Those who want Celtic to stop with all the ‘ones for the future’ and concentrate more on players who are ready now, will be delighted at the prospect of Joe Hart (yes, I know, they will never be delighted). At 34, Joe has the prospect of three years in Glasgow, helping to put Celtic back into domestic contention and into Champions League group stages.
He is 11 months older than Fraser Forster, whose decision to decline Celtic’s contract offer, after agreement was made with Southampton last year, precipitated so much trouble. Neither keeper is at their peak, but Fraser was an incalculable loss, Joe Hart could go a long way to filling the gloves.
After securing star status with Manchester City and being first choice for England for seven years, Joe found himself loaned to Tornio and West Ham, before signing for then-Premier League Burnley, who required stopgap cover. Last season was spent at Tottenham, largely on the bench, although he played 10 cup games.
A high profile fumble against Iceland at Euro 2016 was the Saka penalty of the day, ending England’s participation in the tournament, the incident lives longer in the memory than it would have in a different game. He could have done better with the first of Leigh Griffiths free kicks that sailed past him at Hampden in 2017. These and other circumstances combined to ensure he did not make the cut for the World Cup squad a year later.
I cannot tell you where Hart will perform on the spectrum between Fraser Forster at Hampden in 2019 and Vasilis Barkas throughout last season, it feels over optimistic to expect error-free miracles. Nor is Joe a sweeper-keeper – an element of his game that hampered his ability to move to another top English club after Man City.
His abiding attribute is organisation. Who does what, where and when, has been Celtic’s Achilles Heel in defence for a year, we can be sure this particular element will improve. This, is the reason Joe is currently undergoing a medical.
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So the key thing as I see it is: was the player ineligible against Celtic ? If UEFA deem he was, there’s no wriggle room, they forfeit 3-0 against us in that game.
In the face of it, I can’t see how he wouldn’t be deemed ineligible. FIFA may have confirmed the ban after the fact but the ban was still in force while he played against us.
G’mornin’ troops……………….
Big questions for Stevie the day?
Widdyemeannaw?
With only one trophy in 3 years and THAT support gettin’ back into the Edwardian Toilet Block and Facade……………………how bad will the pressure get on the young ned?
A Level playing field?
As far as I remember, Ljungberg hardly got a game with Celtic.
His form/fitness must have really declined quite quickly.
Gravesen was another big name who contributed zilch.
FIELDOFDRAMS on 4TH AUGUST 2021 8:30 AM
An Dun, where are you seeing this?
The Scotsman and the Scottish Sun are reporting the story.
Sorry I don’t have a link.
HH
SFTB @ 2.04
I think you are stretching the concept of a project well beyond its generally accepted meaning.
What you describe is risk — all new players come with a risk attached.
VB is not / was not a project for us — but he came with risk attached.
That risk crystallised due to CoViD / poor language skills / poor dressing room support.
Projects are players who offer hope regarding a high performance level sometime in the future based on better coaching / better team environment / increasing maturity / more experience.
VVD was not a project — he had already shown a high level of performance with his previous club. This existing level was good enough for us in the SPL so he came fully formed as an effective member of the team. He then grew with us and later others and the rest as they say is history.
AN DÚN on 4TH AUGUST 2021 8:47 AM
But this is the point, I don’t think he was ineligible against us if it was pending the FIFA decision – like when players play while appealing suspensions.
If he was ineligible, then yes we get the 3-0.
It will now be down to FIFA/UEFA to decide if he was able to play while the decision was pending.
One observation from the 2 signings, are they they aren’t costing us much.
I’ve always liked McCarthy, but has had a lot of injuries. But he is only 30 , so has a good few years in front of him.
Joe Hart to me is an upgrade on Forster, but both poor with distributing with feet. So we’ll just see how that goes.
Need a left sided centre half and 2 full backs.
Expect that won’t happen until Eddy is sold.
Overall I’m not as excited as some.
Remember Shane Duffy
I can’t see how the Danes have done anything wrong here. No case for anything. The ruling came in and they didn’t play him against PSV. The ruling wasn’t’ in for our game as they’d asked ruling body for clarification. The key question is can you play a player if you are awaiting clarification. It’s like waiting on an appeal so looks a non story and a wee bit embarrassing for some to be going on about it.
“/:”
LARKIN1907 on 4TH AUGUST 2021 9:46 AM
Exactly and if anything, it’s FCM who are looking to appeal as the timing left them unable to field a replacement.
I think it’ll end up being a bit of a non-story.
AN DÚN on 4TH AUGUST 2021 8:47 AM
“FIFA may have confirmed the ban after the fact”
——————————————————————————–
My understanding is that the ruling wasn’t just “confirmed” but they met to rule whether the ban should be global. So in other words, a decision hadn’t been made.
If they were just confirming the fact, then yes he would’ve been banned against us but the fact they hadn’t yet come to a decision suggests he may have been free to play.
GEEBEE1978 on 4TH AUGUST 2021 9:42 AM
AN DÚN on 4TH AUGUST 2021 8:47 AM
But this is the point, I don’t think he was ineligible against us if it was pending the FIFA decision – like when players play while appealing suspensions.
If he was ineligible, then yes we get the 3-0.
It will now be down to FIFA/UEFA to decide if he was able to play while the decision was pending.
—
I see where you’re coming from.
The ban had commenced though so it’s not like appealing a suspension and playing while awaiting the appeal. He had served two games and had several more to go.
FIFA have upheld the ban meaning it was always in force.
The Danes are at it. They should have removed him from playing until they won the case at FIFA and then played away. They didn’t.
This lad should not have been on the pitch against us.
Hopefully P67 can shed more light on this later, at very least Dom McKay should be asking the question today.
The ban was enforce and someone appealed to FIFA to have it rem
.
Their place in the Europa league? Heck no! Let us overturn that 3:0 deficit at Celtic Park. C’mon Green and Whites!!!
McCarthy is a 30 year old who has been injury free for 2 years. He as about 10 years playing in the premier league. He is far from retiring albeit he is experienced.
Hart is a 34 year old goalkeeper who has had a great career albeit that more recently he has been playing second fiddle at THFC. Anyone in here think bain, barkas, hazard or Doolan would get anywhere near THFC?
I have no problem with either signings both should, based on their careers improve us. Does not mean they will improve us, but more likely than less experienced players.
We have signed two 26 year old internationals and a couple of projects too.
Previously we focused a lot of energy on young prospects with potential resale and loans. Particularly when rangers died, however, sevco are now providing stronger compitition and so we need to relook at the transfer stratagy. Like everything in life you need to re-evaluate what works and what dont based on the prevaling challenges you face.
We will not abandon the prospects pathway but we look like we are going, imo for a better mix and balance between the two groups.
Now let’s get a rightback, leftback, leftwinger and strikers signed.
HH
PETETHEBEAT on 4TH AUGUST 2021 9:20 AM
As far as I remember, Ljungberg hardly got a game with Celtic.
His form/fitness must have really declined quite quickly.
Gravesen was another big name who contributed zilch.
As far as Freddy.L was concerned for us, yeah that’s correct PeteTheBeat
he hardly got a game with us. I remember Freddy.L getting a run out, against
Berwich Rangers, in a Scottish Cup tie, down in the north of England, & the
young Bhoys (GB) where singing, there is only one Freddy Ljunberg, he wears
Kalvin Kline, & drinks the Bucky Wine, walking in the Ljunberg wonder Land.
As for Uncle Fester, I remember him scoring a good goal for us, against
St Mirren, @ the old Love Street Ground, in a SPL match, when wee Gordon
Strachan was our Manager, in fact he scored more than once for us, if memory
serves, so he was not all that bad. Wee GS & other players back then, in their
opinion, thought Uncle Fest, was not the full shilling, a few pennies short.
We signed Uncle Fest from Royal Madrid, who know doubt signed Uncle Fest,
from the Adams Family, hence the nick name. HH All.
My reading – just from what’s posted online – is also that the ban was already in force (two games of a global 8-game ban already served).
I too think that the Danes – or the Brazilians who sold the boy – are at it. Danes would potentially have baulked to an extent to signing a player who had an extensive ban still to serve, so perhaps they thought it could be ignored because it started in Brazil, or perhaps the Brazilians told them it was a domestic ban, or whatever.
In any case, FIFA’s decision wasn’t to MAKE the ban global, it was just to confirm that it already was global.
If the Brazilians or Danes chose to ignore that – or even if they did so through accidental omission – then I’d say its tough titties to them :-))
I hope!!!!
HH
BGFC
Have the SFA commented about supporting one of their member clubs having ineligible players playing against them..
Don’t think they want to go there…
Corrupt to the core…☘
AKBW1888 – Gravesen did score against TFOD with a header.
WGS hauled him off at HT in the 3-2 loss to Man U as he seemed to be racing all over the pitch like a runaway terrier.
Sadly, it’ll be a long time before we’re capable off giving them a fright (and defeating them_.
WGS did get us to the last 16 (and just edged by AC Milan) with a back 4 of Telfer, Caldwell, McManus and Naylor with Evander Sno as holding midfielder.
Hoever, he did have Boruc at his peak then – if you asked me to pick an all time Celtic keeper, i’d have him for that 2 years around 2006 to 2008.
BGFC @ 11:18 AM,
Yes, that seems to be a fine succinct summary of where we are.
If Midtjylland were asking for clarification and it seems they were, they knew of the issue and should not have played the player.
One of the main tenets of laws is that ignorance is no excuse for breaking them.
It’s a bit of a mess though and I’d wouldn’t like to be the person making the call.
Hail Hail
Consequences of FC Midtjylland fielding an ineligible player against us ( If that is indeed the case )
We would have Saturday football, which is a big deal for many of us.
HH.
<a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/does-the-snp-have-a-rangers-problem-murdo-fraser-3333330"Typical Scottish Tory garbage
Yeah Sean Thornton, you are damn tooting, about the corrupt SFA not wanting to
get involved, that’s just typical of the SFA, when we are involved.
Anyway, how’s that bull in a china shop brother inlaw of yours, getting along with
the woman he fancied, who did not sell him his low ball bid, to buy the house that
was in your Family past, which was rightfully your’s? Does bull in china shop dodgy
bro inlaw, still have sneaky wee squire chap carry his black book around with him?
Apologies. Mistyped. Will try again.
Good afternoon all from a lovely sunny morning in Springburn (work)
Has Halliday been cited yet?
Has Madhun been demoted yet?
D :)
GREENPINATA @ 11:41 AM,
We would only have Saturday football if we got into the UCL group stages.
To do that we will need to beat PSV.
That game should be rescheduled.
Though they look a much stronger outfit as things stand, the logistics maybe the main issue.
Hail Hail
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/does-the-snp-have-a-rangers-problem-murdo-fraser-3333330
GEEBEE1978 on 4TH AUGUST 2021 8:05 AM
TURKEYBHOY on 3RD AUGUST 2021 11:16 PM
Like,Danny mc Grain,Andy Robertson,Danni Alves,,Roberto Carlos,Gordi Alba,even our wee Izzy,all of these,are you apologising to. :-).
—————————————————————————————————————–
Plus the 5’5″ Phillip Lahm.
———
KT – 5FT 8 ish
Must admit I would like big strong quick defender but they come at a premium.
D :)
CHAIRBHOY
It’s a bit of a mess though and I’d wouldn’t like to be the person making the call.
I would! 3-0 us! ;-)))
TOM MCLAUGHLIN
Where do you start with that article. Murdo Fraser wins knob of the week again.
PETETHEBEAT on 4TH AUGUST 2021 11:30 AM
AKBW1888 – Gravesen did score against TFOD with a header.
WGS hauled him off at HT in the 3-2 loss to Man U as he seemed to be racing all over the pitch like a runaway terrier.
Sadly, it’ll be a long time before we’re capable off giving them a fright (and defeating them_.
WGS did get us to the last 16 (and just edged by AC Milan) with a back 4 of Telfer, Caldwell, McManus and Naylor with Evander Sno as holding midfielder.
Hoever, he did have Boruc at his peak then – if you asked me to pick an all time Celtic keeper, i’d have him for that 2 years around 2006 to 2008.
What are you talking about, it will be a long time before we beat Sevco International, yeah that remains
to be seen, they are not that good, as the gobshite media in this Country, are trying to protray them as
the new unbeatables, & new wonder kids on the block, what was their result last night?
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 4TH AUGUST 2021 11:49 AM
You’d think a Tory politician would understand that a holding company is a limited company that holds shares in another limited company.
That wasn’t the case with the huns.
The company that was liquidated is the company that was formed in 1899 when the club, which had hitherto been operated as an unincorporated association, decided to become a limited company.
The club became a company. The company was liquidated. The club died.
This is nor difficult, arcane stuff. It’s basic.
‘O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!’
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 4TH AUGUST 2021 11:49 AM
All a bit of a useful distraction though for the cult (as is the nursery story) given that everything they touch at the moment is turning to dust.
AK – I meant Man U
GLENDALYSTONSILS @ 11:57 AM,
Well yes, that is the call and then we have to play PSV, for a shot at the UCL.
And Midtjylland then play Jablonec.
The fact that it is a logistical nightmare for Uefa should not stop them from making the correct call but you have a feeling if there is alternative punishments I. e. Bans and fines – they may go down this route.
UEL Group stages is the minimum Celtic should be awarded. But does that follow due process!?
Hail Hail
You’d expect anyone with a sense of decency to have a “Rangers problem”.
AKBW188.
Lol.
I’ll find out for ye…
It’s a long list…
HH☘
new article posted.