HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all and here’s to this new decade being even more successful for Celtic than the last which with 18 trophies won was thoroughly enjoyable to say the least. And the icing on the cake was of course the liquidation of Rangers! Back to business…
MANCHESTER CITY are reportedly unhappy about the way in which Paddy Roberts’ season long loan spell at Norwich City is panning out and are considering cutting it short and looking to loan the winger, who was at his happiest in a Celtic jersey, out to a different club.
You have to say that if Roberts can’t break into the Norwich side then his chances of making it at Manchester City are slim to say the least. And these continuous loan deals, other than the incredible highs he enjoyed at Celtic, have been almost as frustrating for the Paddy and indeed the clubs he has gone to after going back to City after his time at Celtic came to an end.
Celtic tried to buy Paddy, now 22, from Manchester City and thought that their £10million bid was accepted but apparently it was Pep Guardiola who put a stop to that at the eleventh hour. Given how Paddy’s lack of match fitness has been over the subsequent few years, you have to think that Pep did Celtic a favour and that Roberts could be available pretty soon at a much more realistic transfer fee – if indeed Manchester City can find a buyer.
The latest club that Man City are apparently considering loaning Roberts to is Middlesbrough, that is just about as unexciting as it gets in English football.
The Norwich boss Daniel Farke recently spoke about Roberts, who has made just four appearances for the Canaries since joining in the summer, and despite the lack of return from the loan deal, he is nevertheless keen to keep the player at Carrow Road for the rest of the season. Manchester City though appear to have other ideas.
Farke was a asked if he planned to cut the loan deal short. “No, not at all. That is not something we are thinking about at this moment.
“We’ll see how it develops in a few weeks but in general I am pleased with Patrick. Of course he would prefer to spend more minutes on the pitch,” he told the Media, as reported by Scottish Sun.
“We have to be a bit careful with our expectations of a player from Manchester City. It’s not like he won the title for them last season.
“He was out on loan and didn’t really play for a side in Spain, who were relegated. That is not easy in terms of confidence to come to a new club and be in your rhythm,” the Norwich boss explained.
“He had a really, really good pre-season but then he looked a bit tired, which is quite normal, and now we have a lot of competition.
“He will have the opportunity but he’s not 18 anymore. He’s at an age where he has to deliver right now and we will give him every chance. I’m pretty confident when there is a chance for him he can use us but it’s up to him.
“Patrick won’t be 100-per-cent happy at the moment because he didn’t play that much but all I can say is from my feeling I am happy with him. His time will come I’m pretty sure, but I can’t predict at the moment when it is.”
Paddy is pictured above talking to Kieran Tierney at the recent Norwich v Arsenal match when both former Celtic players were on the bench. Tierney shortly afterwards was injured and a recurring shoulder problem meant he needed an operation and will be out of action until the spring.
