Willo Flood

[wexfordned]

Time to resurrect this thread? Flood has been very good for Dundee United over the past 18 months and has earned a move to Celtic. It remains to be seen how much he will figure in the first team though. He's skillful, very hard working and direct. I think he has the potential to be successful at Celtic and this could propel him towards the national team. I understand it's just as likely he could end up as a bench warmer and reserve. Worth keeping an eye on his progress though.

Bad move for flood. Whatever slim chance he had of getting into Irish team while playing for Dundee Utd, he certainly won't get picked playing for the Celtic reserves.

Would have been better trying to find a championship club. Higher standard of football & better chance to get noticed.

[irishfan86]

Bad move for flood. Whatever slim chance he had of getting into Irish team while playing for Dundee Utd, he certainly won't get picked playing for the Celtic reserves.

Would have been better trying to find a championship club. Higher standard of football & better chance to get noticed.

Nakamura can't play as many games as he used to, as he always seems to be picking up injuries here and there.

It's just a matter of time before he leaves really.

Flood will provide good cover on the right side of midfield, and can offer something different in the middle as well.

I think he will start off more as a squad player, but why not try and break into a team like Celtic?

You need to take risks in life sometimes, especially in football, if you want to get to the top.

[Bottle of Tonic]

Celtic are fairly brutal at the moment, have been for a few years I suppose, so the likes of Willo Flood should have no fears about not breaking into the side. There's no one there he shouldn't be able to dislodge, including McGeady and whenever I've seen Willo play against Celtic or Rangers the last year or so he's easily been one of the top performers on the park.

[irishfan86]

My main worry isn't that he isn't good enough, but rather that he won't get a chance.

Strachan is notorious for buying players and letting them rot in the reserves.

Hopefully Flood gets a fair crack at the whip and leaves Strachan with no choice but to keep him involved.

I doubt he'll become undroppable, but if he was a borderline starter/well used sub I'd be happy.

[tetsujin1979]

Nakamura can't play as many games as he used to, as he always seems to be picking up injuries here and there.

It's just a matter of time before he leaves really.

Summer, according to some accounts. Wants to raise his kid in Japan.

[pateen]

Strachan is notorious for buying players and letting them rot in the reserves.

Kinda like what he'll do with McGinn and McCourt so

[wexfordned]

[QUOTE=irishfan86My main worry isn't that he isn't good enough, but rather that he won't get a chance.

Strachan is notorious for buying players and letting them rot in the reserves.

Hopefully Flood gets a fair crack at the whip and leaves Strachan with no choice but to keep him involved.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. Don't follow scottish football but McGeady will play so only leaves one spot open. If Nakamura is leaving then fair enough maybe he will get his chance.

Don't watch scottish football, but looking at their european results the standard seems to be at a real low at the moment. If he his any good then he should be able to force his way into a pretty average side.

[Stuttgart88]

Don't watch scottish football, but looking at their european results the standard seems to be at a real low at the moment. If he his any good then he should be able to force his way into a pretty average side.

I'm not a staunch proponent of the SPL but Rangers got to the UEFA final only 8 months ago. Celtic's results were poor alright. It's not really a top league as we all know but there are some competitive teams (Old Firm, Aberdeen, Dundee United and the Edinburgh clubs) so I think if a player can stand out in Scotland he is probably good enough to compete against third seeded teams and worse in international football.

With regard to Flood's international chances I think he has his work cut out in the near to medium term but good luck to him. Only if we adopt a more expansive approach would he offer something we don't already have.

[eirebhoy]

Bad move for flood. Whatever slim chance he had of getting into Irish team while playing for Dundee Utd, he certainly won't get picked playing for the Celtic reserves.

Whether he'll play regularly or not he certainly won't be playing for the reserves. Unlike McCourt and McGinn, this is a Strachan signing. Anyway, McCourt has been brilliant for the reserves recently and I think is winning Strachan over.

As for the quality of Celtic. Player for player the midfield options atm is as good as it's been in years. But Strachan definitely rates Flood. He's his type of player and he'll get his chance straight away.

[Junior]

Unlike McCourt and McGinn, this is a Strachan signing.

??? Who else signed them if it wasnt Strachan?

[eirebhoy]

??? Who else signed them if it wasnt Strachan?

John Park. Strachan puts his trust in his scouts, especially at that price. But Flood is definitely a Strachan signing and he won't be going into the reserves. Park also scouted Keith Fahey and Seamus Coleman and I think there was bids in for the 2 of them.

[Junior]

John Park. Strachan puts his trust in his scouts, especially at that price. But Flood is definitely a Strachan signing and he won't be going into the reserves. Park also scouted Keith Fahey and Seamus Coleman and I think there was bids in for the 2 of them.

Donati, Sno, Hutchinson, Killen, Mizuno to name but a few that regularly togged out for the reserves or still do - Strachan signings or does he get to abdicate signing responsibility for these players as well? If Willo is not getting a starting birth - which he wont be unless we have a dramatic injury crisis - why shouldnt he get a run out in the reserves?

[eirebhoy]

Donati, Sno, Hutchinson, Killen, Mizuno to name but a few that regularly togged out for the reserves or still do - Strachan signings or does he get to abdicate signing responsibility for these players as well?

Donati, Sno and Killen are 3 players that moved into the reserves after failing with the first team (in Sno's case he was still younger than most of the reserve players so nothing wrong there). Hutchinson was signed as a reserve and has never started a professional game afaik. And it was always said that Mizuno would play for the reserves for his first half season and he knew that. Mizuno thinks he's progressing as expected if his interviews are to go by.

If Willo is not getting a starting birth - which he wont be unless we have a dramatic injury crisis - why shouldnt he get a run out in the reserves?

The same reason Hartley and Robson don't. Flood is signed as a first teamer and if he avoids injury this season he won't play a single game for the reserves imo.

[mackannovic]

Can't see how this is a bad move for the lad?

All players should be encouraged to challenge their abilities. If you were Willo Flood you would sign for Celtic in a heartbeat because there's a prospect that its a team you'll fit into perfectly, a team in which you'll be surrounded by the cream of talent in the league and a crop of players that will help you realise your full potential. If you don't sign there's the possiblity of long term injury curtailing that move and being forgotten about 5 months down the line or even the possiblity that the team you're currently playing for going through a dour patch of form and as a result your game and reputation being affected.

Now is Willo Floods chance at making a name for himself. If he doesn't then he'll simply drop back down a level but being with the best coaching staff in the league and surrounded by the best players isn't gonna make him any worse a player.

[Stuttgart88]

well said mac.

[tetsujin1979]

If Flood had stayed with Dundee, or Cardiff, we'd be criticising him for not trying to make the step up.
Now that he has done something to improve his game and his career, we're criticising him for not being good enough for Celtic, before he's even played for them??

[Junior]

Ive been an advocate of Flood, certainly during his spell with Dundee Utd (dont recall him much at Man City)- He's been good for them. With the current Celtic squad, I dont think he'll feature much - though I think he had to make the move to give it a go. tThat could change in the summer if key midfielders leave the club.

[Wolfie]

Anyone named after a Hobbit needs all the well wishers he can get.

Best of luck, Willo Flood,

From everyone here at Middle Earth.

[eirebhoy]

Flood starts for Celtic today against Rangers. McGeady is on the bench but it's not really a like for like. Flood adds that bit of bite Strachan feels is needed for this game.

[Razors left peg]

Managers baffle me sometimes. In big games you want your big players on the pitch and that for me means McGeady every time. Hope Flood has a great game but he is not in the same class as Aiden