Reo Hatate was important to everything that worked well for Celtic last season. When he was injured, team performances dropped. He finds space to receive possession and can measure a pass into the opposition box with precision. As importantly, he shows up in big games with goals and assists.
Reports in Saudi Arabia this morning suggest interest in the player there. With three years left on his contract, Celtic can afford to sit for at least another season before feeling any pressure to sell their first-choice creative fulcrum. He will be 26 years old then, still with plenty in the tank, so there are lots of reasons to think a move this summer is unlikely.
There’s just one counterargument. Brendan Rodgers indicated a desire to increase the squad’s physical presence, a thought many of us share. We are usually shorter than opposing teams, with fewer players who can run for 90 minutes. If that is to change, churn has to happen.
Reo is 5’ 7” and more an artisan than a 90-minute gyroscope, both factors count against his chances of a move to England. When we sold Josip Juranovic we had backfill sorted. There is little chance we would sell Reo at this stage without a replacement lined-up. The story would have more legs next year.
Sorry to hear the passing of former Scotland manager Craig Brown. I had dealings with him a few years back, he was all that is said about him: funny, intelligent and humble. As a youth, he was on the books at Rangers but was very comfortable mixing with Celtic fans. He joked with me, “I was third choice left back at Rangers. First choice only had one leg and second choice was a Catholic!”
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Being a bit of an old phart, I am more and more despondent about my beloved Celtic, and football in general.
Seems to me, there is zero loyalty to a club these days, with a few exceptions.
Footballers are just a bunch of gunslingers, who provide their services to the highest bidder, with nothing but self interest in mind. Such a shame, and a situation which troubles me big time. Sadly, I cannot see things change in the future, with Saudi money the big attraction.
Unhappy .
KINGLuBO
I watched the movie That Peter Crouch Film this afternoon.
A 2 hour documentary on the career of the English footballer from his childhood through to his England breakthrough and his social media career.
He took some abuse from the terraces as a teenager because of his appearance and some of the media coverage he endured is heartbreaking.
It speaks volumes about the guy that he never walked away and he truly deserved his success when it did come.
Worth a watch for all football fans.
The current league structure is stale. I am all for a larger league, but hibs, hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Dundee would have to have growth plans to maximise the opportunity to be competitive to make sure the league is not just more of the same and to move away from a percieved challenge to a real challenge. Unlike some I actually do believe hearts, hibs and Aberdeen can and should be challenging every season or so.
scottish football supporters always moan about celtic and sevco etc. but few actually hold their own clubs to account for meekly accepting ‘their place’ in the food chain. Why on earth would any of our larger clubs outside celtic and sevco look at the league set up and say, aye OK let’s go with that, it kills them competitively, only reason I can see is they would prefer the garenteed t.v monet than have to earn it with preformances and crowds driving up income.
Think we could also get a gat better t.v deal and audience with a more competitive league structure I.e. more fans watching games involving and not involving their teams because they all matter.
HH
May I make a small point? I could only attend the Cup Final by buying a ticket for the ICT end. Yes, I was actually warned against wearing colours (by Ticket Master), and didn’t. But certainly could not contain myself when Celtic scored. The only comments made to me were by two fellow Irish bhoys from Ballycastle as they also celebrated. We sat close together with a Celtic bhoy behind us who actually had his young daughter with him, and she was wearing a Celtic top. They also fully enjoyed the Celtic goals and the end of game celebrations. My abiding memory was that the ICT fans wore either ICT colours or the Scotland tops. They were pleasant, or ignored us and were never aggressive (I did see one Union Jack amongst the ‘ultras’ who were a group of teenagers in the corner area beneath where we sat).
In the main, they seemed to be ordinary supporters who were very passionate about their team. Some actually remained after the ICT players had left the pitch, and I actually saw a few singing along to You’ll Never Walk Alone. Make of that what you may, but I was told that they are in the main SNP types and don’t have a big gripe with Celtic supporters.
I certainly felt totally safe sitting amongst them, despite celebrating each goal and producing a Celtic scarf at the end of the game.
Evening all.
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PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 27TH JUNE 2023 7:49 PM
I haven’t come across a hun who goes to Scotland games since the 70’s, maybe the ones I know are just mean
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As a youngster in the 70’s, the Home Nation games for me were brilliant.
However, just like Dr Who, I watched (nearly) from behind the couch in our jousts with our Southern foe. I am officially a ‘Shite Bag’
Went down to Wembley with Big Jock in charge, the Cannonball Kid was on his way to the Gunners was our main striker.
If memory serves me right, we were beat 2-0, Gordon Cowans of Aston Villa scored one of there goals.
Fast forward a few years later. the last time I attended a Scottish International match, it was at Hampden versus the Republic of Ireland.
I stood across from the Main Stand, no seats at that time. The Scottish team included, Aitken, McStay, McLeod and ‘Le petite merde’
The Republic team had, Bonner, McCarthy, Morris and Coyne.
That evening I had never heard such abuse to players from Celtic receiving such abuse for their association to Celtic FC.
That night I made a conscious decision. I’ll not be back.
I love being Scottish. I equally love my Irish heritage.
Nite all.
Brian
HH
Having a lovely night with my better half!
Watching “The Bee Gees, one night only” from 1997.
Lovely!
Just like the glass of Bunnahabhain, 46.3% abv I am currently sipping my way through.
It will be topped up shortly.
HH
On this day:
1931: Celtic continue their tour of the US and Canada with a 3-1 win over Toronto side Ulster United.
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Ulster United
On Nov. 18, 1913, the following announcement appeared in the Toronto Evening Telegram: “A grand rally of Ulster men is to take place on Friday evening next in Occident Hall for the purpose of forming a football club.”
Toronto Ulster United was founded from that meeting and would go on to be one of Ontario, and Canada’s, most successful amateur clubs.
They would win countless titles in the first half of the 20th century, including the Dominion Trophy in 1922, 1946, and 1951, the National Soccer League trophy five times between 1926 and 1941, and the Ontario Cup three times, in 1927, 1929, and 1937. In 1926 they won the Nathan Strauss Cup as winners of the International League, an experimental league set up between Canadian and American teams. But it was in 1925 that the club really made its mark on the region.
Ulster would buy a small piece of land in East Toronto that would eventually become home to a 9,500 seat stadium.
As the February 12th, 1927 edition of the Toronto Evening Telegram recounts: “Owing to the increasing popularity of the Stadium, seating accommodation had to be materially added to, and the directors decided to erect a covered stand on the west side of the grounds.”
With the addition, accommodation would peak at 12,000 for this local club team. Unfortunately the club would lose their stadium during the Great Depression but not before a number of travelling clubs would visit the ground.
In the year following their second Ontario Cup win, Scotland’s famed Glasgow Rangers visited Ulster. Ulster would push them to the limit before ultimately falling 4-3, following a pair of late goals. Watch the video highlights of the game below to get a better idea of how ahead of its time Ulster was with their ground in Canada.
????????????????????
Kinglubo
All our heroes who stayed were payed a pittance
Johnny Doyle lived on the same street as my cousins. He won a TV as player of the year; got it nicked
He did his leccy DIY same as any dad and it went wrong
Nicholas, McGarvey, Burns and McLeod payed crap
First big salary was McStay on £10k
Celtic before Fergus were chisellers
The Home Nations was a strange one for me. I hated England, I didn’t like Scotland, but still wanted Celtic players to do well!? But above all hated NI. If anything, I sort of wanted Wales to do well. They had big Toshack and two Davies centre forwards if I remember correctly. My poor Dad took me as a child into the sectarian hellhole that was, is, Windsor Park as it was a unique occasion to see in the flesh players you could really only read about. And I was almost attacked but for Big Doug scoring a header against Turkey? Distant memories, sad but involving my Dad, so they are bitter-sweet,
BELMONT BRIAN
My father was born in |Ireland. i have an Irish name of which I am immensely proud
My Dad’s Dad was in the IRB. Irish Republican Brotherhood.
I was born in Scotland but my defence of all things Irish can be fierce.
The last Scotland game i was at, was, and my memory is poor,.
against Denmark at Hampden and Ronnie Glavin ( a mate of mine) was booed when he came on.
I didn’t stay til the end and wrote to the Celtic View venting my feelings.
My letter was published the following week and had a banner headline..
Since then I am neither up nor down if Scotland win or don’t.
My only concern is if any Celts are injured.
I am Scottish but love my Irish heritage more, much more.
Hope you are good my friend!
Hopefully meet up in the not too distant!
God bless and take care.
Wigan Athletic have signed Bayern Munich defender Liam Morrison on loan for the 2023-24 League One campaign.
The Scotland Under-21 international started his career with Celtic before joining Bayern in 2019.
He has spent the past two seasons playing for the Bundesliga champions’ reserve side in the German fourth tier.
“Wigan is a huge club – and you cannot downplay Wigan like it’s nothing compared to Bayern,” 20-year-old Morrison told the club website.
He signed a new two-year contract with Bayern earlier this year and was an unused substitute for the first team for the first time in their win over Werder Bremen last month.
“Liam is a very positive signing for us. I’ve known of Liam’s talent for a long time back to when he was at Celtic,” said Latics boss Shaun Maloney, himself a former Celtic player.
“Liam’s an aggressive modern-day defender who is also very good on the ball. He will be a fantastic addition for us and I’m looking forward to helping him develop.”
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Celtic have reportedly made a late attempt to stop highly-rated defender Liam Morrison joining Bayern Munich this summer.
According to Football Insider, the Hoops have tried to persuade the Scotland youth international to stay at Celtic Park by telling the teenager he is viewed as a future Celtic star.
However, those attempts appear to have failed, with the 16-year-old edging closer to signing a contract with the German giants.
If Morrison signs a deal with Bayern, then the Hoops would only receive a minimal compensation fee for the player, which would be a big blow to the Scottish champions.
The Scotland Under-17 international is one of numerous youth prospects to come through the youth ranks at Celtic Park, with Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and Callum McGregor just three of the successful graduates in recent years.
Boss Neil Lennon is short at the back as it is, so losing Morrison to Bayern would further dent his options at the back over the coming years.
Barry Hepburn details key factors behind Queen’s Park loan move from Bayern Munich
The former Celtic starlet has hooked up with the Spiders for the season ahead after agreeing a temporary switch from Bundesliga giants as he looks to continue his development at top team level.
Barry Hepburn has opened up on his decision to join Queen’s Park on loan.
The former Celtic starlet has hooked up with the Spiders for the season ahead after agreeing a temporary switch from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. The Scottish Championship side are busy putting together their squad for the upcoming campaign with the 19-year-old the latest first-team recruit for new boss Robin Veldman.
The winger joined the German outfit in 2020 after eight seasons at Parkhead as he continued working at the Youth Academy at the Allianz Arena club. He has since featured for the Bavarian Regional League side Bayern Munich II. Now it is a chance of regular top team football and he can’t wait to get started.
The Spiders’ commitment to developing young players and the style of play they want to implement helped the youngster make up his mind as he returns to Scotland.
Explaining his decision, he said: “I am really excited to be joining Queens Park. After speaking to Marijn and the new Head Coach Robin Veldman, and learning about their ambition for the club, their commitment to developing young players and the style of football they want to play I feel I am in the right place to continue my development.
“I cannot wait to get started.”
Director of Football Marijn Beuker – speaking via the Queen’s Park website – added: “Barry is an exciting player who is creative, good in the tight spaces and possesses a powerful shot. He had great experiences in the last three seasons in Germany and is looking for a season to show what he is capable of at a first team level.
“When I spoke with Barry and his family a couple of weeks ago, it was very clear that he has an incredible hunger to perform and is very determined to make an impact. That energy is something we are confident he will demonstrate in the new season.”
Should we hate these kids or wish them well? Maybe just ignore them?
Incredible to think that Scotland is ranked in the top ten of the UEFA co-efficient league out of 55 member associations, way ahead of the likes of Poland and Turkey. A real opportunity to progress especially in the 2024-25 format which I think will benefit Celtic FC. Could play 8-10 games. We need to be part of that process, Not to mention the twelve weeks prep time we have before our next CL group stage match. We need to make good use of that time though. Players will come and go, managers too, but for the moment we have a top coach and a good settled backroom staff, plus Mick and Darren and Fran. Good luck to Stephen if he goes, I think there is a defensive midfielder there, not bad in the air, good forward passer and poses a threat in the other box at times. Strengthen the squad, don’t overload it, players on loan, like Adam and Liam have progressed elsewhere, Conor Hazard, and I would be reluctant to give up on them this early,
SCULLYBHOY
What kids?
Celtic were terrible payers prior to Fergus. I have read several autobiographies of Lisbon Lions and there was a recurring theme of Jock Stein keeping player wages down. I got the impression that Jock was a protective barrier between the players and the board.
Several players described protracted disagreements with Jock as they pleaded for more money while Jock offered renewed contracts with minimal or no salary increases and he regularly stonewalled requests for contract talks.
Jock Stein also set-up meetings between players and other clubs with a view to moving them on and even drove them to those meetings. Jock drove Wallace and Hughes to such meetings, against their wishes, and made it very clear that he wasn’t expecting to drive them back to Glasgow.
Tom
Source?
And any autobiography after Jock Stein died do not count.
Thanks.
do = does
Nite all!
God bless and take care.
Todd Cantspell responds to the question of ‘who is the best Scots pundit ?’ Cantwrite was delighted to share on twitter “I can tell you isnt Chris Sutton”
According to Football Scotland this was a great put down of Sutton. How embarrassing
Maybe they should give hom a treble for it.
Kieran Tierney would consider a sensational return to Celtic, it has been reported.
That’ll be a no from me.
There is aabsolutely no way Paul McStay was on 10k a week, or anywhere near it
!!BADA BING!!
I remember in mid eighties Paul McStay was about to sign a contract to make him the highest paid player in Celtic’s history and it was rumoured to be around £1500 a week.
Sutton responded to Cantwell’s tweet:
“Here is some balanced factual punditry from last season TikTok you may not enjoy…you joined Rangers on a free from the Championship and lost every meaningful game against Celtic and won nothing 👍…”
Just reading back as I was out all afternoon
Garngad to Croy @ 12.16 😂
79 Caps et al. : Given all your comments on your personal dealings with Craig Brown, have obviously gathered a false impression of the nature of the man.
Don’t believe what you used to read in the papers csc
Todd Cantspell responds to the question of ‘who is the best Scots pundit ?’ Cantwrite was delighted to share on twitter “I can tell you isnt Chris Sutton”
———
Well done Todd. Factually correct.
Clearly renting out headspace to the English pundit.
TURKEYBHOY on 27TH JUNE 2023 2:20 PM – you’re right; the media make up 70%+ of what the garbage they write. Whether Reo stays or is tempted elsewhere my point remains; our trading model should always be ready to take the best price we can get for any offer. Always! (Except for CCV who should be kept ;)
EMERALDBEE – were you are ex-Eastercraigs player or coach? I played there in early 70s.
Hard to believe this blog is paying tributes to Craig Brown,a bigot who was caught out.If he had”Joked” down the phone to his partner,about Muslims,Jews,even Gays,he would have been hounded out of his job.Its Sectarian,in case you forgot.Just like Dallas,only sending a joke through E-Mail,sectarian.
To spend this much time eulogising this guy,when the biggest story of the week \ month,is the OK from the SFA to allow the Scum Board to sue the SPFL.,is quite,bizzare.Not a mention.
Really tells all I need to know about this blog.Truly shameful.
.
Quad,
Yes,I agree,but when we speculate on what they are saying,its time to leave it alone.
They are not our friends.
From now on I will heed nothing until Celtic tell me its official.
HH.
Aye. Did ye
Dearie me turkeyboy.
Good morning all from Govanhill.
Good morning all from a baking 28 alreadyMarmaris.
Laters
D :)
DAVID66
Who asked you anyway?
;-)
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 27TH JUNE 2023 8:06 PM
“I watched the movie That Peter Crouch Film this afternoon.”
Found that film late last night and watched it in bed, and unusually didn’t fall asleep whilst watching.
All-round good guy, resilience is what I took from it, he has it in abundance, por cierto
DAVID66 on 28TH JUNE 2023 7:05 AM
“Good morning all from a baking 28 already Marmaris.”
Baking 28 what though, rolls? :))
por cierto
🤣🤣🤣 Guys
The morning sun is baking. It woukd drive a man to drink….earlier…but no as early as BRRB.
D :)
Aye