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.
684 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- »
Listening to the Courteeners. These guys are Manchester’s latest Tim band.
Smiths, Oasis,Stone Roses. Great Irish genes.
Barrowbhoy
See you Sunday.
Saint Jude please rid the Clyde of Trident.
Come Kingdom Come.
Minceyheidman,I’ll have Celtic top and red hair. Help you any?
Vegas you say? I’ll be there.
Will there be a CQN corner where we can form a new clique?
sunburnedtimscsc
COWIEBHOY
Good luck wi yer operation,bud.
cosy corner bhoy
19:41 on 3 June, 2015
Enjoyed reading the ‘auld yins’ recollections of following Celtic for all those years. As an member of that ‘clique’ I found it interesting that the 1967 final rated as their best memory in all cases. Well, as someone who went to see the ‘Tiic (well actually I was taken by my Dad) from 1943 winning the 1951 Scottish Cup was more memorable to ME than the European Cup. I think we actually won the Glasgow Cup or Charity Cup before that maybe 49/50 but that could not compare. I wrote an essay in the prelim Highers about it a few years later and the heid bummer wrote ‘what a choice for a Higher candidate!! The first one after all the bleak years will always be the best! BTW 54 years married in October this year . Does that get me a free pint next I meet some CQN afficionados?
~~~~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~~~~
Free pint? Aye,mibbe at The Ayrshire Tims AGM in July. I’ll get you a long-service medal in October.
And a long-suffering one for your better half…
If there was a them tune for the ramsdens/petrofac cup
what would that tune be?
Steptoe and son?
benny hill tune?
orangefest glasgow 2015?
my old mans a dustman?
the death march?
and will charles green be there to hear it played!
Cowiebhoy
If you log in before going to theater good luck
if after “hope it went well”
didnt get on blog much yesterday so missed sending best wishes
HH
wheres Roy Croppie when you cant sleep :-))
HH
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous hillbillies the day?
…still hot in the desert!
What gives with you folk?
Moaning about Orange Walks in an Orange country?
The same folk who sit at the back of the bus and hand their money over to a board who’ll look the other way when the club is being cheated?
Wtf gives with yeez mhan?
Signing petitions and handing out leaflets and exercises in futility etc…blah, blah….
I’ve told yeez for years on here…dont give the kowtowing board yer money then, they’ll have to do their jobs….hence, the ‘statement’ due to the slow uptake in SB’s…..aye.
But, ah mean….Orange Walks….give them enough rope…..
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ron Bacardi
20:26 on 3 June, 2015
KevJ, what was the first Celtic match you went to? And were you overcharged for a pie and bovril?
__________
Canny remember the score but…I think that Jinky was sent off in front of the Jungle by mib-Bobby-Davidson-basturt-from-hell.
Hail Hail
That’s it…….oot.YNWA
Good luck with the op Cowiebhoy
Hail Hail
dena29
05:18 on 4 June, 2015
Cowiebhoy
If you log in before going to theater good luck
if after “hope it went well”
didnt get on blog much yesterday so missed sending best wishes
HH
——–
And if in between GO BACK TO SLEEP cos the cosmetic surgeon is still working on you gorgeous!
Take care big yin
HH jamesgang
Good luck to young Joe Chalmers who yesterday joined Motherwell on a two-year deal. A highly talented player with great potential . All the very best , Joe !!
Good morning friends from a grey breezy but (always end on a positive) dry East Kilbride.
jamesgang
I’ve given up on the sleep idea :-((
will crash and burn late afternoon no doubt :-))
HH
Morning Jobo!
HH jamesgang
Disappointed for young Joe Chalmers
Hope he makes a good career for himself, he has had a great start by being part of our set up
Almore
thought of you last night when Irish news announced along with the Tricolor a united Irishmen flag was hoisted above stormont
can you account for your whereabouts :-)))))
HH
I think I’ve broken the blog
maybe not
just chased everyone away :-((
HH
FOUR in a row FOUR in a row FOUR in a row FOUR in a row
HH
Boulavogue was my tune for this mornings train journey
UTLR
Boulavogue
Great Tune
HH
Good luck today Cowiebhoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQwC2uQBDYQ
Luke Kelly’s is a classic BT but listen to the High Kings version
daughter went to Derry to see them last week and said they were brilliant
HH
Good luck to Cowiebhoy & Joe Chalmers obviously different situations, young Joe might kick on if he starts playing week in week out, loan them all out so we don’t have to buy them back, school run beckons
Dena29 – P67 was early yesterday so hope that podium is yours today
Hail Hail
Good morning CQNers,
Does the SFA have a Blazer? I some how doubt it.
Cheers Dena
Bookmarked for when I arrive I the office 8))
We’re all away to see where Almore’s going next with his tricolour!
HH jamesgang
Morning all. Back to dreich today. We seem to have gone from autumn to winter and straight to autumn again.
I woke to the realisation that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the 65 Final. It made me even more angry that we were cheated in the semi-final this year. Is there any way Celtic could mark what, imo, is THE defining moment in our modern history? I’m sure every Celtic supporter who was there (or celebrated it anywhere) will never forget the joy that victory brought, after so much heartache.
Mazzy, BT & Gerryfaethebrig,
Just a brief word of thanks, on behalf of young Joe Chalmers, for your kind words. He’s naturally disappointed to have left the club after spending 11 years there but has to go and play 1st team football, so is delighted to be getting the opportunity to go do that.
HH
TBGATB
G
Wee GaryD had high hopes for Joe as I’m sure you all had
Good luck to him in his career big man
Gerryfaethebrig
cheers but not holding my breath :-))
HH
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
might not be your taste but she liked them
HH
murdochbhoy
07:52 on
4 June, 2015
Good morning CQNers,
Does the SFA have a Blazer? I some how doubt it.
Too good for this early in the morning………if they have a blazer it’ll be locked in the closet
HH
jamesgang
07:58 on
4 June, 2015
We’re all away to see where Almore’s going next with his tricolour!
HH jamesgang
:-))
and the united Irishmen fleg ;-))
HH
Dena
Bit too upbeat for me. 8))
Still got to see what words I’ve been singing wrong for all these years