Very well said Essmac.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7359 - 17/01/2016 16:54:49    1817152

If you want to discuss overrated forwards - Conor MacManus should be the first name out of your mouths. Capable of a decent performance once/twice a year (DL 13, Tyr and Kil '14 (combined 11 points, all from frees, and DL 15), and normally saves them for when he plays Donegal. If he isn't scoring he isn't doing much else. Which is a problem, as he is their only scorer.

He had one good performance both years they won Ulster and won All Stars both of those years. The very definition of overrated.

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 19/01/2016 15:20:13    1817696

Murphy is one of the greatest. A born leader. One of the most intelligent footballers to ever play the game

3rdmidfielder (Australia) - Posts: 295 - 19/01/2016 19:01:12    1817774

Couldn't agree there at all square ball. McManus is a class act who would get on any county team in Ireland if you ask me. He is capable of scoring outrageous points off either foot. My only criticism is that maybe he doesn't hit the onion bag as much as he should. But that might be because of the way Monaghan play.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 20/01/2016 09:39:47    1817849

Couldn't agree there at all square ball. McManus is a class act who would get on any county team in Ireland if you ask me. He is capable of scoring outrageous points off either foot. My only criticism is that maybe he doesn't hit the onion bag as much as he should. But that might be because of the way Monaghan play.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts:4222 - 20/01/2016 09:39:47 1817849


Have to agree , he gets serious attention from opposing teams , stop McManus you stop Monaghan would seem to be par for the course as a result what he does score is phenomenal , he would thrive in a Kerry or Dublin team .Its about opinions and squareball is entitled to his its just one I could possibly go along with

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 20/01/2016 11:10:50    1817879

McManus would be up there with any great player. I agree that his consistency may not be as good as Murphy's.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 20/01/2016 11:16:19    1817884

Murphy is a terrific player but rarely plays in his strongest position..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 20/01/2016 11:33:23    1817891

Suppose he will continue to be over-rated for as long as the armchair experts watch the dubs on setanta - murphy scored a sideline tonight that would rival Maurice fitz' moment of the century - only difference is murphy does this 4-5 times a year

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 30/01/2016 21:59:03    1820746

Hear hear RuaNua! I was right behind the goal & it was really something, from that angle & the lovely curve. Didn't look possible. Reinforces yet again why he is the best in the country but, as you say, he makes it look so easy & routinely takes points like these:
http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/6897717/Donegal-romp-to-easy-opening-round-league-win-against-Down.html

Glynners (Donegal) - Posts: 109 - 31/01/2016 09:34:13    1820754

M Murphy is pure class. If we (Monaghan) had him in our team, alongside Mansy, I have no doubt we would have "bagged" our first "Sam" in the last few years!

Monaghan Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 442 - 31/01/2016 09:58:10    1820760

He is an excellent footballer along with McManus playing in the most competitive province where man marking is at its best.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 31/01/2016 10:08:30    1820764

The 45 he scored out of the hand for Donegal's second point was unbelievable.A beautiful striker of the ball.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 31/01/2016 10:12:43    1820766

Nobody is doubting his ability to kick frees or sidelines over the bar, he is as good as anyone in the country at it without question. But people have quite reasonably said he scores very little from play, was it 1 point last night? By the way, here is some footage of Bryan Sheehan, a 3 times All-Ireland winner in 3 different lines of the field and an All-Star who people were appalled that I compared Murphy to. link

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 31/01/2016 10:15:09    1820767

The point from the sideline was sublime. At an ever tighter angle than the one scored in Celtic Park back in 2014! Has to be one of the best dead-ball men in the country. On another note, this could be a big year for Paddy McB and his brother is showing great potential too. Great to see the young talent coming through.

JD101 (Donegal) - Posts: 8 - 31/01/2016 13:33:47    1820813

Murphy is vital to Donegal and would be a massive loss were he not available. Then his value would truly be seen.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 31/01/2016 14:51:08    1820836

Nobody is doubting his ability to kick frees or sidelines over the bar, he is as good as anyone in the country at it without question. But people have quite reasonably said he scores very little from play, was it 1 point last night? By the way, here is some footage of Bryan Sheehan, a 3 times All-Ireland winner in 3 different lines of the field and an All-Star who people were appalled that I compared Murphy to. link

Soma (UK) - Posts:1276 - 31/01/2016 10:15:09

I take your point Soma & would to a degree go along with it but it is impossible to compare Murphy with Sheehan in that they are two very different players who are asked to perform different tasks for their counties. While I would see Sheehan as an out & out midfielder, Murphy, on top of his playing duties in a variety of positions is also team captain & inspirational leader of his team.

They are fine players & both counties are lucky to have them but Murphy's versatility & leadership would get my vote.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 31/01/2016 15:23:03    1820843

Soma

Your response is an exact example of the argument that frustrates Donegal supporters
You rate Murphy based on score statistics

Firstly from long range dead ball's Murphy is without peer in the current game- yes other players like cluxtons can kick points from outside 45 metres but at much lower success rate - also remember that Donegal use a left footer for a lot of frees mcbrearty last night or colm Anthony when he plays

Murphy can kick scores that no player in the country can - his point from play in last years Ulster semi being one example

Last night Donegal bossed the middle third with Murphy being one of the key man in that supremacy as boyle kicked long as opposed to durcans more tactical approach over last few yearsc

On top of that he was a key link in several scores including Mchughs second goal

And on top of that the fact that he draws defenders makes room for the likes of mcbrearty or Mchughs breaks

In summary watch a few games then give us your honest view

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 31/01/2016 16:00:29    1820863

Muck sure its all about opinions. Sheehan has won an All-Ireland at corner-forward, wing forward and midfield, and played in goal for Kerry at underage so there is very few players with more versatility than that. And by all accounts Murphy is a great character and a real winner but in a team with Durcan, 2 Magees, Lacey, McGlynn, Gallagher, Toye, McFadden etc etc I think people can go overboard about Murphys leadership - Donegal have given a few very flat performances in Croke Park for a team with so many leaders. If I had to choose between the 2 I would pick Murphy as well but the debate is about if he is one of the greats - to be one of the great forwards he needs to be scoring from play much more, especially in Croke Park. Gallagher certainly wanted to play him full-forward last year but he was getting marked out of games too easily and so was moved further out the field for more room in my opinion. Look at O'Shea against Donegal last year or even McBreartys goal last night for examples of full-forwards who can still make an impact against blanket defences.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 31/01/2016 16:43:04    1820884

Brian Sheehan is a lovely footballer.For me anyway,Michael Murphy is on a different level.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 31/01/2016 16:58:10    1820893

Not a serious thread. Murphy is a great player and maybe the main reason why Donegal have had the whodoo over us now for what seems a lifetime

ShaneFrank8 (Tyrone) - Posts: 8 - 31/01/2016 17:09:56    1820901