Alexandro Bernabei (24) joined Brazilian side Internacional yesterday for a fee in the region of £4m, providing a small profit on the fee we paid Lanus for him 2.5 years ago, although there a sell-on clause is likely to consume that.
Not every player will work out at Celtic, but ensuring those who do not make the cut leave at a fee consistent with what we paid for them is a critical part of squad management. The Americas have been good to us in this respect, with Giorgos Giakoumakis and Patryk Klimala both heading over the Atlantic for a higher ticket price then they arrived with. Giorgos only spent a year at Atlanta before the MLS side doubled their money when the striker went to Mexico.
There is a fair chance we will bring in a left back with a different profile from Alex this month. If so, the returning son will be celebrated as befits the best left back we have seen in 50 years. There are, however, strategic worries.
Signing players at their peak, when their value has already topped out, is a short-term play. It all you are interested in is this season, or next, you will be happy with this route. You and I are here for the long haul, though. We know how hard Celtic need to work to compete in the Champions League every year and what we need to do to stay ahead in Scotland.
I want to see a Celtic team full of Nicolas Kuhn and Arne Engels-types. Players we have worked hard to find and can bring to Scotland before their profile has reached critical levels. We will not keep many of them for long, but that will only make it easier to attract the best talent next time.
We have talked about Brighton owner and savant Tony Bloom a few times. On Sunday, Brighton won away at Manchester United for the third season running. They had three different managers for those wins and (including subs) used 33 different players.
Brighton are ruthlessly dedicated to plan. Bloom sets the strategy and the managers accept it or move on. Abundant transfer profits are ploughed into ever-improving scouting, higher wages and transfer budget. By contrast, we have a more short-term outlook. It will deliver domistically, for a while, anyway. Others will make more progress.
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BTW – Paul
I recorded MOTD2 and successfully avoided the results across a busy Monday.
Was looking forward to watching it tonight …
… but youve just spoiled it for me
… so am not talking to you anymore.
😡
Beendan presser
https://youtu.be/oQsIPxUjPXk?si=-LK6kkekQ9qP78b_
Callum presser
https://youtu.be/HsUOX_Bb9Ig?si=Vx859OERScgi8tlX
Hh
Brendan presser
Important info for supporters attending tomorrow night’s UCL match (Wed, Jan 22, KO 8pm):
https://tx.vc/u/4OJih/2ysj3E/7SNNKiF
Opt-out txt CELTICSTOP to 60777
Very interesting info.
Especially the fact that we have 13 available bike storage spaces. Do they take tandems ?
It looks like the cycle lanes will be mobbed after all.
You’re never two tired, addle up, and hit those pedals .
HH, the journey continues.
Good evening all from the New Road Inn, Blackpool. Monacles v Villains not bad at all. Better class of drunks, criminals and schoolteachers in here.
I think CalMac looks very tired
Watching Villa v Monaco and the villa forward Duran is one diving b. Seen him do the same in previous games too. He will need watching when we play them.
Total nonsense Paul.We have,AJ,Scales,CCV,Bernardo,Engels,Kuhn,Hatate,Luke,Maeda,Idah,all with at least 3 to 5 good years left,some more.Adding KT,at 27 is not a temporary step.We will bring in more players.A mix is the norm in all top sides.
Turkish media reporting Jota for sale at 6 5 million.40 grand a week.Turks don’t have the cash want a loan.Rennes need the cash.
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/standings/
live table, we dropped 3 places at kick off.
looks like it kinglubo; he’s probably not up to the attention he is currently getting from teams who’ve had years to work on the press
Great Villa result for us.A win is must tomorrow,but 3 or 4 goals would help push us further up.
Villa looking no great shakes.Can be done.
Seems our lack of ambition at Zagreb may come home to roost.
PSV and Stuttgart winning. Benfica also.
BURNLEY78 @ 8:30 PM,
And another two of the crap sides we played are third and fourth in the league.
Hail Hail
Ah better now Lille losing.
GreenPinata
just chain yer bike to the fence at the ticket office.
I cycle over when i’m late and cant be 4rsed with the motor.
Barca trying the Ange defensive line…..the halfway line
Back in the Ramsden Arms for Liverpool game. Not a great advert for a pub when old Johnny is the only sane customer. How I suffer for my art.
BRRB
I notice you did not include yourself in the sane customer list……. ;)
Clunks
I did, you impertinent young pup. Harrumph!!!!
Well, I think I did. 🤔
Barca,a disgrace.Atletico score,good for us,a man sent off,but the black arts now on show.Obnoxious team and manager.
Whatever anyone says,we threw away a great chance in Zagreb.3 points were there for us,instead of the 1.Anyway,on we go.
Aye ye did….maybe
I forgot what yer name was lol!
Clunks
Ffs 😂
Chairbhoy,
Remind me,who said Dortmund and Atalanta were crap.
I know you as BRRB first, John second and old johnny never…..
Turkeybhoy on 21st January 2025 8:04 pm
Great Villa result for us.A win is must tomorrow,but 3 or 4 goals would help push us further up.
Villa looking no great shakes.Can be done.
————-
disagree, a villa win would have solidated a top 8 finish.
a monaco defeat would have meant them 3 points less and very catchable.
villa not needing a win against us would be our best chance.
if they turn it on they will skepl us like dortmund.
i disagree that zagreb was a win missed, we played an excellent tactical game there, we might have won, but we didnt lose.
spikeysauldman on 21st January 2025 8:38 pm
Genuine respect.
I certainly did not expect that response.
HH.
An Dún on 21st January 2025 4:21 pm
Since BR took control of transfers and went off piste in January 2024, we’ve permanently signed; Kuhn (24), Idah (23), Bernardo (22), Engels (21), Viljami Sinisalo (23), Trusty (26), McCowan (27) and Kasper (37/38).
These are the facts and yet we’re being told on here on a consistent basis that Brendan has torn up our development and trading strategy. It’s demonstrably untrue to say such things.
——–
Exactly. And of the list you cite, I’m sure it was an amalgamation of our recruitment machine target, and some of Brendan’s own notebook contacts. I mean, who sees Kacper or Luke as not good bits of business?
Anyway, of the Mark Lawwell legacy, Kwon isn’t even the best midfielder at Hibs and Lagerbielke isn’t always getting games or turning heads at Twente. Tilio may note even be better than Mazzeo or Memeti at Melb City!!
Paul needs clicks and comments, so he’s become a master baiter; by that I mean composing controversial content he knows we will take (bait) umbrage to. And here’s me falling for it, which is what the blog is for.
BRRB
Don’t have too many pints.
I don’t want old Johnny becoming rubber. :)
TURKEYBHOY @ 9:04 PM,
BURNLEY78 – “We have had a far easier draw than many of our competitors with many of the teams in our path having below par seasons.”
Mind you Dortmund trying to prove BURNLEY78 right and get their manager sacked:)
Hail Hail
Most previous Celtic managers would have loved a draw in Zagreb
Thought I woud throw this in since we are too busy disagreeing with the Zagreb result
BELMONTBRIAN on 20TH JANUARY 2025 8:38 PM
Evening all. TONETINE TIM I’ve always had a soft spot for Dumbarton, loved the white top with black and gold hoops.
I remember in the 70’s going to Broomfield with my relations from Luton (massive Celtic supporters) must have been in the Winter, pitch black. I’m sure Pat McCluskey was playing for ‘The Son’s’ The Airdrie ‘Section B’ were giving it Pat tight. I’m sure Dumbarton won.
*Dumbarton had a pretty neutral support in the town and surrounding area, the 2:30 Balloch to Brigton train was packed with locals heading intae a ground that was in close proximity to both Dumbarton Central and East stations, one hour before that train would have been full of Tims heading tae the Holy Ground, a couple of future Celts played for them including Jake Madden, who was still on their books when he turned out on our inaugural game, in fact being centre forward that day he is allegedly the first player ever to kick a ball for us.
It had always had a strong Celtic support due to the influx of migrant workers, predominately from Connemara, the scheme behind the old ground, Silverton, where my da grew up, was full of Irish as it was built with big houses and who had the biggest families, plus St Patrick’s Church was within walking distance so that enhanced the support for the local side when we were away from home.
In the 1950s the Burroughs Adding Machine Co from Detroit opened 2 plants, manufacturing and assembly in a local newly built industrial estate, the manufacturing director James T Fitzgerald, in true yankee fashion took an interest in the local sports side and soon became the Chairman of the Sons, he developed a close affinity with Celtic and some of the players signed from them included Dunky MacKay and wee ten thirty on loan plus Alec Rollo and Johnny Bonnar, later on big John Cushley, Wispy and Pat McCluskey would also join them
On January 23, 1957, Dumbarton opened their new floodlights at a cost of 5,000 quid, reckoned to be the best in the country at the time, by playing us in a friendly, it would be later known as the “Charlie Tully” show, a huge crowd saw us go 4 -1 up within 20 minutes down to goals from John McPhail and Neilly Mochan but the goal of the game was scored in the final minutes after Dumbarton had pulled another one back from “Cheeky Charlie” which almost brough the house down.
As for Pat McCluskey I saw him score a hat trick against the Sons in their first non friendly game at Boagheid in 50 years, I cant recall if it was this game or a reserve cup game, but I saw Pat having fisticuffs on the sideline with a Dumbarton player, Tom McAdam, ironically they would switch roles a couple of years later
My last ever visit to “Fatal Boghead” was a quarter final game against us when we won 2-1, that was the game where big John Cushley saved a very red faced Kenny from being sent off after Wispy was winding him up, he pulled back his balled up fist to throw a punch until John grabbed it, Wispy walked away chucking to himself, I left the country to return to the colonies 3 months later.
Good evening all from the Royal Boston Hotel, Blackpool. Cabaret is on and the small doll wonders why I drink. Dearie me. 🙄
Barca equalize against Benfica, can see them getting a winner now
GGH 9.29
I’ll drink the newclub into oblivion. Just as I did the old hun. Will it be 3rd hun soon?🤔
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 9:42 PM,
As indeed, the Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon Managers would have loved a draw with Club Brugge this season.
Now 19 games unbeaten…
Hail Hail