There was a standing joke on here for years. On day one of the transfer window someone would write, “The transfer window’s been open 13 hours and still no news, get your finger out Celtic”. It mirrored the less jovial comments when the transfer window had 13 hours left, although “get your finger out Celtic” occasionally still featured.
It’s not just Celtic, transfer business is a deadline activity. Why sell your prime asset early when you know desperate clubs will pay over the odds to appease the manager who is demanding sufficient resources to meet target?
You need to work an angle to pick up prime cuts this early in the window. We picked up Virgil van Dijk for a paltry £2.6m in June 2013, which is remarkable, considering he is an outstanding player who was working in one of Europe’s heavily scouted leagues.
We got in early with van Dijk, who had been released by Willem II without playing a game before making 62 appearances with Groningen. A false start followed by a period with just enough form to tempt Celtic’s scouts, but not so much as to alert the slower footed.
So what do we know about Dedryck Boyata? He’s 24, three years older than Virgil when he joined, but has played around half the number of first team games Virgil had experienced. Dedryck was vacuumed up by City as a 16-year-old, part of the annual harvest major clubs make each year. He clearly had something about him to convince City to retain him, but first team outings were rare. When Celtic came shopping a year ago, City were prepared to live without Jason Denayer for a season, but not Dedryck, who went into their first team squad.
It’s correct to say that knowledge of Dedryck is scarce, even among City fans, but Ronny has spent time on City’s training fields with him, and had him watched extensively in non-first team outings over the last year.
Is he the answer to our defensive prayers? Time will tell, but the recruitment strategy which brought him here is coherent. All our scouts and management team have watched him to the extent that a consensus has been reached. His profile is not high enough to commend a fee which is out with our budget, and most importantly, we can bring him in now, making sure he’s embedded before the potentially lucrative Petrofac Cup Champions League qualifiers.
Welcome to Celtic, Dedryck.
Still laughing, in case you were in any doubt.
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Leftclicktic
Parade organisers are now required to provide far higher numbers of stewards. Not sure if that really answers your question.
The Spirit of Arthur Lee
22:38 on 3 June, 2015
Forget Glasgow on Saturday and get you arse over to Hamilton For the Reamonn Gormley footy tourney from 10am to 16.30 pm
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I was thinking of that boy the other day. I’d the ipod on shuffle and on comes the Thai Tims singing JCGE. It reminded me of that terrible event.
I think that’s a great way to spend a day for those in the area.
Sipsini
My Polish and Slovakian workmates were talking about going into Glasgow with wives on Saturday for lunch. I tried to explain why this would be dangerous, and it was an Orangefest in George Square.
“Ahh Diablo walk.” Was their nodding reply.
L’esprit d’escalier is rife with this one.
Sipsini
Just another Saturday
Remember it well, featuring a young billy connolly
The Blazer’s Revenge
Guyfawkes, the number of very late goals in the centenary season, a 2 1 victory at Dens Park and the the semi final win against Hearts also that season, in particular, would have fair scunnered the Clyde commentary team.
I missed two games in that season, losing to Dunfermline and the Souness sent off games ( I was on holiday) but friends of mine who worked on a Saturday would tell me how the Clyde commentary team gave the impression of being less than impressed when we scored late winners in that wonderful season..
setting free the bears for res. 12 & oscar knox
22:27 on 3 June, 2015
HT
There are powers to vary events, especially if police advise of a high likelihood of problems arising. Otherwise they have to be accommodated. It would be an easy thing to ask the Council why this was approved or why this was not turned down. But this petition seeks to do neither of these things- it has other aims. Its primary target is the Labour Party and GCC- that is wrong and a shame.
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Certainly the police play a part in deciding parade routes, times and whether in fact they can go ahead at all. However, I know for sure that there have been occasions when the council have made these decisions without interference from the police.
I can’t see us getting anywhere close to agreement on this one.
WITS
Frankie Miller too?
Thank you for the responses.
HT
Aye enough info there for me.
WITS…best Connolly joke ever in that play Just Another Saturday…..in the pub before the fight he tells a joke about a tramp gets done by polis for sleeping on a park bench being drunk after drinking perfume. Getting charged for fragrancy…..I”ll get my coat…
DD….
The scum of the earth.
Wits…
Watching it the now, years since I watched it.
Do we know if the subsidise-current buns-games BT Sports deal will be in force next season?
Given that all and sundry wished, willed and wanted them up into the Prem at the first time of asking, I don’t imagine this deal would have been a long term one, but dunno.
Long haired yins man, I vaguely remember that barney. I was in the deid club end that day and recall a gap appearing in the Jungle but it was over as soon as it started.
Dallas
You missed TWO in our centenary season. This ever present that season is surprised you would ever miss more than one game a season in the 80s. ;)))
cowiebhoy
21:38 on 3 June, 2015
Thanks for the reply, I’m taking 2 tickets so at this stage getting half decent tickets together and staying dry are hard to come by, anything about the halfway are down near the front so don’t fancy getting drenched. I’ve taken 102 row W 3+4 so hopefully good view. It’s been over 10 years since I have been to Celtic park so I’m looking forward to it
Delaney,
The huns wouldn’t touch some of my mates from Poland.
As I have said before, clone Andrea Corr and send her clones to Larkhall etc. For the the other set of bigots, clone Van the Man. Actually, that would be a little unfair on music journalists.
Sipsini
I found it telling that my Polish mate called the Orange Walk, The Devil’s Walk.
The Spirit of Arthur Lee, we will be spoiled for ways to avoid the orangefest on Saturday.
As well as the tournament in Reammon’s honour, the Green Brigade’s anti-racism football tournament is being held at Glenconner Park in the Garngad this Saturday.
Two great causes unfortunately played on the same day.
Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas
Glenconner Park
Across from my auld work
Maybe the tectonic plates have actually shifted. Whether we like it or not RFC, as was, looks very much like a basket case. The values which the club and its support once took for granted don’t have the same resonance these days. Modern Scotland seems less inclined to indulge the rangers and their baggage. For good or I’ll I believe their days are numbered.
CB
The Poles are the Celts of Eastern Europe. We blend into Scotland,Ireland and Wales well. :)
Igc – good question. Don’t know but I’d like to know.
Hopefully they’ll lose interest in showing their games. Although I enjoyed the comedy…..
Dallas
I will be in Cowgate Reekie to honour my political hero James Connolly.
the spirit of arthur lee
22:38 on 3 June, 2015
Forget Glasgow on Saturday and get you arse over to Hamilton For the Reamonn Gormley footy tourney from 10am to 16.30 pm
Which team are you involved in – my boy plays for EKCT 2003’s so maybe see you there.
Delaneys Dunky
It wisnae Frankie Millar it was Jon Morrison
Google CFC
Fritz,
Modern Scotland is embarrassed or bemused by primitive marches (of allshades).
Delaney’s, I almost missed the the second game at Pittodrie that season also.
I had tickets for a gig at the Pavillion and for the Aberdeen game. I decided to go to the gig, Thankfully the game was postponed around 6pm due to a downpour in Aberdonia that night.
Fortunately, my pals still had my ticket for the game and when it was played a few weeks later, had a cracking time in Daisy’s before the game then it got better as our one nil win virtually assured us of the title. It was not long after beating the first club to play at Ibrox, 2 1, with goals by Paul McStay and Walker..
Kelvinbhoy
The mighty Cleland
Catch you at our beer tent
I am the good looking dude
Love
Glasgow city centre a no go zone on Saturday.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/mobile/news/city-centre-set-to-shut-down-for-first-parades-129236n.21500638
the spirit of arthur lee
23:00 on 3 June, 2015
Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas
Glenconner Park
Across from my auld work
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Fr SOAL?
TSOAL – will look out for you then…..cheers.
captain beefheart
23:08 on 3 June, 2015
Fritz,
Modern Scotland is embarrassed or bemused by primitive marches (of allshades).
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Yawn.
DD…
Saturday will be the Devils day…thems are hurting.
I’m still astounded it was given the all clear.
It would probably have been on the back of them expecting to go up…
Call me cynical.
Barrowbhoy
You are right. Lookalikes.
Frankie Miller was in a similar movie I think? :)
Labour had decades of power to deal with this crap. They didn’t. At times they encouraged it. Nevermind, the country will move on.
Kelvinbhoy
I think the bhoys are in the same group
Love
Delaneys Dunky
“Just a boys game” he played a Greenock chib man