National Forum

Sean Cavanagh: Dubs are the best team I've ever seen play the game

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Big Sean in all the papers today saying the current Dubs team are the best team of his lifetime and the best team he has ever seen.
No doubt a few of ye here will hate to hear him say that, given that I have read on here from multiple users than the current Dubs team wouldn't have won any all ireland's in the Tyrone/Kerry era in the 00's :)

I am not really trying to make a statement with this thread, just wanted to draw attention to the views of a fella who knows a lot more about what he is talking about than any of us.
I know it will annoy a lot of ye, so I wanted to do that.............annoy ye!

Thanks Big Man!
Up the Dubs!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 06/09/2017 12:10:31    2043386

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Just to annoy ye back - first Professional team in the GAA so no real surprise. That'a all folks..... ;-)

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 06/09/2017 12:34:17    2043397

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Replying To Offside_Rule:  "Just to annoy ye back - first Professional team in the GAA so no real surprise. That'a all folks..... ;-)"
i am RAGING!

:)

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 06/09/2017 12:41:34    2043404

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The game has moved on in terms of sports science and overall preparation since the 00's, so Dublin would beat either of those teams well I think. If all else was equal and all three had the same preparation there would be nothing in it though. Looking at the starting fifteen across the three teams it's hard to separate them.

The difference is Gavin after that, he is on a different level altogether to other managers and would undoubtedly find a way to beat the two above. If he ever left I could see Dublin becoming a much more beatable side.

Overall I would agree with Sean Cavanagh. Dublin are the best side of the modern era and if the keep going the way they are they may overtake the Kerry side of the 70's / 80's as the best ever. It actually looks likely at this stage, Mayo are coming towards the end for some of their big players like Boyle, Higgins, Moran etc., Kerry have a big rebuilding job to do as well, and Tyrone are not where we all thought they were as recently witnessed. I don't see who is going to stop them winning another 2-3 this decade.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 06/09/2017 13:27:02    2043418

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Big Sean in all the papers today saying the current Dubs team are the best team of his lifetime and the best team he has ever seen.
No doubt a few of ye here will hate to hear him say that, given that I have read on here from multiple users than the current Dubs team wouldn't have won any all ireland's in the Tyrone/Kerry era in the 00's :)

Thanks Big Man!
Up the Dubs!
Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts:7779 - 06/09/2017 12:10:31

This Dublin team would easily dispatch any other team from previous decades, I don't think anybody could really argue against that. What will fry peoples nuggets is whether they would if earlier great teams were prepared and trained like the Dubs. I think they still would

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 06/09/2017 18:07:44    2043545

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need to put 5 back to back then there'll be no arguing

centerfield (Mayo) - Posts: 360 - 06/09/2017 19:14:45    2043577

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If they played I think this Dublin team would beat Tyrone and Kerry of the 00's by a point or two. Then again most of the Kerry/Tyrone boys ARE in their late 30's and 40's and would tire easy by the 50/60 min.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9701 - 06/09/2017 19:18:47    2043581

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Most of them players from previous decades would be in their 40s upwards , so it would be unfair for them to play Dublin now

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 06/09/2017 19:50:23    2043603

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "If they played I think this Dublin team would beat Tyrone and Kerry of the 00's by a point or two. Then again most of the Kerry/Tyrone boys ARE in their late 30's and 40's and would tire easy by the 50/60 min."
Haha just posted something like that

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 06/09/2017 19:51:23    2043605

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "The game has moved on in terms of sports science and overall preparation since the 00's, so Dublin would beat either of those teams well I think. If all else was equal and all three had the same preparation there would be nothing in it though. Looking at the starting fifteen across the three teams it's hard to separate them.

The difference is Gavin after that, he is on a different level altogether to other managers and would undoubtedly find a way to beat the two above. If he ever left I could see Dublin becoming a much more beatable side.

Overall I would agree with Sean Cavanagh. Dublin are the best side of the modern era and if the keep going the way they are they may overtake the Kerry side of the 70's / 80's as the best ever. It actually looks likely at this stage, Mayo are coming towards the end for some of their big players like Boyle, Higgins, Moran etc., Kerry have a big rebuilding job to do as well, and Tyrone are not where we all thought they were as recently witnessed. I don't see who is going to stop them winning another 2-3 this decade."
That one always confuses me. Mayo coming to an end. They're like the terminator at this stage. They always come back anyway. I don;t see where that end is. They only won an under 21 championship and have quite a few players waiting in the long grass who aren't even a part of this year's panel and need that year or two to develop. Liam Irwin I'm pretty sure at some stage will make an impression on that team. Maybe next year a replacement for the Dillion's and Moran's. That Akram lad is a very decent back full of Higgins like pace. Then the other crop of young but older ones. Doherty has had his best season yet. Conor O'Shea will improve with time too. Loftus is already a baller and will only get better. I think Regan has been misplayed and still think he's a lot to give that team. Mayo will be going nowhere.

As for ye lot. Well I can actually see ye being the best team in the country within two or three years. With that many minor wins it's only a matter of time. Kerry are already a 8 out of 10 team. Add in even a 5/6 very good young lads and it will be up to Dublin standards if not better. David Clifford, O' Sullivan and co will absolutely become power players in the next few years. Kerry will only have to wait a few years in the dark but they will become dominant for a while at least winning a few championships anyway. I'd bet my house on it.

And us. I don't know. Still to sad after the recent mauling.

But for now. . . All hail King Dublin

GameOfTyrones (Tyrone) - Posts: 469 - 06/09/2017 20:38:42    2043628

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Replying To Liamwalkinstown:  "Big Sean in all the papers today saying the current Dubs team are the best team of his lifetime and the best team he has ever seen.
No doubt a few of ye here will hate to hear him say that, given that I have read on here from multiple users than the current Dubs team wouldn't have won any all ireland's in the Tyrone/Kerry era in the 00's :)

I am not really trying to make a statement with this thread, just wanted to draw attention to the views of a fella who knows a lot more about what he is talking about than any of us.
I know it will annoy a lot of ye, so I wanted to do that.............annoy ye!

Thanks Big Man!
Up the Dubs!"
Interesting, when Lee Keegan was voted player of the year, you lot claimed the pros didn't have a clue......

Iamlegion666 (Monaghan) - Posts: 285 - 06/09/2017 21:19:43    2043638

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Replying To GameOfTyrones:  "That one always confuses me. Mayo coming to an end. They're like the terminator at this stage. They always come back anyway. I don;t see where that end is. They only won an under 21 championship and have quite a few players waiting in the long grass who aren't even a part of this year's panel and need that year or two to develop. Liam Irwin I'm pretty sure at some stage will make an impression on that team. Maybe next year a replacement for the Dillion's and Moran's. That Akram lad is a very decent back full of Higgins like pace. Then the other crop of young but older ones. Doherty has had his best season yet. Conor O'Shea will improve with time too. Loftus is already a baller and will only get better. I think Regan has been misplayed and still think he's a lot to give that team. Mayo will be going nowhere.

As for ye lot. Well I can actually see ye being the best team in the country within two or three years. With that many minor wins it's only a matter of time. Kerry are already a 8 out of 10 team. Add in even a 5/6 very good young lads and it will be up to Dublin standards if not better. David Clifford, O' Sullivan and co will absolutely become power players in the next few years. Kerry will only have to wait a few years in the dark but they will become dominant for a while at least winning a few championships anyway. I'd bet my house on it.

And us. I don't know. Still to sad after the recent mauling.

But for now. . . All hail King Dublin"
Yeah possibly harsh on mayo, but take Moran, Boyle and Higgins out of that team and they'd struggle to beat the top teams. These guys were their best players recently against Kerry and are among their best players ever. They probably won't retire as they are good enough to play on but a yard of pace will go every year from here out, and a bit like ourselves from 2010 to now they may find themselves carrying too many old legs in the coming years. I may be wrong of course if their U21s step up.

Don't know about Tyrone either. I was expecting them to bring hell to Dublin but they didn't perform at all. A fresh approach may have been better than Harte getting a new deal. Would love to see what canavan could do with them, he has the cut of a great manager.

Kerry will come again too, I am sure of it, but 2 years might be overly optimistic. The odd one might fit in immediately but it takes several years for most young lads to get fully up to speed at this level.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 06/09/2017 22:39:13    2043673

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Don't know about Tyrone either. I was expecting them to bring hell to Dublin but they didn't perform at all. A fresh approach may have been better than Harte getting a new deal. Would love to see what canavan could do with them, he has the cut of a great manager.

Kerry will come again too, I am sure of it, but 2 years might be overly optimistic. The odd one might fit in immediately but it takes several years for most young lads to get fully up to speed at this level.
GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts:388 - 06/09/2017 22:39:13 20

I don't know if Peter Canavan would be who most Tyrone people would now prefer to take over from Mickey Harte, there is probably others in Tyrone who would have stronger CV's at this stage. Had Mickey stepped down in 2009, then Canavan would have been the hands down favourite to take the reigns. But his stint in Fermanagh and Errigal Ciaran might have put doubts in some peoples minds, could see Brian Dooher involved in some manner in a new management setup.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 06/09/2017 22:46:13    2043676

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when sean Cavanagh says this Dublin team is the best team he has ever played against it shouldn't be shrugged off. It sounded like an honest assessment during his interview and don't think he was making excuses for tyrone that day. Sometimes you just have to be honest and say well done lads that was some performance who nobody could have foreseen before hand. Anyway hats off to both Dublin and mayo next weekend, the best 2 counties by far are contesting what will hopefully be an epic game. I don't really have a preference for the winner as it would be nice to see Dublin do the 3 in a row, but also nice to see mayo lift it after a long wait. good luck too ye all pretty envious of those going to see it.

bulmccabe (Tyrone) - Posts: 361 - 06/09/2017 22:59:22    2043678

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "If they played I think this Dublin team would beat Tyrone and Kerry of the 00's by a point or two. Then again most of the Kerry/Tyrone boys ARE in their late 30's and 40's and would tire easy by the 50/60 min."
:D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8589 - 06/09/2017 23:10:24    2043679

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Yes they are and it's the drawn matches and odd 1 point wins they get not the hammerings they dish out that has them at the pinnacle for me. Backs to the wall and up against it they always pull it out of the bag. You can take them on playing football, you can rough them up and get physical and adapt their game and beat you either way. Obviously population, funding and croke park are massive undeniable factors in their rise. I love how they play and hold no grudges against them but would like to see mayo beat them this year, similar to Galway this year in hurling, nobody wants same team constantly winning

tipp11 (Tipperary) - Posts: 353 - 07/09/2017 10:44:44    2043742

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First of all, Dublin are an absolutely fantastic team and the way they play is a joy to watch. They're deservedly the team of the decade and possibly/ probably the team of the millennium. But Tyrone never put a hand on them. I don't think it was because they couldn't either. they brought no ferocity to the game and looked more like a group of chess pieces lining themselves up, getting into positions but then just doing nothing.
I think Sean is still mourning a little bit and trying to figure things out in his head, In time he'll realise it was as much Tyrone being very poor as Dublin playing like the team of the Century on the day

theweanling (Cavan) - Posts: 414 - 07/09/2017 11:02:37    2043749

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Replying To theweanling:  "First of all, Dublin are an absolutely fantastic team and the way they play is a joy to watch. They're deservedly the team of the decade and possibly/ probably the team of the millennium. But Tyrone never put a hand on them. I don't think it was because they couldn't either. they brought no ferocity to the game and looked more like a group of chess pieces lining themselves up, getting into positions but then just doing nothing.
I think Sean is still mourning a little bit and trying to figure things out in his head, In time he'll realise it was as much Tyrone being very poor as Dublin playing like the team of the Century on the day"
If you watch the game
Tyrone rely on players bringing the ball in to the tackle and stripping it
They turned it in to an art over the years

Dublin drew Tyrone players in and passed the ball out never bringing to contact
The dry day helped this plan

Scarabin (Dublin) - Posts: 116 - 07/09/2017 11:18:46    2043753

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You'd have to ask the question - Would the Sean Cavanagh off ten years ago felt that way against the current Dublin Side. A fitter and overall better player. Perhaps he just found it tougher because of fitness levels and years on the clock.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 07/09/2017 11:24:23    2043755

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I know there are a few Kerry lads who mightn't like me saying this, but Tyrone in the noughties broke the aura of invincibility which attached that great Kerry team, and they got the world of scorn for doing that. I find it strange that a celebrated member of that team is now contributing to building a similar myth around a different side. In sport belief is a huge component in the potential for success. Sean's effectively conceding that his own team are inferior and that it wasn't just a bad day in Croker. Really was a strange statement for him to make.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 07/09/2017 17:39:28    2043913

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