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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Sipsini
Not heard anything so far mate.
DD
The Minx should only be allowed to sing ‘Far, far, away!’
DELANEYS DUNKY on 14TH JANUARY 2016 9:41 PM
TSOAL
Nae ladies lavvys in Stair Park that I noticed. :)
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Why couldn’t you use the blokes toilet ;)
DD: meant to say, see you on 23rd.
Sevco Scotland vs Brechin.
It’s official.
https://twitter.com/AntonioPiccante/status/686950566178729985
TGM
U missed Masons Craft…….shhhh ;-))
H.H.
Personally…..am intrigued by the image of sweetcorn carved there before the Americas were discovered…..;-))
H.H.
OG
Interesting
What are the ramifications ..if any …re the registration of players
That boy Kemar Roofe banged in another two goals for Oxford tonight, i’d sign him.
Weefra,
Glad to see you back on….you were missed…..second hand updates wern’t enuff. ;-))
H.H.
THELURKINTIM
Shhhh
The Speculative Society monitor all the posts on CQN.
You might end up getting transported to Australia for 14 years.
And to make it worse….Macjay will be waiting for you at the other end, with his pal Tony Abbot:)
Shhhhh
Dont mention Satan’s Accountant(Dave King)…or The Satanic Cardigan(Walter) either.
HH
OG
Are they still sevco, or are they officially called something else ?
HH
WEEFRA
How’s the loch ootside :-)
HH
*weren’t……for u pedants out there ;-))
H.H.
no idea what’s going on here as I’ve been in exile since before christmas/xmas…..probably not worth catching up on ;-))
Does a podium, page 7 count ;-))
H.H.
TGM
I knew you had letters after your name due to academia. I didnae realise just how many.
THELURKINTIM on 14TH JANUARY 2016 10:05 PM
Does a podium, page 7 count ;-))
H.H.
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A new page is a new page. It’s not the same page as before.
Hat-trick?
Might as well read the article now that it’s not obscured by pop-ups
H.H.
THELURKINTIM
Great to be back. :-))) HH.
DD
Aye…The Green Man…RAD
Rangers are deid:)
HH
TET
It’s now a fekkin outdoor skating rink. Lol. But serious. :-))). Hope all are well in the ole mountain. YNWA. HH.
Weefra
Hope you and Mrs W are safe and cosy and well tonight.
WEEFRA
Get the skates on then :-)
We are, best of to you and yours.
HH
Wow P67,
The injury profile makes him a possibility for Celtic – wow – is this where we are now – bring me ure mental & physical dysfunctional now – we can rehabilitate them ;-))
H.H.
Almore
Think we should meet for brunch next Saturday, before the ale flows. :)
Almore.
the Google Easter rising. Whoever posted that. Quite brilliant
DD
We are both very well and the wee hoose is well toastie wi the ole coal fire. Getting right peeed off wi foxes, the first in 20 years of having poultry. Was out twice today, in broad daylight, shooting at the bassas, but too far away and me being half blind didnae help. Lol. Fingers crossed, not lost any yet. Got a wee prezzie for you at the next home game if yer going. No worries, it’ll keep. :-)) HH
TET
Yer starting to sound like ma mrs. “Have you started that painting yet”. Me “naw”. Mrs ” well get yer skates on”. Lol. HH
WeefratheTim
A Davy Crockett style hat
THETIMREAPER on 14TH JANUARY 2016 10:00 PM
That boy Kemar Roofe banged in another two goals for Oxford tonight, i’d sign him.
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He was slated by some but I’m sure he raised the rafters tonight at the Kassam Stadium. The first one was a lofted ball that he converted with ease. At 23, he’s yet to reach his apex. I hope he manages to climb the ladder and reach dizzy heights. No doubt he’ll be out on the tiles tonight celebrating – here’s hoping he doesn’t end up in the gutter.
Saint Stivs
It was quite brilliant! :)
TET
Oops, meant to add, brilliant you are all well. HH.
TSOAL
Aye, and lick the top of the barrel. Lol. Hope yer well buddy. HH
THE GREEN MAN on 14TH JANUARY 2016 10:00 PM
THELURKINTIM
Shhhh
The Speculative Society monitor all the posts on CQN.
You might end up getting transported to Australia for 14 years.
And to make it worse….Macjay will be waiting for you at the other end, with his pal Tony Abbot:)
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Yep.
He`s the guy who was a founder member of Sydney C.S.C. at a time when Tony Abbott was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford Uni.
Too highbrow for your mate?
:-)
Weefra,
I’d be happy to dress up as a snowman-way-a-shotgun to catch the buggers ;-))
H.H.
Weefra
I am at every home game. I am a city bhoy. I love all creatures. I feed the Clydebank foxes down by the canal most nights. I love foxes, wise, clever, friendly animals. I understand your position though, as much as it makes me sad. :) C’est la vie! :)))
THELURKINTIM
You’re giving me ideas now. Lol. HH.
MacJay
Tony Abbot.
Could be a swap deal.
We give you Tommy Sheridan…and Gayle.
Surely thats fair.
And Tony could teach me about the World:)
HH
MACJAY1,
I see that yur humour bypass surgery was a success ;-))
Weefra,
I’ve not fired anything but a .22…..a shotgun would be a change ;-))
H.H.