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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thebhoyfromoz
IF, and it’s a massive IF, we can get out of this hellhole, I reckon the sfa will give in to stop their corruption being exposed.
That will be the only way we will be allowed to leave, it will be done out of self interest, nothing else.
Feck them all.
HH
My wife reckons that Neil Morrissey is a rank bad actor. I`m not too fond of that Adam Sandler.
jimtim
22:28 on 27 January, 2014
Leigh griffiths will do for me . But he will need to wise up , which he will . I pity the lad , he is getting pelters already and the laptop loyal haven’t started on him yet . But this lad will score goals for us , so it’s a yes from me .
Well, his history says otherwise off the pitch and we have had others in recent years who have been out of control. We do not need people like hin in our family. Just my opinion.
Did anyone see Juan Matta’s answers to the MSM questions today?
Looks like an educated footballer and a fine person.
The Celtic shop will make a few bob if Leigh signs and buys all his kids a top :-)
PL’s no’ daft!
Just been at the celtic connections Bobby Womack concert. Firstly there are not many septuagenarians who can rock head to toe red leather, but imagine my surprise when he introduced his saxophonist as Mr Charles Green – unfortunately it wasn’t our favourite Charlie……
Jimmci
The second like that in as many weeks, I think it was against Stenny a fortnight ago, when Dallas junior, again gave one that no one claimed.
On the subject of PK’s thought Hibs should have had one yesterday… Would have wanted it if it happened up the other end.
ThebhoyfromOz, good guess. Time will tell.
And good evening everyone.
If a wee slapheid like Leigh can gat aw they burds…….there’s hope for us aw……
Thebhoyfromoz
I guess I am in a very small minority but if you are close to the truth, and indeed we do leave to play our football outside Scotland, I’ll be very saddened if the catalyst for that move is unfair treatment from the governing bodies. I’d much rather we stayed and exposed them than concede defeat, which is the way I would see it. We are a Scottish club and should be playing our football in Scotland on an even playing field no matter how long it takes to achieve that.
I wish the efforts of the board were concentrated on exposure of the cheats rather than finding a new league.
If the argument is another one, i.e. financial, then I’m not convinced. Would additional tv money from a more high profile league improve our income?, well of course, but to such an extent we could compete against the top European sides, or even allow us to qualify for the European scene? I have my doubts. If it were England, there are cash rich clubs that we could never compete with, and some of them, are prepared to spend hundreds of millions more than they bring in, due to the likes of Abramovich. Is it unfair to suggest all we would see would be an even healthier bank balance with not a lot more spent on players?
If it were a North Atlantic league, I’m sorry, but I’d rather watch us play Aberdeen, Hibs and United etc.
Anyhow, just my thoughts.
bada bing…22.31…
Now that is FUNNY :-D :-D :-D :-D
TnT, what if we could have jelly with that ice cream?
I rate leigh griffiths as a great actor. .. Harrison Ford a goalscoring striker .. and … huge cave ins as journo of the year :)
jimbo67
I twigged after I posted who TC was, and agreed RB wisny the may west, there are so many out there making a fortune for being bad, just like so many are on the football pitch.
Really need to re think my options…..Oh wait a minute, too late!!!
HH
………
Pedro
No really a film buff, just like good acting, and perversly find crap acting good as well >}
Films are on the way out imo, TV is where things are going, some quality stuff being made for the TV market these days.
Now keep it up at the gym ,34″ is sliiiiim btw >}
HH
jimmci
Are you not familiar with the footballing term “a Rangers penalty” ?
Doc
If I can have tartan flavour jelly and ice cream I’ll be a happy bhoy:-).
Ah well, that time again. Night CQN. Let’s see what tomorrow brings……
Griffiths has been discussed at length today and rightly so. He is potentially a future Celtic player. He has not lived the life of an angel. He is a very good footballer and has potential to be a great Celtic striker. For all his misdemeanours something has been overlooked. He has probably faced more provocation than no other person in Scottish football in the last 5 years except Neil Lennon. Anyone who is based in Edinburgh will testify that the Hearts fans hated him with a passion. They hounded the man. Everywhere Griffith’s went he was goaded, abused and in some cases attacked. One of his attackers was a boy of no more than 12 who decided that he would abuse Griffith’s in the street and throw a drink over him. This was done in full view of his father who encouraged him. This guy maybe appeals to our manager because he sees something of his self in him. I can only speculate but their is no doubting the lads talent. His twitter account was disgraceful. Again he was subjected to the most incredible abuse and was hounded daily. His private life did not help him. He was silly with women and got girls pregnant with his children within months of each other. Some would say he was an easy target. The boys is not the sharpest tool in the box. Footballers seldom are and he reacted in a shocking way but he was clearly lashing out and done it in the wrong manner. He apologised.
The incident where he was accused of robbery was perhaps the worst of the lot and by far the worst reported. I shop at the store in question regularly. Your standard modern supermarket. Very open plan and one which you can pay for goods at the kiosk newspapers and other items or continue shopping and purchase your goods in the lines of check outs. Leigh saw the special offer on the soft drinks and decided to proceed to the kiosk where he was manhandled by a jobs worth security guard who supported Hearts. He proceeded to make a fool of Leigh and causing a scene Griffith’s was embarrassed and got a bit aggressive. He again made a mistake he shouldn’t have took the bait.
The lad has been very stupid many times but on the field of play he can score from anywhere. He is lethal from anywhere around 40 yards from goal.
I know a lot of Hibs supporters and they swear that Leigh is the best striker they have had in 20 years. Riordan has a family which didn’t help him too much. They had a bit of a reputation. Not necessarily bad people but not a great influence. I have been told that people who know them both expected Riordan to find it tough going at Celtic. They have no such worries about Griffith’s. He has the full package as a footballer. As a man he maybe has a bit of a way to go but surely the club can manage that. I’m not entirely convinced he is the right fit for Celtic but I believe we need two goal scorers and if Griffith’s and an other was to be brought in it would be a decent window. The boy would have to accept terms in his contract about his off field antics. He wants home. He hasn’t settled down South and has been up here many times in the last few months.
I am not making excuses for the lad I am trying to give a fair assessment of some of his misdemeanours by people who know him first hand and who have met him. He is apparently a decent fella. Aren’t they all. His uncle is a Tim and goes on the Craigmillar CSC. I’m sure he will be on hand to offer the correct advice.
The boy is no angel but they can’t all be choir boys. We are in the business of football not the training of saints. Some of the biggest clubs in the world take the odd player who hasn’t exactly been the most popular person in the world. If he is signed we work on his PR. That’s easy to do. Advise him where to live and how to operate off the field. This is not a Mickey Mouse club it’s Celtic there are standards to be met. Players have come before who worried us and were perfectly well behaved at Paradise.
It’s a subject that has invoked much chat but if you look at what he does on the pitch surely anything under £1m is good business for a guy who will score 20 goals at least per season.
Neil Lennon is the man whose opinion matters and if he thinks he can do a job the lad has to be supported.
LB
twists n turns
In the real world you are 100% on the button, but sadly scotland is not in the real world.
Exposing them will only harm us in the long run, I reckon that is the line the suits are taking, could be way off the mark, but, we will only suffer if we stay, we may well have to go a few years with euro football, but we will get there, a brit league must be preferable to a sectarian set up, cos we all know it’s not going to change any time soon.
HH
Tartan flavoured, lovely.
It does seem something is coming soon.
Last night I thought I knew, then I wasn’t sure, it might be something else.
Then I thought again, now what if it were both?
Time will tell.
Working early, night all.
TET
Haha…..it was hard gettin there, but it’s bloody harder keepin it there.
You gowfin wae ma bro & nephew next week?
Make sure he gies ye a taste of that Telford bridge…..nectar :-)
Livibhoy
Great post.
TET
Ach yer probably right bud, let’s see what happens. (I just don’t think we should do walking away:-)
Night all.
TnT,
I am in broad agreement with you.
TV and super rich oligarchs are ruining the game.
I can’t see UEFAs FFP rules even coming close to leveling the playing field in Europe.
I do think, however, that Celtic could become European champions again if we were to play in a better league.
It saddens me to think that teams like Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hibs ,who could compete and beat the best in Europe,al of them were amongst the best in Europe at one time, will never achieve those heights again.
I want the best for Celtic but i fear that if we remain in Scotland, we will witness our slow decline to mediocrity. Spme will argue we sre on that road already.
On a seperate matter, LG a goal scorer but no angel.
If we sign him I’ll support him and wish him well!
HH
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar
Post of the day Mate, good to see a wee bit of background information and always good to remember our heroes in Green and White are human beings too and not robots designed for our every whim…
If he comes on board at Celtic Park it would be good if he felt he had the support behind him and as one who has decked up more times than I count I was glad for a second shot at this deal called life..
Glad I logged back on now!
Hx2
LB- a wee bit of background for us all .HH
Pedro
I am, and looking forward to it big time, the weather should be spring like, low 20s, just perfect for the gowf.
Telford Bridge is in the memory banks >}
HH
Should children witness childbirth?
Due to a power outage, only one paramedic responded to the call.
The house was very dark so the paramedic asked Kathleen, a 3-yr old girl to hold a
torch high over her mummy so he could see while he helped deliver the baby.
Very diligently, Kathleen did as she was asked.
Heidi pushed and pushed and after a little while, Connor was born.
The paramedic lifted him by his little feet and spanked him on his bottom.
Connor began to cry.
The paramedic then thanked Kathleen for her help and asked the wide-eyed 3-yr old
what she thought about what she had just witnessed. Kathleen quickly responded,
“He shouldn’t have crawled in there in the first place …..
smack his arse again!”
(If you don’t laugh at this one there is no hope for you)
LB
glad I read that before headin for bed.
Worth a repost tomorrow, for those that will have missed it.
LB
Superb post and may well dispell a few of the doubters, or not.
HH
tnt …
I agree.
The idea of a fresh start, new competition and the famed ‘level playing field’ is quite attractive. I wonder at the loss of rivalry, either geographical, historical or even political to be replaced by what? Some commercial, plastic and manufactured alternative.
I fully understand the frustrations produced by the modern make up of football but its easier to destroy than build something better.
If the CL access was fair to ALL UEFA’s national champions I wonder if the cries would be so strident for leaving Scotland’s league?
On the other hand Celtic can’t set up an alternative on its own so enough other clubs must see the same value our club does. (Assuming their is any basis in the speculations).
I suspect, being the middle aged ancient that I am, most fans would jump at the chance of a Euro League!
But a question to one and all….if leaving the SPL and getting into another league system from next season was conditional on THEM joining too what would you say??????
YES or NO?
Auldheid
That wis a Cracker.
Awerabest PJ
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar
23:00 on
27 January, 2014
Interesting assessment. As I said to another poster earlier, I know little about his personal issues. It seems to me that these are all reports in the kind of “news” papers that we’re normally happy to disparage here on CQN. In this case we appear to be keen to swallow the stories whole.
Setting all that aside, I’m not sure if he would be what we need in Europe – which is our main priority. On balance, however, I’m happy to take a punt on him and give him the chance to prove people wrong.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone is it then.
Well the guy driving the gritter lorry that just past me must be a f’n Angel,he just cast hunners a them aff the side of my car . ;-( :-(
Griffiths aint a million pound player!!!
Livibhoy
Thanks for that post.
Made me rethink how I feel about the possibility of Griffiths wearing the Hoops.
Well said.
Jude….
I don’t think Garry Hooper is 5 times better than LG!
Livibhoy
23.00
I’m glad I came back to the blog before calling it a night, as your post is the best one I’ve read on the Leigh Griffiths saga. Facts rather than conjecture and prejudice. Excellent.
Earlier tonight I was thinking ‘hope LG disnae read this blog or he’ll not want to come’
Now I’m thinking ‘if LG has been reading the blog I hope he reads Livibhoy’s post to reassure him’
Goodnight all.
justafan
I reckon there are those working away in te background desperatly wanting the OF thing back again, it’s box office, it makes money for the TV co’s,
It’s not the question of supporters wanting it back or not, if the money men decide they want it, it will happen, end of.
HH
GerryBhoy
Hiya,palomine.. nice tae Greet ye.
You really wanna Know… somethin?
Of Course ye dae..
Disnae Every buddy??
Well…
let me ,let ye in..oan a Big, Big… Secret..’
N..it’s This..
Ah, Simply….. Fulminate.. when Ah meet an “Holier than Thouer”!
N..let me ,also, let you ..in… oan anither.. Secret..
n That’s… this….
“This Forum, is Packed tae the Gills.. wi Them…. thar…
“Holier than Thourers”!
Folks…
It’s the Bringing-In.. of a Fitba’ Player( Griffiths).. that we ur Talkin aboot…
No.. oor Next .. Parish Priest.
Heck.. A Fitba’ Player is Paid tae Dae His Joab.. n ..if he diz it well..
Well.. that’s awe we should Ask o’ Him.
The Next time yer Micro Wave.. quits..well. Wavin’..
Diz it make any difference tae yer wee wifey.. who jist wants her Micro tae Wave..
If ..the Appliance Man.. who his jist come In the Door.. tae dae whit he does,n .. diz so effectively…
.. his Jist Twittered a .. Remark ..last night ,oan his Computer… that is Considered tae be.. by some “Blue Stockined” Folk.. tae be.. Racist..or Racial.. ( It wull be wan o they two.. but, Ah am no sure.. which wan)?
Diz it really matter, whit the Guy thinks or Disnae think aboot..in his Spare Time..
tae You or Yer Wife..??
Who are only interested in whit the Appliance Man kin Dae.. tae fix yer Hoose-Hold Problema??
Na.. Of Course, it disnae..
Look. Celtic, hiv a Hooseful o Problems..
n wan o’ them.. which happens tae be
A maist important wan..
is
The lack of hivin an Oot n Oot Striker,in thur Bull-Pen..
n.. the Manager, seems tae believe..that .. Young Griffiths kin be the very man tae
Help us Solve That Big Problema..
THEN???
Me n Forty Million Frenchmen say.
“Go aheid . Neil.. and get yer Guy… n.. Pronto!”
Tell the “Blue Stockings”… tae take a Hike.
Maks sense tae me.
Nice Chatiing,pal..
Kojo
Seeya.. Good Night,Scotland.