Paddy McCourt: Why does he receive the adulation he does from our fans?

He's a throwback to when players had wonderful dribbling skills, close control and sometimes sublime passing rather than olympian fitness or athleticism. Plus he's just cool, and how many footballers can you say are cool? Likes a pint and a smoke and looks like a scruffy bohemian/hedonist rather than some idiot with too much money who has falllen out of Toni and Guy. He's the very embodiment of a cult legend and very much plays football the Celtic way.

 

I dont doubt it but a few facts wouldnt go a miss to back up that well constructed point you've made.

 

We shouldn't forget how important Paddy was for us in December 2010/11 when he almost single-handedly dragged us out of our slump and played a crucial role in helping us come back to nearly win the league.

 

I would if on my phone mate

 

I agree with this

 

50 of his appearances came during the period when Rangers won 3IAR and last season, when we won the league for the first time in 4 years, he didn't start a single SPL match.

This almost seems that you are blaming Paddy for the huns winning the league!

and has poor fitness for a professional football player of 28 years

Absolute myth, have you any proof of that? I have met Paddy on a number of occasions (his pub is my local and his agent is a friend of mine) Paddy is fit.

and it's noticeable that the Derry Pele seems to be far more meaningful to the Green Brigade than Neil Lennon for example.

Really? I can't recall a Paddy McCourt banner at anytime from the GB but remember a few of Lenny. Wanyama has more songs than Lennon, does that mean he is valued by the GB more than Lenny too?

When you consider a young man like James Forrest, who has great potential for a great career and has done far more for Celtic on the pitch than Paddy McCourt

Far more? Really? has played about the same amount of games, has actually had more time on the pitch and only scored 1 or 2 more goals (can't be bothered looking it up.

Can't you be happy and enjoy all the Celtic players, why the cynical article because one player has more songs than another!

 

Paddy is an enigma, a unique talent that get's bums off seats when he is in full flow.

He's also a huge Celtic fan and a normal guy who seems very approachable and fans can identify with that.

I agree about a song for wee Jimmy though, that would be nice to hear as he has been very important for us in the recent past.

 

Did someone seriously write Paddy McCourt and genius in the same sentence, seriously? The now 28 year old McCourt - 69 appearances and 10 goals in comparison to the 21 year old Forrest - 69 appearances and 13 goals. Not to mention Forrest was integral in how well we did in 2010/2011 and us winning the title this time round. McCourt had ZERO SPL APPEARANCES LAST SEASON. Yet people think they've had the same effect for Celtic? Absolutely laughable, if only James was born in Port Laoise instead of Prestwick for some it seems... This debate was only meant to be on football matters but the fact nobody can elaborate on why Paddy McCourt being Irish matters?

 

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48RqQqj9L5I"]Paddy McCourt - Five of the Best - YouTube[/ame]

1:00 in for the below:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eHyhBIKXl4&feature=related"]Celtic 2-0 Spurs - Sky News Report - YouTube[/ame]

For the Northern Irish Huns but * me...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJwKP1vXTk&feature=related"]Pat McCourt's best goal ever - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quemyI2ZjWo"]Paddy McCourt - The Derry Pele - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quemyI2ZjWo"]Paddy McCourt - The Derry Pele - YouTube[/ame]


Can you watch that without having a smile on your face?

 

Because we have a die hard support from Ireland and they like to see one of their own doing brilliant things for Celtic?

Can you explain to me why you think he would recieve adulation just based on the fact he's Irish? It doesn't seem to have worked for Naill McGinn, Daryl Murphy, Darren O'Dea or any various other players that we've had who were Irish and weren't offered the same as Paddy is?

 

why are you trying to compare the two Forrest is a fantastic player too , why dont you just give us your reasons why you dont like mc court

 

Do you confess that I was correct about him only scoring 10 goals?

Indeed his goal against Spurs reserves in a friendly, the 4th goal in a 4-1 victory against St Johnstone, the 4th goal in a 4-0 win against one of the worst ever European nations in footballing terms, the 2nd goal to put us 2-0 up in a home game against ICT in which we drew 2-2, the 3rd goal in a 3-0 win against Hearts, the 3rd goal in a 4-0 win in the CIS Cup against Falkirk and winners against St Mirren and Inverness are very nice on the eye but it doesn't change the facts.

 

devlin1888

I'm just stating the facts. You can disagree if you want but I just do not believe he deserves the adulation. He would certainly deserve it more than Murphy, McGinn or O'Dea but that doesn't mean he does either. If Robbie Keane was here permanently and was as prolific, as he was in his loan spell during our worst season in the 21st century, for a successful Celtic team then he certainly would deserve it. I'm not an Irish, infact I'm not anti any nationality. I just look at football credentials. Believe it or not I don't dislike McCourt, and from what I hear he's a very decent chap, but even he must be slightly bemused at the reception he receives in comparison to a James Forrest.

 

Nothing to confess, he did.

So, Neil Lennon's first season he scored 3 winners? 9 points. Very crucial in a season that we only finished 1 point behind.

Like you just said, very nice on the eye. It's * brilliant to watch, that's what Celtic fans love, being entertained with excellent football.

Now can you answer my question? Why are you so fixated on the Irish part and how can you explain the likes of Niall McGinn, Daryl Murphy and co not getting the same adulation if that is just what it is?

You seem to hold Paddy's great goals against him, who else can you produce in our team right now who has scored goals of similar quality, regardless of the opposition he was against? The answer is nobody.

Who do we turn to when we are desperate for a result in the last 10 minutes or so of a match, including Wednesday there? Paddy McCourt.

Paddy's dribbling, his passing and his attacking awareness is all absolutely top notch. His performance in Hamburg in a frankly dross Tony Mowbray team was one of the highlights of that season for me. He's a fun player.

I don't seem to get what you have against him and don't come back with 'James Forrest' because James Forrest is absolutely adored within the Celtic support and rightly so.

 

Did Paddy sleep with your wife/girlfriend?

People like Paddy because when he gets the ball you now just expect him to go on a mazy run, beating players left, right and centre. Forrest is more direct, hit it past the player and run.

I sense a lot of hostility in your posts towards Paddy. You don't like him, we get it, a lot of people do, I like Forrest too but if I was in charge I would give Paddy a run in the team, I mean a good 10 or 15 matches and then judge him on the impact he makes. Rather than giving him 20 minutes (or 5! Like the Helsinki match) to try and make an impact

 

because hes good ,,slan

 

Definetly not, from speaking to him on several occasions I can tell you he is humbled and very very grateful for the adulation that our support place upon him. He loves Celtic and loves the fans.

 

devlin1888

That's my point, I'm not fixated on the Irish part but many Celtic fans are when it comes to McCourt. My reasons are purely for what he's contributed for Celtic and it certainly hasn't been enough, no matter how many step overs against Ross Tokely he has indeed achieved.

Clondara Dave

I just said I don't dislike him. Don't tell me how I feel about McCourt when I've just stated, you wouldn't like me to make any assumptions about you, okay sir?

 

So you've spoken to McCourt on several occasions and yet you say I'm being critical because he's "slept with my girlfriend/wife" or it has to be something personal or about his character instead of football reasons. Wow that's funny mate.