good luck paddy mc court

[Keltoi]

Originally Posted by Keltoi

The only way to make comparisons between different league's quality is on European record and the SPL's is miles better than the Irish leagues (both of them). Not sure of stats but SPL teams have made it to at last 6 European finals in the last 40 years with a good few semi-final appearances in the European cup too. Two of the finals have been in the last 6 years so its not all ancient history. Its not just the Old Firm either. Aberdeen and Dundee United have been in Euripean finals. People forget that as well as getting to a Uefa final, Dundee UNited also got to the European cup final around the same time. Sorry but there is simply no comparison between the top Scottish and top Irish leagues. Not sure about the League of Ireland but I have seen some Irish League games (northern Ireland) and the standard is absolutely laughable. It always looks like pinball, shots never go in cleanly and its all argy bargy.

Actually its more than that - Our two EC finals, I think Rangers made 3 cup winner cups, we both made the Uefa cup, DUndee United made the Uefa cup finals and Aberdeen won the Cup Winners Cup. So thats at least 9 major finals. There were also a few supercup finals too so thats double figures. The points clear anyway - Irish football is pretty poor stuff compared to the SPL.

[Hammer]

Celtic and Rangers apart the best league of Ireland teams would compete with any SPL team no bother at all.

The point is about the cream of the players the league produces anyway if you're wanting to make a comparison and if you look down in England; Shane Long, Kevin Doyle, Graham Kavanagh, Daryl Murphy, Roy O'Donovan all came across from Ireland and have done well the same can't really be said about Scottish players in recent times.

[Dempsey]

Originally Posted by shongo

from all at derry city...gr8 player and we will miss u

We've been swamped by Derry City and other League of Ireland supporters singing high praises of this guy and from the few youtube videos that have been shown, you can see the natural ability that this guy has.

If he turns out to be what people have been saying about him, we've committed daylight robbery!

[Johnnybhoyblue]

Originally Posted by clagan24

one o the worst signings i can remember in my 20 years of being a hoops fan. he' not even that good in the eircom league FFS

Thats a ridiculuou sstatement mate. I know the eircom league more than you and Pat mccourt s the best and most highly rated player in it.

hes every bit as good as when kevin doyle went to reading to cork city!
look what he done! mccourt is going over with every bit as good a reputation.

Im not saying hes going to be immense but he has the potential given a chance. bargain IMO

[Rochdalelad]

Originally Posted by clagan24

he did try his luck in england with rochdale but couldn't cut it there so came back here. he really isn't good enough and at 24 he'd need to start fulfilling his potential soon

Have you ever seen him play live?? Did you ever see him with Rochdale, Shamrock Rovers or travelled to the Derry to watch him? Couldn't cut it? Too good for us at Rochdale, a pity a few managers didnt have the balls to play him. When a team is struggling to survive in the league at our level manager's don't tend to play the talents but themselves and their experienced mates. A completely differerent ball game playing for a team that will give him possession ie Celtic.

Others who are interested in can have a read at our site ( can't post links yet!) clubfanzine/rochdale/forum. It'll give a perspective into his time at the Dale. You'll find that Paddy was adored by our fans. Quite simply the most talented player we've ever had. Good enough? Easily. He'll have you on your feet when he gets the ball. He seems to have got a renewed appetitie for the game playing for Derry his home team. I don't think playing with a team who will have all the possession in games will hinder Paddy, it'll more like give him the freedom to do what he does. At least his talent should be able to shine at Celtic rather than at West Brom where he would be in a team struggling for possession.
Anyhow, with Paddy being a Bhoy, I'm off to enjoy a subscription to Setanta and maybe I'll take my little un up to taste the great atmosphere at Paradise.

Good luck with 4 in a row

[Hammer]

Great 1st post, welcome mate

[jeannie960]

Welcome

[Celticnut]

Originally Posted by Keltoi

The only way to make comparisons between different league's quality is on European record and the SPL's is miles better than the Irish leagues (both of them). Not sure of stats but SPL teams have made it to at last 6 European finals in the last 40 years with a good few semi-final appearances in the European cup too. Two of the finals have been in the last 6 years so its not all ancient history. Its not just the Old Firm either. Aberdeen and Dundee United have been in Euripean finals. People forget that as well as getting to a Uefa final, Dundee UNited also got to the European cup final around the same time. Sorry but there is simply no comparison between the top Scottish and top Irish leagues. Not sure about the League of Ireland but I have seen some Irish League games (northern Ireland) and the standard is absolutely laughable. It always looks like pinball, shots never go in cleanly and its all argy bargy.

I don't see how going back 40 years has any relevance to today Keltoi.Obviously Celtic and Rangers are a class above anything in the Eircom League but your standard SPL team like Aberdeen or Kilmarnock are not that much better than Drogheda or Cork City anymore.

This is largely down to most of the Eircom League teams going proffesional.Looking at recent European results[e.g in the last 5 years] Eircom League teams have knocked out teams of the calibre of Hajduk Split[Then Croation champions],Djungardens,Gothenburg,Malmo and NEC Nijmegen as well as achieving creditable draws against Steau Bucharest,Lille,Deportivo La Coruna and PSG.Derry City also easily knocked Gretna out of the UEFA Cup a couple of years ago.

I'd wager that there is about the same number of former Eircom League players in the EPL than there is former SPL ones.

The Northeren Irish League is a different league to the Eircom League and is not at a good standard at all as you have seen.Most,if not all the teams,are still only semi-pro.You can't judge the Eircom League by watching the Northern Irish League.

[Dempsey]

Derry thumped them at the start of last season I thought?

[DobbinS 1888]

he was in the Irish league if you think about it, basically says it all and it was quite funny to read the papers saying hes better than Mcgeady, he willl be another bench warmer because he aint replacing Mcgeady any time soon Brilliant ambition shown here from WGS, what a signing

[Dempsey]

Why so pessimistic dobbin? Why do people want failure just so they can say, "I told you so"?

[Celticnut]

Originally Posted by DobbinS 1888

he was in the Irish league if you think about it, basically says it all and it was quite funny to read the papers saying hes better than Mcgeady, he willl be another bench warmer because he aint replacing Mcgeady any time soon Brilliant ambition shown here from WGS, what a signing

Would you rather McGeady got injured next season and we have to replace him with someone like Robson who is not a natural winger?We are not going to improve on our two first choice wingers in todays market but we needed someone who is natural cover for McGeady and we've got it for 150K.
Have you ever posted anything positive on this site?Anything I've seen have just been sly digs at Strachan.

[King Nicky]

Lets See how he does then :)

[DobbinS 1888]

Whats the point in posting anything positive. Ill post something positive if we sign something positive like Pavlyuchenko or a player that we dont get on a free or bosman, or happens to be under 2 mill

[Dempsey]

Originally Posted by DobbinS 1888

Whats the point in posting anything positive. Ill post something positive if we sign something positive like Pavlyuchenko or a player that we dont get on a free or bosman, or happens to be under 2 mill

I'm not saying that you should be positive for the sake of it but why write off a player before he has the chance to do even a training session?

Were you of the same opinion when we signed Lubo?

Good players can be gotten on free/bosman, bit of faith in our Scouts/Manager/Chief Executive at this stage no?