O'Dea: Town is a Fantastic Club
Friday, 29th Apr 2011 14:09

Loanee defender Darren O’Dea has paid tribute to Town after his season at Portman Road was cut short by the ankle injury he suffered at Swansea on Monday. The Celtic man is set to return to Parkhead having joined the Blues in August.

The 24-year-old said: “Ipswich is a fantastic club with lots of fantastic people. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to come down here and play at such a great club this season. I have been involved regularly as well which has been a bonus.

“I have been playing at left-back for much of the season and I feel that I am more capable of adapting to different positions than I was before.

“I love football and have enjoyed playing regularly at Ipswich, but I won’t be complaining if I am back at Celtic in pre-season. I still speak to a lot of the boys and have been delighted that they have been doing so well.”

O’Dea says he wasn't shocked to see his Town team-mate Gareth McAuley mentioned in connection with Celtic’s greatest rivals in recent weeks: “I wasn’t surprised to see Gareth linked with a move to Rangers. He has probably been our best, most consistent player this season. He would stand out for any club.

“He is very calm in any situation, which is what you want from a centre-half. He is tall, physically imposing and is good in the air. I don’t know where he is going to be playing, but he would be a good acquisition for any team.”

McAuley, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is yet to sign his new deal despite the club agreeing to his terms.

Photo: Action Images

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BlueinBrum added 14:15 - Apr 29 Oh Darren, such sweet words, please don't go! Standard footballer speil. Average player who'll probably never make it into the Celtic team. See you next year when you're on loan at Barnsley or somewhere.
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brian_a_mul added 14:23 - Apr 29 Thanks for helping us out this season. We appreciate your commited defending and crunching tackles! I think with more experience he can make a top defender.
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gypo added 14:31 - Apr 29 I liked him had a great attitude would like to have seen him at centre back maybe we would have done if he'd not been injured last week. Thanks for everything all the best.
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Hamish1979 added 14:39 - Apr 29 And you are a crap player.
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rosseden added 14:40 - Apr 29

needs to touch up his distribution a little (lot!) but would be a good centre back for many championship level clubs or a back up for us..... if he came to us on a free as a back up across the back 4 i wouldnt be disappointed, but id not be jumping for joy either..... hes just that sort of player really......

kinda reminiscent of the Delaney situation, turns up, played out of position and not that great, then DD is played at CB and now looks like a decent champ player...... think DO could be similar given the chance......

bedsitfc added 15:31 - Apr 29 Nice words daz but g.mac and norris have been stand out performers in a weak ipswich side. They will never be anything more than average championship players.
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GeorgiDoundarov added 18:48 - Apr 29 I would agree with BlueinBrum. He will never make it to the Celtic team so the best he can expect is another loan to a team, much worse than us. As of his comments - standard fluff, which every player would say anyways. But good luck to him in the future!
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TimmyH added 18:48 - Apr 29 Nice words - but unfortunately but we won't be looking to sign you permanently...I hope!
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pazelle added 19:43 - Apr 29 It IS a fantastic club Darren cheers for that enjoy Glasgow!
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Garv added 22:41 - Apr 29 Immature comments from Blueeinbrum and hamish
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Gazelle added 23:09 - Apr 29 Hamish is there any need for prattish remarks like that ?
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Lightningboy added 18:08 - Apr 30 Yes Darren,we are a fantastic club..cheers for coming down but much better than yourself is needed next season at PR.
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