Darren O'Dea

Loan deal off due to U-21 commitments. Saw him last year at the Celtic - Liverpool game in the states, looked a handy left full/wing back

DARREN O'Dea's season-long loan deal at Morton has fallen through according
to manager Jim McInally.

The 18-year-old Celtic centre half was due at Cappielow last Friday but will
now not be joining due to international commitments.

McInally explained: "Darren was selected for the Republic of Ireland U-21s
and he would have missed two games for them if he had come to us. It was
left up to me to pull him out of the international squad and I didn't want
to do that to him.

"If I felt he would have rather have played for us I would have done so, but
I knew he wanted to represent his country."

The Morton chief admitted he didn't have anyone else in mind to fill
Darren's boots but insisted his current players were good enough to carry
the team forward.

So Darren wanted to play for Ireland so the Morton manager cancelled the deal? :confused:

Added to ****** squad for the champion's league game in Slovakia against Artmedia Bratislava. I doubt he'll get on to be honest, but it's encouraging to see Strachan bringing him into the side, along with McGeady playing regularly in pre season.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Added to ****** squad for the champion's league game in Slovakia against Artmedia Bratislava. I doubt he'll get on to be honest, but it's encouraging to see Strachan bringing him into the side, along with McGeady playing regularly in pre season.

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He was in the Leeds squad as well on Saturday but didn't play.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

He was in the Leeds squad as well on Saturday but didn't play.

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fair play to the lad only a kid and still able to get into leeds and ****** team ...

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Originally Posted by zinedineontour

fair play to the lad only a kid and still able to get into leeds and ****** team ...

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Boom Boom! I'd have said the squad for the game against Leeds instead except I wanted to be economic with my sentence length, for once.

Does anybody know anyting about this young lad. He is playing for Celtic reserves at the min and made the Irish u19 team that beat Italy 4-1.
Is he a certer half? More importantly, is he a contender?

yeah he lives around my area. He is a centre-half and is doing very well for himself over at celtic. he was on their tour of america in pre-season and has been playing very well for thei reserve team. Hopefully he might get a few games for the first team before the end of the season

He's a left footed centre half. A good bit away from the first team at Celtic though. Because of the signings of Du Wei and Virgo he's now only in the U19s at Celtic. Strachan likes to give bit part players a run in the reserves, something O'Neill rarely did so it will be tougher for O'Dea to get in. He's a very strong lad who is also pretty good on the ball (takes the odd freekick on the edge of the box). Signed a 3 year deal this month.

He started for the reserves today in the youngest lineup so far this season (the first team play tomorrow night) and apparantly dealt with everything. Nothing spectacular but did his job.

he played against us in a friendly earlier in the season i wasnt at it but maybe some other rovers fans would comment?

Made his first team debut last week for Celtic I think, will be on the bench against United. He's starting to break into the first team now...Anybody know much about him? Any good?Has he got the potential? Heard Diarmuid O'Carroll from Killarney is supposed to very good as well...

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Originally Posted by republicofwhite

Made his first team debut last week for Celtic I think, will be on the bench against United. He's starting to break into the first team now...Anybody know much about him? Any good?Has he got the potential? Heard Diarmuid O'Carroll from Killarney is supposed to very good as well...

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Seen O'Dea play against St Mirren in the CIS Cup a couple of months ago. He played a left full, not his natural position, but looked very competent.

I thought Balde was poor last night. Not sure if Caldwell will be back at the weekend so he might get a chance.

Balde was dreadful!!!

He came on for McManus tonight and did well. Celtic were all over the place all night dealing with set pieces (all the goals came from set pieces) but the safest one of the night was when O'Dea organised the defence. It's actually pretty funny seeing him telling Balde what to do but a very good sign.

O'Dea is in line to start on sunday for Celtic, according to Teamtalk

Yeah O'Dea is confirmed to start on Sunday.

It was no coincidence Balde was a lot more solid than usual today beside O'Dea. He looks an excellent organiser.

Dunfermline 1 Celtic 2

Darren O'Dea was my man of the match today. His decision making was excellent. He was excellent all day.”– Gordon Strachan