Steven Fletcher has his own place in Celtic folklore. We bid for him in January 2009, the player made a public plea to Hibs to allow the deal to happen, but Rod Petrie rejected the approach. Fletcher would go to Burnley at the end of that season for a deal worth around £4m, which seemed eye-watering at the time for a striker who scored 11 goals the previous 12 months.
As Celtic ran out of steam in the spring of 2009 attention turned to what might have been had Fletcher signed. He was the one that got away. The whats, whys and maybes of that time are irrelevant now, but in short, Celtic didn’t value Fletcher at £4m and Petrie reckoned he could get that kind of money in England if he waited.
Before selling to Burnley he didn’t even put the customary call out to Celtic to entice a higher bid. Petrie wanted Hibs to be known as a team who could produce players for the English Premier League – a Hamilton Accies-Lite, if you like. It’s a legitimate strategy.
The player is 28-years-old and now free of the ankle injury which plagued him for over a year. He’s on an astronomical basic wage at Sunderland, who paid north of £10m for his services. Few Scottish footballers will have higher career earnings than him, but that contract ends in June. This season has brought 4 goals from 11 starts for a Sunderland team who sit in a relegation position.
The injury profile makes him a possibility for Celtic. Without it, as a free agent, he would remain in the English Premier League next season (whether Sunderland do or not). His agent will no doubt be shopping him around right now, as will Sunderland, who at the moment will be asking for a consideration to be paid to release him this month.
We must have signed 20 strikers since January 2009, very few as good as Steven Fletcher. I’d take him in a heartbeat.
I’m pleased Anthony Stokes (16 months younger than Fletcher) has a choice of clubs wanting to loan him this month. All three: Dundee United, Inverness and Hibs, would be good places for him. United are a better team than their abysmal points tally indicates, but they are desperately short of strikers. Stokes could transform them. Hibs and Inverness are both clubs looking purposefully towards the second half of the season.
Charity Q&A Night, Carfin
I’m on the (otherwise excellent) Q&A panel at the Xavier Centre, Carfin, on Saturday 30 January alongside two Libson Lions – John Clark and Bertie Auld, Celtic author and sports academic – Dr Joe Bradley, and Fifa referee – Willie Collum.
The purpose of the night is to raise funds for Lanarkshire Cancer Care Trust and the Young Adult Ministry. Tickets will be scarce, so if you’d like to attend, call Mick on 07827 975271 soon.
You know when you look at a line-up and just know it’s going to be a great night…..
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Good evening all.
Re the forthcoming cup game, on Tuesday evening EKFC announced that, for the first time in their history (I’ve added that bit but believe it to be correct) their re-arranged cup tie (against Lothian Thistle) will be all ticket (apologies for all these brackets). Those tickets go on sale this Saturday morning at 10.00am, first come first served. The club haven’t said how many tickets they are selling.
In isolation I don’t think a Wednesday evening game would ever be in danger of overcrowding (though maybe TBB would beg to differ)
I’ve out 2 and 2 together to get 5 but I’m thinking that buying a ticket for that game would improve the chances of getting a ticket for the next round (should they qualify [more brackets!]).
Now if there’s any chance that such a game would be switched to Celtic Park I’m certain that getting in wouldn’t be a problem. But if however, they are thinking on New Douglas Park with a 6,000-odd capacity then things start to make sense.
The final part of this convoluted jigsaw is that the game is to be live on TV. The TV money is a HUGE amount for EKFC. And maybe large enough to sacrifice the chance of a say 20,000 crowd at Celtic Park as opposed to new Douglas Park, a synthetic surface (just like K-Park) and a chance of keeping the scoreline reasonable.
Or all just Jobo conjecture ;-)
someone privy to negotiations ??????
as far as can make out two men were negotiating via telephone over the buying price so it’s either Ron Petrie or Peter Lawell who has given out the information unless both men were on loudspeaker with their lackeys in the background listening in
glendalystonsils @ 7:18 pm
“That story will confirm a lot of people’s worst fears about PL. There are always a few who will refuse to believe it of course.
That is not to say that signing Fletcher would have guaranteed us the league but it would have given us a better chance of getting that elusive goal at Easter Rd.
My memory of that game is one of desperation, watching the likes of Lee Naylor trying to get us over the line.”
My memory of attending that game is observing that Steven Fletcher, our putative saviour, looked even less likely than Lee Naylor, to contribute any goal threat at all.
I’d rather sign Godber than Fletcher.
Or O’Halloran – file in the category of ‘roon yeez, Hun paupers, how times have changed, eh?’
Can’t see why Stokes getting frozen out on loan when his record at Celtic is considerably more impressive than Cifti, whose considerable erse nobody seems able to shift into gear or out of his place on the team-sheet. File under ‘Johansen-esque’
And, WHIT? – Gollum going to Carfin to face a Celtic support Q & A?!!
Of his own free will?!!
Build a Wicker Man NOW!!!
MICKBHOY1888 on 14TH JANUARY 2016 7:35 PM
someone privy to negotiations ??????
as far as can make out two men were negotiating via telephone over the buying price so it’s either Ron Petrie or Peter Lawell who has given out the information unless both men were on loudspeaker with their lackeys in the background listening in
To whom would they give the ifo and why?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/fletcher-what-might-have-been-what-makes-it-possible/comment-page-4/#comment-2753475
Jobo-I heard 500 tickets-100 of them for media,which seems a bit high…….
Mick
Maybe a GCHQ employee?
Lee Naylor *shivers……
TMWTL GDT
A lot of people thought we had won the league after we beat the hun 1-0 around Christmas in 08/09.
I was in Killie when I heard the score and on my way to Glasgow happy days. I was sitting in a restaurant on Bath St in the window when a drunk hun outside decided me and my wife were tims and came in to tell me we would never win the league that year cos we were pish.
He was right on all 3 counts!
mickbhoy
“as far as can make out two men were negotiating via telephone over the buying price so it’s either Ron Petrie or Peter Lawell who has given out the information unless both men were on loudspeaker with their lackeys in the background listening in”
The simpler explanation is that someone has genuinely heard Rod Petrie boast about how he “handled” Peter Lawwell and what a tough negotiator he is. They choose to believe a version from one of the 2 horses mouths available. If they heard the version advanced by the other horse’s mouth, they would exercise a great deal more scepticism.
Confirmation Bias I think its called.
Me?? I think signing or not signing Steven Fletcher that winter guaranteed neither win or loss. Therefore, I am less than interested in the “who won?” argument. Burnley paid £4m and Sunderland paid £10m for him. I think both clubs were “done”
I am amazed by those proposing the argument that we should flash the cash and always pay the full asking price whilst simultaneously punting our duds on free transfers. I’d call that the economics of the madhouse but the Finance Committee at the local Assylum for Napoleon Impersonators have called it as the economics of the enraged fitba fan.
TinyTim on 14th January 2016 1:56 pm
I suspect that we are close to signing Fletcher .
Otherwise Paul would not be giving such a glowing appraisal of the serially injured low scoring centre.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Fernando Torres – 20 goals in 72 appearances for Champions League winning Chelsea
in the same period
Steven Fletcher 23 goals in 72 games for high flying Sunderland
And this after an average of more than 1 goal in every 2 games for Wolves also in the Premiership
Fletcher will score for fun in the SPFHell and be a perfect partner/foil for Leigh.
Take him in a minute.
TT
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/fletcher-what-might-have-been-what-makes-it-possible/comment-page-2/#comments
FRED QUIMBY on 14TH JANUARY 2016 7:24 PM
QUONNO on 14TH JANUARY 2016 7:28 PM
We’ve been presented with two different accounts of the same event.
Are you suggesting that we are to accept one and dismiss the other?
If so which one, and on what basis are we to make that choice?
It seems to me that both accounts suffer from the same evidential deficit that you identify.
quonno
seems that ten men won the league was the. recipient of the information judging by his post at 6.59 possibly to contradict the the author of the blog on inside track exclusives
QUONNO
Would not a goal in either of last two games seen us over the line.
It would. We just didn’t look like it was ever going to happen.
So if Rod Petrie had stated he wanted £4m or £5m for Fletcher – or any amount at all – then Peter Lawwell should just bend over and hand Rod the lube??!
No thanks.
NATKNOW on 14TH JANUARY 2016 7:51 PM
So if Rod Petrie had stated he wanted £4m or £5m for Fletcher – or any amount at all – then Peter Lawwell should just bend over and hand Rod the lube??!
No thanks.
The real problem with the Fletcher one is that negotiations were left to the dying minutes of the transfer window, leaving no room for plan B. That is assuming that there ever was a plan B.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/fletcher-what-might-have-been-what-makes-it-possible/comment-page-5/#comment-2753488
Anyway possibly a last visit to Tannadice for a couple of years on League duties tomorrow night. If it came to it would you prefer to be travelling to Tannadice or Easter Road next season. Me personally Easter Road for the pubs and Tannadice for the atmosphere.
Wish they would take the Xmas deccys doon on eastenders
I imagine if we had signed Fletcher away back then and he ended up injured and missed the run in Peter Lawell would still have got in the neck for splashing the cash on a player who was always destined to be in the treatment room
QUONNO on 14TH JANUARY 2016 7:53 PM
NATKNOW on 14TH JANUARY 2016 7:51 PM
So if Rod Petrie had stated he wanted £4m or £5m for Fletcher – or any amount at all – then Peter Lawwell should just bend over and hand Rod the lube??!
No thanks.
The real problem with the Fletcher one is that negotiations were left to the dying minutes of the transfer window, leaving no room for plan B. That is assuming that there ever was a plan B.
————————————————————-
How do you know that?
PL will be working (as in the Willo window) right up to the last minute to get deals over the line.
Or to be more precise, from 10 minutes before, right up to the last minute -:))
Mighty Tim: re works on O Connell Street and the 1916 Parade.
Currently, there are two separate sets of works. The first, beyond the GPO is almost complete and should be well finished ahead of Easter. The second, before the GPO started more recently and I have no idea when it will finish but the light rail track being laid is to come into operation by late 2017.
With the St. Patrick’s Day parade and Easter commemorations coming up, I would imagine the works will be suspended.
Here’s a link:
https://www.luascrosscity.ie/articles/news/
Bada Bing n DD
There is a lot of interest in game in EK i know my bhoy said all his mates
wanted to go.
Wouldn’t be surprised if they brought 2 or 3 thousand.
But I think Arbroath games was £10(maybe 15) for adults and £5 for kids
on home tkt scheme.
I’ll have stubb somewhere as was moved for North stand upper
As i said maybe 3 oclock kick would mean a better turnout but live on the telly ?
Ill be there : > )
CFC are expert at the near miss signing …trying really hard but not quite making it
One may be forgiven for thinking it deliberate …either that or we’re crap at it
Time for a decent transfer window …one were Lawwell achieves his stated goal of coming out stronger …
Almore
About mighty tim and his concerns about o connell street.
He read an article from The Irish Post. However it was dated 1st of April last year. So we sorted that one out
SANDMAN on 14TH JANUARY 2016 7:36 PM
And, WHIT? – Gollum going to Carfin to face a Celtic support Q & A?!!
Of his own free will?!!
Build a Wicker Man NOW!!!
—————————————————–
Ah the Wicker Man. But is Gollum a God faring Virgin ?
HH. To all pagan celts.
Ps : our own Green Man is kinda spooky. Wonder if he took his moniker from the pub ?
Almore
Thank you for the excellent newspaper articles you brought me on Sunday. My Ryan will get them at the weekend. Give my regards to R. A fine Tim like yer good self.
Hail Hail
See you in city centre on 23rd.
We need a chief executive to start paying the asking price. No haggling just give anybody what they want.
JC2
I think the cheapest I have paid is £15 for Arbroath, Morton and Raith Rovers games. Didnae help the crowds, mind you. :)
SFTB
you simpler version of an explanation would suggest that Petrie has been blowing his own trumpet after speaking to Peter Lawell and it has been picked up by somebody who has went on to say they were present when the negotiations were taking place
Certainly being privy to negotiations means to me that they were actually there when the negotiations were taking place and both sides of the conversation were heard
PFAyr
Were the three bhoys I saw lifted out of the crowd and into police vans at kick off on Sunday, not charged? They appeared to be the firework throwers from my view from the north terrace.
WITS: Cheers, I wasn’t aware of that. Btw, thought your devalera is dead post earlier was strange…….until I saw the six o clock news.
Gottakeepupcsc
DD: Hopefully you’ll see more of R in the future. He really enjoyed himself. It’s difficult for him to get over as his kids are still young but he goes to most events here.
Think the only deal pistol Pete hasn’t tried to reduce was his own with the Arsenal spin put in for good measure
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️☘☘☘☘☘
mickbhoy
“Certainly being privy to negotiations means to me that they were actually there when the negotiations were taking place and both sides of the conversation were heard”
Not sure about that.
This dictionary says:-
privy to
Also found in: Legal.
privy to something
Fig. knowledgeable about something secret or private. The reporter became privy to the senator’s evil plan. Why are you privy to this secret information?
6. Did Kenny’s departure in 1977 affect you in an way ?
Any help appreciated please DM me or email murraystephenc@aol.com
Thanks !
This bhoy is writing a book about Kenny Dalglish time at parkhead. Looking for any stories,pictures,memories of Kenny anything on him email above.
SFTB…
Although I agree with you on flashing the cash…it cost us dear in Seville, it most likely cost us a trophy by not pushing the boat out and signing Broto…
Our saving a penny to make a pound strategy is pissing supporters off.
We are strangled with some of the dross that has been brought in due to this wage wise.
Mediocrity is breeding contempt within the support…I do realise we are not in the market to over budget… But I’d rather one proven player than a few benchwarmers any day.
BT
“Think the only deal pistol Pete hasn’t tried to reduce was his own with the Arsenal spin put in for good measure”
Do you think he paid top price for the heated drive? :-)
According to John James, to be confirmed, 96% of the ejits at sevco 1st have voted to throw their money away.
And they are opening their own shop selling sevco stuff, even bigger ejits, sevco still have to cover the shortfall to mash.
And they wonder why they are in the crapper.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of scum