There's something about Pat McCourt other than the Davie Provan 70s haircut.
VIDEO THOUGHTS
He's confident not arrogant, assured and very talented.
How that develops at Celtic is anyone's guess but he seems a sensible sort and at 24 knows that he's not going to get another crack at the big time.
Rochdale seems a strange place for a great talent to develop at, so it proved with the early promise fizzing out and ending in a free transfer to Shamrock Rovers via an unsuccessful stop off at Motherwell.
The not so shy Dublin duo of Roddy Collins and Stephen Kenny restored Pat's belief and set him on track for the move that few Rochdale free transfers ever make... to Celtic.
Genuine wingers have been thin on the ground at Celtic where wide midfielder have been the norm or win-backs, it's difficult trying to recall the last Celtic winger... was Davie Provan ever replaced?
Steve Guppy and Ross Wallace were both sort of wingers but mainly noted for crossing the ball, usually outswinging from the left.
McCourt seems to offer more, a directness, ability to cut inside with an eye for goal and two footedness.
It'll be interesting to see if he fits in, how he develops, if he can flourish like Didier Agathe and Evander Sno two recent bargain signings that went on to make an impact in the Champions League.
It's a lot to ask for but from his demeanor and from the clips that I've seen of him he won't feel intimidated or out of place, welcome to Celtic Paddy.
VIDEO THOUGHTS
Thursday 26 June 2008
Tuesday 24 June 2008
Title winning days
How the month of May turned around.
Remember the feeling, hitting some form, winning back-to-back games against Rangers but still having the league out of our control.
VIDEO lap of honour
Sure they had a lot of games to play but after the McCurry-inspired 3-1 win over Dundee United we knew that Rangers would continue to scrape by and get the points needed to win the league whatever it took and whatever we did.
Our home defeat to Motherwell was so costly, if only we had won that, or beaten St Mirren or Hibs at home in December, if if if if.
And horror of horrors as well as losing the league our Seville experience was under threat from the most boring, defensive, miserable collection of anti-football as somehow Rangers had snarled their way to the UEFA Cup Final where all they had to do was bore Wee Dickies Ruskies to death, win on penalties and life in Scotland and beyond would be unbearable.
As we went to the final home match of the season we only had hope, hope we could beat Hibs, hope that luck would run out in Manchester and hope that they'd trip up in one of their three remaining games but with the season over for Motherwell, St Mirren and Aberdeen there really wasn't much to hope for.
A 2-0 win over Hibs delivered some more points but it still felt a bit empty, out of our hands as the players made their way around the park, not so glorious failure to a poor Rangers team or a preparation for celebrations to come at Tannadice?
Thankfully, oh how thankfully, it all fell into place, Zenit won the UEFA Cup, more Rangers points were slipped away to Motherwell then gloriously at Tannadice Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's header brought us a title that we could only have dreamed of a few weeks earlier as a nightmare unfolded.
The summer has been a joy, complete pleasure basking in the pleasure of three-in-a-row, reliving the highlights whilst trying to blank out the scary bits.
Enjoy this VIDEO of the premature lap of honour after beating Hibs 2-0 on May 11, little did we know that some real celebrations were just around the corner.
Remember the feeling, hitting some form, winning back-to-back games against Rangers but still having the league out of our control.
VIDEO lap of honour
Sure they had a lot of games to play but after the McCurry-inspired 3-1 win over Dundee United we knew that Rangers would continue to scrape by and get the points needed to win the league whatever it took and whatever we did.
Our home defeat to Motherwell was so costly, if only we had won that, or beaten St Mirren or Hibs at home in December, if if if if.
And horror of horrors as well as losing the league our Seville experience was under threat from the most boring, defensive, miserable collection of anti-football as somehow Rangers had snarled their way to the UEFA Cup Final where all they had to do was bore Wee Dickies Ruskies to death, win on penalties and life in Scotland and beyond would be unbearable.
As we went to the final home match of the season we only had hope, hope we could beat Hibs, hope that luck would run out in Manchester and hope that they'd trip up in one of their three remaining games but with the season over for Motherwell, St Mirren and Aberdeen there really wasn't much to hope for.
A 2-0 win over Hibs delivered some more points but it still felt a bit empty, out of our hands as the players made their way around the park, not so glorious failure to a poor Rangers team or a preparation for celebrations to come at Tannadice?
Thankfully, oh how thankfully, it all fell into place, Zenit won the UEFA Cup, more Rangers points were slipped away to Motherwell then gloriously at Tannadice Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's header brought us a title that we could only have dreamed of a few weeks earlier as a nightmare unfolded.
The summer has been a joy, complete pleasure basking in the pleasure of three-in-a-row, reliving the highlights whilst trying to blank out the scary bits.
Enjoy this VIDEO of the premature lap of honour after beating Hibs 2-0 on May 11, little did we know that some real celebrations were just around the corner.
Monday 23 June 2008
Reserves to tour Ireland
There's been quite a lot of internet debate about a Celtic XI playing against Glentoran on July 23 but I believe that a few other, perhaps more appealing, Irish fixtures are being lined up.
VIDEO REPORT
With the first team squad over in the Algarve and then moving on to Rotterdam it will almost certainly be a very young side that travels to Ireland.
Newry Town on July 26 and Bohemians on July 30 gives the Irish based Celtic support a chance to look in on the next Aiden McGeady or Stephen McManus.
The reserves have won seven titles in a row providing a platform for emerging youths and competitive environment for first team squad men looking for fitness and sharpness.
After two lost season's due to injury this season will be crucial to Simon Ferry and Charlie Grant, hopefully they can get off to a good start over in Ireland.
VIDEO REPORT
With the first team squad over in the Algarve and then moving on to Rotterdam it will almost certainly be a very young side that travels to Ireland.
Newry Town on July 26 and Bohemians on July 30 gives the Irish based Celtic support a chance to look in on the next Aiden McGeady or Stephen McManus.
The reserves have won seven titles in a row providing a platform for emerging youths and competitive environment for first team squad men looking for fitness and sharpness.
After two lost season's due to injury this season will be crucial to Simon Ferry and Charlie Grant, hopefully they can get off to a good start over in Ireland.
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