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David Clifford GOAT

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There is no doubt Clifford has all the skills to be the greatest corner forward of all time. I don't think he is anywhere near being in the conversation for greatest forward of all time. The best forward isn't always the best finisher. Some of the greatest forwards played at half forward. Seán O'Neill, Seán Purcell, Pat Spillane, Greg Blaney, Trevor Giles, Larry Tompkins Of the inside forwards Mikey Sheehy, Colm Cooper, David Clifford, Matt Connor, Mickey Kearins, James McCartan Snr. , Jimmy Keaveney, David Clifford (likely to be the best of this bunch by the time he retires) But for me, you have to look at those all rounders who could play inside and "on the 40" Maurice Fitzgerald, Michael Murphy, Padraig Joyce and Peter Canavan for substance - Diarmuid Connolly and Ciaran McDonald for style Peter Canavan was probably the only one who could play at every position and still roast the best defender in the that position and always tough enough to fight his way out of a corner if needed. tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1245 - 03/03/2025 09:32:53 2594341 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "There is no doubt Clifford has all the skills to be the greatest corner forward of all time. I don't think he is anywhere near being in the conversation for greatest forward of all time. The best forward isn't always the best finisher. Some of the greatest forwards played at half forward. Seán O'Neill, Seán Purcell, Pat Spillane, Greg Blaney, Trevor Giles, Larry Tompkins Of the inside forwards Mikey Sheehy, Colm Cooper, David Clifford, Matt Connor, Mickey Kearins, James McCartan Snr. , Jimmy Keaveney, David Clifford (likely to be the best of this bunch by the time he retires) But for me, you have to look at those all rounders who could play inside and "on the 40" Maurice Fitzgerald, Michael Murphy, Padraig Joyce and Peter Canavan for substance - Diarmuid Connolly and Ciaran McDonald for style Peter Canavan was probably the only one who could play at every position and still roast the best defender in the that position and always tough enough to fight his way out of a corner if needed." Gooch played some of his best football at 11. Thinking his performance in 2013 semi final Never saw Murphy as an 11 playmaker more an 8 or 14 similar to Donaghy or Tommy Walsh he's a better player than both. Stephen O'Neill is another I'd add jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1367 - 03/03/2025 10:15:54 2594352 Link
Replying To TheFlaker: "Where did I suggest he scored almost as much from play? I didn't even hint at it because it would be stupid." Why did you mention it then? oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1518 - 03/03/2025 11:48:01 2594387 Link
Replying To oneoff: "Why did you mention it then?" Eh because his record from play was questioned. I said go look it up. It holds up against any of the top forwards who were also free takers. But you know that already you just have an axe to grind and don't like O Connor. TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8287 - 03/03/2025 11:55:01 2594391 Link
Replying To TheFlaker: "Eh because his record from play was questioned. I said go look it up. It holds up against any of the top forwards who were also free takers. But you know that already you just have an axe to grind and don't like O Connor." By who? Classic Mayo the world is always out to get ye isn't it? oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1518 - 03/03/2025 14:07:19 2594438 Link
Replying To oneoff: "By who? Classic Mayo the world is always out to get ye isn't it?" Lol Lol. TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8287 - 03/03/2025 14:50:02 2594451 Link
C'OC is one of the finest dead-ball players of all time, but he's no Paul Flynn jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 03/03/2025 15:25:35 2594462 Link
Replying To TheFlaker: "Lol Lol." What's so funny? oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1518 - 03/03/2025 18:14:44 2594535 Link
It's like the ballon D'or in so much as attacking players always seem to get the award and the title of the best player. Maldini was better at defending than any forward was ever at attacking and he never won a ballon D'or. The greatest GAA player of all time is not David Clifford, and Matt Connor was a better forward than him. IMO- I cannot separate Mick O'Connell or John Joe O'Reilly for the moniker of the GOAT. A midfielder and a half back both awesome, astounding and infallible on the football field. leitrim4sam (Leitrim) - Posts: 685 - 03/03/2025 19:34:43 2594550 Link
Replying To jimbodub: "C'OC is one of the finest dead-ball players of all time, but he's no Paul Flynn" Flynn made it look easy. But it didn't come easy to him.Pat Gilroy got a hold of him when he was an athlete but not the footballer he later became. Flynn worked very hard on his game and in particular on his kicking. He learned plenty about kicking too from Michael Murphy during their DCU days. A great role model and astute management from Gilroy. Few will agree but I'll argue in Cillian's case that we turned a very good twice Young Player of the Year into a freetaker. Cillian had so much more to offer as a footballer than just taking frees. He's a very good freetaker but in some games, when you know you have a Plan B good freetaker, your forwards are less encouraged and confident to try scoring from play. David Clifford is a great footballer that can take frees. Points from frees count the same as from play. Ask Dean Rock. Not a headline grabber but he played a vital role in the success of that great Dublin team. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7811 - 03/03/2025 21:01:09 2594576 Link
Cillian O Connor featured in 10 games against eventual champions (Donegal 2012, Dublin 2013, Kerry twice in 2014, Dublin twice in 2015 and 2016 and once in 2017, 19, and 2020). His total score against the eventual champions is 5-76 (82) with 2-17 (19) from play and 3-59 (63) from placed balls. Some record for just a free taker. I didn't even include his record in games v Galway and Roscommon or quarter finals and semi finals against other teams because the begrudgers wouldn't want to acknowledge 4-03 from play in an All Ireland semi final because it was against Tipp. TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8287 - 04/03/2025 12:38:24 2594657 Link
COC isnt even in the top 10 footballers in Connacht, never mind in the conversation of GOAT. The recency bias in this thread is outlandish! The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 750 - 04/03/2025 13:59:09 2594689 Link
Replying To TheFlaker: "Cillian O Connor featured in 10 games against eventual champions (Donegal 2012, Dublin 2013, Kerry twice in 2014, Dublin twice in 2015 and 2016 and once in 2017, 19, and 2020). His total score against the eventual champions is 5-76 (82) with 2-17 (19) from play and 3-59 (63) from placed balls. Some record for just a free taker. I didn't even include his record in games v Galway and Roscommon or quarter finals and semi finals against other teams because the begrudgers wouldn't want to acknowledge 4-03 from play in an All Ireland semi final because it was against Tipp." Yet you're likely to the first one to dismiss David Clifford if he was scoring that amount against Tipp. It's also funny to see a Mayo person talking about begrudgingly. oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1518 - 04/03/2025 14:04:48 2594690 Link
Replying To The_DOC: "COC isnt even in the top 10 footballers in Connacht, never mind in the conversation of GOAT. The recency bias in this thread is outlandish!" Who said he was in the conversation of GOAT. Do lads not follow threads? TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8287 - 04/03/2025 14:57:09 2594705 Link
Replying To oneoff: "Yet you're likely to the first one to dismiss David Clifford if he was scoring that amount against Tipp. It's also funny to see a Mayo person talking about begrudgingly." I love Clifford, what are you waffling about? I was pointing out COC record from play in big games which more than one poster questioned. TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8287 - 04/03/2025 14:58:51 2594706 Link
Replying To TheFlaker: "Who said he was in the conversation of GOAT. Do lads not follow threads?" Mayos Cillian O CONNOR has scored far more than him and there no word of him, is because he is not from Kerry. jacktheboy (Donegal) I think it's you who's not following the thread. oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1518 - 04/03/2025 15:22:57 2594712 Link
Replying To TheFlaker: "I love Clifford, what are you waffling about? I was pointing out COC record from play in big games which more than one poster questioned." You're the one waffling on about not liking COC despite the fact absolutely no one said anything of the sort. oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1518 - 04/03/2025 15:24:19 2594714 Link
Replying To oneoff: "You're the one waffling on about not liking COC despite the fact absolutely no one said anything of the sort." oneoff: "Maybe because he was a full time free and penalty taker..." This you hun? There were other posts claiming he was a free taker and did nothing in important games. That's why I posted the stats. x TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8287 - 04/03/2025 16:30:45 2594724 Link
Replying To TheFlaker: "Cillian O Connor featured in 10 games against eventual champions (Donegal 2012, Dublin 2013, Kerry twice in 2014, Dublin twice in 2015 and 2016 and once in 2017, 19, and 2020). His total score against the eventual champions is 5-76 (82) with 2-17 (19) from play and 3-59 (63) from placed balls. Some record for just a free taker. I didn't even include his record in games v Galway and Roscommon or quarter finals and semi finals against other teams because the begrudgers wouldn't want to acknowledge 4-03 from play in an All Ireland semi final because it was against Tipp." It's solid just under 2pts a game from play if you take out Kerry 2014 which were wild games your probably looking at about 12 pts in 8 games from play against solid defensive sides. Decent but unspectacular. To answer your question why he's not popular with other teams. He was a bit of a cheap shot merchant and got away with a lot. A fine player but wouldn't be a player I'd put in same league as keegan Higgins from that great mayo side jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1367 - 04/03/2025 16:48:51 2594729 Link
Replying To jm25: "It's solid just under 2pts a game from play if you take out Kerry 2014 which were wild games your probably looking at about 12 pts in 8 games from play against solid defensive sides. Decent but unspectacular. To answer your question why he's not popular with other teams. He was a bit of a cheap shot merchant and got away with a lot. A fine player but wouldn't be a player I'd put in same league as keegan Higgins from that great mayo side" So you want to take out the All Ireland semi final? Why? Add in the 4-03 in 2020 semi final if you want? 3 from play i think in 20 final v Dublin . I think 3 from play also in 17 final. 2 from play i think in 16 one an unbelievable equaliser at the death? Any forward averaging 2 from play is good. Massive bonus if they are the freetaker . Again I am not saying he is an all time great, I just don't get why people ignore his contribution from play. TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8287 - 04/03/2025 17:01:38 2594732 Link