It’s probably rash to suggest Neil Lennon dismisses the inflated English market when trying to sign a striker in preference for the Continent. Europe has plenty of quality leagues, and gifted players, but it also has plenty of scouts.
The tops leagues enjoy blanket analysis, which has consequences. Our experience of Lassad and Miku suggests that if we can tempt a striker to move from the likes of Spain to Scotland there’s maybe a reason why. Even the secondary leagues, such as Slovakia and Poland, are scouted extensively by German clubs, who are the most desired destination for most East European players. The success rate in bringing targeted strikers to the club from Europe has been low, which had real consequences for this season.
So where does that leave us? Second tier teams in second tier (but still good) leagues, like Vitoria Guimaraes, who we bought Amido Balde from (strikers at top Portuguese clubs are aiming for the sky), go back to the English Championship, or maybe a peripheral league, like Sweden or Israel, again, or Iceland.
Celtic proposition is not without merit, we will now be touting Champions League football under the noses of every prospect, but finding a player capable of delivering the talent for that stage is the central challenge to the club.
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tinytim
17:22 on 4 December, 2013
Ernie Lynch 5.00
Please explain to us dimwits?
I think it is being implied that there is a rumour that the huns may soon have no bank account with which to pay their bills. At least that’s what I inferred from the exchanges. If they pay Salary MCoist in Luncheon Vouchers I’m sure he will be delighted. Tax efficient steak bakes.
Steinreignedsupreme.
Hope for their sake none of the hector taxmen on here are reading.
YogiHughes
17:23 on 4 December, 2013
Winning Captains,
I’ve tried to order annual but it wants me to go through Paypal. I don’t want this. I simply want to pay with my credit card. Help, please.
Yogi
Would like to do that too.
Gerry
My Dear SFTB…..
I Have Noted Your Longstanding Dialogue With Turkeybhoy….
Over Our Missed Opportunity To Sign The Prolific Finbogasson….
Talk About Digging Yourself Into A Hole..
When You Eventually Break Through To China…..
You Will Find That The Folk Down There..
Will Not Take Kindly To Your Juvenile And Dysfunctional Political Opinions….
And You May Find Your Organs Being Promised…..
To Needy Recipients Amongst The Nomenclatura….
Just SAY IT…!
Can It Be So HARD….?
WE SHOULD HAVE SIGNED THE ICEMAN
Right….? Right….!
Brother Calum Murray set the bar so low for manhandling/throttling refs,after giving Diouf and Bougherra a pass.
Must agree with Kojo regarding Amido Balde. Personally i would give both him and Atajac a start for a few games to see how they do. We put 7 past Hearts without a striker scoring, so its no big risk. Cannot understand why Rogic cant get a chance as well, Maybe they dont look good in training we will probably never know. I also thought the young fullback Darnell Fisher did well at Hearts when given the chance.
the ref’s association wasn’t up in arms when the old huns were let off for assaulting a referee at Celtic Park during a Scottish Cup tie March 2011. funny that.
If you manhandle a Scottish mib no action will be taken.
Unless you play for Celtic.
HH!!
TSD
How unlike you to jump from one rock to the next when challenged!!
Purveyor of tabloid myths to the gullible:-
3 million gypsies ate my Celtic starlet.
My take on Alfie:-
If you are for him, he must be a poorer player than I first thought.
Tallybhoy
If a Celtic player does it, it’s an assault. If a Sevco/Rangers player does it, it’s a cuddle.
It would be terrible for Scottish football if any club would ever consider allowing itself to be used to recycle funds from informal businessmen.
Thankfully, there are no money making rackets operating in these islands that would require a cleansing operation.
Glad to see big Yogi back in Scottish football at the top level.
He’s always great value when it comes to the media. I remember a post-match interview on Shortbread when his description of losing a goal to us on the counter-attack was: “We maybe got our arses felt a wee bit there.”
thomthethim for Oscar OK 17:43 on 4 December, 2013
Thankfully people like that only exist on the telly.
They are the sort of characters that don’t press charges when for example one of their vehicles mysteriously catches on fire and someone comes forward as a witness to explain it wasn’t an accident.
But it keeps the likes of Rebus in work.
‘Catches fire’ even
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsf1gpo3eZ4
Daughter of sevco on holiday in new york !
Auldhead 2 emails sent to paul
My dear,dear,dear,friend..The Singing Detective..
Wid be Much Delighted tae Converse further ,wi ‘ ye ..Palomine..
as Ah Look Forrward tae oor Chats..
Howevahhhhhh…
My Services are ..Urgently Required..Elsewhere,at this time.
This is the Busy Seasib.. in Ma Bizness..
Gotta Go.. Palomine
Seeya.. After..
The New Year..
Kojo
Still, Laughin
And
A Very Merry Christmas.. tae Everybuddy oan CQN.. ( Nae Excetions,eethur!)
and a Prosperous and Satisfactory New Year tae All.
Interesting to see the consensus developing with whats been said repeatedly already….
We need a creative midfielder not another striker…..
As mentioned earlier its going to be Biton, Rogic, Brown and one other next year. Get the right “one other” and we can really go places in the CL.
Too many people dismissing Puuki too early also IMO…….both he and Balde should be getting 30-45 minutes every game and a suitably chastened Watt should be brought back for next season also.
Our fundamental problem in the CL this year was our forwards were not far enough up the field to make an impact because the midfield couldn’t push them there. Get the midfielders required and they will make you 5 meters on the opposition.
Biton made Ledley’s goal with the killer pass to Lustig……..he can do that at any level IMO and he will become one of our most significant signings in a generation.
This team are not far away from being the real deal if we can add the midfield quality and stop Peter Lawell selling players for the sake of his end of year bonuses…….
Just saying…….
glendalystonsils- ……. or some kind of Masonic greeting.
steinreignedsupreme
17:52 on 4 December, 2013
thomthethim for Oscar OK 17:43 on 4 December, 2013
Thankfully people like that only exist on the telly.
They are the sort of characters that don’t press charges when for example one of their vehicles mysteriously catches on fire and someone comes forward as a witness to explain it wasn’t an accident.
But it keeps the likes of Rebus in work.
*****
Oh, come on. That’s a bit far fetched now.
I’m sure the Insurance company would leave no stone unturned and rake through the ashes, if they felt that there was arson about!
thomthethim for Oscar OK
17:43 on
4 December, 2013
It would be terrible for Scottish football if any club would ever consider allowing itself to be used to recycle funds from informal businessmen.
Thankfully, there are no money making rackets operating in these islands that would require a cleansing operation.
Such as this
Report from @RTID_NI meeting Charles Green.
As you are aware R.T.I.D.N.I invited Rangers F.C – C.E.O Charles Green over to Northern Ireland for a meeting with ourselves and Supporters Clubs to meet with the support.
Supporting Charles Green in his visit were Imran Ahmed and 2 other invited guests.
First thing on the Agenda was a short meeting with ourselves as a group which included myself, Gary Lenaghan, Jim Wilson* and Trevor Maxwell.
Charles thanked us for the outstanding work that we had undertaken in helping to raise funds for the fighting fund.
*aka “Bimbo” well known “community” worker with links to UVF
Big Nan.
Petition signed
Bougherra the Rankers defender was given a £2,500 fine after laying hands on referee Calum Murray during a stormy Scottish Cup defeat by Celtic on 2 March 2011.
Stuart Dougal, Former Grade One referee defends SFA Bougherra decision.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/scotland/13089730
“He wasn’t threatened, there was no violence and … there was no aggression towards him.”
“To be fair to the SFA… I think they would have liked to have done it, but I think they were unable to do it.
“That will change, I am sure the they will insist that if any player lays hands on any match official there will be at least a two-match ban and probably more.”
Nadir Ciftci, the Dundee United striker was banned for two matches for manhandling an assistant referee in a game in October.
Referees unhappy with ‘leniency’ of suspension.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25213318
The Scottish Senior Football Referees’ Association said the punishment sends out “completely the wrong message”.
Stuart Dougal, Former Grade One referee: “I would say the punishment certainly doesn’t fit the crime.”
And there are some who would have them back…?
thomthethim for Oscar OK 18:00 on 4 December, 2013
People are always arson about, especially on that telly.
But yer right, it is a ridiculous suggestion. Even Taggart rejected my script when I put the idea forward.
You Know when Stuart Dougal gets brought out his cellar that there is a spin to be put on something usually pro h^n/anti celtic.
leftclick Together we will get justice for the Dam 5
Bring out The Gimp…
I read some where(think it was TSFM) that following the officials original statement regarding the Nadir Ciftci incident new footage of said incident appeared that they did not know about.
And a merry christmas and a happy new year to you also .Kojo
macanbheatha oscar abú
18:00 on 4 December, 2013
*****
Do you mean that perhaps, maybe, there could have been informal funding entering and leaving Govan?
That is bordering on the incredulous and beyond the realms of possibility, for a proper, dignified Institution.
Always wanted ibrox to turn into a tesco.
However, I would have to laugh if they have turned into a laundrette.
starry plough forza oscar
Nothing gets by you sir:))Hope you are well.
Till latr all
Leftclick.
Quick, get Hugh Dallas onto Clyde to sweep this under the carpet.
The Huns are doomed to rerun the same old stories, learning nothing from their mistakes until they die forever.
Am I right in thinking there was never a definitive explanation given by match officials as to why they had their weekend of inaction in 2010?
thomthethim for Oscar OK
18:13 on 4 December, 2013
It strains credulity.
If it’s true they must be absolutely desperate.
It’s not like the Grimsdales won’t be on the radar. Unless of course they are allowed a degree of latitude for services rendered.
Zombie goals on STV there. 38000 at the game? 38000 empty seats more like.
thomthethim for Oscar OK
Well if they are depending on their store in Ann St Belfast to bring in revenue they’ll have to think again ,as I pass it regularly and it’s nearly always empty.It will go the same way as the other one and close .The Celtic shop in the same street is doing find as far as I can tell
Did Francie leave the blog at the same time as Josie??
Michty me! Ah’m fair flummoxed at that turn of events.
Big Nan
Petition signed
Kojo, I suppose you will be eating Christmas dinner looking for the shade in 80 degrees of heat in Las Vegas and dreaming that Amido Balde will become another Alan Shearer.
Speaking of strikers, they can be a temperamental lot and can blow hot and cold at the best of times. Remember Pierre Doumbe, big physical athletic player that the club forked out 4.5 million for, or the striker that never was.
Pukki is a good clever footballer and I hope he can fit into the team possibly in a midfield role.
People talk about our young players and it’s a mystery to me why they don’t feature in the team more often. I remember the Dublin decider against a full Liverpool team when Celtic fielded a team composed mostly of our younger players and really impressed with an excellent display with a fine victory and were not phased in front of a 50,000 crowd.
Yes, and Amido looked a multi-million pound player that day drew great praise from the English pundits. Give our young players more game time.