Glut of strikers but budget remains intact

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We seem to have a lot of forwards.  Stokes, Pukki, Balde, new recruit Fridjonsson, and on-loan, Atajic and Watt, while Georgios may yet stay beyond the summer.  That’s six under contract for the Champions League qualifiers, not counting Sweden’s ‘next Henrik Larsson’, who is likely to move on soon.

Quantity is one thing but cost is just as important, only Samaras and Pukki are likely to be on wages competitive with some of the richer leagues in Europe, so the actual spend on forwards is likely to be considerably less than on defence or midfield.  The manager is likely to be operating within budget for this area of the team.

What we’re missing is an on-form striker who is capable of embarrassing St Johnstone and Inverness’s finest with their goals-to-games ratio, not to mention our own free-wheeling creative-mid.  Gone are the days Celtic strikers stats are dismissed as a mere by-product of the sheer volume of chances they are presented with.  Without a class act up front, the squad is unbalanced.

There was a note of disappointment in Neil Lennon’s voice when he spoke of missing a potential signing last week. I’m almost certain we’ll sign a striker this week but if he’s more of a hunch than a certified target we’re wasting our money.  Hunch signings are fine but you can only give space to so many in any one season.  We’ve made our low-cost gambles up front, and there is never a time for a high-cost uncertified gamble.

Celtic have a bit of money burning a hole in their pocket earning 15% interest from the Co-op Bank at the moment.  The desire to spend it, from chief exec, to manager, to scouts and all other influencers will be practically unstoppable, which is why I’m so sure we’ll sign someone.  Time will tell if we experience buyers regret.

Reminder to everyone who booked tickets for the CQteN St Patrick’s Day Dinner that they have to be paid by 31 January.  Let me know if you can’t find details, celticquicknews@gmail.com

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  1. The Honest Mistake loves being first on

    What’s the point in youth development if we ship out players with promise and replace them with the likes of Leigh griffiths?

     

    We’ve got more than 4 months to introduce young players to the team before qualifiers. A wasted opportunity

  2. Circulation opportunities abound amongst the msm on hearing of LGs potential arrival at celtic.

     

     

    Eff them but there is a potential sideshow opportunity for the gutter press…

     

     

    As SPFL prolific as he is I can’t imagine any of our Champions league opponents worrying about him the way they worried about big Sammi.

  3. 31003

     

     

    No doesn’t set the pulse racing does it?

     

     

    Tho if we want a goalscoring striker there’s one going spare at Wolves!

  4. prestonpans bhoys dam justice for the 5 on

    THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5

     

    19:31 on

     

    27 January, 2014

     

     

    “What I can’t get the head around is if Lenny can’t handle someone like Tony Watt, how the hell does he think he can handle LG”

     

     

    I said that exact thing to a Hibs fan on Saturday, he said well Stokes can be a handle too so Watt, Stokes and LG but good luck to you! Might be an interesting front line though :)

  5. ‘Celtic have a bit of money burning a hole in their pocket earning 15% interest from the Co-op Bank at the moment’

     

    ………………………………………………..

     

    Paul trying to elicit counter stories from MSM of new saviour King and other unknown supposed billionaire investors (from Motherwell again?) who will save the new dying Rangers

  6. Enjoyed Sundays game.

     

    Good anticipation by Kris for first goal,Hibs did have a penalty claim against the scorer of a sublime second VVD.Third good running and space by Pukki and Kris putting away a fourth after the ever improving Pukki chases a cause.Fraser-class,when called on.

     

    Looking forward already to Killie game as I am able to head to that too

     

     

    IF interest is a Debit I would urge Celtic to introduce this

     

     

    The Living Wage at £7.65 p.h

     

     

    Now,I support our Board in most of the way they steer Celtic.

     

     

    on the rejection of the Living wage at £7.65 per hour I would suggest a

     

     

    change of mind in this policy policy.

     

     

    I would like to think that integrating this wage into Celtic

     

     

    policy,I know it is complex but I have every confidence any complexities can be overcome

     

     

    due to your dynamic and all encompassing professionalism

     

     

    http://www.jrf.org.uk/topic/mis?gclid=CP3cof-Gn7wCFa-WtAod0m0AyQ

     

     

    http://www.livingwage.org.uk/calculation.

     

     

    it is splendid being a Celt,we get better by learning and i simply think we would be a better

     

     

    for it.

     

     

    I would like this also rolled out to those who trade and do business with Celtic

     

     

    over a 3/5 year period.

     

     

    Hail hail Celts

  7. Our manager says he can improve Leigh Griffiths if he joins.

     

     

    By Friday Leigh will be paraded in the hoops.

     

     

    He will help us to win the double again.

  8. The Honest Mistake loves being first on

    Justafan.

     

    Hopefully he promises to behave himself.

     

    Surely some of the players we bring through are worth a risk in front of Leigh griffith?

  9. lilys grandpa-Me and Lily backing Oscar on

    Hamiltontim,

     

     

    Just read your post. is there no way you can see that as the reaction of a young guy?, No redemption?

     

     

    lilys

  10. St stubs – What’s the big secret news to break ?

     

     

    – Leigh Griffiths has got respected CQN posters daughter up the duff :)

  11. pfayr supports weeoscar

     

     

    19:28 on 27 January, 2014Why wasn’t LG signed in the summer

     

    A question i asked a mate an hour ago,doesn’t add up for me,unless a couple out the door.

  12. eddieinkirkmichael on

    The Honest Mistake loves being first

     

     

    19:33 on

     

     

    I think this shows us that Neil doesn’t think there are any younsters ready to step up to the first team. Either that or his vanity in going a whole season unbeaten in the league is more important to him than developing the youth. Either way it’s depressing from a fans point of veiw. IMO

  13. The Honest Mistake loves being first on

    Omacelt.

     

    Supplying lg with his own supply of lucozade will improve him.

  14. leftclick Together we will get justice for the Dam 5 on

    I have had to ask nae beg for forgivness and another chance in my life after making a rip roaring a*** of things on more than one occasion.

     

     

    I will deny no one the opportunity to start afresh and thanks to hard effort and compassion and support from those around me I feel I have made not a bad job of things(no laughing at the back).

     

     

    So if its Leigh Griffiths Im in as I also trust Neil Francis to have the best interests of celtic at heart.

  15. big wavy

     

    19:38 on

     

    27 January, 2014

     

    St stubs – What’s the big secret news to break ?

     

     

    – Leigh Griffiths has got respected CQN posters daughter up the duff :)

     

     

    —————————————————————————————–

     

    The way I read it,respected CQN poster was up the duff.

  16. wig davy

     

    19:40 on

     

    27 January, 2014

     

    Stubs – stivs

     

     

    Damn you predictive text thing !

     

     

    both bits were funny.

  17. eddieinkirkmichael on

    Saint Stivs

     

     

    19:34 on 27 January, 2014

     

     

    whats the big secret news thats to break soon.

     

     

    just tell me,

     

    —————————————————————————————-

     

     

    AND ME

  18. the honest…

     

     

    I tend to agree with you as it happens!

     

     

    However for months folk on here have been screaming for a goalscoring striker. It is evident LG is a goalscoring striker.

     

     

    He is also IMO a good intelligent football player, a nice bonus.

     

     

    He might fail of course but well worth his chance.

     

     

    Even sydneytims striker criteria is being met!!!!!!!

  19. And in other news….Good grief Fred Talbot.

     

     

    Would it not be easier to just name the handful of 1970s celebrities who weren’t predators ?

  20. Philbhoy - Free the Dam 5! on

    HT

     

     

    I agree with you re no place at our club for racists.

     

     

    What about a manager who signs a known racist?

     

     

    Does he have a place at our club?

     

     

    Should we see every potential signings tweets before we make a decision?

     

     

    Or do we only decide against those whose tweets went public?

  21. Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar on

    natknow – supporting wee oscar

     

     

    19:15 on 27 January, 2014

     

     

    My concern is that it was Griffiths’ immediate reaction to what in all honesty is a mild insult.

     

     

    I mean I get called ugly all the time :-) but I don’t reply by issuing racist slurs.

  22. Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar on

    Lily

     

     

    Not racism mate. I’m sorry but it’s never forgiveable to say what he said in my opinion.

  23. prestonpans bhoys dam justice for the 5 on

    Philbhoy – Free the Dam 5!

     

    19:46 on

     

    27 January, 2014

     

     

    You were typing my thoughts……..

  24. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Hard graft today …head done in

     

     

    Done completely in hearing Lenny wax lyrical about Griffiths …..

     

     

    If Lenny is such a fan …why wasn’t he signed in the summer

     

     

    What does it say about Balde, Atajic, Watt….

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