Barkas and the Stevie Woods Academy

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Vasilis Barkas does not enjoy too much appreciation among the Celtic support. It is not that he makes mistakes, more that he has failed to take the numerous opportunities presented by a largely lax defence to convince us he has the talent to become a mainstay in the team for years to come. What’s for sure is that he cannot perform the miracles we were treated to last year by Fraser Forster.

At 26-years-old, Vasilis should be approaching his prime years, but instead of building on a solid reputation gained at AEK Athens, he has seen Scott Bain and Conor Hazard chosen ahead of him this season.

There will be many changes this summer and if the manager (?) wants to move Barkas on he will likely find a taker, but there are reasons I would persevere with him for the rest of the season. First of those is the development we saw in Fraser Forster under goalkeeping coach, Stevie Woods.

When Fraser first arrived at Celtic on loan a decade ago the jury was out on him, some of the support preferred Lukas Zaluska, whom he shared the gloves with for a period. Fraser was 18 months into his load period when a penalty save against Hearts brought wider recognition of his improvement over that period, however, he continued to improve well into his third season at Celtic. There are few keepers Stevie has not improved in his years at Celtic, given time, Barkas will also benefit, although let’s hope he does not have too many opportunities to demonstrate that against Hamilton tomorrow.

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584 Comments

  1. Superb :>)

     

    BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 26TH JANUARY 2021 12:28 PM

     

    Barcelona on the verge of bankruptcy: €1,173m in debt, €730m in short-term

     

    Duff and Phelps

     

    01333 01690

  2. Rock Tree Bhoy on

    UNCLE JIMMY on 26TH JANUARY 2021 5:56 PM

     

     

    Thanks for that, was puzzled when whoever was in the media said that Celtic fans were behaving as if they were entitled to the 10, got me thinking – do I? Appreciate your opinion.

  3. Breaks my heart to see potential like wee frimpers exit the Hoops………..

     

     

    I’d heartily agree that those arguing the Club volubly complain when our players are assaulted with impunity on the park…………..

     

    Why would anyone with any bit of skill want to put themselves in harms way by staying in scoddland.

  4. JACKIEMAC on 26TH JANUARY 2021 5:41 PM

     

     

    Its been like that since we left the hall in St.Mary.and another rebuild will happen.its always been that way.change adapt and change again.it has always been so

     

     

    HH

  5. Just watched NL press conference.

     

     

     

    “our form coming into this game isn’t too shabby ”

     

     

     

    This is a frightening comment, he needs removed asap

  6. Neil Lennon:

     

     

    “This hasn’t appeared in the last couple of days, it’s been in the background for six or seven weeks,” he added.

     

     

    “The club had made strides to renegotiate with Jeremie and his representatives but it wasn’t the case. I wouldn’t say he was unhappy. Ambitious maybe, or he wanted to try something else to progress his career.

     

     

    “We are obviously very disappointed. We did everything we could to try and entice the player to stay.”

  7. As predicted due to the seasons collapse Lawwell would use the January sales to recover cash—- however it will be enough to cover his LTIP and bonus payments. I expect Eduard and others to go.

     

     

    Paul67 will write an article in the next days on how the offer was too good to refuse and how it will help us keep our heads above water. Peter will also ask him to mention the small fee and the great scouting system.

     

     

    There is more of this to come before an interim appointment of The 2 apprentices Kennedy & McManus. The exit from the January transfer will see us at the level of an Aberdeen. Peter has other priorities —- ensuring another big payout.

     

     

    Lawwell needs to be removed now before he damages Celtic beyond repair.

     

     

    Ps Lennon is now a total PR disaster and in the real world would be quietly removed ASAP

  8. We urgently need some good news. All we hear at the moment is bad news after bad.

     

    Celtic could start the good news rolling if they at least announced particular players extending or signing new contracts.

     

    Start with Karamoke, that’d help for a kick off

  9. The players, supporters and everyone at Celtic need the manager to show confident, positive, good-humoured leadership in his public appearances. The latest press conference is the complete opposite. In no other organisation would such an absence of leadership be accepted. Well past the time to go for Neil in my opinion.

  10. 31003 on 26TH JANUARY 2021 7:11 PM

     

    We urgently need some good news

     

     

    Speak for yourself. Its not Celtic’s job to cheer you up

  11. Bhoy From The Boyne on

    Seems Shved is coming into bit of form in Belgian pro league. Goal and an assist again tonight.

     

     

    Bayo too with Toulouse in French 2nd division getting regular game time now and scored 2 in 3 games.

  12. Laxalt 6.16….. Sshh… That doesn’t fit the present narrative…. Can’t be telling the truth!

  13. I have said it over and over and over time after time after time, you get the gist, if the huns decided tomorrow to actually play football like it should be played, the cheats with the whistles would change the way the game is refereed overnight, this is what we are up against, for all Mr Stein was correct, it was IMO the worst thing he ever said re the cheats with the whistles, why the eff should we treated differently, why js efin why, it’s supposed to be sport, even Dr John said we won’t be treated differently, they got shot of him quick enough so they did.

     

    Muney, Muney, Muney, eff you plebs, just give us your Muney.

  14. !!Bada Bing!! seems to be some uncertainty as when his contract expires – Transfer Market saying June 22

  15. CELTIC40ME

     

     

    I know….silly me

     

     

    Bada

     

     

    Yep….I read that but, he’s not gone yet. Make him a new offer and let him know he’s REALLY wanted here

  16. squire danaher on

    CELTIC40ME on 26TH JANUARY 2021 7:13 PM

     

     

    31003 on 26TH JANUARY 2021 7:11 PM

     

     

    We urgently need some good news

     

     

    Speak for yourself. Its not Celtic’s job to cheer you up

     

     

    ——

     

     

    What are Celtic for then if not to cheer you up?

     

     

    To make money for DD and PL?

  17. The number of young boys leaving and have left is alarming, can’t always be about money,look how short the guys who got a chance a couple of weeks ago, Lennon has always been shocking at playing youngsters

  18. Gene- got to be the worst statement this season, and it’s up against stiff opposition,remember how we laughed at Pedro…

  19. Team for tomorrow

     

     

    Barkas

     

    Ajer

     

    Duffy

     

    Welsh

     

    Taylor

     

    Soro

     

    Turnbull

     

    McGregor

     

    Johnston

     

    Griff

     

    Eddie

  20. Thinking back to the day…..top English clubs had boys clubs affiliated to them. One of the reasons there were so many Scots in the top league there back in the ‘60s, ‘70s & ‘80s

     

    I don’t know if rules have changed but, if not, can you imagine the boys clubs throughout the uk Celtic could “sponsor” using the £5m we spent on Ajeti. Long term project but worth it. First dibs on any new talent

  21. celtic40me on 26th January 2021 7:13 pm

     

     

    31003 on 26TH JANUARY 2021 7:11 PM

     

     

    We urgently need some good news

     

     

    Speak for yourself. Its not Celtic’s job to cheer you up

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    You what???????????????????????

  22. Neil’s presser today is a stomper.

     

     

    The un edited version.

     

     

    The biggest piss take yet.

     

     

    D :)

  23. Bada

     

    I don’t know about the worst – he had a few ‘we were terrific / brilliant’ when we were obviously not.

  24. The thought of Kennedy and McManus,who imo was the luckiest man ever to be captain of Celtic, even getting the slightest chance of the job scares the shit out if me

  25. Gene dont think he will play with 2 CF’s probably Moi up with Eddie.

     

     

    Then again it could be no strikers, then again it could be….auch it could be anyone’s guess.

     

     

    D :)

  26. glendalystonsils on

    Maybe Lenny just feels he has to remain positive and project as positive a face to the world as he can but today’s offering makes me worry about what’s going on inside his head .

     

     

    We need honesty and realism from both him and the CEO in these interviews , some awareness or acknowledgement of the danger we’re in .

     

    Hundreds of thousands of Celtic fans can’t be wrong .