Gary Hooper and Celtic strategy

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Sky have reported that Celtic have accepted a £5m bid from QPR for Gary Hooper.  Gary is in the final year of his contract and has declined to sign a new deal which has been no offer for almost a year now.

It will surprise some, perhaps including the player, that an English Premier League club have not made a move, but QPR have the cash to compete with most in the top flight, so the financial rewards for the player will be comparable.

For Celtic the proposition is simple, if the player is not going to extend his stay beyond this season, and an offer matching valuation is received, it is better they know where they stand as early in the transfer window as possible.  We’ll know soon enough if the player wants to move.  As we said about Victor, it’s always hard to lose a good one, but I’ve yet to meet someone who would walk away from a deal north of £50k per week, so fair play to Gary, whatever he decides.

Neil Lennon had never hid his admiration for the player but the Celtic strategy is clear enough.  If Gary decides to move it’s all about finding the right replacement, they days of slavishly watching players run down their contracts are over.

Have you done your thing for 1254125 yet?  The supporters group working with Celtic Charity proposed we get as many as possible signed up to running a 10k, hoping each person can raise £125.  We’ve teamed up with The Great Scottish Run on Sunday 6 October and extended the scope a bit, to include those who don’t quite have the legs for 10k.

On Saturday 5 October, The Great Scottish Run also organise supporting events you can enter and raise your £125:

100m Toddler Dask (0-5 yrs)
1.5k Mini Run (5-8 yrs)
2.5k Junior Run (9-15 yrs)
Family Mile (Adults and children from 3 yrs)

If you are particularly fit, you can enter the Half Marathon on the Sunday.  It is going to be a great family weekend.  If you know a kid who is keen to participate and get involved in 1254125, let them know.

If the legs won’t support you for 10k, you can gingerly make your way along the Family Mile.

To sign up you need to register with The Great Scottish Run first.  Register here if you are participating in the 10k or Half Marathon, and here if you are participating in the Saturday events, then register here with Celtic Charity (scroll down the page until you see Great Scottish Run).

Just over 10 weeks to go, get your application in and get every Celtic fan you know with a pair of trainers to sign up.  I’m doing the 10k, so will be out running tonight…….
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796 Comments

  1. This Hooper deal seems to be being done with undue haste.

     

     

    Whats the rush for QPR, Hooper and most importantly Celtic?

     

     

    Certainly not cashflow

  2. squire danaher on

    weefrathetim

     

     

    19:04 on 24 July, 2013

     

     

    You are right of course but I wouldn’t have wasted the energy

     

     

    Ignore it

  3. notthebus

     

    19:14 on

     

    24 July, 2013

     

     

    Perhaps he hurry is that given that the best Hooper can attract is the likes of QPR there just won’t be a better offer.

  4. Snake Plissken on

    Thus far in Europe this season Hooper’s goals have not been required but we’ve lost 6 goals from last season’s exploits in losing Gary (probably) and Vic.

     

     

    Someone needs to step up. Already Sami has two this season – a good omen.

     

     

    We’ve had goals from Forrest and two defenders.

     

     

    We have delivery from Kris and Charlie which most teams will struggle against (provided they’re not allowed to hold onto our players as Juve were).

     

     

    We should be able to do better against the Swedes.

     

     

    The Goal Kris Commons scored in Sweden last season was THE most crucial goal of them all last season. It set us up so well and imo he was the only player who could have scored that goal in our team.

     

     

    Signing a striker before tomorrow night could be the difference between going through or not. Neil wants one and it would appear we are trying.

     

     

    I equally think getting Joe Ledley back before this game will be a big bonus.

     

     

    If we have a full squad and a new striker in it will give the stadium a lift as well – especially if he’s on the bench and we bring him on (whoever he is).

     

     

    Here’s hoping.

  5. Kilbowie Kelt on

    Weefrathetim,

     

     

    ‘Tosser’ is not in the CQN lexicon. No matter how irritating our fascist faction may be.

     

     

    YOU are better than that.

     

     

    THEY are not worthy of your anger.

  6. Stringer Bell………I’m surprised some of the World class businessmen we have at Celtic are not thinking like Paul and yourself – you can add me to the equation.

     

    SPECULATE TO ACCUMULATE. Keep Gary on board ’til August.

  7. valentinesday on

    Good Evening Timland.

     

     

    Good luck tae Gary……..we watch them come

     

    we watch them go………time fur a hungry precocious

     

    fitba player ……who wants to be loved and adored.

  8. Stringer Bell on

    malarkey

     

     

    19:18 on 24 July, 2013

     

    Stringer

     

     

    Kombarov OG off Forrest

     

     

    ———

     

     

    Cheers

     

     

    Maybe we should sign this Kombarov then. Got an eye for goal…………. !

  9. hankray

     

    19:21 on

     

    24 July, 2013

     

     

    I had thought that DD and |PL had already made it clear that speculating to accumulate is just not on.

  10. Quonno………..Cannot see Gary’s valuation dropping by much if we keep him ’til August.

  11. WeefratheTim on

    squire danaher

     

     

    I see where you are coming from, but as soon as we get shot of these type of posters on this site, yes I know it’s open to all, the sooner we will have it open to CELTIC SUPPORTERS. This is, of course just MO. Why allow these people to peddle their right wing views on a football blog. We follow this site because of our love for Celtic. Not what is going to create fortunes for the more privileged members of this society.

     

     

    Weefra HH

  12. I think we should be signing good players for the team irrespective of CL, why is everyone focusing on only have good players for the CL, the team should be improving year on year and that is not being allowed to happen, any sign of quality and its sold, sad thing is most comments only seem to want to see quality for the CL, seems they are quite happy for dirge in the domestic games, how expectations have been managed eh.

  13. 16 roads - Neil Lennon walks on water. on

    Gene’s a Bhoy’s name – Sorry to hear the sad news about your Bro. KTF

  14. It was suggested to me that Celtic`s and Elfsborg`s seedings meant that we shouldn`t meet. Can anyone clear this up? Thanks.

     

     

    JJ

  15. £5 mil to spend in the championship – how the fupp did we progress in the CL last year when we get £4.80 from TV ?

  16. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Not interested what club guys sign for when they leave us.IMO Hooper was not worth breaking wage structure for.

  17. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Sandman 18:55 on 24 July, 2013 Cannot believe they the Royal brat ‘George’.

     

    ………………………………………

     

     

     

    Sandman, I’m gutted too, I’d put my money the latest parasite being named Dong:-)

  18. WeefratheTim on

    KK@@1921

     

     

    You are, of course, correct. I have, unfortunately, lowered myself to his level. I make no excuses for challenging this person as I am from a working class background myself. I have worked for 51 yrs to ensure my family had the best my wife and I could give the,, at some sacrifices we had to endure. This guy just grates me. Nuff said.

     

     

    Weefra HH

  19. feckin George!! had a fiver on Dodi …..well it’s what Di would have wanted ffs

  20. What’s this mumping about the new Windsor wean being named after George McCluskey?

     

     

    Jimbo

  21. Stringer Bell on

    Royal baby named after Celtics Greek striker shock.

     

     

    Good luck to baby Sammi.

  22. Kilbowie Kelt on

    I qite like the wee guys names.

     

     

    WEE GAL will go down well with most Tims.

  23. My Dear Weefratim….

     

     

    After Your Outburst Last Week……

     

     

    I Had Already Assigned You To My “CoarnerBoys Collective Category”

     

     

    In My CQN Posters Classification System..

     

     

    Consider Yourself Now Down-Graded….

     

     

    To The ‘Sent-To-Larkhall’ Category…

     

     

    A Further Misdemeanour Could See You Assigned To Dante’s ‘Fifth Circle Of Hell’..

     

     

     

    Blue Chip Company>Blue Chooky Eggs >CoarnerBoysCollective>Sent-To-Larkhall

     

     

     

     

    Where Did It All Go Wrong…?

     

     

    Bonfire Of Vanities..Springs To Mind

     

     

    *Shakes Head*

  24. Will all our shirts be made to look like a magners for the duration of the sponsorship deal or can we look forward to some decent Celtic shirts in the years a head ?

  25. quonno

     

    19:18 on

     

    24 July, 2013

     

     

    I still cant see why the rush, holding onto Hooper at least until after the next CL qualifier wouldn’t materially affect his value.

  26. derbyshirebhoy on

    notthebus

     

     

    Any injury not cleared up until September means Gary could sign a pre-contract elsewhere with celtic picking up a nominal transfer fee or possibly losing him for nothing when his contract expires. this fee and the wages saved may provide an even better player. Its the sensible thing to do.