Celtic players’ participation in the World Cup ended yesterday as Efe Ambrose’ Nigeria were eventually overpowered by France. Baring injury, Efe will be in Champions League duty in Iceland two weeks from today, which leaves the player little scope to rest weary limbs for the season ahead.
The fitness management of Efe and Emilio Izaguirre throughout the season will need to take a different path from the rest of the squad. The search for cover for both players should be a priority.
It’s a pity for Dundee United, and for Scottish football, that Ryan Gauld seems on the verge of leaving for Sporting Lisbon at only 18-years-old. United have seen enough to know they have a genuine talent on their hands, but the player’s glory years all lie ahead of him.
United will continue to lose genuine teenage talent until they, along with other aspiring Scottish clubs, get a change of environment. If the Scottish Premiership folded into the English Football League structure Ryan Gould would remain in Tayside for years to come.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.
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2hrs left in work and thats week 1 done diddly done.. 3 more to go . No easy this aul work. Living the dream they say… mmmmm
macjay
Thankyou.
A terrible tale. Must try to find out more.
Sleep time
Goodnight to all tims
HH
sky 7.33
Most welcome.
Sleep well.
Only one more sleep till The Hoops get started on this season, bring it on!!!
Allez Les Vertes!!!
Morning all. Big change in the weather. Much cooler and overcast.
Hope the spirits of CQNers are not dulled. This looks to me like being a very exciting season.
Another run of the mill scorcher ,36 degrees at 9 15 -way down south
” Belgium are very,very good . They are good enough to win the competition but I dont think they will -they have absolutely no dig . I have never seen such a relaxed team ”
Toto Schillaci -2 7 14.
Man has a point
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous hillbillies the day?
DBBIA –
Still in their infested pits no doubt. But enough of them.
Are you to be present in the Fife Riviera later this week? Or shall you be relaxing at some random cricket ground with a pint of warm bitter in your hand?
yStarsk sends you a tail wag and some drool. He is fretful and lonely because Vicki is off to Aberdeen to a specialist vet with yMurph. Apparently Daddy isn’t good enough today, ho hum.
yLurc
Sporting take the punt!
Good luck to the lad. I think he will be a top player.
Midfielder Ryan Gauld has completed his move to Sporting Lisbon from Dundee United for an undisclosed fee.
The 18-year-old has agreed a six-year contract with the Portuguese club, which includes a 60m euro buy-out clause.
Both clubs issued short statements confirming the deal for the Scotland U21 international.
“Everyone at the club wishes Ryan sincere best wishes in his future career,” said United.
A series of eye-catching performances last season earned Aberdeen-born Gauld the nickname ‘Mini-Messi’ and he was short-listed for the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, which was won by team-mate Andy Robertson.
Having made his United debut in May 2012, his rise to prominence with Jackie McNamara’s team led to an extended contract at Tannadice as soon as he turned 18.
He scored eight goals in 38 appearances in the last campaign as United finished fourth in the Premiership and runners-up in the Scottish Cup.
United boss McNamara won 33 caps for Scotland and has every faith that Gauld will be a key player on the international stage.
“He’s going to be a massive star in our national team, there’s no doubt about that,” McNamara told BBC Scotland in December. “He will be one of the greats of our game.”
Champions of Portugal on 18 occasions, Sporting finished second behind city rivals Benfica in the Primeira Liga last term.
LB
.
Looks like John McEnroe lurks on CQN..
How else Could he Quote word for Word what a CQN Poster on here said about Young Australian Tennis hope (2 weeks Ago)..lol
So which Poster is McEnroe..just need to keep my eye out for a Angry Poster that shouts at Referees..That Narrows it..Ha
Summa of TheBallWasInCSC
yLurc- sadly I will be busted and flat in Shangri La, waitin’ for a train.
I was dismayed to read that the few bits of greenery we have left that aren’t covered in windfarms are to be planted with solar panels.
Gggrrrrrr.
Summa- you’ll know if McEnroe says that serve was aff oot.
Does anyone know of any channels showing RD & JC’s new, oiled Tic machine in action tomorrow evening?
Talk in the papers this morning that the Craig Gordon deal might still be on. Have they got it wrong? Possibly Athletico Madrid and Southampton in for our Fraser.
Now if Keomann fancies a new keeper at Southampton, does that mean Mr Boruc would be available …
Hamiltontim
09:22 on
2 July, 2014
Looks like Celtic TV exclusive.
Gordon_j
If that’s accurate, and I remain extremely sceptical obviously as it’s the MSM, then a return for The Holy Goalie would be a good shout
gorbalstam
Cheers for that.
Hamiltontim,
Yes, a big if.
But there were quotes suggesting negotiations with Craig Gordon continued while several posters yesterday were certain that a decision not to sign him had been made.
What time is k/off tomorrow, and is Zheng Zhi eligible?
Deila Motion – Celtic on the hunt for wide boys
It has already come out that, while Ronny Deila has stated he won’t be signing anyone before the KR tie, he is looking to improve options out wide.
It’s a real shift from the end of Neil Lennon’s reign, where wide players were sacrificed in favour of being extremely strong in the centre. While this was undoubtedly effective at points, it is also easily defendable against and relies on one player. Deila is looking to improve Celtic’s attack and has clearly seen the options at the club currently and not rated them.
This probably is a fair assessment even so soon into his reign. With Georgios Samaras having left, it means that playing with a front three is impractical as Samaras would have been the obvious choice to play on the left of that three. In terms of other wingers, while Kris Commons can play on the left, he is clearly more important in the centre drifting around rather than being asked to do anything physical because that is not his forte. The Derk Boerrigter experiment has flopped due to a lack of fitness and also due to a lack of form – he would clearly do a job somewhere but not at Celtic. As for James Forrest, while he is great on his day, he hasn’t added another dimension to his game past just running at players and, with injuries already taking their toll, it is hard to see him as not past his peak already.
But what is Deila looking at doing?
If he is looking at revamping the team out wide, the idea is clear. Celtic will look to proceed in a Juventus-esque midfield and attacking formation – pace and power in midfield from Stefan Johansen and Scott Brown/Nir Biton with Commons playing an advanced Pirlo role being protected by the others. This will mean a front three with Leigh Griffiths definitely there and then at least one new signing, maybe two, depending on exactly where Deila wishes to play Griffiths and whether he wishes to play Stokes – that Deila is looking so early would suggest to me that he doesn’t rate Anthony Stokes and whether he wants to play three at the back or not. He can play three at the back with Izaguirre and Matthews as wing backs with a Virgil, Ambrose and Lustig back three meaning that Celtic would be looking for Llorente type player to do the holding up while Griffiths does the running.
The other option is to play 4-2-3-1 which is more likely as it would follows Deila’s Kloppism. This would require two signings unless Boerrigter can find both form and fitness on a consistent basis. But for Deila to bring two in, he will likely has to let one crown jewel go in Virgil or Forster. Teams are interested in both but none have come anywhere close to something resembling a fair valuation of either. Playing 4-2-3-1 does allow freedom to bring Callum McGregor into the first team as well.
It is an interesting conundrum and is probably dependent on what your own personal philosophies are. I prefer the 3-5-2 option over 4-2-3-1 but both are valid options and both pose real questions as to the long term futures of both Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew as, with the emergence of Johansen and Biton, neither can lay claim to a certain starting place.
Whoever comes in needs to be of a high quality. And whoever comes in will show just where Ronny Deila is going to take us.
The Holy Goalie would cost Celtic millions.
I would prefer us to spend that on a forward player not a goalkeeper.
If we can get a decent goalkeeper in then I think our goalkeeping coach has proved he can improve them.
Spend the big cash on the forward players not the goalie.
LB
The paper talk re. Craig Gordon this morning has direct quote from RD that we are close to finalising deal. Looks like he’s signing. Hopefully as Zaluska replacement.
Craig Gordon please please please no no no. The downsizing continues and i’m not expecting any blue chip signings. Why are we downsizing off the back off our best results ever financially?
Hamiltontim
I saw it listed in the Ole VIP room, let’s hope so I’m working but could persuade my boss to have it on on one of the computers..
I stubbed my big toe this morning!
in an Independent Scotland nationals and residents of Scotland would no longer stub their big toes.
MWD says AYE BritNats can go dae wan
MWD- you can’t get me, I’m part of the bunion.
Gary67
Interesting post.
I would not give up on James F just yet, and I suspect that he has more to his game than simply running ….
On formation , difficult to call, I suspect though that 3 at the back is not really required in the SPL and leaves us open to the out ball down the sides of the defence. Neil experimented occasionally with that and we reverted to a four after 25 minutes or so.
Last 2 seasons we have played 2 up wide , with a deep lying centre forward , latterly, Tony, Leigh and Kris with the wide men rotating. For me this was clever against packed SPL defences , as it did not allow the opposition centre backs to get used to picking up a specific player. Problem with this though , is that it is easy meat for top class defences …….
Still , it will be interesting to see how all this speed and one touch football will be deployed against packed defences…
aff ootCFC
DBBIA
:-))))
MWD says AYE you can shove your British Bunion
Didn’t know that about Klinsmann and the Pope. Very strange.
I always thought he’d be into Buddhism or something.
I also find it odd that if he is a devout Lutheran, he feels this way about the Holy Father. Are they really that extreme ?
In a strange way, I admire him having the courage of his convictions – most footballers don’t give a cuss about anything.
Plus, it must have caused a stink in Italy at the time.
Woo-hoo, Paulo Nutini tickets secured for Hydro in October.
Never too old to join a fan club and get pre-sale opportunities you know. And to think I turn 40-12 tomorrow!
oldestswingerintownCSC
DBBIA
KO 4:30pm Shangra la time.
Gordon_j
Yep I saw a lot on Twitter yesterday saying that the deal wasn’t dead. Who knows?
Livibhoy
I know what you’re saying but I think it’s important to remember just how vital FF was in our last couple of CL experiences.
Without him victories like the one against Barcelona just wouldn’t have happened.
I’ve highlighted the job that our goalkeeping coaches are doing but I worry how long it would to get a new ‘prospect’ up to CL standard.
.
Strange But True..
From the Official site (No Not Ours)..
Rangers In Darwen And Sydney
Where to start..;-)
Summa of EvolvingSpellingBeesCSC
Gary67
“As for James Forrest, while he is great on his day, he hasn’t added another dimension to his game past just running at players and, with injuries already taking their toll, it is hard to see him as not past his peak already.”
———-
Robben of Holland hasn’t done too badly by using the ‘run at them’ method. He’s not your archetypal wing wizard and relies more on his pace than trickery.
For me, the aspects which JF needs to work on most are his decision making and his defensive duties, if he can address these areas then there’s a real talent there.
Past it at 22?
Yer making me feel old here :-)
Mwd, dbbia – you’re bringing a much needed smile to my face this morning, cheers !
#workplaceisdullasdishwater
Hamiltontim
How much would THG cost?
How much would he want in wages?
I suspect he would cost around £5m and would want at least £30k a week. Would you really pay that for a goalkeeper? There is no way the board would.
The strategy is clear. We will pay no more than £2m for a goalkeeper and he will be young.
I don’t see a problem with that strategy and think Gordon is decent back up for any new goalie IF Forster is to leave for a huge sum.
LB
Hamiltontim
10:15 on
2 July, 2014
Robben relies totally on what you term “trickery”
I call it cheating.
He’s going to be a massive star in our national team, there’s no doubt about that,” McNamara told BBC Scotland in December. “He will be one of the greats of our game.”
=============
Serious questions to be asked of our signing policy if we have another summer like last year.
I really hope Utd didn’t bite at 2m either if this is the case.
HH
dontbrattbakkinanger
09:18 on 2 July, 2014
yLurc- sadly I will be busted and flat in Shangri La, waitin’ for a train.
I was dismayed to read that the few bits of greenery we have left that aren’t covered in windfarms are to be planted with solar panels.
Gggrrrrrr.
So, less green(ery) is more green?
Maks sense to me. NOT!
Bad news on the pooch front; Murphy has damaged ligaments on both knees, and will need surgery. Not looking forward to this, has anyone ever tried to get a Setter to convalesce quietly?
Worried Dad,
Ylruc