Colm Cooper

It will be good to see him back

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 08/06/2015 15:03:11    1734134

Of all time??? You must not have seen too many! Yes good but greatest? No chance

Awwwwnow (Cavan) - Posts: 1050 - 08/06/2015 15:17:21    1734148

Well that's a debate that we won't solve anytime soon Jimbo, I'd have Jacko, Seamus and Tomas battling with him for the title but no doubting the man is something extraordinary.

The team is being named on Thursday night after training, it will surely be one of the most intriguing and anticipated in Kerry in recent memory.

There are so many questions, will Gooch start? How will the management accommodate all the potential forward options and who will miss out? Will he keep faith with Tommy Walsh? What role is Galvin going to play? Where do you put Sheehan? Its all questions at this stage down here, but if one man can find the right answers its Eamonn Fitzmaurice.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 08/06/2015 15:20:38    1734151

If Gooch had been born in Belturbet, I doubt our Cavan friend would be disputing your claim Jimbo ;)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 08/06/2015 15:21:41    1734153

Its true, errigal went out of the championship last night so wee peter is coming back fro the league! #returnofgod

redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 08/06/2015 15:22:42    1734154

I'd probably say the greatest footballer I've seen play in my lifetime is Matt Connor of Offaly.

Good to see Gooch back though.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6484 - 08/06/2015 15:24:31    1734156

It'l be interesting to see how he handles the pressure, he left as our kingpin and now he has to fight for his place like the other 12 / 15 forwards. He has been seriously aggressive and physical overly at times since he made his come back but that could just be the year of frustration coming out of him , anyhoo nice to have another cogg back in the wheel.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 08/06/2015 15:35:21    1734163

Great to see him back.

Legend.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 08/06/2015 16:09:52    1734180

KingdomBoy1
County: Kerry
Posts: 2980

He's been there.. done that.

It'll be more down to his own body... will his muscles follow his brain?!?

I know myself getting older... you know what you want to do but you just cant do it anymore

I think it's only natural to drop off a wee bit

But he'll still have so much to offer... it's a huge boost to Kerry's hopes of retaining Sam

Massive in fact...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 08/06/2015 16:31:32    1734201

Did pat Spillane not come back and win 3 all Ireland's after a year out with the same injury as the Gooch? He was a fine forward. He hadn't the overall ability that Jack o Shea had. O Shea could play anywhere. That's what I'd mean by the greatest.

Awwwwnow (Cavan) - Posts: 1050 - 08/06/2015 16:41:23    1734204

Gooch is the best I have seen and I am happy to see him back.
Now I hope Kerry win feck all but I wish Gooch all the best on his return.

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 08/06/2015 17:27:12    1734224

I'm with you there slayer,Matt Connor all the way, what a player and just got on with the game no fuss or acting the b@!!@*! Having said that coopers a close second!

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 941 - 08/06/2015 17:47:39    1734233

1734204
Did pat Spillane not come back and win 3 all Ireland's after a year out with the same injury as the Gooch? He was a fine forward. He hadn't the overall ability that Jack o Shea had. O Shea could play anywhere. That's what I'd mean by the greatest.

He possibly did come back from the same injury, but was not the same class as Cooper IMO. Colm Cooper is a remarkable player. A bit of a freak actually. His first half demolition of Dublin 2 years ago is one of my outstanding croke park memories of all time. Spillane was fab dont get me wrong, but he did not face the same level of opposition as Cooper has been doing for the past 14 seasons, nor the number of games and fitness levels either.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3853 - 08/06/2015 17:53:54    1734237

Best of all time? Don't know, but the players I loved the most to watch & that would want to make you play/watch Gaelic were the likes of Mickey Lindon, Peter Canavan, Ciaran McDonald, Padraig Joyce, Paul Barden, Dessie Barry, Bernard Brogan jnr & snr, Declan Browne, Matt Connor, Jack O'Shea, James McCartan, Kevin O'Brien, Nudie Hughes, Colm O'Rourke. In fact every county in the country had a class act at one time or another.

Very hard to pick one over another, diff generations etc

But to me the best ever = the best to watch = the player that would excite on the football field every time he gets ball (technically this may not meet best ever definition for someone else)

ALso worth noting from the above that they are all forwards, cause its always forwards that excite/make you watch footy. Same for soccer. Yet backs win matches also and can be brilliant at what they do. So we are back to what makes 'best ever' again!
Hence Best Ever = No Such Thing IMO
Question should be = What player would make you watch Gaelic the most! (but he may not be even the best player on his own team! & they are almost always forwards)

arjuna (Longford) - Posts: 88 - 08/06/2015 18:00:39    1734240

Great player alright but don't know if you can say he's the greatest ever.Best of his generation .

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 08/06/2015 18:01:55    1734241

All hail the king
Good to have him back.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1806 - 08/06/2015 18:14:07    1734249

Great player but not the best of all time.

I'd still pick Canavan ahead of him If I was to choose a forwards to start a game for me and of forwards I've seen Maurice Fitz and Ciaran McDonald were probably more skilful than Cooper as well.

Matt Connor was top scorer between league and championship for 5 consecutive years from 1980-1984.I don't think any player will ever come close to that level of consistency.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 08/06/2015 18:50:27    1734270

Matt Conor/Mikey Sheehy for me :)
Gooch well up there of course!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8808 - 08/06/2015 19:12:36    1734281

I know what you mean jimbo , iv seen him play a few times for crokes and he's not what he was unfortunately , and I think it's safe to say that he'l operate out around the 40 as I don't know would the knee hold up in the corner.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 08/06/2015 19:28:33    1734294

Colm Cooper is a superb player, but I don't see why he is considered the absolute greatest by so many.

Break it down into precisely why he is the best all round player in the GAA's history, and I might consider it.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 08/06/2015 20:39:52    1734334