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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blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
Know what you mean its hard to change from the tunes your used to
she plays the High Kings in the car and I’m getting used to them now
I hate it when the words are there and you realise you didnt know them when that happens in the car I say wonder why they changed that line and she just laughs at me :-))
HH
” I fear for my life but I will reveal everything .Blatter knows why he fell, so do I ”
Jack Warner 4 6 15
The big guy at the back…supporting Wee Oscar.
08:06 on
4 June, 2015
========================
My mates Bhoy (Scotty Cardle) was absolutely gutted at not making the Olympic boxing team.
He turned pro on not being selected, on Saturday he became Lightweight champion of Britain.
Sometimes shit happens for a reason mate, good luck to the lhad.
dena29
07:47 on 4 June, 2015
Excellent, but my favourite version is by Brendan Bowyer…..
http://youtu.be/dRYdCHR7C1I
APPEARANCES IN EUROPEAN CUP / CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI – FINALS
1. Real Madrid 26 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1973, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
2. Bayern Munich 17 (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
3. Barcelona 16 (1960, 1961, 1975, 1986, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015)
4. Milan 13 (1956, 1958, 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
5. Manchester United 12 (1957, 1958, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
6. Juventus 11 (1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2015)
7. Liverpool 9 (1965, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985, 2005, 2007, 2008)
8. Benfica 8 (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1972, 1988, 1990)
8. Internazionale 8 (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1981, 2003, 2010)
10. Ajax 8 (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1995, 1996, 1997)
11. Chelsea 7 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014)
12. Celtic 4 (1967, 1970, 1972, 1974)
Morning all,
Apologies for the shameless self promotion (hereafter “AFTSSP”). I promise I will stop this, but not yet…
Fancy having a go at making your own sausages for BBQs this summer? I have written some almost useful thoughts on this…
http://www.themissinglinkblog.co.uk/blog/homemade-links
From twitter ……
http://i.imgur.com/OdMcveJ.jpg
dena29
07:47 on
4 June, 2015
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
—————————————————————-
Love The High Kings. Saw them in London a few months back. I’m a big fan of what they do. They put on a brilliant show.
67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar…… Ipox belongs to the creditors
08:36 on
4 June, 2015
He certainly gives it his all ,I heard him sing a version of “Grace” that was beautiful
H
67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar…… Ipox belongs to the creditors
08:36 on
4 June, 2015
He certainly gives it his all ,I heard him sing a version of “Grace” that was beautiful
HH
Journo to Marco Tardelli.
” How would you try to stop the Barca front 3 ?”
Marco Tardelli – ” Holy Water ? ”
” Messi is an alien who enjoys playing with humans ” Gigi Buffon 2 6 15
Davidopoulos
Love The High Kings. Saw them in London a few months back. I’m a big fan of what they do. They put on a brilliant show.
Daughter said their interaction with the audience was great ,
lokk at me putting two posts up that say the same thing……..shouldnt be let near a computer :-((
HH
South Of Tunis
08:45 on
4 June, 2015
Journo to Marco Tardelli.
At least he’s realistic , as long as the holy water comes in a gallon drum and he knocks the three of them out with it that should work……….:-)))))))
HH
Later bhoys away for my caffeine fix
HH
dena29
08:44 on 4 June, 2015
:) …. Hail Hail
mazzy
07:09 on
4 June, 2015
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 !!
____________________
A bit disappointing to see Chalmers leave, CTV were raving about this kid not so long ago.
I’m sure he’ll be a huge success at motherwell.
BT @ 8.12 – Thanks for that, S.
Wee Gary D wasn’t alone in thinking that and J Park, J Kennedy and in particular, J Collins have been very supportive to Joe. He had the choice of a couple of SPL clubs and a championship club (with a history of more than 3 years ;-)but trained with M’well in the week before their play off games and was very impressed by Baraclough, so the decision was an easy one in the end. Motherwell will give him the platform, so it’s now up to him to go and make a career for himself.
Bawsman @ 8.33 – thanks for that.
TBGATB
TBGATB
8.06am
Joe should just look at Andrew Robertson, quite ironic both left backs, anyway being released probably spurred AR on to much better things and think Hammell at Motherwell could be good for Joe, he seems a decent pro who has had a good career, anyway a full time contract and hopefully a lot more game time could help fulfill his potential
TBGATB
Thank god the bookies don’t need markers any more
My friends in Celtic,
Apologies in advance for the non football post.
I know that animals can’t be compared to humans.
Yesterday we took our wee dog Poppy on her last visit to the vets. She is now happy and waits at the Rainbow Bridge.
To say that our family is devastated is an understatement. I am only glad I was at home.
HH.
Greenpinata
That’s terribly sad news. Just remember all the joy she brought to your family!
Hail hail.
Greenpinata
I know exactly where your coming from, Mans best friend indeed.
greenpinata,
Very sorry to hear that mate.
It is a very upsetting scenario.
KEVJ
I think that was St Patrick’s Day,73.
We drew 0-0 in the cup then won the replay. I wasn’t at the replay so couldn’t tell you the score.
Greenpinata
Losing a pet is like losing a part of your family………..not easy
HH
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
09:27 on
4 June, 2015
KEVJ
I think that was St Patrick’s Day,73.
We drew 0-0 in the cup then won the replay. I wasn’t at the replay so couldn’t tell you the score.
B you seem to be saying if you’d been at the replay you would have remembered the score, your lucky even if I was there I’d still have to look it up………..
HH
Greenpinata.Sorry to hear about your wee dog fella we get really attached to them and when we lose them it is heart breaking they just give us so much unconditional love. H.H.
Just a quick post to say how humbling all the good luck messages this morning have been, a huge Thanks to you all, including those who have dropped me a text message
This is just an ankle operation, there is much much worse out there who need your thoughts and prayers
As for me, I am just thinking of being fit in time for 5 (in a row :-))
Greenpinata, I will have my wee chuckles look out for poppy
Hail Hail
DENA29
I can remember stuff from then if there’s a reason for it to stick in my memory,like Jimmy getting sent off.
Now,different story. Memory shot to pieces.
COWIEBHOY
Best wishes to you.
GREENPINATA
Sorry to hear your sad news.
Dogs .
Every evening , the sky above my house becomes a playground for hundreds of swifts demonstrating what quick and acrobatic flyers they are. Sometimes they screw up and pay the ultimate penalty . A recent example – sitting on the terrace, Brock the loopy Dachshund snoozing in the corner – then a swift flew across the terrace and thumped into a wall – one very dead Swift..Noise woke Brock up , he checked out the dead swift., picked it up with his mouth , ran over to the compost heap and buried the swift.That done , he returned to his wee part of the terrace and went back to sleep
Bawsman – I watched the Scotty Cardle fight on Saturday, bruising affair but cracking bout. When he was interviewed afterwards he said something along the lines of ” as a Celtic supporter I was disappointed we didn’t win the treble, this is our treble now”
One of the good guys who Joe Gallagher speaks very highly off….
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
My memory is absolutely gone..:-((
Cowiebhoy……..all the best for today
HH
Gerryfaethebrig,
Joe knows A. Robertson well as they played together at Celtic for years, so has followed his development with interest and hopes to make similar progress with experience of fist team football. Time will tell but at least he now has an opportunity to play, which is all he wanted.
BT – the revered bookies marker – seemed a natural career progression to some of us, back in the day :-)
Incredible & totally bizarre TV interview with Jack Warner on the news there, he is about to reveal all of Fifas shady deals including interfering in his countrys elections plus saying his life is now in danger.
With Warner & Blazer now singing like canaries to try and save there own skin Fifa is now a totally discredited organization its difficult to see how it can recover if ever, greed & corruption sowed it’s death ,a toxic & fatal combination
Memory?
I wake up some mornings and cant even remember what I had for dinner the night before.
Making a curry tonight, but I’ll have forgotten by tomorrow morning!
HH!!
TALLYBHOY
Bits of you won’t have…
Been offline for a couple of days. Did I miss The Rangers’ making an approach to Rafa Benitez? Or have they turned him down in favour of some guy from Brentford?
FIFA stuff is so interesting. How long can Blatter continue to claim he knew nothing? If that was true he must be the most incompetent leader in history, knowing nothing of the culture and day to day operation of his organisation.