I stay away from YouTube videos of new Celtic signings or prospective signings, they are about as reliable as a TK Maxx original price ticket, it is always more informative to wait and see how the player settles in green and white hoops.
But the World Cup was on. And Celtic target Haissem Hassan played for Egypt against Argentina, so I watched. He was outstanding. So much so, that I suspected Ally McCoist’s eulogising about him was a tactic to entice English clubs to compete with Celtic for his signature. I felt sure the exposure would take him out of our reach. My interest in the player receded.
He spent last season at Real Oviedo finishing bottom of La Liga. The club scored 26 goals in 36 league games, even the second worst side in the league scored 50% more. You may remember our conversations about Patrick Roberts? Patrick needs to be in a side who have lots of possession. Teams who defend 90% of the season invariably employ agricultural wingers, to bolster their defensive cover. The creative types have no outlet for their fruits.
Perhaps as a consequence, Haissem had an unproductive term, curtailing competition for Celtic this summer. Reports that he is a medical away from signing for Celtic are genuinely exciting.
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Hola Hassan ?
Rumours our funds have been assembled after MN went ona Sharm offensive and a Pyramid scheme are farcical.
I mean, Giza break !!
Good afternoon all from the Shipbank. The calm before the storm. 🙄
Hassan’s on the brink.
BRRB’s on the drink ?
Happy Shipwreck Shelebrations all attending !
quadrophenian
Thanks.
Quadrophenian
Cheers!😁🍻
News via Bada that Jota trained with the first team today is genuinely encouraging.
If true, it’ll be weeks before we see him, but that’s weeks. Not months. Or seasons.
Paul 67 et al,
Egypt were one of the best and most exciting performers during the world Cup.
They were ” robbed” against Argentina.
Hassan has the potential to be incredable for us.
Quality not quantity.
Enjoy Shipbank Friday guys.🍺🥃🍾
HH
If and when Jota returns, we need to be extremely patient with him.
Meanwhile new signings today have a week of training and the league cup tie at Tannadice to assimilate before LASK.
Hassan is/will be a handy addition, another signing round about right now would be better yet.
THEBHOYFROMU.N.C.L.E on 6TH AUGUST 2026 4:50 PM
Hassan is Egyptian on his mummy’s side…….
Tutankhamun was his great Gran uncle.
Martin will be delighted to hear new players are on the way.
Urgently need a couple of midfielders in
Greenpinata on 7th August 2026 12:21 pm
If and when Jota returns, we need to be extremely patient with him.
——
Wholeheartedly agree with that, GP.
TBB – get your point too.
Weeks before we see him (tick).
But I do think months before he is fully effective.
Watching the Dundee game I couldn’t help but think …
If a fit Jota was there in place of Yang?
… this team would be purring.
I like Yang. He’s a good player but not a great one.
It was his first touch that prompted the above thought.
Often untidy, in contrast to Jota’s which was sublime …
… our abiliity to control the ball, move us up the pitch quickly, keep the ball AND keep us up the pitch
.. were all impacted.
It is nice to share the best 11 in your lifetime, passes the time while we await our next transfer in.
But I also feel it does some dis-service to the greats who we never seen, (can 50= years of attendnace give you recency bias ?), so would this in mind, here is an attempt at the greatest team …………. before the lions. and before the 2nd war. 2-3-5
post it later, ran out of time.
The other benefit new players will feel IF we get them in quickly.
Full week’s training between Lask ties with league game postponed.
No data to support the feeling but I am confident Martin and his team will “figure out” Lask in that period (having played them once) and train all week to a specific plan for a tricky European away tie
… which could make a huge difference in the binary outcome.
Jota training, brilliant for the bhoy.
However, lets give him as much time as possible to come back,
Training video this morning including Jota:
https://x.com/i/status/2085679412528198003
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 7th August 2026 12:38 pm
The other benefit new players will feel IF we get them in quickly.
Full week’s training between Lask ties with league game postponed.
——————
I am a bit torn on postponement, I do not know it makes it any easier to prepare for that away game.
I would also have had a friendly fixture somewhere close to Galsgow this week, just to get minutes in legs as they say.
May the Shipbank wrecks sink many, and your Papal accounts sook up the hit 🇮🇪
Regarding Jota while the structural recovery is usually a success (80-90%), the primary challenge for a player out for 16 months is the performance lag. Data shows that players often struggle with performance metrics—such as top-end sprint speed, acceleration, and change-of-direction sharpness—during their first season back.Historically, it takes roughly a full year of competitive match minutes for a player’s physical metrics and match sharpness to match their pre-injury baseline.
You may recall Virgil van Dijk missed nearly ten months after a catastrophic knee injury. Upon his initial return there was a slight drop in his recovery pace and sharpness which critics’ used to say he was washed up. However, within a year he completely regained his status as one of the world’s best defenders.
Jota may be back playing in October but it might be next season before he is back to his best.
Maloney on SSN at 1.30, might get an update on the Boss
Jota will be like a new signing
the Bada Bing on 7th August 2026 1:03 pm
Maloney on SSN at 1.30, might get an update on the Boss
____
👍
DENIABHOY from previous article regarding Hassan. I put up the Agathe stat as like you I’m a bit concerned that on the face of it his stats are underwhelming.
The hope being if he can replicate Didier most would be happy
And there it is. from official Paddy Power account
“After Rangers’ humbling last night, we’ve seen enough… We have PAID OUT on Celtic to win the Scottish Premiership!
Just glad the blue half of Glasgow approves…
T&C apply: Online & Retail, applies to singles and multis and paid as cash.”
hankray on 7th August 2026 12:30 pm
THEBHOYFROMU.N.C.L.E on 6TH AUGUST 2026 4:50 PM
Hassan is Egyptian on his mummy’s side…….
Tutankhamun was his great Gran uncle.
———-
Tutankhamun was a car park attendant
Borgo67 – Yes, I saw that. Back in Didier’s day stats weren’t kep for assists but I imagine they were a lot higher than three which is what Hassan has achieved in each of the last two seasons.
I hope I am wrong but I fear he is more likely to be another Balikwisha (a mere 5 million wasted) than a Kuhn or Jota. The lad at Motherwell is a known quantity against SPFL opponents and would cost us a third of the fee.
Cleopatra asked her handmaidens to fill her bath with ass milk.
‘pasteurised my Queen?’
‘no, just up to my tits’
I’d like to know who at the club is identifying these targets.
Timmy7_noted – Tisdale’s letter to Santa was found in a taxi.
An update….with no update….
MON out of hospital
HH
Shaun Maloney didn’t rule out MO’N being there on Sunday which is really good news.
We don’t need to know why Martin was in hospital but it is a relief he’s on the mend. He’s some man.
deniabhoy@12.44
Thanks for posting the link to the training ground.
It is a real positive to see that we have so many fit players @ this point. (Jota an absolute bonus even this early)
Was one player, cropped hair, alongside AJ who(m) I didn’t recognise though, looked determined mind.
Minority on here I know, but I think we have a decent squad as things stand, in part because I have a positive view re Donovan, Murray, Hatton, McCardle and yes even Monty if he stays in the squad. Welcome any that will improve team/squad of course esp midfield. Not saying AJ wont be missed, but this could be Donovan’s breakthrough season esp. with CCV to support him on the RHS. Course I realise there are some on here who dont seem to rate any of our players. Tant Pis
https://youtu.be/BBipoakipnw?is=w1zkzcjsu6z4gwc4
Celtic Mac,
” In the minority”,you think?
No wonder with that load of bollox.
Donovan needs loaned out for a season.Should have offered him to Dundee.Same Hatton,Mc Cardle.
Our squad is badly understrength.A couple of key injuries and we are struggling.EG,KT,Calmac.
If we get the players in we need,by all means Mc Cardle,Hatton on the bench,but not 1st team ready players.
You either want a CL team ready to try and compete,or you dont.Obviously with you being happy with what we have,you dont
DeniaBhoy on 7th August 2026 1:28 pm
Borgo67 – Yes, I saw that. Back in Didier’s day stats weren’t kep for assists
——————————-
if it doesnt exist, sommeone should do it as a college or phd student
some software that is able to analyse old game footage and come up with the modern day stats.
I think it is a shame we dont know for example – how many goal assists did Henrik or Lubo make ?