Footballer of the Year

It is Alan's to lose right now imo, his iffy performance yesterday (oh ok, his crappy shot selection mainly) not with standing. If Dublin win the All Ireland, he'll get it. Hands down. If Kerry, win but Alan has played a blinder, he may still get it, if Gooch has a quiet game. If Kerry win, and Gooch has a half ways decent game, then he'll probably get it. Pity really, as it will be only for 2 games.

Syferus wrote: »

And I still can't get over anyone thinking Gooch is going to be the palyer of the year at this point - he's had one top drawer performance and unless he does the same in the final and drags Kerry over the line then he won't even be assured of an All-Star, never mind being FotY.

Yeah, but he is loved by the medai which will guarantee him at least an All-Star.

Earlier on in the year, Declan O'Sullivan looked like to be the fornt-runner for the award but has been quiet in the last 2 games. If Kerry win the final, and Darran O'Sullivan plays at 60 or 70%, then I think he will win FOTY.

If Dublin win, then Alan Brogan will win the award imo.

Karl Lacey should be in with a shout, think he played the most games from all the realistic contenders. Would like him to win it, he's such an honest player and was integral to everything Donegal did throughout the year.

Cillian O' Connor for the YPOTY hands down. Farce if he doesn't get it. And I say this as a Galway man!

Colm Cooper has never won it before. I think he'll take it this year. Other contenders would be Bernard Brogan again, Karl Lacey, Darren O'Sullivan maybe one or two others.

Will be interesting to find out.

I think Colm Cooper the Mayo game aside has had better years and not won FOTY so i think not this year , up until the quarter finals Declan o Sullivan was a shoe in but faded imo Darren O Sullivan will get it , has been good to brilliant in all his games with the occassional pure magic moment and a couple of class goals if he performs to that level in the final I think he wins it . there does,nt seem to be as many likely winners as other years with and again its only my opinion not too many outstanding displays , lots of solid efforts but outstanding no, I think Mayo and Donegal progressing so far has effected FOTY and All Star thinking as neither really has too many contenders , Mayo over achieved in 1 game and Donegal used that terrible system where footballing ability was,nt really paramount. So Darren O S for me Also for Alan Brogan supporters i think he shot himself in the foot a little with his display against Donegal , where his shot taking and decision making seemed to me to be slightly in the headless chicken mode , Bernard has a better shout.

Cluxton would get my vote...

Not just for the free taking, but the fact he's been consistently performing well in goal both saving and distributing the ball to the blue jersey...

Darran OSullivan best outfield player this year...

homerjay2005 wrote: »

i though alan brogan was very good today and he is my favourite for it....

who else is there?

Scored two early points and faded out for most of the rest of the match.

He was not a game changer against either Donegal or Kerry and he didn't play like the "best footballer in Ireland"

denisc wrote: »

Scored two early points and faded out for most of the rest of the match.

He was not a game changer against either Donegal or Kerry and he didn't play like the "best footballer in Ireland"

After scoring the 2 early points Alan Brogan was Dublins playmaker and created the goal. I think its between himself, Cluxton and Sheehan for MOTM.

As for footballer of the year, it has to be the Gooch. If he did not get it, it would be a scandal in the proportions of Brian O'Driscoll not getting world player of the year in 2009.

Outside of Dublin and Kerry, Karl Lacey is a contender for me. I know Donegal were ugly to watch and it was more of a team effort but Lacey was outstanding in every game and was badly missed when he went off injured against Dublin.

Darran O Sullivans form this year has been suburb. He'd be my choice.

There was no real outstanding candidate.

Alan Brogan was consistent all year and had a phenomenal game today, settling the team with the first two scores, setting up the goal and almost scoring another.

I think he would be my player of the year.

SeaFields wrote: »

Darran O Sullivans form this year has been suburb. He'd be my choice.

Mine too, but he could get over-looked with all the hype/media talk about how its "the first All-Ireland for Dublin in 16 years". In that regard, the award is between Cluxton and Alan Brogan.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

he did very little v Mayo or Dublin.

he would have got MOM had kerry won yesterday...he was involved in everything.

Cant really comment on this as I was away for the summer and only got to see a handful of games.

In any case it seems to be between O'Sullivan and Alan Brogan from what everyone is saying. However, if Kerry had won yesterday I though Bryan Sheehan would have got MOM, he kicked crucial scores, having said that O'Sullivan was very good too.

Alan Brogan while not exceptional yesterday was involved in the goal, a few points including his own. If you look back on the game you'll see his was involved in most of Dublin's crucial scores.

It would be nice to see Alan Brogan get it.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

But they didn't did they, now fair enough his run set-up Coopers gaol a but he still failed to score.

His profile this year has been all around this performance against Limerick and the first half v Cork, two games that Kerry dominated.

His goal v Limerick is the most over-ratted thing that has happendin football this year.
Gooch's yesterday and v Mayo were far better goals IMO.

When Kerry looked down and out in early in the second half, O'Sullivan won 3 frees in a row which were all converted by Cooper. Himself and Sheehan were easily Kerry's best players.

Player of the year, hands down for the pace, skill and scoring he showed all year.

denisc wrote: »

With ten minutes to go yesterday, Cluxton wasn't even in the reckoning for Man-of-the-Match so one swing of the leg doesn't make him player of the year.

Are you really suggesting that if all the county managers could pick one of the two they'd go for Stephen Cluxton before Darran O Sullivan????

Sorry, but that's just crazy.

I actually think he would've been in the running at least. But the finish does change things. It was the moment the championship hung in the balance. He flourished in the final, excelled in the final moment.

You're probably right - most managers would pick o'sullivan. But in the final Cluxton delivered. Darren didn't play that badly. But neither did he shine.

So it comes back to a moment that defines a championship and the player that delivers it. And Cluxton having the nerve to finish the game off, from a team that so often has been criticised for lacking the 'bottle' to win the championship, swings it in my opinion.

quad_red wrote: »

I actually think he would've been in the running at least. But the finish does change things. It was the moment the championship hung in the balance. He flourished in the final, excelled in the final moment.

You're probably right - most managers would pick o'sullivan. But in the final Cluxton delivered. Darren didn't play that badly. But neither did he shine.

So it comes back to a moment that defines a championship and the player that delivers it. And Cluxton having the nerve to finish the game off, from a team that so often has been criticised for lacking the 'bottle' to win the championship, swings it in my opinion.

Sorry. Just can't have that. Cluxton didn't make a single big save or catch that I can remember. He was awarded Man-of-the-Match more or less on the basis of that pressure kick alone.

That in itself is a questionable decision but to suggest that a man can also get the Player of the Year on that basis would seriously diminish the award.

Gooch Cooper has NEVER won it and Sheehan can kick those kind of frees and longer in his sleep.
And to say Darran O'Sullivan didn't shine yesterday is simply wrong. He was in the thick of it all day.

Like I say. Cluxton got his Man-of-the-Match for his Championship "defining moment".
That should be the end of it.

Multiple footballer of the year threads merged

I thought it was between Darren O Sullivan and Gooch and possibly Brogan if he had a big game yesterday.

He kicked two points from play- Gooch had 1-3.

Between Gooch and Darren for me but on the basis of the goal against Mayo when it mattered most I'd give it to Gooch

Paddy's bet;

Alan Brogan 2/5
Darran O Sullivan 15/8
Bernard Brogan 10/1
Stephen Cluxton 10/1
Colm Cooper 12/1

33/1 and upwards the rest. In other words it can only be one of those 5.

Brianderunner wrote: »

Paddy's bet;

Alan Brogan 2/5
Darran O Sullivan 15/8
Bernard Brogan 10/1
Stephen Cluxton 10/1
Colm Cooper 12/1

33/1 and upwards the rest. In other words it can only be one of those 5.

I reckon Cooper at 12/1 is great value - Cluxton and Bernard havent a shout and it's effectively a three horse race ; between Alan Brogan , Darran O'Sullivan and Cooper. Also don't forget that they are probably a lot of Dublin punters affecting the odds.

I think when people will come to cast their votes the fact that Cooper hasnt gotten one yet will cause him to win it combined with some awesome performances. I'd say Darran probably had a better year and while Alan did end up on the winning side, for sheer class combined with the fact that he was top Championship scorer and scored two great goals along with the fact that he will go down as one of the all time greats of the game Cooper is outstanding value.

The way I look at it is if you were picking a team today out of all the players in the Championship who would be the first player you pick?
Cooper every time