Posters are generally, and rightly so, highly critical of tv pundits for their negative comments on most teams and players. Yet posters are increasingly drawn into castigating the abilities and attitudes of players. Maybe we should be making new-year resolutions to be a lot more positive and appreciative of the efforts of our players. Players such as Michael Murphy, Dermot Connolly, Lee Keegan etc. , are all top class exponents of the game that we all enjoy and give us a lot of happy memories during the year.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 19/12/2015 12:31:41    1813578

Over rated by who Liam?

Pat Splianne and Colm O'Rourke dont rate him too highly.
Joe Brolly is the only pundit Ive heard singing his praises .. and he is connected to his club

Murphy didnt make it on Todays Fm 15 on 15 team of the last 15 years.
He didnt win an All star or make the Sunday Game team in 2010, 2011,2013 or 2015.

Donegal fans correctly rate him as he has been a great and modest leader of their attack and team,
The other four Donegal players you mentioned are all defenders.
It would be impossible to even begin comparing him with Canavan as they so different in their style, physique etc
You are the first Ive heard mentioning him in the same context as Maurice Fitzgerald.
My own view is that Michael Murphy would enhance any AI winning of the past decade,
Other than that it seems that this thread is not for the first time a case of you 'creating facts' in order to 'stir it up'.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 507 - 19/12/2015 15:27:03    1813594

excellent player that any team would like to have but if he got the red cards he deserved for alot of his sly/dirty carry on we would be putting him in the liability bracket i'm afraid to say

superdub (Dublin) - Posts: 392 - 20/12/2015 21:03:17    1813714

This is an interesting forum. I actually expected more people to agree with the Original Poster.
I suppose the main issues with Murphy and Donegal is that he isn't played where he is best because Donegal need him out the field. Donegal aren't mayo with 3 other 6,4 midfielders all up to a decent standard. Donegals other midfielders (except big neil) are 6 foot all rounders. So Donegal need Murphy there (at times) as a fielder and a physical presence.

In saying that there is no denying that when played in at Full Forward and given good ball he is unplayable. A defender will never catch a ball on him if 1 on 1. Their only hope is to break it and have sweepers cleaning up.

Something about Murphy that doesnt neccessarily mean he is a great footballer but maybe explains the man he is. - He is 26 but is an absolute gent. He understand the position he is in and will do anything he can to help anyone on or off the field. I have heard so many stories. He is mature beyond his years. He has been captain of Donegal for 5 years and I dont see him giving up that title anytime soon. He has been Captain of Ireland for 2 years and probably would have been this year only he himself withdrew due to injury (needing to recover).

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 21/12/2015 09:05:49    1813731

This is the standard life cycle of a top class player these days.

- Break onto the scene they are the next big thing
- Back it up with a few solid years, established top class player.
- Win something, greatest player ever
- Don't win, was never really that good and don't see what all the fuss was about.

Current players who have been through this are Flynn, Brogan (both), O Shea, Cavanagh, Cooper, Donaghy. Basically if your any good at all someone will come on and say they don't see it or what all the fuss is about and will take great delight in saying told you so when they are down.

To go back to the OP I'd say pound for pound Murphy is probably the best all round player in the game, there are more skillful, there are quicker, there are stronger but as an all round package fit and in form I'd struggle to find someone as influential and it is a shame that Donegal cant keep him in his best position but needs must, and the lad does what he needs to do for the team which is the sign of a great leader.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 21/12/2015 09:32:49    1813736

Honestly, not trying to annoy anyone, not trying to start a row! I see MM's name regularly appear on Best 15's and so on and so forth....I have to say, for a fella who gets so much praise and is supposed to be this behemoth mixture of Peter Cavavan, George Best and a Minotaur, I just dont see it.
I have seen more big games pass him by than anything else. I dont think he has been anywhere near Donegals best player in recent years. Frank, Karl Lacey and the McGees would take that honour.
MM is a decent player, would he get in the Dubs team at 14? Of course he would!! But is he the second coming of Maurice Fitz? Not for me, not atall.
Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts:6396 - 18/12/2015 14:29:42 1813487



Ah stop!!!!!

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 21/12/2015 09:44:43    1813740

As others have pointed out there may be more skillful and faster players around, but in overall terms there are few who match him.
Bernard Brogan is an exceptional ball winner and finisher but could you imagine him playing out the field contesting ball against the likes of Aiden O'Shea or David Moran?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 21/12/2015 10:21:06    1813752

A guy who I believe to be over rated would be Peter Canavan actually. Great player of course - that is a given, but some people say he was the best ever - for me there are others who were as good as him who don't get anywhere near the credit. Padraic Joyce and Mikey Sheehy are two off the top of my head. I really liked Canavan as a player, he as a proper footballer, but I think he benefits from rose coloured specs more than most.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 21/12/2015 10:31:46    1813754

I actually agree. Clearly very talented player but I never find myself considering him for all-stars or teams of the decade etc.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12120 - 21/12/2015 10:33:16    1813755

Murphy has been played out of position more times than Joe Canning and god that takes some doing , hes been the Peter robbing Paul for as long as I can remember , being asked to be a functional player in a system rather played to his strengths , for me supremely gifted and were he playing in a more attack minded team would more likely get the praise deserved

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 21/12/2015 11:00:20    1813760

Murphy is a great player who is asked to play out of position a lot. A victim of his own versatility as someone else said. If I had to pick one player of the last few years to join my own county, he would be the man I would pick. Also a gent as another poster pointed out.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 21/12/2015 11:55:25    1813771

Agree Damo. He is a very humble lad who accepts whatever role is given to him for the good of the team and more often than not excels.
If he played at full forward in the Dublin team I believe he would run riot!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 21/12/2015 11:56:13    1813772

Murphy is a great player and would get on any team. The most difficult player I have seen over the last 15 years at his best (difficult to man mark) was big Donaghy. In fact for a couple of years every FB who marked him got roasted and missed out on an All Star. By the way I do not judge players by the number of All stars that they receive as these are not won but result from a certain few people's opinion- matches are won and lost!

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 21/12/2015 13:03:55    1813786

What has he scored from play in the last few years?? You wouldn't need a calculator anyway

If I were to pick Stevie McDonnell for example in his prime or MM there would be no competition. Stevie Mc like John Mullane in hurling done it day in day out.

Murphy has turned into the Roy Keane of Gaelic football...perhaps a huge leader but far from one of the greats

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 21/12/2015 13:15:14    1813789

What has he scored from play in the last few years?? You wouldn't need a calculator anyway

If I were to pick Stevie McDonnell for example in his prime or MM there would be no competition. Stevie Mc like John Mullane in hurling done it day in day out.

Murphy has turned into the Roy Keane of Gaelic football...perhaps a huge leader but far from one of the greats

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts:1423 - 21/12/2015 13:15:14 1813789


Have to disagree and feel this is typical of a trap many fall into on here , the game has changed massively since McDonnell played don't get me wrong Im a huge fan of Stevie but he was rarely asked to do the shift Murphy was asked and yes his team may have had a defensive formation but not near as much as Donegals , next time Murphy plays watch how mant men it takes to stop him , any way that's me done defending a Donegal player each to there own for me the big man is class and with have him in our team any day .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 21/12/2015 13:39:18    1813793

How anyone can call someone who led their county to an all ireland win just out of university over rated is beyond my comprehension. You just have to hear the way McGuinness spoke of him. This is a young man we are talking about, not yet near his (physical) peak. Scary thought.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 21/12/2015 17:12:22    1813813

Browncows
You must not have been to, or seen, the 2010 Munster Final. Stephen Lucey absolutely wrecked Kevin Donaghy in every aspect of the game. Donaghy unmarkable- Simply not true.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4331 - 21/12/2015 17:25:29    1813814

Like another Donegal poster has written, I'm pleasantly surprised at the amount of support Murphy has got on here. I can see where the original point has come from, I actually wouldn't have put him in my top 15 as Spillane has done. But now when I read the views from other counties perhaps I have not fully appreciated what he has done and achieved for Donegal. There has never been a doubt about his talent but I feel the fact we can't afford to keep him at FF is our downfall. I have no doubt if he played the game 15 years ago before defences began to get overcrowded he would go down as one of the best FF in our game. For now I guess we just have to appreciate the selfless work he does out the field and as a few have stated he takes players out of the game to allow others get the plaudits.

tirchonaill92 (Donegal) - Posts: 156 - 21/12/2015 17:50:28    1813816

Michael Murphy pound for pound best footballer in the country.

WilliePower12 (Australia) - Posts: 25 - 22/12/2015 12:12:43    1813868

Browncows
You must not have been to, or seen, the 2010 Munster Final. Stephen Lucey absolutely wrecked Kevin Donaghy in every aspect of the game. Donaghy unmarkable- Simply not true.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts:813 - 21/12/2015 17:25:29 1

Any relation to Kieran?

WilliePower12 (Australia) - Posts: 25 - 22/12/2015 12:33:14    1813875