I’ve been looking for signs for an inflationary bounce in English football. The next Premier League TV deal is still 12 months away but at this stage before previous TV deals kicked in, clubs started spending ahead of themselves as they looked to secure a piece of the lucrative new deal. In particular, I’m keen to see how central defenders are valued.
Today news broke that West Brom agreed a deal with newly-relegated Hull City to sign central defender, James Chester (26) for £8m. Chester has 11 months left on his contract at Hull. Three years in the English Championship and 45 Premier League games over two seasons was enough evidence to induce modest West Brom to pay the asking price.
It would have helped that three other Premier League clubs, Southampton, Aston Villa and Newcastle, were also reportedly interested, but no one is making false claims for a lad who has not troubled the scouts of England’s top clubs. He’s a modest player who is able to sign a pre-contract in January. This is a spectacular fee, passing between two modest clubs, for a central defender.
Consequences for us? We’ll see.
I’m doing a State of the Club article for Friday, as we do the day before the league campaign starts. So far there’s a flow to the words. A solid result on Wednesday will reaffirm that, whereas a reversal would, frankly, deem a satisfactory assessment inappropriate.
So much turns on these next few games, Champions League qualification, squillions of pounds, and sure, the State of the Club. We’ve come through a few iterations of acceptable levels of performance over the last 20 years, since winning our first trophy in six years. Younger readers will never appreciate how precious a 1-0 Scottish Cup win over Airdrie could be.
These days it’s all about the treble and Champions League group stage qualification. The loss of a cup would be an annoyance, but Celtic need to be part of the Champions League.
Our friends at Magners have offered a pair of Premium seat tickets for the Jock Stein Stand at the opening league game of the season on Saturday. To enter, all you need to do is email me with the name [IN THE SUBJECT LINE] of who we play that day, celticquicknews@gmail.com
If you’d like to donate £1 to the CQN Mary’s Meals school kitchen appeal, help towards what would be our fifth kitchen in Malawi, you can do so here:
Entries close at 6pm this evening, so not much time.
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9 CL qual tonight, only one home team won and only 2 games where both teams failed to score…
Celtic FC: Wednesday’s match has not been sold to TV in any country – if anyone is advertising the game it is a false claim. Thanks
I wonder how much The Record pats in security to prevent people logiing onto their systems and publishing absolute pish ? More than they pay on journalists ? Or editorial control ? Why ?
HH
There are no easy games. West Ham, with all that EPL money and a well-known coach in Slaven Bilic, could only beat a Malta team on extra time penalties. If the back four keep tight and the holding mid does his job, I’ll be happy.
gordybhoy64
Same VVD.
Celtic said he wouldn’t be sold in January, but it didn’t stop the keyBOARD bashers saying they would, because they heard it on Radio Snyde or read it in the Daily Record.
He’s even crap according to some because he only plays for Celtic in the SPL
Celtic supporters that couldn’t locate Parkhead on a clear day.
borgo67,
I hope you have a great time. Fair play to the family for helping with the tickets.
Clogher
Burnley78- well said that man!
Borgo67- what age is your bhoy who is going to his first Euro adventure? Get him a decent scarf to commemorate it. Oh and enjoy.
Ok Nytol
Got a game to get ready for tomorrow :-)
Hail Hail & COYBIG
Shameless repost from etims.
Auldfart July 28, 2015 at 2:37 pm · Reply →
When my son was quite young, we went to see Celtic playing Aberdeen at Pittodrie. After the game my son asked if we could try and get some autographs. I thought all the players would have left by that time, but I said “c,mon”. We stood outside the side door,and I thought we were wasting our time. Out pops John Clark. I said to John “any chance of an autograph”? I actually meant it, as he (along with Bobby Lennox) was always a hero of mine. John looked at my wee boy and replied to him” you’re nae needing an auld man’s autograph, wait there” Five minute later the whole team (including Henrik) trots out, with John directing them to sign my son’s autograph book. He was over the moon. He told his pal, “I got the whole team’s signatures and I met a Lisbon Lion”. He’s near 30 now, but still tells the story. John Clark, an unassuming man, a gentleman and deserving of every honour going.
Clogher- haha that’s the one I picked up on anaw.
Celtic firsts are always magic. :-)
St Stivs – heros are thin on the ground these days. Liked that wee repost. Thx
borgo67
Enjoy
HELP
my IP location is showing as Northampton even though I am in Clydebank,
do I have a security issue
clogher celt
We will be going early to take in as much of the atmosphere as possible.
art of war
Only just turned seven , his bedtime is usually around kick off but I’m sure he’ll be wide awake tomorrow . He’s only been to a couple of leisurely games before , think his old dad might shock him tomorrow if it’s one of those great nights.
We will definitely be getting some memorabilia.
Good night all
see when ye boil it all down
I just can hardly wait to see The celtic run out at Parkhead tomorrow,
Win lose or draw ,the buzz will still be the same on Sat.
LOVE and count yer blessings
leftclicktic
Will do.
Forgot to thank you for the wee tune you posted for me the other week.
Borgo
Enjoy the night. Hopefully a good result. But remember win lose or draw……Ronny out ☺ ☺
I wonder if there is some news outlet or broadcaster in deepest Azerbaijan bumming up Celtic and implying that Karabach needn’t bother turning up tomorrow night?
You know the sort of thing……..the way the BBC are doing in reverse with Celtic.
You would think a Scottish news source would be more positive about a Scottish team.
Unless,of course, they don’t consider Celtic to be quintessentially Scottish………..
wits
Thanks.
One of the best things about taking a youngster to the game is it forces you to leave the usual anxiety and negativity at home .
There’s only one show in this town.
It’s Celtic. It’s Wednesday night. It’s Celtic Park in lights. It’s Europe.
Four of us will be on the road again for it. Sister and aunt in the Lions stand, son and me in the Jock Stein.
Win, lose or draw it’ll be another fantastic Celtic occasion.
Celtic forever.
raymac
22:37 on 28 July, 2015
There are no easy games. West Ham, with all that EPL money and a well-known coach in Slaven Bilic, could only beat a Malta team on extra time penalties. If the back four keep tight and the holding mid does his job, I’ll be happy.
I was at the game last week,Birkirkara the Maltese team were very well organised and played well on the night,West Ham struggled a wee bit with the heat and humidity.I think that could be a factor that could affect Celtic next week,so it’s imperative the Bhoys get a good result tomorrow night.Not losing a goal at home is imperative Imho.HH
borgo67…
What a thrill for your lad…never to be forgotten!
I remember them all…
First time inside CP…preseason trial match…the possibles v the probables 1962
First league match at CP…versus Third Lanark 1963
First SC tie…QF…versus Kilmarnock 1965
First SC final…..versus Dunfermline 1965
First LC tie…versus Dundee 1965
First Euro tie…versus Liverpool 1966
Etc…etc…etc…
The start of a glorious journey with memories of the adults and friends and sons who have joined me on the way….such a joy of emotions to be shared between borgo senior and junior!
HH
cloghercelt
would love to make it but can’t commit at this stage so wouldn’t want to deny someone else a ticket.
papajoe
listened to Liam Clancy’s version of Ar Eirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé hÍ.
great version.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOVvGZjZu8&itct=CDsQpDAYACITCJKB4q_r_sYCFcRFGAodOroGmFISbGlhbSBDbGFuY3kgYXIgZWly&gl=IE&client=mv-google&hl=en
there is the link for anyone interested.
Borgo67,
I remember the first time I took my daughter to a a game.
It got to half time, she gave me a hug and said thanks.
I said ‘it’s only half time, they are coming back on again.”
I will never forget the look on her face.
Enjoy tomorrow and treasure the moment.
Clogher
Ronny Deila’s – Champion’s League presser
Zicomaltesebhoy
I noticed all the Celtic banners at the game last week
justafan
Great memories that last a lifetime.
My Dad took me to my first European game , because of work he wasn’t able to take me often but he really made an effort that night , we were first in the ground.
Sachsenring Zwickau, let’s hope it’s a better result tomorrow..
Cuchulainn,
That is grand, so long as you know you are welcome.
Clogher
FC Midtjylland (Denmark) 1 – 2 APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus)
So this FC Midgetland, are they sponsored by Lego?
clogher celt
You can’t buy those moments.
Only told him tonight. First thing he did was check with his Mum that he was allowed to be up so late.
blantyretim is praying for the knox family
23:17 on 28 July, 2015
Zicomaltesebhoy
I noticed all the Celtic banners at the game last week
There were a few BT.
There is good number of us out here.I am actually playing Bools tomorrow (3 Malta Tims) v 3 (The Rangers).I never let them forget about The.HH.
My big pal out here Pat the Hat Veldon knows your dad well.HH
Time to call it a night.
Thanks for all the good wishes.
Justafan you are so right when you talk about the memories that any trip to Paradise evokes. In work today I was telling the young bhoys I sit with that my first game at Celtic Park was in 1959 for my seventh birthday, most of their father’s weren’t even born at that time, but the memories came flooding back of the great and not so great games I have seen over the years.
But more importantly memories also of the people I have shared these times with from my father who nourished a love of Celtic that has been lifelong, my uncles who were always there and made my Saturdays so special and my mates who I went to the games with as I got older. Special friends that shared my youth, sadly some no longer with us, but all still alive in the wonderful memories following this club, our club, has given me.
I will continue to follow this club until I am no longer able but will always have the memories of great times with great people.
Hail Hail
borgo67,
Your wee fella will appreciate it.
I know I haven’t forgotten my first European Matches.
Big moments,
Clogher
No, don’t worry.
Sometimes, with some Internet Providers, the IP address is literally their address not the home user.
Celtic Bhoy
Inspiring and poignant words mate.
HAIL HAIL
Gordybhoy64
I’d keep that quiet…..they may try and charge you more.
Mon the Hoops,
cheers for the reply,
canny understand why this changed and google searches
now highlight Northampton based companies.
BCW,
ha ha ,very clever,
am sitting here worried about being hacked as well ;-))