With Leigh Griffiths set to sign in the next few moments our business for the January transfer window is complete. As well as Leigh, we added 20-year-old Icelandic striker Holmbert Fridjobsson, and 23-year-old Norwegian left-midfielder, Stefan Johansen.
I expect Johansen and Griffiths to be holding down a starting place no later than next month. Johansen’s case will be made all the more straightforward if Joe Ledley accepts an offer from Crystal Palace, although he may choose to wait until the summer before leaving.
We’ll be wondering why we signed Mo Bangura years from now, he patently didn’t look a player at Celtic.
Neil Lennon has a fixer-upper with Leigh, a player he has taken a number of references for and believes he can turn into a productive Celtic player. The player’s personal history is something he has to put behind him now. I’ve read many comments on this subject over the last few days, with some empathy, but it’s just as well Twitter wasn’t around in the 60s, 70s or 80s. Some of our heroes from past eras have been more than a tad off-colour in my earshot.
Time for Leigh to get onto the field and do what he does best.
[calameo code=000390171bffb0dd3dc4f lang=en page=128 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,474 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- »
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
Total shame mate, We’ll never forget him and the Thai Tims Tribute will make sure he is remembered for ever.
KLV
Driving down the High street this morning and sad to see that a famous Glasgow catholic institution appears to be closing. Carruths Grotto…..notices in the windae closing down sale due to retirement.
up over goal…
Agree with you there re Samaras.
the argument re CL quality players I don’t buy, what is a CL quality player? Every player who represent a team in Europe will have up their game no matter who they play. I dont get the phrase.
Tiny Tim @ 9.32
That’s got to be the most unlikely excuse for lewd and libidinous behaviour I have ever heard.
All Scottish strike force next season? Watt back and LG or the young striker I can’t remember his name doing well down south.
I would love nothing more than Tony coming back and being a star. Think he is growing up a but in Belgium.
KLV
but should read bit, Damn man flu. ;)
KLV
up_over_goal
10:40 on
1 February, 2014
In the SPFL Celtic can afford to give away possession in their opponent’s half as they know they will get it back through tenacious pressing and a mistake by one of their players. In the CL, gifting possession through a risky play, in any part of the pitch, can prove disastrous.
That’s what most fans don’t get about Samaras. He is the archetypal modern forward – a tactical, possession-focused player, who excels in counter-attacking teams. Looking at that Celtic squad, I can’t find any attacker who is an all-rounder when it comes to domestic and European games.
Therefore it boils down to value for money. In the summer, we will have a match-fit, experienced European forward ready for some crucial Champions League qualifiers. Do we jettison him and go with what we’ve got?*
*(Any replies saying we need to buy a guaranteed CL quality striker will be greeted with a supercilious eyebrow)
——————————————————-
I often think that in SPFL games we should give the ball to the opposition at times just so they are forced to com onto us – creating the kind of space that isn’t there when they endure 90 mins of defending. That said – Celtic 4-0 Kilmarnock. So what do I know?!
I agree that we need to set u and play differently in Europe – and it’s not just about having a striker. These games are much more varied and our usual approach isn’t much use. When Sammy plays, we do do well. I thought we suffered this year because Sammy wasn’t at the races, Kris looked the same and because Scott got himself sent aff!
kevinlasvegas Calum mcgregor is the guy you’re thinking of, a midfielder but scoring plenty. Hail Hail Hebcelt
McGregor is the other young scottish lad,
KLV
Cultsbhoy
Go
But I’d prefer if he stayed
I think the lure of a bigger contract will take him away….
HH
Oh my, that LG Bhoy , he brings it on himself you know, thank god he doesent have red hair, could you imagine?
I wish LG all the very best in the hoops shirt, some so called Celtic supporters really have no class in here, just can’t wait for the Bhoy to fck. Up, I’ve no doubt there are Huns among us that’s a given, but some in here should just hold it keep there powder dry and give the lad a chance, and it’s the same old suspects, the never ending moaners, who can NEVER say anything good about Celtic, I put it down just attention seekers, let the kid get on with it and give him support, he’s wearing the hoops, oh but don’t let that stop you running the club down, yi should be ashamed of your selfs, make me sick, honestly, have opinions by all means but Ffs give the lad a fecking chance, lurking huns?……GIRUYs.
hebcelt
Yeah mate, Midfielder wow, that’s some record, We are doing something right, we have a lot of players out on loan and i think all these young players look ready for the first team. George and Mcgeogh look good as well. Fisher is accomplished already. So i think in signing the foreign youngsters and blending them with our own home grown talent definatly is working. I just hope we don’t end up bringing them through to a level and then they go elsewhere like Rocco Quinn, He he used to look like a star in the making.
KLV
mickbhoy
Carruth’s Grotto.
Members of the family were good friends of my parents.
Went to school with one of them.
Joe Carruth played for Celtic 1936-45 and scored 29 goals in 42 appearances. The not inconsiderate fact of WW2 tended to hinder his career somewhat however! Not to mention a serious injury.
HH!!
up over goal
Samara’s was that possession attacker last season, not this. He kept turning into trouble in our CL games this season. Perhaps he was under more pressure with Brown suspended and Wanyama gone.
But the thing about Samara’s is that he seems to have long runs of good or bad form, most inconsistent players have a mix of good and bad games, he has good and bad seasons. That’s why no one can agree whether to keep him or sell him.
tonydonnelly67
I stated on here I was not in favour of signing LG,but will get
right behind the bhoy as I do with everyone who joins our great
club.
Ohhh how our scouts failed in spotting the potential of Celtics new world class striker and just imagine if he had been spotted as a callow youth he probably would have been at this stage of his career Celtics first £20m export to Man Utd Barcelona or Real Madrid
Ps Note to Mr Lawell for our next buy to sell project…….. Stevie Mays goals in games played ratio is better than than Leigh Griffiths and he has proved that he can score goals in Europe
Can’t believe we never even made a bid for Messi, oh well there’s always the next transfer window to get him signed. Off out to the swimming with the grandkids, be good while I’m away bhoys.
Regarding the’rumours’ recently about Paul67 hints. I think from winning captains remarks we all secretly think it’s about a new cross border league: )
But something’s bugging me, Paul spoke about 10 in a row recently.
We’ll does that mean the English,Atlantic or European : )
i’d have thought May was a no brainer as well. May not be guarenteed first team football every week though.
KLV
Good to see a few more of our younger players going out to get some game time. I had hoped young Dylan would have been pushing for a first team place by now, but injuries have hampered his progress. Perhaps being sent to Coventry will be a good thing for him.
Right am off ti the cream cookies ti put ma line on, later, HH
TD67 @ 11.03
Must confess I haven’t read it that way in recent days. I think almost everyone recognised his impressive performances for Hibs so see him as SPL quality.
But some – myself included – questioned (note the word) his potential as a CL quality player and expressed misgivings about his previous off field antics.
But what’s struck me over the last couple of days has been the consensus saying, ‘welcome to the Hoops, become a right good Celtic man on the pitch and shoe you’ve grown up off the pitch.’
Pretty reasonable to me. Not think TD?
PS keep up the lurking Hun GIRUY work. Nobody does it better!
HH jamesgang
Good morning all
And so we’ve signed Leigh Griffiths and Joe has gone. Officially. Good luck to both guys – as one who shared the misgivings re our new striker’s past deeds off the field I do hope he can mature as a man and handle the pressures that will come his way . He seems keen to play for us , looks to be more than a pure goalscorer so as with Stefan Johansen I am quietly confident we’ve signed a player who will do good for Celtic.
I must admit I find the January window a real distraction and am glad it’s gone. The so called Marquee signings we’ve made in the past in both this and the August equivalent have rarely delivered and it’s usually been the slightly less heralded signings who’ve prospered.
45 years today since my dad took me to Paradise for the first time – I’d seen us at other grounds for the previous year but CP was always thought too big for me. ( I was a wee weed in those days). I wouldn’t say I’ve enjoyed every game I’ve seen in Celtic Park as much as that 5-0 win over Hearts all those years ago . But I’m glad to say I’ve enjoyed quite a lot even more than that first ever visit.
You’ve occasionally made me sad Celtic, frequently annoyed me, once or twice made me embarrassed and once I was even ashamed of what happened. But I always knew that I’d be back.
Thanks- I suppose if I drank gin it would be appropriate to have a Bombay Sapphire today.
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
Jimbo67. Hoopy Anniversary!!
HH jamesgang
Reamonn Gormley RIP – 3 years. Seems like yesterday!
Thoughts and prayes with Anne, Jim and the rest of Reamonn’s family and friends today.
MWD
I might have missed one or two, but I have counted nine of our young players out on loan.
Watt, McGregor, George, Irvine, Atajic, Chalmers, Findlay, Miller and McGeough.
How many will return?
The first two are doing well – best of luck to the rest of them.
HH!!
In the qualifiers it’s Forster, Lustig, vvd, efe, izzy, brown, Forrest, commons and samaras are the trusted core of the team by Neil.
Between now and then it’s Stefan and Nir in pole position to take the last two spots.
Griffiths and Stokes and Watt for the goal poacher role, Pukki for commons backfill and Balde for something different.
Sensible squad building going on if you ask me
big wavy. I agree with your post we have a crop of very good young players and in my opinion Leigh Griffiths will be a top player for us. I also feel he will do well in Europe as he has pace and can use his right or left foot the only area Im not sure about is his ability to head the ball but maybe Balde or Hombart will do that. H.H.
Who do you think we will sign in the Summer window?:)))
get the finger oooooot Peter
onlyjokingcsc
I cant get to grips with all the rubbish written about leigh griffith . Well i can as he is now a celt . He is a smashing gutsy player and he will do the biz for us , i have no doubts . But getting back to all the talk regards this young man , is it about his ability they speak , no its his off field lifestyle . Well last night i was MC at our local burns supper , and listening intently to the immortal memory of the nations hero rabbie burns . I thought to myself , all the persecution levied at this young man , and here we have a nation celebrating a chappie who kinda flung it about a bit too .
Good morning all, there is a strange thing in the sky this morning and it is very bright, lovely day here some good rugby to watch as well hope France turn over the auld enemy today that’s only if they play running rugby as only they can instead of that forward shite they have been trying for the last two seasons.
Sad to see Joe Ledley go, we do not treat good servants well and while I am at it, let not the fans turn on Big Sammi because he decided to stay, he has been another great servant to us, the reason that he was pollaxed in the CL last season was because the opposition sussed him as our main target man for creating chances, as soon as he got the ball he was surrounded by two or three players with no one to off load it to, for me he will always be a star.
HH
Something happening down Govan way today? Just read Gazzas turned up with 4 cans of lager, a chicken and a fishing rod!!
jimbo67
A week before my 6th birthday my uncle Neil and Da changed my life forever :))
Found the details on celtic wiki years later on here.
1967-03-20: Celtic 5-0 Falkirk, League Division 1
Trivia
•Celtic now depose Rangers at thetop of the league by two points after this result.
It’s was not till later that I realised how blessed I was
Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Wallace, Chalmers, Auld, Hughes Sub Lennox
Scorers Chalmers 25, 74 Auld 29 Hughes 66 Gemmell pen 67
till later all
Yuk, what a day, over at Toryglen soccer centre and it is chucking it down.
Griffiths in Europe…
The reality is we are pinned in our own half against better teams in CL.
We need a speed merchant who can counter attack. I’d say Sami and Griffiths would be perfect for that – which is why I hope the big man stays. In Griffiths we have someone who can run with Sami…
Leftclick
We ll lose one of vvd or Forster in my humble as we ll get an offer we can refuse so it ll give the board bashers something to get their teeth into.
Whoever comes in will have to be a mixture of cech, Caesar and beckenbauer….
For those that may be interested in which games to avoid, this week’s CQN Coupon is –
Awalkacrosstherooftops: Brentford
Blantyretim: Wigan
Greenlion2: QPR (about to kick off)
Jobo: Kilmarnock
Lennybhoy: Burton
Pogmanthony: Swindon
PFayr: Man. Utd.
The Token Tim: Leicester
usualdisclaimerCSC