Footballer of the Year

castletownman

Kickouts me hole. He didn't hit any of his own players in the first half. Parsons lorded it. Surely the fact that he switched to short kickouts in the second half suggests that it wasn't working? Most influential player of the last 25 years my hole.

Martina1991

castletownman wrote: »

Kickouts me hole. He didn't hit any of his own players in the first half. Parsons lorded it. Surely the fact that he switched to short kickouts in the second half suggests that it wasn't working? Most influential player of the last 25 years my hole.

Only changed to short kick outs when Sherlock ran straight to him and told him to. Could he not see himself it wasn't working.

TCDStudent1

corny wrote: »

Paul Mannion should win it. His exhibition against Monaghan and his work rate (and scores) yesterday should be worthy of the highest praise. Con O'Callaghan a very close second.

Good call. Dont hear him being mentioned but he was very good all year

blanch152

castletownman wrote: »

Kickouts me hole. He didn't hit any of his own players in the first half. Parsons lorded it. Surely the fact that he switched to short kickouts in the second half suggests that it wasn't working? Most influential player of the last 25 years my hole.

Martina1991 wrote: »

Only changed to short kick outs when Sherlock ran straight to him and told him to. Could he not see himself it wasn't working.

Cluxton:

11/11 in the second half when the pressure was on. Key save to prevent a Durcan goal. Coolness in the last two minutes when Dublin played keep-ball when down to 13 and fully involved.


Clarke:

Froze in extra-time. Kicked straight down McCarthy's throat for a mark which led to the winning free. Kicked the subsequent kick-out over the Cusack Stand touchline, with Mayomen free on the other side.

It is only when you see what happens other goalkeepers in the crunch minutes that you realise how powerful an influence Cluxton is.

Shurimgreat

Martina1991 wrote: »

Only changed to short kick outs when Sherlock ran straight to him and told him to. Could he not see himself it wasn't working.

I think you summed it up perfectly.

threein99

Moran for me

mjp

It's easy for cluxtons to look good when he has the movement of Dublin players in front of him to make him look good. Most teams with exception of Kerry and Mayo aren't able to put pressure on outfield players or some even decide not to bother challenging Dublin for it and allow them have possession uncontested. Mayo put huge pressure on him in first half and you could see he was rattled as had no option but to boot it out to midfield where Mayo were dominating. They didn't put same pressure in second half but the pressure they put on in first half took showed up in last 20 minutes as lot of their big players were out on their feet. Both teams going down to 14 made it much easier for cluxtons to find his men due to Mayo having less players to cover the space.

Andy Moran player of the season. End of !!!

corny

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Good call. Dont hear him being mentioned but he was very good all year

Its weird that people have a blind spot for his display against Monaghan. He was unplayable that day.

Was great when Dublin needed him most in the final too (didn't wilt like some others) yet no votes.

Hope he gets an All Star at least.

AGC

Similar to last year I would expect 2 Dublin players, McCarthy and Cluxton and Andy Moran to be nominated with Andy Moran, deservedly, winning it.

Dublin players will split the vote again this year but think Moran deserves it, he was excellent all year, I though the would struggle against the Dublin full back line but his movement, especially in first half, to drop his man was unreal.

kilns

As a Dubs fan, Andy Moran for carrying a whole team on his shoulders should get it.  Without him Mayo would have been no where near the final.  If her retires they wont be back in a final for a long time

kilns

Faugheen wrote: »

Honestly, some of the ****e that gets written about Stephen Cluxton on these boards bores me to death.

He's had a stellar career, but still people look to pick holes and write him off/say their team's keeper is better than him. Utter nonsense. Cluxton has changed the role of the goalkeeper immensely but no, he's only good at kick-outs.

I honestly am sick of the begrudery towards him. He can alter his play numerous times and people will try to find fault in his game, referencing a match that was played about 10 years ago.

I saw someone suggest that he only gets All-Stars because picking the keeper means they can get a Dub in there. Again, no credit to what the man does year-in, year-out.

If Cluxton played for Mayo/Kerry he'd be heralded as the best keeper of all time, a title which he would deserve. However because he plays for Dublin people still try to write him off.

We don't deserve players like him in the GAA, because clearly so many can't see past their red mist against Dublin to recognise what a great footballer he is.

Cluxton will go down as one of the greatest players of all time and rightly so

MayoAreMagic

blanch152 wrote: »

Cluxton:

11/11 in the second half when the pressure was on. Key save to prevent a Durcan goal. Coolness in the last two minutes when Dublin played keep-ball when down to 13 and fully involved.


Clarke:

Froze in extra-time. Kicked straight down McCarthy's throat for a mark which led to the winning free. Kicked the subsequent kick-out over the Cusack Stand touchline, with Mayomen free on the other side.

It is only when you see what happens other goalkeepers in the crunch minutes that you realise how powerful an influence Cluxton is.

11/11, because he had to go short, due to his long kicks being so poor in the first half. Decent save alright, although the finish was disappointing. He was really bad in the first half, but he readjusted, still, to say he ahd a good game is a bit much

Clarke miscued his last kick, fair enough. McCarthy done well to get under the other one though. He read the run. His kickouts in general were superior to cluxtons on the whole. The man deserves great credit for that, considering last year.

One thing I will say, the mayo management deserve serious credit - they found a way to turn cluxtons kickouts on their head. Nobody has managed this before - ever. Jim McGuinness and these guys would want to remember that before they start chirping in the paper...

kilns

But its all about the pressure and the clutch kicks, when the pressure was on Clarke put one down McCarthys throat and one over the sideline.

brocbrocach

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

One thing I will say, the mayo management deserve serious credit - they found a way to turn cluxtons kickouts on their head. Nobody has managed this before - ever. Jim McGuinness and these guys would want to remember that before they start chirping in the paper...

Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Kerry managed it twice at least

MayoAreMagic

brocbrocach wrote: »

Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Kerry managed it twice at least

Id argue they managed to create an odd mistake. But mayo seemed to have a system worked out where they had the bodies in place to come out of top more often than not, any time he went long, which would be a fair few steps up on what Kerry were doing. They seemed to have cracked it completely for periods.

MayoAreMagic

kilns wrote: »

But its all about the pressure and the clutch kicks, when the pressure was on Clarke put one down McCarthys throat and one over the sideline.

But surely every kickout is a clutch kick like? I mean go short and mess it up and you are f'd. (For me there is too much pressure on keepers now, for this very reason, but that is beside the point)

Cluxton had a bad game (happens to everyone), trying to drag his opposite number down doesn't change this, so I don't see the point. The reality is people were saying he should be poty before the game, nobody is saying it now, which tells the reality of the situation.

Shurimgreat

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

But surely every kickout is a clutch kick like? I mean go short and mess it up and you are f'd. (For me there is too much pressure on keepers now, for this very reason, but that is beside the point)

Cluxton had a bad game (happens to everyone), trying to drag his opposite number down doesn't change this, so I don't see the point. The reality is people were saying he should be poty before the game, nobody is saying it now, which tells the reality of the situation.

The pressure is on from the throw in of an AI final. Like you said every kick is a clutch kick. Cluxton was having a nightmare until Sherlock ordered him to change tack. So much for having the initiative to change course.

Unfortunately most counties concede the Dublin kickouts either deliberately or through not having the ability to press correctly. In this regard anyone would look like a great keeper. If Cluxton wins POTY it would be an absolute travesty.

Tombo2001

Jim McGuinness ran this article about Mayo back in June.

It seems very prescient in the light of how the game ended on Sunday.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/jim-mcguinness-lack-of-cutting-edge-cost-mayo-another-tight-game-1.3116975

Unlike some rivals, they lack a clinical game plan in attack when the game is on the line

Tombo2001

Shurimgreat wrote: »

The pressure is on from the throw in of an AI final. Like you said every kick is a clutch kick. Cluxton was having a nightmare until Sherlock ordered him to change tack. So much for having the initiative to change course.

Unfortunately most counties concede the Dublin kickouts and instead pack their own half. In this regard anyone would look like a great keeper.

The pressure is greatest in the last 5 minutes when you are trying to close the game out.

Dublin have been able to that basically in every big game they've played in the last three years apart from the League final this year; a game where I really thought they lacked urgency (ie I dont think they cared that much).

brocbrocach

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

Id argue they managed to create an odd mistake. But mayo seemed to have a system worked out where they had the bodies in place to come out of top more often than not, any time he went long, which would be a fair few steps up on what Kerry were doing. They seemed to have cracked it completely for periods.

I'd argue Kerry did the same or even better, to the extent that Cluxton cracked and put 2 or 3 over sidelines etc. It's not a player failing though, it's a sytem failure.
Dublin's mistake in this final was that they thought Fenton would be able to compete with Parsons and O'Shea in fielding. McCarthy had a great game in all facets but Fenton has had a bad year and very poor final.

MayoAreMagic

kilns wrote: »

As a Dubs fan, Andy Moran for carrying a whole team on his shoulders should get it. Without him Mayo would have been no where near the final. If her retires they wont be back in a final for a long time

Deserves it for being the best player this year.

As for picking out one player, where would Dublin be without cluxton? Donegal without murphy? Kerry without Donaghy? Tyrone without Cavanagh? That applies for everyone.

Martina1991

kilns wrote: »

As a Dubs fan, Andy Moran for carrying a whole team on his shoulders should get it.  Without him Mayo would have been no where near the final.  If her retires they wont be back in a final for a long time

I don't agree. Andy had a stellar year but Mayo got to the final last year and Andy didn't stand out then.

I don't think he'll retire but when he does he can be replaced. Jason Doherty has had a great year. Another year and young Conor Loftus will be pushing for a place too. Diarmuid O'Connor is still improving. Mayo aren't done yet.

MayoAreMagic

brocbrocach wrote: »

I'd argue Kerry did the same or even better, to the extent that Cluxton cracked and put 2 or 3 over sidelines etc. It's not a player failing though, it's a sytem failure.
Dublin's mistake in this final was that they thought Fenton would be able to compete with Parsons and O'Shea in fielding. McCarthy had a great game in all facets but Fenton has had a bad year and very poor final.

The thing with mayo was a lot more sustained. Like you could argue that cluxton was off when he was hitting them out over the sideline and side-footing them to Kerry players - at the time it was labelled a cluxton meltdown, which tells it's own story. Mayo seemed to be getting to them, even when he was kicking them well, which would indicate a cracking of the kickout itself, rather than the man making mistakes.

Re fenton, there was far more to it than that. Every time the ball was going long, mayo had 3-4 guys closing on the target on the ground, and another guy jumping with him. Also, McCarthy was beaten on kickouts just as much as fenton in the first half, so it cant be all fenton's fault...

ThunbergsAreGo

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

The thing with mayo was a lot more sustained. Like you could argue that cluxton was off when he was hitting them out over the sideline and side-footing them to Kerry players - at the time it was labelled a cluxton meltdown, which tells it's own story. Mayo seemed to be getting to them, even when he was kicking them well, which would indicate a cracking of the kickout itself, rather than the man making mistakes.

Re fenton, there was far more to it than that. Every time the ball was going long, mayo had 3-4 guys closing on the target on the ground, and another guy jumping with him. Also, McCarthy was beaten on kickouts just as much as fenton in the first half, so it cant be all fenton's fault...

Mayo did to Dublin exactly what Dublin had been doing to teams all year. I have no clue what Dublin's plan was

It was very impressive. Thought Parsons in particular had a great game

brocbrocach

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

The thing with mayo was a lot more sustained. Like you could argue that cluxton was off when he was hitting them out over the sideline and side-footing them to Kerry players - at the time it was labelled a cluxton meltdown, which tells it's own story. Mayo seemed to be getting to them, even when he was kicking them well, which would indicate a cracking of the kickout itself, rather than the man making mistakes.

Re fenton, there was far more to it than that. Every time the ball was going long, mayo had 3-4 guys closing on the target on the ground, and another guy jumping with him. Also, McCarthy was beaten on kickouts just as much as fenton in the first half, so it cant be all fenton's fault...

I think he just went old-fashioned when Mayo pressed up, thinking Fenton would be able for the lads. Most of them were broke but Dublin didn't really have anyone like McLoughlin/Dooher/Galvin to win that dirty ball. The Mayo half-back and half-forward lines thrive on that.
It's true that McCarthy didn't win them in the first half but he wasn't there as the "jumping midfielder", which would be Fenton's role.

brocbrocach

Yep Parsons was brilliant, should be an allstar

kilns

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

kilns wrote: »

As a Dubs fan, Andy Moran for carrying a whole team on his shoulders should get it.  Without him Mayo would have been no where near the final.  If her retires they wont be back in a final for a long time

Deserves it for being the best player this year.

As for picking out one player, where would Dublin be without cluxton? Donegal without murphy? Kerry without Donaghy? Tyrone without Cavanagh? That applies for everyone.

Dublin would cope as they are a strong unit, Mayo would not cope without Moran.  None of their other forwards are up to his standard

blanch152

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

11/11, because he had to go short, due to his long kicks being so poor in the first half. Decent save alright, although the finish was disappointing. He was really bad in the first half, but he readjusted, still, to say he ahd a good game is a bit much

Clarke miscued his last kick, fair enough. McCarthy done well to get under the other one though. He read the run. His kickouts in general were superior to cluxtons on the whole. The man deserves great credit for that, considering last year.

One thing I will say, the mayo management deserve serious credit - they found a way to turn cluxtons kickouts on their head. Nobody has managed this before - ever. Jim McGuinness and these guys would want to remember that before they start chirping in the paper...

Amazing post. How you can agree that Cluxton went 11/11 in the second half but then say that the Mayo management turned Cluxton's kickouts on their head!!! If the Mayo management strategy was so good, how come Cluxton went 11/11 and Dublin won? It is bizarre to suggest Mayo won that battle.

Yes, Mayo came out with a strategy to stop Cluxton's kickouts and it had some success in the first half, he lost six kickouts (just six)!! In the second half, Cluxton responded and boy did he respond, with a perfect 11/11. Dublin won the second half by two points.

It was sad to see Clarke's brainfreeze at the end, his last two kickouts cost Mayo the game just as O'Connor's missed free cost them a win. As someone else said, it is the clutch kicks that count. Cluxton has made those clutch kicks time and again since 2011 (especially in 2011 when his kick won the All-Ireland). To me, that ability to deliver under real pressure, to make history, is what sets Cluxton (and Rock) apart and was the difference last Sunday. In every other facet of play - tackling, passing, cynical challenges, point-taking, goalkeeping, etc. - Mayo matched Dublin but in the end as I said before the semi-final (you can look up the post), you always expect Clarke to misplace a vital kick-out or O'Connor to miss a vital free, and so it turned out on Sunday.

blanch152

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

The thing with mayo was a lot more sustained. Like you could argue that cluxton was off when he was hitting them out over the sideline and side-footing them to Kerry players - at the time it was labelled a cluxton meltdown, which tells it's own story. Mayo seemed to be getting to them, even when he was kicking them well, which would indicate a cracking of the kickout itself, rather than the man making mistakes.

Re fenton, there was far more to it than that. Every time the ball was going long, mayo had 3-4 guys closing on the target on the ground, and another guy jumping with him. Also, McCarthy was beaten on kickouts just as much as fenton in the first half, so it cant be all fenton's fault...

Kerry scored 1-2 without reply or something like that from the pressure on Cluxton's kickouts over a short period, Mayo never managed that on Sunday. Yes, Mayo had a system prepared, but it only had them breaking even in the first half as evidence by a one-point lead. By the second half, a tactical adjustment and a change in personnel to implement the tactical adjustment meant that Mayo never got near another Cluxton kickout. A tribute both to Gavin and his players that they could so comprehensively react to Mayo's tactics during the match and turn the game completely on its head.

blanch152

brocbrocach wrote: »

I think he just went old-fashioned when Mayo pressed up, thinking Fenton would be able for the lads. Most of them were broke but Dublin didn't really have anyone like McLoughlin/Dooher/Galvin to win that dirty ball. The Mayo half-back and half-forward lines thrive on that.
It's true that McCarthy didn't win them in the first half but he wasn't there as the "jumping midfielder", which would be Fenton's role.

I think that the O'Gara selection was linked to Cluxton's decision to go long. Early high ball to O'Gara from midfield to feed runners like Mannion and O'Callaghan was the idea. Once the change to going short, they wanted McMenamin for his ability to run at defences, hence the change at half-time. The tactical flexibility displayed by Dublin is awesome.

BandMember

Andy Moran.

Any other result is an absolute joke.

With 70 minutes on the clock, Chris Barrett had the MOTM award in his back pocket but because Dublin win the match, James McCarthy is the MOTM and suddenly a candidate for POTY?? Sorry, but that's just farcical!

Shurimgreat

blanch152 wrote: »

I think that the O'Gara selection was linked to Cluxton's decision to go long. Early high ball to O'Gara from midfield to feed runners like Mannion and O'Callaghan was the idea. Once the change to going short, they wanted McMenamin for his ability to run at defences, hence the change at half-time. The tactical flexibility displayed by Dublin is awesome.

Bullsh*t.

Starting O'Gara was a massive mistake and threw their entire game plan into disarray. McManamon came on far earlier than normally expected and had minimal impact.

Its laughable the way posters like you dress up Dublin mistakes. Gavin made a b*lls of the starting selection by including O'Gara and it almost cost Dublin an AI. The guy is human afterall and not the robot people think he is.

Buer

Shurimgreat wrote: »

McManamon came on far earlier than normally expected and had minimal impact.

Absolutely baffled.

Shurimgreat

Buer wrote: »

Absolutely baffled.

By what exactly?

Do you agree starting O'Gara was a disaster and threw the Dublin game plan into disarray?

How anyone can portray that as tactically awesome is beyond me.

If one or two things went Mayo's way and they won, Gavin would be criticised for the O'Gara move. A kick of the ball the other way and he's a genius.

It doesn't work that way.

blanch152

Shurimgreat wrote: »

Bullsh*t.

Starting O'Gara was a massive mistake and threw their entire game plan into disarray. McManamon came on far earlier than normally expected and had minimal impact.

Its laughable the way posters like you dress up Dublin mistakes. Gavin made a b*lls of the starting selection by including O'Gara and it almost cost Dublin an AI. The guy is human afterall and not the robot people think he is.

Nobody disputes that the Dublin starting selection didn't work because Mayo's set-up negated it (to the extent that Mayo just had a one-point lead at half-time).

What we are saying is that Gavin and the Dublin players (unlike say Tyrone in the semi-final) were flexible enough both in terms of tactics and personnel to adjust to what had happened, make the necessary changes, and go on to win the game.

Stoner

Anyway footballer of the year.

This thread has killed it for me at this stage.

Shurimgreat

blanch152 wrote: »

Nobody disputes that the Dublin starting selection didn't work because Mayo's set-up negated it (to the extent that Mayo just had a one-point lead at half-time).

What we are saying is that Gavin and the Dublin players (unlike say Tyrone in the semi-final) were flexible enough both in terms of tactics and personnel to adjust to what had happened, make the necessary changes, and go on to win the game.

Last response on the issue as thread is about footballer of the year.

Gavins starting selection had a massive glaring mistake in the form of O'Gara who is clearly not up to this level. He hauled him off asap and had to change his plans around. Dressing is up as tactical genius is ludicrous.

PARlance

Shurimgreat wrote: »

By what exactly?

Do you agree starting O'Gara was a disaster and threw the Dublin game plan into disarray?

How anyone can portray that as tactically awesome is beyond me.

If one or two things went Mayo's way and they won, Gavin would be criticised for the O'Gara move.

By the bit he quoted I'd say. McManamon had a big impact.

I agree with the thoughts on the O'Gara call. Gavin would have come under a lot of scrutiny if they lost. There have been bigger calls made before a final, but it's not far off the top.

Buer

Shurimgreat wrote: »

By what exactly?

Do you agree starting O'Gara was a disaster and threw the Dublin game plan into disarray?

How anyone can portray that as tactically awesome is beyond me.

If one or two things went Mayo's way and they won, Gavin would be criticised for the O'Gara move. A kick of the ball the other way and he's a genius.

It doesn't work that way.

By the part I quoted, obviously!

Shurimgreat

I think everyone agrees Andy Moran is odds on for POTY. And well deserved.

blanch152

Shurimgreat wrote: »

By what exactly?

Do you agree starting O'Gara was a disaster and threw the Dublin game plan into disarray?

How anyone can portray that as tactically awesome is beyond me.

If one or two things went Mayo's way and they won, Gavin would be criticised for the O'Gara move. A kick of the ball the other way and he's a genius.

It doesn't work that way.

Not a single person has said that starting O'Gara turned out to be tactically awesome.

What you are missing is that O'Gara wasn't the issue. As Gavin said in a post-match interview "we wanted to try something different". That something different - go long from the kick-out with quick ball to Andrews and O'Gara - just didn't get off the ground. Change in tactics towards the end of the first half and change in personnel at half-time changed it all around.

You could argue that the difference between Mayo and Dublin over the last two years could come down to the fact that when Gavin took a gamble with a change (O'Gara) that subsequently didn't work, he acted quickly during the game to correct the mistake while Rochford, in the corresponding game last year (Hennelly) didn't act quickly enough.

blanch152

I cannot see Footballer of the Year going to anyone but Andy Moran.

There will be two Dubs nominated - two of McCarthy, Cluxton and O'Callaghan - and the vote will be split, allowing Moran to get the nod.

Not that bothered as I said in the days before the game.

gramar

Surely Andy Moran is the only real choice.
Hard to see why Cluxton is even being mentioned. 1 easyish save and multiple lost possessions on his kick outs. Did nothing of note or had little to do in the other games.

kilns

Some posters here would make an arguement for all Mayo 15 all star team this year too

Shurimgreat

kilns wrote: »

Some posters here would make an arguement for all Mayo 15 all star team this year too

Eh no they wouldn't :rolleyes:

MayoAreMagic

blanch152 wrote: »

I cannot see Footballer of the Year going to anyone but Andy Moran.

There will be two Dubs nominated - two of McCarthy, Cluxton and O'Callaghan - and the vote will be split, allowing Moran to get the nod.

Not that bothered as I said in the days before the game.

Well more-so by virtue of the fact that he is the best player this season and thereby 100% deserves winning the award in question....


BTW, this 'split vote' thing. How does it work? How is this relevant to the county someone is from? Surely people just vote for who they think was the best and that is it? How do votes get split?

MayoAreMagic

gramar wrote: »

Surely Andy Moran is the only real choice.
Hard to see why Cluxton is even being mentioned. 1 easyish save and multiple lost possessions on his kick outs. Did nothing of note or had little to do in the other games.

Lifetime achievement award it seems. I wouldn't even give him an all star tbh. Clarke was exceptional in every game. He done more in the triple save against Kerry alone than Cluxton did all year... Now you can say he didn't have to make the saves, but then that isn't really the point in the context. Nothing personal against him at all, another player just had a superior season.

For the record my three nominees would be McCarthy, Moran and Barrett, with Moran out in front and the other two very close to each other.

kilns

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

blanch152 wrote: »

I cannot see Footballer of the Year going to anyone but Andy Moran.

There will be two Dubs nominated - two of McCarthy, Cluxton and O'Callaghan - and the vote will be split, allowing Moran to get the nod.

Not that bothered as I said in the days before the game.

Well more-so by virtue of the fact that he is the best player this season and thereby 100% deserves winning the award in question....


BTW, this 'split vote' thing. How does it work? How is this relevant to the county someone is from? Surely people just vote for who they think was the best and that is it? How do votes get split?

He was the most important player to a team that needed him to deliver.  However, I dont recalling him setting the world alight prior to the Kerry games. But that is how All Stars are dished out too, some guy could have a stinker of a year and have a good All Ireland final and he gets an All Star.

blanch152

kilns wrote: »

Some posters here would make an arguement for all Mayo 15 all star team this year too

Don't really mind if they do, don't think Cluxton for example would complain about missing out on the formal dinner.

Dublin have won the All-Ireland, Kerry can have the League and Mayo can have the All-Stars and POTY. I'm nearly sorry we didn't let Kildare win the O'Byrne Cup.

kilns

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

gramar wrote: »

Surely Andy Moran is the only real choice.
Hard to see why Cluxton is even being mentioned. 1 easyish save and multiple lost possessions on his kick outs. Did nothing of note or had little to do in the other games.

Lifetime achievement award it seems. I wouldn't even give him an all star tbh. Clarke was exceptional in every game. He done more in the triple save against Kerry alone than Cluxton did all year... Now you can say he didn't have to make the saves, but then that isn't really the point in the context.

He bottled the most important two kicks of his year