At some point early tomorrow morning Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Scott Bain will arrive at Glasgow Airport and start their summer break. 14 hours ago, Kristoffer Ajer, left a field on the Faroe Islands and Nir Bitton did the same in Warsaw.
Within four weeks, they will have to complete their off-season rest, get back into training and compete in the Champions League qualifiers.
The problems thrown up by a season that extends into June are not unique to Celtic, but they are more acute here. Celtic players are not midseason, like the Scandinavians, and unlike most others who are competing in international football this month and are in Uefa action in four weeks time, they carry expectation to win through the qualifiers.
Bodies need rest and one of the consequences of not getting rest is injury. Celtic’s season is longer than most and as a consequence of reaching the last six domestic finals, involves more two-game weeks.
The injury count at Celtic last season left the club significantly short at various points in the season. I know there are financial (and other) consequences of having a big squad, but Celtic probably need a larger squad than any other club in football if their players are to compete from July to June.
Lisbon Lion, John Fallon, send this message for those who took part on the CQN Last Man Standing competition:
On behalf of the Fallon Family, we would like to thank all that took part in this completion especially Marc and Jeff, who ran it, but must importantly the gift of £550 to Alzheimer Scotland, in memory of my wife Esther. Thanks and god bless all who took part.
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On the upside I guess Arzani, Bayo, Christie, Schved and Kouassi will be well-rested.
Like 5 new signings…
Legs gone, same as Izaguirre much more likely to accept better terms in his homelands than a reduced terms
extension, as a back up.
Over to the chequebook bhoys, crying out for freshness at RB for two seasons, from the Eight.
Some guys inside CP better smarten up……..https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-48582357
Timaloy29 @1:07
Think you can still get harp in Belfast HH
The Hands that can’t see
Where has Lustig posted his fairwell video?
TT
You guys are fair scraping the bottom(s up) of the barrel today…
BIG WAVY on 11TH JUNE 2019 2:03 PM
On the upside I guess Arzani, Bayo, Christie, Schved and Kouassi will be well-rested.
Like 5 new signings…
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Shved – Is effectively a new signing. We didn’t send him on loan because he wasn’t good enough.
Arzani – Did his ligaments in his first 15 mins. Horror story. He deserves a chance.
Bayo – Signed for Celtic mid-season when he had finished his domestic season. Was never signed to be an instant starter and unfortunately picked up an injury. Rumors aside, he shouldn’t be written off yet.
Christie – Perfect example of somebody seemingly being a waste of money and surplus to requirements but showing that all he needed was a chance!
I am excited to see what Shved, Arzani & Bayo can bring to the squad. You don’t need to be automatically cynical about everything.
Lustig has had a go at ‘The Management’ speaking to a Swedish journalist. Saying they have not treated him as well as he had hoped. I am glad Lustig is leaving, I have to say his time is up. But there are not enough words or ways for me to avoid a lifetime ban to allow me to put on here the utter contempt i have for Celtic plc.
We are cynical supporters faithful through and through over and over we’ll berate you
i think we have a decent core and with a few exceptions those leaving, contract / Loan expired we wont miss them.
We are woefully short in defence, Etims mentioned Ajer and Simu should be fine (has no one been watching, Jozo has been fine the second half of the season, but thats all he’s done, he’s prone to injury, and whilst he may not shirk and is probably not as bad as we think Jack Hendry isnt a suitable back up.
At left full back, KT is obv first pick, Jonnie Hayes needs more game time there, but i think if we manage KT’s playing time properly then JH will do just fine in most games.
At right full back we’re snookered, PC Lustig is going (many thanks and good luck), Ralston just hasnt cut it, so far, so we need two of those.
Midfield, we have enough players there but we need an eventual predecessor to \0/ or even an out and out enforcer (William Carvalho type)
We’ve got tons of wingers so we’re good to go there
Upfront, well we have French Eddy, LG (whilst we hope he returns to previous form) cant be relied upon, Bayo seems to be written off already (which is strange considering he’s been injured most of the time).
personally, i would hope for a decent few first teamers to be purchased but all the portents so far (and not those in the SMSM) arent looking promising. Its a long window so im not too despondent but if we dont invest wisely then it throws up wider questions as to PL and the PLC’s motives and ultimately their role as custodians of the club.
Timaloy29
I wasn’t being cynical. I think that’s well worth looking forward to.
I’d add a refreshed, injury-free KT to the mix too.
Some posters need their daily dose of Celtic anger.
BIG WAVY:
Yeah, I didn’t read you as being cynical either; the giveaway should have been Christie (who we all rate) and Shved (who we’re all looking forward to seeing).
James
To be fair to everyione here, I can be a right cycnical sod too often so not surprised I got called out….
I think those 5, keeping Ntcham, and bringing back Benkovic would be a decent kick off. Get spending in the RB and CB arenas next.
Hope fully PL and Brendan Rodgerdus are still not speaking.
HandsoffKTandCalmac CSC
BIG WAVY on 11TH JUNE 2019 2:36 PM
James
To be fair to everyione here, I can be a right cycnical sod too often so not surprised I got called out….
I think those 5, keeping Ntcham, and bringing back Benkovic would be a decent kick off. Get spending in the RB and CB arenas next.
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Fair enough though I admit I’ll be surprised that anybody was excited to see Kouassi!
Timaloy29
I’ve got a big crush on Eboue. I think there’s a fine player in there. Injury and that awful hammering by Hearts have tainted his time with us.
Still got hopes for an injury-free Kouassi next season.
Paul67 et al
For once Scottish football is not to blame. The League Cup used to involve more games early doors, group sections at one stage, but the CL and EL have completely taken over pre-season football for the vast majority of leagues. UEFA, let us agree, now operates as a cartel, which, had it not been an Association, would be illegal under EU competition rules. It is run for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many, for the benefit of the likes of Juventus, one of the most corrupt football clubs ever to play the game. Organised solely for five Leagues, UEFA sees every other of the 50 Associations not so much as second or third tier, but second or third class, and despite a recent setback, UEFA will not rest until those Leagues are not even making up the numbers. We won’t be needing a bigger squad, we’re going to need a bigger boat.
Mikael Lustig Celtic’s greatest ever Bosman?
BSR-Got to be,Craig Gordon was free as well….
Like Big Wavy
There is a player in there in Kouassi, i think Lenny may be the man to help him unlock his potential with some sage midfield advice
you can do home brew in a Shved as well…..
Eboue Kouassi has played 12 times for Celtic since signing for £3M in January 2017.
BSR
i take it thats not your endorsement then
Hymn for today
When are they coming, when oh when are they coming
– the new signings???
FFS there’s still 80 odd days of anxiety to go!
GO TELL
As the window slams open, I make it,
Two fullbacks required, one CL Europa first team ready, the other back up.
One CB – CL Europa first team ready
One CM CL Europa first team ready
One striker CL Europa first team ready
Not a lot to ask when we have gazillions stashed away.
BSR
Same as moi
I was really asking whether Kouassi is a player you would Marry/Snog/Avoid
ShunSAKE Nakamura
Kikinthenakas ???
Aw naw! Is the windae jammed?
And big Peter hisnae even opened his curtains yet…
C’mon man! Wakey, wakey!!!
The Rangers ur comin’…
Arzani not likely to get much game time if Lenny’s attitude to loan players last season continues next season. I think Lenny is much more likely to promote the likes of MJ and EH from our own set up than guys he know will be gone in a few months.
Still on the beer front ….. anyone remember a strong ale made by Fowler’s – a wee Fowler’s it was called, or affectionately known as a Charlie Tully. That other mob had plenty of wee, and big , foulers but couldn’t bring themselves to ask for a Charlie Tully. They stuck to a McEwan’s strong ale. Both came in wee, stumpy bottles.
As to the windae…..can’t stand this time of year. Tell myself not to give in to the click bait but am powerless to resist BSR’s height chart.
Celtic might need big squad, but only if squad players are used. BR played his strongest team in nearly all matches, except a couple of Europa League games where he threw in the likes of Morgan and Johnston. I don’t care about winning the League Cup this coming season, I’d rather see us use that competition for playing youngsters and squad players, but I suppose Lenny will be deemed a failure if he doesn’t win a treble. For me the league and Europe are what counts, with the Scottish Cup as a bonus.
Seems to me the same internet bampots without any knowledge of the terms or offer, are slagging Celtic because Mikel Lustig seems to have rejected an extension, and they would have been slagging Celtic ‘for a lack of ambition’ had he accepted the deal.
Plus ca change CSC
With regards to Lustig, I wouldn’t want to be anything other than respectful and complimentary towards his time with us. He has been great player over the 8 year duration.
That said, I think people do forget Lustig’s place in the food-chain, in terms of wages. If the last reports remain accurate, he’s the 2nd highest earner behind Brown.
You could take a modest estimate and say £25k per week… which lets be honest is a helluva lot of money.
So I think it’s easy for parting players, such as Lustig to state that fellow players and Lennon the manager all wanted him to remain, but the guys in suits have had thoughts to the contrary.
In this instance, I don’t believe the Parkhead power-brokers are at fault on this one.
Unless Lustig was happy to take a 75% reduction in wages, then his time was up, I am afraid.
DENIABHOY on 11TH JUNE 2019 4:07 PM
Arzani not likely to get much game time if Lenny’s attitude to loan players last season continues next season. I think Lenny is much more likely to promote the likes of MJ and EH from our own set up than guys he know will be gone in a few months.
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I think the arrangement with Arzani had an option to buy. Maybe someone will confirm.
I seen him briefly in the world cup and also his fleeting appearance for us. Looks a very quick and direct player with lots of ability.
Maybe Lustig’s video is a not so subtle message to the board, “you can make me whole again”. It’ll be sad that we never said a proper farewell to a great player, if he is gone.
RUGGYMAN
I agree totally with what you are saying.
Lustig a superb servant for the club would loved to have kept him for experience and
around dressing room
But figure I have read was £19K a week which I imagine funds a decent replacement
Scaniel think that drink was called Fowlers Wee Heavy and was usually mixed draught beer, which had a name that escapes me at the moment. H H Hebcelt