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Is David Clifford The Best Footballer In The Country Right Now?

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Replying To Donegal_abroad:  "You made the comparisons with Murphy at the start, so don't get upset at discussing it then. Crikey."
Others made the comparisons i responded.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 22/07/2019 13:00:34    2214660

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I don't think he's even the best footballer in Kerry.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3172 - 22/07/2019 14:14:05    2214721

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "I don't think he's even the best footballer in Kerry."
fair enough there are plenty of quality players in Kerry, I don't think any ooze class like Clifford though

boman11 (Antrim) - Posts: 237 - 23/07/2019 10:29:31    2215126

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Replying To westkerry:  "My point is simple, Murphy is better because he has 12 years senior experience.
He has been Donegals main man for years and rightly so.
Clifford is a young lad only starting out so the comparisons are not fair.
Wait and see this boy will be Kerrys greatest ever forward if he stays healthy."
Nobody is arguing with you on that. The point is that the thread was about him being the best footballer in Ireland now, at this moment.

You acknowledge in your post that Murphy is better at this moment so we are basically in agreement.

Besides which, nominating anyone as "the best footballer in Ireland" is a bit of a nonsense. How can you compare Clifford, Murphy & Cluxton? They are all brilliant but completely different, even amongst forwards there are differences, so lets just admire all these great players for what they are & not worry too much about who the "best" is when we are comparing apples & oranges.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 23/07/2019 10:50:30    2215134

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Replying To MuckrossHead:  "Nobody is arguing with you on that. The point is that the thread was about him being the best footballer in Ireland now, at this moment.

You acknowledge in your post that Murphy is better at this moment so we are basically in agreement.

Besides which, nominating anyone as "the best footballer in Ireland" is a bit of a nonsense. How can you compare Clifford, Murphy & Cluxton? They are all brilliant but completely different, even amongst forwards there are differences, so lets just admire all these great players for what they are & not worry too much about who the "best" is when we are comparing apples & oranges."
not so much wanting to compare and put someone ahead of everybody else in that sense, the thread is more just to see peoples personal opinion on "the best." Always a few interesting opinions

boman11 (Antrim) - Posts: 237 - 23/07/2019 12:08:34    2215192

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Replying To LarryOBrother:  "Clifford is the best footballer in the country by a mile. If yesterday was an off day got help any team when he's on song.
There are different ways of measuring a 'great' footballer. Murphy is a class act. He has a leadership quality, build up and proven over a number of years that is very hard to match. He obviously backs that up with scores he gets and frees he nails but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country. He also stands up and delivers under pressure in any match i've seen him play.
Every time he gets the ball there is an intake of breath and anticipation about what he is going to do that, i don't think, any other forward in the country can match. For one of the points in the second half, such was the fear of the Donegal defenders, there were four of them trying to take the ball off him, he pops a simple pass out to O'Shea ( I think) for a simple score. You can't quantify that and how much it means to a team."
''but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country''

Maybe I'm being biased but for me Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen. Not saying hes the most consistent, and of course hes not playing much lately. But in terms of raw natural ability hes the best ever.... IMO.

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 23/07/2019 13:44:24    2215250

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Replying To ConnollyDub:  "''but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country''

Maybe I'm being biased but for me Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen. Not saying hes the most consistent, and of course hes not playing much lately. But in terms of raw natural ability hes the best ever.... IMO."
Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen much better then Clifford. Its a shame people like Pat on the sunday game ran him out of the GAA county scene. Michael Murphy is currently the best player in my eyes.

brisbane (Galway) - Posts: 675 - 23/07/2019 14:24:51    2215277

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Replying To brisbane:  "
Replying To ConnollyDub:  "''but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country''

Maybe I'm being biased but for me Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen. Not saying hes the most consistent, and of course hes not playing much lately. But in terms of raw natural ability hes the best ever.... IMO."
Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen much better then Clifford. Its a shame people like Pat on the sunday game ran him out of the GAA county scene. Michael Murphy is currently the best player in my eyes."
If what was said was enough to run him out then he's a bit of a snowflake

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 23/07/2019 14:45:58    2215291

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Imagine a forward 6 of

McHugh Kilkenny Connolly

O'Callaghan Murphy Clifford

All 6 at their best, all 6 together on one side

Just, imagine.................!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 23/07/2019 14:48:45    2215293

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Replying To ConnollyDub:  "''but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country''

Maybe I'm being biased but for me Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen. Not saying hes the most consistent, and of course hes not playing much lately. But in terms of raw natural ability hes the best ever.... IMO."
Maurice Fitzgerald was a similar type player and was better than Connolly imo, although both are incredible talents.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2113 - 23/07/2019 14:50:07    2215295

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Replying To westkerry:  "My point is simple, Murphy is better because he has 12 years senior experience.
He has been Donegals main man for years and rightly so.
Clifford is a young lad only starting out so the comparisons are not fair.
Wait and see this boy will be Kerrys greatest ever forward if he stays healthy."
So either

1 You claim that Murphy is the best player in the country by your own admission

2 Change the thread title to 'is David Clifford the best player in the country - excluding seasoned players and factoring in Clifford's potential rather than actual achievements'

Or accept that other names, such as Murphy, appear on this thread and rightly so.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 23/07/2019 14:55:28    2215297

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Even as Dub I wouldnt rate Connolly as the most naturally gifted. Canavan, Ciaran McD and even young Con O'Callaghan would be ahead of him for me

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 23/07/2019 14:57:11    2215299

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Replying To MuckrossHead:  "Nobody is arguing with you on that. The point is that the thread was about him being the best footballer in Ireland now, at this moment.

You acknowledge in your post that Murphy is better at this moment so we are basically in agreement.

Besides which, nominating anyone as "the best footballer in Ireland" is a bit of a nonsense. How can you compare Clifford, Murphy & Cluxton? They are all brilliant but completely different, even amongst forwards there are differences, so lets just admire all these great players for what they are & not worry too much about who the "best" is when we are comparing apples & oranges."
Does 'at this moment' mean today, this week, this season, 2 seasons?

If the thread stipulated a time frame people's responses would be more accurate methinks.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 23/07/2019 15:00:19    2215301

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "
Replying To ConnollyDub:  "''but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country''

Maybe I'm being biased but for me Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen. Not saying hes the most consistent, and of course hes not playing much lately. But in terms of raw natural ability hes the best ever.... IMO."
Maurice Fitzgerald was a similar type player and was better than Connolly imo, although both are incredible talents."
all a matter of opinion but id agree, Maurice would be up there for me.

3 of the most naturally gifted footballers I've seen would be

Dermot Connolly
Ciaran McDonald
Maurice Fitzgerald

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 23/07/2019 15:14:11    2215305

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Replying To Superglue:  "
Replying To brisbane:  "[quote=ConnollyDub:  "''but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country''

Maybe I'm being biased but for me Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen. Not saying hes the most consistent, and of course hes not playing much lately. But in terms of raw natural ability hes the best ever.... IMO."
Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen much better then Clifford. Its a shame people like Pat on the sunday game ran him out of the GAA county scene. Michael Murphy is currently the best player in my eyes."
If what was said was enough to run him out then he's a bit of a snowflake"]Of course a Kerry poster would try turn it around as if Connolly is weak and wrong. Pat started a media mob after Connolly a lot of the kerry mafia in the media went after him aswel. For what? poking a official... Also Clifford is a bully i have seen his hands around defenders necks countless time in his short career.

brisbane (Galway) - Posts: 675 - 23/07/2019 18:03:51    2215381

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Replying To ConnollyDub:  "
Replying To GeniusGerry:  "[quote=ConnollyDub:  "''but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country''

Maybe I'm being biased but for me Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen. Not saying hes the most consistent, and of course hes not playing much lately. But in terms of raw natural ability hes the best ever.... IMO."
Maurice Fitzgerald was a similar type player and was better than Connolly imo, although both are incredible talents."
all a matter of opinion but id agree, Maurice would be up there for me.

3 of the most naturally gifted footballers I've seen would be

Dermot Connolly
Ciaran McDonald
Maurice Fitzgerald"]Ah here lads sure where does this end! What does naturally gifted mean anyway? Would you describe Mick Lyons as naturally gifted? Probably not but I'd be OK with the idea of having him on my team as I ran out for an AI Final :)
Seamus Moynihan, Sean Marty Lockhart; Tomas O'Sé, Kieran McGeeney, Michael Donnellan, Padraig Joyce, Dermot Earley Snr (RIP), Sean Cavanagh, Darragh O'Sé; Brian Dooher, Michael Murphy, Colm Cooper, Peter Canavan, Steven McDonnell, Mickey Linden, James McCartan.....

And I didn't even mention any of the Kerry boys from their era of GAA domination nor their nemesis in blue.

Maybe the HS could set up a poll and we setlle this once and for all. One vote per person and you can only vote for one player from a list. Positions don't count for much anymore.

Sindar (Roscommon) - Posts: 348 - 23/07/2019 19:23:19    2215403

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I would agree Sindar. I only mentioned Maurice Fitz because I think he is a player that is directly comparable to Dermot Connolly in the way they played the game and the attributes they had as players. Maurice was a good bit better imo, Peter Canavan was probably better again. I think there is almost a mythology around Dermot at this stage that supersedes what he did on the field. Yes he was very good, exceptional at times, but I don't count him among the all time greats, just my opinion and I fully appreciate that many don't share that view.

Naturally gifted is subjective I agree. They players you listed were all phenomenal. No poll would settle the issue because everyone would vote for players from their own county.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2113 - 23/07/2019 20:44:31    2215441

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I don't think you'd have anyone from Tyrone say anyone other than Peter Canavan for obvious reasons.

But, as it's being brought up, Stephen O'Neill has to be one of the most skilled / talented players to tog out for anyone. He scored points from ridiculous angles, and kicked brilliant passes.

HokeyPokey (Tyrone) - Posts: 1744 - 23/07/2019 21:21:08    2215458

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Replying To Sindar:  "
Replying To ConnollyDub:  "[quote=GeniusGerry:  "[quote=ConnollyDub:  "''but for me Clifford has a level of natural skill that is above and beyond that of any other footballer in the country''

Maybe I'm being biased but for me Connolly is the most naturally gifted player i have ever seen. Not saying hes the most consistent, and of course hes not playing much lately. But in terms of raw natural ability hes the best ever.... IMO."
Maurice Fitzgerald was a similar type player and was better than Connolly imo, although both are incredible talents."
all a matter of opinion but id agree, Maurice would be up there for me.

3 of the most naturally gifted footballers I've seen would be

Dermot Connolly
Ciaran McDonald
Maurice Fitzgerald"]Ah here lads sure where does this end! What does naturally gifted mean anyway? Would you describe Mick Lyons as naturally gifted? Probably not but I'd be OK with the idea of having him on my team as I ran out for an AI Final :)
Seamus Moynihan, Sean Marty Lockhart; Tomas O'Sé, Kieran McGeeney, Michael Donnellan, Padraig Joyce, Dermot Earley Snr (RIP), Sean Cavanagh, Darragh O'Sé; Brian Dooher, Michael Murphy, Colm Cooper, Peter Canavan, Steven McDonnell, Mickey Linden, James McCartan.....

And I didn't even mention any of the Kerry boys from their era of GAA domination nor their nemesis in blue.

Maybe the HS could set up a poll and we setlle this once and for all. One vote per person and you can only vote for one player from a list. Positions don't count for much anymore."]The poll is a good idea.

CornAghais91 (Dublin) - Posts: 126 - 23/07/2019 21:31:39    2215465

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "I would agree Sindar. I only mentioned Maurice Fitz because I think he is a player that is directly comparable to Dermot Connolly in the way they played the game and the attributes they had as players. Maurice was a good bit better imo, Peter Canavan was probably better again. I think there is almost a mythology around Dermot at this stage that supersedes what he did on the field. Yes he was very good, exceptional at times, but I don't count him among the all time greats, just my opinion and I fully appreciate that many don't share that view.

Naturally gifted is subjective I agree. They players you listed were all phenomenal. No poll would settle the issue because everyone would vote for players from their own county."
Fair enough but sure it's good fun arguing over it. We love the great players, those gifted, the warhorses and flash in the pans who do something special (think Seamus Derby).You're right, a poll would never settle it. I grew up in the 80's and remember those great players very well including our own Dermot Earley who was 20 years ahead of his time and a born leader and gentleman and who I saw many times in the Hyde and elsewhere hence my bias there.
In fairness this thread was started to talk about the current crop of players. To help guide us maybe consider of who will we still be talking about 20 years from now?

Sindar (Roscommon) - Posts: 348 - 23/07/2019 21:37:10    2215467

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