Like several wealthy English clubs, Manchester City harvest large numbers of players with talent and potential with the intention of adding the City brand to their CV before turning a profit on them.
They usually get two bites at the revenue cherry, once when they sell them and once when they pick up a portion of the subsequent fee when the player is sold by the club who does much of the development heavy lifting. The latter part of this plan fell through for both City and Celtic when Dedryck Boyata left Glasgow out of contract in 2019. Celtic were aware the player would not sign a new contract and recruited Marvin Compper in January 2018 to allow Boyata to leave for a fee the following summer.
Compper was an unmitigated flop and without options they had any faith in, Celtic rejected a £9m bid from West Ham, which resulted in a temporary withdrawal of services by the player and the horrors of a valuable Belgian international leaving without a fee.
City did better with the £4.5m fee they received from Celtic for Olivier Ntcham four years ago. Olivier had stacks of potential but he failed to maintain a regular starting place at Celtic and was allowed to leave on loan in January. It seems unlikely that a player struggling at Celtic would be successful at Marseille and the early signs are not promising. He is very likely to pitch up at Lennoxtown in June without attracting a move to his native France and prepared to run down the final 12 months of his contract.
Despite these two poor examples, there is merit in scouring the development ranks of Europe’s largest clubs – his is how we found Odsonne Edouard, but even when the player is talented and successful, realising your investment when they inevitably leave is far from straightforward.
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ernie lynch on 4th March 2021 1:46 pm
Do you think that for one second what has happened this season would have been allowed to happen with Fergus in charge?
I understand your political point but its not the structure that failed it was the people.
Important, insightful & intelligent contributions made on Paul’s article by:
Hot Smoked @ 1:05
Celtic4Me @ 1:24
GeeBee @ 1:10
These three posts outline exactly where we are in the pecking order of UK/European football – our options/aspirations are limited on almost all fronts.
I would only add a couple of points on our abject surrender this season.
How come the players who did ‘it’ last season have failed so miserably this?
Neil Lennon has spent over £30m on players & loans in his ‘second coming’ – most have flopped – what has happened to his “eye for a player”?
Yes the CEO & the board have questions to answer on short-term & long-term strategy….however, this season has been a Football Department failure – pure & simple.
ERNIE LYNCH on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:46 PM
He sold up 22 years ago, the malaise has taken a fair while to manifest itself
ERNIE LYNCH on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:46 PM
NOTTHEBUS on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:39 PM
“The revisionism on social media about Fergus McCann is a site to behold.”
###
“It’s hard not to conclude that the ownership profile he left behind (which is somewhat at odds with what he said he would do) is at the root of the current malaise.”
It’s precisely the root of the current malaise! por cierto.
Exactly.
Fergus done what he said he would do. No complaints from me.
The DUP and their terrorist gangs – proving that dinosaurs do indeed exist at the same time as humans.
Obviously the people who voted for Brexit knew that this would happen because one thing they’re not is complete and utter morons.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Probably all true, but a distraction from the real issue – how has our club contrived to allow an 8 year old entity race miles past us and deny us the 10?
Instead of blogs slating the Scottish Govt and it’s unquestioning loyalists (fair comment btw), how about a blob analysing the above?
Or are you just an unquestioning member of a different cult of personality?
TIMMY7
Not comparing talent and previous commitment but I think Edouard this season has just become bored of Scottish football.
Out of Europe, both competitions with a wimper, he knew what the rest of the season held for him and it bored him.
Just my thoughts.
CELTIC40ME on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:54 PM
ERNIE LYNCH on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:46 PM
“He sold up 22 years ago, the malaise has taken a fair while to manifest itself”
Yes, but that’s the problem when one person is calling the shots for 22yrs. is it not?
He has become complacent in his thinking and his modus operandi, por cierto.
TIMMY7_NOTED on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:51 PM
Fergus appointed Jock Brown, he made his own mistakes
JIMBOB71 & LITTLE MISS JIMBOB on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:59 PM
“Not comparing talent and previous commitment but I think Edouard this season has just become bored of Scottish football. Out of Europe, both competitions with a wimper, he knew what the rest of the season held for him and it bored him.
Just my thoughts.”
That’s a pretty fair comment, por cierto
Cheers Por Cierto.
Keeping well?
JIMBOB71 & LITTLE MISS JIMBOB on 4TH MARCH 2021 2:04 PM
Cheers Por Cierto.
“Keeping well?”
Been worse! :)) Thanks for asking. por cierto.
The Fergus McCann Stand,sounds much better than the North Stand…..how there is nothing attached to the man at the Park is sad,an absolute Celtic hero for me.
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS As a young boy back in the early fifties I seen Celtic Players like Bonnar ,Peacock,Evans ,Tully ,Collins and many others,looking back to those days it was great to be there ,listening to the great Celtic Songs by the fans ,and wee jimmy Mcgurk from Nuneaton Street selling Wrigleys Spearmint Gum,and the Macaroon Bars and lately M and B Chocolate Bars ,oh if only you could turn back the clock.
POR CIERTO on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:59 PM
I think Ernie is suggesting that it’s DDs “old firm” obsession that’s caused this rather than a lack of fresh ideas.
I don’t think 22 years of having the same controlling shareholder is necessarily the issue. I would guess that the business would have failed in that time if it was.
Bada – agreed……………….
It’s The Bunnet wot dun it………..
A hugely significant figure for Celtica.
HH
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:50 PM
Odsonne Edouard
Am I the only one that thinks he is an average (but one of the best in Scotland) player
###
I think he needs better players round about him for him to reach his potential. Sharper, quicker players.
Also it would help him if he was playing in a better league because he wouldn’t constantly be double marked and given no room as he is at the moment.
” It’s not always easy being a Celtic fan but its always worthwhile ”
Fergus McCann
An tearmann.
You don’t get it and I won’t explain it.
Work it out for yourself.
CELTIC40ME on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:54 PM
ERNIE LYNCH on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:46 PM
He sold up 22 years ago, the malaise has taken a fair while to manifest itself
####
TGD’s plan (gamble) was to get into the EPL. That plan seems to have run out of steam, and there doesn’t seem to be a Plan B.
And like Dot Cotton would say ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ Proverbs 29:18
Something that is as important to so many people as Celtic should not be owned and controlled by a single individual.
” The Three Amigos.”
Fergus McCann
Fergus will always be a hero to me. The thought of the booing as we unfurled the Flag will always sadden me. Sometimes, Celtic supporters are an embarassment, like the Green Brigade’s recent behaviour.
By the way, I agree with Ernie Lynch’s analysis of Eduard. He is class. In a better team/league he will display that class, I’m sure.
‘When you pay for a ticket you are entitled to criticise and boo. Just keep buying the tickets’.
Fergus McCann
apologies , but you have got this the wrong way round we should be investing in a top class manager and his coaching staff ,if they are not in place at the start then all the money spent on potential is wasted.
oh by the way are EH and his coaching staff still looking for employment.
we could have had the 10 in a row stand , but we blow it big style.
CELTIC40ME on 4TH MARCH 2021 2:01 PM
TIMMY7_NOTED on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:51 PM
Fergus appointed Jock Brown, he made his own mistakes
——
Tin hat on here.
J Brown – a qualified lawyer – was given a job to ensure no repeat of the contract shenanigans regarding the Three Amigos.
If we accept the premise that M Viduka going walkabout was due to health reasons, I can’t recall many players having well publicised contract disputes around that time under Broon’s watch.
So if the guy delivered on his KPI, is it reasonable to describe him as a ‘mistake’.
Or are you saying something else ?
NOTTHEBUS on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:39 PM
The revisionism on social media about Fergus McCann is a site to behold.
The majority of posters either have selective memories or did not live through that era. No mention of the “biscuit tin”, the booing at the raising of the league flag, Jock brown, Dermott Desmond shares, Wim Jansen resignation, the three Amigos, The Bhoys against Bigotry campaign Tommy Burns sacking and the multi million pounds profit he left with.
Fergus saved the club, no doubt and I am eternally grateful, but he was no saint.
I wonder if will be lauding Peter in 20 yeas time about quadruple trebles and a second 9 in a row.
=====================================
no revisionism of history at all
Fergus done what he said on tin
all paparwork completed with 7 minutes to a noon(bank) deadline.420 seconds from what would have changed every poster on heres history.forever
hh
WESTCRAIGS on 4TH MARCH 2021 2:33 PM
An tearmann.
You don’t get it and I won’t explain it.
Work it out for yourself
=========÷÷=====
i can work out an entitled snider when i see one being hinted at.not having any of it
hope your good
hh
ERNIE LYNCH on 4TH MARCH 2021 2:27 PM
Ernie I hope is well
I take your point about being double market and no space
But if he was a top player he would deal with it
67ECW
Timbhoy2 @ 2.18…that indeed was a time when when we didn’t care (we did really) if we won lost or drew, we always turned up for the next game full of renewed optimism…
Regards
” Bring along your TV licences to the meeting and we will refund full compensation ”
Fergus McCann
THE STAR ABOVE THE CREST on 4TH MARCH 2021 12:40 PM
The title of this article sums up why we’re in the sorry state we’re in. Faux esoteric business jargon which is really trying to tell us that someone screwed up without looking stupid. Which in this case is impossible to do. Maybe, just maybe if the powers that be at Celtic left the football stuff to football people then we wouldn’t have to endure seasons like this. Or even better if the football club was ran with the sole intention of being the very best football club we can be rather than to pay shareholder dividends we’d all be a lot better off.
————
Nice post totally agree
An attempt to deflect from the abject failure of senior management
Those that wanted away should have been sold last season
Anyway I’m sick to death of projects and loan signings
The Strategy is to win trophies. In fact Lenny agreed with the Board that there would be no -one allowed to leave during the summer 2020 window. This was to give the best chance for winning 10 in a row.
This was in fact a disadvantage as there were a number of players who wanted away and whose agents were expecting high fees. These players were disgruntled and went on a work to rule and chucked it and we had a low motivated team who struggled against any opponent. Our no transfer rule had rebounded on us with a group of unhappy players who were further unhappy when Duffy Elynoussi and Laxalt turned up on loan earning at least double our players basic.
Ironically we would have been better selling Eddy, N’tcham and Christie as their form was poor and their transfer values nosedived.
The strategy with Man City would have continued to work as Boyata and Ntcham would have made money if sold at the right time. Frimpong made money as did Tierney, Armstrong, Wanjama Forster, Van Dijk,Ki, McGeady.
We done already on the Trophy front with9 in a row and quadruple treble.
It is no shame not being able to make the first team at Man City and if we get first dibs on players then we should continue as they are good value in our transfer market,
“67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 4TH MARCH 2021 1:50 PM”
We have seen on occasion that Edouard MIGHT be a really good player. If we were to judge him simply on this season`s performances,I do not believe we would come to the same conclusion.
`Skillful but not very effective` might be the assessment.
Then we realise that ,even if he is not very effective , he still scores quite a few.
As someone else said, he possibly needs better players around him to show what he is really like.
JIMBOB71…re Odsonne “…he knew what the rest of the season held for him and it bored him.”
Can’t disagree with that.
AN TEARMANN
I am referring to the universal love in and considering if the sands of time will be so kind to our current CEO
I remember nose to nose arguments on my supporters bus on the job he was doing at the time. He was certainly disliked by a high percentage of the support and came off badly in the public opinion battles concerning Tommy Burns, Wim Jansen etc.
My own opinion is that he is a hero who saved the club from certain extinction