Football's most beautiful players to watch in past 20 years

BonnieSituation

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

He scored two absolutely stupid points in a league semi/final (?) a few years back.

Ridiculous it was. He made a prick of the defender in the process too. You'd be in for some time of it having to mark the likes of him.

He had a habit of that. Possibly my favourite ever footballer. (Though Paul Flynn is close)

He scored a point in the GAA125 game against us that was from a stupid angle over at the Cusack Davin Corner. Unbelievable stuff.

To a man he got a standing ovation around me.

castletownman

If there's any Derry forward that deserves inclusion, it's Paddy Bradley. Criminally under-rated as one of the best forwards of the last twenty years.

BonnieSituation

Cracking player.

bucketybuck

castletownman wrote: »

Criminally under-rated as one of the best forwards of the last twenty years.

But the list doesn't say its the best forwards of the last 20 years, its something like "the most beautiful players to watch". In that context I can understand why the likes of Muldoon are in there and why its mainly forwards listed.

Sure, Bradley was a better and more effective player, but Muldoon was a fantastic player to watch as he eased around the field. Same with McDonnell, he was a superb player but he was almost too efficient for a list like that, whereas O'Neill may have scored less but he did it with an effortless style that was amazing to watch.

I don't want to defend Joe.ie, people can disagree with their picks if they want, but perhaps they should check what they are actually disagreeing with first.

yabadabado

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Was it O'Brien who was in the same forward line as Colm O'Rourke and Tony McManus for UCD?

MfMan

bucketybuck wrote: »

But the list doesn't say its the best forwards of the last 20 years, its something like "the most beautiful players to watch". In that context I can understand why the likes of Muldoon are in there and why its mainly forwards listed.

Good and all though Ja and Padraig Joyce were, Donnellan was the best and easiest to watch by far. So comfortably two-footed, where the other 2 were predominantly left', and so easy at carrying the ball flat out at pace, jinking left or right and scoring off either foot. Maybe the most physically consummate player of that era. Of the listed 10, I would rate only Gooch as an equal.

Jayop

bucketybuck wrote: »

But the list doesn't say its the best forwards of the last 20 years, its something like "the most beautiful players to watch". In that context I can understand why the likes of Muldoon are in there and why its mainly forwards listed.

Sure, Bradley was a better and more effective player, but Muldoon was a fantastic player to watch as he eased around the field. Same with McDonnell, he was a superb player but he was almost too efficient for a list like that, whereas O'Neill may have scored less but he did it with an effortless style that was amazing to watch.

I don't want to defend Joe.ie, people can disagree with their picks if they want, but perhaps they should check what they are actually disagreeing with first.

You're seriously trying to suggest that in any planet Muldoon was better to watch than Peter the God Canavan.

Also McDonnell should be in any man's top ten in that list. What a wonderful player to watch. The passing of that man is the best I've ever seen.

bucketybuck

Jayop wrote: »

You're seriously trying to suggest that in any planet Muldoon was better to watch than Peter the God Canavan.

No, I'm simply pointing out that fact that the list was never supposed to be a list of the best players of the past 20 years.

intellectual dosser

Its a joe.ie piece, not worthy of further discussion.

While I'll sound like a snob, I berate any friends who send me a link to a joe.ie / balls.ie / unilad article, pure clickbait crap.

Jayop

bucketybuck wrote: »

No, I'm simply pointing out that fact that the list was never supposed to be a list of the best players of the past 20 years.

That's what I said, better to watch. Clearly we all already know Canavan was the best player ever so there's no need to discuss that.

elefant

intellectual dosser wrote: »

Its a joe.ie piece, not worthy of further discussion.

While I'll sound like a snob, I berate any friends who send me a link to a joe.ie / balls.ie / unilad article, pure clickbait crap.

Absolute cesspits of poor grammar and pointless articles.

threeball

bucketybuck wrote: »

No, I'm simply pointing out that fact that the list was never supposed to be a list of the best players of the past 20 years.

I'm with you on this one. Its not a list of the best players/forwards for the last 20yrs, its the most beautiful players to watch. For me the only ones on the list that would be dead certs with that criteria is Gooch, McDonald, and Maurice Fitz. Canavan and PJ have a case but while both were unbelievable footballers I wouldn't have described their movement as beautiful. Donnellan was the best solo runner I had ever seen up until recently but Shane Walsh is just poetry when you see him moving with the ball.

Giles while a beautiful striker of the ball off the ground wouldn't wow you with it in hand. Brogan has that languid style that's easy on the eye but I don't know about top 10. I'd need more time to think about it but I think there are some less obvious players to go on that list other than the top forwards that spring to everyone's mind.

Nidgeweasel

Tomás O Sé was a sight to behold bombing down the wing.

threeball

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Tomás O Sé was a sight to behold bombing down the wing.

He moved well with the ball, as does Karl lacey. I still think there's another 5 better out there though.

Nidgeweasel

threeball wrote: »

He moved well with the ball, as does Karl lacey. I still think there's another 5 better out there though.

Who?

Dirty Dingus McGee

Kieran McDonald is porobably the most aesthetically pleasing footballer in the history of the game.

His footpassing was ridiculous and he's scored some of the best points I've ever seen.

seligehgit

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Tomás O Sé was a sight to behold bombing down the wing.

I've never seen a more complete half back and joy to behold than Tomas O Se in my time following GAA,unfortunately I got to see his brilliance up close on far too many occasions.

Jayop

A better one could be who are the top ten excellent footballers who looked awful?

Ill start with Brian Dooher.

seligehgit

Jayop wrote: »

A better one could be who are the top ten excellent footballers who looked awful?

Ill start with Brian Dooher.

Michael Dara McCauley?

JB81

Johnny Doyle

OldMrBrennan83

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Nidgeweasel

seligehgit wrote: »

Michael Dara McCauley?

Horrible to watch him solo running a ball.

Comic Book Guy

Noel O'Leary?

threeball

Tommy Dowd. Couldn't tell whether he was footin' turf or playing ball

blue4ever

Joe McNally

DoctaDee

seligehgit wrote: »

Michael Dara McCauley?

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Horrible to watch him solo running a ball.

He's like a young fella chasing a pigeon...

PARlance

James Nallen

threeball

Who was the big lad that played full forward for Derry in the early 00's. Clearly over weight but could kick monster points off left or right. Think Longford had a lad very similar.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Comic Book Guy

threeball wrote: »

Who was the big lad that played full forward for Derry in the early 00's. Clearly over weight but could kick monster points off left or right. Think Longford had a lad very similar.

Niall Sheridan was the Longford man you were talking about. Overweight but was great target man with proper service.
Think Geoffrey McGonagle might be the derry forward you are thinking of.