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In-Depth Article On Morten "Duncan" Rasmussen

Discussion in 'Celtic' started by VenomPD, Jan 26, 2010.

  1. VenomPD

    VenomPD Merrick jr

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    Stolen from ESPN but pretty interesting nonetheless:


    Celtic manager Tony Mowbray's bid to freshen up his squad has taken another step forward as Danish striker Morten 'Duncan' Rasmussen moved closer towards his £1.8 million move from Brondby following the obligatory medical check in Glasgow.

    Rasmussen had been in action for the Danish League Select at the King's Cup invitational tournament in Thailand, but had been given permission by Danish national team coach Morten Olsen to travel to the Scottish capital to negotiate personal terms after Brondby had accepted Celtic's bid. Rasmussen and Olsen had enjoyed intense discussions regarding Celtic's offer and when Danish TV asked Olsen to comment on the possible Rasmussen transfer, the coach didn't seem overly enthused, even though he admitted that going to Glasgow could be a career-move in the right direction for Rasmussen.

    "'Duncan' is already playing at a great club but it is important for a player always to look for a way to take a step further,'' he said. ''Celtic has, without saying anything bad about Brondby, a lot more history in football. The Scottish league isn't better than the Danish. Scotland have of course Rangers and Celtic but they aren't as imposing as they used to be. Neither of those clubs have the same financial backbone as five years ago.

    ''However, there is an amazing fanaticism around the team at Celtic. They have huge crowds attending their matches and they play regularly in Europe. The demands are enormous at the club. We know how big headlines are when Celtic lose a match. It's the sort of club where you have to be very mentally strong because you have a lot to lose and only little to win and this could help develop 'Duncan' as a footballer''.

    Rasmussen was just 14 when he trained with Celtic in 2000. Back then 'Duncan' was part of a smaller group of young Danish players who were given the opportunity to travel to Scotland under the leadership of former Celtic defender Marc Rieper and experience the surroundings at the Glasgow club.

    "We selected four or five youth players to travel to Scotland and Morten was one of them'', says Rieper. ''They were boys who had been doing well at our club and we wanted to give them a treat. It was a great chance for them to see how things operated at a big, professional club outside Denmark. Morten was so impressed when we arrived at Celtic Park. I think it made a tremendous impression on him.''

    Today it's a bit ironic that Rasmussen - whose nickname is 'Duncan' because his style of play has been compared to former Everton, Rangers and Scotland striker Duncan Ferguson is about to launch his international career at a club where the name will stir up painful memories amongst the Celtic fans. But Rieper, aformer Danish international defender who played at Celtic says Hoops fans shouldn't worry - insisting Rasmussen is actually more like John Hartson.

    "Duncan is the name he's had for a few years now,'' he said. ''When he was younger he scored a lot of goals with his head so that's where that comparison came from. But for me he's more like Chris Sutton or John Hartson. Those are the players I'd compare him to. Like Hartson he is strong and physical. He is good in the air and makes life difficult for defenders who play against him. He is a proper targetman who scores a lot of goals. I think he will fit in very well in Glasgow - he is well suited to Scottish football in my opinion."

    And indeed Rieper does seem to have a point. There are a number of factors speaking in favour of 'Duncan' being ready for a successful spell in Scottish football. Right from the first time he made headlines in the Danish papers (when he scored five goals in a 6-0 win for Denmark against Finland in the 2002 Under-17 European Championships on home ground), 'Duncan' has never been shy of challenging his opponents physically.

    He simply loves the physical battles to create space for himself in tight areas and he has got the fighting spirit of a wounded bull. Qualities that will no doubt please most Celtic supporters. And with a spot open for an extra striker to support Nicklas Bendtner in the Danish World Cup spot, Rasmussen will no doubt be extra eager to make a name for himself in Scotland.

    However, Celtic fans expecting to see a Scandinavian replacement for Henrik Larsson will be desperately disappointed. While Rasmussen is certainly physically more robust than the former Swedish international, he doesn't have the speed or Larsson's delicate first touch. Having said that, 52 goals in 111 appearances for Brondby and ten goals in 21 appearances for the Danish Under-21 national side is certainly proof that 'Duncan' has plenty of goalscoring instinct.

    But while there are plenty of factors which could indicate that Rasmussen might possibly soon turn into a crow favourite at Celtic Park, there are also a few skeletons in his closet which suggest that immaturity and lack of discipline could rule him out of favour of Mowbray's disciplinary regime.

    In late 2006, Rasmussen stupidly slid down on his knees on a waterlogged pitch after a match was called off because of torrential rain. The young striker damaged ligaments as a result and missed four months of football.

    Rasmussen's taste for heavy partying has also landed him in hot water throughout his career. While still earning his bread and butter with AGF Aarhus he was fined £1000 after drinking heavily in a nightclub following a defeat against Aalborg. In August 2007 he was forced to make a public apology after getting involved in a brawl at a disco in Copenhagen.

    Rasmussen has also openly admitted that he suffers from, and is being treated for, an addiction to gambling. The admission came after he was given a suspended sentence after committing credit card fraud with his girlfriend's VISA card in 2008 in order to raise funds for his love of gambling.

    Still, with a personality that is very quiet and unassuming by nature, the Scottish media will soon find out that Rasmussen is not about to make big headlines for himself outside the pitch if he is treated correctly.

    Back in the '90s Danish legend Brian Laudrup left Fiorentina and the aggressive Italian media for Rangers and a life around Glasgow where he settled amazingly well thanks to Scottish hospitality and a mentality that generally fits very well with the Danish laid-back approach. This could very well be exactly the environment that will enable 'Duncan' to find peace with himself in his private life which will help him to become even more successful on the pitch.
     
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  2. Bhoy From Brum

    Bhoy From Brum Well-Known Member

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    Peace in Glasgow? <laugh>

    Sounds like a bit of a cock tbh, who the **** steals their mrs' VISA? Nevermind when your a footballer, its usually the other way round!!

    I propose his new nickname be 'Fivehead' as in "He's not got a forehead he's got a fivehead' <ok>
     
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  3. VenomPD

    VenomPD Merrick jr

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    Great news that he has officially signed. Looks deadly in the box, which is what we need. We have four completely different strikers now. Skippy is one of those right-place, right-time strikers. Fortune likes to hold-up play and link the midfield with the strikers; a "Trequarista" Rasmussen is an in-the-box dangerman and Samaras is the unknown quantity
     
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