The Hooper-Scepovic lesson

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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

     

     

    Great call on Hurt; I thought it was his song at the time

     

     

    I rank it emotionally with Tony Bennet doing Lovely; Ying and yang

  2. archdeaconsbench on

    Watched the last ten minutes of the first half from Ipox. Whole different kind of purgatory…

  3. the long wait is over on

    notthebus 20:05

     

     

    One of the most crass acts of lack of sportsmanship I’ve ever seen.

  4. Poor fare at the Scrapyard.

     

    Two bad lots.

     

    Ref not giving visitors much.

     

    Boyd missed good chance.

     

    Commentator surprised…

     

    …as he is Scotland ‘s best goal scorer!

     

    Saints coming more into it.

  5. the long wait is over on

    coneybhoy

     

     

    Cheers.

     

     

    Don’t know that TB song. I’ll check it out

     

     

    HH

  6. when I first saw this cover version I fell off my chair laughing so for me its the best cover…..but for all the wong weasons

  7. Any news on the great Georgios Samara’s, is he getting any football in that League of superstars or is he just filling his pockets with banknotes from his Sky paymasters?

  8. The long wait is over

     

     

    Was a swing sing(Sinatra etc) but Tony made it a proper love song. On my wedding vid so I an biased

  9. “That intimidation factor that you used to get at Ibrox and Celtic Park is not as big as it used to be in years gone by”.

     

     

     

    Where does Celtic (or Celtic Park) come into this game?

     

     

    What tube said this?

     

     

    BBC Scotland football pundit Michael Stewart Posted at 20:10

     

     

    Awe right. I quite like Michael Stewart. He talks sense.

  10. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    The Patriot Game by the bluebells wisnae a bad cover version.

  11. Templeton used to be a supermarket in my home toon.

     

     

    It is now a pound shop.

     

     

    Bit like yer man?

  12. Jeezo!

     

     

    I work as a carer, the laddie I support is a Saints s/ticket holder so I’m through with him at Mordor, it’s brutal.

     

     

    The sevconIan’s keep shouting ‘paedos’ at us, meanwhile ‘sports direct’ banners adorn their ground……

     

     

    Mike Ashley do yet worst!

     

     

    HH

  13. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    tom

     

    he is probably the best of them all.

     

    Watchedhim on Sunday before Hearts Hibs game. Having played for both he said the difference was diwn to confidence. Hearts expected to win whilst always a nervousness at Hibs.,

  14. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Coney bhoy

     

    temoletins in blantyre is now credit union, same idea…8))

  15. South bhoy

     

     

    We all have to do things we don’t like at times.

     

    You however deserve a massive pay rise for the trauma you are being subjected to at the moment

     

     

    I will pray for u

  16. Burghbhoy

     

     

    20:27 on 28 October, 2014

     

     

    South bhoy

     

     

    We all have to do things we don’t like at times.

     

    You however deserve a massive pay rise for the trauma you are being subjected to at the moment

     

     

    I will pray for u

     

     

    I absolutely echo that; what a thing to have to do.

     

    A quick shower afterwards may help the cleansing process!

     

    Hope you never have to go through such an experience again.

     

     

    HH

  17. Hun goalie attacks post and injury forces him off.

     

     

    McCoist brings on replacement keeper Damian Lewis from ‘Homeland’

     

     

    Thought they couldn’t afford big stars any more?

  18. the long wait is over on

    Lump of wood damaged by a lump of wood at Ibrox…

     

     

     

    All joking aside that does look pretty bad.

     

     

    Ouch!

  19. So after Whyte and Greene, Ashley has a consultant placed on their board called Llambias.

     

    Surreal absurd Karma…

  20. beatbhoy

     

     

    20:25 on 28 October, 2014

     

     

     

    Too true. You’re just past the watershed.

     

     

    Why is most music today crap I ask myself. Then again, same for football.

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