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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Also my hunch is that Griffiths will start tomorrow nights game. I reckon Ronny will give the nod to : Armstrong. Johansen. And GMS , as the 3 attacking midfielders.
However, dependant on how Armstrong and/or Johansen is playing, I see an important role for Forrest, even as an impact player, coming on as a sub after 60mins.
I would like to see 2 out n out wingers in GMS and Forrest, given the instruction to get on the ball as Often as possible, and run at the full back constantly.
It’s all very well all this talk about signing Jordan Larsson, but the thing is would he be able to ‘fix the radio?’
DBBIA,
If it had been left to me, we would still be believing in the ole flat earth.
my Headline- ‘Old Firm Euro Dilemma’
Here is what they used:
“We must beat Qarabag or we’ll lose Virgil van Dijk admits Celtic assistant manager John Collins.”
JJ
If he signs for the Hoops he can play in Heir Jordans.
DBBIA
” I will never play in an Old Firm Derby!” bleats van Djik.
JJHS
John Collins is targeted by SMSM.
Jock Stein WGS and MON would knock their agendas for six.
I’VE had
Roic
Return on initial capital (investment)
‘Dave King’s wine collection is off the radar’
Jim Whyte
‘Xavi’ hands in transfer request at hibs ……hehe
Scot Allan better hope Sevco have the money to buy him and pay his wages.
worth a wee laugh as the Doha CSC scam the Raily Decord
http://thecelticblog.com/2015/07/blogs/daily-record-scammed-by-celtic-fans-story?
AR
googybhoy ♥ celtic
18:06 on
28 July, 2015
Scot Allan better hope Sevco have the money to buy him and pay his wages.
Scott Allan better hope there’s still a Sevco to play for next season.
So the Quarabag mystery men from oil and gas rich Baku are in town and seem to have everyone quaking in their shoes at what they can do to us tomorrow night . I never thought they got temperatures in the mid thirties in that far flung land, i was always of the impression that it was a dam cold place even in the summer. We must remember to keep hydrated lads..What are we actually afraid of we have played and beaten far better sides than Quarabag, but then they are the mystery men, are they not?
Ronny is well settled into his duties with League and domestic Cup double adorning his CV and has a settled team and added some very good players during his tenure. there is no comparison to Ronny now and the man that floundered after being thrown in at the deep end this time last year trying to guide a team that was knackered after a globetrotting pre-season.
Quarabag have to be respected but that’s about all. Celtic are on a good run at the moment winning six of the last seven games and scoring a fair number of goals. Quarabag won their first league title last year and are no longer the unknown quantity they were last season. Ronny has good away record in Europe with the team scoring a fair number of goals so a good result tomorrow night and we’re on the way.
CLUB STATEMENT: SCOTT ALLAN
By: Hibernian Media on 28 Jul, 2015 18:02
In the face of continued media interest, Hibernian Football Club can confirm that Scott Allan has today handed in a written transfer request.
This comes on the back of two unwelcome and uninvited approaches from Rangers FC regarding Scott, the first for £175,000 and the second for £225,000.
Hibernian FC has refused both bids because the Club has no wish to transfer a valuable player to strengthen a major rival in the battle to win the Championship and gain promotion to the Premiership.
Hibernian’s position has not changed. The player will not be sold to Rangers.
PS the bold statement is direct from the Hibs website (in more ways than one!)
Yes, the Record has made a complete arse of itself this afternoon!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/dohahahahahaha
And in case you missed it (and are interested…) here are some thoughts on Parma…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/a-slice-of-parma-sham/
Have a good evening!
It’s a nicely worded statement from Hibs and doesn’t say Scott Allan won’t be sold.
Just that he won’t be sold to Sevco.
https://youtu.be/MVdq157av10
Lubo playing on Sky Sports 1,for anyone on the site who still has it.HH
“Not only are we spending millions on players costs”
GLIB
Raheem Sterling sold for £49M (+5 year wage pkg £52M) = £101M!
SMSM now making comparisons that Scott Allan is taking a similar line to Sterling in engineering his move to a higher profile club – ffs!
TheSimplyDeluded!!
Sevco played a blinder – unsettled rivals star player – they might not get him but doesn’t look like he will play for hibs either
http://www.petersmulders.nl/500px/Juni%201999/Michael%20Mols%2009069905.jpg
Some fine points Hank.
No excuses. We must defeat these chumps. Otherwise, heads must roll.
36 members of staff (including players) are being kept under supervision after Wakaso was diagnosed with Malaria.
Just saw an old chopper on the Sweeney
Flares and a pair of goal trainers
I’m sure it was Voguepunter
i’vehadtochangemyname 17:32 on 28 July, 2015
Return on Invested Capital…………………..
BTW, think that he is miles out on his repeated self indulgent ‘analysis’ re the Huns’ situation………..
Good luck to him in that he is making more out of writing about them than he ever will writing about us…….
They cnuts will always get a leg up in this country……………
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
BBC saying we are playing in the Hoops. Joy. HH
Ronny Deila – Champions League interview via Celtic media
are macha
Boy from oz
Thanks guys…….much appreciated
With Mulgrew out, think the team picks itself now
———————– C.Gordon———————
Lustig. Boyata. Van dijk. Izzy.
————broony. Bitton ———————
GMS. Johansen. Armstrong.
—————Griffiths———————–
Cifti and Forrest impact players from the bench to influence proceedings in 2nd half.
Have Hibs no already signed Allens replacement in the Bhoy McGinn from St Mirren, a better player and probably on a similar wage.
Roger Hannah, about the only one in the MSM, that talks any sense.
I booked 3 tickets for Thistle away and 3 for Kilmarnock away this morning. In addition to the ticket cost there was an additional £9 in booking fees. It’s a joke.
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
10:11 on
28 July, 2015
Kerrydale suite open at 5 tomorrow
———————————————-
Am or pm ?
embramike says “the Huns are Deid”
18:15 on
28 July, 2015
CLUB STATEMENT: SCOTT ALLAN
By: Hibernian Media on 28 Jul, 2015 18:02
In the face of continued media interest, Hibernian Football Club can confirm that Scott Allan has today handed in a written transfer request.
This comes on the back of two unwelcome and uninvited approaches from Rangers FC regarding Scott, the first for £175,000 and the second for £225,000.
Hibernian FC has refused both bids because the Club has no wish to transfer a valuable player to strengthen a major rival in the battle to win the Championship and gain promotion to the Premiership.
Hibernian’s position has not changed. The player will not be sold to Rangers.
_______________________
What Hibs have failed to mention in this Statement is “The only thing big about Rankers is the BIG in BIGOTS”