Colm Cooper set to retire?

[BennyHarp]

What a player! Shame his last few seasons in a Kerry jersey were dogged by injuries. One of very few truly great forwards in the modern game!

http://www.punditarena.com/gaa/thepateam/colm-cooper-retire-intercounty-football/

[Cunny Funt]

Some career he had was a joy to watch. Best of luck to him if he does retire.

[T Fearon]

Sad news.The outstanding player of the millennium to date,and a true honest sportsman into the bargain

[Jinxy]

Was never the same after his knee injury.
An absolute joy to watch in his prime.

[Il Bomber Destro]

The greatest flat track bully and player who could steamroll cannon fodder to play the game.

[Farrandeelin]

The greatest flat track bully and player who could steamroll cannon fodder to play the game.

[laceer]

Some player. Made it look effortless. Good luck to him.

[beer baron]

The greatest flat track bully and player who could steamroll cannon fodder to play the game.

  Put that wooden spoon away for once old chap 

[macdanger2]

Class footballer, it was a pleasure to watch him (when he wasn't playing against us at any rate)

[yellowcard]

Most skilful player of this millennium to date. Below Maurice Fitz in terms of pure elegance and natural ability but at his peak as an inside forward he was unmarkable. Played the game the right way with barely a foul stroke despite coming in for plenty of treatment from rugged corner backs. It's the right time for him to go, the last thing you want to see is a player like him seeing out his career mostly on the bench.

[rrhf]

A top quality footballer sublimely skilled and enjoyed watching him rip apart other teams.

[sid waddell]

Below Maurice Fitz in terms of pure elegance and natural ability

In what way was Gooch below Maurice Fitzgerald in terms of natural ability or elegance?

Elegance is in the eye of the beholder, but elegance to me is ability to beat a man with the drop of a shoulder, to pass the ball into the net in the blinking of an eye, to split a defence wide open with a single pass.

He is/was as elegant and naturally talented as players come.

4-18 from play in All-Ireland finals as opposed to Fitzgerald's 0-4 from play in finals.

Has anybody else hit 4-18 from play in All-Ireland finals?

The elegance of execution.

[yellowcard]

Below Maurice Fitz in terms of pure elegance and natural ability

In what way was Gooch below Maurice Fitzgerald in terms of natural ability or elegance?

Elegance is in the eye of the beholder, but elegance to me is ability to beat a man with the drop of a shoulder, to pass the ball into the net in the blinking of an eye, to split a defence wide open with a single pass.

He is/was as elegant and naturally talented as players come.

4-18 from play in All-Ireland finals as opposed to Fitzgerald's 0-4 from play in finals.

Has anybody else hit 4-18 from play in All-Ireland finals?

The elegance of execution.

I would actually argue that Cooper was more productive but Fitzgerald had that languid effortless style and was more naturally 2 footed. Absolutely it's in the eye of the beholder. Personally I'd prefer to watch Fitzgerald who was a similar type player to Zidane in soccer, he just had an immaculate touch, maybe not the best athlete but was born with a gift.

[EastTyrone]

Devastating that he never got a Player of the Year. Surly he had to deserve one, in one of the years Kerry won the AI.

[The Aristocrat]

One of the best, and a good guy to match.

Is the Gooch type player a dying breed? if you look at some of the physical conditioning of other players.