NEW CELTIC MANAGER Brendan Rodgers has praised the impact the younger players are having at the club, particularly Irish defender Eoghan O’Connell, after the Scottish Champions joined Dundalk in the Champions League play-off draw.
The Hoops edged past FC Astana at Parkhead on Wednesday night, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from 20-year-old French striker Moussa Dembele, but it was the Ireland U21 international, who has displaced Efe Ambrose at the heart of the defence, that earned special recognition from the former Liverpool manager.
“If you think, we had a 20-year-old at right-back, a 19-year-old at left-back, and a 20-year-old at centre-half, young boys further up the team and a young boy comes on and scores a penalty so at this level it is a very, very young team,” Rodgers said.
“But they are gaining experience and you have to give time to talent, encourage it, be supportive of it.
“They are going to make mistakes but if you trust them and stick them out there, hopefully you will get performances but he [O'Connell] in particular was very good.
“I thought he was outstanding. I have said before, I have been really impressed with him.
“For a young player who has been at Oldham and Cork on loan, to be put into the games he has been put into and shown that composure, he is a wonderful young footballer.
“He dominates in the air, so he wins his headers but if you want to reach the highest level you can, you have to be able to dominate the ball and as a kid he passes it very well.
“He has an in-built brain for the game and I am looking at his temperament.
“I see him in training. I don’t know how many games some players have played but if they show that temperament and composure, like he has over the couple of games, he is only going to get better and better.”
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He strolled it last night. His positioning was good and he’s very composed and comfortable on the ball.
He may hope Celtic don’t draw Dundalk or Cathal Sheehan will be along to tell him he’s a disgrace to football for wanting Celtic to go through.
So you think its normal that a stadium ( potentially the Aviva) has an attendance of 30000+ IRISH people routing for the SCOTTISH champions to trash the IRISH champions…only in Ireland and for that reason I hope Dundalk dont draw Celtic as it would undo all the good work Irish fans did at the euros for being called the greatest fans in europe.
What a beautiful sight it will be Cathal. Can’t wait for the draw tomorrow. Hopefully two home games against Dundalk coming out of the hat.
Two home games?
Celtic playing Dundalk at the Aviva. That’s a home game in anyone’s book. 40k Celtic fans, 4k Dundalk and the rest sponsors.
If I’m lucky enough to get a ticket ill go and film the Irish people cheering for Celtic and shame them on youtube.
I think you need a drink cathal.. chill out fella! People can support who they want and cheer on who they want! That’s the great thing about being a free person :-) up the republic!!
If ye want I’ll send you some footage of our supporters bus where we’ll be singing celtic songs?? You could upload that and shame us..
Do please, just incase I dont get one.
You can support any team you want, I just can’t believe what I’m seeing that an Irish fan would actually cheer for a foreign team to beat an Irish side.
That’s great Ciaran. If that draw hapens, I can’t wait to see all the w*nkers cheering on a Scottish team, singing in English accents. It will finally kill this “best fans in the world” sh*te stone dead.
Cathal I would like to buy you a pint before the game. You’re a great laugh.
Why would I sing a celtic song in an English accent?? Have you been drinking already… I like your style
Celtic fans singing in English accents? What’s that all about?
I have, however observed a small crowd of Irish Liverpool fans singing songs in a scouse accent. That was a sight to behold. A proper WTF moment.
Can you afford to though? Or have you spent most of your money on buying flights to Glasgow?
It is funny hearing irish or other nations fans singing in an accent not theirs… then again i remember going to celtic when i was younger and when i sang i put on some stupid scottish accent as thats how i imagined it in my head :-) Having lived in liverpool for 11 years (I now live just outside it) and being a member of the celtic supporters club in the city we have quite a few scouse lads who are celtic and Ireland fans.. they would sing celtic and irish songs in the scouse accent and I always find that a bit mad
With D4 prices I’m not too sure.
I would hope and expect that if Dundalk and Celtic are drawn together – most Irish people will support Dundalk.
However, Cathal, I don’t get your argument that supporters of the national team can’t be real supporters of THAT team, because they might not support a LOI team.
I too wish for a thriving LOI and lots more opportunities for young Irish lads to make it as footballers, but your logic doesn’t make sense.
‘Character’