I remember one of the Q&A evenings in Blantyre when it was suggested from the floor that Celtic pay whatever money necessary to retain John Park as chief scout. John out-performed his peers for several years, but, as you know, there are no gurus in football. A fallow period followed the recruitment of Mikael Lustig in January 2012; many players arrived in the years since then but few were able to enhance the team (with the odd outstanding exception).
Football scouting at this level isn’t really about being able to spot a player, it is as much about contacts. Your network keeps you. With many of these guys, their networks diminish over time. They fall out with each other regularly – trust is a precious commodity in football transfer negociations. Your value as a scout to an agent is largely dependent on your club. Since 2012 Celtic’s financial position relative to the English leagues has diminished. We will spend less than they will on any given player, and we will buy fewer players.
Perhaps for these reasons Brendan Rodgers decided a change was needed and has now secured his former colleague at Chelsea, Lee Congerton. Congerton has had recent spells at two highly dysfunctional clubs: Hamburg and Sunderland, but rejected a pretty spectacular offer to join Brendan’s revolution at Celtic. We have recruited a known quantity who will fit with the manager’s plans as closely as Chris Davies does. He will also bring a fresh batch of scouts and agents to the table. I hear they are working on plans for the summer already.
Amid the gloating at the hubris of English football amid another humbling in Europe last night, my Dad made the point that unlike Arsenal, or Manchester United, Manchester City didn’t try to cheat us by scamming a penalty in our Champions League encounters. They played with a straight bat.
We have also established a beneficial relationship with them. A year with Jason Denayer, the purchase of Dedryck Boyata and 18 months with Patrick Roberts. So far.
Roberts’ situation at his parent club should be easier to fathom after City’s exit. 10 points adrift in the Premier League and the only team to be eliminated from the Champions League last 16 by a lesser- moneyed side, what chance Pep Guardiola decides what his team needs for next season is a player City shipped out to Celtic in January 2016?
It is not going to happen. Patrick is caught in an impossible situation in Manchester. The Manchester City football model harvests innumerable players, but precious few young English players will make it onto the roster in any decade. None will do so in a season when there is a perceived need for them to up their game. Pep will spend big this summer, Roberts’ opportunity to breakthrough in Manchester next season have diminished.
My first reaction at full time last night? Our chances of getting to keep Patrick increased. Which would be a very good thing, for both club and player.
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Seems Eastenders is being slated for the use of a swear word last night.
Paul67 I think it is time you contracted out your moderators.
MWD
Ernie Lynch
Im sorry to disagree with you, but there you go.
Lets get on to the next debate:)
HH
Remember the days when Paul would put an article up right on one o’clock. He toys with the podium chasers now.
I can’t believe all the debate about Catholic’s in high positions.
I’m hearing it will be sorted soon as Pedro Caixinho of this Dear Green Site will be running for Prime Minister shortly after succeeding at Stupid FC.
So stop all the fretting about nothing.
MWD
Ernie Lynch
Ernie, can you drop Jeremy a post and remind him that its not too savvy to be strolling around the west-end with an Orangeman.
The Green Man was busy that day or there would have been fireworks:)
HH
Davidopolous
Lol nup no cd.:-)
Re Gideon Osbourne
Alongside being an MP and now editor at the standard.
Does he not also have a 6 figure consultancy at a city bank? Might be wrong.
HH
Tom Rogic fit again and according to a report could play a part on Sunday.Great news.We have missed the link up play from Tom.
CELTIC BY NUMBERS on 17TH MARCH 2017 12:57 PM
Interesting PEI% for Boyata, if only he could keep his concentration levels up.
AT- He now has 6 jobs….
Osborne, 45, who became chancellor in 2010 and was a key figure behind the coalition government’s austerity programme, was sacked by May following the Brexit vote. Unlike David Cameron, however, he opted to remain in parliament.
He has faced sharp criticism for taking on a series of highly lucrative jobs alongside his parliamentary role, including a contract with the US fund management firm BlackRock that will earn him £650,000 a year for one day’s work a week.
Over the past six months, Osborne has also earned almost £800,000 for 15 speeches, some of which caused him to miss crucial votes in parliament, including on Brexit. He also collects a £120,000 a year “stipend” from a US Republican thinktank, and received an estimated £100,000 advance for his book, Age of Unreason. In addition, he receives an annual dividend of £44,000 from his family’s wallpaper business, Osborne & Little, on top of his £75,000 salary as MP for Tatton.
MOONBEAMSWD on 17TH MARCH 2017 12:56 PM
VFR
“If the world is not flat can you explain to me just how spirit levels work?”
LMAO por cierto….
Thank You Turkeybhoy for a fitbaw post & yes it would be great to see Tom back.
new article posted.
Moon Roofs on cars.In 1982 I went to choose my company car in Saudi and picked a Honda Accord,for the simple reason it had”A Moon Roof”.
I wish I had the same innocence now.
MOONBEAMSWD on 17TH MARCH 2017 12:56 PM
Simply because spirits are ethereal and don’t operate in the same ways as corporeal bodies.
They choose their own level.
HTH.
KTF
Mrs TB telling me to stop sitting with my face tripping me and to put a bet on The Gold Cup.
I will take her advice.
Soukous/BB
Thanks for posts.
It was the Blavkrock example I was thinkin of
Snout right in trough and his ilk dont give a sh…
Am goin try dig up his US based republican think tanks as several of them would privatize air!
HH
GREENPINATA on 17TH MARCH 2017 11:43 AM
Ha, just when I was reminiscing about how good it was to have a sunroof again, I’m now informed that most newish cars have a poxy moonroof.
The thought of you driving down the road with your erchie out the windae has me reaching for tje moonshine.
Morning all. Nags here I guess?
Eaton hill 4-10 Uttoxeter
Gl all
15:00 @ Uttoxeter – Aengus – NAP!
Good luck everybody.
Caid Du Lin 3:25 Fontwell.
Morning all, I’ll go with DUKE ST 2.40 Kempton.
hh n good luck
Court Frontier in 3.35 Uttoxeter
Morning all
Ardean lass 13.35 limerick
Good luck
3.35 Uttoxeter
Goulanes
Best of luck to all (am relying on the law of averages)
Cheers GFTB
Spooky Dooky 3.35 Uttoxeter
Good luck to all
HH
Good day and good luck.
Spookydooky 3:35 Uttoxeter
Uttoxetter 225 Rock the Kasbah
Good luck all
Out Sam 335 Utt
CASPER KING 2:40 Kempton.
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Ballybolley 3:15Kempton.
Thank you again fleagle for all your efforts
Back to bread and butter.
Kempton 2.40
Golden Spear.
Cannae get beat
Firebird Flyer in the 3:35 Uttoxeter
For me Good luck to all
Hail Hail
Sir Note 3.15 Kempton
Llantara
Uttoxeter 1720
For Carmel 3 55. Limerick.
Romain de seam 3.15 kem
Mysteree in the 3.35 at Uttoxeter please HH