From David Marshall to Tony Watt

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Just days after The Beating of Barca in 2004 the youthful Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell presented teenage sensation, David Marshall, with a new contract, reward for his incredible goalkeeping performances against the Catalans.  Having made only a single first team appearance, in a cup game against (then) lower league opponents, David played the second half of the first leg against Ronaldinho & Co, then all of the second leg, without conceding a goal.

It Camp Nou performance was the most remarkable I’ve seen from a keeper.  After years looking for a solid performer to make the position his own, it looked like we had a new star.

A year later David had, if anything, regressed.  He remained first choice until after the start of season 2005-06 but Artur Boruc, for a while the genuine article, soon replaced him.  David was shipped out to Norwich before eventually settling at Cardiff City, where he has built a solid career, but his star never shone as brightly as we expected it to.  His Scottish contemporaries, Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon, both overtook him.

It is incredibly hard for a youth player to break into a team like Celtic in a position like goalkeeper, or striker, the pressure to deliver – every time – is so high, we are a whole lot more likely to introduce wingers.  The parallels between David Marshall and Tony Watt are remarkable, so far.

From the outside it’s hard to guess what went wrong for David at Celtic.  He lost his place at Celtic when he was just 20 and the trajectory of his career was never the same but 20 is still remarkably young for a keeper working at Champions League level.  Tony Watt is two years younger than David and he is in the considerably better position of being able to come on as substitute for sections of games, or to drop away for a few weeks, if necessary.

We should expect more fantastic splurges of form from the player but there will be frustrations and dips in form too.  He has the skill, speed and strength to make it.  With hard work and patience he stands an excellent chance.

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  1. Magnificentseven on

    Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning!

     

    20:01 on

     

    16 November, 2012

     

    Sevconian Quick News?

     

     

    Gies peace!!!!!

     

     

     

    I’m with you

     

     

    a champions league of Celts

  2. Leftclicktic

     

     

    Sorry I disappeared into the ether after posting earlier.

     

     

    Taking the car to Aberdeen tomorrow so I get back sharpish for the race night but have got myself roped into taking 2 teenagers up also.

     

     

    I’m away to look out my St Christopher statue for the journey!!

     

     

    I’ve persuaded your ML5 pal into being a bookie tomorrow for a while, that way he can’t get up to too much mischief ;-)

     

     

    Doc

     

     

    You lurking?

  3. Sixtaeseven and Auldheid

     

     

    Maybe another way to look at it is this. Ten years or so ago we would have happily chased these deals together as a matter of course. The most recent deal almost saw Celtic pull off the previously unthinkable. Remember Neil saying defiantly in defeat that it was only the beginning? The marketing guys NEARLY got there and we’re left frustrated at the last minute turn of events. Next time a sponsor would not, in my view, be able to call the shots in this way.

  4. sixtaeseven: Wanyama! Watt!!! and a consolation goal for Messi on

    BBC Scotland:

     

    Manager Neil Lennon says he has a huge challenge in keeping his squad intact and expects “wolves at the door” in January.

     

     

    Sevconia television (STV):

     

    Charles Green says he has a huge challenge in keeping his circus on the road and expects “Hector at the door” in January.

  5. The Boy Jinky.

     

     

    I’m coming into Glasgow on Sunday and I’ve been invited to the Blantyre Columbia Club by Blantyretim,I’ve heard of the Park Vale,but this is a new one on me.If you fancy it, your welcome.

  6. Magnificentseven on

    Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles

     

    20:06 on

     

    16 November, 2012

     

    Obviously a Pride of Lions

     

     

     

    good start and hard to beat :-)

  7. Had a laugh this morning at Alan Brazil this morning. He was told that Alex McDonald of Rangers would be on the Keys and Gray show prating his autobiography.

     

     

    Seemingly Big Jock spoke to him about signing for Celtic when he was still with St Johnstone. He was asked a few questions by Jock but did not answer them right so no further contact.

     

     

    He has started his book with this story.

     

    Brazil said no way that wee ned would ever have played for Celtic. Said he could not stick him as a player.

     

     

    Well said Alan.

  8. A circus of sevconians

     

     

    Why would they want to change a light bulb when they havent even paid the electricity bills

     

     

    Oldtim

     

     

    Sunday … Kosc blantyre … What time ?

  9. sixtaeseven: Wanyama! Watt!!! and a consolation goal for Messi on

    winning captains

     

     

    Again thanks for your input.

     

    Yes, hopefully next time we’ll be able to do our own thing.

     

     

    However, earlier today I read on here that our chairman said at the AGM that “we were not control of that “.

     

    Was he being misquoted or picked up wrongly?

     

    Quite a few posters were dismayed/perplexed by that.

     

    Can you shed any light on that?

  10. “I really appreciate Gordan Strachan for giving me the chance to play here. The gaffer aswell – he gave me a new contract and keeps me in the team. I can not have asked for more from these two guys. They are special people for me and i want to thank them for giving me the opportunity to be here and experience all of these incredible things at this club.”

     

     

    – Georgios Samaras

     

     

     

     

    B-)

  11. Sponsorship. Very sad to see the board pursuing the same old lazy line. This is immensely damaging to our brand.

     

     

    Green. A bona fide moron. A total joke. But we are presumably looking for a joint sponsorship deal with this ballon? Very sad…

  12. sixtaeseven: Wanyama! Watt!!! and a consolation goal for Messi!

     

     

    You envied me, amongst others:)

     

     

    That is a wow, incredible:))

  13. Bhoylo83

     

     

    Big Sammi,got to love the Greek Ghod,σας ευχαριστώ μεγάλο άνδρα

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