Amazonians, the Window of Opportunity

643

“It’s just a dream come true”, the words of 20-year-old Holmbert Fridjonsson, who today signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic and will join the club on 1 January.  5’ 9” manager, Neil Lennon, told Celticfc.net that the 6’3” striker is “a good size”, perhaps giving a glimpse into the innermost thoughts guiding Celtic’s recruitment policy, for those who have not noted the collection of Amazonians now in hoops.

Holmbert will push for a place with Anthony Stokes, Teemu Pukki and Amido Balde; Georgios Samaras is seldom used as a conventional striker.  He has made 45 career appearances, five fewer than Victor Wanyama when he signed for Celtic, also as a 20-year-old.

A year ago, when Victor was busy declining a new contract offer, we talked about the window of opportunity, when you have enough appearances to judge a player, but not so many that the world and their grannie knows about him.  We concluded that less than 30 appearances would be enough.  Victor made a total of 61 Celtic appearances but was his stock rose stratospherically after 30-odd games. The stats suggest we should catch them between 30 and 60 appearances.

Stunning result for Gordon Strachan’s Scotland last night.  Keep an eye on that guy, he’s got talent.

Really looking forward to another great charity night at the Columba Club, Blantyre, on Friday, starting at 8pm, where we are having a Q&A with myself, Phil Mac Giolla Bhain and Paul McConville, in aid of the Lourdes Fund.  These are always great nights, tickets are available at the door, get along and say ‘hello’.

Many thanks to the hundreds of you have now ordered the CQN Annual, and for all the encouraging feedback.  It’s a bit big for a stocking filler, unless perhaps you’re an Amazonian.

See you Friday.
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643 Comments

  1. The Red Telephone

     

     

    Sincere condolences on the loss of your Father, a fine Celtic man. I can only imagine some of the Celtic stories told in your house through the years.

     

     

    RIP

     

     

    KTF

     

     

    antipodean red

  2. Delaneys Dunky

     

     

    Sometimes I get bored watching Barca.

     

     

    There I said it.

     

     

    I said it on CQN.

     

     

    TT

  3. If anyone is already registered on TSFM site could you do me a favour and let them know that I posted on there for the first time earlier this evening re ASA but the post has been in their moderation system.

  4. The Red Telephone

     

     

    I am sorry I have not spoke to you before. Sincere condolences to the passing of a very close loved one.

     

     

    Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.

  5. Really cannot wait till saturday comes, whoooohooo back at the ole Celtic Park YES.

     

     

    Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.

  6. The Red Telephone

     

     

    My heart and prayers go out to you and your family at the very sad loss of your Daddy, may he rest in peace, and may god help you all through your grief.

  7. Good evening Celts, back in the cold and wet valley after a great trip in Japan, didn’t get online much but checked in from time to time, Rest in Peace Pat Woods, a truly amazing Celtic Man, one at the heart of our history, condolences to his family.

     

     

    Welcome Big Bertie, let’s get the ba’ in the net son! I went to see the Marinos play in Yokohama, unfortunately Naka was in hospital so he didn’t play but I heard from the woman I was with ( big Marinos fan) that we’ve been trying to sign him every season since he went back to Japan!! It was very strange going to a game where the crowd were in red white and blue, saw one Hoops top and a few sweatshirts as well, great stadium, decent crowd, fitbaw wasn’t all that they lost! I’ll get some foties up on CQN Facebook when I get back to normal hahaha…

     

     

    See the huns are still being huns, plus ca change!!

     

     

    Good to back on CQN

     

     

    Hail Hail Bhoys and Ghirls…

  8. … sadly I remember a time, when this blog, offered intelligent and insightful comment on a rich and diverse comment on all things cfc. Sadly, those times seemed to have passed. … how I miss the old days …

  9. The Red Telephone

     

     

    sorry to hear the bad news .

     

     

    be strong for the rest of the family.

     

     

    god bless

     

     

    BB

  10. johnniem

     

     

    What is about contemporary posters that is upsetting you? I’ve not been able to ready anything this week myself so don’t know.

     

     

    But I do wonder that in the halcyon days you refer to, there might have some folk mourning the death of newspapers.

     

     

    Change is crucial to progression.

     

     

    History tells us that the very end result is never good. So enjoy the ride. And stop insulting the mulitude of current CQNers with mournful self-indulgent wingeing would be my response to you. I say this with the greatest respect.

     

     

     

     

    The Red Telephone

     

     

    Sorry for your loss. This is the place to come to and take comfort in, amigo.

  11. eddieinkirkmichael on

    Auldheid

     

    23:24 on

     

     

    With all due respect, pigs will fly first. As far as SFA are concerned the issue re RFC(IL) is now over, no one has the appetite to go over it again. Their silence is orchestrated, as is the “obsessed” line peddled by MSM. Their will never be justice as their wont be transparency from the SFA, well not in our lifeline anyway.

  12. Here’s the thing about the ASA and their decisions. They are very much based on public opinion and perception and this can on occasion lead to a decision where the claim is factually incorrect but because it’s unlikely to mislead the complaint may not be upheld.

     

     

    So we know that the claim is incorrect but the overwhelming majority of the general public don’t care about the details and consider them to be the same club and are unlikely to consider the ad misleading. The target market certainly won’t.

     

     

    Can anybody recall what the original ad was selling? I’m wondering if this was approached the wrong way. The claim “Rangers Football Club – the most successful in history” (or whatever it was) is correct if applied to a product featuring only the Oldco – say a dvd. However if it was for a product featuring only Newco it might fall foul of Trading Standards rather than ASA rules.

     

     

    One thing I will say is that having worked for the ASA as an investigator, they are completely independent, so if they do overturn the complaint it’s nothing to do with conspiracies, masonic influence etc, etc.

  13. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    TinyTim

     

    00:29 on

     

    21 November, 2013

     

    Delaneys Dunky

     

    Sometimes I get bored watching Barca.

     

    There I said it.

     

    I said it on CQN.

     

    TT

     

     

    You`re in good company,pal.

     

    And I don`t mean just me.:-)

     

    A former captain of the socceroos agrees.

     

    Tippy tappy triangles creeping up the field.

     

    Jock wouldn`t have stood for it imho.

  14. macjay1 for neil lennon

     

     

    I love to watch most football, good and bad, I recently had the good fortune to watch a couple of games in Spain, Barcelona v Real Sociedad and a few days later Real Sociedad v Sevilla, the quality was very marked in both games, the first was high quality with both teams trying to play good football, unfortunately if you do this in Barcelona you usually end up on the receiving end, Sociedad lost 4-1. The second game was a much more dour affair and quality was lacking, the game ended 1-1, incidentally, I paid 60 euros for a la liga match in San Sebastián, the fellow sitting next to me paid average 19 euros per match on his season book. It must be extremely difficult as well as infuriating for the rest of the clubs in Spain trying to “compete” against these debt laden behemoths.

     

    I think there are ways to get past the tippy tappy football as the Germans showed last season but it still takes a well organised and skillfull unit to be able to do it. Regardless of that, Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are all great players to watch in my opinion.

     

     

    AR

  15. I'm Neil Lennon (tamrabam) on

    “Should a CVA not be agreed then Hearts will enter liquidation, bringing an end to 139 years of history.”

     

     

    Really?

     

    do i need to add any other comment?

  16. Neil Lennon & McCartney on

    Hello fellow Bhoys

     

     

    ~ just managed to log-on after typhoon here in the Philippines and feeling lucky to have escaped alive.

     

     

    Had to laugh at earlier post “Dear SFA, a joke hurt our feelings” has number of comments 1666

     

     

    :~)

  17. minx1888 praying for Wee Oscar on

    The Red Telephone

     

    Sorry for your loss, will keep him in our thoughts and prayers

  18. From Celticfc.net

     

     

     

    Anniversary of Lubo’s 5-1 game

     

    By: Joe Sullivan on 21 Nov, 2013 05:01

     

    THE ball bulged the rigging and there was sheer bedlam inside Celtic Park, save for one figure in green and white. Lubo Moravcik stood there motionless, taking it all in.

     

     

    It was November 21, 1998, and the Slovakian magician was making his derby debut. Standing in the tunnel pre-match, alongside the Rangers players, he admits he felt more nervous than ever.

     

     

    Yet, he needn’t have worried. Some 11 minutes into the game and he was on his way to becoming a Celtic legend, with the first goal of a double in the 5-1 rout. Minutes after half-time, he scored again. A star was born.

     

     

    “I was actually a little bit scared before my first game against Rangers,” recalled Moravcik.

     

     

    “When I scored the first goal, my feeling was joy, but because I’d been apprehensive before the game, I just didn’t know what to do or how to celebrate.

     

     

    “I couldn’t believe that it had happened. It was the same with the second goal – I was stunned, and because of that I couldn’t express my real pleasure. We went on to win 5-1 and it was one of the best games of my time at Celtic. To be honest, nobody expected us to win like that.

     

     

    “Before the game, I never expected it to be so massive. There was so much coverage in the newspapers before the game and people were also criticising me, and asking why Celtic had signed me.

     

     

    “With all that going on, I was really happy with the way the game went. After the first game, the rest of the derbies were easier for me and I played in some memorable games.”

     

     

    Moravcik, signed by Dr Jo Venglos in October 1998, was something of an unknown quantity before his first derby, but by the end of the game he was an unqualified Celtic hero.

     

     

    The great Henrik Larsson said: “It’s always nice to be out on the pitch but when you play Rangers and you manage to beat them 5-1 that’s a great experience and I’m happy for Lubo that he made his derby debut that way because it always makes it a little bit easier.’

     

     

    Coming up later today, Johan Mjallby recalls the 5-1 derby win, which just happened to be his Celtic debut, in an exclusive Celtic TV interview.

     

     

     

    http://youtu.be/iIWtLt6Q2oI

     

     

    HH

  19. the red telephone

     

     

    23:20 on 20 November, 2013

     

    My Dad was working the night The Big Cup arrived, but not on the front door. He made sure a 12 year old was at the door on arrival and then whisked up to a perfect seat in the stand.

     

    A perfect day early birthday present for me.

     

    Many thanks for the kind messages. Just read them to my sister who doesn’t do the web. She’s amazed!

     

     

    ……………………………………………………..

     

     

    Thanks for sharing that, a truly great story.

     

    Sad to hear your news.

     

    RIP PW

     

     

    HH

  20. greenyinfurrafenian on

    bit of quality from joe sullivan there, guitarist in james king and the lonewolves

     

     

    condolences to pat woods family and friends

  21. West Wales Celt on

    Red Telephone:

     

    Sorry to hear about your dad.

     

    Hope you can take some solice in a life obviously lived to the full and an inspiring character…

  22. Red Telephone

     

     

    Sorry to hear of your terrible loss.

     

     

    Thoughts and prayers with you and your family.

     

     

    YNWA

     

     

    Neil Lennon & McCartney

     

     

    Wow! So glad you escaped unharmed. It must have been terrifying.

     

     

    Take care.

  23. Neil Lennon & McCartney 06:15 on 21 November, 2013

     

     

    Whereabouts in the Philippines are you?

     

    Glad to hear that you are OK………

     

     

    Regards & Hail Hail

     

    TBM

  24. WOW…..just feckin wow…….

     

     

    Smugas on TSFM has pointed out something so obvious that I’m annoyed I didn’t see it before.

     

     

    Deadclub fine from SFA is 250k.

     

     

    Sevco don’t have a pot to pash in.

     

     

    Rental for two Cup semi finals…..250k.

     

     

    Game over….fine paid…..same club myth continues.

     

     

    Cheating barstewards every last one.

     

     

    DontwasteyourmoneyonScottishCupgamesCSC