18 days into the transfer window we’ve landed our first business, 24-year-old Danish international central defender, Erik Sviatchenko, joining from Danish champions Midtjylland, who are due to compete in the Europa League knock out stages next month.
On paper this one ticks all the boxes. The player has been tested in a league a little stronger than our own, and in Europe this season, where Midtjylland eliminated Southampton, Bruge and Legia Warsaw. He will add security to the back line in the chase for the treble, and will be ready for Champions League qualifiers in August.
Ronny Deila now needs to make sure Sviatchenko and Simunovic form a proper defensive partnership – something we’ve lacked this season. Pressure will now mount on Efe Ambrose (27) and Dedryck Boyata (25) to up their game if they are to force their way back into the team. Both are in their prime years, but older than the two I expect to keep them out.
I’ve been shouting for a defensive mid for two years, most noticeably on Friday night, when Dundee United ran straight up the middle of the park to score, but we’ll see what shape the team takes after the addition of Erik.
I think Celtic should also be congratulated on getting this business done below the radar until close to the finish line. We’re involved in lots of transfer speculation at the moment but don’t spend your time researching every name that pops up. There will be five players linked to the club for every prime target.
Welcome to Celtic, Erik.
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Just imagine what a spectacle it would be if all these players played at their peak at the same time:
Gordon ( just in case!)
Lustig Sviatchenko Simunovic Tierney
Forrest Brown Bitton Allan GMS
Griffiths.
Subs: Rogic; Armstrong; McGregor.Ambrose and Johansen.
JJ
PS I accept I do not know what Sviatchenlo`s `peak` would look like!
ROCKET MAN on 18TH JANUARY 2016 5:17 PM
Ahem Pierre Bonnard van Hooijdonk…that’s better
Thierry HENRI de Toulouse-Lautrec……..you would have got away with :))
Burgas…,
Paul67 dealt with that separate incident, the current issue has nothing to do with that discussion but I suppose you could try and force a connection if you want, the fact is its completely separate and no amount of pining or false claims will apportion any blame anywhere else as is your and obviously quite a few others want.
Sad really that grown men refuse to acknowledge the facts no matter how obvious they are, always looking for a scapegoat to pin the blame even when there is no one else to blame.
Its a shame TD has gone. No doubt his tormentors are pleased and probably feel vindicated. His pro board stance infuriated many and maybe he lacked some literary sophistication in putting his points across.
As an older guy he had a wealth of Celtic knowledge and I for one will miss his input here.
Jungle Jim
Do you mean a ” widows peak ” cos I know what that looks like
Pesky Communists.
HH.
JERRY CORNELIUS on 18TH JANUARY 2016 6:03 PM
Its a shame TD has gone. No doubt his tormentors are pleased and probably feel vindicated. His pro board stance infuriated many and maybe he lacked some literary sophistication in putting his points across.
As an older guy he had a wealth of Celtic knowledge and I for one will miss his input here.
_______________________________________
Hear hear
It is a great pity when a blogger feels that he/she can no longer post on CQN or have had the right to post withdrawn by P67. We have lost a fair few bloggers over the last 12 months which is unfortunate as they were all Celtic fans. H.H.
I prefer a bit of gritty candour to some of the pseudo intellectual bombast posted here at times.
Saint Stivis
Why don’t you meet me in my local and say that to my face.
The Keyboard and Tappit.
Hamiltontim,
I’ve had responses on the OBAF Act petition from Shona Robison MSP and relevant minister, as well as a couple of others. I think I still have your email address – want a look at them? I must respond to Ms Robison as her letter contains a number of inaccuracies, so any input would be gratefully received.
Tony was relentless and cared about Celtic. But the blog has rules and Paul called him on it. Unfortunate but Tony was no fool and might have thought twice before posting at times. I used to post a lot as well but of late I have just been lurking as i think at times its best not to type in anger and lately I have been angry at lots of things related to our club. The future is so uncertain with regards to our club and its silence.
Hoping for a better second half to the season.
Hail Hail.
KLV
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 18TH JANUARY 2016 2:39 PM
SOUKOS
Gil Heron wasn’t the first black player to play for Celtic,as defined at the time.
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/m/page/Salim,+Mohammed
Eh Bobby, you’ve obviously never worked for Hackney County Council. You’d have had a 2 week suspension and a yellow card wi that statement…
Evening Timland from a very cold hun free mountain valley.
TD didn’t have tormentors, he had posters, myself included, who called him out for the abuse he gave to me and other posters.
Not once, not a single time did any poster attack him unprovoked, not once, every time was a reaction to his abuse.
He got himself banned, nobody else is responsible for that, nobody.
Didn’t take Sviatchenko long to become familiar with the dressing room vernacular
He learned”Hoops” and “Ta” for Thanks.
He even said he prefers dialogue to monologue. He got that line straight from our captain, I bet!
Thought Tony had to contact Paul? Not barred as such, yet, is that not the rules?
BampotsCSC
Just saw big Eck on the news there he is going to be a big pin up Bhoy for the ladys he is a good looking big fella. H.H.
THE EXILED TIM Fella you should have ended that post by saying that was your opinion.I for one dont share it.H.H.
AULDBERTIE, from experience can be difficult as a stranger going in to an east end pub and asking for someone by name. You are suspected of being police or taxman or gangster
Anagrams is it?
Sviatchenko = I thank Sevco
JFH
If you play by the blog rules you don’t get banned, it’s really no rocket science Joe.
Paul is seriously accomodating, he obviously had enough, the words came from TD’s keyboard, not mine, not yours, his alone, and those words got him a yellow a while back, and Paul pulled his account today, he will get back if he mails Paul and plays the game.
You can’t pin the blame on anyone bar the poster in question.
Respect and manners cost nothing.
HH
When I joined the blog there were certain standards that made this different from any other blog.
The basic was respect for our fellow. Bhoys and their opinions. Disagree by all means but respect.
All that is great about Celtic was in here. The charity work and events. The coming together of Tims from all over the world.
Mourning, grieving and Supprting each other.
Supprting the team Happy Clappers to and Moon Howlers.
Been away for a while but back now and look forward to a more respectful blog without having to scroll by too many.
Hail Hail
Jfh@6.32
Big Eck, sartorially elegant and a bit of a looker…..a threat to VP maybe but can he hold a tune.
HH
Ron bacardi
:))))))))
When my Da passed away,me and my bro went suited and booted into the tower block just over the clyde from central station (springfield tower) i think it was to pass on the news to his brother, EVERYtime we asked for his flat number as he had just moved there ,we we responde to by the sound of running feet :))))), he eventually looked out a window 3 up to see who was looking for him as he had numerous phone calls telling him the C.I.D were asking after him.
Greetings from a warm Johannesburg where news of the signing of the Danish central defender is a real positive.
I hope this is the start of a radical change of the playing squad ; players who were not up to Malmo and Molde need to go. We need players with fight and technical expertise.
I would hope in 6 months there is a significant change in the team. I would even allow Scott Brown to go to England for £5M. We need to use our budget better and have strategic investment. A treble would be nice but what hurts most is CL exit. So Lawwell is in the last chance saloon. Good first step.
Ps. The movers and shakers in Joburg don’t understand why King is involved in TRFC. With the Rand exchange rate plus his personal situation it’s just window dressing. They expect him to quietly disappear into the shade when he has to stump up.
Bit worried about Erik’s English language skills. Way too good!
Listening to Sportsound, Richard Wilson, their Dave King correspondent, telling all with glee that Sviatchenko is injury prone. Obviously not a patch on the Accrington galacticos
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 18TH JANUARY 2016 6:46 PM
Bit worried about Erik’s English language skills. Way too good!
That good he’ll not understand a word Broonie or Griffiths say!
JFH 6:32
I thought you were talking about the adonis that is jamesgang:)))))
I know this might be met with derision in some quarters, but here goes anyway:
How about Efe as our holding midfielder.We need one and Efe is reasonably steady on the ball and strong, and if there are any mental lapses he will have the back four behind him. Worth a try. he wouldn’t be the first player to excel after a positional change.
WILLIAMF. I like you would give EFE a try out as our holding midfielder the one thing we could be sure of he would give it 100%. H.H.
Williamf
no derision from me Efe debut:)))))
http://m.youtube.com/results?q=efe%20ambrose%20celtic%20debut&sm=12
till later all
Have to come out of exile to say I’m uncomfortable with the singling out of Tony. In a blog dominated by far too few his card was marked for a while. You could see it. As soon as he stepped over the line (and he did) there was the equivalent of demanding a straight red by those who quite clearly hated the guy.
The reaction today by some has been classless.
We are very good at advocating self-policing for others but don’t seem very good at looking at our own contribution at times. We’ve all done it.
The guy is a pensioner and a celtic fan with strong views of backing the team. Does that count for nothing ?
The helicopter :
https://youtu.be/5i8r54FGjJ0
HH.
BIG WAVY. Fella a good post. H.H.
Bring Back TD
HH
williamf…
I like effe, your suggestion would be worth a try, someone posted, sorry I can’t mind who…that Efe would be worth a shout up front.
The big man has taken the club to heart and worth tinkering with. HH
Big Wavy
You should direct your questions to Paul67 who suspended his account for another disgraceful post.
He doesn’t come across as a gentle old age Celtic supporting pensioner to me
Well, not after he told me to “bite his arse” last week after I’d made a joke.
Good riddance.