To be fair McHugh did row back on this rightly so. Cooper is a wonderful player BUT questions will always remain about the Tyrone games and that could affect where Cooper stands amongst the greats; there is no getting away from this no matter how uncomfortable it may be for some, this cannot be ignored or dodged.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9819 - 05/08/2014 12:21:31    1631712

I'm not sure which is worse, the moral indignation regarding a mans opinion which he's entitled to or the ridiculous over reaction to the cancellation of the Garth Brooks concerts! The last time I checked, we lived in a democracy where people were entitled to free speech! A little perspective wouldn't go amiss!

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 05/08/2014 12:23:02    1631713

Yerra its easy to keep a player quiet when you trying to take his eye out of his socket, of do some people on here forget what Gooch was subjected to by his makers in the 2005 final??

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 05/08/2014 12:34:12    1631731

gooch is a great player but McHugh just forgot himself said something silly then regretted it,it happens lets move on

monkstownrebel1 (Cork) - Posts: 353 - 05/08/2014 12:36:23    1631732

ballydalane
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 126

1631486 Wee Muirtin is right, Gooch IS a two trick pony......he can only score with his left and right feet.

Seriously, do Ulster analysts only rate a player if they come from up north?

What part of "up north" is James O'Donoghue from? Why bring the provincial rubbish into this?

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12425 - 05/08/2014 12:46:41    1631741

Ulsterman, I think he played very well in both the 05 and 08 finals. He was eyr gouged in the 05 final and was running riot up to that point. I'll give you 03, but the whole Kerry team were abysmal that day.

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 05/08/2014 13:42:00    1631794

i would agree with him matt connor was great.so was peter canavan.so is the gooch.jod has a bit to go.i look forward to him joining them think of all the magic stuff were gonna see from him over the next few years..

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 505 - 05/08/2014 13:44:28    1631795

TV pundit says something controversial.

Wow!!!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/08/2014 13:59:20    1631814

Was Gooch really gouged in the eye in 2005, apparently Packie put his arm out to stop Cooper's run, I mean it was a foul but it's not as if he pinned him down and started methodically gouging his eyes out.

Oh well this post won't go down well probably.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 05/08/2014 14:36:27    1631840

Joe brolly was at the same a few years ago, questioning his ability in the big games in Croker. I found this amazing considering what Cooper scored in these games. 0.5 in the 2005 final and he set up the goal for O Cinnede. In the 2008 final he scored six points, the 2011 final he got 1.3 and in the qualifier v Tyrone in 2012 he got 0.5. Against the great Doengal team in 2012, he still managed four points (two from play). I could name more games where he stood up, Armagh in 2006 and V Monaghan in 07,08. Cooper is a genius and probably is one of the greatest players of all time.

222 (UK) - Posts: 866 - 05/08/2014 14:51:54    1631852

Gooch a class act. McHugh is one of the worst pundits out there, a class player doesn't necessarily make a good pundit.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 05/08/2014 15:04:40    1631863

monkstownrebel1
County: Cork
Posts: 298

1631732 gooch is a great player but McHugh just forgot himself said something silly then regretted it,it happens lets move on

Here here

decky (Roscommon) - Posts: 384 - 05/08/2014 15:09:56    1631872

Brolly
County: Monaghan
Posts: 3668

1631863
Gooch a class act. McHugh is one of the worst pundits out there, a class player doesn't necessarily make a good pundit.
_______________________________________________________________

I would strongly disagree if you are suggesting he lacks knowledge of the game. I'll admit his style is a bit frustrating in that he constantly doesnt finish sentences and moves away from the topic in hand a lot...its often a bit all over the place. But tactically he is very aware and makes a lot of good observations.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1433 - 05/08/2014 15:21:00    1631878

The Gooch really is only a "two trick pony"- (1) He can score, and (2) he can set up other players to score.
He does both in brilliant style and with great skill and flair. That is, when he's not being fouled and pulled and dragged around the place. Sadly for the Gooch the Black Card might have come a bit too late.

Liameen (USA) - Posts: 38 - 05/08/2014 15:21:37    1631881

Fair enough benjyyy, didn't think all would agree with me but don't rate him, not the full package for me.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 05/08/2014 15:50:03    1631915

Brolly
County: Monaghan
Posts: 3673

1631915
Fair enough benjyyy, didn't think all would agree with me but don't rate him, not the full package for me.

There is a long list of them who are not the full package!!!

It was a silly comment which he has pulled back from. No harm done.

Poor old Gooch must be wondering where he went wrong to be on the receiving end of such over the top wallops, first Brolly, now McHugh.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/08/2014 15:58:54    1631925

Muckross I dare ya to walk down Killarney's main street in the CLG Cill Chartha shirt for the craic!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9840 - 05/08/2014 16:03:46    1631929

Poor old Gooch must be wondering where he went wrong to be on the receiving end of such over the top wallops, first Brolly, now McHugh.

Liam Hayes too during the noughties. It is pretty unfair, I could nearly understand it if the Gooch was unlikeable or something but he's dead on.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 05/08/2014 16:06:17    1631932

Only 3 players I have seen in my time watching football come close to Padraig Joyce. They are Maurice Fitz, Matt Connor and the Gooch. That is the highest praise I can give any player. James O'Donoghue is obviously a class player but he will need to prove himself against better players than Donal O'Neill before he can go into the aforementioned bracket, even, as one previous post said, to be good enough to get on the current Dublin side. Incidentally if this is an effort by McHugh to unsettle JOD in expectancy of a potential meeting of Kerry v Donegal in an AI final then he is an even worse pundit than I thought as neither will be within 8 points of an All-Ireland final if Mayo and Dublin are even at 80%.

JoyceGreatest (Galway) - Posts: 1 - 05/08/2014 17:27:28    1632003

JoyceGreatest
County: Galway
Posts: 1

1632003 Only 3 players I have seen in my time watching football come close to Padraig Joyce. They are Maurice Fitz, Matt Connor and the Gooch. That is the highest praise I can give any player. James O'Donoghue is obviously a class player but he will need to prove himself against better players than Donal O'Neill before he can go into the aforementioned bracket, even, as one previous post said, to be good enough to get on the current Dublin side. Incidentally if this is an effort by McHugh to unsettle JOD in expectancy of a potential meeting of Kerry v Donegal in an AI final then he is an even worse pundit than I thought as neither will be within 8 points of an All-Ireland final if Mayo and Dublin are even at 80%.


"Comes close to being as good as a player only people from Galway consider to be the best of whatever generation" High praise? Almost seems like a bit of a slight to be honest.

McHugh says JOD is better than Gooch and you say Joyce is better than Gooch, Connors and Fitzgerald and whoever else you could argue (eg Canavan etc). Hard to know which is the more outlandish statement.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12425 - 05/08/2014 18:04:12    1632026