Great news that Mikael Lustig and Emilio Izaguirre have extended their contracts until 2017. Footballers’ careers flow on a few distinct tracks. Some are too hot for their clubs to retain, Victor Wanyama, who declined a contract renewal with almost 3 years of his initial deal remaining, fell into this category. Some, like Georgios Samaras, will represent diminishing value to their clubs, and attract only diminishing contracts.
I could make an argument that the players in the third category, who are highly valuable to their club, but are not so valuable that they are impossible to retain, are more important than the latter.
It’s important for Celtic to have outstanding achievers (especially up front) but clubs find it difficult to remain on-strategy if they have significant churn each season. Transfer income is great, and often needed, but ideally you would look at your squad around this time of the year and want to change no more than 3 players over the summer.
I reckon Celtic should be able to hold onto Lustig, Izaguirre, Matthews, Ambrose, Brown, Commons, Mulgrew, Stokes and Forrest until the club want to move them on. These players are the mainstay of our squad, hopefully Johansen will prove to be too. Forster and van Dijk fall into the same category as Wanyama and Hooper – they will have high paying options in England.
Forster and van Dijk will help get us into and compete in the Champions League, but two or three gems are useless if they are surrounded by players less polished bling.
The last 24 hours has been a salutary lesson on what will continue to happen until Celtic appoint a manager. The Daily Mail got the ball rolling when someone told them Roy Keane was leaving Dublin to speak to Celtic. This was good information, in as much as it was true, Celtic did meet Roy Keane, but the ‘paper put inappropriate weight upon it.
Soon everyone and their dog was reporting the deal was done. Which surprised Celtic.
Today’s news – there is no news.
‘News’ will continue to break and eventually one story will actually be the news we’re waiting for. There is value (reputation and advertising) in rushing out with a story before it’s confirmed or others are doing the same, and little consequence (zero damage to reputation and you get to keep the ad money) in getting it wrong, so stay tuned for the next instalment. Only this week, Pope Francis was talking about papal retirement, maybe he has another gig in mind.
London Calling
Let me know if you would like to attend the CQN Question and Answer evening at the Manor Club, Wimbledon, on 21 June, with a confirmed line-up of Lisbon Lion, John Hughes, and our own Brogan Rogan and Auldheid, celticquicknews@gmail.com
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.
[calameo code=000390171873c910154bd lang=en page=106 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,164 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 31
- »
Weeron. So u think it was right that Neil got nothing of vics money ?
Por Cierto
12:34 on
30 May, 2014
Need some advice about Tablets. Hudl or Kindle any thoughts? por cierto
Don’t know about the Kindle Fire, but the Hudl speaker when watching a movie, while listening through headphones the sound volume is dreadful. That apart the Hudl is well built and sturdy. For the price you’ll pay now for either I would probably go for a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 which is on offer at reasonably low prices (Asda £109.00 for a 7″)
Super Sallary has been told to cut down on the carbs, but he’s laughing all the way to Greggs
The papers twist is always Kean was the top target. Someday headline – Celtic settle for second best.
The irony is Kean is not even in the top 100 that I would go for. There are at least that number with a better cv than him.
Samaras. Still disagree. Asset worth should have some factor built into the equation on tickets sold and prize money to be won. Sammy has another 5 good years in him. Watch him to a job in Italy or Spain. Petrescu likes him. Maybe he will sign him?
Now Kris commons … How many years and how much less will he accept to stay? Is he an exception to book value rule?
Good to hear the Honduran and Swedish assets are back in the accounts at a new value.
weeman67
13:16 on 30 May, 2014
IGC
12:59 on 30 May, 2014
Dontbrattbakkinanger
12:56 on 30 May, 2014
A lot of cod philosophy in these carping comments.
It is becuase we speak from the sole
I am left “floundering” at that remark……..
……….
This is not the plaice for this topic
Heads down to CP to try and get interviewed on the Telly.
SydneyTim…..
What I think is this…..
On balance, we have the right approach. Celtic are stronger with PL at the helm than we would be without him.
I would prefer that our player acquisition was better on 2 fronts:
1. The ‘projects’ that we sign would have a better success rate. Last summer didn’t yield value for money;
2. I would prefer that, rather than ALL of our acquisitions being ‘projects’ that we would also be open to an experienced player from time to time.
I would add that we should be doing better with our youth players. In a non-competitive league, I think there has been a missed opportunity to really push our young players.
Just my 2 cents.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
13:04 on 30 May, 2014
After the Kayal/ Izaguirre experience is it wrong to wish for VVD to sustain a moderate injury ? ;/)
Once we’ve successfully negociated the Euroqualies, obviously…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is definitely Wrong. I know, you Know that though and you were throwing it out there.
A thought that probably crosses every Supporters mind, a Selfish thought for the Team so to speak.
Kayal hootenanny , Well I couldnae resist, wasn’t she Sporty? Always mair attractive to me than the pouters pouting. Pouters will always pout.
With no management in place what are we doing to offload the likes of
Amido Balde, Steven Mouyokolo, (anyone sen him in action?), Derk Boeriggter, Beram Kayal?
How are we handling the players who were out on loan and due to return?
Is the structure in place? Are responsibilities delegated?
The team should be reporting for duty in a couple of weeks and we need to have management functionaries fully functioning.
An appointment is needed pronto.
From where Celtic are at present, we need to attempt a step change in our performance levels week in and week out , to give ourselves a better chance in Europe.
If we start from that perspective then we automatically rule out a number of managers, who have either never played or managed at the top level.
Can you imagine , Malky tactically out-manoeuvring Juve or Ajax?
On that subject, against AC and Ajax , I thought this year that Neil attempted to push out against both of these teams and we got caught out, I suspect that within our budget Neil realised he could not take the club forward and he did the right thing by leaving. New blood and new thinking ……
Is Roy the answer? Who knows ….. he does have playing experience in top flight European England , Celtic does offer him the opportunity to make his mark as a manager – if it was a choice between Roy and say Malky, Owen, etc then it would be Roy for me – only Moyes and Paul Lambert would be ahead …….
HH
Por cierto
I have Samsung galaxy tab.
Better imo than daughter ipad. Kindle great for books not so good for net as per mrs bt..
weeron
13:14 on 30 May, 2014,
I’m not sure if it was yourself or another poster that gave a breakdown of MON’S buying and selling strategy but he didn’t really spend that much going with the the shortfall.
Wages wise maybe, then again we were playing against a stacked deck.
Brattbakkinanger…..
After the Kayal/ Izaguirre experience is it wrong to wish for VVD to sustain a moderate injury ? ;/)
Once we’ve successfully negociated the Euroqualies, obviously……………………..
I know what youre saying and guess your tongue is in your cheek,but I hope for VVD’s sake that he stays at Celtic for at least one more season…..he still looks a bit raw anytime I’ve seen him…..bags of potential but hasn’t really operated at the top level for long…………..In my opinion he would get eaten alive in EPL,La Liga,or the Bundesligue.
A year with Champions League football and perhaps international experience will make him a far better player.
Efe Ambrose is a better player than him, at the minute, from what I’ve seen.
Weeron. Thanks for your 2 cents. But you did not answer my question
Do you think it was right that Neil received zero of vics transfer fee
Yes or no:)
Sydney Tim
“we did not have to waste money on projects”
The transfer fees for Laursen (£1.5m for 40 appearances over 3 years), Fernandez(£1m for 11 appearances in 3 years), and Sylla (£650k for 47 appearances over 4 years) do not suggest these guys paid their way.
SoccerBase quotes a £1.5m fee for Hedman with 26 appearances over 3 years. Kharine was a free but would have commanded big wages for his 11 appearances over 3 years. Juninho too for 14 appearances in one year.
Were these guys projects or merely failures? All managers have them
As some revered and erudite posters :) have already stated the good old CQN Expectation Management Roadshow gets under way for the upcoming season featuring those perennial favs like “You,ve never had it so good” , “What, a striker?!!” and “James Forrest, unleash the Potential”
Hmmmmm.
A general point about The Golf Day, please go through the proper channels re: attendance as its not an open invite to all type event.
Out in 32
bournesouprecipe
13:22 on 30 May, 2014
Heads down to CP to try and get interviewed on the Telly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yer very good looking and, photogenic, but yer not quite Delaneys Dunkey.
Wear a Wig and make it outrageous.
We don’t do Liver on a Pizza
sydneytim
13:29 on 30 May, 2014
Weeron. Thanks for your 2 cents. But you did not answer my question
Do you think it was right that Neil received zero of vics transfer fee
Yes or no:
………
Does it matter,…. what’s the point.
Big Joos Valgaren was a stand out centre back until MON went 3 at the back. Mjallby struggled to get a game for a while as we had the big circus ring leader Ramon Vega.
Bobo could have moved for some nice cash as could Agathe but the prospect of this was not followed up.
Agathe was an outstanding performer for a time.
If anything was to improve on MONs side it would have been a left sided defender and a number 10 capable of defending. A proper quick left winger would have helped as well. Instead we got Ulrik Laursen, momo and David Fernandez. Folk still dream of Riquelme!
Apropos black pudding ( previous blog)
auldheid
13:06 on 30 May, 2014
The Black Pudding Wars.
aka The Two Day War
1st April to 2nd April 2025
As the sweet fruits of independence came to be tasted by the Scottish nation the numerous communities in the country decided “Ahm havin a bit of that” as nationalistic fervour paradoxically pushed itself to its logical conclusion.
And so it came that on 1st Jan 2025 Lewis became an independent nation raising it’s national flag on which the famous Stornoway black pudding was emblazoned on a white diamond sitting on a green background . President and First Minister Hebcelt did the unfurling to the tune which he had persuaded his Cooncil was “With Cat Like Tread” from The Pirates of Penzance, but to the ear of any discerning Celt sounded like ” Hail Hail the Celts are here”
Meanwhile over on Jura the unconsciously named Papist Popular Front had papped oot the mainland government lackeys after enticing them into an evening of Isle of Jura 10 year old tasting. The unconscious but very happy recipients were bundled into two rowboats, handed a set of oars and pointed East. As revolutions go it was one of the most bloodless and one of the happiest in the history of the world. The Jura flag of a red black pudding against a white diamond on a light blue background was raised to the tune of Marching Through Georgia – but Hebcelt kent fine what the Jura Papists Party meant.
In the first month each independent realm went about their business happily exporting their version of black pudding to the world, but so good and so well known was the Stornoway version that it’s sales far exceeded and so impoverished it’s island neighbour.
Although whiskey sales compensated Jura somewhat, sales of Spirit of Lewis fell to a degree that by 31 March 2025 each nation would have been at each others throat but for the sea distance separating them.
However in the world of 2025 distance had become no object and Lewis under the cunning leadership of Hebcelt went to war.
The weapon of mass destruction was inevitably the Stornoway black pudding. Loading tons on to two Chinooks hired for the purpose, the Stornoway Celts headed south. Stopping to refuel both transport and their thirst in a Tobermory pub ( otherwise it would have been The One Day War ) the throaty sound of the twin Chinooks rotors woke the unconsciously named Jura Papists from their overnight slumber.
Before the Jura Papist Defense Force could rush to their Buckie Bottle Bank defense system, the Chinooks roared in and dumped 12 tons of Stornoway ‘ s best on the Jura Black Pudding factory. This not only put it out of commission for 6 months, it ensured that thereafter every Jura black pudding tasted exactly like it’s Stornoway counterpart, which being sold at a third less in price because of mass production ( such was demand the local RC church had been bought over to increase output ) meant that the Jura Papists had to do walking away and papped themselves oot.
Footnote: After a series of similarly caused confrontations elsewhere the dwellers of the independent Scottish communities in 2050 decided they were better together, but drew the line at the border with their neighbour to the south stockpiling it’s supply of Chinooks…..
Oh and Hebcelt was awarded 5 years supply of Stornoway black pudding and Spirit of Lewis whiskey for his deed of daring do.
I use the Samaras Galaxy; it comes complete with a free ‘lovely hair’ app.
The only problem is that the software can be a bit temperamental.
It’s either lightnin’ fast or leaves you feelin’ incredibly frustrated.
SFTB. ( one of the best CQN names)
If you look at Mons team, he signed his big names in 1st 20 months
After that the funds dried up and projects started
You just have to look at the team that won the league in WGS 1st season
9 of the players who started against hertz were inherited from Mon( yes mon did not sign them all) but Mon had a small squad A 1st eleven who were guaranteed to start along with 3 or 4 back up( the projects )
Now??? How many of our squad are guaranteed starters ??? 8?
And the rest projects
We lost £40m while MON was at the helm. Just saying.
Dessert bhoy. The point ??
Err getting the 1st eleven better and winning trophies :)))
Happy Mikael and Emilio have signed a new 3 year contract. I wonder who made that decision? Could it be the new manager in waiting approved it?. Just a thought.
Great news about Mikel and Izzy, two quality International players. Fraser has definitely proved himself in Europe and is deservedly in England’s World Cup squad heading to samba land and will probably move south for a big fee.
However, I think talk of Virgil Van Dijk getting a big move to another club is a bit premature – he is talented but not that great yet in my estimation. Good at SPl level maybe but thinking back to European games he did not impress. Needs to improve.
Heard Packie on rte radio this morning talking Keano and admitted he was in a good place working as blessed Martin’s number two, still learning his managerial trade and should jump at the chance if given the call from Celtic.
mullet and co 2
13:31 on 30 May, 2014
Big Joos Valgaren was a stand out centre back until MON went 3 at the back. Mjallby struggled to get a game for a while as we had the big circus ring leader Ramon Vega.
Bobo could have moved for some nice cash as could Agathe but the prospect of this was not followed up.
Agathe was an outstanding performer for a time.
If anything was to improve on MONs side it would have been a left sided defender and a number 10 capable of defending. A proper quick left winger would have helped as well. Instead we got Ulrik Laursen, momo and David Fernandez. Folk still dream of Riquelme!
______________________________________________________
No offence, a number 10 that is capable of defending?
The game is truly defensive and becoming a machine that is mirroring certain things.
Watch the Samaras pass and him subsequently not moving at all, An artist quite rightly admiring his Work, Hooper well he ran faster than Ever to pop it into the Net.
A thing of Majestical beauty and IMO, because Sammi didnae rush in behind his pass. The pass was exquisite, maist people would have rushed forward after it, there was something inside, something a lot larger, smaller, even than anyone can even Contemplate.
What is going on?
Sftb,
Good post, don’t you think we need to buy a class 1 or even two in that bracket though!
Most supporters that post on here reminisce of the flair players…ie…if the balls in the air and there’s no Pierre, there’s di canio, if the balls one the on ground and Andy thoms not around there’s di canio, if the ball goes in the net and there’s no cadette there’s di canio!
We need someone to lift the fans, with that bit of magic. HH
petec
It’s me that gets ole EuroChamps 67 his autographs down the Gazebo. Including ole Jason King The Buttered Barnet.
STim…
Your question….. “Do you think it was right that Neil received zero of vics transfer fee”
My answer, you already have…….
Hey! You! Aye you! Ah dae the opera references round here!
STim… Posted b4 complete
The past is as it says passed….no point in pursuing.
petec
Boy stopped me there and asked if I wd like a ticket for the policeman’s ball? I told him I didnae dance. He said its no a dance its a raffle.
What’s the best thing that ever happened to you apart from your Moby?
weeminger
13:38 on 30 May, 2014
We lost £40m while MON was at the helm. Just saying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dinnae let inconvenient Truths get in the way.
I’d like to listen to some mellow Techno, you got a link or 2?
It was great seeing the moniker Estadio Nacional back on the Blog.
wilmot what is goin’ on?
DBBIA
Are you casting, ah…sturgeons?
T/tim -doesn’t bother me; it’s like water off my stickleback
mrob1967
thanks por cierto