National Forum

Team Of The Decade

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A bit premature maybe but next year as hard as it is to believe will be 2020 and there will be debates no doubt about players, teams etc. Dublin will unquestionably go down as the team of the decade. I can't see there being many arguments like we had in the preceding one, where Tyrone or Kerry was a heated discussion for those old enough to remember.

Now, all that said this is my preliminary combined team of the decade. Open to debate!

1. Cluxton

2. Lacey
3. N McGee
4. Cooper

5. Keegan
6. C O'Sullivan
7. McCaffrey

8. McCarthy
9. A O'Shea

10. Flynn
11. Murphy
12. Connolly

13. McManus
14. C O'Connor
15. B Brogan

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 24/07/2019 13:05:38    2215712

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "A bit premature maybe but next year as hard as it is to believe will be 2020 and there will be debates no doubt about players, teams etc. Dublin will unquestionably go down as the team of the decade. I can't see there being many arguments like we had in the preceding one, where Tyrone or Kerry was a heated discussion for those old enough to remember.

Now, all that said this is my preliminary combined team of the decade. Open to debate!

1. Cluxton

2. Lacey
3. N McGee
4. Cooper

5. Keegan
6. C O'Sullivan
7. McCaffrey

8. McCarthy
9. A O'Shea

10. Flynn
11. Murphy
12. Connolly

13. McManus
14. C O'Connor
15. B Brogan"
Couple of Tyrone lads like Colm Cavanagh and Peter Harte must be in with a shout. Con O'Callaghan around since 2016 but must be pushing close. Ryan McHugh?

Aidan O'Shea.. I don't think i'd have him on it.

Good selection though, it's always easy to quibble.

BliainanÁir (Laois) - Posts: 598 - 24/07/2019 13:29:56    2215727

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Without thinking about it too much there is not a lot wrong with your team but surely Brian Fenton has to make it?

Ciaran Kilkenny also would be on most people's teams but hard to squeeze him in unless you put him at 11 and Murphy at 14 or vice Verda. That might leave an entirely Dublin half forward line but they were that good to be fair

With my Kerry hat on I'd certainly have Moran over O'Shea and possibly Geaney over O'Connor. Both debatable I suppose but given Kerry are one of only two teams to win an All Ireland outside of Dublin surely they deserve at least one representative? David was the driving force that year and Paul Geaney was consistently excellent for several years before a down year in 2018 with most of his scores coming from play

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 24/07/2019 13:33:30    2215731

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "A bit premature maybe but next year as hard as it is to believe will be 2020 and there will be debates no doubt about players, teams etc. Dublin will unquestionably go down as the team of the decade. I can't see there being many arguments like we had in the preceding one, where Tyrone or Kerry was a heated discussion for those old enough to remember.

Now, all that said this is my preliminary combined team of the decade. Open to debate!

1. Cluxton

2. Lacey
3. N McGee
4. Cooper

5. Keegan
6. C O'Sullivan
7. McCaffrey

8. McCarthy
9. A O'Shea

10. Flynn
11. Murphy
12. Connolly

13. McManus
14. C O'Connor
15. B Brogan"
Fenton instead of o'shea all day long I'd go along similar lines outside of that maybe Keith Higgins to be brought in aswel

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 24/07/2019 13:40:42    2215737

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Fenton over A O'Shea everyday of the week and twice on a Sunday

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 24/07/2019 13:42:51    2215740

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Replying To BliainanÁir:  "Couple of Tyrone lads like Colm Cavanagh and Peter Harte must be in with a shout. Con O'Callaghan around since 2016 but must be pushing close. Ryan McHugh?

Aidan O'Shea.. I don't think i'd have him on it.

Good selection though, it's always easy to quibble."
No way A O'Shea gets near the team of the decade I'd definitely agree with harte he'd walk onto any team in the country

mightydubs (Dublin) - Posts: 48 - 24/07/2019 13:44:38    2215742

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McBrearty ahead of O'Connor and Fenton ahead of O'Shea easily

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 24/07/2019 13:49:02    2215745

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Clarke in goals.

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 24/07/2019 13:52:52    2215748

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Fenton over O'Shea is a very easy choice to make.

JDF (Galway) - Posts: 322 - 24/07/2019 13:56:06    2215750

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Good input lads. Yeah Fenton is a supreme midfielder, has it all. I suppose for longevity alone was the main reason I included O'Shea. He's been some warrior for Mayo this decade in fairness to him.

I would also agree that there are better footballers than Cillian O'Connor but is it really fair to exclude the top championship scorer of all time?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 24/07/2019 14:09:32    2215758

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Agree Fenton for O'Shea and Moran for O'Connor. Clarke close to Cluxton and hard to have a team without Harte and McHugh, but who to leave off? Keegan and McCaffrey were phenomenal, Connolly too. Maybe Flynn to drop out and Murphy to midfield for McCarthy? Kilkenny at CHF? And what about Kerry, Murphy, Geaney, Donaghy, Cooper, Moran...Tough picks.

matdon (Mayo) - Posts: 8 - 24/07/2019 14:11:19    2215759

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Good input lads. Yeah Fenton is a supreme midfielder, has it all. I suppose for longevity alone was the main reason I included O'Shea. He's been some warrior for Mayo this decade in fairness to him.

I would also agree that there are better footballers than Cillian O'Connor but is it really fair to exclude the top championship scorer of all time?"
Without wanting too seem harsh but what does C.O'Connor do apart from free taking. Appreciate he is a high quality free taker but no where near the team of the decade 15. I'm still working mine out but by god it's tough lol.

GreenAndGold74 (Kerry) - Posts: 194 - 24/07/2019 14:19:14    2215764

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "A bit premature maybe but next year as hard as it is to believe will be 2020 and there will be debates no doubt about players, teams etc. Dublin will unquestionably go down as the team of the decade. I can't see there being many arguments like we had in the preceding one, where Tyrone or Kerry was a heated discussion for those old enough to remember.

Now, all that said this is my preliminary combined team of the decade. Open to debate!

1. Cluxton

2. Lacey
3. N McGee
4. Cooper

5. Keegan
6. C O'Sullivan
7. McCaffrey

8. McCarthy
9. A O'Shea

10. Flynn
11. Murphy
12. Connolly

13. McManus
14. C O'Connor
15. B Brogan"
Pretty spot on I'd say, although I'd have Keith Higgins instead of cooper.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 24/07/2019 14:26:09    2215770

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Replying To GreenAndGold74:  "Without wanting too seem harsh but what does C.O'Connor do apart from free taking. Appreciate he is a high quality free taker but no where near the team of the decade 15. I'm still working mine out but by god it's tough lol."
Yeah apart from all those scores from play as well. 0-3 from play in 17 final, 0-2 from play in 16 final including last gasp equaliser from way out. Top scorer from play in semi finals v Dublin in 15 and same in semi finals v Kerry in 14. But yeah he does nothing from play. Only mentioning those games as we are not allowed to mention Connacht or qualifiers as those games are too easy.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 24/07/2019 14:28:47    2215773

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1. Cluxton

2. Lacey
3. N McGee
4. McMahon

5. Keegan
6. C O'Sullivan
7. McCaffrey

8. McCarthy
9. Fenton

10. Kilkenny
11. Murphy
12. Connolly

13. Geaney
14. C O'Connor
15. B Brogan

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Felt bad leaving out McManus but I really think Geaney has been sensational this decade and only for some eejits in the media he'd be better appreciated. In every position as well I felt like I could have just subbed in a Dublin player, what a team they've been. From a Donegal POV I really wanted to get Neil Gallagher or Frank McGlynn in there but really couldn't justify dropping any of the half-backs or midfield in my view.

Hard to leave out McManus, Peter Harte, Ryan McHugh but they all play in positions that are overflowing with fantastic players.

Would be interesting to have a "B" team of players who have yet to win an All-Ireland as you would get to see the amount of great talent that's out there across a good variety of counties.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 24/07/2019 14:54:16    2215787

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Yeah apart from all those scores from play as well. 0-3 from play in 17 final, 0-2 from play in 16 final including last gasp equaliser from way out. Top scorer from play in semi finals v Dublin in 15 and same in semi finals v Kerry in 14. But yeah he does nothing from play. Only mentioning those games as we are not allowed to mention Connacht or qualifiers as those games are too easy."
His equaliser in 2016 was from about 40 yards, hardly way out as you say and you'd expect any forward worth his salt to slot that. What about his handy enough free in the replay that year which he failed to convert? The difference between him and Dean Rock (who'd incidentally I'd have over him in the team of the decade but probably could even pick 3 or 4 more who should be in ahead of Dean at the same time) is Dean will always stand up and slot you that crucial free. O'Connor on the other hand is liable to crumble and that's what separates him from being a top top class player.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 206 - 24/07/2019 14:58:01    2215789

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Yeah apart from all those scores from play as well. 0-3 from play in 17 final, 0-2 from play in 16 final including last gasp equaliser from way out. Top scorer from play in semi finals v Dublin in 15 and same in semi finals v Kerry in 14. But yeah he does nothing from play. Only mentioning those games as we are not allowed to mention Connacht or qualifiers as those games are too easy."
And sadly beaten in all those finals. I'd love to see the percentages of Cillians scoring stats though.

GreenAndGold74 (Kerry) - Posts: 194 - 24/07/2019 14:58:29    2215790

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1. Cluxton

2. Lacey
3. N McGee
4. Higgins

5. McHugh
6. Keegan
7. McCaffrey

8. McCarthy
9. Fenton

10. Flynn
11. Murphy
12. Harte

13. McManus
14. C O'Connor
15. B Brogan


Couldn't leave McHugh out so had to move Keegan. Hard to pick could have swapped one or two more.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 24/07/2019 15:09:08    2215794

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I wouldn't have O'Connor on the team. Sure, he's the top scorer of all time, but we need to see a breakdown of what he scored from play vs dead ball situations. Put it like this, would anyone here plausibly argue that he's better than Colm Cooper?
Very doubtful.

I'd have Keith Higgins in ahead of Johnny Cooper, before the Mayo mob descend on me for excluding O'Connor.

Cavan_Shambles (Cavan) - Posts: 575 - 24/07/2019 15:16:06    2215798

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "A bit premature maybe but next year as hard as it is to believe will be 2020 and there will be debates no doubt about players, teams etc. Dublin will unquestionably go down as the team of the decade. I can't see there being many arguments like we had in the preceding one, where Tyrone or Kerry was a heated discussion for those old enough to remember.

Now, all that said this is my preliminary combined team of the decade. Open to debate!

1. Cluxton

2. Lacey
3. N McGee
4. Cooper

5. Keegan
6. C O'Sullivan
7. McCaffrey

8. McCarthy
9. A O'Shea

10. Flynn
11. Murphy
12. Connolly

13. McManus
14. C O'Connor
15. B Brogan"
That's not a bad effort at all. I'd have Fenton there instead of A O'Shea. Kilkenny very lucky to miss out but Murphy is a class act, Flynner deserves it based on his all-star count. I don't like O'Connor but you can't doubt his influence on what many would regard as the second best team of the decade and perhaps greatest ever Mayo side. McManus is as close to the perfect full forward as you will ever get, a wizard. Difficult to argue against that 15.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 24/07/2019 15:17:00    2215799

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