http://www.celticfc.net/news/stories...608165127.aspx
link to celtics website including some pictures...
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http://www.celticfc.net/news/stories...608165127.aspx
link to celtics website including some pictures...
its been on SKYSPORTSNEWS all day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinho II
absolutely delighted for Paddy. Great move and to a club he supports, which can make the differance. I wish him all the best and hope he shows this time across the water just how good he is.
Only keeping others off the scent Daniel until it was signed and sealed!;)
From today's Irish Times. Just as a matter of interest, what do Northern observers think of his chances of an international call up, and with him moving to Celtic, what are the chances of a Neil Lennon style situation occurring again?
Quote:
DERRY CITY midfielder Pat McCourt completed a surprise move to Celtic last night. The 24-year-old agreed personal terms with the Scottish Premier League giants and passed a medical at Glasgow's Ross Hall hospital before signing a three-year contract.
The deal follows a late move by the Scottish champions for the Northern Ireland international who had been in the latter stages of signing with West Brom. Talks aimed at finalising his move to the Hawthorns had been nearing a conclusion on Wednesday when Celtic made their interest known. The player left almost immediately for Glasgow.
McCourt's change of destination is good news for City who, having resigned themselves to losing their most naturally gifted player whose contract ran only until the end of the current Irish league season, have been trying to maximise their return on his departure.
Though the player had negotiated personal terms with the newly-promoted English club, Derry officials had been deeply unhappy with the £50,000 (€64,000) they were due to receive. Both are now set to do considerably better as a result of Celtic's intervention.
In City's case, the initial fee involved has doubled to around £100,000 (€128,000) plus a similar amount when he plays 10 first team games. In addition, Celtic have agreed to play a two friendly matches in Derry, one on October 7th and one in July of 2009.
Those are potentially worth more than £250,000 (€318,000) to the League of Ireland outfit. McCourt is also believed to have been offered significantly better terms.
Former Northern Ireland boss, Sammy McIlroy, who managed McCourt during his time with Rochdale expressed the hope that the move to Scotland would enable the 24-year-old to fulfil his immense potential.
"I had him as a young boy and, when he played at Rochdale, you could see the ability and skill he had straight away," he said. "It was a matter of sticking at it and I was shocked he didn't kick on, to be honest.
"People were talking about him going on to become a big international player at that time. Maybe it all just came too soon for him. But Gordon Strachan is at Celtic and hopefully he can get him playing to his strengths again."
I think he'll certainly be called up.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigmac
As for the Neil Lennon situation, I think he'll take some stick, only time will tell if it's as bad as the crap lennon endured.
Doesn't McCourt play in the same position as McGeady? Celtic must be expecting McGeady to be leaving soon....
I'd say he will be cover for McGeady- Celtic seems to have very few left wingers. Great move for McCourt- Strachan is a great coach and will certainly get the best out of him.Quote:
Originally Posted by amjl
McCourt has been looked at by Northern Ireland scout and there ready to offer him a place in the team this is a great step forward for him if playing for his country happens. he deserves too.
Im a NI fan and I have always thought paddy should be in the squad. I think he might even get a run out in the scotland friendly. I realy cant see there being any issue with paddy playing for celtic as we have had Michael McGovern play at windsor and he was until recently a celtic player. there may be a few idiots choose to shout out c..p but the true fans will easily drownd that out as Paddy scores the goal that leads us to South Africa:D
Good callQuote:
Originally Posted by Dassa
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dassa
have you arranged a friendly with them too?:p
Just something that intrigued me. Why did Celtic come in with an offer that was so much in excess of what WBA were offering ? I'm sure it wasn't out of the goodness of their hearts that they willingly paid so much extra for a player that they probably would have got for more or less the same as WBA were offering. Or was it ?
for those that see it !! i dont have access to it as I work in a call centre all day!!:(Quote:
Originally Posted by sligofan4ever
What do you want them to do? Ring you at the call centre?.
He'll be a flop over there I think.
Much and all as I'd love to see him achieve,He will find it tough to get into the 1st team and the confidence could go. Hope he does well though,if he gets a good run in the 1st team who knows!Quote:
Originally Posted by sligoman
Wouldnt say that so soon i'd judge him after a couple of games.Quote:
Originally Posted by sligoman
yeah please!!:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Longfordian
Was just joking Martinho. Maybe I should have had a :). Apologies for any offence.
no problem longfordian apology accepted.. were u at shels game last nite??Quote:
Originally Posted by Longfordian
I was, got in just in time for the first goal. Great win.
Regi Nooitmeer has just been put on the transfer list by Galway United. Would say there'll be a few interested.
how many is there that galway have released?? is that eight now...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaillimh Al
Not released like the others. Put on the transfer list.
Sale now on. Everything must go. :rolleyes:
I hope we make a bid for Derek O'Brien. He was very close to signing in Jan but changed his mind at the last min. I'm sure a wee bit of the McCourt fee could be put forward to make a bidQuote:
Originally Posted by Mr Maroon
would regi be one of yer best players?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaillimh Al
Probably not. Not this season anyway. When he first signed he would have been.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rovers fan
he was ok when he signed for them last season from what I seen. If he were to sign for Rovers he might be a good covering defender. Be better cover than Big Wes tbh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rovers fan
When he first signed he was very very good! His form has dipped since but he's still a good player.Quote:
Originally Posted by sligofan4ever
He's much better than Wes. Regi is more of a right back than a centre half. He's good at getting forward from a full-back position. He has recently been playing left-back aswell.
it would take something special for him to get into the team we've got seamie coleman (RB) and chris butler (LB) and we got some good cover defenders like Jamie McKenzie but 1 cover defender isnt enough for example Danny Ventre was poor at left back so it would be handy to have someone who regularly plays there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Maroon
He has only played LB about 3 times, although he has played well each time. The highlight was against Pats in the 2-2 draw in Terryland. He was brilliant that night. He set up our 2nd goal. It can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmMFSPib7ooQuote:
Originally Posted by sligofan4ever
I heard the other day that David Mcallister was going to shels on loan for the rest of the season to get some first team football
Quote:
Originally Posted by sligofan4ever
Will he get the chance though? Chriss Killen is a full New Zealand international and can't get a look in. Derek Riordan was a regular in Scotlands squads til he signed for them, again, doesn't get a look in. Plus McCourt has to get ahead of McGeady and Nakamura. CAn't see him getting much joy there TBH
Its absolutely outrageous the way Galway have behaved saying they have to release players.....how the hell did they get into the Premier Division in the first place if they cant sustain wages.....and Galway are supposed to be the "template" as to how a football club in Ireland should be run!!....also may I suggest with respect, the wages their now manager Jeff Kenna is taking home would be quite a hefty sum seen as he has played at the very highest level--I'm not saying he should be getting any less, the best of luck to the guy, he seems a genuine bloke..........Did the Galway board dupe Jeff Kenna into the job or was he aware they were going to hit the situation they now are in crying poverty ??!!......:confused:
In all fairness, financial woes can hit any club if their on field performance is markedly below expectation and they don't have serious backers. Harps last bout of problems came off the back of 4-5 years of profits, then one really bad year and we were in a world of hurt. This year is incredibly pressurised because 3 clubs are going down- so there was more pressure than ever to field a competitive budget. The key is to act early to get things sorted out and Galway United appear to be doing this. I don't think they can force players to leave (unless there's a clause in their contracts of something) but hopefully the players will find new clubs. As for Kenna- I don't know what he is paid but I don't think it's big money. He's already a very wealthy man and I doubt anything an LOI club can pay him would make a huge difference to him to be honest.
Also, Galway are by no means the only club with problems. There have been rumblings of problems at Cobh and Sligo also that I know of.
their over the wage cap and getting rid of players so if they manage to stay up they don't get done with point deductions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoons
We haven't released any players this season. They've been transfer listed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoons
We have effectively torn up their contracts (on the 1st July) Mr. Maroon and we wont be getting a penny for any of them.Worse still there will be no replacements.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Maroon