The assembly of Celtic-2015-16 continued apace yesterday with the arrival of Saidy Janko (19) from on a four year contract. Saidy spent the second half of last season on loan to Bolton Wanderers, under Neil Lennon, in one of the game’s most bizarre transfers.
Manchester United were happy to allow Janko to go to Bolton in the winder transfer window but his absence would have left their U21 team short. They needed a defender so Bolton offered Andy Kellett. Kellett had only been in the field a total of 85 minutes in his Bolton career and had been farmed out to Portsmouth earlier in the season. So it came as a surprise when Neil Lennon called to say “Pack your stuff, you’re going on loan to Manchester United”.
Saidy arrived in Manchester from Zurich as a 17-year-old right back but now plays all right-side positions. There are things I like about this transfer: he’s been watched by the manager and scouts and was high on the wanted list. The success rate of players who have been well-scouted is vastly better than players who arrive after glowing references from respected names in the game, but where the Lennoxtown guys have only seen rare glimpses of the target.
It’s heartening to read glowing references from those who have watched him in England but references don’t mean he’ll make it at Celtic.
The use of New St Mirren Park by Celtic for a friendly game was not in itself controversial. Before being liquidated, Rangers used the same venue for youth games, and Celtic have often used Excelsior Stadium Airdrie for the same purpose.
But when photos emerged early yesterday of Celtic livery above the club shop, temporarily stocked with Celtic merchandise, it stirred something within St Mirren fans. They don’t mind their stadium being used by another club in return for cash, but for some, sensitivities need to be observed.
I can’t say I was remotely bothered by Commonwealth Games livery at Celtic Park last year, nor would I have raised an eyebrow to the Celtic Superstore being handed over for the sale of Commonwealth memorabilia, very few of us were. However, I have some sympathy for St Mirren fans. We were in a position of strength when we agreed to the Commonwealth deal, St Mirren have just been relegated and most fans expect their stay in the Championship to be more than a single season.
Yesterday’s livery was an indication of St Mirren’s place in the world, not so much a Celtic competitor, more a facilitator, who survived for years on a dividend from Celtic fans’ TV subscriptions.
Paisley is big enough to support a vibrant community club, but it’s too close to Glasgow to build an independently resourced competitor, they are not an Aberdeen, Dundee United, Dundee (maybe still), Hibs or Hearts. We have a handful of economically viable tier one football clubs and should nurture them accordingly, while aligning community clubs to focus on what should be their strengths.
Imagine, for a second, TV money concentrated on six clubs, not 42. These clubs would harvest the talent from a community feeder system and have the opportunity to build a sustainable businesses.
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Fanny Craddick…?
Canalamar. I have to agree I like Stokes as a striker but I think he may have burned to many bridges with Ronny to have a long term future at Celtic. H.H.
Mike in Toronto
If we get ciftci he won’t need a RD preseason as he will be sitting in the stands for 2 Months suspended.
jfh,
No sure and don’t know if he burned his bridges or was told he was not welcome ?
Canamalar
I agree give me Stokes every time
But facts are, he could bang them away when he got the chance so he is/was proven.
I suspect his downfall started long before Ronny got here and we watched on this blog his vilification by some of out more outspoken anti Irish racists
i’vehadtochangemyname….
Brown is having a great game, it’ll take something special for Nadal to come back.
Worked with a guy James Riddell who genuinely had no idea what the fuss was about ⚽️
http://videocelts.com/2015/07/blogs/latest-news/axed-sevco-stars-demand-their-holiday-pay
ek…,
Toilet attendant per chance ?
Canamalar
I always liked Stokes …but, over the last few seasons, he has played further and furhter away from goal (outwide or dropping back) …. I’m not criticiznig him for that ….frankly, our midfield created NOTHING, and the strikers were starved for chances ….so, to his credit AS went looking to be involved in the play, but it meant that he was playing wider and dropping deeper … .now, I’m not sure he can go back to being the pure striker we need ….
and, even if he were to revert to playing more of a pure striker role, I do wonder if the sense that the off-field stuff is maybe catching up with him ….. there is still the assault stuff outstanding, as I recall …. and I think that he was late returning for the Europa game (February?), after which he didn’t seem to figure as much …. for the first few months of RD’s season, I thought AS was one who adapted best to RD’s style …. but, rightly or wrongly, xsince the episode in February, I have wonderied if RD sees a future for him. If he doesn’t, then we need to make sure we have enough cover up front.
Have to dive into this Stokes chat. I don’t particularly rate him.
It ain’t because I’m a snob – who he is, what his background is, it’s immaterial to me.
It ain’t cause I’m a racist, because…well, I ain’t.
I don’t rate him because his first touch is poor, too poor too often, and we need a better and more skilful football player.
That is all there is to it. I get it re the 3-3 game at Kilmarnock and what he did for Lenny’s job. I celebrated as madly as anyone else when he set up the winner against Karagandy with a terrific piece of footwork.
I also get it that he has a football brain. He just doesn’t have the football feet to go with it.
Just a humble opinion from someone who didn’t have the football feet OR the football brain.
LOSTINBENIDORMONTHEWAYTOBARCA
Just catching up
Welcome to the madhouse,dont be a stranger :)))
sipsini – did brown just let that one go ??????
Some of the link up play between Anthony and Izzy was a joy to behold last season , Anthony is more a link man that a back to goal stricker ⚽️
matchpoints
Nada oooot
Dustin Brown dusts down Nadal…well done.
he’s done it
Wow, Dustin Brown…wow. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright for that boy!
Nadal oot.
HH!!
canamalar
Not to mention his assist rates! Always rates high. Very important
New Balance website for new Hoops kit. Use code NBPCA2015 for 40% discount. I entered the code to test it and it does work. Home & away tops only £33 after discount :-)
Good Evening CQN
My brother and I had fantastic night out last night going to New St Mirren Park with
Some fantastic company Delaneys Dunky EddieinKirkmichael
We had Great seats in main stand beside the player’s area
Game not up to much but a good run out for the team
Keep the Faith
Hail Hail
Mt
mike..,
First off, I don’t give a monkeys about his off-field antics I don’t believe they were anything more than a smear campaign. Which our own anti Irish racists lapped right up and thought they were on a winner with.
Secondly, I believe he drifted further from goal under instruction, I doubt very much he would scupper his Celtic career deliberately.
From everything I’ve heard about him from many different sources he loves it here and wants to be a legend, that’s probably his problem as our administration don’t want legends anymore they want servants who sacrificed themselves well in the name of the bonus.
nadal is a player who has confounded me throughout his entire career …
when he first started, I thought there was no way he would adapt to playing on faster courts …. but he did
then, when he started winning, I thought that his style of play put such a strain on his body that there was no way that he could play like that for a prolonged period required by the slams… but he did
then, after he won a few, I thought that his body had to break down, and when it did, I thought there was no way he would come back …. but he did
then, a few years ago, after he started winning more regularly on hard courts and grass, I thought he could be the player to go on and win the most grand slams ….but, once again, I was wrong …. he is pushing 30 now, so his chances of surpassing Federer seem to be fading …
in any event …. and as much as I like Federer (a beautiful player to watch, and seems like a decent guy) ….Rod Laver is still the greatest player ever!
Canamalar – are you ever happy?
” McNab Tosh ”
..what a belter!
Fieldodrams,
Do you get to many games ?
Clue in crossword made me chuckle on train home just now –
7) Last character with riotous mob I followed as a lethargic person (5)
Worked on all levels for this weirdo!
HH
TB
What Is The Stars…………..We left Croke Park many Sundays prior to 2011 down in the dumps but since winning the two All Irelands the Dubs finally got the monkeys off their backs and Jim Gavin now has a good young squad playing well. He is an excellent coach and has come up through the ranks with the development squads. Probably right about Kerry.
Canamalar – players that are destined to be legends always get there. I’ve not really seen too much in Stokes to suggest there’s a legend in there.
Fieldodrams,
I remember may 1967 I was happy for a week or two but I was very young and foolish then
Zombi .
That’s the one SoT – now onto less thinking stuff like CQN :-)
TB
M i T
Agreed.
Wee Rod was the man for me.
HH!!
weeminger,
I put him in the same bracket as Sammi, given the chance and backing, put it this way is Lubo a Celtic legend ?
so matthews for the offski
we havent gained a right back then so same as last year with hopefully lustig staying fit