Celtic v Dundee United
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steinreignedsupreme
Have a read of this!
Georgios Samaras: ‘Celtic did not make me an offer’
Georgios Samaras insists he is leaving Celtic against his wishes and that the Scottish champions have not offered him a new contract.
Manager Neil Lennon said in January he hoped the 29-year-old Greek forward would extend his seven-year stay at the club.
“It was not the manager’s decision,” Samaras told BBC Scotland. “It was people from on high.
“I never had an offer from the club. I never had an offer from Peter Lawwell.”
“Me and the gaffer, we don’t make the decisions – there are people above us who make the decisions and they never approached me”
Lennon will sit down with chief executive Lawwell in midweek to consider his summer signing targets and it appears that a replacement for Samaras will be a priority.
“I’m leaving, that’s for sure, but the only thing I want to say is it was not my decision,” said the forward who joined Celtic from Manchester City in 2008 after a successful loan spell.
“I’m a little bit sad that I’m leaving this great club.”
Samaras was free to speak to other clubs from the turn of the year, with his contract ending this summer, and he has been linked with several sides as speculation about his future mounted.
“I did not speak during the six months,” he said. “There were a lot of stories in the media, I did not answer anyone, I tried to keep my mouth shut.
“I was full of respect for Celtic. I have not signed for any other club, I have not spoken to other clubs.
Georgios Samaras shed a tear after scoring against Dundee United
“I was waiting until the end to see if they made me an offer, but I think that’s the end.
“I cannot lie to the people. I had a chat with the manager. He would have loved me to stay at the club.
“He knows me really well and he knows what I can do for this club, and I was really happy to stay.
“But me and the gaffer, we don’t make the decisions – there are people above us who make the decisions and they never approached me.”
Samaras marked what looks like being his final Celtic appearance by winning then scoring a penalty in a 3-1 victory against Dundee United.
He shed tears after firing past Radoslaw Cierzniak and later admitted: “It was an emotional day for me. I am leaving Celtic but Celtic will never leave me.”
Lennon confirmed that it looked like Samaras would not be at the club next season.
Asked if it was a farewell goal, the manager said: “I’d imagine so. There’s been no negotiations ongoing for the last three or four months.
“He hasn’t really come to me and said he’s leaving, but I’m assuming that’s going to be the case.”
Celtic midfielder Kris Commons wished Samaras well for the future and, most immediately, when representing his country in Brazil this summer.
“He will be sadly missed,” said the PFA Scotland and Scottish Football Writers’ player of the year. “Hopefully, he’ll have a good World Cup and we’ll all be cheering for him.”
Also good luck and thanks to Johan Mjallby.
Hail Hail big man and thanks for everything!
Just back home. All that’s good about our club was there today in abundance. Lovely moving YNWA for the wee man too. There is much love out there for Sammi and it was magic he scored. Good luck to him and Johan for their futures and what a difference it makes when the stadium is full. Morten Weighorst for number 2 anyone? HH.
Hrvatski Jim
You made me bubble again.
They are indeed.
No wonder the wee guy was the man he was.
Celebrate what is good Cetic men.
Maybe they are not as perfect as some of you would like and there is nothing wrong with wanting the best for our club but there are some that would have given anything to savour these days but cant.
Savour it for them if not for yourselves.
Was at the match today & agree Twarzik looks a player, was impressed at how calm he was under pressure, good tacking & range of passing which with other young players bodes well for the future. Just noticed that Heerenveen play Groningen for a UEFA Cup place, if Hereenveen were to lose the with Sammis wages freed up then Finboggoson 53 goals in 64 games sounds good to me. If not i’ll settle for Snodgrass & Hooper :-)
Great to meet so many old & new faces yesterday & today from CQN, was a great night & rounded off with the festivities today. Now for the World Cup & some new faces for next season.
Any goals/videos from the game today? :-)
RWE,
Neil Lennon said he has nothing to do with contracts. He certainly gave me the impression that he had wanted Sammi to stay. Sammi quite obviously wanted to stay. What happened between his advisers and PL, I guess, we will never know.
I’m biased, as I’ve often come on CQN, to support Sammi, whom many have never fancied. I think we need his understanding of the European game for our CL campaign. That’s where we earn our real income these days.
Ellboy – I am Neil Lennon, YNWA. 16:34 on 11 May, 2014
That’s a different interview from the one on the telly.
It doesn’t change my opinion though. Still sorry to see Sammi go. But transfers are part of football.
Hopefully, we can bring in a good replacement in the summer.
HH
harryhoodsdugbitme,
I suggested Morten Wieghorst as soon as Johan said he was moving on.
Corkcelt
Glad I made you laugh, I’ve been greeting since the murderwell result, resisted cashing in the bet all the way through the game, and to get cheated out of serious money in extra time is a hard one to take.
Twas the truth tho >}
HH
paolosboots FC before PLC
16:39 on
11 May, 2014
Was at the match today & agree Twarzik looks a player, was impressed at how calm he was under pressure, good tacking & range of passing which with other young players bodes well for the future.
———————–
….and a fine Gary Caldwell-esque finish for United’s goal!
Now THAT is how to celebrate winning a championship, ending a perfect Overseas Season Ticket arrangement for me since August.
Lots of work obviously went into organising the whole event and it is a standard for the matchday experience to build from.
No other Scottish clubs can match on our scale, but offering supporters an enjoyable afternoon almost regardless of the football and more as a community gathering event is perhaps the direction the game should be going ( with Them being dead nthat.)
I do wish a feasibility study into summer football would be conducted to identify plus and minuses for our game.
We would still have to cater for the vagaries of the weather, but given there is simply more light in the summer, there is a much greater chance of improved Saturday environs being enjoyed during the week.
The Celtic Way might show Celtic a way forward.
Also encouraging was the number of young faces of all ages on show, the support of the future and they will all want to use the wifi installed.
All in all a very enjoyable championship day. I look forward to another 7 at least.
Oh on football I was well impressed by Twardzik (sp) who looks very confident on the ball and if we have Sammi money to spend I would be seeing if we could add Snodgrass and Armstrong of Dundee Utd who shows a great mix of athleticism, skill and ATTITUDE for the short time he played. Hooper would be icing on the cake.
Kayal, Boerrigter and Balde wages would help cover the cost of the first 2 acquisitions if not all 3.
It is that kind of trading that would be the result of dialogue amongst all parties at CP, not orders from top, but getting value for money, that would see us make a better fist of Europe than this season ending.
I’ll be sorry to see Sammi go, reminded me of watching Big Yogi, you never knew which bear would turn up, but I can see why his earnings would be better spent elsewhere.
If the above interview re Samaras is accurate
Lenny needs to walk out ….football clubs cannot be run by business men solely
WTF does our CEO know about football …..as much as we do ..SFA
steinreignedsupreme
16:40 on 11 May, 2014
Of course I hope we do too, though I don’t see the point in taking the gamble.
Besides I would much rather have two players of similar ability!
HH!
TET
Thanks for the wrist bands
Great win today. Well done Celtic.
Sorry to see Sammi leave us. Loved the big man but life goes on.
Am hearing next departure will bet Gary Parker . Anyone else heard this?
a day of mixed emotions.
but a wonderful day out.
celtic supporters, never cease to amaze me, the foundation collection outside, the tributes to oscar both at the statues, t shirts on people, then the very poingant 5 minute celebration of the champion bhoy. and to stokes and lisa for the t-shirts.
the game itself i enjoyed, only my 6th in the whole season , a terrible supporting record, and the worst in my life, but being there makes me realise how much i miss it.
i got to meet a blackpool cousin with his 7 and 9 year old at their first game.
their granda being the very man who took me all of 43 years ago to regular games.
you couldnt even describe the changes at celtic park to them, where could you start.
celtic deserved the win, twardzik played very well, i was glad we scored when we did.
and each of those players deserved a goal for their contributions this year.
if PL really didnt offer Sammi a contract its probably his daftest decision yet, on a purley business level why let a played of that level walk away on a free, pretty daft.
his moment of lifting the kid from the crowd, and you could clearly see the bhoy saying “no way, i dont believe this”, absolutely brilliant moment.
i was close to the green brigade today, magnificent.
as where the rest of the crowd.
on a down side, i really thought NFL looked down beat considering the occasion.
q. what was the blue hats some players had on.
anyways, tell you what anyone who wants to say they aint enjoying this, you need to think back, all thoise days walking away from the park in the 90’s when we were dross.
all those other times when we were cheated. those titles lost on last days when we should have won .
winning is better than the other way.
and by the way, the team are actually entertaining, .
keep it lit.
Just arrived home.
Left yesterday morning at 1000 hours.
What a day!
To all those I met – yer all mental!
Need to go for a curer.
Wife and daughter are out thank f***.
Back later.
HH the champions!!
hoopy do That is harsh he was tracking back not a lot he could do about it. These things happen.
at ease private, ’twas a bit of humour
Was the game live on Celtic tv ??
SoAL
My pleasure.
HH
There is also the aspect of allowing his contract to run down, that could be perceived as a thank you to allow him to negotiate as a free agent. If it was all about money he’d have been sold last summer ,
Auldheid,
I have often thought Sammi was the John Hughes of today. On their day (which was totally unpredictable) they were unplayable; they could also frustrate…. and badly.
Don’t want Hooper back. We have Stokes & Griffiths so any new striker should be someone who offers something different to them. Hooper wanted to leave, good luck to him. He was a good striker for us but not a great one.
If Snodgrass wants to come home then get the deal done. Armstrong is a no brainer as well. Don’t let another young Scottish born midfielder move down South for the sake of a few hundred thousand or so.
Auldheid
Samaras is the only player who is a proper CL player …
As for spending his money elsewhere ….on what .. Pukki, Balde, Boeriggter ???
PF ayr
Lenny won’t walk, it’s his dream job, albeit with his hands tied behind his back.
I am delighted Sammi has told a few truths about what is going on behind the scenes, I have been saying the same for yonks, ever since Lenny got the job in fact.
HH
….pfayr supports weeoscar
16:52 on 11 May, 2014
Auldheid
Samaras is the only player who is a proper CL
Lustig?
Kayal
Fair enough
a wee message for the sweetie-wives, the msm, the prawn sandwich mob and holy willies
“Fans and players celebrating on the pitch. It how football should be” – Gary Neville
well said
23
lustig – the only celtic player in years who can defend a ball to the back post ?
Back fae the game, had my lassie with me, she loved
it,I went up to the ticket office this morning to get her
a ticket and was surprised to here that the club would
would seat me next to her and as I was ST holder not
charge me…well done Celtic….on the down side, walking
up the Celtic way with my girl before the game,I noticed
a gathering of rough types at the pools office.
Sammi is not champions league quality
To be champions league quality you can’t spend 10 seconds sitting on your bum and throw your arms in the air after you lose the ball.
The best teams will run up the park and score in those 10 seconds.
….pfayr supports weeoscar
Agree with that,Sammi gave us something different in the CL.
We will miss him
HH
I can guarantee Sammi will do it at least once during the World Cup
PF
Lenny wants to spend his money elsewhere. It really is as simple as that.
Bob o baldy will vote yes – what do you put in your haggis
watch last years euro campaign with your alex salmond chins out of your eyes
Adio, Sammi and you too, Johan.
Two great men who were a credit to our Club.
Just a pity we’ll now not see Sammi playing at Murrayfield!
Good luck to you both wherever you end up and you’ll always be welcomed back at Paradise