HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

National Forum

Was Gooch as good as Canavan?

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

Replying To GeniusGerry: "That's pure Joe brollyism about Cooper going missing in games. If he did it was down to Kerry being under pressure generally and the ball not going in to him. The man was top scorer in the championship or very close for over a decade. That kind of consistency is just unheard of. He may have had a rare off day but I'd bet Canavan had plenty too if you really analysed their careers. As for who was the better player I'd find it hard to pick one over the other myself." That's why I think Canavan was the better footballer. Cooper was more skilful but relied a lot on good supply of ball. If Canavan wasn't getting good ball he'd go and win dirty ball one way or the other. He could physically dominate a defender more than Cooper could. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7360 - 04/04/2017 15:30:02 1975488 Link
Can we all just agree that they were both absolutely fantastic players. both players played in quite different championships up until the time they crossed paths so comparisons are hard to accurately assume. However i do believe if they had played for each others counties they'd have left the same legacy they currently have. theweanling (Cavan) - Posts: 414 - 04/04/2017 15:41:41 1975498 Link
What about Ger Heavin? Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 04/04/2017 15:43:31 1975500 Link
Replying To runnerin: "If he didn't grab Mark o Reilly by the nts no one would've went near him let him without sin....." Nets? Breffni40 (Cavan)* - Posts: 12121 - 04/04/2017 15:49:03 1975506 Link
Was Cooper better than Canavan, was Canavan better than Cooper; was Cooper better than Jack O'Shea, or Mick O'Connell yada yada. Just stop this tedious nonsense. In no case are we comparing like with like. Gooch and PC, they both had great skills but they played a different type of game and performed different roles for their teams. Both were peerless at what they did and how they did it; it's all down to personal preference after that. As such, notions of 'better' are silly here. They both were fantastic. Move on, ffs, and let's just celebrate geniuses like the Gooch when they're in their pomp - and feel a wee but deprived that, as of today, there's nothing like them around now essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 04/04/2017 15:57:06 1975517 Link
Replying To TheHermit: "Can we just not pay the man his dues for today and leave the comparisons for later in the week at least. Was Turner as good as Monet, was Chopin as good as Holst, is a moro as good as a snickers. Time enough for all this." Exactly right - this sort of pub talk is circular bigotry. On stilts. Unprovable either way. Let's just celebrate the fact we saw them play essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 04/04/2017 15:58:53 1975518 Link
Replying To A Another: "You don't remember the 1996 semi too well then. Canavan started off brilliantly then was taken out of the game with a late hit and had to continue on one leg. An injury which kept him out of the game for months after. You can't call that being marked out of a game." well, that counts for being 'marked' in Meath alright; I think the Meath poster was on a wind-up essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 04/04/2017 16:02:16 1975524 Link
Replying To GeniusGerry: "Exactly what happened to Gooch in 2005 when he was tearing Tyrone apart. Apparently that's 'going missing'" Would you be speaking about the alleged poke in the eye incident....I never heard of him having any medical attention before or after.Phantom injury if you ask me.The reality is when the going got tough Gooch didn't want to know and that is the main difference between him and Canavan.BTW Canavan couldn't kick a ball for 6months due to the ankle injury he sustained when was taken out of the 96 semi. tyronetaffe (Tyrone) - Posts: 45 - 04/04/2017 16:10:44 1975533 Link
Replying To essmac: "Was Cooper better than Canavan, was Canavan better than Cooper; was Cooper better than Jack O'Shea, or Mick O'Connell yada yada. Just stop this tedious nonsense. In no case are we comparing like with like. Gooch and PC, they both had great skills but they played a different type of game and performed different roles for their teams. Both were peerless at what they did and how they did it; it's all down to personal preference after that. As such, notions of 'better' are silly here. They both were fantastic. Move on, ffs, and let's just celebrate geniuses like the Gooch when they're in their pomp - and feel a wee but deprived that, as of today, there's nothing like them around now" It's like the Messi Ronaldo debate. It's puerile, infantile stuff altogether. Both were fantastic players and I'm thankful I was able to see them both in their pomp. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9154 - 04/04/2017 16:16:08 1975535 Link
Replying To essmac: "Was Cooper better than Canavan, was Canavan better than Cooper; was Cooper better than Jack O'Shea, or Mick O'Connell yada yada. Just stop this tedious nonsense. In no case are we comparing like with like. Gooch and PC, they both had great skills but they played a different type of game and performed different roles for their teams. Both were peerless at what they did and how they did it; it's all down to personal preference after that. As such, notions of 'better' are silly here. They both were fantastic. Move on, ffs, and let's just celebrate geniuses like the Gooch when they're in their pomp - and feel a wee but deprived that, as of today, there's nothing like them around now" Yes you're right. Let's never discuss anything on this messageboard ever again. Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12121 - 04/04/2017 16:22:16 1975537 Link
It's all subjective but Gooch for me, he had everything. People are saying the game was more physical back in those days which may or may not be true but players are definitely fitter these days. Canavan also played in an era where forwards where afforded a lot more space than they are now. Cooper's ability to put a defender off balance enough to turn and get a shot away was a joy to watch, even if he made it look so easy. Canavan was a special player too of course. Both will go down as greats. benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 04/04/2017 16:29:25 1975543 Link
I would have to say it was a dead heat but when you consider Cooper's fair play v Canavan's occasional diving, it has to swing it to Cooper for me. Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 04/04/2017 16:48:38 1975554 Link
All I read was the headline and I enough to make me laugh - Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 04/04/2017 16:54:29 1975558 Link
I think the more important question, and one that I haven't seen asked before, is who was the team of the noughties, Kerry or Tyrone? petejoeduff (Donegal) - Posts: 329 - 04/04/2017 17:23:03 1975572 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "It's like the Messi Ronaldo debate. It's puerile, infantile stuff altogether. Both were fantastic players and I'm thankful I was able to see them both in their pomp." It's not really though Lockjaw, nobody is saying either is rubbish or over-rated etc. It's more like Maradona/Pele or whatever. No harm in discussing the merits of both and who you personally rate higher. Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12121 - 04/04/2017 17:33:04 1975574 Link
Replying To Horsebox77: "All I read was the headline and I enough to make me laugh -" Easily entertained. Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12121 - 04/04/2017 17:34:30 1975575 Link
Replying To petejoeduff: "I think the more important question, and one that I haven't seen asked before, is who was the team of the noughties, Kerry or Tyrone?" Where have you been hiding ??? Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 04/04/2017 17:41:24 1975579 Link
no he wasn't as good as canavan..... he was miles better waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 04/04/2017 17:46:23 1975585 Link
I would choose Graham Geraghty over both . But opinions are like blowing wind, everyone else's stinks apart from your own. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/04/2017 17:52:19 1975589 Link
Replying To OLLIE: "Don't let Biggy hear you say that Royaldunne." Haha good man Ollie royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/04/2017 18:07:29 1975600 Link