It remains a possibility that Atletico Madrid will lose today’s league decider against Barcelona and next week’s Champions League final against Real Madrid (vernacular: ‘do a Hearts), but I hope not. The fact that they have pushed the two most celebrated football clubs on the planet to the limit, across two tournaments, is already remarkable. Should they deliver on two fronts, it will be the most stunning achievement in European football in 47 years.
There was a healthy amount of bloodlust for the Uefa Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules to fine the life out of the likes of Manchester City and Paris St Germain, before banning them from Uefa competition. This was never the point.
What Uefa have done is bring Europe’s two most freely spending clubs into line. FFP will restrict City and PSG’s expenditure, transfer market activity and squad selection. This is a result.
It’s a pity we’re not at Celtic Park to lift the Scottish Cup today. *!*!
Enormous thanks to Tommy Gemmell and everyone who participated in the entertainment here yesterday. Tommy thoroughly enjoyed the banter and will be back on the blog below this article early this afternoon to catch up with the questions he didn’t have time for yesterday.
You can buy a signed copy of his new autobiography, which he can add a personalised message to, by ordering below:
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Off oot.
The Exiled Tim
TET
Same thing happened to me last week. I got about 7 or 8 in quick succession which were accompanied by quotes from Harry Potter books. A mate’s account had been hacked. Then a mate living in Canada got one from my account later that day. I received one this morning from another person I know. None of these were CQN related.
Greenpinta. I think you can look at the dates when we improved our coaching at Largs under Roxburgh and also look at the dates when Scotland stopped producing gallus tan the ba players
Those dates match up :((
ET………..sorry to hear that chum..
…no insight into the tekkie aspect but I think the unfortunate thing is that sharing your personal email details in social media – even this Dear Green Place, leaves you wide open to the odd scary monster(s) that inhabit the internets…………… we see evidence of them regularly.
………………as powerful and significant as CQN has become as an opinion former the more likely it will attract malicious intent from
……………. sleekit badyins.
Hope you get it sorted soon.
HH
Sydneytim and kevjungle both post at 11:25am proving beyond all doubt once and for all that they are not the same person! :-))
SydneyTim
11:25 on
19 May, 2014
To say i disagree with your opinions on youth football is an understatement, you just have a tabloid outlook on youth football particularly at Celtic over the last 30 years, you are posting on a subject you do not have an in depth knowledge of.
LIONROARS67
No point criticising Cameron to me,bud. Despise the git.
If the vote goes your way you won’t need to bother about him too much. I’m stuck wi him and his ilk.
Duncan Smith and Osborne are much worse,btw. Perra-can I say that on here? Naw? Well,guess the word then-whom I would happily run over a laGOOGYBHOY
When GOOGYBHOY wins the lottery,obviously…..
lionroars67- i was only putting a point up for discussion……or are you defending the current system? What’s your opinion?
My friends in Celtic,
There is no use training kids to the highest standards if we do not give them a chance.
If we cannot give them a chance in this environment and when the league is secured then when can we ?
Our fundamental strategy is wrong when you have much acclaimed youth academies. Buy projects cheap, develop them then sell for a profit. When you spend substantial sums of money you then have to justify it.
Let us, the fans see just how good our much heralded “Kids” are.
It is better to have tried and failed, than not to have tried at all. Unfortunately that is where I think we are at. Passing glimpses are no good.
HH.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO!
11:34 on
19 May, 2014
Yes at the moment we are all stuck with them
Take care mate, no doubt we will catch up when you next cross the border, make sure you’ve got your passport with you -)))))))
Lionsroar. That is what debate is all about. If we all agreed then it would be boring
You say our youth system is working
Not really seen the evidence of that
We are doing no better than dundee united in producing youngsters ( yes of course they get more 1st opportunities ) But our return of investment has been very poor indeed in producing players on money spent
Originalsadies. Off oot to meet Kev
BMCUW-TET – Might be because you have posted your email on here bhoys.HH
TOSB-Bankie
The mail I use for CQN is not my personal addy, just one I set up.
Strange thing is only people who are on CQN got a mail from me.
I know the world is full of weird people, but FFS, someone who spends their life attempting to hack into computer systems, dearie me…….
I bet they are huns in their spare time >}
HH
Is there a good example of a club anywhere having a reliably productive youth set – up?
In terms of success, who consistently takes youth players into their professional first-team set-up?
GREENPINATA
Said from the minute the huns went,use the time to bring on our kids.
My only gripe,tbh,with Neil Lennon. He didn’t do it.
Would the fans have been patient as young players struggled? Dunno,but I think so. Certainly more so than with expensive buys.
I fear we may have missed the boat. But it may well be that we have seen the only ones who were actually ready for the step-up.
!!Bada Bing!!
11:37 on
19 May, 2014
lionroars67- i was only putting a point up for discussion……or are you defending the current system? What’s your opinion?
Having a well run professional youth set up benefits the club no question IMO, having watched our youth teams, i am more than pleased with the standards of play and conduct from the present players and coaches, they are a credit to Celtic in how they represent the club at home and in Europe, it would stagger people on here to see a list of players who have played a significant part in the game all over Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland who have at one point have came into contact with the celtic youth system in the last 30 years, here is just a small list
Professional players developed[edit]
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2010)
Celtic Boys Club has helped develop many future professional players, some of whom have gone on to play for Celtic F.C..
Roy Aitken[6]
Marc Anthony[6]
Tom Boyd[7]
Jimmy Boyle
Alan Brazil[2]
Gerry Britton[6]
Mark Burchill[6]
Gary Caldwell
Jim Casey
Barry John Corr[6]
Ronnie Coyle[6]
Stephen Crainey[6]
Danny Crainie[6]
Gerry Creaney[6]
Simon Donnelly[6]
Barry Elliot[6]
David Elliot[6]
Mark Fotheringham[6]
Steve Fulton[6]
Tony Gallagher
Shay Given
Peter Grant[6]
David Hay
Paddy Kelly[6]
John Kennedy
Stewart Kerr[6]
John Paul McBride[6]
Ryan McCann[6]
Dugald McCarrison
George McCluskey
Brian McColligan[6]
Andy McCondichie[6]
Danny McGrain
Doug McGuire[6]
Jim McInally[6]
Tosh McKinlay
Stephen McManus[8]
Mark McNally[6]
Paul McStay[6][9]
Willie McStay[6]
Lou Macari
Alex Mathie[6]
Joe Miller
David Moyes
Pat Nevin
Charlie Nicholas[6][9]
Brian O’Neil[10]
Mark Reid[6]
Andy Ritchie[6]
Tony Shepherd[6]
Jamie Smith[6]
John Traynor[6]
Derek Whyte[6]
BADA BING
The mail address which TET sent his mail to has never been on here,bud.
The one on here is used solely for planning of drunkenness and debauchery. Curiously it’s been rock-solid safe so far,touch wood!
Sydney Tim and KevJungle,
You both have left Forrest and Mulgrew out of your list? Why?
They both came through the youth system and currently play first team for Celtic.
You also left out Given, Maloney and Marshall who came through the youth system and now play at a reasonably high level elsewhere.
I’m not going to defend the youth structure too much for what it produced between 2000 to 2012. However, it is now beginning to show some signs of success. Not beyond the realms of possibility that the squad next season will include Forrest, Mulgrew, Henderson, Fisher, Watt, Twardzik and McGregor.
ET…………..
sleekit hunnery at work is my guess………..
…we are all way too sociable.
;)
HH
bankiebhoy1- possibly Dundee Utd,have brought boys in to the team and sold a few on as well,Wilson,Goodwillie and Russell in recent years. I noticed their wonder boy of a couple of years ago Scott Allan got freed by West Brom yesterday,they got 400k for him too.
Every one of our players played at youth level somewhere, sometime. A good number of our youth players are playing professionally at some level somewhere else.
Ain’t that how the world turns?
Modern close-season negativity is rubbage
sharing info via emails…..between a group of “internets” chums………. who may or may not all know each other…….would appear to be risky…….but I’m no tekkie…
HH
MWD
walk on :-)
richie #teamoscarforever
10:56 on 19 May, 2014.
I didnt expect that…magic. HH
Good blog by Joe Ruddy:
Great player exposure for BBC’s Neil Lennon
When BBC came calling for Neil Lennon to be a pundit during the World Cup, he must have been rubbing his hands together. This is a fantastic opportunity to see potential signings in the flesh. While Lennon is not working, you can be sure that he will be at one of the matches looking on with interest and casting his eye on players he thinks could do a job at Celtic. BBC’s offer to Lennon is a blessing in disguise for Celtic.
Lennon will also have the advantage over any other clubs watching specific players as he will be able to talk to players first hand. There’s no doubt about it that there will be other managers travelling to Brazil in order to watch numerous matches, but Lennon will have the pick of the lot while with BBC.
You can be sure as well that other managers will be keeping an eye on which matches Lennon takes in as the signings over the last few seasons have been so successful for such small transfer fees. The work of Celtic and Lennon hasn’t gone unnoticed in this regard. You only have to look at the likes of Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Virgil Van Dijk for proof of this. That’s only to name three.
It also gives Lennon the chance to keep an eye on his players who are playing in the World Cup. Players such as Fraser Forster who has recently been called up to the England squad, Tom Rogic who has spent the year out on loan at Melbourne Victory, Efe Ambrose and Emilio Izaguirre. Playing for your country in the World Cup and playing well will only increase their transfer values.
While it is unlikely that Lennon will be able to lure a player from Spain or Germany or any of the top international teams, there are bargains there for the taking from elsewhere. There will be numerous unknown players who will make a name for themselves during the course of the World Cup, who in turn will be available for a small fee.
It’ll be a case of watching a player a few times and if Lennon likes what he sees, he will try to arrange a meeting with that specific player. If the player likes what Lennon has to say, Lennon will then make the call to Lawwell who will then try to open up negotiations with the players club. That will be the situation throughout the World Cup and I’m sure that we will see a lot of players being linked with a move to Celtic.
It will certainly be an interesting transfer window for Celtic given that Lennon can see players first hand and in the flesh. How else are we going to attract Iniesta and Xavi to the club? In all seriousness though, Lennon will use this opportunity to his advantage to unearth more gems and bargain buys. It’s what Celtic do best.
http://josephruddy.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/great-player-exposure-for-bbcs-neil-lennon/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
lionroars67- thanks for reply and list :), do you know how much it costs per year to run Lennoxtown? It is a great facility and all the younger teams are doing great,the $64,000 Dollar Question for most clubs ,is how to progress the 16-18 year olds into first team regulars? HH
Hi CQN
I believe we have plenty of strength in our squad to stats one of the youngsters in almost every match. Give one of the first team players a rest on the bench and bring him on later if it goes pear shaped for the youth. Rinse and repeat with a new player/postion the following match. In league games anyway…
It has the benefits of preventing burnout for our senior players as well as blooding the youths..
but what do I know?
Just my tuppence..
HH
Lionroars. Your list. Must be about 6 top class players in 40 years Just gets worse and worse
Niallo83. I did mention Marshall earlier on charlie M has been a good servant to is but hardly a top class player
Bada-Bankie
The same could be said for Paul67, WC and the like, their e maill addy is often posted on here.
I have at least 8 e mail addys, the one I post here is for here, tho I do use it for other things as I sort of like it >}
HH
Sipsini
The guy is Irish-American and has an interesting story. Amazing talent with languages!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Bishop
Personally i think NL has given a few youngsters a chance, P George, Dylan McGeogh, James Forrest,Tony Watt, Liam Henderson, come immediately to mind, sure there have been others.
Bada Bing –
thanks, I have no insight into this but my own impression is that there really isn’t a reliable example anywhere that does this well…consistently.
I’m guessing the business model simply relies on one or two stellar examples coming thu infrequently…that covers all previous investment.
HH
ET…….
Aye.
I’m guessing Paul has beefed up security settings, no doubt aimed at thwarting the lamb-eaters…and ither spoilsports.
….see whit a did there…
HH
We have Lennoxtown because the club needed 1st class training facilities, for the first team and to attract 1st team players from elsewhere.
It has reasonably high costs, but these costs would be there anyway, so it seems senseless to me that we would’t use it for a 1st class youth set-up.
We’ve learned how to produce the youths. I’m sure like everybody here the staff involved with them would like to now learn how to get them over the last hurdle, since I’m reasonably certain they’re asking the same questions about the set-up we are.
Quick question for all the naysayers. How much do you think it would cost to prize the top youngsters away from eg Dundee Utd that you consider to be Celtic 1st team material – more or less than our Academy costs? I reckon about break even as it goes.
Ajax have several foreign feeder teams. From what I can see only one player from those is currently in the 1st team squad – although they have about 9 or 10 from their own YA. Ajax’s performance in the league and cups isn’t too consistent but I suspect that’s the price to pay for relying heavily on your own youth.
Marc Anthony[6]
Jimmy Boyle
Gerry Britton[6]
Mark Burchill[6]
Gary Caldwell
Jim Casey
Barry John Corr[6]
Ronnie Coyle[6]
Stephen Crainey[6]
Danny Crainie[6]
Gerry Creaney[6]
Simon Donnelly[6]
Barry Elliot[6]
David Elliot[6]
Mark Fotheringham[6]
Steve Fulton[6]
Tony Gallagher
Peter Grant[6]
Paddy Kelly[6]
Stewart Kerr[6]
John Paul McBride[6]
Ryan McCann[6]
Dugald McCarrison
Brian McColligan[6]
Andy McCondichie[6]
Doug McGuire[6]
Jim McInally[6]
Mark McNally[6
Willie McStay[6]
Alex Mathie[6]
David Moye
Brian O’Neil[10]
Mark Reid[6]
Andy Ritchie[6]
Tony Shepherd[6]
Jamie Smith[6]
John Traynor[6]
Derek Whyte[6]
What a waste if time and money on that lot
McBhoy
11:56 on 19 May, 2014
Personally i think NL has given a few youngsters a chance, P George, Dylan McGeogh, James Forrest,Tony Watt, Liam Henderson, come immediately to mind, sure there have been others.
—————————————-
Stop using facts :-)
I’m sure that the club have also been rewarded financially for the successes of the various levels this year.
You can be assured that, had we a team of youth academy graduates, there would be complaints of “lack of ambition” and “ole biscuit tin”
Ye cannae win wi’ some folk