The Leinster thread

[big ginger 8]

Maybe I'm being harsh on McGrath considering he's young but McFadden? He's peaked. He will pump the legs and that's it. Boring. But yes I might have been harsh on McGrath but you look at the southern counterparts who come through with ease when it comes to basic skill sets and it's not promising. When someone doesn't spark he will be nothing more than solid, so I don't understand the hype.

Just because McFadden's playstyle isn't flamboyant doesn't mean he's not effective. Was the 111 metres are so he ran against Australia boring? In our squad Fitzgerald's a better winger than him and that's it. "Pumping the legs" generally works well for him, he's probably the fastest player we have, is a strong defender, never gives up, is an efficient rucker, has a good pass and is a goalkicking option as well as having loads of experience. I'm pretty happy to have him. Sure he'll never set the world alight but over the season he'll keep a good level. It's also a bit strange from that team that he's the wing you give out about.

How much of McGrath have you seen? His pass is grand and constantly improving other than that it's stuff like his leadership skills (which despite being 21 he has in abundance) very strong defence and breaking threat to name a few. He sparks stuff himself. For such a small guy his athleticism is truly impressive.

 

[ruggabee]

Should be ahead of Boss sounds like damning with faint praise tbh...

Also, Noel Reid's got the size, compared to who, Matt Giteau? He's tall, but there's no meat to him unless something's changed since Argentina. Good luck to him, he's proved a lot of people wrong so far, but if he's got the tools to go all the way at 12 I will be quite surprised.

There's quite a disparity between jumping options on a second look. No pressure on the young Mr Byrne.

Well I was comparing him to a guy like Aaron Mauger. Maybe that's too far back and these day's we see freaks who can combine distribution with crashballin'. But tbh that's not somethng we see up north. A distributing player at 12 up north? Now that's a nice surprise regardless of size. Anyway size hasn't been a problem for Giteau. I'm getting carried away. It's just nice to see a player with a different skill set. I hope he goes well.

Just because McFadden's playstyle isn't flamboyant doesn't mean he's not effective. Was the 111 metres are so he ran against Australia boring? In our squad Fitzgerald's a better winger than him and that's it. "Pumping the legs" generally works well for him, he's probably the fastest player we have, is a strong defender, never gives up, is an efficient rucker, has a good pass and is a goalkicking option as well as having loads of experience. I'm pretty happy to have him. Sure he'll never set the world alight but over the season he'll keep a good level. It's also a bit strange from that team that he's the wing you give out about.

How much of McGrath have you seen? His pass is grand and constantly improving other than that it's stuff like his leadership skills (which despite being 21 he has in abundance) very strong defence and breaking threat to name a few. He sparks stuff himself. For such a small guy his athleticism is truly impressive.

I don't care what McGrath can do for his size. I'm just saying from what I've seen he's a prospect but his pass has been more focal. If he can be crisp then good on him. I'm not slating just for the sake of it. This season will probably show us what he can do then I can eat my words, maybe.

Also bring up whatever stats you want about McFadden. When you have a team that has few strike players and you want to praise McFadden? **** that. Pleasee bring someone through.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Hahaha, incredibly harsh. Ferg is probably one of the first few names on the teamsheet. He's a top class defender and does the job in attack, different style of play but he's at the level of Keith Earls.

 

[ruggabee]

Hahaha, incredibly harsh. Ferg is probably one of the first few names on the teamsheet. He's a top class defender and does the job in attack, different style of play but he's at the level of Keith Earls.

Yeah he spells boring. We have a backline with no strike players and the player with the best stats is McFadden? That's bloody sad man. You wana chuck him in against SA, NZ, or OZ then go ahead. I'm just speaking in the broad spectrum. Sure he'll do the job at club level but he's never going to be a finisher, he's never going to unleash out wide from the midfield. He's average and if anyone can bring up the stats of what he can do compared to the rest of the team then the rest of the team needs to buck up.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah he spells boring. We have a backline with no strike players and the player with the best stats is McFadden? That's bloody sad man. You wana chuck him in against SA, NZ, or OZ then go ahead. I'm just speaking in the broad spectrum. Sure he'll do the job at club level but he's never going to be a finisher, he's never going to unleash out wide from the midfield. He's average and if anyone can bring up the stats of what he can do compared to the rest of the team then the rest of the team needs to buck up.

Toulon are boring, England 2003 were boring, sometimes boring wins! Not saying he's a world beater but he is a proven international with a far superior try scoring record than Luke Fitzgerald. I think you're doing what I did in the past with Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahoney and single them out to criticise greatly, as you can see it usually ends badly.

 

[profitius]

He has an excellent attitude and you're always guaranteed 100% from him so few would complain to see him picked. I can see Ruggabee's point though because he isn't the most talented of players and is a bit one dimensional. With McFadden, even though he is small he is a physical player. Pound for pound he is ferocious and plays on the edge. He plays like Pat McCabe but not quite as good as McCabe IMO. He is a bit one dimensional also.

 

[ruggabee]

Toulon are boring, England 2003 were boring, sometimes boring wins! Not saying he's a world beater but he is a proven international with a far superior try scoring record than Luke Fitzgerald. I think you're doing what I did in the past with Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahoney and single them out to criticise greatly, as you can see it usually ends badly.

I wouldn't mind if he was a solid cog like Ryan Crotty amongst some talented individuals but he is not. And it doesn't help that he plays in the 12 or wing channels where you'd hope something would happen. You will never think "oh great McFadden has the ball". I guess you could say then let's get in some strike players around a solid figure like him. But tbh he is has been around enough and he is average.

edit. sorry for taking this further than leinster.

What has McFadden got to do with winning on a level like Toulon or England? That's crazy.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I wouldn't mind if he was a solid cog like Ryan Crotty amongst some talented individuals but he is not. And it doesn't help that he plays in the 12 or wing channels where you'd hope something would happen. You will never think "oh great McFadden has the ball". I guess you could say then let's get in some strike players around a solid figure like him. But tbh he is has been around enough and he is average.

edit. sorry for taking this further than leinster.

What has McFadden got to do with winning on a level like Toulon or England? That's crazy.

You're biggest criticism of the man seems to be his style of play!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Ferg is the boy. He's a solid player who doesn't let you down.

 

[ruggabee]

You're biggest criticism of the man seems to be his style of play!

My biggest criticism is his one dimensional play, and how it's somehow integral to a team to be compared to others like Toulon and England (2003). My point is, he is average and I hope someone younger ousts him.

 

[munstermuffin]

Hahaha, incredibly harsh. Ferg is probably one of the first few names on the teamsheet. He's a top class defender and does the job in attack, different style of play but he's at the level of Keith Earls.

Pity his stats can't back that up

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Pity his stats can't back that up

Earls' attack = Ferg's defence and vice vearsa. Earls' best is better, Ferg is a helluva lot more consistent.

 

[big ginger 8]

Pity his stats can't back that up

Well despite 11 caps more Earls has only three tries more than McFadden and that's with McFadden having half his caps as a sub.

 

[ruggabee]

Look muffin just don't **** with us okay? We got McFadden lol.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well despite 11 caps more Earls has only three tries more than McFadden and that's with McFadden having half his caps as a sub.

Take out tries against lesser teams and I'm on about defense to for Ireland Earls record on wing is better than Fergs. (Not all his tries were on wing and Earls caps more spread). But if ye really think McFadden on same level as Earls I'll just say ok we can agree to disagree. And on it I suppose Luke Fitz a hell of a lesser talent based on analysis.
And after tonight I'm a lot more happier in knowing we can have a super backrow (all Irish after next season) in making.

 

[Groundhog]

Hahaha, incredibly harsh. Ferg is probably one of the first few names on the teamsheet. He's a top class defender and does the job in attack, different style of play but he's at the level of Keith Earls.

No. Bold.
EDIT: McFadden is captain dependable, but very unspectacular. Fitz is one of the brightest talents out there, but like Earls his potential was ruined by his injuries. Also, we do this debate WAY too often.

 

[munstermuffin]

No. Bold.
EDIT: McFadden is captain dependable, but very unspectacular. Fitz is one of the brightest talents out there, but like Earls his potential was ruined by his injuries. Also, we do this debate WAY too often.

I think that is correct and while I rate McFadden is a fine player he's not at same level as others.
If we are honest if Leinster had everyone fit he'd struggle to make 23

 

[Feicarsinn]

I think that is correct and while I rate McFadden is a fine player he's not at same level as others.
If we are honest if Leinster had everyone fit he'd struggle to make 23

No he wouldn't. Rob Kearney, Ferg and Luke is our strongest back three. Dave and Kirch fighting it out for the bench spot.

 

[lynam1104]

I'm with BG8 and Feic in terms of Ferg great little player, far faster and more elusive than people give him credit for.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'm with BG8 and Feic in terms of Ferg great little player, far faster and more elusive than people give him credit for.

Cheers man.