The Hooper-Scepovic lesson

830

Gary Hooper has scored once in his last 23 appearances for Norwich City, an ultimately meaningless goal as his team lost that day.  Prior to that, he scored five in eight in games in which Norwich collected 10 points, while he opened his account for them with a brace in the League Cup against Watford.  The latter stages of that 23 game desolate run has been marred by an injury he collected preseason, returning to league duty this month.

This is not the player you or I will recognise.  Gary was more than capable of going through a dry patch, but he was an undisputed penalty box finisher, who seemed to perform better, the better the competition.  Now he has to sit alongside Jos Hooiveld on the Norwich bench, as his in-form club, with in-form players, occupy a play-off place.  Think of that for a moment, Hooper and Hooiveld, largely indistinguishable on form for Norwich.

It’s no surprise that Neil Lennon wanted him at Bolton, he knows Gary is a better player than probably anyone in Norwich realise.  Norwich rejected the bid, as they were reluctant to weaken their squad, but already this season is looking unlikely to add much to the end of career Gary Hooper Highlights DVD.

Celtic are already on the case to sign John Guidetti on a permanent deal, he’s looked the part since he first touched the ball in a Celtic shirt, but by contrast, Stefan Scepovic has looked awkward.  The early goals didn’t come, he looked short of a game plan and when a header missed the target on Thursday night, one guy behind me bellowed the kind of comment you hope a player looking for confidence doesn’t hear.

I don’t know any more about Stefan than you, but I absolutely know we’ve not seen the best of him, just as Norwich haven’t seen the best of Gary.  This guy has the background we want in a new recruit, scoring well in the Spanish second tier and wanted by top tier club.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Celtic player as happy to score as Stefan was against Astra.  The finish against Kilmarnock will have built on whatever confidence boost he received.  The project is back on course.  He needs to continue to find the net, and we need to remember how to support a player as he settles into a new life.

We’ve had a great run of momentum with the help of Magners in recent weeks. The club sponsor have offered a couple of premium match tickets, on the back of which we’ve asked for donations from £1 to Mary’s Meals.

It’s been great to see this in action.  We get lots of £1 and £2 donations, but plenty of people chip in with a lot more.  It’s been a great way of ensuring prizes are open to everyone.

Today we formally launch the bid to build a fourth school kitchen in Malawi for Mary’s Meals.  During 2014 you funded the construction of three kitchens, which feed close to 2000 of the world’s poorest children each day.  All of them live below the UN measure of absolute poverty.

Over the last 20 years the number of people living below $1.25 per day has halved.  Organisations like Mary’s Meals are making enormous inroads.  Those kids aren’t just getting a meal, more of them are able to attend school (up 30%) as they don’t need to work for food.  This improves their academic achievements and gives them skills which will be with them throughout their lives, increasing personal, regional and national productivity.

93% of the money raised by Mary’s Meals reaches those on the ground.  It costs around $12 to feed a child for an entire year.  It’s almost incalculable what your money does.

Magners have kindly offered two debenture hospitality seats for The Celtic Suite, including buffet lunch, for the Inverness game on Saturday, which are available for auction here on ebay.  The journey we had last year in building those three kitchens was remarkable, I know we’ll enjoy the new project.

Current bid is £1 to get in quick!

Big thanks to Magners, b.t.w.  This help goes a long, long, way.

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  1. the long wait is over on

    What % of bbc Scotland’s sports budget is taken up broadcasting live Sevco games?

     

     

    A 90%

     

    B 95%

     

    C 97%

     

     

    Your first answer is the only one I can accept.

  2. gordybhoy64

     

    19:26 on

     

    28 October, 2014

     

    WDH,

     

    Have you stayed in the Dakota in Glasgow,

     

    was going to take the mrs over for dinner and a nights stay

     

     

    g64,

     

    i have, done it on thier own website and offers for a sunday night with private dining area, it was very very good.

     

     

    different location, but a good stay.

  3. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on

    glendalystonsils

     

    19:48 on

     

    28 October, 2014

     

     

     

    Two poor teams – one poor club.

     

     

    St Johnstone generally run on a small profit.

  4. gordybhoy64

     

    19:53 on

     

    28 October, 2014

     

    Geordie/Saint Stivs

     

    cheers for the replies,seems like its worth a visit

     

     

    i am going to do the queenferry one sometime as well.

  5. Johnny B Goode, by Peter Tosh.

     

     

    I have a sneaking admiration for Born to Run by Amy McDonald. It’s not that it is so great (but it’s not bad), but it is great that someone has covered it.

  6. Saints versus sinners at the ashleydome would get football banned, both of them are rank rotten

     

    Going by the number of empty seats I take it sevco no longer give out free tickets?

  7. glendalystonsils on

    BRTH

     

     

    Indeed there are more differences than similarities between the two:

     

     

    Honest/dishonest

     

    Responsible/irresponsible

     

    Realistic/unrealistic

     

    Old/new

  8. Sports Direct works team only 4 good signings away from matching us according to Charlie Nick.

     

     

    I wonder if he meant the front 4 or the back 4?

  9. What on earth has happened to StJohnstone this season?

     

     

    I know they lost May but their general play last season was efficient, sharp and structured, making them a stuffy, occasionally dangerous opponent.

     

     

    They staged a marvellous comeback against Aberdeen in the SC semi and won the final deservedly against Dundee Utd.

     

     

    They look a shadow of that side. Almost as dire as the Zombies. Pish v Pish, so to speak.

  10. Couple of concert covers…

     

     

    Very bizarre -Richard Thompson (ex Fairport) doing Britney Spears ‘Hit me baby one more time.’

     

     

    Very emotional in Belfast – round the time of the Holy Cross school disgrace and the killing of a young postie who was wearing a Celtic shirt –

     

     

    Elvis costello with Nick Lowe’s ‘Peace love and understanding.’

  11. glendalystonsils on

    Frazer Wright, a fine clearing header over the Sevco bar.

     

     

    If I didn’t know better………

  12. Covers which rip your knitting

     

     

    Song; Original; Cover

     

     

    Love Song; Cure; Adele

     

    Seasons in the sun;Terry Jacks; westlife

     

    Ashes to ashes;Bowie; Samantha mumba

     

    Crying; Roy Orbison; kd lang

  13. I refreshed and ended up on page one and noticed something that I didn’t notice earlier from Bmcuwp

     

     

    “It was a free header. It landed nearer the corner flag.”

     

     

    Boaby you like a wee bit exaggeration annaw it seems;)

  14. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Good Evening Timland.

     

     

    Watching the fitba?

     

     

    St Johnstone…low in confidence and intimidated.

     

    Sevco ……sh#te.

     

    One goal will win it.

  15. Should have added that all Elvis said as introduction to the song was

     

    ‘This song is dedicated to teachers and postmen’.

     

     

    Would have been round 2001.

  16. The self same Fraser Wright

     

     

    _______________________

     

    WHERE was the respect? That was what angry Celtic fans were asking yesterday because three St Johnstone players seemed not to applaud the SPL champions on to the Parkhead pitch.

     

     

    The Hoops picked up the SPL trophy after a comfortable 4-0 victory over the Saints but for some supporters the lack of appreciation shown by a minority in blue was well worth picking up the phone for.

     

     

    Billy McCabe, East Kilbride , said: “Anyone else notice certain St Johnstone players making a point of not applauding Celtic on to the park? A total lack of class.”

  17. Shite, spoke to soon

     

     

    Immobile just scored

     

     

    Did he not play for Killie or be a French name for furniture?

  18. glendalystonsils on

    A large part of me never wants to play them ever again, but if they do get through ,a small part of would be happy taking 6 off them. They are garbage.

  19. BBC apologist commentator – ‘It’s been almost chess-like here at Ibrox’

     

     

    Whit? More like Draughts played by two stoned, demented chimps.

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