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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JFH
It’s not pointless. It’s designed to ascertain is there a level of racism that people are prepared to accept ie if it’s not directed at, or affecting the individual, then are they more willing to accept/excuse it.
I’d have Griffiths in a minute, and I dont care what he said, if he repented then its only fair to forgive, at least thats how I read it.
In saying that I’ve never ever said anything I’ve regretted later, honest
Snake Plissken
20:51 on
27 January, 2014….
Good points re records and development.
We need to shift a few this window as well.
Any rumours?
Although, with with my admittedly limited technical football knowledge, I have grave reservations about signing Leigh Griffiths, I will bow to NEIL’s decision…..
Aahhh Stella Artois …………… Or commonly known as ” a pint of who are you looking at ” :))
Hail! Hail!
neil canamalar lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
20:56 on 27 January, 2014
Where have you been…??
Hamiltontim
As someone stated, he never said that, and even if he did,as you well know, the people who do say things like that do not have a clue wtf they are talking about!
Give the boy a break?For me? :)
lilys
Joe Filippis Haircut
20:18 on
27 January, 2014
Let him who is free from sin cast the first stone. I think that rules us all out, Leigh Griffiths if we sign him deserves the support of the Celtic support and every chance to succeed that we would offer any new signing. H.H.
I agree with you and the others on here who say,” Give him a chance”
This is what we all must do, regardless of what we think of him or anyone else, when our manager selects a team we should support him.
Away out Nightshift, Goodnight.
Snake Plissken
20:37 on
27 January, 2014
Griffiths has pace and we lack that up front.
Useful for the qualifiers.
He scores all kinds of goals – worth having for that reason
Did he not make some gesture at the fans of our former rivals or is that my memory playing tricks?
He has had his issues but so have a lot of young players. He is not beyond redemption and by no means is he in the class of a Diouf for example.
Pay Wolves the money and get him in. Playing alongside Stokes I think he’d do well and playing alongside a partner like Fridjonsson I reckon we’d see the best of him.
Prestonpans
Sorry for the late reply.
Aye it would be an interesting strike force, if you can call it that >}
…………
justafan
I think the fact TW is out on loan shows that Lenny can’t handle him, just my opinion mind.
……………………….
HT
But he didn’t.
I used the P word on here some time ago, and you were the first to pull me up on it, I meant no disrespect when I used it, and it wasn’t intended as a racist remark, as I personally didn’t think I was being racist, I understand others, including you did, so I apologised for my remark.
I still have more coloured friends here than white friends.
Maybe the young fella needs guidance, well he does need guidance, and if he signs, as others have said, he must be afforded a clean slate, and his embracing of all things Celtic can begin, he at least will deserve that.
HH
Hamiltontim,
Should Griffiths sign there will be a number of behind the scenes conversations, to which few if any of us will be privvy. We have to trust that his attitudes, values and prejudices (which every single one of us hold) will be considered.
If we hold a young man in his twenties hostage to a comment made some time ago and prevent him progressing, we exacerbate the initial problem.
The nature of my work allows me to see young men (who have committed all manner of hideosities on themselves, their families and their enemies), go on to make good.
In anwer to your question, if he is genuinely sorry for his outburst, it would make no difference to me if he had prefixed his stupid response with the “famine is over”, precisely because he accepts he was wrong and regrets it.
While we are not in the position to hear his take on the incident, others will be.
Turkeybhoy – many of the reservations are understandable but you are right of course, there are all sorts of double standards permeating the argument
TJ
TJ
HT
Your point is plain, and doesn’t need deciphered.
Does ANYONE think that Leigh Griffiths was top of Lenny’s striker list at the start of the transfer window?
It’s all about a small budget (now) and hope we get lucky.
It really is p*ss poor.
For a club or size.
Snake p….
Understand what your saying but I think farming out young players to other clubs in different leagues is a really good idea.
Sounds like a modern equivalent to farming out to the juniors and all our Celtic greats experienced that…before but including McGrory up to and beyond Dalglish.
I do accept though that those who pass this ‘examination’ need to be given their chance when they come back!
Just popped on and not surprised to see posters partaking in the usual past time of slagging Celtic.
No ambition, never spend any money. Another crap decision by Lennon. Lawwell refusing to spend money.
Blah blah blah.
Must have just been me that watched the Norwegian player of the year make his debut on Sunday after a £2m transfer.
Also must have just been me that saw van Dykes free kick on Sunday. A future superstar and £2m signing.
But that doesn’t sit with the agenda of some folk.
Ill trust our managers judgment on griffiths, backed by his board. Again.
Hamiltontim. The guy made a racist comment once that we know of and he apoligised for the comment.So we have moved on as I have already said tonight we have all done or said daft things in life for which we are not proud and we would hope we were forgiven for it and we have grown up.If we applied your logic when trying to sign players we would never sign anyone.I accept your right to hold your point of view but would never support it. H.H.
How about Paul Hartley?- when he was with Hearts he was universally despised as a sneering wee ned by Celtic supporters, which was vindicated by his brutal assault on Ross Wallace in the 3-2 game at Tynecastle.
Not long after he became a Bhoy, and a very respected and successful one too.
tommy joad
20:59 on 27 January, 2014
Hamiltontim,
Should Griffiths sign there will be a number of behind the scenes conversations, to which few if any of us will be privvy. We have to trust that his attitudes, values and prejudices (which every single one of us hold) will be considered.
If we hold a young man in his twenties hostage to a comment made some time ago and prevent him progressing, we exacerbate the initial problem.
The nature of my work allows me to see young men (who have committed all manner of hideosities on themselves, their families and their enemies), go on to make good.
In anwer to your question, if he is genuinely sorry for his outburst, it would make no difference to me if he had prefixed his stupid response with the “famine is over”, precisely because he accepts he was wrong and regrets it.
While we are not in the position to hear his take on the incident, others will be.
Turkeybhoy – many of the reservations are understandable but you are right of course, there are all sorts of double standards permeating the argument
TJ
TJ
….and in English?……..
Well said, Sandman. Agree with everything you say. He’s not the striker I would have wanted, but Suarez or Van Basten ain’t coming. Anyway, even if they did, some of us would no doubt complaint about Suarez character being flawed, or that VB is always injured. Some of us always seem to look for the negative in everything Celtic do or doesn’t.
I am a little disappointed and underwhelmed at the prospect of LG, and I’m not convinced he’ll be the answer for CL, BUT, I sincerely hope he does brilliantly for us, and I’ll will him to do well and will support him cos he wants to come to Celtic and play for us. HH
Snake
Another project …didn’t even make the bench yesterday
Seems to be some distance from the first team …even further if we sign Griffiths
Philbhoy – Free the Dam 5!
20:54 on
27 January, 2014
I don’t trust bald guys with full beards.
———————————————–
What? even uncle Albert and Santa?
goldstar10
…and when he went to Aberdeen he was still kicking lumps out of us.
voguepunter
…especially Santa!
Right last word on this, I promise :-)
For those making the ‘let he without sin…..’ analogy, I’ve made serious mistakes in my life, I’ve hurt people and I’ve said many things I regret.
However, we’re talking about Celtic, a club founded for refugees, for those who’d come to a new and foreign land, attempting to sign a player who’s used language telling another ‘foreigner’ to go back to his own country.
Disgusted that some would try to excuse this.
Au revoir.
I was glad that Abu Hamza bloke got pumped out of this country so I was.
Watching our opposition last year, Johnny Russell looked a better player than Leigh Griffith, in my opinion, he went for £750k in the summer (and was a Bhoy)
If Griffith comes I will support him grudgingly :-), but please Celtic, no more than £750k for him.
How many attempts do we need to get a bum on seats signing ?
philbhoy- only doing his job :-)
Hope you are well!
….PFayr supports WeeOsca
hes injured
the quiet man
Van Basten has a long term injury……last 20 years or so….can’t see him coming…
goldstar10
Never better my friend.
Hope all is well with you and yours too!
Any luck on the jobs front?
Incidentally, who will Griffith replace in the current team ?
And we really need to be shipping the dross out
Hail Hail
67Heaven…,
Its a very busy time for me right now, the job has reached the stage where a certain four letter dirty word is nigh on impossible to avoid, I try, god knows I try but when they give you a big shiney hat and high viz its hard to blend into the background.
You know how some cats can hunt even with a bell on their collar, well I’m still trying to learn that skill.
Been dipping in and out when I’ve had the chance but missing loads, will be quiet for the next few months but hopefully stirrings closer to home will bring great pleasure to timdom in the near future.
Saw snatches of the Sheffield Utd v Fulham match on Sky yesterday and was surprised by the vast swathes of empty seats in the stadium which looked quite an impressive arena.
Our game against Hibs was a plodding bore in the first half but fair play to Hibs when they decided to have a go we got an entertaining second half and some wonderful saves by Fraser. Was impressed by Pukki yesterday and thought it was his best game in the Hoops. Another goal yesterday and winning the penalty kick following on his goal in Turkey. Yep, methinks he is getting there. Showed good ball skills and has plenty of shooting power. Good to see Tony Watt getting another couple in Belgium.
BT
please can I come I’ll sit quietly in the corner.
If DBBIA is lurking out there, some terrific science in the Indy today to back up your daily rhetorical query….
“For example, Scrofula, an infection of the lymph nodes, reportedly smells like stale beer…”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/human-beings-can-smell-sickness-in-others-9088385.html
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
19:45 on
27 January, 2014
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.
:-)
I get it mate – and I don’t disagree that that kind of behaviour is unacceptable. It wouldn’t be my first reaction nor yours. But if we provide no space in life to allow people to admit their error and change their ways then there’s no hope for many people in life. We’d never lend money to people who defaulted on a Kays catalogue payment. What he said was stupid and wrong – but he’s admitted that himself.
Cowiebhoy
Who will want them ?