Close menu

Stark differences ahead for Gary Hooper, says Ian Murray

By Kenny CrawfordBBC Sport Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments129

Ian Murray

Former Norwich City midfielder Ian Murray says Gary Hooper will have a totally different football lifestyle at Carrow Road.

Hooper sealed his £5m move from Celtic on Friday, while Murray swapped Rangers for East Anglia in 2007.

"There's no other city in the world that's got the intensity of the Old Firm fans and derbies," Murray said.

"You still have derbies now and again with Ipswich, but it's nothing compared to the rivalry in the Old Firm."

Murray, now manager of Scottish Championship side Dumbarton, can vividly remember the stark contrast between experiences at Rangers and Norwich.

Injuries and illness prevented him making a real mark on English football, but he reckons former Scunthorpe United striker Hooper might be better placed to hit the ground running.

"Obviously with Gary Hooper having played down south before, he knows what it's about to a certain extent," Murray told BBC Scotland.

"So perhaps it won't be as big a shock to him as it was to me.

"He'll maybe feel a bit of relief with the pressure that's taken off him when he goes down there, but then again, who's to say the pressure didn't spur him on when he was here?"

Hooper netted 31 times for Celtic last season, with four of them coming in Neil Lennon's side's impressive run to the last 16 of the Champions League.

And Murray knows that is one competition the 25-year-old will probably not sample again any time soon in England.

"He'll miss the European nights and the Champions League," he said.

"But then you only get maybe six to eight of those a season, so he's obviously decided to sacrifice them to go to places like Stamford Bridge, The Emirates and Old Trafford.

"There's no doubt the Premier League's been a huge lure in him leaving because I don't understand why he would leave Celtic to go anywhere else."

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

129 comments

  • Comment posted by KP_Rendergast, at 16:18 27 Jul 2013

    @2

    Once again a glorified arm chair supporter who believes all the hype regarding Premiership football!

    Hooper was the top scoring Englishman in the Champo League last season. He'll bang them in against overrated defenders in the Premiership.

    If Snodgrass (a product of Scottish football) can create enough chances for him then he will easily score 15+ goals in this season.

  • Comment posted by U15775804, at 17:15 27 Jul 2013

    So injuries and illness prevented Murray making an impact at Norwich.........i thought it was an utter lack of ability.

  • Comment posted by 7121239, at 23:40 29 Jul 2013

    Gary whoooo

  • Comment posted by U15693091, at 14:56 29 Jul 2013

    Who on earth is Ian Murray, supported city all my life i cant remember him!, obviously made a huge impact!!

    Colby Army

  • Comment posted by objectif, at 11:02 29 Jul 2013

    @124 Who can say what motivates a player these days? Perhaps in Hooper's case he feels there is one thing he can win with Norwich he might not get a sniff at if he remains in Scotland - an international call up. I'm not sure many players regard it as the ultimate accolade anymore but if that's his reasoning then good luck to him.

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 10:47 29 Jul 2013

    @124 You don't get it, do you? Norwich have been regarded as middle of the road for years, but are planning to change that. They're building a challenge so are looking to attract talented players. I remember several top scots went to an unfancied middle of the road team in the 70's and became European champions, so anything is possible. You're bitterness about Scottish football is sad.

  • Comment posted by U14097593, at 09:52 29 Jul 2013

    ;) ER

  • Comment posted by chazabear, at 21:32 28 Jul 2013

    @121 you make assumptions of my" favoured team" the fact is you brought up rangers into the discussion when indeed it is not on the agenda - I like anyone has a right to voice an opinion and feel it is a sign of the times when you have a top player leaving a top club to go and play for at best a middle of the road club where he will win zilch! Scottish football is that bad fact

  • Comment posted by U15766570, at 21:02 28 Jul 2013

    Just to quickly clear this one up. Regards the "old firm" quote, that particular fixture no more as of summer last year. Do try and keep up Mr Murray. Every man and his dog knows one half of that horrid pair done themselves in and subsequently cease to exist.

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 18:56 28 Jul 2013

    Norwich will do reasonably well this year. Everything is so positive just now. Speak to fans of Norwich and they seem to feel that the opportunity is there. Good luck to Hooper and to them (at least he won't be there to score against Hibs.....) and I hope they finish above Liverpool.

  • Comment posted by U14998231, at 18:22 28 Jul 2013

    @111 Chazabear, where's the 'pure hatred' you talk about? I was only trying to make you feel welcome by including your favoured team in the discussion, seeing as you seem to be farm from home on a thread about a player transfering between Celtic and Norwich.
    In fact, it makes me wonder why you felt you had to contribute at all, if not to have a pointless dig at a team you clearly don't support...

  • Comment posted by the govan lie machine, at 17:50 28 Jul 2013

    There are several saltires flown at Celtic park also, but thankfully no "butcher's aprons"!!

  • Comment posted by U14747216, at 17:48 28 Jul 2013

    #118
    So he does what most modern-day strikers do: help link up play. Wow. I never said he was a Kris Boyd! A decent striker no more no less but if he wasn't the main goal threat last season at Celtic it was hard to see who was

  • Comment posted by Daddy, at 17:20 28 Jul 2013

    @117 Hooper spent a lot of time coming deep and being used as a link up man rather than the main goal threat for Celtic. You're writing about him like you've never seen him play.
    @115 Brown and Roxburgh actually qualified for tournaments.
    @111 Celtic fans often wave the saltire away from home in Europe. Unless it's your club's colours, it's stupid to wave your country's flag at home.

  • Comment posted by U14747216, at 16:42 28 Jul 2013

    #115
    No unlike Ally, Hooper has never had the reputation of being a penalty box 'diver'! But for me he is a rather 1-dimensional penalty box finisher: outgunned last season by the snail-paced Higdon. Good luck to the lad but you don't get a move to a big EPL team because of 20 odd league goals a season and around 6 assists for a team like Celtic in the SPL.

  • Comment posted by U13750570, at 16:28 28 Jul 2013

    Am amazed at how many Celtic fans are knocking Norwich. Do they feel the likes of Snodgrass, Martin & Whittaker are second rate. If so where does that leave Scotland? Also they ignore the fact that Hooper is not even our most expensive striker signing this summer. Norwich are no Man Utd I grant you and Celtic are a truely great club, but Hooper just wants to play in his own country. Live with it.

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 16:16 28 Jul 2013

    @114 Are you talking about Ally McCoist? He's retired as a player. Hooper has a great record not only of scoring good individual goals, but creating the chances himself AND also creating chances and assists for others.
    England won't pick him. Like Scotland under Roxburgh and Brown, they stick to cliques and bow to meedja pressure

  • Comment posted by objectif, at 15:48 28 Jul 2013

    I'd just like to wish GH all the best at his new club. I'd also like to wish Norwich all the best for the coming season, I thought their conduct throughout was impeccable and in marked contrast to certain operators. In some ways I'd like to see him realise his international ambitions - I feel he has at least deserved at shot at one even if the Scot in me chokes at the thought of england doing well

  • Comment posted by HotHamish, at 14:51 28 Jul 2013

    Thanks Patrick... wondering then if Kenny Dalglish is still a closet bear...
    But Mick, I will be very surprised if Hooper can score as often as you think. If he's to keep in the Norwich first team he'll be spending more time in his own penalty box than the opposition's. Fourth favourite for the drop with the bookies.

  • Comment posted by U15802223, at 14:17 28 Jul 2013

    Gary hooper will score week in week out and end up at top 4 club in England Norwich will lose him exact same as celtic this boy can finish better than your wellBeck Carroll Sturrige and he will prove it himself.

Top Stories