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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Gene
You’re half right
Who and when was the last Celtic player to score 2 and assist another in a Celtic shirt?
That’s the point?
Drew1967 – me too as does the idea that Brown should be kept as a coach. He needs to go and coach at a much lower level, away from the spotlight, and see if he can cut it.
Jobs for the Bhoys has gone on long enough.
WINNINGEMMELL on 26TH JANUARY 2021 7:42 PM
THE EXILED TIM
Jock Stein decried Bobby Davidson from the top step of Hampden to the bottom after the 1970 Scottish Cup Final.
regards,
WG
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And the difference it’s made?
After the Dougie Dougie incident is when we should have been I’ll on in calling them out every game if necessary – it would now be seen as sour grapes.
I’ll – full
PHILBHOY
Zero.
I got the message coneybhoy – I need to get on amazon😢
Still nowt “positive” from The Edwardian Toilet Block………..?
That’s incredible………….
WG
Indeed!
50 years and the rest and we have done approximately diddly squat about it.
Why is that?
What are we afraid of?
Call them out!
How can we lose?
Or can it get worse.
PHILBHOY
Unfortunately we would have needed somebody of the stature of Jock either as manager or on the board to call it out consistently .
Perhaps even using someone like the late Paul McBride as a conduit . Might not have made much difference , but better than being passive .
GLENDALYSTONSILS
Jock Stein complaining about referees had no impact on our future treatment.
Why are our board made up of eunuchs?
I think we should be told!!!!
Glen D- I think Paul McBride RIP,would have been reigned in a few years ago….
Contrast with slippy who had a go at collum and you know the rest
Bankiebhoy1 was there also fans in the bigotdome at the weekend?
If so not a word from anyone in the smsm.
D :)
!!BADA BING!!
Knowing DD and our board , that would figure .
Armstrong cracker puts Southampton one up against Arsenal
Wits
Shocking defending at the corner
./
./’
FORMER Morton manager David Hopkin has revealed that the board naming players they wanted to see axed was the final straw for him as he walked out of Cappielow last month.
Hopkin, who lasted 18 months at the helm before resigning from his post, also disclosed that his players were being paid an average wage of ‘£300-a-week’.
The Tele had previously reported that the 50-year-old’s decision to quit had been triggered by a fall out with club bosses over finances.
He has now confirmed that, during his first interview since moving on, with BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound show.
Hopkin said: “There were a few things going on.
“I was trying to get four quality players signed for January and was sure they would have pushed us on to the play-off spots.
“I was told by [chairman] Crawford [Rae] the club had had a board meeting and didn’t want any more players to come in and wanted to me reduce the playing staff by five or six, which I felt was difficult.
“We probably had the lowest budget in the Championship. I reckon, throughout the whole squad I had, [the average wage] was around £300 per week.”
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“Then Crawford said the board had started to name players [to go] and that was the final straw for me. I left the meeting, went to training, and told the players I was going to resign that day.
“Hopefully, the money the club saved on my salary safeguarded the players who were maybe going to lose their job.”
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While he admitted he knew of the club’s cost cutting regime when he took the role, the former Livingston and Bradford chief also stated again that he had been digging into his own pocket to cover outgoings.
Hopkin told the BBC: “That was something I decided to do myself. It was just a couple of things with certain players we had to get in, it was some appearance money short and I agreed to pay it.
“There was also the food, where we were £100 short a week and me and [goalkeeping coach] Dave Timmins and sometimes Dave McKinnon made sure we paid that, so the players got their meals.”
Hopkin revealed he is now looking to get back in the game.
He said: “I believe I have a lot to offer. I take pride in giving youngsters a chance to play and I’ve already proved I can win leagues and play-offs.”
Losing the plot — who cares that we are 23 behind …
All the talk is now what a fantastic piece of business flogging young JF for £11.5mill.
Who needs to do anything on the park when we can sit and admire our balance sheet.
DD and PL — laughing all the way to the bank.
An Tearmann – I got a bugbear at the moment – it’s to do with a great cqn post of while ago; I wish I could remember whose post it was – its gist was ‘ the bunnet saved us but it turned us into a PLC’.
Now that the 10 has slipped, who is Celtic? Is it the 50,000? If so who do the board serve?
For the record, Pl, the board serve Celtic far more than I do – they put many
many more times effort and personal lives into Celtic than I do; however , who do they represent?
Is that where this season has fallen to shipe ? We don’t know who we are and the hun are a mess but they have known they’ve wanted to stop this more than anything they can comprehend.
Frimpong contributes very little of value on the pitch…11 million…fantastic business..
Gene- remember Collum was the SFA’s No 1 ref and UEFA top rated Scottish referee, look now,about 3 ahead of him….I wonder why that is?
I know he’s pish, but you see my point, don’t go against the Establishment
Armstrong channelling his Hampden Johnny Hayes, Arsenal back in it, 1-1.
West ham up to 4th…… Moyes… Christ he’s worse than lennon Brigade scratching their heads……. He’s not a foreign genius tactician!!!…. With lots of new methods and a unbelievable fitness regime….. Might even be classed as a dinosaur by some!!!!……
JACKIEMAC on 26TH JANUARY 2021 8:29 PM
An Tearmann – I got a bugbear at the moment – it’s to do with a great cqn post of while ago; I wish I could remember whose post it was – its gist was ‘ the bunnet saved us but it turned us into a PLC’.
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BRTH
did some of that, and in person gives superb rational for why the ownership structure of the club after Fergus left gave the power back to a select few,
Celtic ….sorry Peter Lawwell will look to buy Preston’s Ben Davies in this window – if they can agree terms with the player.
They contacted Preston today, out of courtesy, to update them on their progress with Davies.
It’s a fast-moving situation, with Bournemouth also very keen on him.
WITS
The bhoy had very little positive support on here for ages.
Great bit of business for us, but wish the lad all the best.
That would ring a bell SS- BRTH!
SAINT STIVS on 26TH JANUARY 2021 8:23 PM
Hopkins could be the man for us, if he’s willing to use his own money to pay players and buy them meals :)
Vinnie
I think no crowds has helped Moyes who’s not Mr Popular with the fans. He’s been able to stick with a style of football that’s getting results.
Embdae heard from Whitedoghunch? Not seen him on for a while
CELTIC DAWN
Now that was funny
Commentators simply gush over Emile Smith-Rowe
I see a workmanlike middle of the park player. No more no less
Celtic Dawn
It wouldn’t cost him much – we’ve got a Gregg’s franchise at Lennoxtown
Bada
Now you mention it didn’t he have some health issues before Christmas – hope he’s ok
No idea what games the Germans have been watching to bid £11.5 for Frimpong. I would’ve taken anywhere between £1-£3m, he’s certainly not a full back. Whether he’s fed up with the coaching, getting booted off the park or both good luck to him.
Just don’t let Lenny/Lawwell waste the money😕😵