Sub Standard?

With Paddy McCourt's latest cameo
(against Hearts 11th September) providing another beauty of a goal showing the skill, poise, balance and arrogance of a player deserving of making any starting eleven in Britain, It does begs the question; is he more adept as a 'super sub' or could he make a similar impact if he was consistently named on Lennon's team sheet?

In recent years we have moved from the term 'supersub' to the politically correct 'impact player' - and with larger squads and long seasons, many players make their contribution throughout the seasons in different ways. The top teams sometimes even field separate teams dependant on which competition they are playing in, with Arsenal and Man Utd playing eleven youngsters and fringe players in the Carling cup, a more experienced but still relatively relaxed and attacking side at home in the league and cup, and a more resolute side away from home and in the champions league. It has become horses for courses in terms of team selection.

Could Paddy’s slightly less than galloping style, be more beneficial to the team in his ‘impact’ in coming off the bench in the second half of games. He certainly has the ability to make a difference, to give the opposition something completely different to think about, but is being a plan B, getting the most out of a player of McCourt’s talent?

Some impact players make a difference by bringing their pace and running power (like Samaras particularly in his first 12 months at Celtic) to the fore in the latter stages when the game becomes more open, others use a dogged determination and persistence to make their mark when defenders are tiring (shown by Nacho Novo throughout his spell at Rangers), players like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watch the game seeing where they can cause danger and come on and take advantage of their knowledge of the game when defenders are struggling to concentrate to see the game out, while others are brought on to totally change the style of play that the team will attack with (used to great effect by England with Peter Crouch coming on as they move to a far longer passing style using him as a target to play off). Paddy McCourt can be said to bring a bit of all of these in his very own unique style giving the opposition hell, and bringing goals to Celtic when he comes on. Although by no means the quickest, he is willing to take possession and run at fullbacks again and again, and has the ability to pass, cross, or strike a shot with either foot once he has eliminated his marker (and often several others).

Logically it follows that there are calls from the Celtic fans that their cult hero should be elevated to the first eleven to see what he can do if played all the way from the starting line. Surely if he can change a game in twenty minutes then he could do even more given the whole hour and a half. The more chance he gets to do so, the stronger, fitter, and better understanding he will be able to build.

At Celtic we have seen the likes of Maloney, then McGeady get the majority of their chances off the bench in their first season or so, and this is often the case with young players all round the globe serving as understudy to more experienced and more trusted players. Not quite able to justify a start but building experience and trust on each performance. Whilst this has similarities to McCourt's current predicament, its not that Lennon doesn’t trust his mercurial countrymsn, or doesn’t quite know what he will get from him, quite the opposite, he knows exactly what Paddy brings, and indeed what he doesn’t.

With bags of natural ability, what does not come natural for the Irishman, is working hard, covering his fullback and stretching the opposition with his running without the ball. Certainly in some games, these things are a necessity to provide the team with the platform to then allow your attacking players to take the game to the opposition. Surely there could be more than a fleeting argument made that as Paddy is clearly made for only the second part of that game plan, that only once the platform has been built by other more industrious bodies, that he comes on to provide his more creative touch to proceedings.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's famous quote could well have come from Celtic’s number 20;

“'It is no great mystery how I manage to score goals after going on in the later stages. The other players had already done 70 minutes' hard work, while I was fresh. That gives you an edge.”

And in Paddy’s case, that edge could be the difference between opening up a deep lying resolute defence, in those games that separate champions from the rest. Players like McCourt that can undo these defences, and win these tight matches, surely need to be given the best situation possible for them to perform. I am still to be convinced that for Paddy this lies in him starting most games.

Wing players, especially those who come in and out of the team, frequently struggle with confidence leading to inconsistent or a loss of form. McCourt; be it off the back of a spell on the sidelines, coming on as a sub, or starting a game, has the type of self belief that at times is half the battle whilst going at opposition defenders. Coming on with 20-30 minutes left of play does not seem handicap his confidence at all, infact I would go as far as saying he looks at his most comfortable and dangerous when the team have worked hard, the game has slowed down, and McCourt appears from the sidelines believing, even knowing, exactly what he can bring to the game. Excitement, entertainment, mazy dribbles, creating chances, and ultimately - goals.

If he continues to do that, and stays fit, who is to say he should force his way into the starting eleven, why can he not just continue being the super impact sub he has shown us already he can be?