[Link] Paddy McCourt to Leeds

I want at least a * packet a space raiders for him.

 

The one big game I can remember him playing well was the 2-0 ibrox win with sammy getting both goals. Apart from that he chipped in with the occasional goal and assist against the lower spl teams. I know people think he has fantastic ball skills but he's doing it against poor players, and most of the time his wee runs lead to nothing anyway. Apart from that what other skills does he have? No pace, no strength, not good enough.

 

I cannot help how you have perceived my posts. You are the only one on this thread who has an issue with my 'insulting' posts. It's not a playground, so if you don't like what I've said, report it to a mod.

As to say I hate McCourt would add nothing to the debate. I've already said I don't mind him, just not Celtic class. Just can't be doing with the hype around him.

Polarising figure for everything but football. They bhoy hasn't started in ages and still gets all this positivity. Odd that Rogne isn't getting this love.

 

I love paddy but for his sake at his age he should go, Lennon just won't play him? I'd go or ask to be loaned out and show Lennon just what I'm capable of if that's how he feels. The balls in paddysmcoart. Sorry

 

I ultimately disgaree.

However, if we are to go along with your opinion that 'he's doing it against poor players' only, then that fits the SPL and Scottish domestic football perfectly. It would appear that in a lot of games this season Celtic can't or struggle to do it against the SPL dross. It has been quite apparent in these games that Celtic have been lacking creation, flair and a bit of imagination. As far as I can see there isn't a player currently in the squad that could fill that void any better.

As I mentioned, I think I'm right in saying that it was Neil Lennon who said he hadn't seen anybody better than McCourt in terms of raw talent, so I find the idea that 'he's not good enough' or 'can only do it against poor opposition' a bit strange. But having said, that makes his lack of games and/or chances all the more bizarre to me.

 

Like St Mirren, 2nd bottom of the table, you mean. He came on as a sub just a few weeks back and played quite well, now that I think of it.

 

Raw talent is all well and good in a younger guy, not in someone of McCourts age, he should be more than fulfilling any potential he had when joining us. There's obviously something amiss somewhere.

Could probably pick a handful of times that Paddy has overly impressed and when he has had a run of games, he has been nowhere near as effective as his reputation amongst some fans would have you believe.

 

I would have thought possessing 'raw talent' at any age, and in particular when people like Neil Lennon are suggesting it's the best they've ever seen, would be pretty good anybody's book . Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think Neil Lennon was talking about potential.

I disagree, I've mostly been impressed with McCourt whenever he's been given a run of games and chances. I'm just disappointed he's not been given more opportunities. I think he offers an element of creativity, flair, imagination and indeed entertainment which very few players currently in the Celtic squad can.

 

what is all this pish?

Get rid.

If he wasn't Irish people would've forgotten about him years ago.

 

The mere fact that kind of thing is in your thought process probably says more about you than anybody else...

 

For me raw talent is what you'd expect in a younger player, young enough to take the raw talent and work out the kinks(could be doing with a better description but its early). At 29, McCourt should be past the raw talent stage, he should be genuine talent he has on a regular basis, obviously he can't be doing that if he isn't being picked but there's clearly some reason that Lenny isn't picking him.

Wether he is good enough for Celtic or not, he isn't playing and hasn't been regularly since he joined, we also have better options in our squad so it's time to go for Paddy.

 

Will his * Army have to start decommissioning if he does go?

 

Perhaps I'm just interpreting it differently. I don't think 'raw talent' necessarily relates exclusively to 'potential talent' present in promising young players. What my understanding of Neil Lennon's comments were- was that in terms of sheer footballing 'raw talent'- he hadn't seen anybody better than McCourt. Maybe I'm wrong...but even when he said it McCourt wasn't actually that young.

As I've already mentioned, bearing in mind Lennon's comments, the fact that in my opinion McCourt tends to impress when given a run of games or chances, and the fact that Celtic are currently struggling with creativity/imagination etc I would like him to get more games.

 

:smiley-laughing002:

So what does it say about me?

It was slightly tongue in cheek and intended to wind folk up, but it's 100% true.

He's basically a highly paid mascot.

 

I get your point but just don't think a 29 year old footballer should be at Celtic based on raw talent. Even more so someone that is a bench warmer at best it seems.

 

So is he gone to Leeds then naw ?

 

I don't know for sure...

But if you believe that people who think Paddy McCourt is a good player simply because he's Irish, then using that train of thought, it's only reasonable to suggest that people don't like him because they're anti-Irish? Would you not think that's the case?

As I suggested, that sort of thinking doesn't really come into my process of judging players. But the fact it does for you, clearly says something about you... Would that not be fair?

 

Maybe you're right. I suppose that's the beauty of football, and how people can have such different opinions on individual players.

 

Your first point - I've no doubt some people don't like McCourt because they're anti-Irish. You won't however find many if any of these people in the Celtic support. Now Celtic clearly have a strong Irish identity. Scottish club with Irish roots, Irish club playing in Scotland bla bla bla. It's also understandable that an Irish Celtic fan would like to see one of his fellow countrymen succeed at his favourite club (we've annoyingly missed out on some great talent from Ireland over the last decade). If the tables were turned and it was mainly Irish players coming through the youth system, and we brought a Scot in, I'm sure a few Scots here would be defending him to the hilt.

Your second point - I honestly don't know what 'sort of thinking' you're referring to.

 

Well let me clear. I couldn't really care less what nationality a Celtic player was. As long as they're good enough (and I think McCourt is), I don't really care where they're from. Indeed, one of my favourite ever players was a Swede .

Now it would appear that's not really the case in your thought process of judging players. I fundamentally disagree with that.

As the great Willie Maley said: 'It is not his creed nor nationality which counts- it's the man himself.' Whether a Celtic player is Irish, Scottish, Swedish etc- I don't really care.