Paddy McCourt

Next time we play at Hampden in a Cup semi final or Final, he should play. He could've made a big impact v St Mirren the last time.

 

played really well today showed his quality on a number of occasions

 

I'm struggling to see the logic in taking him out of the Champions League squad if we aren't going to replace him I don't see the point.

 

Was class in first half.

 

Some decent runs in the first half, some poor decision making nonetheless, especially when it came to needing to pass the ball to the right player, invisible in the second half.

 

Great first half today, really didn't look match fit towards the end though.

Mind you, given the amount of matches he's been getting, that's maybe understandable.

 

Deserves praise for his first half performance today.

 

Same here Eddie, just not Celtic class

 

Had a good game the day. Seems to always do it against Caley Thistle. Was a joy to watch at times.

 

I thought that was what Paddy is ?

 

Aye he's good for at least 45 minutes, offers something totally different. Was good to see him start a game, just wish he could last the 90 minutes.

 

Why do you say that?

 

See people have got their Paddy Tinted Goggles on again

 

To be fair he was excellent in the first half. Garbage in the second. It just looked like when he has the energy he can glide past people but when he is tired out a bit it just ends with him losing the ball.

 

Exactly ..inconsistent is not what we need ...He probably seized up at halftime..should halve his wages or get shut :smiley-laughing002:

 

its not tinted glasses when a player does well and gets credit for it

 

I thought he did very well yesterday. He provided a bit creativity, imagination and real entertaining football which I think has been lacking in a lot of Celtic games this season.

I think it was clear he tired as the game went on, but that's only to be expected bearing in mind how little game time he's had recently. And it appeared he wasn't the only one, as McGeouch, Gershon and Rogic (who were very good as well) seemed to tire and become less effective as the game went on.

 

Paddy doesn't really look like he has the fitness to play 90 minutes. Apparently at training nobody can get the ball off him and the skill level is incredible, but he smokes and drinks too much.

I'm guessing that's why he was left out of the Champions' League squad, he probably didn't pass the VO2 MAX test.

For 45 minutes he was involved in the goals, so it's really up to Paddy to get the VO2 Max levels up and i reckon he'll do it. Getting left our the CL squad was probably the boot up the * he needed and he played so maybe Lenny played him after an improvement in his cardio fitness from staying off the tabs and away from the booze.

 

I really can't see his fitness improving. He's 29 now.
He's going to have an awful lot of competition for a place in the team and the odd bit of skill now and then won't pull him through.

 

It's possible to improve your fitness at any age, but i agree, McCourt has had plenty of time at Celtic to get the endurance side at the level you would expect from a pro footballer.

But like i said, at training he's incredible and hope is that his skills rub off on the younger players, hence why he's still at Celtic.

If you adjust your lifestyle and diet you boost your VO2 max in a short period of time and for 45 minutes he can offer a lot to the team.