David Clifford

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Clifford is the best player I've ever seen, the perfect forward.

He would seem to have a better big game to quiet game ratio than any inside forward I can remember. His quiet games tend to involve 5 points.

Those who might laud Canavan, Joyce, Connolly, O'Neill, Cooper, McDonnell, Coulter, Linden, McManus, O'Callaghan, Walsh as being better, I would suggest have their own biases to deal with.

Sorry, what?
That's not bias. It's a much bigger issue than that.

[Milltown Row2]

Clifford is a modern day Matt Connor for me, enjoy it while it lasts

I seriously had to look up Matt Connor, I remember 80's football but he (due to an accident) didn't play that long but his best best are YouTube

Certainly similarities with Clifford on those clips

But Peter Canavan is a better player if we are looking at clips.

Clifford has a lot more to his game than most so gets the nod from what I've seen

[Wildweasel74]

Ah, Connor was a better player than Canavan. I think he held the top scoring, combined league and champion ship fball for 6 yrs running. All gone in that car accident in 1984. Clifford bigger, stronger, and will likely eclipse him. That Offaly team would won 2/3 All-Irelands if that strong Kerry team was not about.

[thewobbler]

Clifford is the best player I've ever seen, the perfect forward.

He would seem to have a better big game to quiet game ratio than any inside forward I can remember. His quiet games tend to involve 5 points.

Those who might laud Canavan, Joyce, Connolly, O'Neill, Cooper, McDonnell, Coulter, Linden, McManus, O'Callaghan, Walsh as being better, I would suggest have their own biases to deal with.

Sorry, what?
That's not bias. It's a much bigger issue than that.

It's a subjective thing. Whoever you tilt for in "best ever" is subject to your personal bias. It's why so many people of my generation would tell you that Maradona was a better player than Messi. He was better in spurts here and there, but objectively Messi was better at just about every aspect of the game apart from heading the ball. It's why people who saw Matt Connor playing once or twice would tell you that he's better than Clifford. He might well have been. But the belief that supports this idea mainly comes from romanticism, more than objectivety. Because they only saw him play once or twice.

Recency bias is too a thing. But I don't think it's as natural for humans to consider "modern" players to be as good as those from their youth, or those from their own playing days.

[In hiding]

You can't really argue conclusively who was the best player you ever seen.
You can however definitely state which player you enjoyed watching the most

[DaleCooper]

Stevie McDonnell and Ollie Murphy were two players who generated "clifford level" fear in opposition. Give them a sniff and it was a score.

[In hiding]

Am I losing my memory a bit but was Johnny Crowley the top forward in the country for a year or two

[nrico2006]

Clifford is the best player I've ever seen, the perfect forward.

He would seem to have a better big game to quiet game ratio than any inside forward I can remember. His quiet games tend to involve 5 points.

Those who might laud Canavan, Joyce, Connolly, O'Neill, Cooper, McDonnell, Coulter, Linden, McManus, O'Callaghan, Walsh as being better, I would suggest have their own biases to deal with.

Simple way to sort the argument would be to have their championship score averages listed. I imagine that Clifford would cone out on top.

[Blowitupref]

Clifford is a modern day Matt Connor for me, enjoy it while it lasts

100%. Matt Connor remains the best I've seen, a pity he never got to play out a full career. In time Clifford may well surpass him.

Best I've seen also. His career sadly cut short at the age around Clifford currently is and had a better scoring average. Can only imagine what his stats would have been if he played into his 30s.

[StephenC]

Clifford is the best player I've ever seen, the perfect forward.

He would seem to have a better big game to quiet game ratio than any inside forward I can remember. His quiet games tend to involve 5 points.

Those who might laud Canavan, Joyce, Connolly, O'Neill, Cooper, McDonnell, Coulter, Linden, McManus, O'Callaghan, Walsh as being better, I would suggest have their own biases to deal with.

Simple way to sort the argument would be to have their championship score averages listed. I imagine that Clifford would cone out on top.

So Cillian O'Connor it is then.

[RedHand88]

Clifford is the best player I've ever seen, the perfect forward.

He would seem to have a better big game to quiet game ratio than any inside forward I can remember. His quiet games tend to involve 5 points.

Those who might laud Canavan, Joyce, Connolly, O'Neill, Cooper, McDonnell, Coulter, Linden, McManus, O'Callaghan, Walsh as being better, I would suggest have their own biases to deal with.

Simple way to sort the argument would be to have their championship score averages listed. I imagine that Clifford would cone out on top.

Actually, he doesn't. Clifford has had alot of stinkers that get swept under the carpet. When he's on form he's brilliant, but it's getting him on form is the issue.

[Truthsayer]

You can't really argue conclusively who was the best player you ever seen.
You can however definitely state which player you enjoyed watching the most

100% my view as well. Has been some wonderfully gifted players, many mentioned here.. but if I got the opportunity to watch one again.. be Frank McGuigan all day. A football genius.

[Milltown Row2]

Funnily enough was with a old clubman today and we sat and tried to pick our best club 15, his memory will go back to a generation before me and I remembered his generation very well and going through to the modern players..

Was a complete struggle, as it's looked at with bias of styles and achievements and attitudes..

But very enjoyable and we didn't get to complete it without the main players but as this is showing we finding the Goat is impossible to achieve

[nrico2006]

Clifford is the best player I've ever seen, the perfect forward.

He would seem to have a better big game to quiet game ratio than any inside forward I can remember. His quiet games tend to involve 5 points.

Those who might laud Canavan, Joyce, Connolly, O'Neill, Cooper, McDonnell, Coulter, Linden, McManus, O'Callaghan, Walsh as being better, I would suggest have their own biases to deal with.

Simple way to sort the argument would be to have their championship score averages listed. I imagine that Clifford would cone out on top.

So Cillian O'Connor it is then.

Obviously factoring in both scores from frees and play.

[SouthDublinBro]

Good to see that this lad has finally recovered from being pocketed by Fitzsimons in the 2023 Final.