Posted on Tuesday, 15th November 2011 by Harper
We decided to cancel last nights HomeBhoys show as there wasn’t really a lot to talk about, so I’ll just stick a few thoughts about the international break down here.
I like the majority (it seems anyway) of Celtic fans fell out of love with international football a long time ago. I can scarcely remember the last time I managed to get excited watching Scotland and that’s not me being unpatriotic or whatever it’s just a snorefest from start to finish. I didn’t tune into the Cyprus game and by all accounts going by the reports I read I missed little in the way of entertainment.
The fact I have no idea who half the players in the squad are these days has probably helped to suffocate any enthusiasm I had for the international team. That’s not to say I wouldn’t jump on the bandwagon if we ever looked like qualifying for a major tournament again. I’d love to see us play with the big boys with the world watching but I’d be hard pushed to see the current set-up taking us too far across Europe and the World.
I did however tune in to watch Ireland my adopted homeland play Estonia in the first leg of their play-off match.
If truth be told I very rarely watch football on TV outside of Celtic and the odd knuckle draggers match if I think it’s a game they could struggle in. Even thinking back to the last World Cup I think I watched half a dozen games from start to finish at most. The only time I would watch an EPL game is if I was in the pub and its on in the background, I’d glance at the match in between conversations but it just does nothing for me.
If it’s not Celtic then as the words of the song goes “what the hell do we care”. I’m not a fan of football I’m just a supporter of Celtic I suppose would be the best way to put it.
Nonetheless I tuned into the Ireland game as I expected it would be a good contest considering what was at stake and it’s always good to see how ex-Celtic players are performing. The impressive McGeady started alongside Mr Keane while Leeds Utd loanee Darren O’Dea was on the bench. I was a little disappointed O’Dea didn’t start the match as I was interested to see how he would do. I’ve had nothing but good reports back from Leeds Utd supporting friends of mine of which there are plenty here in Gary Kelly’s hometown of Drogheda.
I still maintain Darren O’Dea is better than Majstorovic and Loovens and with the regular calamities at the back it frustrates me to see O’Dea plying his trade elsewhere. I’m not saying he’s a world beater and at the same time this isn’t one of these ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ deals. I just think O’Dea is better than what we have at the minute and being a Celtic man he’d have the backbone to handle some of the pressure the players find themselves under right now. The saying ‘he’d run through brick walls for Celtic’ spring to mind.
His ex-teammate Aiden McGeady had a fine match though on the left wing and set up 2 of Irelands 4 goals. Seeing the wee man giving defenders the run around with his quick dancing feet brought back some fond memories and also a heaviness in my heart that we no longer have him dazzling in the green & white hoops where he belongs. Of course the selling of McGeady was of mutual benefit to all parties given the transfer fee involved and the required future development of the player. Doesn’t mean I’m not sad to see him no longer at the club he loves. At least he gets to play for the country he does though!
Robbie Keane had a usual Keano performance and it really was a pleasure to have him at Celtic the short time we did. I’m not one of his detractors that like to have a go at him over his bhoyhood hero statements. He came, he saw, he scored (in a poor side) and walked away with POTY. Robbie Keane I’m sad to say was and is far too good a player to be playing in the SPL. Yes that’s the kind of player we need and yes that’s the kind of player that will lift Scottish football but you need to see it from his point of view. Without doubt we need to develop players of that ability now as the days when we can attract them to the club are disappearing fast.
Half empty stadiums, miserable weather, teams that are allowed to kick talented players of the pitch by incompetent referees and a media goldfish bowl that will attack you for drinking a pint of Guinness while wearing a green t-shirt.
One player that did catch my eye on Friday night was Sean St Ledger who has been heavily linked with Celtic in the past. He was strong in the air and tackle, quick on his feet and looks like a player we’re currently screaming out for. I’ve only seen the lad play 3 or 4 times and always in the green of Ireland but he’s impressed on those occasions I’ve tuned in. I don’t have a clue as to his current contract situation but he’s certainly someone I’d welcome the club going after in January.
Keith Fahey who came on as a second half sub is another player that slipped through Celtic’s fingers a couple of years ago when he signed for Birmingham. The ex-Drogheda Utd and St Pats player is someone I saw plenty of playing in the League of Ireland and I know Celtic had him scouted on many occasions.
Although Ireland clearly have the tie won I’ll tune in again tonight to see how all the above mentioned players get on and who knows maybe one or two of them might end up in the hoops one day, or back in them…
Harper (twitter @Harper1888 and for podcast and website updates @TheLostBhoys & @HomeBhoys)
.
.
.
.
.
World Wide Tim Parade – Charity Single
Buy from iTunes here http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/world-wide-tim-parade/id449909964?i=449909978
Buy and hear the song in full on Bandcamp here http://joemckenna.bandcamp.com/
.
Sign up for our new Facebook page here
.
Related posts:
Posted in Harper | Comments (2)
Celtic News 24/7
November 15th, 2011 at 9:30 am
Only three changes for the game tonight, and none of them involve Darren O’Dea unfortunately. One of them is McGeady mind you, which is almost as disappointing! But since this is a “see the job through” task tonight, it’s rather difficult to criticise.
[Reply]
Harper Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 9:39 am
According to the Irish press McGeady will be given the second half. O’Shea coming in at full-back for the injured Kelly.
[Reply]