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Agree. Bottom line is Jackie thought he was worth more than Strachan was offering. Time will tell if WGS is right.
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Zurawski's team lost 3-1, but he scored the goal, that's 25 in 26 games this season.
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I typed most of this as the last comment on the previous thread. Wee Gordon's comments are helpful but I wouldn't accept them as a full explanation for what has gone on between the club and its erstwhile captain over the last few months. The fact Jackie wasn't tied up long ago is puzzling. However, as I stated earlier, perhaps it is not justified to be going above 10 grand a week (the poor lad!) for a player who won't be first choice.
Negotiations with agents involved can be toruous and full of bravado and positional statements. I believe Jackie got a better deal and took it. As captain, he should have said so and not tried to do down the club. Nevertheless, I wish him all the best.
However, with wee Gordon now out and about (allegedly), I'd imagine we won't let another weekend go without giving our fans some good news. Big Jock Stein always knew the role Sunday papers played in setting the agenda for the start of the week and made sure they were fed tasty titbits to keep us on the back pages. Unfortunately, it seems David Murray has learned that lesson better than our board.
The Rangers chairman has cultivated the press strategically. When bad news brews (such as Kyrgiakos going) he always makes sure there is something else to take its place. Wonder why the Daily Record put on its front page that they'd signed a "4million pound player" even though the guy was an out-of-favour freebie who had punched his own coach?
The Jackie Mac saga, like the Brian Quinn phone message and DD's outburst before it, were all self-inflicted own goals. Celtic seem to want to hold the media at arm's length, but then bleat when the gutter press turn on them. As a famous Don (not Joe Harper) once said: "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer."
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As much as I am sorry to see Jackie go, i`m glad a truer picture has been painted. As usual the tabloids have been scathing, who really cares anymore? Jackie earned millions at Celtic, including a bumper testimonial, if he didn`t want to go elsewhere,as he has stated, then why has he gone? Loyalty should work two ways, it seems Jackie was loyal until he`d cashed in his chips. I wish him all the best at his new club, i`m sure he`ll miss us more than we`ll miss him, especially on the European nights, cos lets face it, he won`t see them again. Thanks again, Jackie, lets move on.
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Hey, I've just been having a beer with Bobby Russell - the one who scored in the 4-2 game. Bhoy, you got home quick! (I apologise for the chat-room banter)
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IMO Celtic fans are divided down the middle on the JM situation. I know of some lifelong fans who are loyal through and through to the players. Some of these guys have written to JM asking for the money back for the testimonial so they can decide what charity it goes to. My point here is these people would usually blame the board for losing JM. I think if you read between the lines JM took the money option and ran. Good luck to him, he has given a lot to the club.
Paul, I take it that if the two players who have already signed are a midfielder and a goalkeeper we do not have Diamond or Riordan.
My best guess now is Hartley and possibly Gordon, am I close with this assumption?
Off the topic I read the back page off the Daily Rankers (before people start throwing things at me I was at work bored and it was lying in front of me.) and noticed it mentioned that basically, and this is para-phrasing: "Celtic failed to offer JM the wages that he was on after, this on the same day the £7m Euro money has been announced" I ask you, who announced this today? I knew about it when Rankers got knocked out of Europe. Would the answer be perhaps the newspapers? Perfect example of how they are genuinely ingenious and stirring things when it comes to Celtic. (Of course it was all great news for Rankers and how Bazza will improve with the new signing).
Does anyone know if Maciej Zurawski has pace yet? I see he scored again today, that's apparently his 25th goal in 26 games. Would be a good signing but a little expensive when you consider we'd only get £2m for BBJ. Although with the teams apparently after him dropping out his price may drop. Paul, is 'Magic' the contingency plan?
To be honest, IMO if we were to buy Riordan I can't see why he wouldn't grab us 30 goals a season, he managed 20 odd at Hibs and would be getting more supply at Celtic. Nobody can really tell yet if he could do the job in Europe but he is still only young. Beattie is a good player but I'm not confident he will get us loads of goals, the same applies to Maloney.
Finally, I would hope we're not after Klos if he's 32, JM was younger so what is the point?
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WGS putting things from the other point of view certainly helps to paint a more accurate picture of what went on.But ultimately virtually everyone will decide who they blame,sometimes regardless of facts proving otherwise.
Me? I blame no-one.Jackie left because he wanted to,end of story.
BankieBhoy
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Malone19!!!
Hasn't Paul made it clear on numerous occassions that he won't speculate on who is coming to Celtic. Paul may have some inside info but he's not an all seeing oracle.
Only get £2million for BBJ.. have you seen him playing??
Sorry but some of your questions seem irrelevant and a vague(as in who knows)
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Look at what this c*ck had to write on one of the Wolves sites on this situation.
http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s115/st75148.htm
I agree that the situation has been taken overboard but it's something that never had to happen in the first place if we sorted out his contract long before.
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Mick
Paul has indicated on previous posts that he knows of players who are in the door. It is my understanding that obviously he cannot come out and give the names away as this would be breaking Celtics trust. I am quite sure however that if he does have inside info on who we have signed he could confirm that players are not at the club. A lot of my questions were rhetorical and weren't looking for a black & white answer.
Yes I have indeed seen BBJ play and although he is not what we need at this time he bags loads of goals (he has done throughout his whole career even in the EPL). He will score goals wherever he goes and considering he just received player of the year award (warranting it or not) I think around £2m if perfectly ok to be looking for - the Rankers are after well over £1m for Kishnasvilli (excuse the spelling) so why not?
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Sean
Just read the article there, found it quite funny in a disturbing way. It's better to ignore reporting of such poor quality, perhaps once positive from this whole experience is that players will hopefully not think they can rape us for our last pennies when negotiating new contracts or when signing for the club.
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Don't worry it had me laughing out loud for sure. It just worries me people like that are out there. It's time as a human race we trim the herd I feel hehe
I popped on the message board as well. The usual ignorant comments i hear all the time living down here. All it does is emphasize how much we need decent television coverage. You need to pay the huge prices of Setanta to see Celtic down here so basically only our fans see the club. It's not good for marketing. I wish there was something we could do.
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First Posting....so be gentle folks:)
Guys, there are several issues at play here, and as such there may be
multiple culprits.
First off, decisions were made NOT to offer deals last summer to:
Jackie (he had one year left, he'd probably have taken another one)
Bobo
Lennon
Joos (fair enough)
Douglas (fair enough again)
Hartson (we'd be in deep shoite if he had not signed in January)
That's a lot of bodies to take a chance on. Especially given we had our
arses kicked by liam miller. We did re-sign Sutton (thank God) and Thompson
(aaarrgghh!!) We also spent dosh - lots of it - on Camara (aarrgghh again).
MON didn't decide how much money he had - but he did decide on who to spend
it on. Assuming he didn't have enough to offer deals to everyone he
wanted - he made his decisions, and we need to live with them. I think that
it is clear that neither GS or Lawell would have been part of these
decisions.
Then January came along, and we seemingly had some money available. Hartson
signed, and we should be glad of that. Even if he were to leave now, at
least we'd get something for him. Bobo clearly had decided he wanted to
test the summer market. Given the fact that we were in January, the deal we
got with him was as good as we could have hoped for.
So we get to the summer and Jackie. we don't know why an offer wasn't made
10 minutes after GS arrived, but it seems that an offer WAS tabled, and that
Jackie was negotiating. Then, wolves offered him 16k a week. All of a
sudden, Jackie had to explain why he was dropping down to a lower league,
giving up european football, and rejecting an offer from the club that he
supported - and only a couple of weeks after his testimonial.
I don't blame him for going. What I do object to is his attempts to deflect
blame to what he knew was an easy target - the Board. He knew all too well
that there is a certain section of the support who will believe ANYTHING
about the board - especially if it is written by the hacks at the record.
Sad but true.
So, rather than say he wanted a few bob more and a less demanding
life.....he grabs the money and claims it is all too late....something
(according to GS) he had never indicated.
I feel sorry for Strachan. He bought the house, only to find that it hadn't
been maintained very well. There has been little indication of squad
management either in team selection, or contract awards. Next season will
be a tough one. I hope that the support will bear in mind, when making
comparisons with MON (comparisons that will surely be impossible to live up
to in the short term) that MON inherited Lambert, Mjallby, Lubo, Petrov and
Larsson....oh yes, and Jackie.
Keep the heads up, lads. And don't believe all the crap that is written
about the board.
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WeeRon
I think this is the first time I've agreed with everything someone has posted on this site that reads over 4 paragraphs.
Considering MONs situation over the last 18 months I believe a lot of the contract negotiations etc. have been put on the back-burner. If even some of the statements Juninho made are true, which I suspect they are, then I would believe that MON drove down south to his his family at every oppertunity. This is completely understandable and I would have done the exact same if I were in his position. However, if this is the case it would have left the board into a difficult position, having a manager who cannot commit 100% to the job at Celtic is not the most efficent way of doing business. They obviously couldn't ask him to move on as it would be similar to commiting Hari-Kari; I would have thought (and all of this is just my opinion) that they would have made an arrangement for MON to finish the season. The manager not being around IMO would explain the behaviour of a lot of the players in recent months.
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THE REALITY OF THE RECENT EXODUS OF PLAYERS FROM CELTIC PARK LIES IN THE DESTINATION OF THESE PLAYERS.
THE FACT THAT THEY WILL BE PLAYING IN A LOWER ENGLISH LEAGUE IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT THEY ARE NOT OF THE STANDARD REQUIRED TO PERFORM WITH DISTINCTION IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
THE FACT THAT JACKIE WAS CAPTAIN HAD LESS TO DO WITH HIS INFLUENCE ON THE TEAM AND MORE TO DO WITH HIS LONGEVITY IN THE SIDE. JACKIE IS NOT AS FAST AS HE USED TO BE, AND IS NOT GETTING ANY QUICKER. THIS IS WHY HE IS GOING TO PLAY WITH WOLVES AND NOT IN THE PREMIERSHIP.
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Hey guys Jackie is gone so lets get on another subject after all he
is at or past his sell by date. And if Bobo goes, he goes. At times he looked like a disaster waiting to happen. He may be intimidating to play against but I don't see too much evidence of a keen footballing brain. It's gonna take a strong coach to keep him in line if he stays or goes.
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I can't be too bothered about Jackie going. He was a decent utility player but not a good captain..too quiet. Look at Stan in the last game when his passion was so high it nearly went over the top.
Good on Wee Gordo for speaking up to set the record straight. I expect we will see more straight talking from him.
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I am sorry I believe Jackie not the board or our newly appointed manager. You guys believe what you want, Jackie was an excellent player and servant to Celtic who it would seem the majority of supporters on this website and the board took for granted. Our loss not his
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When the two sides of a story conflict, people end up believing what they want to believe. Those who oppose the board will see the JM saga as more evidence of their bungling.
I don't know who offered what when where or how. I don't really care.
Two things I do know.
JM was captain of the side on the worst day I've experienced as a Celtic supporter. Maybe I missed him standing up to be counted after the game, when MON was big enough to take the blame. But his leadership on the park failed.
The other thing is that I cannot remember any respected senior Celtic figure (and we don't always deal with the exit policy effectively) leaving with such lack of dignity.
Let's move on. OK, me too.
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Yes Paul, I agree Strachan's commenys have shed more light on the events and have assuaged our fears to an extent.
But was is self-evident is the shambolic news management. Our PR is a disgrace. Constantly firefighting a "hostile" press. It would be nice to see Celtic seeting the agenda.
Who's in charge, Paul?
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Agree Paul, I think you hit the nail on the head with Jackie being embarrassed leaving so quickly after the testimonial and tried to blame the club rather than himself. He must have known though that the Club would hit back especially when GS had publicly said he would like him to stay. Jackie was a good versitile pro but he is not the player jackie himself thinks he is, otherwise he would be looking to a higher standard than Wolves.
I wish him luck but I don't think it will take a great player to replace him, we have a ready made left back on his way back to fitness.
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You've touched on something really interesting there Paul, what was going on in the dressing room during the last 4 weeks of the season? A club captain harbouring a grudge against some of his team mates who he knew had tied up better deals than he was ever likely to be offered. Putting to one side the mangers situation, what kind of influence would that have had on team morale? I still don’t think we've got the complete picture of the events that led up to that awful performance at Fir Park on the final day.
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Paul, I loved the way WGS stayed above the slagging match type quotes that Jackie lowered himself too the other day.
The wee man really knows how to speak to the media and won't be caught out that easily.
Hope you enjoy life in the Championshit Jackie-boy..
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I wish Jackie had stayed - he'd have continued to do a a good job for Celtic and I see no reason why he wouldn't feature in the first team (in terms of fitness and ability).
Now that he's gone, we're all too quick to say "aye, he wasn't that good. Glad to see the back of him".
I don't recall one single person saying this while he was here.
What wages/fees will be involved in his replacement and will he be noticeably cheaper?
People *will* believe what they want to believe if it helps them justify his decision. There's now talks of a rift in the dressing room? I don't believe it.
"When I hear an anti-Celtic story I filter it for half-truths, spin, misunderstanding and plain lies. As you will have noticed, I then apply my own Celtic supporting picture of the world upon it."
That you do - you've taken any half truths in here and painted it in a completely pro-Celtic fashion. It may or may not be the case that Celtic dropped the ball here but it doesn't seem like an option you're entertaining, Paul.
Also, just to finish of my mini-rant (haha!) here. You or anyone could very easily say, "we've done deals for 4 or more players already".
Even if this is patently untrue and we've barely identified a player, I've no doubt that we need to bring quite a few faces in given the numbers who've left.
When these new guys are identified and signed next month it's all to easy to say "I told you so" without actually having had any insight/foresight.
I'm not literally claiming that the "done deals" claim is an intentional fabrication but apart from taking your word at face value, how can anyone differentiate between your version of events and my hypothesised one?
I honestly don't want to sound too critical, I'm just in no hurry to follow tabloids or this website *blindly*.
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On another note-at least one journalist is prepared to blow away the nonsense of the Daily Ranker. Step forward Graham Speirs again:-
http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/41325.html
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Paul,
It seems that some people haven't been reading your site too long. Otherwise they would have known that the possible goings of the likes of Jackie, Lennon, Bobo (oh, please God, let it happen soon)and Fernandez has been the stuff of comment for months. Most quite happy about most, if not all, heading for the exit door. Jackie, for all his efforts, should never have been captain. As I've said more than once on here:WGS MAKE STAN CAPTAIN!!!
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Stevie21,
not following anyone blindly is an admirable trait and one that most on here would encourage. The reason this site is so good is because we have Paul posting and the reasoned debate that follows. Some pro some anti. Somewhere in the middle ground between what you call a pro-celtic stance from Paul and the position of the tabloids is the truth. I would be inclined to say it is more likely to be nearer Pauls position than the Tabloids, but then I may be biased as I see the tabloids as being anti-celtic. Keep up the scepticism and the reasoned debate.
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Excellent article by Mr Spiers. In this day and age, any great player of any great quality will not still be looking for a club when they are able to start looking in January. All the best ones are signed up by the bigger clubs as soon as they are available.
You may find some players at smaller clubs who turn out to be gems, but the big names are gone already.
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For me all this situation highlights is a lack of leadership at our club.
WGS and Lawell comments in the wake of this just reek of closing the stable door when the horse has already bolted.
Did we really expect WGS to come out say “och aye he (Lawell) made a mess of this”.
We need to look closer at the set up at Celtic, not just who’s to blame. We need to look to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Oh but did we not say that after Liam Miller?
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Good to see WGS giving a more balanced view of things. JM was out of contract, offered by both MON & WGS what they felt he was worth. His agent(!) has now secured him a more lucrative contract at a much lesser level. His choice, no problems with it he had already Celtic his best years and was happy with his previous contracts or wouldn't have signed. He's been well enough paid + Bonuses / testimonial and can have no complaints. Like Lennon or anyone else he can be replaced.
If JM wanted £ 15k + a week, I would have no hestitation in moving on for a younger / better player which is what I fully expect to happen. For 2 years MON gave JM one year deals, obviously not regarding him as a "must stay" type player...so lets now move to bring in such a player and pay him with the additional wages saved on dead wood such as Sylla - Lambert - Laursen etc
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Jackie can be a nasty piece of work when it suits him, and I still think that there were issues with him and Bellamy. Jackie has taken his money and ran there was no need for him to give an anti Celtic board outburst to the press, he of all people understands their agenda. Lets forget about him and concentrate on Celtic now, and look forward to a better and more exciting replacement for JM.
Stevie21 can you not differentiate between "tabloids and this website" ?
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I have to admin, on the day the JM story broke, I had no reason to disbelieve Jackie's view in events. This was based on the fact I've met Jackie on a number of occasions and found him nothing but a quiet/shy/honest guy.
the statement issued by the board on the official website on the day done nothing to shift me from my view that the board were "fools".
However, when it comes down to a choice between believing JM or WGS, I'd have to go with the ginger one. Don't know why, but I don't think he'd issue this statement on behest of the board, and he's a straight talker.
Upon reflection, the loss of Jackie isn't as big a deal as I first thought, and I'm hoping that by the time the season starts we'll all be saying "Jackie who?"
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Stevie21, you miss my point.
Short of having any (or full) information we all need to consider if we are prepared to publicly criticise Celtic when we know that we are not in possession of the facts. Experience has taught me that more half truths are offered about Celtic in a light which does the reputation of our club no good.
The McNamara episode is a prime example. The lesson is that without any help from the media some Celtic fans turned on the club before they know all the information.
As Celtic ‘supporters’ we should be the last people to jump on the club not the first. I do not look for the Celtic angle, but I take convincing before I come out and publicly berate my club.
As for the “I told you so” comment. I rarely use this phrase and only ever when very specific information has been given (such as saying we would sign two players in the next 36 hours back in January, or telling you Jackie was expecting to leave the day before the Cup Final).
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Madmurph calls it right.
The truth will lie in the middle. I know some of Jackie's pals have confirmed the offer in the car story.
We know Paul's view will generally be pro-board (he has a position to defend) - so we will just need to accept that.
Anyway - as long as they (Board and GS) get the finger out its not too late.
And naturally I do not believe I was overreacting.
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Just read the Graham Speirs article excellent as usual.
Incidentally picture on the home page(online Herald) is that Gerry McNee masquerading as a hostage?
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Putting aside the who said what when details, we have to admit that this episode has damaged the clubs reputation. We now have every 'Ranger minded' hack crawling out of thier burrows and penning poison words about the club.
I see the principle blame for this lying at McNamara's door. He did not have to talk to the press in the manner he did. He could have keep a respectfull silence.
The club will go on and eventually this will be forotten about, but will it be forgiven?
The only person really damaged by this is McNamara. How welcome, in TimLand will he be now?
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Malone 19, found this clip of Zurawski. Not sure if its exactly blistering pace but good composure and finishing. Thats my namesake Delaney he held off and I think he's pretty nifty.
http://www.kibice-uk.net/walespoland04.htm
Welcome Wee Ron, great first post.
On the Jackie front, have come to believe that it was a poor effort by the board. I think after it took so long to offer him a deal he was resigned to leaving no matter what the board offered. I hope this time they learn a lesson.
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Paul, you comment "All this sure makes you wonder what was going on in the dressing room during the last four weeks of the season" really does say a lot.
Nobody is coming out of this with any credit. Hopefully, GS will step up and lead us out of this torpor. I actually believe he can !
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Stevie21: Agree entirely, I just wish I could type as fast as you. CQN is in danger of becoming CBN - Celtic Board News.
Paul: You are much diminished in my eyes by your continual peddling of the spin put out by the board to cover up for their mistakes. In the past it has been flying kites on behalf of middle ranking board members now it involves peddling half truths and a partial selection of facts to denigrate a former player and captain.
What next? "Back the Board" rallies and T shirts?
Everything put out yesterday by the board had a bad whiff of reverse engineering about it. They were not seekers of truth, enlighteners of the faithful, they were coverers of arses.
Consequently your attempts to justify the board's position up to and including allusions to the state of Jackie Mac's mental state are straight out of the Pravda school journalism. Who thought up that idea: you, a suit or NeilR?
The story put out by the board and parroted here misses out some key points:
Why were talks not started earlier?
Were talks only started at the behest of DJ?
If yes when were the talks supposed to start?
When the deadline was set, were figures included?
How many offers were made on Monday evening?
Was an improved offer made on Tuesday?
Did it match the Wolves figure?
Why was Celtic's position on all of this not put out earlier?
Thin on Tuesday, torrents on Wednesday, why?
No party has put out a complete picture of what went on. It is just that the club has previous, it is trying to catch up and JM got 90% of his story out first.
If it all comes down to the clubs reluctance to pay a signing on fee so soon after a testimonial vs. the players insistence on such a fee based on past experience with other players and the fact that the testimonial carrot was used to make him accept cut price one year deals in the recent past.
You pay your money and you take your choice!
For what it's worth I would suggest that the club's poor behaviour has lasted two years and not just two weeks.
With regards to JM being made the captain, why am I reminded of the following Private Eye cartoon?
Man walks in to a shop to be served by a bloke sporting a "God" badge.
"Oh I see you didn't get a pay rise this year?"
The tentacles of this debacle could spread much wider. Who made JM captain and why?
However I think it is time to move on, it is encouraging that the most sense in all of this has been spoken by WGS.
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Off topic but....
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/41320.html
Talking about East End renewal.
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I hate to post yet another opinion on the JM situation but do you not think that he may have been told that during the 2 year contract on offer he may not be an automatic first team pick? Its (in a funny old way) similar to Business - when a CE or MD has taken the Company as far as he is able to do he will move on before in effect he is pushed out? I thought JM was a great all rounder for us but I think he has had his best days and may have moved to a promise of first team football. Good luck to him - but if it were me I would have shut up and counted the lolly....in the past I have had loads of customers who - having made a 'bad error of judgement'and realised it have taken it out on me - its in some peoples nature to lash out - its not in mine.
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Initially I said I was sad to see Jackie go, but it wasn't the end of the world provided we had a replacement in our sights.
In light of recent events, I take that back - not sad at all. Is it true Jackie went to the Record to spill the beans? If so, that's just incredible...Don't think WGS had that sort of thing in mind when he said McNamara "knows what the Club is all about".
As for info coming from Jackie's pals (?!?)...in all seriousness, were they in the car? Anyone have any info from WGS' or Lawwell's pals to counter this? ;->
Anyhoo, Lawwell has admitted 'phoning Jackie in the car to "confirm Celtic's position and Jackie's understanding of it" - not to up the offer. WGS/Lawwell both said the offer was upped before before JM's pumpkin hour of 5pm Monday.
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For those of you who feel uncomfortable using the initials of our new manager, then an alternative could be GDS as his middle name is David. Apologies for the distraction, but I feel we have exhausted the Jackie Mac saga.
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Do you think Jackie Mac would have said no to a contract BEFORE getting his testimonial? I don't think so,
See ya Jackie,wouldn't wanna be ya
Cabbage McF
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I posted something similar a few days ago, not sure if many picked up on it.
(Firstly, I work with Economic Appraisals- weighing pros and cons and making funding decisions based on them, so can claim a bit of knowledge ont the subject)
The board look at what JMc's value to the club. Considering he is now over the 30 mark and not necessarily the player he was say 4 years ago, he does not warrant a pay/terms increase [Lennon's situation= paycut, JMc's should be similar]. He is no more valuable to the club now than he was then so it makes no Economic sense to put a bigger value on him.
IMHO the only mistake the board made was offering him renewed terms after he/Jackson threw his toys out of the pram.
For a player to put such a deadline on negotiations with a club he has supported as a boy then claim the CLUB were disloyal, is infuriating and has left a sour taste in my mouth, and my opinion of JMc has plumetted.
As I said before best wishes and good luck Jackie...... You'l need it!
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I was fortunate enough to be at Jackie's testimonial ball in the Kerrydale suite a couple of Sunday's ago, when MON was asked to come to the microphone and pay tribute to Jackie.
His opening statement was "We come here tonight to bid farewell to Jackie MacNamarra", amid roars of laughter in astonishment, he proceeded to backtrack at the speed of sound, with Jackie looking totally bemused.
Was it a freudian slip, or did MON know all along what was going to happen, after all he was the guy who could have prevented all of this by addressing the issue when he was manager.
Re Jackie, I'm sorry it ended the way it did, but I feel he has been going backwards in the last 6 months in particular, with a lot of opposition chances, coming from his side of defence.
Yet again, maybe this was preying on his mind, and eating into him, when he saw the likes of Bobo, a nightmare if every I saw one, getting the deal that he got.
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Steve21
Not much of your comment I agree with I'm afraid.
You are quite mistaken to suggest that JM's ability has never been questioned on this site. I, and others, most certainly have and long before he left the club.
You write`people will believe what they want to believe if it helps them justify his decision' then oddly embody that very principle to state your case !!
Madmitch
JM was offered a contract based on his worth to the club- what's wrong with that.I'm sure the club's and GS's evaluation was pitched at the correct level for a player of only reasonable ability . JM was offered more from Wolves and decides to move - I have no problem with that either but why the need to have a parting shot at Celtic? JM has moved on..get over it, his best days are past him anyway. Celtic won't miss him but he might just miss Celtic.
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I'm not worried at all about the departure of McNamara, nor anyone else that has left for that matter.
Although WGS has came out publically and said he indicated to Jackie what he wanted from him for next season, could it be that Jackie was not guaranteed a game next season was the main reason?
I'm sure we will see around 5 or 6 new faces by July - maybe not the names many are clamouring for, but new faces nonetheless. My hunch is that we will have one major signing plus a quality Bosman, supplemented by a three or four players of decent standard such as Riordan et al. There will also be the opportunity for a number of young players to make the step-up too.
The optimistic outlook as that this may all work out well. For sometime now, people on this blog have been eulogising about the quality of player in our present youth system. It seemed to me that MON was unwiling to draft from the system, and when he did it ended-up with the talent being shunted to peripheral positions in the team. Perhaps WGS will see things differently, and place the responsibility on players like McGeady (ie. in a central, playmaker role)?
I'm looking forward to the season that lies ahead. It will be different for sure, but I'm convinced we will see a far more entertaining Celtic side that we have in the last two years with more emphasis on the team as opposed to reliance on individuals (Larsson in 2003/04, and Bellamy last season).
I'm be more than willing to give Strachan's Celtic both my time, money and patience. I think we are going to enjoy next year.
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Tom64,thanks for the link.
I think it's a pity that at a time when the club seem to be involved in a bit of long term planning that it is all being missed due to a lack of communication with the wider support and this pathetic "who's fault was it" scenario with Jackie.
Forgive my ignorance on this issue,but if this isn't the Barrowfield or Lennoxtown option,is this the third option that PL was refering to?
BankieBhoy
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JeromeK67
I have no issue with JM leaving, it could be the best thing for both paries. My issue is the way it happened and the fact that this site, which is by common consent slanted towards the board, threw all objectivity out the window to "spin" events to the board's / PL's advantage.
EK Gerry
Very interesting comment, a cat playing with a mouse? A weak captain usually means a forceful coach and vice versa.
However both have gone and it is onwards and upwards as the board work towards their plan of European domination by 2010. If that isn't their plan well it should be.
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I've just had a look at our current squad on the official site and I have to admit I wasn't delighted but after a bit of examination things could definately be on the up with only a minimum 4 new signings.
I went through it and weeded who I think will be on their way out.
Fernandez
Hedman
Henchoz (if not already away)
Laursen
Valgaren
Hartson(maybe)
Varga (maybe, Bobo looks to be staying)
Out of the remaining there are 7 who would be good enough to be first team players and thats not including Pearson, Beattie, Agathe Thompson and Lennon. who would all be excellent squad players.
By my guess (and I'm not best tactician in the world) we need a Right and Left Back, a quick defensive Mid and a Left mid. and I honestly think we would have a side capable of Europeann sucess.
I know this may be a case of stating the obvious but I would urge anyone starting to panic to print off the squad list and go through it. Its not all doom and gloom, providing the signings come soon.
PS. As i said yesterday keep an eye out for something tomorrow.
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From official site ....
Bobo Balde has claimed that he expects to return for pre-season training at Celtic Park after being convinced of the club’s ambition by its new manager, Gordon Strachan.
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Jimios - its entirely up to you what you believe - the truth will be somewhere in between
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Madmitch
No idea why you are having a go at me here. To say that I am not objective simply because I require a greater level of evidence before I will criticise Celtic than you does me less credit than I deserve.
Attempting to portray this as being “slanted” towards the board undermines clear debate with a totally subjective opinion – the type of which you have shared with us on many occasions in the last few days.
For what it is worth I regard myself to be the most objective person I know in my views about Celtic and make every call on its merits.
If you review what was said here by others after McNamara went to the press about the club and contrast it with the views expressed after Strachan spoke you might consider adopting my policy yourself.
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Alabama Celt
Thanks for the link, I've seen other clips on soccerclips.net but none show his pace. Zurawski does look composed and can finish. He is twice as fast as Hartson in this clip alone and I think you can tell he's not running at full speed. I would welcome him as a replacement for Hartson at the club; saying this Riordon IMO would replace him (same goals better workrate and more assists, all at only 22).
I think the posts saying we need to sort out the defence, a left midfield, central or defencive midfielder and a goalkeeper are spot-on. I hope we will be replacing Hartson and can get Bellamy to stay. I think Sutton falls into the bracket that GS put JM and Lennon under (although not a life long supporter he puts everything in for the club). I would like to see him play up front or in defence this year as playing in midfield IMO screws up our whole shape if adding a little bite to the midfield machine.
Still have no idea what the keeper situation is, paul says we have one in place who will be No.1 but I can't even throw a guess at who it is?
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I think all areas of the team need seriously strengthened. We need a keeper, full backs, central defender(s), midfield players with energy, and striker(s). IMO we need at least 6 starting XI players.
Interestingly in MoN's first Old Firm game the Celtic side contained only 2 players (Sutton & Valgaeren) brought in by the new manager. There is no way Strachan could get away with only bringing in 2 new first team players.
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Just read Bobo's comments on the Celtic site. Incredible! He wants to be with a club who can get to the latter stages of the UCL. He,single-handely,(pun intended) was responsible for our departure in Lyon.
We slagged Tebily. Nicknamed him "bombscare". Well watching Bobo take the ball from Varga had me "totally brikkin masel" then watch as he punted the ball up the park to no-one.
Do me a favour Bobo take your silky soccer skills elsewhere.
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Further to my last post RE: the squad. Just my thoughts.
I had provisionally put Bobo and John Kennedy in the centre of defence(from our current squad) but I think Bobo needs an experienced intelligent defencer to play alongside, somone to do the thinking whilst Bobo does the donkey work, he did well with Johan in defence. So if we can keep Bobo for this season, get JK back fit and healthy and an experienced CB, we can sell Bobo for a tidy profit next summer and have a good defence [JK and new defender] into the bargain.
Any thoughts?
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Apologies meant to read Defender and not Defencer makes me sound like an American!!
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What is it with these so called former celtic "legends" you know messers nicholas & mcleod. They wheel themselves out to chip in their tuppence worth, playing to the worse of the press inspired negativity brigade.
These guys are trading on what we made them and yet they have the cheek to stick the boot in at every given opportunity.
Compare these charlatans to the true legends of the club, the lions. These Gents see themselves as custodians of our club and while not being apologists they try to provide a measure that does not heap more torment on us, the fans.
I find it ironic that the more players have earned compared to their predecessors the more vocal they have become against those who provided those earnings.
They talk about loyalty, do me a favour, the modern player sees you and me as no more than a credit in the cash column, a down payment on a porsche. You want to see loyalty Mr footballer look up to the stands, not down at your pay cheque.
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Couple of points
-I can't agree with the majority here. never mind loyalty blah blah, we should have made an effort to keep Jackie as a matter of simple football economics - i don't think we can replace him with a player of the same or better quality for less than we were paying him. plus whoever we bring in may cost a transfer fee and is not gauranteed to fit in, by that i mean sometimes it doesnt matter a players undoubted quality, sometimes due to tactics, personality, they just dont cut it. Jackie did. Those who are saying he wouldn't have been 1st choice next year, thats sour grapes lads, can you honestly say he wouldn't have played at least 30 games given that he can play left or right back, right mid, centre mid? I think its a terrible move, for him AND us, regardless of who's to blame. Am i the only one?
Baldego - jackie never claimed to be a super fan, in fact i believe he was a Hibee as a boy. you mention lennons pay cut, JM should have done the same, but lennon is 3 years older, half as mobile, and even with the pay cut was still being paid well over double.are you seriously suggesting JM should have took a 33% pay cut on 10k a week?! 6.6k pw?
btw alabama celt, good clip, looks very promising. i think if people aren't convinced about signing this guy, its lubo moravcik syndrome, i.e. 'cos we've not heard of him he must be pish'. the guy is first choice striker for one of the better footballing nations. top scorer now, what, 5 years running now? the only surprise is his club aren't asking a lot more.
bigtex - one sentence sums it all up: 'nobody is ocoming out of this with any credit', you're spot on.JM is chasing the bucks, the board are guilty of procrastination and misplaced priorities. MON not blameless either - apart from anything else, why are contract negotiations left until the last month of players contracts?i thought we learned from miller that contracts should always be sorted >1 year in advance.
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p.s. - i've just been told that contrary to reports, lennons contract is not done and dusted, and he hasn't actually signed yet. anyone know whther this is true?
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I'm not upset about any of the leavers we have had so far. They were either not good enough, too greedy or both. Don't really care either way.
What is bothering me though is this habit we have of not getting any money for any of our players when they leave. Surely they are worth something to someone! And if so, they should be getting sold on before their contracts expire and can leave for free. For the life of me I cannot comprehend why David Fandango is still on our books! What exactly does he do with his time???????????
I may have missed something, I know that Bobo could leave for free this summer due to the clause in his contract - but does this clause only refer to this summer though (i.e. could we sell him come January?) or is this clause valid for the entirety of his contract?
BB
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I thought early this week he had signed but for the last 2 or 3 days it has been in the press that he hasn't.
Anyone got updates in what WGS is up to the the moment?
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http://tinyurl.com/dtsty
"Celtic mix-up over McNamara
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and chief executive Peter Lawwell were involved in an embarrassing mix-up over Jackie McNamara's move to Wolves."
What exactly is a mixup in the eyes of teamtalk? Another fine example of lazy journ.... reporting.
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Paul,
Think you hit the nail on the head again. With 20/20 hindsight it is clear now that the uncertainty around the club in the last six months, both player contracts and MON’s situation affected the team on and off the park. Something of the togetherness that was a hallmark of MON’s team particularly in the Seville year was definitely lost and I don’t think it has anything to do with tired or old legs.
Nothing could be done about MON’s situation but the players contracts could have been resolved earlier, this seems though to have been a deliberate policy of the management. Probably as a result of MON’s previous mistakes in giving both Lambert and Petta longer and more lucrative contracts than was realistic or deserved. Petta’s playing for Darlington for goodness sake and it still irks me. Who can blame them?
JM was offered an increased contract from what I read, if he is now on £16K a week as has been suggested then he will be £200k better off in salary over the two years of his contract than had he stayed, who knows about signing on fees. He is going somewhere were there will be far less pressure on him, less football, no European adventure or lengthy cup runs and less responsibility in terms of the duties of a club captain. If I was a player I know where I would be staying, no question. I wonder if fear was the real reason for JM leaving, fear that he couldn’t cut it in the new team, fear that the new manager would not rely on him so much, fear that he could not lead the team to regain the title, maybe he had lost some respect (his new favourite word) in the dressing room, fear that he would spend the last year and a half of his contract doing a “Tom Boyd” playing with the kids and going to supporter’s functions. He might have made the right decision, he was always one of my favourite players but he had already peaked in my opinion, we got the best out of Jackie and I thank him for it.
Bald ego, I don’t agree with your assessment, those principles you mention may work in business but not a football club in relation to players. You cannot measure accurately the residual value of a player or his influence on the team and turn it into a formula that works for all. The comparison with Lennon is false, he was on more than double JM to begin with, and just because his salary goes down does not necessarily mean the same was true of JM. I think that he should have got more, which he did get offered. You need a manager with a fair mind and a good judge of character to sort this out not a formula.
Does anyone else feel strangely comforted by the lack of activity at Celtic, the “decisiveness” of Rangers and the lack of info on new signings? Somehow I think that it will all come together, don’t know why, I just believe! We’ll see. They do say no one likes change!
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Paul,
I think I owe you an apology from yesterday.
I was not trying to say you personally offered Lennon £20k per week.However following the "Jackiegate" incident I would like to know where you stand on Lennon getting an extension.
Personally , I think his 5 yard passes back (never forward) to Balde & Varga to hoof up the park are one of the reasons why were so excruciatingly painful to watch last season. He should be allowed to leave before we have another Boyd/Lambert scenario unfurls.
However , I believe in offering him the reported amount at his advanced age and also not to mention his suspect lack of speed , we may have shown to much of our hand (to use your poker face analogy).
Do you concur ?
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Paul
I stick by my original post.
Your hurdle of credibility on pronouncements from the board is set a lot lower IMHO than the average fan. This is not just my viewpoint others have expressed it here in the past.
I think that is reflected in the range of subjects generated by yourself and the "slant" you give them in your introduction. That is in itself no bad thing as it often generates a reasoned counterpoint.
However I think that today's blog went beyond what I think is acceptable, the comments on JM's state of mind were the last straw.
No similar viewpoint was offered on PL's performance on Tuesday where I think the consensus was "stop digging".
The die had been cast by the repeating of partial explanation of events put out by the club. No attempt at a critical comprehensive listing of what actually went on, just a series of statements cherry picked to make the club look good.
Hence all the questions, until they or similar are answered the club viewpoint looks a bit defensive. However that is all in the past and things move on. As mentioned before I hold no candle for JM, I just saw another example of the club acting the bully.
Kick the weak
Pander to the strong.
Have you seen the latest on Bobo ...
One aside, contrary to appearances, WGS into football was a loss for diplomacy. That is the plus from all this, however his job is not to save the board in the PR game.
With regards to the views of others, that is up to them. I call it as I see it and if I'm wrong then it is humble pie for me. Or it would be if I didn't now know what the ingredients were.
Consequently my opinions maybe subjective but hopefully they are reasoned and credible. What would this site be if people can't express forthright opinions on a subject they hold dear.
Consequently pick-up your rattle ...
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Agree with my fellow West Midlander here about JM. No one comes out of this mess with any credit and its going to cost us (alot) to replace JM even with someone with none of his experience or talent.
Can we move on to a new subject now, opinions on the new training ground development or/and the regeneration of the East End which can hopefully have a positive impact upon ourselves for instance?
Anyone have a clue if we are going to be elected onto the G14 any time soon?
Has Joos left yet?
Just feel that JM story now been discussed till we are now repeating over ourselves.
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Could we possibly just draw a line under the whole JMc thing? I`t`s getting a bit boring, and i don`t personally think he deserve`s all of our attention.
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I'm with you on this one BrummyBhoy. I made the point before that, while Jackie is not irreplacable, its going to cost us to replace him.
Can't understand how we can justify paying Lenny £20k a week. I can't see him playing much next season. Now he's off on holidays before he signs this new deal? Me thinks he's gonna let the board stew for a bit knowing he may be able to squeeze out a few more shekles.
Still, I'll just have to show the faith that most of the group are showing. I think the last few days have seen some of the best posts on this site. Keep up the good work folks.
Bama lama loo
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baldego,I think that Bobo is better as a marker in a back three.Perhaps his drop in form has been as a result of the change to 4-4-2 a couple of years ago.Certainly,his concentration is one of the weakest aspects of his game,which cause a problem when there is no-one to cover his back.
Having been linked with Dellas,I was wondering what qualities he would bring if signed.Found this on the Ford Champions League site." A superb man-marker whose determination compensates for an occasional lack of agility, Traianos Dellas is at his most effective when operating as a sweeper in a three-man central defence, demonstrated to victorious effect at UEFA EURO 2004™."
Again,would he fit into WGS's 4-4-2 formation?
brummiebhoy,I don't understand this obsession with Jackies versatility.He's Celtics answer to Phil Neville.Do you think the Man U fans would be crying if he left? There should be two players for every position,not one first choice and another who can play six different other positions with varying degrees of success.We need to build this type of squad over the next few years.
What I am looking for this summer from WGS is not necessarily big names.I'm looking for Celtic to try and enhance individual positions by signing international players of the right age to take us forward and improve the squad,famous or not.Bring in players from financially poorer leagues,youngsters perhaps from bigger leagues on the continent who we can develop.And bring the wage bill down.
Stay away from the Premiership,Bellamy excepted :0)
BankieBhoy
P.S. David Sullivan says Upson is going nowhere.99% certain.Where does that leave your info cambuslangisareality?
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First time posting.
This site is great for debate and it shows the passion of the fans but i have to say folks getting a bit worried about our PR department. Is it just me or are they a joke. Frankly they should be shown the door. Are we really this disorganised. Also if there is a worst club website than www,celticfc.co.uk then it must be albanian.
I knew jackie was off before the testimonial as i had a source so i didnt go. I got sever stick in the work when i said he was going and the next week Celtic said he was staying so half of me smiled when he did go saved my rumour credentials.
I don't grudge him going but i had no desire to cheer him on when i knew he was away. He was a good honest professional who this threadbare squad will miss.
The ginger meister has a hard job. He is not my choice but he will have my support for the season. We need six or even seven players and to be honest i think only one or two will be those that excite us.
Also just to reiterate keep the debate going but let's not get personal unless someone on drugs things Celtic are good at PR!!!
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I see that MR. Roberts claims he turned down offers from Celtic, Rangers, Liverpoor and Bolton in favour for Portsmouth. What a relief it is we didn't get him, anyone who gets an offer from 3 of these 4 clubs and goes to portsmouth instead could quite possibly have a few nuts and bolts loose up there.
I thought Humble Pie sounded quite tasty!
What is the whole situation with the G14 anyway, I don't really know what it involves and what the requirements are?
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BradBhoy, the clause in Bobo's contract is valid until 31st August, and after that, if he has not moved on, he is tied to his new contract as normal.
Well as tied as any player is these days!
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Just reading the various news articles online about the players leaving the club, and to be honest, I think that it is a case of thanking them for their service and moving them on.
Jackie Mc - The real truth will never come out about this one. However it appears that he thought that he was a better player than Celtic thought he was worth. He is probably now playing at a level than he is comfortable with.
Neil Lennon - Lennon has been fantastic for Celtic in the time that he has been at the club. However in a few games this season has been shown up for the no pace that he has. I would look on him as being a bit player this season and would question paying him £1 million for a one year contract.
Bobo Balde - Bobo made his intentions clear that he was touting himself about the major clubs in Europe due to a get out clause in his contract. If he had inserted the clause, surely the club would be able to insert a similar clause so that we could let him go prior to 31 August. Bobo is certainly not worth the reputed £1.5 million per annum. He is fantastic in the air, but his distribution of the ball is awful.
Stephen McManus - Stephen is a fine tackler and good in the air, however his downfall is always going to be his lack of pace. He is now at the age where it would probably be beneficial for the lad to move on, with Livi and Sheff Wed both wanting him.
The main thing that Gordon Strachan has installed in all of his teams is fitness and pace. We might now find out that several of the players, either don't like this style, or are not suited to it.
For the blogger that mentioned John Kennedy, John is out of action until at least next January, and possibly the full of next season. While John had a few good games for Celtic, many fans seem caught up in the thought that he was going to be the next Billy McNeill. Had John not been injured for Scotland then we could have been talking about him in the same breath as Stephen McManus leaving the club.
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The 4-4-2 we played last year just didn't suit our squad. I don't understand why MON decided to leave the 3-5-2 as we haven't seen any football played since then. In a 3-5-2 the defence was more solid; the wing backs had more freedom (especially domestically); we could fit in a creative attacking midfielder (McGeady or Juninho) and the strikers would get lots of support and crossed balls. The 4-4-2 IMO was too rigid. Our full backs weren't attacking enough possibly as they didn't feel comfortable pushing forward and leaving the 2 centre-backs. The left and right midfield had to do a job helping out in the central midfield therefore couldn't push forward. This left us giving the ball up to Hartson and Sutton for half the season with no support. IMO this did not suit the players style of play. BBJ and Sutton are good with someone playing off them or at getting on the end of crosses. Until Bellamy came they struggled away to snatch goals with some help from Petrov.
Does anyone know why we were playing this system? Or was it just because it didn't work great against the quality sides in Europe?
My worry is, unless we get a different kind of player at CP for next season WGS has mentioned he prefers a 4-4-2 and this same problem could occur.
This is simply my view on some of the tactical problems (not mentioning Petrov on the right - thats a whole different problem) so if people agree or disagree please let me know.
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As I previously posted, last season is gone and should be forgotten about. What we will remember though was the pedestrian paced displays we had to endure. Jackie had no pace. Goodbye and good luck Jackie. I paid £105 for tickets for my family to thank you for the past 10 years. I believe you deserved it. You would not be in my first choice 11 though for next season,nor any other honest Celtic fans. Onwards and upwards! Patience Bhoys!
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Jackie's gone...his mistake, his loss - bottom line was MONEY - he wanted more / signing on fee / increase in basic / more bonuses ?
Does'nt matter he wanted more cash despite being 31 and past his best. Jackie Snr said he would have signed the 1 year deal in january if offered it...so why not in June when it was offered. Enjoy the delights of Wolverhampton Jackie.
Bobo & his clause, while I can see the merits in MON's decision to put such a dela together. Now it leaves WGS in a quandry, IF Bobo does not get a club despite being a bosman...he can return. So where does that leave our long term planning / budgets ? How can wee sign a replacement for him on similar type money IF there is a SMALL chance he might return..wanted or not.
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I am a keen admirer of John Kennedy, the time that he was in the first 11 prior to his injury I would say he was the best defender we had at the club for a long time. This being said, it could have been just a run of excellent form and not a true indication of how consistent he would have been, hopefully we will be able to find out in the future.
Mcmanus IMO is not and probably will never be good enough to hold down a place at Celtic, there are plenty of exciting and talented youngsters at the club but IMO he is not one of them. McGeady, Maloney, Beattie, Wallace, Lawson, the two Fin Bhoys all have IMO great potential, as do some of the even younger Bhoys. But I don't think McManus will ever be in the team.
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It seems that this board all blame Jackie now for what happened at Fir park. The truth is all the players were to blame.
Another thing was we looked reasonably safe up until that goal came out of nowhere so a lot of people would be singing the player's praises if we lasted another couple of minutes. It was a complete disaster no doubt about it but it was a collective problem and there is no point blaming Jackie.
For those shouting about Stan being the new captain, it's not something i would be against but in that last game I think Stan done more than most to cost us that game. He lost his head and spent his time going after everything else rather than focuss on what he was supposed to be doing.
P.S how long is this debate about JM leaving going to go on? It's getting tiring
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malone19 - MON only went to a 4-4-2 when we went to Castle Greyskull with most of our normal back 3 missing. Most fans had previously recognised that the back 3 was getting ripped to shreds by a speedy no-mark like Lovenpants! We never looked like going back to a back three after that game.
Most of our tactical problems during MON's tenure came from the fact that the two/three central defenders couldn't be fully trusted at the highest level. Hence, 2 holding midfielders in front of the back three in the first couple of years and then the full-backs instructed to keep back when we changed to a back four.
I have despaired when I heard my fellow fans screaming at Agathe to get further forward, when he'd quite clearly been instructed by MON not to.
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Malone19
Did you say you read the Daily Retard because you were bored at work?
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The problem we could have with Balde's deal is that he could walk out at 23:59 on 31 Aug.
Still I suppose as soon as he plays a CL qualifier for us it means he's staying.
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Brummiebhoy, I'm not for one second suggesting Celtic should have offered JMc £6.6k pw but what I am saying is that both players are of less value to the club now than last time they penned contracts and Lennon's reflects this however JMc asked for more which IMO he didnt deserve he's heading for his twilight years.
If a one year extension was good enough for the last 2 years i.e. reflected his value, then its good enough now. He isn't a better player now than he was 4 years ago and never will be so why should Celtic bend over backwards to keep a player they have already got the best out of?
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With Balde, if he misses the deadline which i doubt he will how long is the contract left for?
I know everyone wants rid of him but i don't think it would be a bad thing if we ended up keeping him. Plus if he has a good season we may end up getting money for him at Christmas or next summer.
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Well according to the official website Balde doesn't seem to be going anywhere I think this is good news. I'm propally alone though on here.
I wonder if he does stay how many of the people that slated him and said they are glad to see him leave will change their tune :)
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0:34 AM, Alabama Celt
ta for the link.
How was he running against, I cannot tell.
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Football tactics for a change.
Agree on the change from 3-5-2 to the 4-4-2 formation. From memory the 2003 LCF showed how the team was struggling with opposition playing three widespread forwards no matter how lightweight.
Only issue in the change was the reduction of bodies in the middle of the park. PL was missing in a few of the games when this was tried in the run up to Seville. This season it has led to Stan being stuck with trying to produce width from the right.
Consequently not ideal.
However one way to get three in the middle would be to copy ManU when they play with Rooney / Van N / Ronaldo as the frontline. Both the Rons can either play inside to support the lone striker or outside to add width and develop an attack.
Keane / Fletcher / Scholes fill the midfield and have some flexibility as to how they support each other and it would allow for a flat back four.
Consequently would this be of any use for the future?
Lead the line - Hartson? / Sutton? / Polish bloke?
Left hand side = Riordan?
Right hand side = Bellamy
Bellamy has shown how this can be played, inside and outside with equal ease.
Space for three in the middle:
Box to box -
Holding player -
Playmaker -
Ideally players should be able to do a bit of all three.
Stan / £20K Lenny / McGeady?
Can we afford Bellamy / Riordan / McGeady in the same team in important games come August?
Will we have the players to play this way?
Just a thought
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Sean its a four year deal, that essentially kicks in when the transfer window closes.
I'm not that bothered really if he goes but judging by the clubs that are looking at him it would be a shame if he goes for free, which is why i said earlier [ that it would be good all round if he at least stayed this season as it would cover until JK came back [TimOTay] and we'd get a fee for him also.
Stepjam 1.23, the point I tried to make was both that, whether we like it or not Celtic FC is a business and is run like a business. And also all players have to be appraised objectively [not a formula applied i never mentioned a formula], eg. what can they bring to the club that we dont already have etc. then negotiations start from there once a players value to the club is established.
Which is probably why JMc was able to get more at Wolves as he will prove a more useful player in the Championship than the Champions League.
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Seanbhoy
Yes I did. I work in a call centre over the summer and there was nobody to call and it was sitting at a desk next to me. Don't worry I haven't caught anything - I only read the back page.
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2:35 PM, madmitch
That could make for some attractive footie.
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madmitch
It is an option the players should be trained and prepared to be able to use if need be. I think Strachan prefers a 4-4-2 but that style you mentioned would come in usefull. Especially in Europe when we are lacking the cutting edge with a 4-4-2.
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bankiebhoy, i don't know if phil neville is a fair comparison, you're talking about a guy who made 12 league starts last, and will make <10 next season. JM played nearly every game, and as i said above would easily have made >30 starts next season, although you may disagree. plus, the whole point is that we can't get someone of his quality for the same price, again neville is a bad comparison, as an england international his agent would be a fool if he was not on >30k pw. definently agree with you, though, that we need to get away from seeking premiership players, it is the dearest in the world in terms of player contracts. interesting to see that barca documentary, 51 mil euros for the player wages, about 34 mil quid. how does our wage bill compare, i bet its not far off.
malone19 and tommytwists - i think it was one of MONs biggest mistakes that we switched from 352 to 442. it happened because of a couple of OF games and mccleish, give him his dues, was bold enough to play 3 up front, with two of them right out on the touchline. meant either our wing backs had to come all the way back and mark, our our centre halves ahd to step out to them. we did neither effectively, and we got beat. i think MON was stung by the gutter press criticisms of his tactical approach and rightfully installed 442 to which mccleish had no answer. but after showing trhat adaptability, MON should have returned to 352, using the 442 as a sort of football equivalent of a 'nuclear deterrent' - the fact that we do have the ablility to go to 442 in our arsenal would have been enough to discourage anyone from pushing 3 up front on us. thats what i thought anyway.
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Celtic Huddle, in that Zurwaski clip. its Mark Delaney of Villa as far as I can tell.
I'm not so sure many of these clubs would be looking for Bobo if they had to pay a decent fee for him. We probably need him for now. I'm not his biggest fan but we can't rebuild the whole squad in one close season, certainly not on the budget thats being touted. Would be good if we could keep him and maybe sell him next year if there are alternatives. Don't like his 'Celtic will do if I can't find sumpin else' attitude. I think it stinks pretty bad. Me thinks he's off to Schalke anyhow.
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It seems to me that the person responsible for most of these contract "issues" has now left the club.We have the Jackie and Bobo "issues" and a host of players out of contract with no transfer fee gained.We have players who we look like we are going to have to pay to get them off the wage bill.Ageing players who we will find it hard to get rid of due to their huge wages.Who was responsible for this.(Anyone saying "the board" move to the back of the class and face the wall!!!)
This is nothing new where MON is concerned.I remember someone here previously saying that when Denis Smith took over at Wycombe from MON he couldn't believe the money some of the players were on.
We need to accept that where contracts are concerned we have a few problems to resolve.Once we have done this we can start to move forward.There may be a few problems along the way and some negative stories might appear from players on their way out,but big deal? We'll all still be here at the end of it all and so will Celtic.
This legacy that MON has left re.contracts and players is the price of our success over the last five years.However,ask yourself the question,if someone had offered you success at this price five years ago,what would your answer have been?
BankieBhoy
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I agree with you Brummiebhoy that we may not find someone for the same price as JMc but the point being he wanted a bigger price and the £3/4M he wanted could and probably will be spent on a better first team player. JMc would have become a fringe player next season, he was under MON until the left back problem developed.
On a lighter note, after JMc being the model for the new kit on the official site then leaving surely Lennon is signing now he's the new model. Even the PR amatures at CP wouldn't make a slip up like that! If he doesn't sign, the superstitious among us would rather Fernandez be the new model.:)
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brummiebhoy
How many games would Jackie McNmara play in a squad with the ability and depth of Manchester United?
My point is that Neville is a stop gap player.He supports Man U and wants to stay so he plays when injuries,suspensions and loss of form to established players kick in.
Jackie is the Celtic equivalent of Phil Neville but with fewer quality players to fight his way past to get a game.That is why he played more games.Neither are particularly great and in the kind of Celtic side I want to see Jackie wouldn't be in it and would be lucky to get on the bench.
BankieBhoy
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BrummieBhoy
The Barca documentary was an eye opener. When they talked about wages it was always 54+20 / 52+24 or something similar. Looked like basic plus bonus. They were hoping to reduce the basic figure and increase the bonus element. Losing PK seemed to make a huge difference, 10% was talked about.
Given the figures swirling around the club, £40mill approx never know if this is a catch all figure or it relates only the the first team playing staff.
However the Barca method was simple, direct and understandable, we need to be able to quote figures in this manner and also try to match their efficiency.
It seemed that every contract followed the same template, a couple of figures and the rest flowed through mechanically.
Do any of the club headhunters speak Catalan?
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Does anyone know if Bobo's contract clause is permanent or is it just this transfer window?
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For those still in mourning over the departure of Jackie Mac, look on the bright side - at least we won't have to listen to that terrible "Oh, his name is McNamara..." song before games!!!
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Long time reader....First time poster.
Have read this thread and enjoyed with some excellent comments.
Jackie has every right to go for the money at this stage of his career. It must have been pretty frustrating for him to watch guys like Headman clear twice his weekly wage for doing nada. However, Jackie should not have gone to the press with his own agenda. Mikray made an excellent observation @ 12:44 on the Lisbon Lions and dignity.
I know that I have continued what has become a tawdry issue for Celtic.... my apologies.
To the future - I personally feel that Riordan (should we get him) would prove to be a shrewd piece of business. In addition, given the choice of Bellamy versus Robbie Keane - I would choose Keane every time. Lastly, rumour have circulated for years on Roy Keane joining Celtic. Paul do you think that this would ever happen?
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i would really like zurawski, http://www.uefa.com/news/newsId=73022,printer.htmx
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My info is that a Goalkeeper & Diamond are definitely signed.
Bellamy will give an answer either tomorrow or Monday. If that goes pear shaped there is a back up plan.
Celtic had agreed personal terms with Paul Hartley in January & both clubs have now agreed on the transfer fee involved. The stumbling block i'm told is that MON fancied the player whereas Strachan does not.
I'm a bit out with the Upson one. Celtic have had a bid accepted for him by Birmingham, however the deal is far from done - apologies
For the benefit of the character on here who said my card is marked - poor show - i'm only passing on the inside whispers i hear from time to time in my job. If one or none of them come true, then please understand that i have the club's interests at heart & this is not some cheap made up post by a 12 year old. Apologies to any 12 year olds who check this site
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>At 10:42 AM, madmitch said
Absolutely spot on here madmitch, a first class post. My recent introduction to CQN was an absolute god send. Real tims posting passionate and more indepth stuff rather than the normal message board crap. Hats off to Paul the website and his own material is first class. Nothing wrong with having green tinted specs in my book and nothing wrong with being faithful through and through.
What Paul is hinting at with regards to "not defacating on our own garden" is admirable as well considering the reality of the situation that we are all aware off but it is this mentality within Celtic that the board do exploit to a disrespectful level as far as im concerned and that´s EXACTLY why an important player as far as GS is concerned (i.e the club captain) has walked and little to do with money. Jackie Mac´s comments about respect as far as Im concerned is spot on.
The board needs to get fan representation on the board and not just as a token gesture but as a pro-active player. Surely considering "We are the club".
That this has not happened show EXACTLY what the board thinks.
1) Its a buisness to be ran at profit
2) We are just punters, plenty more to take the place of any dissatisfied ones
3) The perennial yardstick is Rangers as far as we are concerned. Do better than them is the sum of our ambitions
I think that this disrespect is rampant within the board. DD´s comments and hollow threats recently are a testament to that.
a web site called shitecustomerserviceatcelticpark.com would need its own dedicated server.
As far as the board is concerned their is not much difference in how they handle players and fans and they will always be open to that accusation as long as its a closed shop.
Paul67 as the fans representative on the board would do me. There is a big difference in believing and keeping the faith and knowing the facts.
The accusation that nobody could do their jobs any better will always ring hollow until their is some accountability. For me they are still paying for what the Bunnet warned them of off. I give you the dream team.
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CambuslangisaReality
Thanks mate.The one thing with Upson,as with any realistic interest in Scott Parker,is that with the World Cup next year they would be reluctant to move North to damage their selection chances.
I'm also pleased to see that there may be a change of direction with Hartley.If he signs then great but I hope WGS is trying to come up with an even better option.At least we have Hartley agreed if can't find a better option.
BankieBhoy
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Perhaps we will copy the barcelona model, PL described our relationship with them as excellent during his interview on the supporters association website. If he is as smart as we hope he is then surely he will be taking note on how things are done elsewhere.
brummybhoy, I agree with your view of 3-5-2 we seemed to become perhaps harder to beat 4-4-2 but far more predictable.
madmitch, like your4-3-3, i think riordan and bellamy would be excellent in this formation, pace and creativity. I dont know if hartson would fit this lack of pace is a concern. Beats would be an option through the middle. Has anyone considered pearson as a possible left back if we play a flat back four? He would save us a few bob and we could take this cash and the jackie cash and buy a good left sided midfielder for a three man midfield. I also think mcgeady could do a job on the right of a three man attack.
Lenny,Hartson,Thompson,Bobo, have all given celtic a lot but celtic are giving them £6 million a year. Iam alone in thinking they are barely worth half this figure?
I know wholesale changes could lead to us surrendering the league next season but I believe I could stomach this if I thought we were building a team that could bring another euro final.
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Paul67.................
read your thread about a new stadium (3/4 weeks ago)
could this be the option for our new academy?
PL said one option would take a lot of investment. With all this talk of existing summer could a new stadium be a part of it.
what do you think or have you heard anything?
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Evening Paul, fellow tims.
Just harking back to the Jackie thing.
Jackie(the Celtic fanatic)was paid a wage and offered deals knowing the club had the financial carrot of a testimonial coming up in the next year or so.
A one year deal was acceptable to Jackie when he was 29 and 30.Suddenly (after the testimonial) a one year deal is seen as "derisory".
The position of club captain at Celtic is not an honour bestowed on many people,and Jackie should do well to remember that,while he is playing against crap teams in crap places at 42 games a season.
Jackie has done extremely well out of Celtic(me and you), thank you very much.
If he should have decided to leave due to the offer of more money, so be it,hope he breaks his ankle in his first game.
As you said Paul,(and George dubya I believe) If you aint with us,you agin us.
And for me,Jackie showed his true colours over the last few days.
Maybe the old days of club loyalty are gone.
But I feel the game is less for it.
Kano
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Could the goallie be Rottenberg, the keeper for the German women's team? By God, she'd scare the life out of me if I were through 1 on 1!!! And she's only conceded one goal (during the semi final, when they were already 3 up) in the whole of the Euro 2005 Finals. She looks solid, confident and assured, is strong in the air, commands her area, and has good awareness and distribution. And she's even uglier than Alex Rae!
Grings and Prinz might not be bad additions either.
But has anyone else noticed that pretty much all of the German ladies are dog ugly, whereas the Danish and Swedish teams are almost all more than passable from an aesthetic point of view? Or is it just me?
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Cambuslangisareality
I like to think that I am a bit immature, if not it would be pipe and slippers time, but 12 come on? How many 12 year olds do you know that have had time to:
a) Develop a dislike for the word amortisation
b) Think Davie Hay was the top Celt in the 70's.
c) Saw Charlie Nic in a pub wearing a white suit and no socks when he was considered to be a fashion icon.
Please note that any regards I had for the aforementioned numpty disappeared when he guested at a Tory rally in 1983 so that he could get closer to Susan Dando's underwear. Arsenal I could just about cope with, Thatcher: out out out!
Card is marked = Attempt at humour, honest.
In contrast with most of the signing tips posted here, third hand through their granny's next door neighbour's boyfriend you offered them direct, consequently your head was above the parapet.
Also you managed to add weight to a story in the Star which I thought was incredible. A suggestion so leftfield that it must have something in it.
Was thinking of starting a league table of tipsters based on how many days before it comes off the tip was posted. After your 5 I gave up as if they all came to pass no-one could beat you.
Finally I have no doubt that you have the club's interests at heart, for better or worse we all have.
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Paul, you say that we've signed 3 players. one big name and two not so big. the one big name you say is bellamy but if he says no we have a contingency plan. oh right how does the player who happens to be the contingency plan feel about that? oh if we don't sign bellers we'll sign you is that ok?
also you mention that the signing that are not so big are a keeper and midfielder. that doesn't fill me with excitement. we've bought a keeper who's no better than we have already? the midfielder i can handle being a small name as we do need to strengthen the squad. don't know if its hartley or riordan. prefer riordan. anyway i read an article from hartley in yesterday's paper and hartley was keen on staying if scala or matthaus got the job! so maybe the post about MON being keen on hartley but GS not could be true.
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Cambuslang Do you have any idea - a theory even as to why these signings are being kept under wraps?
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Cheers Stepjam.
San Miguel, At this stage of the season I have no favourites. Every last one of them are open to negotiation. If Lennon stays I think it will be because Strachan wants continuity more than anything else.
Madmitch, I’ll pick up the rattle of you put down your bow and arrows :-)
Welcome JJM, good to hear from you.
Waynebiggins, excellent handle! Welcome to the debate.
Given the choice Bellamy or Robbie Keane right now I would go for Bellamy as he is a known quantity. Roy Keane is a non-starter. Will never happen.
Awe Naw No, thanks for your very kind support. In terms of a ‘fan on the board’ I don’t think they would remotely consider it. Though if they do….
Gerry, my post on the new stadium was hit on the head unfortunately. PL was referring to the plans now in the public domain about the redevelopment of the Parkhead area.
Kano, Agree we need to forget that the players are playing for anything more than money, which is fair enough – as long as we all understand it. The collapse at the end of the season is the thing that is niggling away at me.
Madmitch #2
In reply to your points:
A) I have made a pretty successful web site out of the word “amortisation”.
B) Dalgliesh, Conn, McCluskey and most of all Danny McGrain, never DH.
C) Who is Charlie Nicholas?
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Bigchips, the norway goalie is not bad either and she would certainly improve the team photo. Could also improve calendar sales, Paul quick there is money in this draw up a business plan.
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Evening again Paul,fellow tims,
Paul,I think the collapse at the end of the season is now becoming quite apparent.The ones who will be here next season were the ones who were hurting. Harsh observation with hindsight.But the longer the list of players leaving becomes,the more I believe this to be true.
And despite bitter protestations to the contrary in the gutter press,I believe that most of what is happening at the moment was decided long before it became "news".
I stated a couple of months ago that the only players I would be dissapointed if they left,was Stan,Aiden and Bellamy. The rest, we could say,thanks for the service and good luck.
I still believe that now,and I have a wee suspicion that wee Gordon may not be far off where I am coming from.
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hi regarding formations. MON used the 352 when he first arrived and we blew teams apart that season including tfod. they quickly realised that it could be exploited by playing lovelypants against a back 3 so we changed to 442 ONLY when we played tfod. this worked for MON. eventually as the games in europe became more frequent we tended to stick with 442 to get used to playing the more defensive game to suit.
this eventually came to be our undoing as we never went back to 352 because we were winning games with 442 just not comfortably.
too many times last season we played 442 against lesser teams and struggled to beat them when we should have been 352 and destroying them. only when playing tfod should we have changed to 442.
that is why our defence looked vulnerable all season. trying to hold out on a 1 goal lead for 70 odd minutes would test any defence.
i would like to see us go back to the 352 for next season and only changing for tfod and europe.
oh aye just a wee comment about the women's world cup. does anyone think that they all look like the tom boy lassie that was in your class at primary school???..just me then?.....where's my coat?
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The delay in signings is being caused by the club shop, they are awaiting the delivery of extra letters to put the BIG names on the back of the jersey.
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Whats the word on the Bellamy offer.is it 1 year loan or full tranfer fee?
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As I stated here last week I have it on very good authority that Craig Bellamy will be signing a 3 year deal with the option to leave after 2 for an agreed sum (this will be what we pay for him circa £5m). Craig wishes to play in the Champions League but does not want to commit himself to 3 years in the SPL. This means that he has the option of returning to a bigger league whilst he will still be at the peak of his career. The biggest drawback for Craig is playing in the SPL against inferior opposition. My head is above the parapet - feel free to shoot if I'm wrong.
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gid yin milkray!!
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Is a player who leaves Celtic for Wolves worth worrying about?
He will be replaced by a better player.Have faith bhoys and ghirls.
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Paul
Bow and arrows = Gone
Tuesday is now officialy history in my books.
Onwards and upwards.
With regards to your player list, given the two forwards and an overlapping full-back, the McCluskey you refer to is George and not Fat Pat?
Probably agree with you that DM was the best of the bunch but DH was more involved and had a greater influence on any specific game.
Biggest disappointment of that generation was the implosion of George Connelly, he could have still been turning it on in 1985 if things had turned out differently.
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hi watched the sutton dvd. just backs up my feelings about Sutty being the first choice over BBJ. his goals against Ajax, Juventus and Lyon makes the dvd worth it alone. he STILL has has the best celebration for scoring a goal i've seen at Celtic for years and that includes Henrik's!!!
Frank McGarvey's in the 85 SC final? Charlie Nicholas's jig at Ibrox ? Davie Provan's 85 SC free kick? Paul McStays's at Ibrox in 88? Henrik's in the 6-2 game?
What do you's think?
Who did you copy when ye were a boy?
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Sutton's celebration.
Get it round ye!
:-)
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I SPY
Surely the release clause is pointless unless its for less than we pay for him.
I couldnt see Celtic holding out for more than £5m for any player approaching the final year of his contract when he could walk away for nothig a year later.
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RAB 1888
The release clause is purely for Craig's benefit. Assumming we are fulfilling Craig's ambitions we would looking sit down around 18/24 months from now and extend his deal. This clause allows him to leave us should a club meet the figure in the clause. If Craig does not wish to extend his deal we would then look to sell him at that point. A final point is that while people are right in their assumption that the main players in England will not come here for fear of reducing their international prospects Craig does not see this as a major consideration as Wales do not normally compete in the big tournaments and do not have great prospects of doing so. This is making our job that bit easier in persuading him to join us.
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We should ensure every player has a contract clause similar to the one Bellamy is rumoured to be getting. At least then we might get some money back for a player rather than watch them leave for nothing.
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I for one say WHEN are celtic going to STOP shooting themselves in the foot. Clearly they wanted Jackie mac to stay or we would not be seeing the fallout we are at the moment. All is negative at the moment the press love it. However the reality is that we WILL bring in players to add to the squad. We will challenge for the spl title the scottish cup and the league cup. We will put out a team to participate in the champions league or if things dont go our way the uefa cup.
The players who have left we have all expected to leave apart from Jackie mac.
Take the scenario celtic have no money for new signings we could still field a team to do the above.
Marshall
agathe
balde
varga or valgaren might shine in his right position
macmanus
lennon
petrov
mcgeady
sutton or wallace or thompson.
beattie
hartson
sutton
or maloney.
Backed up by some of the younger players.
The point is we would still field a team and still fight for domestic honours.
The reality however is most of these players will be backed up by incoming players of a standard better than those who have left. Lambert excluded in his best years.
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I think we can ascertain from the Boards previous dealings with players and the punters that they never act with any sentiment, JM didnt feature highly in MON's plans when he had his most defining moment, something i think we should be aspiring too again. Former players, recent decades, no full well how to work the meeja and use it to their advantage, under the guise of having a "Celtic" viewpoint in their tawdry rags, so JM new were he could do the most damage. PL and previous Contracts negotiators have all went down the route of leaving it till the last minute, so nothing new there, i would be more concerned if it was allowed to happen to influential players like PEtrov (thought the comment that he was to blame at Fir Park, absolutely hilarious, nearly took it seriously). With regard to formations for WGS, 4-3-3 has been suggested by myself and others for some time now, especially in the SPHell, dont claim to have invented it unlike some others.
As in previous posts i have a healthy distrust of the Board, but they cant be wrong 100% of the time its impossible. Would still replace them though for someone with some vision and ideas.
Navarro
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Just to say that I couldn't agree more with Madmitch with regards to George Connelly. He would have been the best ever.
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Emjay, no major signings have happened. Terms have been agreed with 2 players and their clubs, awaiting Celtic to conclude.
Calendar Ghirls, excellent idea Milkray
Agree Kano.
Madmitch, George Connelly was a wee bit before my time.
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You love your work.
You love your place of work.
At your place of work you are looking for a new two year employment contract; which you know will probably be your last.
For the past two years you have only been offered one year contracts, which you have signed.
You have been with the company for over 10 years and a have prestigous job title.
The company have just given you a massive bonus that equates to financial security for your family.
There are big changes afoot at the company.
Your present contract is just about over.
You have a new boss.
He says he wants to retain your services and you are very much in his plans.
You are referred to HR and the contractual manager.
The contractual manager wants you to sign on again for one year only.
You hold off, as you want two years.
In the meantime do you?
a) Hope that company changes it's mind?
b) Use your employment agency to explore other options, just in case?
I think the choice would be b) for most.
Lo and behold, you have other options!
Not only that, but you get the two year contract you want, plus a pay rise! Unfortunately it does mean leaving the company and relocating.
What do you do?
You only have a short time frame to decide.
a)stay and hope your contractual manager will see it your way,
b)leave for your new employer immediately,
c)be honest towards you employer, and ask him to meet the length of your contract of the other potential employer.
Most folk would go c) if they are reasonable.
Then existing employer says we'll see what we can do, and waits to the last second to get back to you.
Yes you get the offer of two more years, but do you really want it now?
Celtic is much, much more than a business.
It is a spiritual family and home.
Yet it has to be run like a business.
Players are employees. They think like employees. Celtic treats them like employee's.
Don't be upset when an employee makes an adult decision.
Celtic should have been more pro-active, if they were truly interested in squad retention; at this time of transition.
I know this is all yesterdays news, but there is an important lesson here for Celtic.
A mature player will act like any other employee, in any other comporate environment. We can not hope that loyalties will rule over business.
Celtic is a business.
It pains me to even type those words, but it is.
It has also pained me to hear the things said about Jackie in the last couple of days.
Who are you to judge? Have you walked in the shoes of this man?
I don't think so.
Yes, I am all to aware of his recent testamonial.
Yes, footballers make rediculous wages.
That doesn't change the fact, that most of us would have done the same thing.
When you are a professional footballer or whatever, you start acting like a professional i.e. an employee, a contracter etc.
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The Norway V Sweden Women's SF highlights are on BBC tonight. Should be a good game : )
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Nice touch that the Swedes have a no 7 called Larsson
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I know I'm harking back a bit but one point I was making is that there's plenty bias in the tabloids, and (Inside Write) there's plenty bias in here. They don't have a monopoly on it.
It's human nature, we all love Celtic so sometimes rush out to defend them even if a mistake is made.
Short of having full info, it's wrong to jump right on the board's back about JM. It's also wrong to lay all the fault at his door. As mentioned, let's just let the subject lie now.
11:25 AM, Jeromek67, I'm just stating an opinion - not making any case and trying to persuade you to agree. Not offering any "facts" so neither I, nor anyone else agreeing or disagreeing with me have to defend their position. It'd be dull as hell if we all agreed, and the most interesting thing to read is the variety of opinions here. Incidentally, your entire final paragraph in that post is spot on.
The fact still remains that we all know a few signings will arrive. I'm not claiming that anyone has a tendency to say "I told you so" but I could just easily try to sound knowledgeable and say:
"I have insider knowledge, I know that an experienced short term keeper (analagous to Waterreus) will be signed to ease Marshall into the team in the coming years. Also, we'll get a couple of young defenders, a known midfielder but not a superstar and possibly a young attacker. On top of this, there'll be one big name that the board pulls all the stops out to get. 3 of these have already signed".
I just made all of that up but these are the types of player that the club are likely to target. We all know this. Claiming that they've already signed and that I know something you don't does nothing other than blow smoke around the subject. There's no way to *prove or disprove* this info, which, by it's nature, makes it utterly useless.
a final point... if all of the players mentioned as "definitely signed" do actually sign, the squad'll be bigger than it was before! ;-)
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Half Fool
OK up to the end of the first paragraph. No choice after that, for me. No need to choose. What's one year on a contract v. "financial security for your family".
JM was always the unlikliest Celtic captain. He was also a petulant child - I remeber him at Dunfermline. Mature? Was that why Daddy had to have his say? Through the Retard?
I wish I had had his choice. He made his, but the disappointing thing is that he couldn't just do it and go away without the tantrum.
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Oops, that reads as though I'm saying "Inside Write is biased". Just referring back to his:
"Stevie21 can you not differentiate between "tabloids and this website" ?"
There's bias in them both.
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If Majic & Co actually come in and with Didier & Bobo still here we should have a french-polisher look about the side.
We should clean up everything next season, no bother.
I'll get my coat... ...taxi!
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Al Obundy
As Peg might say get real'.
Valgaeran best position is somewhere in Belgium and file Wallace and Maloney under:
Jamie Smith
Mark Burchill
Simon lynch
need I go on.
Paul - pity you missed George Connolly. I will never forget my first OF game. '69 4 - 0 cup final (what was supposed to be an understrength team). GC dispossessed Greig on the edge of the box and then rounded the keeper to make it 3-0 (or was it the second) before half time.
another memory was one of his many returns in a match against Benfica when he was was fantastic against Benfica.
Also just seen a fantastic goal by Brazil against Greece. Dont miss it
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Commenting on this and some of the previous thread.
Neg_Anon - you entitled to criticise as a matter of fact please don't stop, I always enjoy your "Devils Advocate" role.
Rintimtim - I think LapPorte is elected with the fans involvement so you can be damn sure he's going to make sure his PRs top notch.
JohnBhoy - "Allegedly" you must be reading the red tops, please desist, you will end up with a distorted view of our club.
Malone19 - first time I agree with you, the daily record lying (lie-ing) on the desk.
Bald_Ego 11:03 - The perfect answer to this subject!
SeanBhoy 02:14 - Malone19 can't be bored at work, he's on this site all day, and most of the night.
Paul67 - Agreed R.Keane is a non-starter, I hope.
One thing I've noticed about the Huns lately, why does it seem that Murray is the guy signing players and not the big ginger genius (henceforth BGG), what could this mean? Also Hedmani, is he an international? if not how quickly will TFOD get a work permit for him, and who are the other top class teams chasing this much sought after 4 million player?
Any clues.
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Paul,
I've heard 2 players are signing on Monday.
Do you know anything about it.
Tonybhoy
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i'm not sure that it's possible to make any kind of rationale assesment at this time. As usual it will probably only be at the last minute before we can judge whether there has been a succesful pre-season or not.
I don't really feel at this time we have lost anyone who would have played a major part in the first 11 for next season, and on the plus side we have removed quite a number of guys who made only limited contributions in the last 2 years.
This board may not get everything right, but in their favour they have managed to get us in a position where we have a £10million greater wage bill than Rangers with much less debt. In the long run this is the most important element in building a superior squad
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Hemdani wouldn't need a work permit as he'd have a French passport and he's not an international as he decided he didn't want to play for Algeria but was never called up by France.
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Hello all....
Paul 67...any further thoughts or elaboration around the references to dressing room 'disharmony' or otherwise that you alluded to earlier? I'm quite troubled by this.
Paul 67..you mention that deals have been 'agreed with two players/two clubs - only waiting for Celtic to conclude'.
Do we have any idea what the delay may be..or when they might be wrapped up?
Much has clearly been made in various blatts and on here about the Polish boys. Paul 67, anybody...do we know how much, if any, substance there is to the stories around them?
Glad that we've managed to move on from JM. I'd agree with those that
suggest the reality is somewhere in between...so what good does soul-searching and introspection do over somebody who is that ambitious, that hungry, that he chooses to play for a middle ranking CCC club like Wolves?
We've too much to concern ourselves with and devote our energies to in the days and weeks ahead. We shouldn't be expending them unnecessarily on someone who (albeit a fine servant to our club)
doesn't matter one iota to us anymore.
Stop the wailing/gnashing and move on.
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oregonbhoy
Everton were credited with an interest But Moyes has laughed it off,saying that they were interested a year ago but after one meeting with the player he decided he wasn't right for Everton.Anyone want to take bets as to to how long Hemdani takes before smacking Big Eck next season?
Chanced upon a link tonight saying that Bellamy has signed and that it will be announced when WGS gets back from holiday.Let's hope so,eh guys?
I'm feeling quite relaxed about the signing situation at the moment.I keep going back to the "exciting" nature of the players we are chasing.In saying that,my greatest wish at the moment is that WGS and Gary Pendrey's idea of an exciting night in isn't a pipe and slippers with an episode of Coronation Street,or we could be in big trouble!!! :0)
BankieBhoy
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BankieBhoy said…
what's wrong with Coronation Street?
better than some the football :-)
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Its a shame WGS wasnt watching the Brasil game tonight......they were immense!!
Coronation Street??????????
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I thought i posted this earlier, strange, anyway, WGS will not play a 4-3-3, he slaughtered Man u formation before the cup final. The holes in it made sense from his analysis, definitely sounds like a 4-4-2 man.
After our first signing the last couple of days will be totally forgotten about (if it is of the standard we expect, of course).
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Tonybhoy, no specific information on which day.
Barcabhoy, this is the key point in who will endure between Celtic and Rangers – who will provide the greater budget. Everything else is down to the vagaries of human error.
We know where Murray is taking his budget (should have bought shares in that company I’m telling you), I am confident our budget will REMAIN well above his.
OnlySeeInGreenBhoy
I am also troubled by thoughts of what was going on in the dressing room following Ibrox. What happened just did not add up. It is beginning to make sense now though.
Delay in concluding signings; if cheap player XY was announced two weeks ago all the usual complainers would have been driving enthusiasm down with talk about ‘lack of ambition’.
Some evidence perhaps that Celtic are learning about PR.
I loved the Greame Spiers article in The Herald today on Mr Bombastic. He even suggested the DR was his house publication.
The first signing will be a scene setter – this decision was taken some weeks ago, still hopeful it will be Bellamy. The Polish interest is genuine.
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Some unrest in the dressing room? Reminds me of the story of half time in the Inver Caley game a few years back.
Not to put a dampner on things but my friend is from Donegal. His brother was at the Jackie Mac dinner a few months back and claimed he was speaking to CB. Apparently he said that he wouldn't play in the Scottish League as the quality is so poor. I hope his mind has been changed since then if this is the case.
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Couldn´t agree more with the views on George Connelly. I remember him best as a sweeper, the likes of Bobby Moore or maybe even Baresi, but better!!! He used to spray these long passes the likes of which have not been seen for years. A bit similar to koeman, from one end of the park to the other. Thommo does it a bit too.
Oregonbhoy is right, Laporta needs to do some PR work because he is up for election every 4 years. Florentino Perez at Real Madrid is in the same boat. However Atletico de Madrid don´t use this procedure
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Found this on the Celtic Dragons site.Gives a little insight into the quality of the Polish guys WGS is looking at.
"Strachan is reportedly in Poland, running the rules over several players. 2 of which I can vouch as being excellent, in seeing their form, that being Kłos and Baszcyzinski. Kłos is reminiscent of Wdowczyk, although, plays the left full back role, very effectively. Baszcyzinski, is an assured central defender. The other Polish international is Zurawski, reports are good of him, stating, he is quick, and has bagged a lot of international goals, therefore, he is able to get them at the highest level.
BankieBhoy
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oregonbhoy or SeanBhoy -
Whoever said I am no this site all day and night, I can't argue with that, it seems to be becoming an addiction. I do however work a part-time backshift which is why I can be on during the day and well into the night.
In the same manner that Sean Connery gave Hedami the tour of Ibrox we could get Billy Connolly the welcome new signings:
"Helloooooo! Welcome to Celllltic Paaark!" (doesn't quite sound the same without the tone of voice).
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George Connelly, what a player, what a loss. In the 69 Cup Final Big Jock brought him in at outside right. Imagine, the reserve team centre half in for Wee Jinky, what was the Big Man playing at. A few minutes from half time he dispossessed Greig on the edge of the box (a real lack of respect on both parts) rounded the keeper. 2-0 the Tic. We'ed only just settled down and he did it again. 3-0 half time, exit the Mount Florida mob via the pitch.
If you want to see what a talent he was, try to get a copy of the EC semi at Elland Road. Wee Jinky terrorised them but it was Big Geordie that pulled the strings that night. His reading of the game and his range of passing was a masterclass.
A sad loss. Apparently he didn't like some of the guys he had to work alongside....
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malone19 - we've got loads of so celebrity fans, probably more than any other team. in fact up until a few years ago big tam connery was one i believe. guys like rod stewart and billy connolly are keen on boosting their image as 'men of the people' by spouting their celtic supporting credentials, its about time they actually contributed something, not neccessarily financial, but imagine the raised profile world wide if we had billy telling a couple of gags at half time during a CL tie? or rod the mod beltin out 'you wear it well' before an OF game?
actually sounds a bit daft now i've typed it. ach well, i'd enjoy it anyway.
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Just had a brainwave - dangerous I know!
If WGS and MON have indeed agreed on targets, or at least cross-referenced there shortlists, added to the fact that WGS has been on a sabatical for 18 months - would this not suggest WGS knows who he wants and therefore would know if they were good enough. Strachan's trip to Poland is therefore, IMO not to scout players, but to discuss deals with the players (and possibly clubs involved). I don't believe the 1st thing he would do at the club would be to go and watch a game of football abroad - he's done plenty of that over the last year or so.
My position on CB is that either he will sign (probably on the type of deal mentioned with the release clause) or will go back to Newcastle. I have said before that I can't see Souness being kept on at Newcastle and read somewhere that only 1% of fans are behind him. This could of course be lazy reporting but I think there is a possiblity he will go and Shearer will step in. Although since CB and Shearer seem to have had a fallout this is highly unlikely.
Thoughts anyone?
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Billy at half time in the CL would be great PR for the club and the man himself IMO. At any time where his career was quieting down a bit I'm sure he'd be glad to do it, especially at a big game. Imagine the English pundits on Sky!
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Anyway - here's looking forward to some signing news tomorrow, and if not Monday. Fingers crossed!
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Malone19!
I really don't think if CB dosn't sign for us he will go back to necastle unt.
"My position on CB is that either he will sign (probably on the type of deal mentioned with the release clause) or will go back to Newcastle."
The beast is contracted to Newcastle I can't see their board sanctioning a £6million spend on Parker then kick pen.. souness out the door?
If we don't sign CB the Everton or a top half team will.
It's your right to ask lods of questions but when do you sleep?
Oh rite your a student :-@
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oops!
I think I need to give up my job to keep up with this site When I logged on it had 154 comments i imagine thats gone up by 3 or 4000 now.
JM good in his day but if Wolves is his ambition then Bye bye. Lenny has taken a pay cut but will still go out and play 100% and shows he has the ambition to stay with Celtic and in Europe.
Malone 19 how do you keep up with this site? what do you do and are they recruiting??
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Mick you are probably right on Newcastle point. Still, if a club like Everton don't come in for him I can't see many of the other clubs who are in Europe doing so. I think he'd rather play in the Cl than the bottom half of the EPL.
Ghirl
Morgan Stanley - collections (Booooo!) ;)
As far as Lennon goes - he has yet to sign which makes me think he's about to 'negotiate' with the board as he probably feels his position is stronger now JM has left.
Anyway, I'm off to bed. Shock, horror!
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Rumours are growing some serious legs on the vast online Celtic grapevine tonight that the 2 signings we are making will be Cameroonian midfielder Modeste M'Bami from Paris SG, and Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc from Legia Warsaw. Who will both be paraded as Celtic players on Monday apparently.
These 2 players would certainly fit your category of "unknown quantity" that you used to describe who our 'done deals' were in a few of your previous posts. These names wouldn't happen to ring a bell would they Paul? ;)
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Where are The Mole/Insider/Fargo/Dialupcelt when required,eh?
BankieBhoy
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Meant to say,these are the type of players we should be looking to sign.At 22 and 25 years old respectively,they are international players with their best years ahead of them.
It's all just conjecture at the minute but at least it sounds more promising than O'brien,Robert,Harper,etc...
BankieBhoy
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bhoysbackability, excellent name and excellent post. you remind me of my dad, a veteran of lisbon and milan but says George C was the best that should have been.
I hope that one day we can all see the footage of the past, because in celtic we are a generation handed down, a glorious sense of history repeating its self.
Hail,Hail
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Boysbackability - GC was one of those people who just couldn't handle the limelight, basically he just "dropped out", his marriage went belly up and he ended up looking like a hoboe, Jock Stein actually commented that George would have been far happier playing for Morton or St.Mirren as a non descript ordinary player, but what a talent, does anyone else remember him tearing Leeds apart at Elland rd ???
Malone19 - good idea, although you'd need to send the big yin a plane ticket, last I heard he's living in L.A.
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Check out the scotsman today - JMCNM is a disgrace. He is basically callin everybody at CP a liar. His rhetoric goes something like - money is not an issue, they didn't offer me enough money. JOURNEYMAN WHO AFTER TEN YEARS AT CELTIC STILL CANNOT PASS A BALL WITH HIS LEFT FOOT. Hopefully Hoddle will try to get him involved in the spiritual thing cause he's a piss poor football player.
Yours now in NY
Glad he is gone and hoping Lennon is volleyed back down south as well.
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FOOTBALL: CELTIC HAVE DRAGGED MY NAME THROUGH THE MUD
jackie, leave it son, find a quiet corner of obscurity to hide in, talking to the press is doing you no favours.
You will be serving the wine at the judas party dinner, special guests Mr L miller and Mr M jhonstone.
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First time poster. Agree with the post which said we will never get the full story about Jackie Mac. A new regime and a time of great change in general at CP is as good a point as any to move on after 10 years. Jackie took advantage of the circumstances and decided to try his hand somewhere else. I wish him all the best. He gave us his best years, as did Henrik for example, so we should be gracious and thank him for that.
My only concern on the signings issue is why GDS is still scouting at this stage - he is in Poland I believe. I can understand the absence of public pronouncements - finalising a contract with a player and myriad agents can take time and transfers are often a lengthy process at this time of year - so no real concerns at that.
GC was an amazing talent with many great games for Celtic and Scotland. Now if we could just find one like him.............
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2 of the funniest comments i've seen on this board:
-cdmcc: "JOURNEYMAN WHO AFTER TEN YEARS AT CELTIC STILL CANNOT PASS A BALL WITH HIS LEFT FOOT. Hopefully Hoddle will try to get him involved in the spiritual thing cause he's a piss poor football player."
-milkray:"You will be serving the wine at the judas party dinner, special guests Mr L miller and Mr M jhonstone."
just brilliant.
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Hardball Eh! Now it appears that McNamara was offered a 3rd year subject to appearances in year 2.
Can someone please make this story go away ( signing a player would help considerably).
Hopefully GS and that prat Lawwell will not respond to the latest comments. I knew there riposte on Weds was a mistake.
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Very strange that all the Jackie stuff is coming out in "exclusives" in the Scotsman, not a paper noted for its reporting of Celtic matters. Jackie and his dad have got somebody there wrapped round their finger.
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Just to say that I well remember George Connelly's performance at Elland Road and against the huns in Cup Final. Doing Greig is one of my fondest ever memories of any Celtic player. What a pity he couldn't handle the limelight but what a player..up there with the Beckenbauers on sheer giftedness. Even Dalglish, even Henrik, don't begin to come near his talent.
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Further to King Henrik comments about 2 players. Did M'bami not suffer a serious injury against CSKA Moscow (Broken leg) just last season. Obviously recovered full fitness. He would certainly be a player of interest. But I would have expected a few clubs would also be interested in him. Hopefully we are now much closer to making an announcement.
My last words on JM...you blew it BIG time blame yourself no-one else now stop trying to blame EVERYONE else.
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Jackie - hope you like Wolverhampton. You have ashamed yourself. Now go away.
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McNamara says Celtic are making him a 'scapegoat'
STEPHEN HALLIDAY
JACKIE McNamara has responded angrily to claims from Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and chief executive Peter Lawwell that they did everything they could to prevent their captain leaving the club this week.
The 31-year-old Scotland international, who signed a two-year contract with Wolves on Tuesday after Celtic failed to offer him an acceptable new deal in time, poured scorn on the version of events surrounding his departure from Parkhead set out by Strachan and Lawwell.
McNamara believes he and his agent Darren Jackson are being used as "scapegoats" by the Celtic management as they attempt to place a favourable spin on their complacency in not properly addressing the contractual situation their longest-serving player and captain found himself in.
"The statements Gordon Strachan and Peter Lawwell have come out with are totally out of order," McNamara told The Scotsman. "I know the truth about what happened and I know neither Darren or myself have anything to be ashamed of. I didn't want to go down the line of having a go at them, but I can't sit back and say nothing now they are trying to use Darren and I as scapegoats."
McNamara finished his testimonial season at Celtic still uncertain of his future at the club and it was not until 3 June that he finally received a first offer of a new contract. The one-year deal, on the same terms as his previous one-year contract which had seen him take a wage cut, was immediately rejected by the dismayed player.
A subsequent two-year contract was offered, but again on unchanged terms of around £8,000 a week, which left McNamara on less than a third of what the highest earning Celtic first-team players are picking up. By the time Celtic finally came back to the table with a two-year deal with an improved salary, McNamara had already given his word to Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle that he would join the Molineux club.
"Gordon Strachan talks about us setting a deadline, as if Darren and I were trying to hold Celtic to ransom," says McNamara. "Neil Lennon hasn't signed a new contract yet, so is he trying to hold them to ransom? The fact is I had to sort out my future and the clear impression Celtic gave me, from the length of time it took to make me a first offer and then the fact it was only a one-year deal on the same wages, was that they didn't really want me to stay.
"When I had the face-to-face meeting with the manager that he talks about, which was on 6 June, he never said anything about what he expected and wanted from me for the next couple of seasons as was claimed in his statement. I told him I wanted to stay at the club but I couldn't accept the first offer. Maybe he believed it would get sorted out by Peter Lawwell, I don't know, but I couldn't have made it clearer to him that I wanted to stay and finish my career at Celtic.
"The money I was looking for would still have left me earning half of what the top earners at the club get and I didn't think that was unreasonable for the club captain and all that entails. If they had come up with the kind of deal earlier that they started offering in the phone calls I received on the way to Wolverhampton on Tuesday morning, I would have stayed, but by then I had given Glenn Hoddle my word.
"Peter Lawwell even said they would offer me a third year when he phoned, but I told him it was too late by that stage. It didn't matter what they came up with, I had already agreed to join Wolves. It's not about money, anyway. Does anyone think I'm going to be earning fortunes in the Championship in England? It's about respect and I don't think I got that from Celtic. No-one has explained why it took them so long to offer me a new deal."
Meanwhile, German league and cup runners-up Schalke 04 are ready to offer Bobo Balde a lucrative financial package to lure him away from Celtic.
The central defender from Guinea yesterday said he expected to be back for preseason training at Parkhead, however Schalke are not deterred and insist they are ready to make an approach.
"One big advantage is that Balde is available on a free transfer and, besides, he has had Champions League experience with Celtic," said Schalke team manager Andreas Muller.
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Are any of the guys who sympathised with Jackie on Tuesday now starting to feel differently?
His move was not about money but he feels the need to point out what the top paid players are getting in comparison to him.It seems to me that JM had a little bee in his bonnet about this and has decided to leave.That in itself is fine.But to go blabbing to the players yet again,when he knows what they will do with the story,is unacceptable.
You will not be missed Jackie.
BankieBhoy
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Jackie please stop talking to the press, in fact please stop talking. This is turning into some sort of cringeworthy pilot episode for Eldorado or something! Im actually starting to get embarassed for the boy.
JUST SHUT UP......PLEASE!
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I hope Mr Mcnamara will be happy watching champions league football from his wolverhampton living room this season.
Shut it Jackie
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I agree with the earlier comments about WGS riposte. The club should have let it lie. Two more faces today and it will all be blown over.
Lets let this one rest, I see Bobo is making more concillatory noises about staying... more´s the pity 28K a week we could have saved.
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BankieBhoy
I still think the club has handled the whole situation badly and the current PR disaster could have been avoided if a player's "loyalty" had not been taken for granted and the club was more dynamic in these matters.
However in my eyes the biggest issue for the club is the way it acted once JM announced he was away. He has/had the support of a large number of the fans but that support would have been be trumped by a desire not to see the club dragged through the gutter by way of an unedifying spectacle of last minute phone calls to a car on the M6.
In any negotiation you have to be able to walk away, anything else and it is just delaying the inevitable of paying the other guy's price.
However I still can't understand comments by MON and WGS regarding important players needing contract extensions and the lack of urgency shown by the club to sort things out. The finger points to the club as WGS seems not to do figures, he just looks for players.
The best policy for all parties would be to stop talking, nobody has come out of this well. The club started badly and now JM is in danger of surpassing their earlier mistakes with remarks that border on the whingeing.
On the background to all this I still wonder why JM was ever made captain? As has been mentioned before in the eyes of many fans he had a lot going for him just that he never looked or sounded captain material on or off the pitch. Consequently why was he ever given the job?
It just adds to the increasing list of "to do" jobs left to WGS.
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JMac is obviously very upset at leaving Celtic for Wolves - as he should be. He's made his bed and he can lie in it. It's clearly about money, as other posters have mentioned...I left because they didn't offer me what I wanted, about half what the top earners are on...but it's not about money. Right you are.
As for Bobo - he's got a cheeck, "I'll wait and see what the Club does before deciding if I'm staying..." Players like that should NOT be dictating to the Club - Celtic should be dictating to them.
He clearly feels he might be too good for Celtic. Get a grip, if I was WGS I'd punt him NOW and show we mean business. Of course you need to have someone better to replace him - but as I've said before, if our scouting dept can't come up with better than Bobo for less money, something is seriously wrong.
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jimios,I agree that if we could get rid of Balde it would be worthwile,especially on the money he is picking up.
The problem is that the contract he signed allows him to sit tight, if he chooses to,on increased wages.My biggest concern is that he could walk away from us just a few days before our first qualifier if it suits him to.
BankieBhoy
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JMac - Please can we draw a line under this now.
Bobo keep him hopefully christmas when his 4 year deal has kicked in after the transfer deadline closes and then punt him in January to who ever is in the bottom half of the EPL for lots of money. Boro are my hope as they are always keen to waste millions on such 'stars'.
At least it would be a strategy whereby we can make some revenue.
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Balde is effectively on a Bosman at the moment. If he's still with us after the window has closed we can sell him & receive some cash IF another club is willing to pay a fee and match his Celtic salary. Or we could get him off the wage bill now. It's a tricky situation, tough call for GS.
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Morning all.
I posted the following yesterday "For a player to put a deadline on negotiations... then claim the CLUB were disloyal, is infuriating and has left a sour taste in my mouth, and my opinion of JMc has plumetted." how much of an understatement was that?
Having just read todays article and JMc's latest parting shot I am deeply disappointed in him, he always came across as an honest if not shy professional but now he comes across as a spoilt kid with a bit of an ego.
"I didn't think that was unreasonable for the club captain"!? please Jackie behave yourself, firstly being club captain is an honor not a priviledge, I suppose it got your first pick of the parking spaces too or last nets at five-a-side eh?
I agree BTW that the matter should be put behind us. We're a club heading in a different direction than JMc and he would just, as RAB1888 put it, "Shut it Jackie" then we can get on with building a superior team without the deadweights and expensive hangers-on.
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madmitch,he's done an exclusive interview with the Record.Says it all does it not.
I wasn't for making a big deal when he left coz we can easily replace him.But his remarks since,culminating in speaking to that rag,suggest to me that we are better rid of him.
And you are right,I asked the same question the other day,why was he captain? Only MON knows.
BankieBhoy
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If Jackie didn't want to leave,why has he signed for Wolves just three weeks after the end of the season?His current contract won't have run out,so he could have gone on holiday and left the negotiations to his agent.No real rush to move anywhere else surely.
Also,I think the opinions formed of Jackie are slightly bizarre.How can anyone say that they believe him over ayone else in this situation?The only time you hear him is in interviews,not exactly enough to build a character assessment on,is it? It's like saying you know Beckham is a nice guy from watching the Vodafone ads!!!
He's now up there with Murdo"read my story in the only paper the Celtic fans trust,the Sunday Mail" McLeod in my eyes.
BankieBhoy
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Bankiebhoy,
Do you have insomnia ? Posts at 9pm, 12am,2am & 9am I take it's not because you are mourning the loss of Jackie Mac is it ? :-)
Was talking to a friend of the family who is also a youth scout for Celtic the other day and he seems to think that Simon Ferry (I belive he is from Dundee)has a very bright future. As have the 2 Icelandic boys (one I hear is exceptional but I can't remember his name (ends in son ). ;-)
I wonder though how much emphasis will be put on youth this year as GS really has to hit the ground running. Could we see reserve/youth players appearances even more limited than last year ?
Finally (and I can hear the howls of derision) I would like to stand up for Charlie Nicholas . That man scored some of the best goals I have ever seen scored in a Celtic shirt (Ibrox 1982 anyone ?) . As a thirtysomething he was one of my idols who left Celtic for Arsenal (should have been Liverpool by his own admission) at atime when the biscuit tin mentality was truly justified.
I would say - why do all these ex players crticise the club when you rarely hear an ex hun criticise Rangers ?
Could it be that they were so badly treated that any feelings they had for the club has been replaced by bitterness.
Think about it.
Charlie Nicholas CSC
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from reading recent posts it seems we're waiting till monday now to announce signings. was looking forward to seeing a press conference today but i suppose i'll need to wait till monday.
agree with an earlier post though about stein signing guys on a friday so the hunday papers would HAVE to write positive news on celtic.
we should have had the deals tied up for the weekends papers.
we as fans deserve good news now!
i notice its went quiet. is everyone at celtic park waiting for news? hello...?
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it's not realistic to assume we will get a fee for balde anytime soon...anyone with the slightest interest in him will make a move before 31st Aug.....why on earth would they want to sign him and pay a fee by waiting past that point......the only way of getting a fee will be if he stays beyond august and we try and move him on ...probably no earlier than this time nxt year
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"Balde is effectively on a Bosman at the moment. If he's still with us after the window has closed we can sell him & receive some cash IF another club is willing to pay a fee and match his Celtic salary."
One horrible question that I don't like to ask is this :
"If any club can get him for free at the moment, why would they suddenly pay £4m for him in January?"
