www.uibhfhaili.com

Here is one for you to while away in the midst of all the football and hurling action going on in the county at the moment.

I was reading an article about Shane Warne (Australian spin bowler) who used to be on the development squad for St Kilda Aussie Rules Football club. He was a talented athlete who didn't quite have the stuff to do it in football but switched codes and became arguably the greatest test bowler of all time (most test wickets taken by one player) thus demonstrating that talent can be moulded.

So my question is...Who would you take from any sport (except gaelic football or former gaelic footballers/hurlers like Moran, Wood or Quinn) in any era to boost the fortunes of the Offaly footballers?

I would take Magic Johnson for his awareness and passing ability to replace Quinny and Stephen Redgrave at midfield because as fit as Mac is he wouldn't last a second with this Olympian.

Peter Crouch in midfield

You haven't exactly gone for Spring chickens there BMan....


I'd be one for Chris Jack at midfield myself. Maybe alongside Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons. (You want rebounding skill there, and a tough streak!!)

Leaving out the obvious guys like Aussie Rules fellas, I'd say you could make a case for someone like Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers as an isolated corner forward, with LaDainian Tomlinson as an attacking wing back. There's probably a place for a Tim Montgomerie like figure coming through from half forward as well, with Richie McCaw there to eat up breaks. Tom Brady calling plays from centre back could work.

Finally maybe a Roy Jones Junior in the full back line, just for presence ....

I'd like to see a really good Quarterback in the Colm Quinn/ Alan McNamee role putting in bullet-like passes - for me it'd have to be Dan Marino or Daunte Culpepper. O.k. they'd have to learn to kick it in rather than throwing but the principle is the same.

I'd have a few speedy wide receivers in the Niall McNamee/ Tomo Deehan positions - again I'm Miami Dolphins prejudiced but from the past it'd be the Marks Brothers (Mark Duper and Mark Clayton) - to receive the passes and bury them.

Oh!! and Johnny Giles of Leeds for a lethal mix of passing ability and unmatched sly dirt!!! There might be mass brawls in every Offaly game but we'd have huge numbers of opponents getting sent off for retaliation.

Here's who I'd build a team around...

I'd have snooker star Tony Drago to kick all the frees (except the pressure one at the end that he would normally score with his eyes closed).

Now who could look past this....

Born to be a keeper .....

turk wrote:I'd have snooker star Tony Drago to kick all the frees (except the pressure one at the end that he would normally score with his eyes closed).

Agreed and Phil " the power" Taylor could be brought on for the last 10 minutes to take all the high pressure ones into the hill

best half forward ever!!!

I'd love to see the Great Khali (from WWE Smackdown) as the big target man full forward...this guy 7ft 4 & is quiet literally built like a tank!!!