Paddy McCourt

[EalingGreen]

What other association has he represented and when? Gorman played for the ROI U-16's when he was on Man U's books, including against NI:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/838388/Wolves-kid-Gorman-will-keep-his-place-in-Northern-Ireland-squad.htm
"His [Gorman's] attitude is correct. Indeed I think we have found a gem."

Worthington first noticed Gorman, whose mother, Sue, is Northern Irish when training at Lilleshall.

Worthington added: "He looked the part and was delighted to opt for us when approached.

"He had, of course, earlier played for the Republic of Ireland youth."



As opposed to quoting articles to document his current fitness? Flexy originally posted a bigoted rant claiming that McCourt wan't being picked because NW was anti-LOI/wanted a Protestant team etc.
I pointed out, with evidence, just what offensive garbage this was, noting that Paddy's non-inclusion was solely down to lack of fitness.

You then posted: "All well and good but qualified by the knowledge that a school boy has been included in the NI squad (at Paddy McCourt's expense?). Perhaps other issues at play have influenced Nigel's squad selection?" , so I posted clear evidence about Paddy's (non) fitness to support my case.

I also pointed out that it is most unlikely to have been a question of cost-saving and pointed out how Gorman has not been included in place of Paddy, nor will he (JG) have been picked in order to tie him in to NI.

So we are back to your original speculation that there might be "other issues at play" behind McCourt's non-inclusion.
Seeing as your first two "issues" have been demonstrated to be nonsense, do you have any more?

[Flexy]

I apologise to everyone about the comments I made the other day they werent meant to be biggoted about NW and the IFA and their great fans. I think NW should look at LOI football as well and if he wanted to enquire about young LOI players who would be eligible to play for NI I would be all for it. But Nigel took quite a few players from the Irish League on the summer tour but didnt look into possibilities of seeing if any players from the LOI would be willing to play for Northern Ireland. I dont think our leagues gets enough credit. I could bet my life on it that Liam Boyce will probably get called up in the next year after signing for Werder Bremen. and fair play to the lad hes done so well and credit goes to Cliftonville and the Irish League. But again sorry for any offence I have caused to anyone and hope both Northern and Republic have great Euro campaigns and qualify for Poland and Ukraine

[ifk101]

Gorman played for the ROI U-16's when he was on Man U's books, including against NI:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/838388/Wolves-kid-Gorman-will-keep-his-place-in-Northern-Ireland-squad.htm
"His [Gorman's] attitude is correct. Indeed I think we have found a gem."

Worthington first noticed Gorman, whose mother, Sue, is Northern Irish when training at Lilleshall.

Worthington added: "He looked the part and was delighted to opt for us when approached.

"He had, of course, earlier played for the Republic of Ireland youth."

Shame on Nigel "right and proper" Worthlesston for poaching a player that has come through the FAI's youth system. But Gorman did not play for the FAI in a "competitive" game so he is not tied to NI until he plays in a competitive senior international. Your "News of the World" :bigsmile: link is broken btw


You then posted: "All well and good but qualified by the knowledge that a school boy has been included in the NI squad (at Paddy McCourt's expense?). Perhaps other issues at play have influenced Nigel's squad selection?" , so I posted clear evidence about Paddy's (non) fitness to support my case.

You quoted an article dated 11/08/2010 to support your McCourt's "poor" fitness assertion. McCourt subsequently started and scored the winning goal in a Celtic match on the 14/08/2010. Given that a couple of players who have never competitively played for their respective clubs' first teams are included in the NI squad to face Slovenia, I'd be more inclined to question their fitness levels for the challenges of senior international football than McCourt's fitness. I'm sure there are plenty of NI fans that would have preferred to see McCourt in the squad ahead of some of the selected players and I'm sure they're also questioning Nigel's McCourt snub especially as NI have yet to score a goal this decade.


I also pointed out that it is most unlikely to have been a question of cost-saving and pointed out how Gorman has not been included in place of Paddy, nor will he (JG) have been picked in order to tie him in to NI.

In your opinion which I'm entitled to disagree with for reasons already stated.


Seeing as your first two "issues" have been demonstrated to be nonsense

On the contrary.

[EalingGreen]

Shame on Nigel "right and proper" Worthlesston for poaching a player that has come through the FAI's youth system.Gorman has a grandparent from ROI and a parent from NI, so both the FAI and IFA must be equally entitled to persuade him to represent them, as opposed to the FA (land of his birth).
What I object to is an Association being allowed to select someone not born within their territory, who does not also have a parent/grandparent who was.
Sadly, the way FIFA have drafted Article 15 means that uniquely amongst the 208 Member Associations, the FAI has been permitted an exemption to this general principle, but there you go.


But Gorman did not play for the FAI in a "competitive" game so he is not tied to NI until he plays in a competitive senior international.FIFA Article 18 (my emphasis):
"1. If a player has more than one nationality... ... he may, only once, request to change the Association for which he is eligible to play international matches to the Association of another country of which he holds nationality, etc"


You quoted an article dated 11/08/2010 to support your McCourt's "poor" fitness assertion. McCourt subsequently started and scored the winning goal in a Celtic match on the 14/08/2010. Given that a couple of players who have never competitively played for their respective clubs' first teams are included in the NI squad to face Slovenia, I'd be more inclined to question their fitness levels for the challenges of senior international football than McCourt's fitness. I'm sure there are plenty of NI fans that would have preferred to see McCourt in the squad ahead of some of the selected players and I'm sure they're also questioning Nigel's McCourt snub especially as NI have yet to score a goal this decade. Celtic have played seven competitive games this season:

Braga 3 v 0 Celtic - Paddy unused sub
Celtic 2 v 1 Braga - Paddy came on for the last 3 minutes
Inverness 0 v 1 Celtic - Paddy started, scored and went off injured (60 mins)
Celtic 2 v 0 Utrecht - Paddy unused sub
Celtic 4 v 0 St. Mirren - Paddy came on for last 25 minutes
Utrecht 4 v 0 Celtic - Paddy came on for last 18 minutes
Motherwell 0 v 1 Celtic - Paddy came on for last 22 minutes

Conclusion? When it comes to the big games, Lennon simply does not trust Paddy to play more than a few minutes, if at all. And neither did Mowbray, neither did Strachan, which is why he only made 4 SPL starts in the previous two seasons.
NW, who recalled Paddy to the NI squad and took a look at him, both in training and during games btw, has come to the same conclusion as they have.
Of course NI fans may disagree with this and question some of his other selections etc, just as ROI fans question eg Trap's selection of McShane or Kilbane, but excusion of eg Andy Reid.
But whatever the case, NW has been entirely consistent in his approach on McCourt.
Moreover, he has publicly stated on several occasions that when/if Paddy gets a run of games for Celtic, he will be back in the squad.
And whatever else, I guarantee that that other (former Derry City) Celt, Niall McGinn, will be straight back in the moment his injury heals.


In your opinion which I'm entitled to disagree with for reasons already stated. You can hold whatever opinions you like, but if you persist in holding on to them, even in the face of clear evidence to the contrary, then you risk looking silly and/or obstinate.

[EalingGreen]

I apologise to everyone about the comments I made the other day they werent meant to be biggoted about NW and the IFA and their great fans. I think NW should look at LOI football as well and if he wanted to enquire about young LOI players who would be eligible to play for NI I would be all for it. But Nigel took quite a few players from the Irish League on the summer tour but didnt look into possibilities of seeing if any players from the LOI would be willing to play for Northern Ireland. I dont think our leagues gets enough credit. I could bet my life on it that Liam Boyce will probably get called up in the next year after signing for Werder Bremen. and fair play to the lad hes done so well and credit goes to Cliftonville and the Irish League. But again sorry for any offence I have caused to anyone and hope both Northern and Republic have great Euro campaigns and qualify for Poland and Ukraine Well, I must confess I didn't see that one coming(!), but fair play to you.

I now happily withdraw my comments made in response to your original post.

Edit: On a point of information, I would suggest that the reason why NW did not take any LOI players on tour to the USA, as he did with IL players, was at least partly because this was the end of the IL season, whereas the LOI was still in mid-season. Which was what caused Alan Mannus (Shams) to turn him down, thereby forcing NW to call up Alan Blayney (Linfield) instead.

[ifk101]

Gorman has a grandparent from ROI and a parent from NI, so both the FAI and IFA must be equally entitled to persuade him to represent them, as opposed to the FA (land of his birth).

I've no problem with Gorman representing NI if he so wishes. It's his choice and I wish him the best with that choice.


FIFA Article 18 (my emphasis):
"1. If a player has more than one nationality... ... he may, only once, request to change the Association for which he is eligible to play international matches to the Association of another country of which he holds nationality, etc"

Read the article again and note the use of the word "competitive" which you have conveniently sought to ignore. :rolleyes:


You can hold whatever opinions you like, but if you persist in holding on to them, even in the face of clear evidence to the contrary, then you risk looking silly and/or obstinate.

Take heed of your own advice. As a football fan I'm entitled to express my views on McCourt's snub without having that opinion ridiculed and bullied simply because it does not align with your preconceived notions. Like many others that have commented on this subject, I think McCourt is more worthy of inclusion in the NI squad than a school boy footballer.

[EalingGreen]

I've no problem with Gorman representing NI if he so wishes. It's his choice and I wish him the best with that choice. Hmmm, so if a player has Dual Nationality, you have no problem with his switching from Team X to Team Y.

Yet by your sneering comment in post #104: - "Shame on Nigel 'right and proper' Worthlesston for poaching a player that has come through the FAI's youth system" - you do have a problem with the manager of Team Y persuading him to switch.

Does that mean, therefore, that you believe the FAI should not be approaching NI players either?

Or when it comes to Dual Nationality, do you like to apply Dual Standards?


Read the article again and note the use of the word "competitive" which you have conveniently sought to ignore. :rolleyes: I only needed to read it once to understand it.

But as you're evidently still struggling with it, the explanation is as follows. When, at the request of several North African countries, FIFA's 2009 Congress voted to rescind one of the eligibility conditions so that there would no longer be a prohibition on Dual Nationals switching Associations after their 21st Birthday, they also tightened another, so that henceforth a player could only switch Associations once.

However, these two changes did not alter or otherwise affect the separate principle that once a player has played in a competitive "A" International for an Association, he is henceforth tied in to that Association for good. Which is only what Article 18, 1(a) reiterated.

Therefore Gorman was not tied to the ROI when he switched to NI. However, even though he has not played a competitive "A" International for NI, he could still not switch back to the ROI (as eg Kane and O'Connor did in reverse), since he has now used up his one switch.

All of which means NW does not need to play him against Slovenia in order to tie him in to NI, as you suggested.


Take heed of your own advice. As a football fan I'm entitled to express my views on McCourt's snub without having that opinion ridiculed and bullied simply because it does not align with your preconceived notions. Like many others that have commented on this subject, I think McCourt is more worthy of inclusion in the NI squad than a school boy footballer.You're moving the goalposts again - and none too subtly.

For the issue is not whether McCourt should be in the NI squad or not - that is a moot point, over which I have expressed no strong opinion either way.

Rather, in response to Flexy's original claim that Paddy was being excuded by NW for, shall we say, non-footballing reasons, I pointed out that it was nothing of the sort. That is, NW had made it expressly clear that it was solely due to Paddy's lack of physical conditioning that he was out of the squad and as soon as he put that right by getting consistent game-time for Celtic, he would be back in.

You, however, have rejected that explanation, even in the face of factual evidence to back it up, suggesting instead that NW has "other issues" with Paddy.

And when challenged to substantiate these other issues, all you could come up with was "cost-cutting" and the need to tie-in Gorman, even if it means giving him Paddy's place.

Both of those "issues" are garbage, as even a cursory examination of the true situation reveals.

P.S. I'm sorry if the above may cause you to feel further "bullied", but I can see no way of addressing the real issues, other than by recourse to the facts. As for your feeling "ridiculed", you can solve that problem yourself, when you stop making ridiculous claims...

[ifk101]

Hmmm, so if a player has Dual Nationality, you have no problem with his switching from Team X to Team Y.

Yet by your sneering comment in post #104: - "Shame on Nigel 'right and proper' Worthlesston for poaching a player that has come through the FAI's youth system" - you do have a problem with the manager of Team Y persuading him to switch.

Does that mean, therefore, that you believe the FAI should not be approaching NI players either?

Or when it comes to Dual Nationality, do you like to apply Dual Standards?

No I was just highlighting Nigel Worthlesston's two faced standards.


I only needed to read it once to understand it.

Gorman hasn't requested to change associations. As he never represented the FAI in a competitive fixture he didn't need to. Article 18 does not apply.


You're moving the goalposts again - and none too subtly.

I haven't commented on Flexy's post. McCourt's background has nothing to do with his non-selection and I have never stated otherwise. Your preconceived notions believed that my "other issues" comment suggested that this was the case. I do not believe that a school boy has higher fitness levels that Paddy McCourt so I do not believe that fitness is the reason for McCourt's non-selection. I have offered reasons as to why I believe this to be the case.

[ArdeeBhoy]

So not even you can defend Flexy's bigoted rant, therefore you try to minimise its importance...

You're worse than he is.

You'd know. And what 'bigoted rant'?

Talking **** seems to be a speciality!

[EalingGreen]

No I was just highlighting Nigel Worthlesston's two faced standards.NW/the IFA believes that a player should normally represent the Association within whose territory he was born (to borrow FIFA's term from Arts.16, 17 & 18), unless he may represent an alternative Association, by virtue of having a parent or grandparent born within the territory of that other Association.
As such, their stance is exactly the same as that which applies to 206 out of the other 207 Member Associations of FIFA.
So no double standards there.


Gorman hasn't requested to change associations. As he never represented the FAI in a competitive fixture he didn't need to. Article 18 does not apply. Then why was eg Shane Duffy's registration with the FAI delayed (whilst the CAS was deliberating), if he did not have to change Associations? Seeing as he had never played for us in a competitive "A" International, why didn't he just go ahead and join up with one of their teams?

If you read the relevant Article again(!), you will see it is entitled: "18. Change of Association". It is not entitled "Changing Association in order to play competitive 'A' Internationals" (or somesuch)

And if you look at the body of the Article, Paragraph 1. merely refers to "[changing] the Association for which he is eligible to play international matches", it does not specify that these must be competitive "A" matches etc.

Or when Gorman was in the ROI U-16's was he not playing "international matches" (for the FAI)? When he is in one of our teams, is he not playing "international matches" for the IFA?

Where you are going wrong is that Art. 18 specifically provides for changing Associations, not teams or tournaments etc; which a player may now only do once, provided he is not already barred* from doing so.

* - Eg by having played a competitve "A" international for his first Association, or because he did not hold the relevant Nationality of his new Association at the time he played any competitive matches, any level, for his first Association (cf. Michel Arteta)


I haven't commented on Flexy's post.Agreed.


McCourt's background has nothing to do with his non-selectionAgreed.


and I have never stated otherwise.Agreed.


Your preconceived notions believed that my "other issues" comment suggested that this was the case. I do not believe that a school boy has higher fitness levels that Paddy McCourt so I do not believe that fitness is the reason for McCourt's non-selection. I have offered reasons as to why I believe this to be the case.Ah, now we get to the nub.

Exactly what "preconceived notions" of mine would those be? Show me where I assumed, inferred, implied or asserted that the "other issues" which you ascribed to NW were anything to do with Paddy's background? (To save your time looking, I didn't).

You'll find I asked you a simple, open question i.e. "what exactly are those other issues?"

And when you came back with the suggestion of Cost-cutting, I pointed out why this were nonsense (i.e full squad for Montenegro).

Or when you attempted to conflate Paddy's non-selection with Gorman's inclusion, I pointed out that each occupies a different position and each is selected (or not) on his own merits. (Gorman is in so as to fast-track him for the future, Paddy is out because he hasn't played enough for Celtic)

Or are you suggesting eg that NW has "issues" with Andy Little (Rangers), Ollie Norwood (MU) or Ryan McGivern (Man.City/Walsall), to explain why he left them out of his squad for Slovenia?

[EalingGreen]

You'd know. And what 'bigoted rant'?

Talking **** seems to be a speciality!The one contained in post #50. But Flexy had the good grace to retract his post (#103), which I acknowledged in kind, whereas you seem to be carrying on in your usual, charmless manner.

So Adios, Andy...:bye:

[osarusan]

Or when Gorman was in the ROI U-16's was he not playing "international matches" (for the FAI)? When he is in one of our teams, is he not playing "international matches" for the IFA?

I think I read in another thread that an under-16 game isn't officially representing an association, and as a result, the player is not tied to that association. Should a player choose to play for the team of another country, he wouldn't have to 'switch over' from the team he'd played for before.

[Flexy]

Id like to say well done to Northern Ireland for the great win last night, proves to me I was wrong about NW team or squad selction and Nigel was right. I still think he could have had Paddy in the squad though but thats for another day. Hope Norn Ireland can push on from this now in a really tough group, but fair play to them the whole team were excellent on the night and proved all the critics including myself wrong

[harry crumb]

Nigel was right....

Total hit and run job.

Slovenia could have got 3/4

[Predator]

I think I read in another thread that an under-16 game isn't officially representing an association, and as a result, the player is not tied to that association. Should a player choose to play for the team of another country, he wouldn't have to 'switch over' from the team he'd played for before.Indeed. I believe that because it's not strictly official, James Wallace and Ger Kinsella were able to play for the FAI U16 team without meeting the requisite eligibility criteria.

[Predator]

Then why was eg Shane Duffy's registration with the FAI delayed (whilst the CAS was deliberating), if he did not have to change Associations? Seeing as he had never played for us in a competitive "A" International, why didn't he just go ahead and join up with one of their teams?The obvious difference is that Duffy had represented the IFA in competitive games at U19 and U21 level and was required to go through the process. Gorman, I believe, only had U16 honours for the FAI and did not have to go through a formal process of change.

[ArdeeBhoy]

The one contained in post #50. But Flexy had the good grace to retract his post (#103), which I acknowledged in kind, whereas you seem to be carrying on in your usual, charmless manner.

So Adios, Andy...:bye:
WTF are you on about?
It's on the basis of yer usual misinformed nonsense. As for being 'charmless', well intellectualism is hardly your strength on the basis of your misguided rants.

Read what Pred.and Danny I say re.nationality before you go off on one. It's a subject you have a very limited understanding of.

[hedderman]

It appears that Worthington rates McGinn more highly than McCourt. Paddy might be the more talented individual but in my opinion McGinn is more effective. He's more likely to run all evening and put in crosses from the wings.

[Charlie Darwin]

Sadly, the way FIFA have drafted Article 15 means that uniquely amongst the 208 Member Associations, the FAI has been permitted an exemption to this general principle, but there you go.
This was pointed out in the CAS thread (you may not have been around at the time), but the FAI is by no means unique here. Turkish Cypriots have the same entitlement to Turkish citizenship as Northern Irish people do to Irish citizenship, and I believe the two Koreas offer similar but different entitlements. There have been numerous cases of multi-ethnic states breaking up and border disputes throughout 20th Century European history to which the principle has also been applied. It's unusual, but it's far from unique.

[gustavo]

He's been at it again

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=nnv0yb&s=7

[Predator]

It's great seeing Paddy doing well. Bit in the Irish Times: Celtic's McCourt reminds Lennon of what he has to offer (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0913/1224278756575.html)

DIVISION: PADDY McCOURT knows there is little else he can do to persuade Celtic boss Neil Lennon to give him a starting slot but keep delivering the sort of moments of magic he produced against Hearts on Saturday.A freak neck injury picked up when celebrating his winning goal at Inverness in the first league game of the season meant the winger has returned to the bench in recent weeks.
But, with Celtic leading through goals by James Forrest and Shaun Maloney, the substitute wrapped up a 3-0 victory in the dying seconds with a wonderful goal, dinking the ball over Marian Kello after a trademark solo run.
The mercurial Irishman recognises that, with Celtic top of the SPL with four wins out of four and no goals conceded, he faces a battle for a starting slot. “Coming on and scoring goals won’t do me any harm,” the former Derry City winger said.
“The competition in the wide areas and up front is really strong and it is driving everyone on.
“There are probably four or five strikers who think they should be playing every week and maybe three or four wingers as well.
“I’m sure when the manager sits down on a Friday or Saturday to pick the team he has a few headaches but that is better than struggling to pick 11 players.
“I started the first game but picked up an injury and James and Shaun have started the last few games. But I think it would be a bit stupid to knock on the door when we have won every game and haven’t conceded a goal yet.”
The Northern Ireland international is well aware the Hoops fans expect to see some brilliance when he takes to the field.
“The expectancy is something I thrive on,” he said. “I always get a buzz when I hear the reception when I come on.
“I know people are there to see me entertain and that is the strongest part of my game so if I can keep producing goals and chances for the team then hopefully that will be good enough.”
Lennon was as pleased with the clean sheet as with the chances his side created and converted in what was his 12th SPL victory in succession. The Irishman admitted there were aspects of the performance he was not happy about, one of which must have been the performance of skipper Scott Brown.
Lennon, though, claimed he had substituted Brown on the hour mark because the midfielder was struggling after his exertions for Scotland against Lithuania and Liechtenstein. “Scott was just a wee bit sloppy in possession at times and he was probably feeling the effects of two games in a week,” the former Celtic captain said.
Rangers manager Walter Smith hailed the efforts of Allan McGregor against Hamilton as the goalkeeper prepares for what could be one of his busiest nights of the season against Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow night. McGregor was on fine form with a number of excellent saves as the Scottish champions ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a last-minute winner from Kenny Miller.
The win allowed Rangers to keep the pressure on Celtic and also provided the required confidence boost ahead of the Champions League clash.

[thischarmingman]

Started for Celtic today but injured after 22 mins.

One Connor Salmon made it onto the scoresheet though...

[OneRedArmy]

Picked in the Norn Ireland squad, although likely to be injured for one of the games.

Good to know Nige listens more to foot.ie than EG and Co....... ;)

[Buller]

You'd have to be mad not to have him in the norn ireland squad - what a player to bring on with 15 minutes left in a game...
too bad he's so injury prone, he really does have incredible talent.

[EalingGreen]

Picked in the Norn Ireland squad, although likely to be injured for one of the games.

Good to know Nige listens more to foot.ie than EG and Co....... ;)I was generally agnostic in my posts on Paddy's inclusion etc (if you check, you'll see my comments were more on explaining NW's reasons for overlooking him).

But if you do want to know what I think, having been out in Maribor, I can state with complete conviction that he would have been exactly the wrong sort of player for a "backs-to-the-wall" performance like that.
As for the forthcoming games, I wouldn't have had him near the Italy game, either, for two reasons. First, Italian defenders are rather more proficient than Paddy faces at Inverness or Motherwell etc(!). Second, if we lose the ball against them, it could be 10 minutes before we see it again - especially against an Italian team playing away from home (i.e cautiously).

That said, NW made it clear when he called Paddy up that he would not be fit for the Italy game anyhow. Therefore we must assume he had him in mind for the Faroes, which is "fair enough" (sorry) imo.

In any case, it is all moot, since Paddy has since withdrawn completely, due to fitness/injury concerns - more evidence, I'm afraid, that for all his prodigious talent, the "Derry Pele" will never prove sufficiently physically robust to make a career in full-time, professional football*. :sad:


* - With all due respects to Derry City/LOI etc.

[OneRedArmy]

I was generally agnostic in my posts on Paddy's inclusion etc (if you check, you'll see my comments were more on explaining NW's reasons for overlooking him).

But if you do want to know what I think, having been out in Maribor, I can state with complete conviction that he would have been exactly the wrong sort of player for a "backs-to-the-wall" performance like that.
As for the forthcoming games, I wouldn't have had him near the Italy game, either, for two reasons. First, Italian defenders are rather more proficient than Paddy faces at Inverness or Motherwell etc(!). Second, if we lose the ball against them, it could be 10 minutes before we see it again - especially against an Italian team playing away from home (i.e cautiously).

That said, NW made it clear when he called Paddy up that he would not be fit for the Italy game anyhow. Therefore we must assume he had him in mind for the Faroes, which is "fair enough" (sorry) imo.

In any case, it is all moot, since Paddy has since withdrawn completely, due to fitness/injury concerns - more evidence, I'm afraid, that for all his prodigious talent, the "Derry Pele" will never prove sufficiently physically robust to make a career in full-time, professional football*. :sad:


* - With all due respects to Derry City/LOI etc.To quote my dear grandfather, you wouldn't know if it was blown up or stuffed.

[EalingGreen]

To quote my dear grandfather, you wouldn't know if it was blown up or stuffed.Perhaps you might get your dear Granda to point out where I was incorrect in my post, seeing as you have pointedly failed to do so...

[harry crumb]

Perhaps you might get your dear Granda to point out where I was incorrect in my post, seeing as you have pointedly failed to do so...

Paddy's been making a career out of professional football since he was 15 whatever you might think he's been up to.

AFAIK he isn't an accountant/carpenter/dentist.

[EalingGreen]

Paddy's been making a career out of professional football since he was 15 whatever you might think he's been up to.

AFAIK he isn't an accountant/carpenter/dentist.OK, I shall qualify my final conclusion to meet your objection, as follows:

"In any case, it is all moot, since Paddy has since withdrawn completely, due to fitness/injury concerns - more evidence, I'm afraid, that for all his prodigious talent, the 'Derry Pele may never prove sufficiently physically robust to make a career in full-time, professional football, at a level high enough to merit regular international selection, even for Northern Ireland. ".
(His suitability for international football being the topic of discussion, after all)

I hope the above is clearer. Of course, you may disagree with that last conclusion, presumably on the basis of Paddy's 30-odd League starts for Rochdale in the (old) English 4th Division over 4 years; followed by 70-odd starts in the LOI over three years; with half a dozen starts in the SPL now that he's in his 3rd season at Parkhead.

As for me, much as I would genuinely (still) love to see him turning it on in an NI shirt, as each month passes without his being able to hold down a regular place even in the SPL, I become less optimistic.

If nothing else, Paddy will be 27 in two months time; therefore I hold out greater hope for eg Niall McGinn, who may not be so outrageously talented as Paddy, but who at 23 is more likely to reward being given a chance to prove himself on the international stage over the years to come.

[hedderman]

I think Ealing Green makes a number of very valid points. Paddy McCourt is a very talented player but is frequently ineffective.

[Stevo Da Gull]

Just heard on Sky Sports Soccer Special "Paddy McCourt, the outstanding player from the first half" coming close to breaking the deadlock in the second. Will be interesting to see if he runs out of gas and gets subbed off before the end.

[ifk101]

He wasn't outstanding by any means but he nearly scored another spectacular goal at the start of the second half after turning ex-Irish international Alan Maybury inside and out - but he was slightly off-balanced when he took his shot which pushed it high and wide. He had a good chance to score from a header in the first half but heading the ball has never been Paddy's strong point. I thought overall he did overdo the dribbling somewhat and too often cut inside when ideally Celtic should have been trying to stretch St Johnstone's defence. But in saying that he was Celtic's most creative attacking threat throughout the game and he certainly is a valuable player for Celtic to have, especially when Celtic are expected to dictate the pace and be creative in the vast majority of their games.

[gustavo]

Another nice goal for Paddy this evening

http://i56.tinypic.com/2hfua93.gif

[thischarmingman]

Played entirety of Old Firm game ay the weekend. Mentioned fairly often on the liveblog too:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9333063.stm

[Scooby Doo]

http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/fai-condemns-sending-of-bullets-to-mccourt-mcginn-and-lennon-489789.html

A non-story, but some poor website editor will likely get clipped for this error.....

[ArdeeBhoy]

Don't tell certain posters on here!

Meanwhile that august journal The Daily Record, confirmed earlier in the week, the recent fan mail sent from the North was by those 'nice' people in the UDA.
Means they are finally decommissioning??

[DannyInvincible]

Wowzerz!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=anpRVdblfvo

The goal nearly even causes the presenter to break out of casual-run-of-the-mill-runthrough-of-the-rest-of-the-day's-lower-leagues-goals mode. Some great accompanying sounds.

[DannyInvincible]

A good read from 'These Football Times' on McCourt's career to date and his possible return to the League of Ireland: http://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/02/13/paddy-mccourt-the-derry-pele-who-couldve-become-a-legend/


...

McCourt’s image concealed his genius. Sometimes that worked to his advantage, but occasionally it may have led some of his coaches to underestimate him – to their own cost. For others, however, there was never any doubt as to his quality. “Paddy is as gifted a footballer as I have ever seen,” said Gordon Strachan, the man who took McCourt to Scotland, in 2015. “Some players can see a pass, but not dribble. Others can dribble, but not see a pass. Paddy can do both. And, I have got to say, watching Paddy is one of the best things in football.”

After leaving Celtic in 2013, McCourt flitted around the Football League for a few seasons before returning to Ireland with Glenavon in 2016. Now 33, there are certainly some years left in Paddy, but at the time of writing he is without a club. Recent rumours linking him with League of Ireland champions Dundalk came to nothing, but the possibility of his return to the league will excite those who recall his glory years with Derry. Even in his 30s, McCourt would be one of the competition’s shining lights.

Simply put, Paddy McCourt had nearly everything required to be a world-class winger. With the ball at his feet, he was extravagantly talented, a showman in the mould of his compatriot George Best. Perhaps he was simply too much a product of the old school to succeed in the modern football landscape. Had he been born a decade earlier, his name might now be mentioned in the same breath as some greats of the game, at least in the UK and Ireland. As it is, Paddy never truly managed to rise consistently above the level of local hero status: the brilliant boy-next-door who thrilled and awed the few who were lucky enough to see him at his best.

It’s just a shame that his gifts never found a wider audience.