Football Team of the decade

harpsman · 11-12-2019 5:19pm #1

Its that time-apologies if Im repeating but don't see a thread on it.

Heres my team for what its worth

1-Cluxton
2-P.McMahon
3-N McGee
4-K. Higgins
5-L. Keegan
6-C. O Sullivan
7-J. McCaffrey
8-B. Fenton
9-D. Moran
10-P.Flynn
11-A.O Shea
12-D. Connolly
13-B. Brogan
14-M. Murphy
15-C. O Connor

Subs
16-P. Durcan
17-J. Cooper
18-K. Lacey
19-J. McCarthy
20-C. Boyle
21-N. Gallagher
22- R.McHugh
23-M. Donnelly
24-C. Kilkenny
25-P. Geaney
26-C. McManus

Obviously, its subjective, and there are some ommissions whic some would consider criminal but thats my 15 and subs fwiw.

Feel free to disagree...

11-12-2019 5:44pm

James McCarthy:
6 All Irelands, 9 Provincials, 5 Leagues, 1 U-21 All-Ireland, 3 all-stars
A stalwart in defence, the lynchpin of (possibly) the greatest footballing team of all time. A true gentleman and great sportsman.......

......benched........

....in favor of..............

A man who is the highest scoring defender of all time, but whose achievements are overshadowed by one of the least sporting acts I've ever seen on a pitch.

lee-keegan-speaks-on-gps-throwing-incident-from-all-ireland-final.jpg

lee-keegan-speaks-on-gps-throwing-incident-from-all-ireland-final.jpg

Pogue eile · 11-12-2019 5:48pm

Keegan has more all stars and a footballer of the year playing with a less successul team and iff you are playing the moral card then I assume you dont agree with Philly McMahon corner back or Diarmuid Connolly wing forward.

charolais0153 · 11-12-2019 6:04pm

James mccarthy in for cian ilisullivan maybe,

Slattsy · 11-12-2019 6:23pm

I'm on my phone. Can someone please post a popcorn gif.

ProudDUB · 11-12-2019 7:03pm

Here ya go.

ProudDUB · 11-12-2019 7:09pm

harpsman wrote: »

Its that time-apologies if Im repeating but don't see a thread on it.

Heres my team for what its worth

1-Cluxton
2-P.McMahon
3-N McGee
4-K. Higgins
5-L. Keegan
6-C. O Sullivan
7-J. McCaffrey
8-B. Fenton
9-D. Moran
10-P.Flynn
11-A.O Shea
12-D. Connolly
13-B. Brogan
14-M. Murphy
15-C. O Connor

Subs
16-P. Durcan
17-J. Cooper
18-K. Lacey
19-J. McCarthy
20-C. Boyle
21-N. Gallagher
22- R.McHugh
23-M. Donnelly
24-C. Kilkenny
25-P. Geaney
26-C. McManus

Obviously, its subjective, and there are some ommissions whic some would consider criminal but thats my 15 and subs fwiw.

Feel free to disagree...

Are my sums off, but do Donegal have 5 of the 30 spots, just one less than Mayo? That seems a tad generous, given they only played in 2 AI finals this decade & didn't take Dublin, Kerry or Mayo to any replays.

Billy Ocean · 11-12-2019 11:36pm

Cluxton

McMahon
Mcgee
Higgins

Keegan
O'Sullivan
McCaffrey

Fenton
James McCarthy

Flynn
Kilkenny
Connolly

Mcmanus
M Murphy
B Brogan

blanch152 · 11-12-2019 11:55pm

Cluxton, McCarthy, Fenton are automatic choices, finding it hard to decide which 12 Dubs should join them with only Keegan and Murphy as challengers from outside Dublin.

blowitupref · 12-12-2019 12:22am

S Cluxton
J Cooper N McGee K Higgins
L Keegan K Lacey J McCaffrey
B Fenton D Moran
C Kilkenny M Murphy P Flynn
B Brogan A Moran C McManus

The_Honeybadger · 12-12-2019 12:41am

Cluxton
Lacey, McGee, Higgins
McCarthy, Keegan, Mcaffery
Fenton, Moran
Flynn, M. Murphy, Kilkenny
McManus, Moran, Brogan

MfMan · 12-12-2019 1:14am

Struggling to understand how David Moran can make such a team.

Billy Ocean · 12-12-2019 1:32am

blanch152 wrote: »

Cluxton, McCarthy, Fenton are automatic choices, finding it hard to decide which 12 Dubs should join them with only Keegan and Murphy as challengers from outside Dublin.

McManus would be a non-negotiable too, some of his scores over the years have been outrageous.

Poor_old_gill · 12-12-2019 8:43am

Connolly wouldnt even make the Dublin team of the decade

jr86 · 12-12-2019 10:09am

2 Mayo forwards is interesting! The only one I'd even consider is Andy Moran - and that's coming from a Mayo man

Would love to fit Colm Boyle in there somewhere.

And McMahon over Lacey? McMahon had a great 2015 but I'm not even sure if he was ever a fully guaranteed starter outside of that

rossie1977 · 12-12-2019 12:50pm

ProudDUB wrote: »

Are my sums off, but do Donegal have 5 of the 30 spots, just one less than Mayo? That seems a tad generous, given they only played in 2 AI finals this decade & didn't take Dublin, Kerry or Mayo to any replays.

They also won an AI and Donegal beat Kerry, Dublin and Mayo in significant games in 2012-14.

Personally probably add Colm McFadden to list of players as he was definition of big game player. Ryan McHugh maybe remove.

jr86 wrote: »

2 Mayo forwards is interesting! The only one I'd even consider is Andy Moran - and that's coming from a Mayo man

O'Connor numbers can't be ignored. I think people tend to forget what Mayo were like pre Cillian O Connor in front of goal.

12-12-2019 12:57pm

Pogue eile wrote: »

If you are playing the moral card then I assume you dont agree with Philly McMahon corner back or Diarmuid Connolly wing forward.

As has already been pointed out, Connolly wouldn't make the Dubs starting forward line of the last decade. Not sure what the Philly Mc comment is about, the only crime he's guilty of is crimes against fashion with his velvet suit and no socks. Unless you're talking about the supposed eye-gouge against Donaghy.....? Laughable to compare an accidental contact in a three-man tussle with a calculated, deliberate attempt to illegally interfere with the potentially winning play in a championship final. There are people on Boards who lambast the Dublin fans for booing a free being taken. Imagine the scandal if someone threw something at a player taking a kick.

I said it at the time and will repeat it now: If ANY dub had done what Keegan did we would never hear the end of it. Scumbag tactics and he gets a pass because he was a tidy enough footballer? Dirty Dubs me bollix.

Pogue eile wrote: »

Keegan has more all stars and a footballer of the year playing with a less successul team

Much easier to spot a daisy in a field when there's only one daisy than when it's in a field of daisies. Ask yourself, which do you think is the more likely to be based in reality:

a. McCarthy lying awake at night wishing he had picked up more all-stars or maybe even a footballer of the year award........or
b. Keegan lying awake wishing he'd a celtic cross to his name?

I know which one my money is on.

The_Honeybadger · 12-12-2019 1:02pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I said it at the time and will repeat it now: If ANY dub had done what Keegan did we would never hear the end of it. Scumbag tactics and he gets a pass because he was a tidy enough footballer? Dirty Dubs me bollix.

Much easier to spot a diamond when it's surrounded by sh!te than when it's surrounded by diamonds. Ask yourself, which do you think is the more likely to be based in reality:

a. McCarthy lying awake at night wishing he had picked up more all-stars or maybe even a footballer of the year award........or
b. Keegan lying awake wishing he'd a celtic cross to his name?

I know which one my money is on.

I’d agree what Keegan did with the GPS was despicable.

I don’t understand the ‘surrounded by sh!te’ remark though. He played in a back six with Harrison, Higgins, Boyle and Durcan who are / were exceptional footballers.

12-12-2019 1:22pm

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

I’d agree what Keegan did with the GPS was despicable.

I don’t understand the ‘surrounded by sh!te’ remark though. He played in a back six with Harrison, Higgins, Boyle and Durcan who are / were exceptional footballers.

I was being hyperbolic and mean no disrespect to the Mayo back line(s). I'll edit my post if it causes offence.

My point is that it's easier to stand out when your teammates aren't as good. When you're surrounded by other world class players your contributions tend to get undervalued. The fact that JMcC was the first outfield player's name on the teamsheet during the past 7 or so years when competition was unbelievably fierce is testament to how good (and underrated) he is.

rossie1977 · 12-12-2019 1:26pm

Keegan is one of the best players of the decade never mind defenders, McMahon is not.

O'Sullivan, McCaffrey, McCarthy and Cooper for me anyway were the best Dublin defenders of last decade.

The_Honeybadger · 12-12-2019 1:34pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I was being hyperbolic and mean no disrespect to the Mayo back line(s). I'll edit my post if it causes offence.

My point is that it's easier to stand out when your teammates aren't as good. When you're surrounded by other world class players your contributions tend to get undervalued. The fact that JMcC was the first outfield player's name on the teamsheet during the past 7 or so years when competition was unbelievably fierce is testament to how good (and underrated) he is.

Not offended at all, I’m not from mayo. I’d have both Keegan and McCarthy on my team personally, along with Jack McCaffrey they are the outstanding half backs of the decade.

Boyle and Durcan would be very close though for me. That Mayo half back line was really good and underpinned an excellent team that really should have won an all Ireland imo

castletownman · 12-12-2019 1:36pm

Cluxton

O'Sullivan/Cooper
McGee
Higgins

Keegan
Lacey
McCaffrey

Fenton
McCarthy

Flynn
Kilkenny
Connolly

McManus
Murphy
B.Brogan

The half-back line all won FOTY in this decade, so shifting McCarthy to midfield addresses the issue of a partner for Fenton. The only difficult decision, for me anyway, is who to pick as the other corner-back. Toss up between O'Sullivan and Cooper, but it could be argued that the former was more of a sweeper.

As a hobby (some people call it weird

) I compiled a team of the decade for each of the prominent decades of my life (90s, 00s and 10s) and see how they compare. By county breakdown, Dublin have had more individual players this decade than any other county in any of the two other eras, which reflects their dominance and class.

FWIW:

90s: O'Leary; Curran, Fay, Scullion; Moynihan, Ryan, O'Connell; Tohill, McDermott; Donnellan, Giles, Fallon; Linden, Canavan, Fitzgerald.
00s: D.Murphy; A.Mallon, M.O'Se, T.O'Sullivan; T.O'Se, McGeeney, Jordan; D.O'Se, Cavanagh; Dooher, Cooper, Declan O'Sullivan; McDonnell, O'Neill, Forde.

That 90s full-forward line though!

Pogue eile · 12-12-2019 2:44pm

Deleted User wrote: »

As has already been pointed out, Connolly wouldn't make the Dubs starting forward line of the last decade. Not sure what the Philly Mc comment is about, the only crime he's guilty of is crimes against fashion with his velvet suit and no socks. Unless you're talking about the supposed eye-gouge against Donaghy.....? Laughable to compare an accidental contact in a three-man tussle with a calculated, deliberate attempt to illegally interfere with the potentially winning play in a championship final. There are people on Boards who lambast the Dublin fans for booing a free being taken. Imagine the scandal if someone threw something at a player taking a kick.

I said it at the time and will repeat it now: If ANY dub had done what Keegan did we would never hear the end of it. Scumbag tactics and he gets a pass because he was a tidy enough footballer? Dirty Dubs me bollix.

Much easier to spot a daisy in a field when there's only one daisy than when it's in a field of daisies. Ask yourself, which do you think is the more likely to be based in reality:

a. McCarthy lying awake at night wishing he had picked up more all-stars or maybe even a footballer of the year award........or
b. Keegan lying awake wishing he'd a celtic cross to his name?

I know which one my money is on.

You can play the woe is me and the great defender of Dublin with the massive chip on his shoulder all you like, doesn't alter the fact that anyone who doesn't include Keegan in a team of the decade is not worth debating with.

12-12-2019 2:57pm

Pogue eile wrote: »

You can play the woe is me and the great defender of Dublin with the massive chip on his shoulder all you like, doesn't alter the fact that anyone who doesn't include Keegan in a team of the decade is not worth debating with.

I never said he shouldn't be in the team. I said starting a player who has proved he cannot keep the head when the chips are down ahead of McCarthy is the wrong move.

Gael85 · 12-12-2019 3:05pm

Cluxton

McMahon
N.McGee
Lacey

Keegan
Boyle
McCaffrey

Fenton
McCarthy

Flynn
Kilkenny
Connolly

McManus
Murphy
B.Brogan

ProudDUB · 12-12-2019 3:13pm

rossie1977 wrote: »

They also won an AI and Donegal beat Kerry, Dublin and Mayo in significant games in 2012-14.

Personally probably add Colm McFadden to list of players as he was definition of big game player. Ryan McHugh maybe remove.

Yeah, but this is the team of the decade. Donegal only had 3 years of really sustained excellence - 2011, 2012 & 2014. They have done very little in the AI champo in the 5 years since 2014. Whereas Mayo have made it to the semifinals every year this decade (except 2018) & they have taken the eventual AI champions to a replay in many of those years. So I just don't see how they merit one fewer spot than Donegal.

Pogue eile · 12-12-2019 3:14pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I never said he shouldn't be in the team. I said starting a player who has proved he cannot keep the head when the chips are down ahead of McCarthy is the wrong move.

So he should be in the team? You seem awful confused!

darklighter · 12-12-2019 3:20pm

Gael85 wrote: »

Cluxton

McMahon
N.McGee
Lacey

Keegan
Boyle
McCaffrey

Fenton
McCarthy

Flynn
Kilkenny
Connolly

McManus
Murphy
B.Brogan

Higgins in for Lacey and that would be my team

What a front 6

Would love to fit Andy Moran & Gary Brennan in but couldn't leave anyone else out

darklighter · 12-12-2019 3:28pm

castletownman wrote: »

Cluxton

As a hobby (some people call it weird ) I compiled a team of the decade for each of the prominent decades of my life (90s, 00s and 10s) and see how they compare. By county breakdown, Dublin have had more individual players this decade than any other county in any of the two other eras, which reflects their dominance and class.

FWIW:

90s: O'Leary; Curran, Fay, Scullion; Moynihan, Ryan, O'Connell; Tohill, McDermott; Donnellan, Giles, Fallon; Linden, Canavan, Fitzgerald.
00s: D.Murphy; A.Mallon, M.O'Se, T.O'Sullivan; T.O'Se, McGeeney, Jordan; D.O'Se, Cavanagh; Dooher, Cooper, Declan O'Sullivan; McDonnell, O'Neill, Forde.

That 90s full-forward line though!

The 00s front 6.....the 00s half back line......but the 8 & 9 for both decades are the ones that make those teams for me, ya wouldn't get a sniff off either pair!

Pogue eile · 12-12-2019 3:41pm

I find it very odd that we have 13 individual forwards named and no mention of Colm Cooper. Recency bias the only logical explanation I can think of. Cooper in the early part of the decade was unplayable at times.

12-12-2019 4:11pm

Pogue eile wrote: »

So he should be in the team? You seem awful confused!

I'm perfectly fine, thanks. It is you who seems to have difficulty in grasping the difference between "Panel" and "Starting 15".

Pogue eile · 12-12-2019 4:20pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm perfectly fine, thanks. It is you who seems to have difficulty in grasping the difference between "Panel" and "Starting 15".

Stop embarrassing yourself and admit you made a booboo, everyone will have more respect for you if you do so, and it's the correct thing to do and we know that you are all about that.

jr86 · 12-12-2019 4:21pm

Not a lot of love for MDMA around here? In his pomp he was an extremely effective player in the earlier part of the decade

I guess people only really judge him on his football ability though

castletownman wrote: »

Cluxton

O'Sullivan/Cooper
McGee
Higgins

Keegan
Lacey
McCaffrey

Fenton
McCarthy

Flynn
Kilkenny
Connolly

McManus
Murphy
B.Brogan

The half-back line all won FOTY in this decade, so shifting McCarthy to midfield addresses the issue of a partner for Fenton. The only difficult decision, for me anyway, is who to pick as the other corner-back. Toss up between O'Sullivan and Cooper, but it could be argued that the former was more of a sweeper.

Brilliant, you saved me all the hassle! Superb selection

Pogue eile wrote: »

I find it very odd that we have 13 individual forwards named and no mention of Colm Cooper. Recency bias the only logical explanation I can think of. Cooper in the early part of the decade was unplayable at times.

I suppose he didn't win an all ireland in the decade as a player, and only made 3 semis (2 finals but one where he was well past his pomp) so he wasn't as prominent in this decade I guess

he still merits inclusion over some players selected though

12-12-2019 4:24pm

Deleted User wrote: »

James McCarthy.......

......benched........

....in favor of..............

[pic of Keegan]

Pogue eile wrote: »

Stop embarrassing yourself and admit you made a booboo, everyone will have more respect for you if you do so, and it's the correct thing to do and we know that you are all about that.

Wtf are you banging on about...?

Here's my original post. Nowhere did I say anything about him not being included in the team. I questioned why he was in the starting lineup ahead of McCarthy. Just admit you made a mistake and everyone will have more respect for you.

jr86 · 12-12-2019 4:26pm

rossie1977 wrote: »

O'Connor numbers can't be ignored. I think people tend to forget what Mayo were like pre Cillian O Connor in front of goal.

I mean he's fine, but not a forward who is ever going to terrify defences in the Brogan, Mcmanus mould. Some years he has been plainly ineffective for the most part outside of frees

As I say the only Mayo forward I would even consider is Andy Moran. The fact he was only a bit part player some seasons probably counts against him but in 2012 (until the cruciate) and 2017 he was borderline unplayable (he certainly hit a level O'Connor has never reached). Even in 2013 where he was coming off the cruciate injury he still bagged a few scores in the All Ireland final when all around him were underperforming

Pogue eile · 12-12-2019 4:27pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I said starting a player who has proved he cannot keep the head when the chips are down ahead of McCarthy is the wrong move.

Deleted User wrote: »

Wtf are you banging on about...?

Here's my original post. Nowhere did I say anything about him not being included in the team. I questioned why he was in the starting lineup ahead of McCarthy. Just admit you made a mistake and everyone will have more respect for you.

So starting Keegan would be the wrong move but you would have him in your team

12-12-2019 4:39pm

I was querying why the OP would bench McCarthy and start Keegan. I don't know how many more different ways I can spell that out for you. Did you have difficulties with reading comprehension in school?

Pogue eile · 12-12-2019 4:46pm

Maybe I'm just a diamond surrounded by ****e as you so eloquently put it!

Pogue eile · 12-12-2019 4:48pm

Apologies OP for derailing your thread, had actually forgotten about the ignore function until now.

BrianBoru00 · 12-12-2019 4:58pm

Cluxton
Boyle McGhee Higgins
Keegan Cian O Sullivan Jack MNcCaffrey
A O Shea Brian Fenton
PAul Flynn Paul Mannion Ciaran Kilkenny
Cillian O Connor Michael Murphy Colm Cooper

Nidgeweasel · 12-12-2019 6:24pm

Stephen Cluxton

Johnny Cooper Neil McGee Keith Higgins

Lee Keegan Karl Lacey Jack McCaffery

Brian Fenton James McCarthy

Paul Flynn Colm Cooper Diarmuid Connolly

Conor McManus Michael Murphy Bernard Brogan

Dublin - 8
Donegal - 3
Mayo - 2
Monaghan -1
Kerry - 1

rossie1977 · 12-12-2019 7:09pm

jr86 wrote: »

I mean he's fine, but not a forward who is ever going to terrify defences in the Brogan, Mcmanus mould. Some years he has been plainly ineffective for the most part outside of frees

As I say the only Mayo forward I would even consider is Andy Moran. The fact he was only a bit part player some seasons probably counts against him but in 2012 (until the cruciate) and 2017 he was borderline unplayable (he certainly hit a level O'Connor has never reached). Even in 2013 where he was coming off the cruciate injury he still bagged a few scores in the All Ireland final when all around him were underperforming

Not arguing that O'Connor wasn't explosive forward like those mentioned but I think like Rock his free taking kind of overshadows his scoring from play for many but both have strong records from open play too.

O'Connors numbers overall is why you couldn't leave him out. He has 115 points from open play in the championship and 259 points from placed balls. That's insane levels of scoring in hurling never mind football.

horseofstone · 12-12-2019 7:17pm

Keith Higgins is overrated,he's good going forward but he's not a great defender

Always number 1 · 12-12-2019 8:16pm

Cluxton
Fitzsimons
McGee
Higgins
McCarthy
Keegan
McCaffrey
McAuley
Murphy
Flynn
Harte
Kilkenny
Andy Moran
McManus
B Brogan

Omitted Fenton on the basis he only made his debut in 2015 and this is for the whole decade (or at least more than half of it - despite his impressive medals/accolades) and I omitted O'Connor on the basis of a huge amount of his scores were from frees or against the likes of London or New York and missed crucial frees at pressure times..

Unlucky to miss out Cillian O'Connor, Johnny Cooper, Brian Fenton, Colm Cavanagh, and Colm Boyle.

seligehgit · 13-12-2019 12:44am

Cluxton
Cooper
McGee
Higgins
Keegan
Lacey
McCaffrey
Fenton
McCarthy
Flynn
Kilkenny
Connolly
Brogan
Murphy
McManus

Many other worthy candidates Fitzsimmons,McMahon,O Sullivan,Boyle,Durcan,Gallagher,McAuley,Moran,Cooper,Moran,O Connor,Geaney,Mannion,Mc Fadden.

corny · 13-12-2019 6:52pm

horseofstone wrote: »

Keith Higgins is overrated,he's good going forward but he's not a great defender

Thank jesus someone said it. Brilliant athlete, fine attacker, very average corner back.

FWIW
1.Cluxton
2.Cooper
3.COS
4.Fitzsimons
5.McCarthy
6.Keegan/Boyle
7.McCaffrey
8.Fenton
9.MDMA/Gallagher
10.Flynn
11.Kilkenny
12.Connolly
13.McManus
14.Murphy
15.Brogan

Lots of Dubs but they have swept all before them this decade.

doc_17 · 14-12-2019 6:42pm

ProudDUB wrote: »

Are my sums off, but do Donegal have 5 of the 30 spots, just one less than Mayo? That seems a tad generous, given they only played in 2 AI finals this decade & didn't take Dublin, Kerry or Mayo to any replays.

They actually won an All Ireland. And beat Mayo in the final. And beat Jim Gavins Dublin. They have 5 Ulster titles - the toughest province. Mayo are chokers.

Hulk Hands · 14-12-2019 7:20pm

ProudDUB wrote: »

Yeah, but this is the team of the decade. Donegal only had 3 years of really sustained excellence - 2011, 2012 & 2014. They have done very little in the AI champo in the 5 years since 2014. Whereas Mayo have made it to the semifinals every year this decade (except 2018) & they have taken the eventual AI champions to a replay in many of those years. So I just don't see how they merit one fewer spot than Donegal.

How are you picking Mayo as the point of your outrage instead of Kerry? Kerry only had 2 in his 26 and are the clear second best performing county of the decade. It's a toss up for Donegal and Mayo for distant third

blowitupref · 14-12-2019 7:39pm

corny wrote: »

Thank jesus someone said it. Brilliant athlete, fine attacker, very average corner back.

FWIW
1.Cluxton
2.Cooper
3.COS
4.Fitzsimons
5.McCarthy
6.Keegan/Boyle
7.McCaffrey
8.Fenton
9.MDMA/Gallagher
10.Flynn
11.Kilkenny
12.Connolly
13.McManus
14.Murphy
15.Brogan

Lots of Dubs but they have swept all before them this decade.

At the start of this decade (2011 to 2014) Higgins was a top defender worthy of his All stars but the last few years he's been a fading force in regards to defending.

Utopia Parkway · 14-12-2019 7:48pm

horseofstone wrote: »

Keith Higgins is overrated,he's good going forward but he's not a great defender

Ah now Higgins was a great defender in his prime. He's been getting some roastings in recent years alright but he is 34 after all.

RedDevil55 · 14-12-2019 7:54pm

doc_17 wrote: »

They actually won an All Ireland. And beat Mayo in the final. And beat Jim Gavins Dublin. They have 5 Ulster titles - the toughest province. Mayo are chokers.

Donegal got the all stars in 2012 to reflect their All Ireland win. This is a team of the decade and Mayo have beaten Donegal 3 times in championship games. Donegal were also relegated to division 2 twice this decade.

The toughest province to win is the one with Dublin in it.

Football Team of the decade

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