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Replying To BarneyGrant: "David and Paudie emerge with reputations enhanced after Sunday.
The sobering thought for Kerry people is that while David is undoubtedly cementing his reputation as one of the greats, that he is playing on a team that without the brothers and a few others is mediocre. Take them away and Mayo would have hammered them.
I'd include Tom Sullivan among the really good players but injuries caught up with him when he was motoring well enough on Sunday and had to be pulled." Question for your Barney - would you trust David in particular to drag you out of a deep hole when backs are really against the wall? Genuine question so no right or wrong answer!
I know when we were struggling over the years in big games then its in those moments that the best of the best come to the fore i.e. think James McCarthy simply refusing to lie down in a few massive games over the years. I think Paudie has shown more of those never say die qualities than David and again last Sunday. That's why the "GOAT" conversation isn't as cut and dried in my mind compared to a lot of peoples. He undoubtedly has the skill level to eclipse a lot of what we have seen over the years but those other less tangible qualities in terms of leadership and resilience I'm just not sure he is at that elite 1% level...yet.
TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 365 - 29/07/2026 14:19:00
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Replying To TrueBlue35: "Question for your Barney - would you trust David in particular to drag you out of a deep hole when backs are really against the wall? Genuine question so no right or wrong answer!
I know when we were struggling over the years in big games then its in those moments that the best of the best come to the fore i.e. think James McCarthy simply refusing to lie down in a few massive games over the years. I think Paudie has shown more of those never say die qualities than David and again last Sunday. That's why the "GOAT" conversation isn't as cut and dried in my mind compared to a lot of peoples. He undoubtedly has the skill level to eclipse a lot of what we have seen over the years but those other less tangible qualities in terms of leadership and resilience I'm just not sure he is at that elite 1% level...yet." He will be 28 in Jan.
He would want to be getting it soon….!
DC is very good but Paudie is a class player and a more rounded team player, it could be argued.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5239 - 29/07/2026 14:34:10
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Replying To Thejampot: "Divid didn't enhance and reputation sunday. Second half was a poor display from one for the best in the game. When was needed most to lead he just stood up and watched. No work rate." Scored 1-6 from play in the final?
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2719 - 29/07/2026 15:04:58
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Replying To TrueBlue35: "Question for your Barney - would you trust David in particular to drag you out of a deep hole when backs are really against the wall? Genuine question so no right or wrong answer!
I know when we were struggling over the years in big games then its in those moments that the best of the best come to the fore i.e. think James McCarthy simply refusing to lie down in a few massive games over the years. I think Paudie has shown more of those never say die qualities than David and again last Sunday. That's why the "GOAT" conversation isn't as cut and dried in my mind compared to a lot of peoples. He undoubtedly has the skill level to eclipse a lot of what we have seen over the years but those other less tangible qualities in terms of leadership and resilience I'm just not sure he is at that elite 1% level...yet." Not sure about that. A lot of it depends on the position he plays too. He's an inside forward and the best I've ever seen at that. He's not someone with an incredible engine who can do the dog work needed out in the middle relentlessly.
He has physical attributes which make him almost unmarkable one-on-one inside. You can't have everything though and he can't do the work the likes of McCarthy, Fenton or even his own brother can. It'd be silly to have him used in that way in any case.
Greatest footballer is something which I don't agree with in any case. Clifford is the best forward I've ever seen, Fenton the best midfielder I've seen by a distance.
WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2978 - 29/07/2026 15:10:21
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A few posters here dont like to give David full credit.If he was nt from Kerry maybe they would say different.
Most people that call him the goat are from outside Kerry.Most of us hate hearing that and I believe he hates it himself.
The facts are that David Clifford is a fantastic footballer.Well as Barney says he plays on a mediocre team.Can you imagine if he played on a great team.
Begrudges say ah he s good but Ive seen better.
David is the second top scorer in championship history and he is only 27.
Cillian O Connor is top.However most of Davids scores are from.play.
David has played in 6 All Ireland finals and I believe is the highest scorer ever from play in finals.
He has constantly been brilliant.One of his great displays was against Tyrone in 21 semi and he got injured for extra time.
He has scored at will in huge games against top teams.
Every game he plays the opposition have a plan for him and nearly always two men on him and often 3.
Ive seen great players in the past like Matt Connor Declan Browne but they were marked man to man.
David was a superhuman minor and is the highest scoring minor of all time.
As a senior he has been outstanding and his scoring is off the charts.
As Paul Flynn has said a few times "David Clifford can score 1-9 in a game and wont get motm cos he is judged by different standards.
Onr of the greatest of all time was Peter Canavan and Peter reckons he has never seen the likes of David.
A Dublin poster last year claimed David has never done it on the big days.Thats a laugh.
Its jealousy in my view and most of it comes from.the same area.Tbf old posters like Realdub always spoke highly of David.
David always delivers..He had a quiet day in 23 but still scored 3 points and set up a fab goal and 3 more points. Diarmiid Connlolly (a class player) did nt score in 4 finals.ComO Callaghan did nt score in 23 final.
Many great players have had bad days but David nearly always shines.
Hoganstand forum wont judge David s legacy.History will and it will be very kind to him.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4233 - 29/07/2026 15:24:22
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Replying To TrueBlue35: "Question for your Barney - would you trust David in particular to drag you out of a deep hole when backs are really against the wall? Genuine question so no right or wrong answer!
I know when we were struggling over the years in big games then its in those moments that the best of the best come to the fore i.e. think James McCarthy simply refusing to lie down in a few massive games over the years. I think Paudie has shown more of those never say die qualities than David and again last Sunday. That's why the "GOAT" conversation isn't as cut and dried in my mind compared to a lot of peoples. He undoubtedly has the skill level to eclipse a lot of what we have seen over the years but those other less tangible qualities in terms of leadership and resilience I'm just not sure he is at that elite 1% level...yet." He scored one of the greatest points in AI final history when his team needed him most on Sunday
Kinvara (Galway) - Posts: 226 - 29/07/2026 15:53:03
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Replying To TrueBlue35: "Question for your Barney - would you trust David in particular to drag you out of a deep hole when backs are really against the wall? Genuine question so no right or wrong answer!
I know when we were struggling over the years in big games then its in those moments that the best of the best come to the fore i.e. think James McCarthy simply refusing to lie down in a few massive games over the years. I think Paudie has shown more of those never say die qualities than David and again last Sunday. That's why the "GOAT" conversation isn't as cut and dried in my mind compared to a lot of peoples. He undoubtedly has the skill level to eclipse a lot of what we have seen over the years but those other less tangible qualities in terms of leadership and resilience I'm just not sure he is at that elite 1% level...yet." I would if he was surrounded by Connolly, Kilkenny, the Brogans, Con, Fenton etc, etc! Or indeed by the Gooch, Declan O'Sullivan, Star and the boys.
My point is that is he outstanding on what minus himself and Paudie C is a very average team that would not have won either All Ireland without them. Which is not true of better Kerry teams or better Dublin teams who survived big injury and other losses because they had better players.
DC is undoubtedly up there with the greats and his performance was surely among the 3/4 best of any player on Sunday.
BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4521 - 29/07/2026 16:00:19
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Replying To BarneyGrant: "I would if he was surrounded by Connolly, Kilkenny, the Brogans, Con, Fenton etc, etc! Or indeed by the Gooch, Declan O'Sullivan, Star and the boys.
My point is that is he outstanding on what minus himself and Paudie C is a very average team that would not have won either All Ireland without them. Which is not true of better Kerry teams or better Dublin teams who survived big injury and other losses because they had better players.
DC is undoubtedly up there with the greats and his performance was surely among the 3/4 best of any player on Sunday." Definitely up there with the greats but some from his neck of the woods have a chip on their shoulder about him…! . Every team would want him, But….
This topic is about him being the GOAT.
He is Not.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5239 - 29/07/2026 17:01:25
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Replying To Fionn: "Definitely up there with the greats but some from his neck of the woods have a chip on their shoulder about him…! . Every team would want him, But….
This topic is about him being the GOAT.
He is Not." 101 points from play from 98 shots in the Championship (s).
Not bad
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 801 - 29/07/2026 17:34:54
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Replying To Fionn: "Definitely up there with the greats but some from his neck of the woods have a chip on their shoulder about him…! . Every team would want him, But….
This topic is about him being the GOAT.
He is Not." Who is so Fionn? I have nt seen a better baller.I wish he was a Dub.I ve me him and he is a sound bloke.Most of the great reckon he is the best and hard to argue with it.Barney hit nail on head,Kerry without the brothers Clifford are very ordinary.
I went to see him in a club match a few years ago with a Kerry mate and I thought I was seen things magical.Met him after the game after he spent about an hour signing jersey and doin selfies.A different man off the pitch and a big man.Very friendly and down to earth.
brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 765 - 29/07/2026 18:15:28
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Replying To brayballer: "Who is so Fionn? I have nt seen a better baller.I wish he was a Dub.I ve me him and he is a sound bloke.Most of the great reckon he is the best and hard to argue with it.Barney hit nail on head,Kerry without the brothers Clifford are very ordinary.
I went to see him in a club match a few years ago with a Kerry mate and I thought I was seen things magical.Met him after the game after he spent about an hour signing jersey and doin selfies.A different man off the pitch and a big man.Very friendly and down to earth." Look everyone is going to be defensive and protective of their own county and club, and players from their own county and club. It is only natural.
For me the King Con is better than King David.
And Prince Kobe has the potential to be better than both.
My personal view on rating how good a player is his ability, skill, scoring, creativity, defensive attributes, team work and workrate.
For me overall Con is better.
Add to that what Con has achieved in Both codes.
Phenomenal.
DC is one of the best forwards of all time.
Better than Con in the scoring charts for sure.
But the GOAT - nope.
Maybe I am biased but that is my opinion.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5239 - 29/07/2026 19:27:41
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Replying To brayballer: "Who is so Fionn? I have nt seen a better baller.I wish he was a Dub.I ve me him and he is a sound bloke.Most of the great reckon he is the best and hard to argue with it.Barney hit nail on head,Kerry without the brothers Clifford are very ordinary.
I went to see him in a club match a few years ago with a Kerry mate and I thought I was seen things magical.Met him after the game after he spent about an hour signing jersey and doin selfies.A different man off the pitch and a big man.Very friendly and down to earth." Also a club game for a non senior club.
You are not comparing like with like.
Con has won a Senior All Ireland Club winners medal in Both codes.
Different gravy.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5239 - 29/07/2026 19:29:38
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Replying To Kinvara: "He scored one of the greatest points in AI final history when his team needed him most on Sunday" Missed a two pointer near the end when his team needed him most. He's a great player no doubt. The greatest is Matt Connor Offaly.
endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2769 - 29/07/2026 19:45:33
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Replying To CiarraiMick: "A few posters here dont like to give David full credit.If he was nt from Kerry maybe they would say different.
Most people that call him the goat are from outside Kerry.Most of us hate hearing that and I believe he hates it himself.
The facts are that David Clifford is a fantastic footballer.Well as Barney says he plays on a mediocre team.Can you imagine if he played on a great team.
Begrudges say ah he s good but Ive seen better.
David is the second top scorer in championship history and he is only 27.
Cillian O Connor is top.However most of Davids scores are from.play.
David has played in 6 All Ireland finals and I believe is the highest scorer ever from play in finals.
He has constantly been brilliant.One of his great displays was against Tyrone in 21 semi and he got injured for extra time.
He has scored at will in huge games against top teams.
Every game he plays the opposition have a plan for him and nearly always two men on him and often 3.
Ive seen great players in the past like Matt Connor Declan Browne but they were marked man to man.
David was a superhuman minor and is the highest scoring minor of all time.
As a senior he has been outstanding and his scoring is off the charts.
As Paul Flynn has said a few times "David Clifford can score 1-9 in a game and wont get motm cos he is judged by different standards.
Onr of the greatest of all time was Peter Canavan and Peter reckons he has never seen the likes of David.
A Dublin poster last year claimed David has never done it on the big days.Thats a laugh.
Its jealousy in my view and most of it comes from.the same area.Tbf old posters like Realdub always spoke highly of David.
David always delivers..He had a quiet day in 23 but still scored 3 points and set up a fab goal and 3 more points. Diarmiid Connlolly (a class player) did nt score in 4 finals.ComO Callaghan did nt score in 23 final.
Many great players have had bad days but David nearly always shines.
Hoganstand forum wont judge David s legacy.History will and it will be very kind to him." Firstly commiserations Mick. By all accounts the Kerry fans were very magmanimous in defeat and that's one of the things that made the aftermath in Croke PARK so special to witness. I can guess that you were the first to shake your neighbours hand and wish them well.
As for DC - Unfortunately he is measured by a different yardstick and that may seem unfair. He is an incredible talent and without doubt he is the best I have seen. Power, balance, athleticism, vision and accuracy all combined in one devastating package. I would pay no heed to the begrudgers. Anybody who cannot see how good he is just does't understand or appreciate football.
Anyway, hope you are well. Sunday was a magical day in many ways and Kerry were part of that- albeit not in the way you may have wanted. Anyway, Kerry will be marching up the Hogan again in the not too distant future.
avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 2081 - 29/07/2026 20:29:13
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