and makes way too many mistakes to my eyes, makes flashy runs with little end product that make you think he's doing better than he is. Time to become a proper Kerry footballer or alternatives should be looked at.

I agree 100%, to me Gavin looks like a guy who feels very comfortable in his position, I'd say he doesn't feel like his spot is up for grabs so he's just coasting.

That's just how it looks to me.

[keane]

Jan 23, 2022 22:03:22 GMT @asprilla said:

Jan 23, 2022 21:31:35 GMT keane said:

Big year for Gavin White. Flatters to deceive and makes way too many mistakes to my eyes, makes flashy runs with little end product that make you think he's doing better than he is. Time to become a proper Kerry footballer or alternatives should be looked at.

I agree 100%, to me Gavin looks like a guy who feels very comfortable in his position, I'd say he doesn't feel like his spot is up for grabs so he's just coasting.

That's just how it looks to me.

I think we have a few players who look like they think they are awful tasty and hardly a medal between them. Kicks up holes would do no harm.

[Whosinmidfield]

A few selection decisions for Jack that will be interesting for the Kildare game. First I think is Sean O’Shea’s position. I don’t know about others but for me the past 2 games have only confirmed by belief that he is wasted at midfield. I would be returning him to 11. On the half forward line, for most of the Cork game we had a half forward line of Savage, Paudie and Burns. All lacking height and all with mainly attacking instincts. When it comes to the hard stuff, if we’re playing 3 out and out inside forwards I think we can only play one from those 3 and Dara Moynihan and I think everybody would chose Paudie from that quartet. On the other wing for balance I think we need a player who brings size and physicality. There are very few of these on the panel so for that reason alone I’d give Greg Horan a look at 10. If Seanie moves back to 11, the only real option to come into midfield is Paul O’Shea. I’d love to see him at midfield from the start to see what he can do. The other decision is can a spot be found for Dylan Casey to see how he fares. There is no obvious wing back opposite to White with Breen out so moving Tom O’Sullivan out there and bringing Casey in in the corner could be an option although for me Tom has to be at corner back come championship.

[The16thMan]

Jan 23, 2022 19:55:35 GMT sambo said:

Anyone have any idea when tickets go on sale for league games. Will it be Ticketmaster or Tickets.ie???

I imagine Ticketmaster, the season tickets have gone through them and last year's tickets also. They will probably be released the Tuesday before the game. They'll be scarce though because of the season ticket holders will take up about 70% of the capacity in ASP for that game. Whether they all travel is another thing

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 23, 2022 22:56:23 GMT The16thMan said:

Jan 23, 2022 19:55:35 GMT sambo said:

Anyone have any idea when tickets go on sale for league games. Will it be Ticketmaster or Tickets.ie???

I imagine Ticketmaster, the season tickets have gone through them and last year's tickets also. They will probably be released the Tuesday before the game. They'll be scarce though because of the season ticket holders will take up about 70% of the capacity in ASP for that game. Whether they all travel is another thing

With the restrictions lifted I reckon it will be a compete sell out.