Paddy McCourt signs for Brighton.....

Thought he was going to bury....

 

Best of luck to him.

 

Amazing talent if you can get him playing. Flicker probably got more out of him in terms of work rate than any other manager. He had a good run of games before Flitcroft got the chop. Wilson didn't have the patience for him. Not surprised like, his performances in the second half of the season were rubbish.

I'm just glad I got to see him play in a Barnsley shirt, at his best he was as good as I've ever seen. Be nice if he can produce that sort of form consistently, even if it's not for us. All that talent shouldn't go to waste.

 

As good as you've ever seen? He had a bit of skill but I think that is demeaning to what has gone before if he's the best we've had. What did he do to earn such praise? Genuinely interested because I just saw a show pony who'd not put any effort in.

 

I'll be following how he gets on for sure. The only bright spark in what was the worst season I've witnessed watching BFC.


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In terms of pure ability he was definitely in the top 4 or 5 I've seen in a Barnsley shirt in 50 years of following the club. He was never going to fit in at Barnsley though. We prefer grafters don't we? Hope he does well at Brighton.

 

One of the most skilful players I've ever seen play for Barnsley in all my years of going down to Oakwell. Possibly the right player at the wrong time for us.

 

Never said he was the best we've had. I said at his best he was as good as I've ever seen. The likes of Hignett and Glavin didn't do anything better than McCourt, they just did it a lot more consistently.

 

I think that's well put. The way I look at it, if a scout...or a neutral, someone who'd never heard of Paddy McCourt watched him and he was on a 'good day', they'd be impressed. In fact I'd go as far as to say that they wouldn't take any notice of the other 21 players because Paddy can do things most players can only dream of. Be it a mazy dribble, or picking out a pass, or a brilliant turn, or a spectacular goal (plenty of proof of that on youtube)

Of course if you watch him over a season (like we all did) you'd question his heart, his work rate, his end product, his physical attributes etc etc etc. And when it comes to rating a footballer you've got to take these factors into account. Sadly, he's not a great footballer and probably never will be but he can certainly do great things and sometimes that's enough. In 15 years time who will I remember clearer, Jim O'Brien...an honest toiler (and arguably a better player) who played 100 odd games and never really let us down or Paddy McCourt who once skinned half a team and scored.

 

Your last line is interesting, and i guess it depends on what you value in a player. In 15 years I'm pretty sure I'll remember Paddy, but I've just about forgotten Jimbo already (as much as I appreciated his efforts).

 

No, I pref a skilful player that puts some effort in. Not just a grafter and I fail to see why any player should not be able to put the effort in. Skill is a necessary requirement for footballers, some have more than othrs and these are the players that get lauded, butthey should also put some graft in too.

come on Barnsley !

 

He had the ability, but there's not much point having the ability if you aren't going to use it. A couple of flashes of brilliance and that was it.

 

Yep there was no doubting his ability but the other key aspects such as work-rate, fitness, stamina and heart were sadly lacking from his game and that is why he will never be a Barnsley great (IMO). He had the skill to be a great player but he doesn't compare with Glavin or Hignett for brilliance and he doesn't compare to less skilful players such as Redders for his all round game.

He came, he gave us some moments of magic and he went. Thats how I will remember him.

 

I'll just accept that I don't get it. He was 99% forgettable IMO.

I do love the argument that if you don't rate Mccourt then you don't appreciate skillful players and prefer toilers. Always boggles me, but aye.

 

I think I was trying to say that, on balance, many Barnsley supporters prefer a good honest trier to someone who is clearly classy but appears not to 'put a shift in'. And that is fair enough - I've seen an awful lot more of the former than the latter over the years. Anyway, I'm not about to change my mind regarding McCourt and I accept that you aren't either. In the meantime, and given that due to holidays I've not seen the new players yet, is there anyone I'm likely to be trying to defend this season?

 

I think most fans are like that, because most fans would love to have the ability and the opportunity to be a professional footballer so the least that a player can do is to put in the effort. The frustration when you know that a player has the ability but doesn't try is what annoys most fans.

 

'Clearly classy'? Really? In your opinion maybe.

 

I'm working on the assumption that I'm allowed one. You are too.

 

Lita, probably. He hasn't got the skills, but he scores goals, another attribute that is in short supply amongst the majority of footballers, which is odd as that is the whole point of the game. Lita has only played 120 minutes for us, he's miles off peak fitness, but he's already scored 2 goals. However, we're already hearing complaints that he does absolutely nowt in the rest of the game.