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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!!Bada Bing!!
Do you think Celtic should be the voice for everything and criticise and speak about everything? I would say they are busy enough dealing with whats important for club.
If there is damage to the ground the club responsible will pay for the damage. simple and sorted.
Running to the press about it wont help and frankly not needed.
If other clubs want to do that, that’s up to them doesn’t mean Celtic should react that way.
AULHEID.I do not like it, I wish it were otherwise but I think all experience to date tells us the hostile nature of where Celtic have to ply their trade.
That means we have to be smart in how we respond, who responds and in
OK so will NEIL l do a press conference on Friday and will all these JOURNOS be given tea and bikkies and straight answers to all of their quest loaded questions.will RICHARD WILSON who writes for SEVCO non stop be asked politely if it’s” his phone and was that your wife I was talking to.”
will POSTMAN PAT be made welcome ,RICHARD GORDON,CHICK DUNG,will CHICK be asked to comment on seat damage from Saturday.will they all be asked about SEC.singing from ABERDEEN fans.
will the police and government be asked about conduct of ABERDEEN fans and lack of action by police.
DBBIA
I was trying to think of a german Dan … :(
Bournesouprecipe @16-05
Neil the man brought back the thunder.
Neil the coach did not.
Unfortunately a combination of Lennon and Lawell has seen it Peter out.
robert88
16:40 on 13 February, 2014!!Bada Bing!!Do you think Celtic should be the voice for everything and criticise and speak about everything?
I want to see everyone treated equally.The last time an off duty cop wrecked the toilets at CP(ably watched by his colleagues) ,when the huns were last there,it was only forums like this which made it public.Why punish our own and protect others?
rioskorrie
Think he became a used car salesman.
Our legend of a gaffer won an award today the MOTM brilliant Neil I hope you ram it down the critics throats who are clueless & who want you out.
GBNL
Aulheid, I recall Sean Hamill, CT telling me there was a saying “keep your head down lower than a Larne Catholic”. Seems to be something like what you are suggesting?
I don’t buy into the board being proactive in a low profile way. Far from ensuring the safety of Celtic supporters and employees this will guarantee that this group will continue to be targeted as a soft touch. And an ever decreasing breed.
We will have to disagree on this one I think.
Our board ain’t playing chess with the sfa … They are playing patience with our support.
And its fast running out
Big NAn
” “keep your head down lower than a Larne Catholic”. Seems to be something like what you are suggesting?”
You really are too intelligent and long in the tooth to feel that Auldheid’s point equates or compares to that.
Bada Bing…
Celtic are not protecting others.
I take your point about being treated equally, I don’t know anything about the off duty policeman, however I assume that again that any damage caused by opposition clubs fans, Celtic would have sent them a bill and it would have been paid.
Do you think it would be acceptable for Celtic to do nothing when damage is caused by us fans?
Good evening friends
fan-a-tic 16:49 on 13 February, 2014
What is it you expect from a guy who has been in management for four years?
fan-a-tic
More complex than that, especially on me phone.
Arrived home this afternoon after a horrendous day on the Motorway from Birmingham to Crooklands, Kendal. The journey took nearly nine hours when the Sat Nav was predicting 2.45 hours. I now have great respect for those lorry drivers who do that trip in all sorts of weather.
Arriving home, I found my CQN Beanie Hat in the post. So big thanks to patmcg1888. Bill soon please?
During time away I called into Lourdes. As promised I prayed for the needs of all CQNers.
So the same fans who abused, spat upon & threw missiles at our manager just a fortnight ago followed these action up by tearing seats up & runnin’ amok through Celtic Park? Yet this act of vandalism, hate, spite, jealousy, envy & downright loonacy committed by Aberdeen fans has caused so little outrage within the (honest & unbiased) media in Scotland that I & many others (one can only assume) only hear about it a full 5 day’s later.
On the other hand, when it were Celtic fan’s committing acts of vandalism with the mindset of a brain dead neanderthal, that by the time 5 days were up, it had already been streamed to the outer reaches of the Universe – So far, infact, that it had to translated into 3 million different languages for 850,000 different species.
Ah well, good to see everything is as it should be. Can’t we find anything important to discuss?
ReverseRealityCSC
Hail hail!
Steireignedsupreme
4 years is plenty of time to learn from your mistakes.
A properly implemented playing style would help.
An attractive playing style should be attainable considering the vast financial and playing resources we have over the rest of SPL.
Tbj- Hitler.
Adolf’s lesser known deeply pacifist brother, played inside left for Rott Weiss Essen.
A sure way to win any online argument is to mention Dan Hitler.
Robert88-Do you think it would be acceptable for Celtic to do nothing when damage is caused by us fans?
Who do you mean by “us fans” mate? Our fans possibly? If they are causing damage,throwing seats and coins,then i don’t want them near CP.The same as opposition fans.
robert88
The press go running to clubs not the other way round.
What are Celtics thoughts on fan abuse. vandalism and 93 minutes 0f foul mouthed attacks on Neil Lennon
Just asking like CSC
Big Nan
I have I pissed in your chips or something?
I said what I said.
What you make of it is your vinegar.
kevjungle
09:37 on 13 February, 2014
What contains the maist p#sh – the DR or, The Celtic View ?
Although…I have to say, I’ve not purchased the CV since, Fergus
tried to turn it into – Pravda 2 – by, trying to tell Matt McGlone what
to write in his column. Matt McGlone, a bigger Tim you’ll be hard
pushed to find, resigned from the CV – refusing to be bought and
sold to McCann. Hail Hail Matt and yer Alternative View.
—————————————————-
It’s 2014 mate, not 1992.
The Celtic View is an excellent publication nowadays.
Don’t get me wrong, it contains only positive news about the club, but younger supporters in particular enjoy reading about the players as opposed to any board politics.
NTV was the greatest fanzine in the history of football, I read it religiously, but I still bought my Celtic View every week for the Celtic poster in the middle of it.
HH.
Bournesouprecipe.
I think the answer in factual terms is yes. The question is why?
!!Bada Bing!!
Agreed, however, I think if anything Celtic should be hard on us more than other fans, we set the standards for many things not just in Scotland but the UK and beyond. Yes the board may well have alienated a few fans, but so what, they are doing the right thing. I can remember when Rangers went bust everyone was demanding that Celtic make a statement on some of the most trivial things, Celtic did the right thing and rise above it, they avoided being dragged into a massive shit storm which would have played into the hands of many people.
bournesouprecipe…
I think that’s quite naive regarding the press.
I was at the Aberdeen game and wasn’t impressed at all about the shouting from Aberdeen fans, considering that any rational person can see Lennon has been very very badly treated. However Telling someone to F off isn’t overly offensive, swearing at football is the norm. for example the referee is a w**ker, I’m sure most fans would find this acceptable. You don’t hear many objections to that.
fan-a-tic 17:08 on 13 February, 2014
Four years is a relatively short time in football management. Look at the mistakes Arsene Wenger has been making this season as an example of that.
It takes two teams to make an attractive football game. The games at Celtic Park become more difficult because of the way the opposition set up, a bit like Celtic do in Europe.
Away from home we have been more pleasing on the eye. Not every week. But no team performs to their full potential every week in any league.
We do have a playing style, attacking football. That is the style of play at Celtic, maybe it is too predictable.
Given we have only lost two domestic games this season, it’s fair to say the manager is getting something right.
Robert88
16:40 on
13 February, 2014
The only sensible thing i have read on here all day!
H.H.
It’s alright people on here saying Celtic should issues statements about this that and the next thing .They are not the one’s the who will be the target of the bigotry and intimidation .It’s our manager who will most likely be targeted again.
auldheid
17:10 on 13 February, 2014
Big Nan
I have I pissed in your chips or something?
I said what I said.
What you make of it is your vinegar.
…………………
Ditto
Big Nan
It always is.
So Barry the fraudster Hughes his dodgy past has finally caught up with him.
Remember he was walking in to ibrox with Ellis hmmm get digging bampots.
robert88
You missed the lyrics – then including the other more offensive ones towards NFL.
As for the press we have them to thank for helping kill our old rivals.
So no worries there.
I can’t recall what Motherwell said about the seats incident. Did they comment?
Big Nan
Ur You Irish..r..o’ Irish Decent?
N.. Because Ah hiv asked you a Personal Question..
Ye don’t need tae Answer.
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
FAVOURITE UNCLE
16:42 on
13 February, 2014
AULHEID.I do not like it, I wish it were otherwise but I think all experience to date tells us the hostile nature of where Celtic have to ply their trade.
That means we have to be smart in how we respond, who responds and in
OK so will NEIL l do a press conference on Friday and will all these JOURNOS be given tea and bikkies and straight answers to all of their quest loaded questions.will RICHARD WILSON who writes for SEVCO non stop be asked politely if it’s” his phone and was that your wife I was talking to.”
will POSTMAN PAT be made welcome ,RICHARD GORDON,CHICK DUNG,will CHICK be asked to comment on seat damage from Saturday.will they all be asked about SEC.singing from ABERDEEN fans.
will the police and government be asked about conduct of ABERDEEN fans and lack of action by police.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You bring out something that I noticed at the Open Meetings and that is how different folk see the extent of Celtic’s powers. I don’t think banning these guys would stop their bias (better in the tent pissing out than outside pissing in kind of thinking). I think it fuels some of our support anger, so I wrote this about communication after observing the exchanges at the last Open Meeting (which I also see on here):
A Guide to Serene Communication (based on The Serenity Prayer)
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Let us distinguish between the things that are in Celtic’s sole power to fix
From
Those that require co-operation with others outside the Celtic family to fix.
Let us distinguish between what cannot be fixed because of non cooperation by those outside the Celtic family
From
What requires campaigning to fix.
Let us distinguish between what Celtic are able to campaign about
From
What they are unwilling or unable to get involved in
And
Engage in dialogue on as to why
And either
Agree to disagree
Or
Reach agreement on who should be party to
And
Who should take the lead in any campaign for change.
AND
Give us the wisdom and understanding to know the difference.
—–
The key bit for me that causes dissatisfaction is what Celtic are unwilling or unable to get involved in and the wisdom to know the difference and in some cases realise powerlessness and hand it over.
The second bit is HOW they get involved. Nothing like telling the SFA that shareholders are asking questions that must be answered satisfactorily to get the SFA’s attention.
So far handing it over to a higher power in some cases has had spectacular result.
Look at the state of our greatest foe and Celtic did nothing to cause it.
Look at Chic and companies angst at their self chosen poison and smile.
The great thing is it is your/our choice.
fan-a-tic
17:08 on 13 February, 2014
Steireignedsupreme
4 years is plenty of time to learn from your mistakes.
A properly implemented playing style would help.
An attractive playing style should be attainable considering the vast financial and playing resources we have over the rest of SPL.
_____________________________________________________________
Having the heart & soul torn out for that team every 6 months makes that job slightly more difficult. Firstly you can never under-estimate the loss of Hooper, Wanyama & Wilson. Then just as you’re coming to terms with that loss, we gotta deal with the loss of Ledley – a loss which I believe was under-estimated by both the board & fans alike.
Neil Lennon, I don’t believe, is the problem. I believe it lies solely with Peter Lawwell, Dermott Desmond, Ian Baniker & whoever is in charge of our recruitment policy.
Its been said by a few posters on here that there is a slight suspicion that Neil Lennon does not (always) make the final decision on who comes into the club & that sometimes he just has to make do with what he’s given. Whats gone on over the past 8 months with regards to transfers in & out of the club, I feel only strengthens this suspicion.
Sometimes NL makes some statements which can sometimes feel patronizing & dishonest amongst fans – “We have £6 million to spend on a player if it proves good value”. There’s 2 ways I look at these sorta statements now; either he has been told we have 6 million to spend on a player & we just haven’t found the player that promotes good value; or he’s he’s fully of the dissent amongst fans therefore, makes these statements to keep the fans happy (clapping) & to boost moral within the stadium on match days, something which can be forgiven from such an inexperienced.
Now when Peter Lawwell comes out & makes such statements, I feel he has to be held to his word & if it turns out that he was just trying to appease the fans by means of deception. Also, when he comes out with things like ” we have given the fans this or we have given the fans that” He should be told NO! You have not, for without these fans your existence within the Paradise of Celtic Park would be non-existent & to these many supporters you would be unknown.
We’re Celtic supporters, faithful through and through,
And over and over, we will follow you.
If you go to Germany, you will see us there,
France or Spain its all the same,
We’ll go any where,
We’ll be there to cheer you,
As you travel round,
You can take us anywhere, we won’t let you down.
Oh! over and over, we will follow you,
Over and over, we will see you through,
We’re Celtic supporters, faithful through and through,
And over and over, we will follow you.
If you go to Lisbon, we’ll go once again,
In Zaire you’ll find us there calling out your name,
When you need supporting, you will always know,
We’ll be right there with you, every where you go.
Oh! over and over, we will follow you,
Over and over, we will see you through,
We’re Celtic supporters, faithful through and through,
And over and over, we will follow you.
Auldheid,
Pal.. Ah pose the Same question tae You.
R you Irish r o’ Irish Decent?
Same, deal ,fur you.
Ye dinna Need tae Answer.
Kojo
Still , Laughin’
n.. Tae Mak Masel.. Perfectly clear.
Ah.. am NO Irish r o’ Irish Decent.
Kojo.
Still,Laughin’