Within around a week of each other, Aberdeen, Newco and Celtic are all likely to sign wide midfield players, although with different profiles. Niall McGinn re-joins Aberdeen on a contract which will expire in 2021, a few weeks short of his 34th birthday. Celtic are set to announce the capture of St Mirren’s Lewis Morgan (21) imminently, while Newco have confounded all by paying money (or at least promising to) for former Motherwell winger, Jamie Murphy (28).
Murphy was irrepressible at Motherwell and it’s no surprise the Newco coaches were interested in him. Media photographs of him this morning suggest he’s a tad out of shape, but if he can recapture his Motherwell form he will be a solid SPFL player.
When Niall McGinn went to Korea in the summer it appeared to signal the end of an Aberdeen team which comfortably established itself as the second best in Scotland – recording a Best of the Rest treble last season. Considering the departures from Pittodrie, and manager Derek McInnes’ dalliances with other clubs, it is surprising Aberdeen have managed to hold onto second spot.
They will need McGinn back at his productive best if they are to finish the season in second against Newco (caveat: if the latter remains solvent).
Celtic’s opportunity is all about transforming Lewis Morgan into the next Stuart Armstrong. As well as being the preferred destination for aspiring talent, we have the luxury of being able to plan long-term. Right now, Lewis is the most exciting prospect of all three. He will join Celtic because he wants to become a Champions League player, not fight for second place.
That will take work on the part of the player, but they know what they are doing at Lennoxtown.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42571359
The comments by Jack Ross in the above article were so positive I thought Lewis Morgan had signed for Sevco.
JJ
1st?
Hot Smoked on 5th January 2018 12:03 pm
Davidopolous
Your posts today have been far too serious and informative to allow retention of the jolly epithet `Davipopolous` so it is back to the original for you, m`lad. I hope you enjoyed your twenty four hours of frivolity.
JJ
————————————————————-
My serious posts were giving me a headache.
I’m disappointed my Davipopoulos has been revoked but I understand the decision…
Aberdeen have signed Niall McGinn and his time machine???
2012, those meds gave me hallucinating ⚽️⚽️
Not buying the Sevco admin stuff anymore, fake news…….i would love to be proved wrong.The longer King is there , the better
Word for 2 at Dundalk
Ringside Humour 7.00
Zaofu 7.30
Bon Chance Mes Ami
Paul 67,
Maybe Lewis Morgan will become a CL player. We have about 29 first team players aspiring to that position.
Ability is one thing but mental attitude is crucial. Only time will tell.
We need players who will play now and get us into the CL. Jam tomorrow is fine as long as we keep our eye on the present.
HH.
Paul
Your comments on the comparative merits of the three players was fair enough ( did you mean 2022 for Niall Mcginn?) but the ` he wants to become a Champions League player, not fight for second place.` comment seems a little triumphalist to me. Not quite Celtic quality old bean ( courtesy of BMCUW).
JJ
BMCUW – yes – agreed. Seemed a nonsensical signing at the time, and did neither the player nor Celtic any favours. Just don’t like to see one of our own players belittled like that.
HH
BGFC
Jamesgang
Obviously, your honeymoon has slowed you down but if you know how to delete my post, the Podium is yours :-)
Cheerio for now,
JJ
Blantyretim.
I’ve been much the same as you but I don’t think it’s Man Flu, I got two new inhalers from the Doctors and I’ve been coughing up phlegm since I started using these new inhalers,but it’s sapping what strength I had.
Decisions have to be made regarding renewing my Season Ticket, At the moment I think I’ll have to call it a day, I really am Knackered,In fact I’m not getting a ticket for the Russian home game,that’s how bad I am.
I never had a drink through the festive season that’s just past, I hadn’t even the strength to meet up with you and Big Jimmy on Wednesday past,It’s starting to get me down. just want to say get well soon,same goes for anyone else that suffering from any illness during this festive season.
Only an Excuse got panned (again) this year but everyone on CQN will love The Craig Whyte Commemorative £1 Coin sketch. My niece had to reach for her inhaler.
Go to 11.20 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnKM0VVA9_c
!!BADA BING!!
Saw your post about St Thomas’s in Riddrie.
My grandfather on my Dad’s side owned the fruit shop across the road from the chapel..
He used to gift fruit and stuff for the First Communion breakfasts.
Lived in Liberton St Carntyne.
Some lovely memories of that time. late 50’s early sixties.
Not too many lovely football memories!
Philbhoy- One of the Coia’s was in my class, Mr Coia used to give all the kids ice cream on last day of school.I also remember the Big Cup being taken round every class.
OLDTIM67
Sorry to read you are not well!
Mibbe another trip to the doc is required.
Hope you are feeling better soon!
BLANTYRETIM
Get well soon too Bud!
Gettin’ the flu’ at Christmas/New Year must be a nightmare!
!!BADA BING!!
Those were the the days my friend……………………!
OLDTIM67
As i said on the previous blog don’t know what i had but i could
not get a breath and i was relatively fit for my age as our young
bhoys would verify but after a blood test and X-ray all clear, doc
supposedly couldn’t understand why i was struggling to breathe
and the same with many people i know who had same symptoms.
I really hope it all clears up for you but as in my case it might take
a few weeks yet.
H.H Mick
OLDTIM67 – best wishes from me and Wee BGFC.
A couple of my brothers (both of who also have COPD) also sound as if they have the same Dreaded Lurgy that you have – and have been suffering for more than two weeks. On antibiotics and steroids but neither seems to have much effect. I work in the NHS – the staff are is struggling heroically under the sheer numbers of people who are effected – compounded by the fact that NHS Staff are people too (!!), so a good number are off work with it.
If you can afford it, don’t give up the season ticket – Brendan will move us on to another level next year, and we want you there to see it.
HH
BGFC
HOT SMOKED on 5TH JANUARY 2018 12:21 PM
Jamesgang
Obviously, your honeymoon has slowed you down but if you know how to delete my post, the Podium is yours :-)
Cheerio for now,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There’s an obvious Carry-on type joke there about what a fine gentleman JAMESGANG is.
But I canny remember it!
Congratulations to you,J. And to Mrs J also J. Aw,I’m confused.
Anyway delighted for you both!!!!!
JJ
If I put my Arsene Wenger hat on for a moment (i really don’t know why I carry this around with me), for Lewis Morgan to make it at the very top of the game his development stage should be more advanced than it currently is:
“…if a player doesn’t have the technical ability by the time he is 14, if he doesn’t have the physical capability by 16 or 17, the tactical ability by the time he is 18 or 19 then he will never make a really good footballer.”
But then how successful has Wenger been lately? (I’ve taken that hat off now)
I wish Lewis all the best and hope he becomes a star!!
JJ et al
Was sitting on the beach about to strike gold and the WiFi disappeared. Hate losing, but I couldn’t lose to a more erudite and classy gent!
Oldtim – get to the doctor please you old scallywag. You’re way too precious not to be taken care of!
HH jamesgang
Good morning from a wind chilled -34 degree Toronto. It fair warms the a heart of this ole Teuchters cockles to see the auld monkeys signing Murphys. Wonder if he has Green boots?
I wonder if Leigh’s girlfriend,knows what a Tadger is, especially if she stays in Linlithgow,
MELBOURNEMICK
I posted cruise itineray at end of last post don’t know if you saw it ?
BMCUW
Tony’s got my mobile , e-mail etc mhate
AULDHEID on5TH JANUARY 2018 12:39 PM
CLOGHER CELT on5TH JANUARY 2018 10:36 AM
CLOGHER CELT on 4TH JANUARY 2018 7:15 PM
Since the financial meltdown of Rangers, the Supreme Court Verdict and the systematic failure of the game’s administrators in Scotland to prevent cheating and deception.
Could anyone on here tell me what safeguards and checks and balances have been put in place to prevent a repetition of this shameful episode?
As a shareholder can anyone let me know what the Chief Executive of Celtic Plc has done to;
a) Ensure that checks and balances are in place to prevent a these events happening again?
b) What has Mr Lawwell done to ensure that the continuity myth of Rangers is corrected?
c) Ensure that where rules were broken and titles were awarded that the records are amended?
Thanks
=======
In response to what have Celtic done you will be referred to the SPFL attempt to have SFA investigate which SFA rejected.
However the follow up to that is given Celtic have been unsuccessful in having an investigation that would provide the kind of assurances you/we seek on what basis will they or indeed any Scottish club ask supporters to renew ST’s?
It would appear Celtic have no faith in the SFA so how can they seek renewals form supporters.
The same question has to be asked by supporters of other Scottish clubs. Do their Directors have faith in the SFA and on what basis are they requesting renewals.
This is the natural outcome of the current stand off.
Of course if supporters are prepared to purchase STs unconditionally then there is no incentive to introduce measures that provide the necessary checks and balances.
The answer to the trust conundrum is to make the club licensing process subject to independent oversight before UEFA are informed and make the process itself much more transparent.
I would make ST purchase conditional on reform of the club licensing system and taking it out of the hands of the SFA.
In the normal business world it is the kind of service that could be placed elsewhere. The FA for example have theirs. No reason they could not be paid to look after at least SPFL top tier clubs.
Dessybhoy and the long grass.
‘This will not go away.’ More or less a quote from Celtic at a meeting before the AGM with Res12 reps.
Even if you doubt Celtic’s resolve, the factor raised by Clogher Celt will not go away.
There will be a cost to Scottish football in hoping that it will, but that cost might only manifest itself over a number of seasons or it might mainfest itself next April/May when renewal letters pop through the door, especially if the Comp Off is still macheting his way through the long grass.
I mean what self respecting person would allow themselves to be taken a loan of?
Woke up this morning in beautiful Antigua.
Booked a few dives for this weekend. Hope to see lots of turtles, rays and a few sharks.
Think I have found a kennel that I really like, so there will be a new golden retriever puppy. Probably not until April. But that’s okay … gives me something to look forward to.
2018 is shaping up to be a very good year so far.
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB.
Re Season ticket renewal.
I’ve been a Celtic supporter for 65 years and it’s going to be hard to make a decision, I renewed my ticket last year but haven’t been to many games this season.
I can see all the games on Telly, but I’d rather meet a lot of my friends in Glasgow before and after a game,so watching them on telly is by no way the same as the atmosphere that comes from going to watch them at Celtic Park (Paradise), I’ll miss that.
My decision will be made nearer renewal time. but it will be hard to make.
OldTim
Keep your spirits up and make a wee hot toddy to help you along the way and get you back into shape.
HH
CRC
PARK ROAD 67
Got it now, thats my usual trick, post at the end of a blog, Paul67
always catches me out.
Fantastic itinerary, been to all those places and a beautiful ship
you have a treat in store for you.
BMCUW has my email give me a line and i’ll help with any questions
you might have.
Oh and make sure you have plenty of Celtic tops packed believe me
it can help in so many ways :-))
H.H Mick
At end of transfer wisdow the only question will be are celtic stronger?
Are aberdeen stronger?
Are sevco stronger?
Are any other challangers stronger?
The result will come by the end of the season.
All the above have one thing in common and that is they have lots of players who are not good enough.
HH
Heads-up, punters:
Skybet are offering a 4/1 superboost treble tomorrow – Man city, Newcastle and Wolves all to win.
Thing is, they are refunding all stakes as cash if it loses. Usually, refunds are in the form of free bets but not this time.
Max stake £10 but you’ve nothing to lose. £50 gained f the three come up.
Get on it before it sells out.
Auldheid
Surely Celtic must have a drop dead date when they will say “enough is enough” to the SFA for the continued delaying tactics and raise this issue with UEFA as a member club?
However, if and when they do, will they not now be time-barred due to the length of time involved?
Keep it lit.
HH
CRC
Oldtim67
This flu thingy, don’t give up, it WILL improve. 7 weeks i’ve had it, really taken it’s toll too. I was getting a good bit over it at Xmas, went to Spain for aweek, and now I’m worse than ever. Doc given me antibiotics which has cleared the cough and for the first time, my head has cleared significantly. The worst part for me was the constant pain in the back of my head and overall feeling cold, shivery and generally crap.
But as I say, hang in there it will get better.
KINGLuBO
Sandman- on it! Easier than Goals Galore 3 :-)
Thanks
Big Jimmy in relation to your posts about trainer , Nicky Henderson. By coincidence , the dad of our players , Liam and Euan Henderson , is also called Nicky.
He played for Falkirk and Partick Thistle plus a few other clubs in his time.
Cliff Claven CSC
Celticrollercoaster supporting @WalkWithShay on 5th January 2018 1:07 pm
Sandman- on it! Easier than Goals Galore 3 :-)
Thanks
====================================
Goals Galore 3, CRC?
That’s easy – got 2 entries: last week picked Celtic for one, with Joker and Man City the other.
Couldn’t fail…