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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I don’t think Gordon is the backup keeper he is 1st choice.
Livibhoy
I’ve no idea how much he’d cost but I’ll bet you we could get him for a whole lot less than we’d sell FF for.
Would the board sanction it? Not a chance and therein lies a problem. There is only so much downsizing some supporters are willing to take.
I dread to think what ST sales would be without the hundred quid off incentive.
Ps we’ve not signed Gordon yet.
neil lennon & mccartney
10:32 on 2 July, 2014
Yep but I think you’ve missed my point, it was about his playing style.
Ylurc- send Ymurph roun’ to see hoopslegend Derk Bodiddley.
What Bo disnae ken aboot convalescin’ wi’ damaged ligaments isnae worth kennin’.
Hamiltontim
You are talking about an experienced EPL goalkeeper. He will cost a huge amount of money. Be realistic here. Why buy a good keeper like Forster and develop him to sell for £10m to buy another who we have had before for at least half that and pay him a lot more than Forster a week? It makes no sense at any club.
THG had his time and was a great keeper for us but I am not one for going back the way.
John Collins and Ronny have decent contacts in the game and need to identify a keeper like THG who is yet not widely known and can be signed for a decent price.
I know Gordon hasn;t signed yet. I would be happy with him as back up. I am not convinced he is fully fit or ever will be but if he is you have a top class keeper for nothing.
LB
An Tearmann:
Traditionalist88
I posted without the knowledge of the ‘must get ooot of here’ debate going on going on again.it is old hat and in political terms was laughed out when George Galloway mentioned it in the context of the indy debate last year.
turkeys dont vote for christmas.
I see the way forward as some sort of Uefa alignment of their Europa League and Champions league into a midweek European league.This in my thinking would maintain national leagues whilst augmenting Uefa competition
If,imo,barriers to trade and the law was forced in this issue i think it would lead to the likes of Ajax and PSG getting asked/applying for the EPL and if those barriers where removed whats to stop them doing so.
We are are a different country in footballing terms,why the envy of a debt ridden league?is this us getting over our addiction to our debt ridden now dead neighbours.
Sky may have a say and Celtic know this as the matches against the cheat were their big sellers..yep hate sells,when the hate firm roadshow is being vomited thro advertising.
i hope we revolutionize from within and chase the cheating masons out of their blazers but following into England i think would be a massive cultural and social change.
all what ifs what ifs what ifs what ifs,reminds me of my subbeteo chart as a wean but my livin room was different to the global finance/corruption involved in football today
HH
An T (soz for rant)
=========================
An Tearmann
Just caught this, sorry!
My point was more a general one rather than directed at yourself – do we as a support and as a club really want to be part of that psyche? I think I would prefer a more level playing field and the professional game in our country backed with the resources it deserves – after all, per head of population Scottish football is very well supported actually and included ~6 clubs with large fanbases.
Swansea survive comfortably in the EPL with a capacity of 20k, Hull are a tiny club and are splashing the cash, Aberdeen have a more illustrious history than many of these cannon fodder clubs yet our big clubs are not competing on a level playing field.
As much as the huns skewed the game in Scotland for a period, Sky have done so similiary on a monumental scale and it has affected the game globally.
HH
Hamiltontim,
your point was clear, as was mine, I hope!
The quotes today about Craig Gordon indicate that he is now clear of injury but needs time to get back to match fitness. He certainly isn’t seen as an immediate starter, more a back up should Zaluska go.
from E-Tims:
Deila is happy, and things are apparently turning out to be better than he expected;
“We have a very good squad and as I’ve said before, there is a lot of consistency in the team and that’s good because they know each other well. That is good for me and the whole staff.
“I see a lot of very good football players, but there are some differences between how they play before and how we want them to play and that takes a little bit of time but we have made a good start.
“We would ideally have more time before the UEFA Champions League qualifiers but the boys are working hard every day so credit to them, some things are going a little bit slower than other things but I think we have come very far in a short space of time.
“It has lived up to my expectations, but everything is the same when you get on the pitch and work with the staff. I’m used to that. The difference is when you go among people and you understand that it is an enormous club, with a lot of passion and that is what is new for me.”
The first game, against Krasnodar, on Thursday starts at five thirty, and interest is already high in the game. How will the players adapt to a new system ? How quickly can the team get up to speed ? Will John collins play left midfield ?
Celtic TV have, as yet, not decided to do the friendlies on a match to match basis, but theres still time. Otherwise, you’ll need to subscribe. Surely they have worked out that doing them on a single match basis will hook viewers, and increase the season long subscription ?
Deila played down the importance of the game;
“At this time the result or the opposition doesn’t really matter. It is all about how we perform.
“I’ve been talking to almost every player now so I’m starting to know them a little bit as people as well as players but they have a little bit to do physically after vacation, but also at the same time they need a little break after playing for so many months and we are going to play a lot of games until May.
“I think it’s very important that the players reflect on how they are doing. One of my big issues in coaching is that players have to take responsibility for themselves, to develop and be curious and want to learn.
“I will the try and get a culture in which they are able to see pictures after games, have good comments after games and that means both on and off the pitch. I think they know what’s expected now both on and off the pitch but it takes time to adapt.
“I am an emotional person and I have a picture in my head of what I want and although it’s never going to be perfect, the closer we get to it the better the team are going to play. I have to be patient, try and take a little bit at a time but I think we’re getting there.”
Dare I say it, but its all very exciting, and certainly has me looking forward to the new term.
http://etims.net/?p=5310
LB
I’m not saying he wouldn’t cost money mate but at 34 we’d get him for a heck of a lot less then we’d make in selling FF.
Generally I agree with you about not going back in for players who’ve left us previously but without doubt Boruc is a better keeper than when he left us.
Wages? Yep that could be an issue but we don’t know what he’d be prepared to accept at 34.
It’s just my opinion but Celtic, on occasion, are going to have to buck this trend of perpetually signing ‘prospects’ and then selling them on.
Billy McNeill said that it was the right thing to do when he allowed Tommy Burns a run out in the friendly against Ajax the night before he left for Kilmarnock. He stated that at a club like Celtic it was essential to allow the supporters and the player the opportunity to express their appreciation on the back if the relationship built between the two.
If we continue to sell our ‘heroes’ after one or two seasons then for me, something that’s been a big part of Celtic has gone.
DBBIA….
… i was feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a deisel down, just afore it rained…..
Big Janis… excellent!!!!!!
I doubt wee Craig will ever be ‘clear of injury’.
His knees are held thegither wi’ Duck tape and Bostik.
desertbhoy-
Janis- gggrrrrrr.
Overrated squawker and shredder of perfectly good choons.
neil lennon & mccartney
You did :-)
DBBIA… agreed but the acoustic version of that one is brilliant; especially when you’re nine sheets to the wind an singing along!
HT
“If we continue to sell our ‘heroes’ after one or two seasons then for me, something that’s been a big part of Celtic has gone.”
Correct, but all part of the roller-coaster that is Celtic!
Gauld has a £50 mil buy out with Sporting Lisbon…….a tad ambitious
AweNawNaeEfeAffAnAweNoo
…apparently NOT
phew!
Not had time to read back so apologies if already posted ….. Deila .” We are getting closer with Graig Gordon , it is down to the small details . We can make this happen but it’s not confirmed yet .
We need to have alternatives, you always need contingencey plans and if your going to bring in older players then they need to have the right mentality and Graig has that ” .
They way I’m reading that is …… FF is off sooner rather than later and with noises being mooted of Zaluskas’ exit the only quandry is whether Gordon will be No 1 or No 2 , dont think his fitness is guaranteed my any manner of means so I’d be looking for another quality Keeper with that in mind …. HH
Emerald Green
11:10 on
2 July, 2014
I read it differently –
Gordon to be signed if Zaluski leaves
Fraser is not leaving
Zaluska – my bad!
Trad 88
I share some of your reservations about entering the shark infested waters of a big league, whether that be the EPL or a Europe wide version.
Would we be able to thrive in those elite circumstances against clubs whose squads were already stronger than ours?
Would we go into serious debt in order to get our squad up to a competitive level?
Would we lose fans if we were not such regular winners?
However, despite these concerns, I see the choice as being between slow death and a chance in the gladiators arena.
There is little prospect of Scotland becoming again an environment in which elite players can perform and stay. Even with a pro rata share of Sky monies for our population, we would still lose out on any formula which included profits from sale of league rights overseas. People will pay to watch the EPL matches but, apart from a small number of ex-pats, they will not do so to watch SPFL. The big riches will still go to the big leagues and that is not dependent on how many paying customers you can attract through the gate.
As I said, even with pro rata TV money, we still have to live with the Bosman ruling, freedom of contract, TV right sales money, a revamped CL format, all of which militates against a club from a small country with a small TV audience and following (as opposed to paying customers) ever being able to pay enough to keep stars and prospective stars away from the Hollywood leagues.
Dundee United got to see one season of Ryan Gauld, Aberdeen saw one season of Ryan Fraser and Fraser Fyvie, and even less of Jack Grimmer. We got one friendly game out of Islam Feruz. Now some of these guys will go on to great things, most will be journeymen at clubs that are recruiting the elite from over 50 nations with populations or finances that are more impoverished than Scotland, and some will prove to be failures and may appear back here in the SPFL.
Much as I regret the fact, the 60s are not coming back any time soon. Belgium have just produced a golden generation of footballers but they play in England, Italy and Germany. Belgian football clubs are not (yet) noticeably more competitive at Euro level.
Federating our football, with England or elsewhere, is a sink or swim option.
neil lennon & mccartney
Yep it’s a roller coaster all right!
I know that football has changed since I were a Bhoy and that players/agents are now much more aware of the financial riches that can be achieved through transfers and consequently players move on more quickly than they did previously.
I’m also aware that Tommy Burns was a phenomena, along with Paul McStay etc, for the longevity of their Celtic careers, but I worry who the heroes of young Celtic supporters will be when they spend so little time at Celtic before their next move.
Anyone think Neil McCann will mention Sevco’s latest signings & criticise them for not going for youth like he did with us recently ? No me neither little turncoat pr**k.
Goooooooooooooooooooooooood Morning all
Anyone heard from Kitalba?
Imisshimcsc:)))))
LEFTCLICKTIC
Not a dickie bird lately.
I’m hoping he is having difficulty with accessing the site and other things,like mail,rather than anything sinister.
Neil Lennon & McCartney ………..I hope your right my friend I really do but personally I’d be more surprised if big Fraser stayed than went …. our new manager is already uttering the dreaded ” balancing of books ” line and that always scares me ….HH
Good luck to Ryan Gauld.
Unbelievable buyout clause,though.
Nearly twice as high as that of Diego Costa.
And I’m not sure it was wise to sign a deal for as long as six years,but what do I know?
I hope United have got a sell-on clause too.
HT,
I’m with Kojo on this, we have to “roll our own” and sell them on when they’re ripe.
Dalglish, Nicholas, McClair etc. were my Celtic boyhood heroes, but remained so even after they had moved on.
Probably already posted……but…… Celtic’s pre-season friendlies
July 3: 5:30pm – FK Krasnodar
July 6: 5:00pm – Rapid Vienna
July 8: 6:00pm – LSK Linz
July 11: 5:30pm – Dukla Prague
July 19: 5:15pm – Dynamo Dresden
July 26: 2:30pm – St Pauli
August 2: 2:30pm – Tottenham Hotspur
HT,
I’m nitpicking but I don’t think we have sold many ‘heroes’ after 1 or 2 years.
So to say ‘continually’ is a little harsh imo.
SFTB
Yes, all the points you have raised have merit,and I have been in both camps on this one, however the issue I have is more with this point that you made:
‘However, despite these concerns, I see the choice as being between slow death and a chance in the gladiators arena.’
The key word for me here, and what this essentially boils down to, is choice – we do not have this choice.
It is for this reason that I think prominent Celtic bloggers such as Paul67 should drop the issue and concentrate on how we can utilise the huge fanbases in the country to bring about growth for the future of the game. Unless, of course, guys like Paul know more than they are letting on and change IS in the offing.
However, as I pointed out yesterday, I found an article from 2004 which was hinting at the exact same points.
Will we still be here in another 10 years, in 2024, debating the same point, or should we use the intervening period to bring about change for the better for the Scottish game and forget England/Europe?
HH
So, who are todays heroes measured against?
CL opponents?
SPFL dross?
What?
Hail Hail
I agreed a few weeks ago to help my mate out and do his parcel delivery run for him this Saturday, its just dawned on me that its “”their big day oot on Saturday. Anyone know where the anti-catholic fest culminates this weekend ? Some mate by the way
Any player will sign longest contract they can
If after a year they reckon hes a dud they can sell him .. If he wants to go or he can run down his 6yr deal in the sun. Bobo balde style
Ross McCormack hands in a transfer request at Leeds,Mmmmm
remember where you heard Snodgrass to Hull first,;))
HH
workingquietlyinthebackgroundCSC
2151979
Shouldnae take you long.
No one will be in!
BMCUWP
Six years of guaranteed big money … Could suffer an injury at any time .. What’s not to like