Stephen O'Neill, Tommy Freeman, Paul Galvin yes Cj mc courty no chance does not warrant to be on that list.

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 10/06/2010 17:07:55    673433

not many forwards in the country can do what gooch did last week..brilliant stuff..stil up there without a doubt

farnabu85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 53 - 10/06/2010 17:14:01    673440

10/06/2010 17:14:01
farnabu85
County: Monaghan
Posts: 45

673440 not many forwards in the country can do what gooch did last week..brilliant stuff..stil up there without a doubt
______________________________________________

Whats that then, picking the ball up off the ground, and then falling over without being touched, thereby winning a free???? Brilliant stuff indeed. Also not mentioning the yards he took inward to widen his angle for the equalising free. The Gooch is a shadow of his former self. He is living off breaking ball 1970's style (a high ball lumped in and knocked off by a big full forward). A team is built for an elite forward, Gooch is only a passenger in that team, but a passenger who happens to be handy with a dead ball. Other than that he is not a quality player. His scoring over the last 3 years would be atrocious only for his free-taking - not the sign of an elite forward.

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2480 - 10/06/2010 17:35:59    673491

whiterbannnas ~ Mayo

"Conor mortimer" deserves a mention.

No way would I have him next to the so called "Elite Players". I have notting against mortimer or mayo, but i have to say he is not rated that hightly at all. I was talking to a former kerry manager 3 months ago, of course our conversation turned to football. We were discussing forwards in the modern game and I mentioned mortimer to him and he said to me "That lad wouldnt be next or near kerry standard, and wouldnt last long in trainin with us". I Have to agree with him.

whitefire (Limerick) - Posts: 177 - 10/06/2010 17:38:07    673495

cian ward on his day is the best free taker in the contry, any angle any distane but he is inconsistent. tommy freeman and joe sheridan are underated

royal14 (Meath) - Posts: 25 - 10/06/2010 18:15:22    673552

lads, Benny Coulter had one superb game in the last 3 years. Is it not a little early to call him an "elite forward"? He wasnt even that effective against Donegal when he played in the Full Forward line.

And Paddy Bradley isnt even the most elite forweard in his own family

Rf (Donegal) - Posts: 291 - 10/06/2010 18:59:28    673604

Loughduff Lad
County: Cavan
Posts: 273
______________________________________________

Whats that then, picking the ball up off the ground, and then falling over without being touched, thereby winning a free???? Brilliant stuff indeed. Also not mentioning the yards he took inward to widen his angle for the equalising free. The Gooch is a shadow of his former self. He is living off breaking ball 1970's style (a high ball lumped in and knocked off by a big full forward). A team is built for an elite forward, Gooch is only a passenger in that team, but a passenger who happens to be handy with a dead ball. Other than that he is not a quality player. His scoring over the last 3 years would be atrocious only for his free-taking - not the sign of an elite forward.

______________________________________________

So your saying he hasnt been one of the best players in the last 5-6 years..clearly he has been..and really..what would you know about football?Cavan man !

farnabu85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 53 - 10/06/2010 19:26:00    673633

the gooch is still the best forward in the country

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4653 - 10/06/2010 19:35:06    673648

Whiterbannas,

Conor Mortimer !!! Ha ha ha !! Did you not see him last week ???

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 10/06/2010 19:44:57    673658

I disagree with Whitebannanas on Mortimer

Yes two or three years ago Gooch and Mort were clearly in a class of their own and well a head of Brogan,O Neill, clarke, Mcdonell and the rest of the pack
but both Gooch and Morts stars have waned more recently to the extent that the rest of the pack has caught up

madasbutter (Mayo) - Posts: 872 - 10/06/2010 19:48:46    673665

Brian Sheehan, Colm Copper, Declan O'Sullivan, Bernard Brogan, Benny Coulter, Stephen McDonnell, Ronan Clarke

tir_eoghain_abu (Tyrone) - Posts: 773 - 10/06/2010 21:48:55    673816

I'm going to sound biased, but i really have to mention Niall McNamee here again. For me, the most obvious reason why he's one of the 'elite' is due to the lack of quality that he has in the team around him, yet he still excels almost every time he puts on that Offaly jersey. The like of Kerry, Cork, Tyrone, etc. have multiple threats in their forward line, but Offaly pretty much have only the one. He's still managing to put up scores game after game playing in an extremely poor side. That shows genuine class I think. Others will slate me for this, but if we're all giving our opinions then I'm entitled to as well.
Also, I'd have Mattie Forde in there, if, and thats a big if, he can reproduce the form of 3 or 4 years ago. One of the best to take a score with limited time on the ball. He has a great quick release from hand to foot, a super player to kick long-range scores.
A couple more years and I can really see the likes of Donie Shine being mentioned too. He seems to be carrying that Roscommon team at the moment.
Gooch is still class, but just not as good as he was 5 years ago. David Kelly is good but not elite. Not a massive Brian Sheehan fan either. Poor temperament I think, although the same could be said of Forde. Also he doesn't do as much in general play as he could. Same with Cian Ward, but wow, he's some free taker.

OffalyBigBall (Offaly) - Posts: 635 - 11/06/2010 08:44:24    673872

Amazing people questioning Cooper being past his best etc. In my view still one of the best around.

traleeexile (Kerry) - Posts: 732 - 11/06/2010 09:12:26    673893

when was the last time cooper kicked 5 from play and swung a game against a big team lads?

Mikeynora (Limerick) - Posts: 888 - 11/06/2010 09:31:18    673906

What I find amazing is not one Cork forward has been mentioned.... what does that tell us?

Floops (Dublin) - Posts: 1623 - 11/06/2010 09:40:16    673909

royal14
County: Meath
Posts: 4

673552 cian ward on his day is the best free taker in the contry, any angle any distane but he is inconsistent. tommy freeman and joe sheridan are underated


They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by your reckoning i could also be the best free taker in the country, any angle any distance, doesnt matter to me. im a little inconsistant though

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 11/06/2010 09:45:39    673913

Im not being biased but on his day joe sheridan is unplayable and he had a great year last year..definately worth a mention id say

sam1996 (Meath) - Posts: 436 - 11/06/2010 09:54:54    673923

The Gooch does not score enough from play to be classed as the best forward in the country. The Gooch very rarely scores more than 2 points from play and has someone has already said. it's normally been handed to him by Donaghy. Last week he scored one and the Pundit was declaring him as the best forward in the county... I can't see it... for me Galvin is twice the player that the Gooch is.

Farney (Monaghan) - Posts: 816 - 11/06/2010 09:55:32    673926

lets just say he is back this sunday the best of the lot

bogstandard (Wexford) - Posts: 799 - 11/06/2010 10:11:01    673933

tir_eoghain_abu

I agree with you on most of those forwards but Brian Sheehan...I dont think so...he did alright last sunday but to be one of the elite forwards in the country???I wouldn't even be too confident about him starting for Kerry in the big games in Aug/Sept.

JGiles (Limerick) - Posts: 88 - 11/06/2010 10:14:27    673937