1) He had a career before CelticQuote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
2) If you look a recent squads, getting your game regularly in the first team doesn't seem anywhere near a prerequisite
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1) He had a career before CelticQuote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
2) If you look a recent squads, getting your game regularly in the first team doesn't seem anywhere near a prerequisite
Aye, in part-time leagues and the English Division 4. Most NI regulars play a couple of divisions higher than that.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
Fair point- I meant to say 'team' rather than 'squad' above.Quote:
2) If you look a recent squads, getting your game regularly in the first team doesn't seem anywhere near a prerequisite
NI first team during recent qualifiers
G Taylor (Birmingham- Prem reserve- no other keepers playing regularly in top English divisions or equivalent)
D McAuley (Ipswich- C'ship regular)
D Hughes (Fulham- Prem regular)
D Evans (ManU-Prem regular)
D McCartney (Sunderland-Prem regular)
M Baird (Fulham- Prem regular)
M Clingan (Coventry- C'ship regular)
M Davis (Rangers- SPL regular)
M Johnson (Birmingham- Prem reserve)
M McCann (Scunthorpe- C'ship regular)
F Healy (Sunderland youth team?- still living off 35 international goals)
Also played at least three games: D Craigan (Motherwell- SPL regular), M Brunt (West Brom- C'ship regular), M Gillespie (Sheff Utd- C'ship regular), F Paterson (Burnley-C'ship regular), F Lafferty (Rangers- SPL regular), F Feeney (Dundee United- SPL regular)
When did Paddy play in the IL?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
Ha ha. Not all players in the League of Ireland are full-time, are they? So it's a part-time league. I'm not criticising that, it's just not a high enough standard to displace players from the English Champ and Scottish Prem who have been McCourt's rivals for a place.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrtndvn
If more players where full time than part time when Paddy was here, wouldn't that make it a full time league?If there are 12 clubs, and only 2 are "part time", how is the league pt?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
No, it becomes a full-time league when all the players (or at least all the clubs) are full time. In recent years, the English Conference has tried to achieve and maintain this, to distinguish itself from the regional leagues below. The obvious difference between players at the different levels is usually fitness.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrtndvn
As I said, I'm not criticising part-time football, nor even McCourt particularly. If he plays regularly for Celtic this term, he's likely to get into the NI team. If he stays in the stiffs, he won't.
He doesn't get a chance for NI because Nigel Worthington is a useless idiot.
No other reason at all, no matter what certain idividuals try to imply.
I don't understand why Worthington won't show more faith, McGinn came on and the games he has played he has been fantastic. No reason why McCourt can't do the same considering he's supposedly the better of the two.
McCourt could probably do with playing in a better league than the SPL though.
McGinn is ahead of McCourt in the Parkhead pecking order, is he not?
Somebody brought the point up earlier - McCourt is a unique type of player and he needs to be around players who compliment his style. McGinn, to my mind, is a more direct player and has more to offer the current NI (and Celtic) team.
Nigel Worthington is an idiot!!!!!!!!! again he over looks McCourt in the N Ireland squad, I look at some of the players in that squad and wonder what he sees in some of the players hes picked. No wonder Northern Ireland has lost players to the Republic with his mindless attitude. Milk Cup 2 yrs ago James McLean played great at the Milk Cup, on that team were Corey Evans Wipeee Cathgart and Josh Mcguines they have all represented Nireland now because McLean is playing in LOI he wont have a look at it him. Is it getting to the stage that he will only call protestant players into his team or at least have a look. Remember he took a few Irish league players away in the summer did he look at the LOI no enough said
Paddy doesn't have enough graft to play for NI according to Worthington.
Another thing why is Mannus not in the NI squad for, he picks Blaney as 3rd choice keeper, obviously thinks Irish League is better than LOI or is it that he wants to keep the directors of the Blues happy with picking one of their players. The guy just doesnt have a clue about anything in management or coaching
I'd imagine Mannus is in the cold for not going on the Summer tour when picked this year
McCourt's a Catholic from Derry playing for Glasgow Celtic.
Is this the reason he's not being given a fair crack of the whip?
There is a guy in the squad aged 17 who has never even played a senior game of professional football FFS.
There are other Catholics from Derry playing for Glasgow Celtic who regularly make the squad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Who exactly? McGinn is from Tyrone incase you were thinking he's from Derry
McGinn isn't from Derry and hasn't been near the team in the games I've seen this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Apart from that you're right.
I probably should have fact-checked that. But Celtic did buy him "from Derry" so I was kind of right :(
Its probably that he just doesnt rate McCourt as a player he will ever have use for, similar to Trapattoni and Andy Reid.Quote:
Originally Posted by harry crumb
The jury is very much out on McCourt at Celtic by the way, his goals, although brilliant, have been against minnows, he is rarely involved in the bigger games.
Came on as a sub today for Celtic. Played barely half an hour and was walking around for too much of it. Not enough urgency and the fecker wouldn't run to warm himself up.
True, though he looked very good with the ball at his feet and moved the ball forward quite well - which was needed when they brought him on. He could have had a huge impact on the game if were interested in occasionally running off the ball rather than walking about. He was usally behind the attackers and midfielders who were breaking forward and would get the ball, beat a player and pass it forward. This is fine as long as you don't lose the ball as with so many players pushing on the counter attack would be set up. He did lose the ball twice today and respond by grabbing the shirt of his opponent in attempt to stop an attack.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie
There was one interesting incident when a team mate misplaced a pass to him. Paddy appeared to have a bit of a moan before sauntering to the ball before it went out of play.
I do reckon he has the ability to be a factor in the bigger games. I am a bit surprised that he's not in the NI squad. I'd have him on the bench for most games myself but I'm not the manager :)