Celtic were looking for a right back throughout the second half of last term, but in the early weeks of his tenure, Brendan considered Mikael Lustig and Saidy Janko sufficient for the season ahead. Mikael is four years into a successful Celtic career but his fitness issues are of a persistent nature. We’ve reached Peak Swede.
Saidy missed lot of last season, also through injury, but he showed potential in his early outing this term. Aspirations for the lad crystallised in Israel last week, but not in a good way. I’m not going to defend him, because he was unquestionably poor, but agreement only exists on his poor showing because he was prepared to receive the ball so often. Not everyone in black that night was as keen to get on the end of a pass.
That opened the door for Cristian Gamboa, 26, second choice right back for West Brom. We’re very keen, apparently. West Brom manager, Tony Pulis, is less in need of a full back whose key attribute is getting forward at speed. Horses for course, I suppose, West Brom face different challenges than Celtic.
Two rumours have circulated this week: Celtic are looking for a midfield player and James McCarthy’s position at Everton is less secure than it was a year ago. Whoever has been linking these two facts has overreached – or made them up. Celtic have no idea where this one came from but were clear, there’s nothing in it. Getting the right midfielder remains a task in hand, but usual caveats apply. There are no guarantees we’ll land all our targets this summer.
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I watched Reporting Scotland tonight to see how they would present our new signing. I must have missed it. Lennie talking of depression and Russell Knox not making the Ryder Cup team were all I saw. Was iGamboa mentioned?
JJ
Ming,
Very well done.
HH,
CaliBhoy
Burgas
Aye Ashburn and Country Club two old haunts off mine, great times had in both and some I cannot remember, wonder why
L57
Gweedore even
Tried to correct it again….
The Green Man
Waitrose ! now you’re just showing off
Ming
Better place to shoplift:)
HH
Would be delighted to bring Jason Denayer home. He is looking at either joining David Moyes’ already started relegation battle at Sunderland or a move back to Celtic where he will win things and play in Champions League.
He’d have been here this time last year if it wasn’t for Malmo.
Burgas
Was the guys name Paul and did he live close to St Pauls?
L57
CATMAN,
Thanks for the reply. Imo, you’re the one who is in the know, if anyone is.
WC
Denayer
Hope he’s lost the excess weight he was carrying a few weeks ago.
But would love him back
BABASONICOS71 on 30TH AUGUST 2016 6:27 PM
and the rest:
5.McCarthy’s Bar by Pete McCarthy
___________________
I found this a REAL laugh out loud read!
KTF
Cali / Ming
I’m hearing rumors that, later this week, Trump will be announcing that, if elected president, he will make it mandatory for all Americans to drink Bud and watch Nascar!
Really liked Denayer when he was here, and would have him back …. for a CB, he was very good with the ball at his feet, and often brought the ball forward, which helped our midfield alot … if he did the same again now, he would be a great addition.
HOT SMOKED,
It was interesting too that they talked of Lennon as the Celtic player and manager. No mention that he is currently the Hibs manager. Odd…………….Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Someone mentioned earlier that the BBC has claimed that they have no connection with Level 5 but who’s to say that Traynor hasn’t a hold over members of their sports department. Mind you, he probably doesn’t need it because most of them are probably supporters of the deid team.
BSR @ 6.40
Everybody is now involved.
The financial trials and tribulations of the TFOD and the TFOD2 mean that financials are now seen as central to the club and the team on the park.
Then there is the question regarding the progress you see around you.
I put it down to someone — poss DD after the April SC debacle — putting forward and auctioning a “growth agenda” that brought us a manager of the calibre of BR. Sure he can ask and get big wages but he has been the catalyst to get a much better level of performance out of a squad with a £25mill wage bill.
Why think small, stagnate and then play to empty stands — it might have been bonus friendly but it is not the way forward for me and hopefully you.
I want to see a well run club with the ambition to grow.
BR has made huge strides along that road and I want it to continue.
The big Mo is everything now — we are starting to get it and we need more.
Look at how some teams have made huge strides forward regarding on field performance based on promoting youth, polishing rough diamonds, working the loan system to the max, giving support to the lost and lonely forgotten talents, given a couple of old stagers a platform for one last hurrah …
We have nothing to lose.
We have the money all we need is the desire and the ambition to move things forward.
This season we have a puncher’s chance in the CL.
I think BR has worked this out and his horizons are now just that little bit higher.
Always liked Denayer but didn’t he speak rather condescendingly about being here quite recently?
Ghuys, regarding my earlier comment about the CL money…
I wasn’t suggesting that CQN has necessarily been rife with supporters demanding that Celtic blow £20+ million in the next 24 hours, but there seem to be a lot of journalists taking that line.
As I said earlier , haven’t seen much of jozo , so can’t reall comment on his ability . But one thing in his favour , he was big , something which worries me in the defence at present . Eric and Kolo will do fine , but neither are the tallest .
VFR, That book was extremely funny, the yarn about the guy going on about elephants really had me in stitches, I knew that guy well and of course I drank in the pub.
Sadly the guy died about 6 months after book was released.
VFR…
Read it three times now.Funniest book i’ve ever picked up.
A definite laugh out loud read,can’t recommend it enough.
HH
Parkhead ….
He is alleged to have said that he found playing at Celtic “too easy”…. but, on the other hand, I think Patrick Roberts was quoted as saying that Denayer was the one who convinced him to join Celtic. You wouldn’t think both would be true ….
As always, everything we read in the papers should be taken with a grain of salt.
If he comes back, he will get my support.
jimtim – agree – jozo had power and aggression. We lack that throughout the spine. here’s hoping BR knows what he’s doing. He has a tendency of airing on the softer side of football!
If we bring nobody else in we have done what we should always do and that’s come out of the window stronger, the spend doesn’t come into it really, the fact we have made a few bob should be commended, but and always the but, we are in dire need of middys that can defend and attack, to go into the CL with what we have is folly imo, we have the cash, we are awash with extra cash so backing the manager is not going to harm us in any way and it might just see us get third place in the CL and all the extra cash and kudos that will bring.
It’s been proven that spending a little can bring you a lot, we splashed out on a proper manager and we have made millions instantly, it doesn’t always follow that way, but 99% of the time you get what you pay for.
Go on Pedro surprise us, give us a window like never before.
MIT,
He certainly would be someone I would be happy to watch playing in the Hoops (by the way, I suppose it is commercialisation run riot but why can’t we play in the Hoops rather than that awful black strip?).
Hi guys, here’s the new bhoy in action for CR in Brazil 2014. CR down 1-0, and Uruguay defending the lead as only they can. It needs something special to unlock Uruguay, Gamboa provides it. The Uruguayan defenders don’t think he can reach the ball never mind cross it the way he does. It causes confusion in the Uruguay defence and leaves Campbell alone to beat the keeper 1-1. The clip is only 3 minutes but the action for the equaliser starts at 1.18. There have been a few CR goals that started that way because no one thinks Gamboa is going to reach the ball and cross. It turned the match for us and our whole campaign. You never now how a new situation will pan out, but I hope and feel quietly confident that he can do the same for Celtic. Enjoy and hail hail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVVbAhhiV88
CORKCELT on 30TH AUGUST 2016 7:46 PM
I went to MacCarthy’s Bár in Castletownbere-ben when I visited Cork for work a few times. Brilliant memories.
BABASONICOS71 on 30TH AUGUST 2016 7:47 PM
I may pick it up again tonight!
KTF
Hearing we won’t be disappointed if deals getting worked come off, no further information.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Parkhead …
As far as strips go, I actually like the black one ….but, like you, I would rather see the bhoys in the hoops every game, except where there is a clash … but, as you say, it is all about the money. But, really, do we really need 3 new strips every season or two? And I say that as one of the guilty ones who bought most of the strips that came out over the last 25 years or so …. :)
Mac’s is a great wee boozer……….and the eponymous book a right good read…….
VFR800A8 on 30TH AUGUST 2016 7:54 PM
BABASONICOS71 on 30TH AUGUST 2016 7:47 PM
I may pick it up again tonight!
===
Smart move,enjoy. :)
A centre back and a defensive midfielder (unless Ajer is expected to become a first team player) is an absolute must.
We shouldn’t include Ambrose or Boyata in the centre back count as they’re not good enough. What’s the point in having players included or at the club who aren’t the standard you need or want. Might sound harsh but that’s the way is has to be if we want to improve.
MIT,
I’m afraid I’m too “old school”. Can’t the new pink one either. Why can’t we have an all green strip, like in the 60s, or the white with green sleeves (and big green shamrock) like in the 50s. Apart from the Hoops, those 2 will always be my favourites.
Malone Bhoy
The whole spine of the team needed toughened up.
Keeper ,Centre Half,Centre Mid ,and Striker.
RB has become an issue also.
TT
i fully believe that the BBC documentary on recently that related a “story ” about the Hearts dressing room being ordered to take it easy against a beleaguered Hibs-is an attempt to stop a cricket score on the 10th -HH
Parkhead …. Those would be my choices as well…. I also liked the white strip from a few seasons ago with the black collar and the celtic cross on the chest. … and someone had suggested the red crest as well, which I think would look great ….
but, for the hibs game, for example, I think the regulations would require another colour …
but, pink?! I’m with you on that one … not for me, I’m afraid.
McCarthy’s Bar is a great read. Full of the joy of life. It is sad that Pete died so young. His writing style was so easy and playful.
I thought that the Centenary Year strip was outstanding. I remember, too, a strip worn by Kokkola ( sp?) Of Finland, green with a lighter green vertical band down the chest which I thought at the time would look good on Celtic players,
However, the commercial imperative is now dictating decisions, unfortunately IMHO. HH
As usual I will be happy to see the window close and the fevered demands for new bling will just have to accept and work with what we’ve got for 5 more months.
I remember when teams were lucky to get 3 new players bought and a similar number promoted from the youth team to compensate for older players departing.
Now we have wholesale switches every window and we cry foul if we do not get our full payload. We hark back to the Willo window and calim it lost us a league because we only bought Willo Flood (in fact we brought in Niall McGinn, The Twardzik bros and Milan Misun too but they don’t count). The problem wasn’t that we bought “only” Willo Flood but that we bought him at all. An unneeded player who proved to be just that- we should have saved our money. The money spent on the 3 Czech prospects and the NI project were equally wasted unfortunately as we could not provide them with the development football to make them good enough.
We currently have 31 players with a further 9 on loan and 17 or so in our development squad (4 or 5 with first team tasters) and 18 or more under 17 players. We can always do with more quality but how do we leave room for the promising youth group to bridge the gap. Loan them out to lesser teams and you place their development in the hands of lesser skilled coaches with fewer resources and training time to give them a competitive environment. Loan them to more demanding environments and they may not get sufficient playing time.
To get a player Celtic-ready for first team action requires room in the squad to let them breathe. I do not think we have that currently as we have accumulated too many. Whether we have speculated enough is open to question but there is precious little we can do to compete with the squads Barca and Man City will bring. We have Paddy Roberts, one of our stars, who would not make the first or second eleven which Pep can fashion out of his squad. He might make team 3 but, after this year developing at Celtic, he will move himself up that pecking order and, if he fails to bridge it, he will still make a lucrative living at Stoke, Southampton or Norwich.
Those economic realities are not changing anytime soon, even if Brendan were to bring about the revolution that so many claim to have divined in his first month in a long haul job.
Just watched the Gamboa montage. Impressive, which is the whole point of having it up on you tube.
Apart from pace and skill I noticed he seems to play particularly well against teams wearing blue- and England.
Win / win.