Footballer of the Year

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

Was looking at the betting this morning and have seen that Con O Callaghan is well ahead for the YFOTY.

Cluxton & Andy Moran are neck and neck for senior footballer- what do people think on tis.

I said it last year but I cant believe that Cluxton has never won it considering how influential he has (and still is) to Dublin.

Andy Moran has had a good seaon but jeez there'll be a big tip of the hat to Fitzmaurice and Shane Enright's boot providers if he wins it.

I thought Geaney had a superb season but as Kerry didnt make the final then I presume he's out.

Got to be Cluxton for me this year

If Mayo win and Moran has any influence at all in the final he will win it, if Dublin win it's Cluxtons.

O'Callaghan is nailed on for young player.

Aidan O Se for me so far.

Has been everyman to Mayo and played in every position bar Goal.

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Aidan O Se for me so far.

Has been everyman to Mayo and played in every position bar Goal.

He'll play there too before the game is over.

If he has a big game in the final then he could be in with a good shout.

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

Hmmm I'm surprised on Higgins- hasnt stood out for me.

Aidan O Shea might get it for the redemption narrative but I wouldnt think he has played any better this year than previous years- if he has a whopper of a final then that will change it obviously

Higgins has been very good and was superb in the Roscommon replay.

We could be in Div 2 and long gone out of the Championship without Aidan imo.

O'Callaghan won't get it because he'll get the YPOTY but he's been the best Dub for me.

Pussyhands wrote: »

Good kickouts yes, but he's had them all along

Well, no he hasn't. 2015 and 2016 were actually kind of ropey years for Cluxton's kicking (in comparison to previous form), 2016 in particular. There were suggestions that it might be time to start thinking about giving someone else a go in goal.
In the last five years, he's switched from primarily long kickouts, to primarily short kickouts, to where we have been this year where mid-length kickouts dominate moreso than massive kicks up forward. Obviously this is all at the behest of Gavin, but it shows that Cluxton is rock-solid when it comes to tactics. He's not one to fly off on his own crusade and make it up as he goes along. He's capable of sticking to the plan, even under pressure. Which is additionally crucial when he's the captain.

Decisive saves? A decisive save for me is one that influences the final outcome of the game. Cluxton could have conceded 2 goals every game and the Dubs would still be comfortably where they are.

Every save influences the final outcome of a game. So too does every goal. Maybe if you stop a shot in the dying minutes of a game where you're 10 points up. But until 55/60 minutes, any goal has the potential to swing the whole thing.

And saving isn't just about stopping direct shots on goal, it's about disrupting the forwards, keeping control of the goal area and catching or deflecting balls passed into the square.

Every time a direct attack on goal is denied, the opposition's confidence and determination is broken a little bit more.

Timely enough, there's a decent analysis here: https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/gaa-statistics-decoding-stephen-cluxton-s-kickout-1.3219834

Like I mention above, this wouldn't be a lifetime achievement award. Cluxton has been legitimately crushing it this year. The Dubs would be lost without him.

Pussyhands wrote: »

Same with Moran, he had a great game v Kerry first day out but he's not been anything special otherwise. If either of these players win it then it is essentially a lifetime achievement award for the winning team.

I'd have Con O'Callaghan and Colm O'Boyle ahead of these 2.

Moran got 1-1 against Kerry in the replay, 1-2 against Roscommon in the replay. Fairly sure I read he's the top scorer from play in the Championship. He's as worthy a candidate as any at the moment although, as usual, Sunday will have a disproportionate impact on the award.

corny wrote: »

O'Callaghan won't get it because he'll get the YPOTY but he's been the best Dub for me.

What's the logic here? Austin Gleeson won the hurling POTY & YPOTY last year, as did Tony Kelly for Clare. If you're good enough, you're old enough. If he has a good final, he has every chance of winning both.

Same As wrote: »

Not to be pedantic, he has never won player of the year.

Fair enough.

Frequently cited as the best footballer in the country maybe.

Anyway he deserves the accolade at some point, and sure this year is as good as any;)

seamus wrote: »

Between sniper-accurate kick-outs and a number of decisive saves, I think Cluxton is well on track for it this year. And not just as a consolation due to his tenure, but because he's had one of the, if not the, best seasons I've ever seen him play.

As many have noted in recent weeks, Cluxton is now the only player on the Dublin team where you'd worry about his absence. Any other player could get hit by a bus on Saturday and you'd still be confident about Dublin on Sunday. But if Cluxton was gone you'd be forgiven for thinking all is lost.

I do agree Aidan O'Sé is a strong contender, but nobody really comes close to Cluxton this season.

Just don't understand the obsession so many javevwirh cluxton......no doubt he is a quality goal keeper but he is prone to 'howlers' of kick outs e.g. Last year v Kerry he almost gifted them a victory and there are quite a few other e.g. Also😡

Winner should be Andy Moran having his best scoring season from play at aged 33. Top of the scoring charts from play well ahead of the rest or be it more games played. To win it he'll probably have to have a decent AI final if not it will likely go to a Dub.

Would remember most footballer of the years to be honest. It's a great accolade to be fair.

DJIMI TRARORE wrote: »

It's a bit daft really,that we have to wait to see who wins the AI b4 poty is known,average season but gud, final =winner :steady season but poor final =loss

That would be daft if it were to happen.