Willo Flood in The Herald:
Shirt number tailor made for Flood
MARTIN GREIG February 03 2009
Willo Flood looks prone to a sudden gale never mind a Barry Ferguson bone-cruncher. Appearances are deceptive. The 23-year-old midfielder is a player of considerable substance and reflected on the fulfilment of a boyhood dream yesterday when he was formally unveiled in a Celtic shirt.
Said shirt, with No.16 on the back, holds a particular resonance for the young Irishman. When he was informed that Roy Keane wore the same number during his short spell at Parkhead, a broad grin spread across his elfin features.
Flood recalled playing against the former Manchester United captain in only his fifth top-team appearance for Manchester City. Ten minutes into the derby match, in November 2004, Keane cemented his 19-year-old countryman and was booked. Lesser players would have disappeared but Flood dusted himself down and formed part of an impressive City rearguard action that eventually earned a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.
After the match, he even had the temerity to tap Keane on the shoulder and request his shirt. “Keane is my all-time hero,” he said. "He’s probably the best player we’ve ever had in our country and the best we’ll ever have. The best leader, the best captain and an absolute hero everywhere in the world.
"When we faced each other, I got smashed by him after about 10 minutes, so that was good. Asking for his jersey went down well.
He said to me he would give it to me in the tunnel. He then got the kit man of Manchester United to give it to me in person. It just showed the mark of the man.
"I gave it to my mate James Shorthall who was Man United daft. I don’t know why. We have regrets in life and that was my biggest.
His ma’ put it in the wash the next day and forgot about it. She’s not the brightest spark."
Flood was highly rated at City but the club grew frustrated at his failure to add bulk to his sylph-like frame. A couple of loan spells followed by a switch to Cardiff City failed to ignite his career and it was not until he was spirited north to Dundee United on loan that his talents finally started to re-emerge. "There were low points. At City, I was playing, then not. I went to the Championship to get games, but when it went pear-shaped there, I had to have confidence in myself, my agent and my family.
I gave it to my mate. His ma put it in the wash the next day and forgot about it
"I had doubts, but I knew that you can’t be 19 and playing in the Premiership and be a bad player. I knew there was something there and I had to bring it out. Leaving Cardiff, I had to play games and get confidence back. That is what I done. Craig Levein, the Dundee United manager has been unbelievable to me. He’s the one that got me here and got me my confidence back.
I owe everything to him.
“So far in my footballing career, he has been the biggest influence. I have a lot to thank him for. Things worked out really well at Dundee United and I was thinking about staying. But when the chance to play for the club I supported as a boy came along, there was only one answer.”
Flood is a forthright character on and off the field. After Dundee United’s defeat to Celtic last Wednesday, in which he missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out, the midfielder criticised the way the Parkhead club had drawn out the proposed transfer on the eve of an important game. Yesterday, he was sheepish when reminded of his comments.
"It was heat of the moment. I was upset. It was a semi-final and I’d missed a penalty to get Dundee United knocked out. I was upset for United, but I blew things out of context and I do regret what I said. My agent was on the phone saying, What have you done?’ I thought, at the time, I shouldn’t have said it, but tempers were flying and I just spoke.
“It was so close, yet so far away. It was a dream and I was wondering if it was going to happen or not.”
Flood trotted out the usual pleasantries about biding his time and not being able to walk into the Celtic first team. Circumstances may dictate that he gets his chance sooner rather than later. Celtic’s uninspired 0-0 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday saw their lead over Rangers reduced to two points, with the next Old Firm game less than a fortnight ago.
Flood may be called upon to inject some fresh impetus into a team who have lost momentum in recent weeks. This time last year, Celtic brought in his former United team-mate Barry Robson, who played a key role in the eventual title success. Flood hopes to emulate his impact.
“I knew Baz was good enough to go to Celtic and play because I saw him in training,” said Flood. "He got the recognition at Celtic, but I’m coming at a different time. He arrived when Celtic were a few points behind and nobody thought Rangers could be caught.
“Celtic are at the top on merit just now and the boys in the team are playing top-notch football. It’s going to be hard for me to get in, but I just need to get my chance and take it. I think if I get in, I can give the team a lift.”
Flood also offers Celtic versatility and is able to play central midfield or wide right. Neil Lennon, the first-team coach, has already spoken about him as a possible successor to Shunsuke Nakamura, who will go home to Japan in the summer.
“Nakamura is an absolute legend back home in Ireland,” said Flood. “They think he is God. If I am half as much of a success, I’ll be happy. The manager has said he likes my drive, he likes my enthusiasm and he likes my ability. He said it’s now up to me. He said I’ll need to work hard, but I would be working with a great group.”
