One of the things you hope for when a player leaves for a richer league is that they perform well. It reflects on whatever value you will get the next time someone leaves. Joe Ledley has gotten off to a flier with Crystal Palace, although there is still a long way to go there, but our two big summer sales are finding it tough.
Gary Hooper hadn’t scored in his last nine starts for Norwich. His season tally stands at five league goals and two assists, which is still four goals more than Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who cost more than twice Hooper’s price but has scored only once in the league. Norwich other two strikers have yet to get off the blocks.
Bizarrely, Norwich are flooded with expensive strikers but their fans will bemoan the fact that they don’t have a goal-scorer, which Hooper was at Celtic and van Wolfswinkel was at Utrecht, where he scored a hat-trick against Celtic, and at Sporting. There is a good chance they will be relegated as a consequence, which will probably have them back on the hunt for a Leigh Griffiths-type striker.
Gary had his dips in form at Celtic, which included a meagre last four months of his final season, Cup Final apart, but Victor Wanyama is one of the best central midfielders we have seen at Celtic in a considerable time. He was a solid performer for Southampton before injury side-lined him for two months. Now back, he has a seat alongside Jos Hooiveld on the bench, due to the form of Jack Cork, one of Southampton’s many current stars.
Hooper and Wanyama were among the stars of the Celtic team last season but I suspect their new clubs’ fans are wondering what all the fuss is about. Form is fickle. It’s hard to tell when a career is about to turn all Liam Miller on a bright young prospect (and let’s be honest, Miller was every bit as lauded here as Hooper or Wanyama), or what consequences the new club, the move, or other distractions are having on performance.
There are also a couple of ex-Celtic goalkeepers doing a star turn in the FA Premier League, David Marshall at Cardiff and Artur Boruc at Southampon. After dazzling in his early months Marshall sipped well down the pecking order at Celtic, who eventually offloaded him. He was replaced as first choice by Boruc, who could claim to be the top rated keeper in Europe 8 years ago but completely lost ‘it’, before finding it again, recently.
My prediction is that Hooper, Wanyama, Balde, Boerrigter and Pukki will not fulfil their potential at their current clubs, although I considered Wanyama’s place on the list for a while. This does not make them bad players, ‘it’ just doesn’t always happen when it should. By contrast, some players look born to play for Celtic, including Kris Commons, who does not fit the profile of top-flight English clubs but is a rare gem in the Champions League for Celtic.
Really enjoyed reading the questions to and comments about Tommy Gemmell yesterday, as did Tommy, who spent the afternoon reading CQN and was “delighted” at the response. He’s not got a login yet but we’ll get him sorted and do a live event on the blog after we have the book out of the way.
I’m attending a meeting next Wednesday with Supporters’ Liaison Officer, John Paul Taylor. Let me know if there are any questions you’d like raised.
If you would like to read the new CQN Magazine, GO HERE to read properly, and for FREE, the graphic below is just a taster.
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“My prediction is that Hooper, Wanyama, Balde, Boerrigter and Pukki will not fulfil their potential at their current clubs,”
A very safe prediction since, I would guess, most of them have ambitions to go even higher than SPL champions and last 16 CL.
However…
Balde has looked both raw and promising in the brief glimpses we have had of him. He looks to have goals in him but to be totally unsuited to the way we, as a team, play football. Crystal Palace or Stoke could use him better.
Pukki has looked a smart footballer and team player. He looks like a harder working but less free-scoring version of Tony Stokes. So , at the moment, the verdict would be- close but not close enough.
Boerigter’s best game was his first and he will need to play two good games in a row before we can say we see anything of use in him. It may not be at Celtic.
Hooper, though not scoring freely, is admired by Norwich fans as the best of their forward buys. Even if Norwich are relegated, I think Gary has shown enough to be picked up by another EPL team. I am not predicting it will be another £6m transfer but he will fetch Norwich good money if they sell.
You were right to hesitate on including Wanyama. He has been steady but unspectacular for Southampton much as he was in his early months at Celtic. When Vic was in their team, they were winning; with Vic out they took a bit of a dive. Wanyama recovered from injury to take a place on the bench against Arsenal in late January. As Southampton achieved a draw he was an unused sub. His manager brought him back in the very next game but subbed him at half time because he had committed a very bad foul and was lucky to just get a yellow. Since then Southampton have played 2 games taking 4 out of 6 points with Vic on the bench. Vic has not been discounted as a failure by their fans as yet and I would still feel Vic has a very good chance of a transfer to a bigger team if he gets his second wind with the Saints as he did with us.
We only need to consider the Celtic careers of Paul Elliot and Kelvin Wilson to realise the folly of writing someone off too soon.
Even Daryl Murphy has managed to score 8 league goals in the Championship, a total close to some targets for whom we are being quoted £5m fees and upwards.
So, while I agree with the limits of your prediction, I think Hooper and Wanyama remain good players, attractive to big clubs, while, unfortunately, I suspect at least 2 of the 3 Celts identified will not thrive with us.
It always comes back to the Liam Miller question, I often feel it’s an unfair comparison.
Miller’s promise was generally based on one or two exceptional displays in a CL campaign, if I recall. Wanyama and Hooper proved consistently solid performers over two full seasons.
Thanks for the information. Much appreciated.
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!!Bada Bing!!
13:13 on 13 February, 2014
murdoch mcgrain larsson- The Glencairn Club Glasgow Rd has music on some afternoons mate.If not The Vogue Main St is a friendly Celtic bar.
I was never really on the Liam Miller bandwagon either
As SoE said, a couple of good games compared to GH and VW consistency in big games
I fear Liam would have been just another wee skillful guy who would get bullied more often than not on the big stage
DoesCQNAllowSizeismCSC
no apologists
13:12 on 13 February, 2014
Paul,
Please ask JPT to ignore the inane, self-publicising rantings of tony donnelly, as the vast majority on here do (I’ve made an exception on this occassion).
_____________________________
The man asked for any questions, I asked, if he ignores it fine, if he Doesn’t even better, now go find a dark room and listen to some JF blogs.
Bumped into Amido outside the ground after a recent game
He has one of those smiles that light up everyone around him.
I for one hope he makes it with us, ohhhh and he loves it here.
Till later all
I said to my mate, “Do you know any football tips?”
He said, “Try Ibrox, that’s a right sh&te hole.”
Tony D @ 13:14
I liked that! Pretty neat. Does it work with other parts of the body? 0:-)
JJ
Oh, what is the answer to this: Indirect speech starts riot in lodge. (8)
and this:
Complete, from beginning to end , hiding nothing. (8).
JJ ( Back in half an hour for the answers. Every confidence.)
Kris Commons a “rare gem in the CL for Celtic”? Certainly not this season. He was desperately ineffective in Amsterdam. Kris is great in the SPL – except last Saturday against Aberdeen – but not good enough for the CL. Not fast enough and not fit enough for the CL. We need someone better for next season in the CL.
Have to disagree with Paul67 regarding Wanyama. He is top drawer and will end up at a very big club in one of the top leagues in my opinion
jungle jim
13:31 on 13 February, 2014
Tony D @ 13:14
I liked that! Pretty neat. Does it work with other parts of the body? 0:-)
JJ
___________________________
Worth a try ;)
Right am outa here, HH, lurking Huns GIRUYs
When he was on a streak Gary Hooper looked like a real goalscorer
When he wasn’t he looked like he wasn’t trying ( he probably was)
The thug who raked his Achilles (was it Weir) hampered his progress for quite a while and without that maybe he would have kicked on more
Maybe he realised that he was only a bad injury (unpunished) away from a premature end to his career and decided to get out of this league.
In saying all that – he was no Joe McBride
Not interested in any players who leave Celtic.
tonydonnelly67…
You are spot on about the GB, I admire what they can do in a positive sense with banners etc, the rest of it, is just not needed or right.
The ‘How else are we supposed to be represented’ line just used above is utter rubbish! like you said, Phone, letter or email, or simply a sensible non underlying radical movement to represent all the fans.
glasgowdave
12:54 on 13 February, 2014
It is somewhat bitter sweet after last weekends result, that Neil should pick up the Manager of the month award, but congratulations Neil, a convincing result against St Johnstone will ease the pain a bit, and keep our unbeaten league run going.
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This should be taken as a moment to reflect on the season as a whole for those amongst us that claim the Manager should sacked; he’s this; he’s that; he’s the other. People seem to forget very easily that we’re still unbeaten in the league this season & anyone that believes this to be a sackable offence really should be careful on what they wish for.
Our disagreements should never be allowed to divide us, they should only inspire us to be stronger. Time for togetherness……
Bring Back the Green Brigade!
Venimos a uno, Hasta La Victoria Siempre!
Paul67 –
Please ignore any requests from CQNers to contact JPT/Celtic. The lazy buggers should do it themselves.
Also – please don’t ignore this request. Thankyew.
Amido Baldie is not being given much of a chance to show his potential. After the Liverpool friendly the english pundit said man-of the match Baldie looks like he could do a job in the EPL. In spite of some impressive little cameos hes only comes on in the last 5mins.
I dont see any logic in how hes being handled.
fred c. dobbs
13:06 on 13 February, 2014
Paul67, John Paul,
After recent damage to seats and offensive chanting by Aberdeen fans on their last few visits to Celtic park, are Celtic planning to ban any of their fans? Also, did police or stewards take any action?
—
Spot on.
I remember straight after fir park someone had pic of celtic park after a then recent aberdeen game.. Loads of broken seats.
Never seen celtic come out to criticize them or anything.. Our own fans thou got the boot to please the media.
Sickening
Paul67
Surprised to see you write off balde, derk and pukki in one go. That must be similar to the view at parkhead then i think…
Derk i agree 100%. Never saw a player as frightened of other players in all my life.
Balde… Unsure since he is rarely giving a decent run out.
Pukki.. Im still hopeful but would sell if we got our cash back.
Balde and Pukki would both start this week if i were picking the team, in place of Samaras and Stokes. Biton would also play, but with Neil Lennon picking the team and tactics i would be surprised if maybe 1 out of the 3 will get a game.
Im a little surprised that Borrigter hasnt been given a wee run in the team, having played for Ajax you would think he would be decent.
If Paul67 is correct then someone has wasted over £10m of our money in wages and transfer fees on 3 players who are not good enough.
Who carries the can for that?
LB
robert88,
a sensible non underlying radical movement to represent all the fans
We can’t even get agreement among a few dozen bloggers over the merits or otherwise of the Green Brigade, not likely that we will find any movement to represent all the fans.
AR
proudbhoy,
Have Aberdeen done anything about their own fans?
Or is it only Celtic who punish any perceived wrongdoing?
livibhoy
have tried on this forum to find out who rubber stamps the signings.
DjYNWA67
It really is astonishing how fickle we fans are.
There have been many years supporting Celtic, that I would have bitten you’re hand off to be were we are today.
These actually are the ‘Good old days.’ to be a Celtic supporter.
That’s not to ignore the fact that there are some serious issues that need addressing.
Agreed, we all need to pull together,how this is achieved, I have no idea.
I would hope that Paul’s meeting with JPT and the supporter’s meetings that have been taking place, will go some way to clearing the air and better communication from within Parkhead, would also help.
HH
79caps,
I don’t think it is so much that Kris has been ineffective, our opponents have recognised that he is our most dangerous and intelligent player and have consequently marked him out of the game, Karagandy did not pick it and it cost them dearly. Most of our opponents in Scotland don’t have the personnel to deal with him but when he is under pressure then it is up to one or other of his team mates to step up, this has not happened enough in my opinion, probably because there is no-one else in the team with his football smarts.
AR
Kris Commons is no where near CL level. Great player for us in domestic football, he has been as good a signing as we have made in recent years but he falls woefully short when asked to produce on the European stage. Too slow.
Can someone inform me how to go about buying ROH please.
~SPF~
Paul 67 –
Surprised you are writing off three players who only arrived in the summer – if that is what you are doing.
Scott Brown and Kelvin Wilson are just two examples of players who didn’t settle quickly at Celtic Park.
More often than not people take time to settle in a new country – whether they are footballers or not.
The Hairy Cornflake walks….
ScotPatsFan
14:16 on
Download the song here – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/roll-of-honour-single/id814414107
Commons and Samaras were nowhere near fit in Amsterdam,and shouldn’t have been near a jersey IMO.
Bada Bing!!
That’s bad news about my least favourite celebrity DJ. Thought there was going to be some form of retribution – in this life- for phoneless cords, darts on the radio and his pot bellied pigs. Dejected.
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
Some English Councils charging punters for sandbags………..
EIK
Many thanks!
~SPF~
If anyone was interested, the answers are : `sidelong `and `thorough`.. So often happens. Ask someone the answer and before they can reply, it suddenly arrives in the brain.Contrary thing the cerebral organ (is it an organ?!).
JJ
We will see on Sunday if Neil has learned from the cup defeat , if samaras and stokes play he hasn’t,t