BBC’s Jim Spence reports this morning that Dundee United have rejected a £900k bid from Celtic for striker Nadir Ciftci (23), as Ronny Deila continues his quest to recreate the all-conquering (cough) Dundee United team of 2014.
While Ciftci is clearly talented, this is an unexpected move. He can hold the ball up and bring others into play but he never struck me as having Ronny Deila-type industry. Not that he would be the first convert to perpetual motion.
With John Guidetti away and Stefan Scepovic yet to stake a claim, we’ve space for a couple of strikers. It would be good to have at least one before the qualifiers.
Dukla Prague are one of those teams who my generation grew up hearing about. They were one of the finest teams in Europe, with one of the world’s top players, Josef Masopust, who sadly died yesterday. Masopust won the Ballon d’Or in 1962, after leading the great Czechoslovakia to the World Cup final that year, which they lost to Brazil.
He faced Celtic with Dukla in the semi-final of the European Cup in 1967, losing only once in the competition, at Celtic Park. Czech football retains the potential to create great teams, but, denied access to TV deals available in neighbouring parts of the EU, they have been robbed of the ability to achieve meritocratic progression.
The passing of Masopust is a chance to celebrate a great player and team, and to regret what appears forever lost because of television.
Enjoying Phil MacGiollaBhain’s work with the Belfast Telegraph, laid bare in his blog of yesterday. He includes scanned letters from the newspaper’s editor who regards it as “outrageous to suggest that I, or the Belfast Telegraph, would operate a blacklist of any form”, including one which includes Phil, despite how popular such a move would be in places.
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Tim Malone
Aberdeen done very well for their budget when they signed Rooney.
Not to mention Nial McGinn.
TT
praecepta
13:57 on 30 June, 2015
saltires en sevilla
Charlie was an exquisite inside-forward (I suppose today a No.10) who could thread a pass and at the time of the LL – a player who was deadly accurate at set-pieces.
My reference to him was more to do with my age and having watched all 3 of them in the flesh. Each was an artiste with the ball at their feet but it’s probably fair to say none of them could tackle a fish-supper – nor had blistering pace.
You know that all 3 can execute/deliver a ‘game changing’ moment – are a joy to watch when they contribute but can be a ‘man short’ when the game gets physical.
For me – the LL could carry 2 players having an off day. MONs team was physically strong enough to carry a man having an off day and WGS team was probably sufficiently organised to carry a man having an off day.
The game has moved on and I’m not so sure that the current RD format can ‘support’ a luxury-type player today. Today the game is about; ball retention, fitness levels, pace, tactical awareness and these type of players need to have team-mates around them that are very technically competent – able to take the ball first-time, make space and recycle it for the fulcrum (Messi/Xavi, Pirlo/Pogba etc etc).
RD is improving our system but we are a long way short of being able to ‘carry’ that type of player. We have seen examples when KC or JF have struggled with link-up play but – here in Scotland we can get away with it. Not so sure we can get away with it in Europe – hence the reliance on the high-pressing formula.
Just my opinion – would love to see one of my ’3 type’ players in our midfield (from a creative point of view) but not so sure our current personnel have the all-round ability to ‘carry’ (support/protect) a luxury-type player in RD’s system.
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Really helpful insight
Much appreciated
HH
I don’t understand all this talk about a yes man. How far would we get with a ‘no’ man? The board and the manager have to be pulling in the same direction otherwise we will get nowhere. Do people think that Strachan, Lennon and Delia just meekly accept what the board tells them? I very much doubt it. Conversations will be had and decisions taken that might not be everyone’s first choice but it will be done by agreement after analysis. We are not Sevco although we are not infallible.
TINYTIM
To be fair,his Wikipedia page only refers to league goals scored.
In which case,23 is correct.
Also,only one-anywhere!- beforehand.
If he signs for us,I’ll support him as I always do. Personally I hope he doesn’t.
Even aside from the three month or so ban he will get if he does.
ICT did well signing Billy McKay.
DUFC did well when they signed Johnny Russell.
We did well when we signed Hooper and Griffiths.
All had one thing in common.
They scored goals almost every week.
Just check the goal scoring record before you sign them.
It’s not rocket science.
TT
Dr Ramesh
I do agree with your point about a no man,
I guess I’m just very frustrated at the downsizing.
Our attendances prove there are tens of thousands like me.
TT
Mark Warburton sent his spies round to Lennoxtown to see how the Bhoys trained and if they had any secret training methods . Whilst keeking over the fence at Lennoxtown Diddy Davie Weir notes that the Celts have painted 11 dustbins blue and the celtic players are dribbling around the bins before shooting into the net.
Diddy Davie tells Mark Warburton the Celts secret training method and Warburton promptly arranges for 11 bins to be painted in Green and White hoops and sits the green and white bins on the Murray park pitch, and instructs his new sevco signings to practice dribbling around bins, before retreating to his Murray park office (to have lamb with the Scottish Journos.)
Half an hour later, Diddy Davie Weir comes a banging on Mark Warbottoms office door, shouting and in a state of alarm “boss, boss, you better come now! Be quick”. Mark We are bottom jumps up from his lamb lunch “whats the matter Davie?” he answers “ You better come quick,” says Davie, “the Bins are winning 4-0”
Never mind Phils exclusives, this is a FACT!
I seen it with ma ain eyes!
morning all
just saw billybear’s post about gullible fans, and one question still perplexs me ….
are zombies people?
If not, someone needs to tell them to get another slogan…
we arra zombies….
now, I’ll admit it doesn’t have the same ring to it, but it is at least more accurate.
saltires en sevilla 13:18
Kind of answered although I hadn’t seen your 13:18 post.
I think Jock’s LL selection was based on (IMO) what he perceived would be a ‘high-pressing’ game (as it turned out – IM scored and went into a defensive shell).
Charlie was unfortunate in that; constant pressing, pace and going around IM was always likely to be the tactics of the day and as a result his dead-ball skills were sacrificed. Who knows (had it been 3 subs) – late on he may have got the call to deliver on of his pin-point corners.
It’s a shame that the 3 Subs rule wasn’t in place back in ’67 – would have been nice to have seen another 3 of our players get on the field that day.
Billybear
You will really have to up your ante if you think you hate PL and our board the most.
HH . ( initials as you please )
Too right, it’s not even rocket salad just stop signing Hoop shrinking strikers.
PRAECEPTA
Indeed it would,mate. Everyone who contributed deserved the recognition of being a Lisbon Lion. And I doubt any of them would grudge it.
Still,at least TOHG got a medal. That will be a proud family for evermore.
Just a personal opinion,
Celtic need to be living within its means, not what many want to hear, but I do Not want to see my club go the same way as a previous Glasgow entity
If Cifcti at £1m is best value they see, then so be it
Really is time that PL he
D those under performing dept’s accountable though, and I see John Park as head of Scouting as having grossly underperformance and cost our club a fortune.
Yes we can quote Ki, Wanyama and potentially VVD ( repeating myself here, he was not responsible for Fortser or Hooper) as having make great returns, but not many more for a 8 year stint at our club, with even less young superstars coming through our youths, where he allegedly built his reputation at Motherwell and Hibs (wasn’t him there either )
Hail Hail
desertbhoy
13:01 on
30 June, 2015
interesting… “A crow has been photographed riding a bald eagle mid-flight” 11:54 30-Jun-15
When I first read that headline, I thought it said cow.
Now that WOULD be interesting.
Just discovered a new account to follow on Twitter;
https://twitter.com/tbdmeltdown/status/615870608174379009
Quotes from various Hun fora, and blogs!
Hunbelieveable stuff! Ha ha.
HH
Hi, I followed a thread last night regarding installing channels onto KODI, from Weet Weet Weet I think.
I managed to get genesis going (excellent – laptop version – will buy a Chromecast to mirror it to tv).
I didn’t manage to get the sports ones working. has anyone got a reliable video link tutorial?
Player signing-on demands!
Just heard the UAE have knocked back the signing of Gervino……..
He wanted; a private island residence, a helicopter and regular 1st class return tickets to the Ivory Coast for him and his family.
I’m sure the GASL will swoop to snap him up – NOT!
Reports on Twitter saying John Noakes aged 81, has gone AWOL on Majorca. Poor man has Alzheimers. Hope he turns up safe and well.
getdownshepCSC.
HH
Billybear
You are being drawn to the light. Start. Today make the change…..
This will put it into words and pictures for you
https://youtu.be/enSae4tVYis
angelgabriel
Maybes I am being a tad harsh on Ronny, maybes he has imposed himself over the time, but being a betting man, I would wager that Pedro had the intention that he would be a yes man, but Ronny has used his imo, influence to good effect, the lack of galavanting round the world for a few sheckles is a start, and maybes he has imposed his views re the training, the togetherness of the players etc.
I have no idea like the rest of us what the current policy is re players in, I would hope that our coaches have a much greater input, after all, it’s they who have to work with them.
As for the downsizing, the lack of TV money could surely be outweighed with more sat 3 pm Ko’s, we have a board that have made squillions in the tech markets, yet they can’t seem to get Celtic TV off the ground, something no right there, or it could be there is no will to do anything other than tread water.
HH
Kevinbhoy
Thanks for that, sounds good but the boss wants to go to the markets a walk and then onto watch the water fountain display so probably just stay about that area.
Dubai really is an amazing place, very well built . Bit quiet for us as its Ramadan but not much we can do about it.
What percentage of your player recruit should be successful?
What percentage of your youth intake (remembering TBB’s oft-quoted stats) should make it into the first team each season?
What percentage is achieved by our comparator clubs and by more successful clubs?
And if we improve our percentages in the success of youth and transferred players, can we still complain about the recruiting decisions that saw our existing First Eleven (18) so easily replaced by pimply youths and cheap buys?
TinyTim
14:10 on
30 June, 2015
Dr Ramesh
I do agree with your point about a no man,
I guess I’m just very frustrated at the downsizing.
Our attendances prove there are tens of thousands like me.
=========================================
I disagree mate, our attendances show that Sunday / lunchtime KO’s are killing the SB sales.
I’m not coming up on a Sunday morning for a game (there were 2 SB’s in ma hoos).
4 x Sat 3 o’clock KO’s last year……….not giving £1100+ for that pal.
Guys, thanks for the Celtic TV stuff.
Ciftic isn’t my cup of tea but I do think for 1m he will be better value for money than derk,pukki and balde.
Hopefully he is just to add more options and we have other strikers lined up, especially if we get into group stages.
TET
When we sign up to a TV deal as a SPFL collective, how does our club get to opt out of TV mandated decisions to move us from Sat. 3 pm?
Don’t get me wrong, I am in favour of us ditching our poor TV deal, but are we not bound by the articles and voting structure of the SPFL to work within the TV deal agreed? The other 11 clubs value and need this money- we don’t- but we would be easily outvoted.
Hi, I followed a thread last night regarding installing channels onto KODI, from Weet Weet Weet I think.
I managed to get genesis going (excellent – laptop version – will buy a Chromecast to mirror it to tv).
I didn’t manage to get the sports ones working. has anyone got a reliable video link tutorial?
—————————————————————————————————————
try this youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__4eEhh3UM8
TinyTim
14:10 on
30 June, 2015
Its not quite as black and white as that – if it was then the supposed experts within the football industry wouldnt call it wrong on so many occasions.
Its worth mentioning Henrik Larsson and Chris Suttons goalscoring record was rank immediately before signing.
At the other end of that spectrum Fernando Torres should have scored goals for fun with Chelsea as should Shevchenko.
However that said, I myself have previously argued that you can buy a project for every area of the park bar the striker position because the characteristics are different.
A striker is born with the predator instinct and ability to put the ball into parts of a net others would need 10 goes at.
I think the settlement of where Celtic are currently at, is that we need to spend big on our next striker to reduce the risk element which has caused us to waste such a shocking amount of money.
Instead of buying frogs in the hope they turn into a prince – we need to buy someone elses prince.
I think the excuses given that we cant spend £6m on one player because it automatically puts their wages out of our limit are somewhat disingenuous and give an impression we have given up even looking for the right guy who may be in the right region or right stage in his career that he wouldnt be looking in excess of what we are willing to spend.
So it looks like we will continue spending money on frogs, then spending money to get rid of the frogs while Lawell continues to pick up 100% of his KPI bonus money.
SFTB
I honestly don’t have the answer, I wouldn’t be talking to you from the depths of a cave in the mountains if I did, but, I honestly reckon I would and could get a better deal if I knew the facts, the facts that the likes of Doncaster knows.
Question…..
Is there still the 10-2 voting thing in the spl, like when the OF were at their height ?
Maybes if there is still this 10-2 thing, maybes it’s the reason for treading the water….
HH
My tuppence worth on Ciftci. A rombustuous centre forward, who will probably get booked every time he wears the Hoops! I think he’s the same kind of player as Hartson, and it’s possible, that Ronny can up his workrate and make him a better player.
His biting and general sleekit characteristics, are not what I particularly want to see from a Celtic player, but, if Ronny deems him good enough?…….in Ronny we trust!
HH
You want a goal scorer. How about someone who has scored 9 goals from 11 starts and 3 subs appearances?
I give you Joe Inge Berget…
http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=59267
#justsayingCSC
proudbhoy
11:32 on
30 June, 2015
Any Dubai based bhoys on ?
Looking for somewhere to eat near the Dubai mall/water show area 2night for me and the girlfriend.
Nothing fancy just somewhere bit lively with nice view if possible ?
Last nyt here
Cheers
Proudbhoy,
If you want to see the fountain, try the Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa. Has a bar on a high floor called atmosphere. Minimum spend, but spectactliar views. Reservations required, but your hotel will sort it out for you.
Ps. Dress sharp but dont wear all black or people will be asking you to fetch them another glass of champagne…
A few Bhoys have hit the nail on the head reagrding signing a striker. You don;t sign a non scoring striker from another club. The only one we got away with was Sutton who was just not given a chance at Chelski. In our market you sign the best goal scorer you can afford. In the SPFL that would be Rooney who is almost a goal a game for Aberdeen. In other European leagues that is up to your scouting network to find but they are there and the boy Vossen could be an option as arguably the Belgian league is more competitive and of a better standard than the SPFL.
Ronny a yes man? I don;t understand the obssession with Peter Lawwell bashing around the players signed and who we have missed out on.
A year ago lots of people were convinced that Craig Gordon was a Peter Lawwell signing. Craig was a free transfer, he hadn;t played a top team match in a few years, he was cheaper in wages than Forster, it signalled down sizing and Forster would be sold. There was near anarchy.
That signing worked out so does not now get listed on the PL signing list along with John Parks duds. Seriously? Have a look at last year if you have issues with your memories Bhoys.
Everyone is getting a wee bit tetchy regarding signings. Yes we would all like to see more quality as I am sure the coaching staff including the manager would BUT you must sign players who will fit into the system football wise and financially.
Roll on some fitba this week because there is some garbage and also some amount of petty arguing on here this week.
LB
glendalystonsils
14:24 on
30 June, 2015
desertbhoy
13:01 on
30 June, 2015
interesting… “A crow has been photographed riding a bald eagle mid-flight” 11:54 30-Jun-15
When I first read that headline, I thought it said cow.
Now that WOULD be interesting.
——————————————————————————
said crow must have been blessed with cojones!!
Cheers Expat!
Apparently Warburton’s putting in a bid for Commons wardrobe as he feels it would add a solid presence in central defence.
He added anybody that can stop a player like Kris Commons, break his toe and not even get a yellow card has got to be worth a shout.
The Ikea pricetag makes the proposition even more attractive.
Sheffield Wednesday defender Glenn Loovens has signed a new one-year deal.
The 31-year-old Dutchman joined the Owls in November 2013 and has made 48 league appearances for the Championship side.
The former Cardiff City and Celtic man helped Wednesday keep 17 clean sheets last season, equalling the record they set in the 1978-79 campaign.
LB
Greenpinata
14:18 on
30 June, 2015
Billybear
You will really have to up your ante if you think you hate PL and our board the most.
HH . ( initials as you please )
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WTF is that about? I didn`t say anything about PL or `your` board.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
14:28 on
30 June, 2015
Billybear
You are being drawn to the light. Start. Today make the change…..
This will put it into words and pictures for you
https://youtu.be/enSae4tVYis
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Hullo! Hail!
Looks like i`BIG-CUP-WINNERS
14:28 on
30 June, 2015
Billybear
You are being drawn to the light. Start. Today make the change…..
This will put it into words and pictures for you
https://youtu.be/enSae4tVYism
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Hullo! Hul………Hail
Looks like I`m halfway there already! :-)