What has happened to Hooperman?

Folks, last season like most fans, I was very impressed with Gary Hooper. He made 36 appearances and scored 22 goals.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the stats to show the number of assists but most would agree that his contribution was above expectation for a young guy at a new club with all the pressure that is placed on a Celtic player.

Watching him v Aberdeen, I thought he had a shocker. Now after the game, I was talking to my mate Andy who (quite rightly) pointed out that footballers will have bad games and they are allowed to do so. Who am I to say otherwise?

For me, the big problem is whether or not he’s happy at the club? Recently, I read an article from another website, stating that Hooper has stated that he wants to leave the club.

To be fair, that was just one website and the majority of the comments seemed to be having a go at the author of the story on the basis that the story had no quotes from either the player or his agent.

Now, I am not a journalist, but I do understand that proper journalists cannot reveal where their information comes from. So I am beginning to wonder is it the case that Hooper has just suffered from a loss of form or is there something more deep rooted than that?

I felt that against Aberdeen his movement was poor, when it looked like he could have had a shot at goal, he seemed to prefer to pass to someone else. He never really created an awful lot and never won very many balls.

Now, I do suspect that other people will have a different opinion and I respect that – that’s why I love football so much. There are so many different opinions from different people on the same event.

Another problem that I have with Hooper is his tendency to be injured before European matches. Does he perhaps not have the mind set to play in Europe for us?

Is it just unfortunate that he’s picked up some injuries? Or is it convenient to be injured instead of playing against players that he perhaps knows that he can’t play against?

Based on the above two points – passing instead of shooting and not playing in Europe, I would have to suggest that if I am correct on them then it must be a confidence issue. So that’s down to whoever looks after him at the club to work with him.

I sincerely hope not but I just find it bizarre that he has not played anywhere near his best this season. Maybe tomorrow, I will have a different opinion but I just felt today that he really let himself down not to the mention us fans and the rest of the team.

The chance in the second half where the ball came across the face of goal, Hooper stood and watched it go by him. I feel a player on form or with confidence or even the Hooper of last season would have thrown himself at that ball and who knows, he maybe wouldn’t have scored but at least he would have had an attempt at goal.

Can you imagine the abuse that Georgios Samaras would have got had he turned up and played in the same manner?

I am not defending Samaras but I think that all players, including Hooper really have to get a grip of themselves and start performing better. Yes, it’s much easier for me to sit on my couch with my feet up and the TV on in the background to type that than it is for the player to find him form. There’s just too many players off form and the guy is not doing himself any favours.

As I mentioned before, I could well sit and re-watch the game or read match reports but from my cold rain soaked seat in the Jock Stein stand, that’s my view of Gary and his performance today and this season. If I am wrong, please do tell me and I will be happy to hold my hands up and admit my erroneous views.

On another note, does anyone have any idea why the ref wouldn’t allow our player back on the park until Kayal booted the ball out? That has to be one of the strangest pieces of refereeing that I have ever saw.

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