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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Matthews is off to Sunderland! cross fingers Lustig doesn’t get injured
leftclicktic
19:39 on
2 July, 2015
LOSTINBENIDORMONTHEWAYTOBARCA
Just catching up
Welcome to the madhouse,dont be a stranger :)))
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LOSTINBENIDORMONTHEWAYTOBARCA
Hopeitwisnaein72ruahun?
For a guy who has scored so many goals for Celtic and is continually rated by John Collins and at 25 years of age Stokesy still has an awful lot to offer despite the bias from some quarters.
Evening!
Surely the time has now come for some serious ‘over-investment’?!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/over-investment-ahoy/
SoT, I’m always intrigued by cryptic crosswords. Even when I see the answer, I can rarely work out how you would get there on your own.
How did you get zombie from that clue?
Tallybhoy …. played a lot of tennis when I was young … Laver was done when I started playing, but for some reason, I grew up loving the old aussies … laver, emmo, newcombe, even Rosewall …. Tennis for the Bloody Fun of it was my bible …
then became a fan of Borg, followed by Willander, Edberg …. and now, think Federer is just CLASS
met many of the players when I was playing as a junior, and as much as it pains me to say it, Borg was a bit of a jerk, and Connors and McEnroe were probably the most gracious of the lot to young kids like me ….
but, for me, the Rocket will always be in a class by himself. one of my regrets when I made it to Oz this years was not doing a pilgrimage to Rockhampton …. but, damn, that Oz is a big place!. another time hopefully.
Canamalar, yep, most games. I’m just not in the Stokes camp. I do see that he does some good things – just not often enough. He’s not alone in that of course.
I was happy at that time in 67 too.
see posters saying that AM is off …. it didn’t turn out for him the way we had hoped …he didn’t seem to be same player after his injury problems … but always seemed like a good sort who tried … hopefully, he will put his injuries behind him, and go on to a great career.
Mountblow tim
Hope to catch up soon sir, hope things are OK with you.
YNWA.
Till later all
Not a stokes fan
Main reason. Snubbed us to go to Sunderland
Secondary reason, don’t think he is that good
Off field activities. .no interest
Hankray
I was taking to Pillar recently ( went to school with him) he reckons Dublin or kerry. ..and suddenly there appeared an angry mob of disgruntled donegal men screaming for the head of WITS
Sky Sport Breaking News. Sunderland agree fee with Celtic for Adam Matthews
henke – Last character (last letter in alphabet = z) with riotous mob (anagram of mob – it being ‘riotous’ = omb) I followed (stick an I on) as a lethargic person (answer is something that describes a lethargic person = z-omb-i)
HH
TB
Canamalar – yes. However it took Lubo hardly any matches for that to be clearly on the way. I’m willing to be wrong with Stokes but if he’s got it he’s taking a long time to show it.
The economic report from the IMF admits they lied and cheated Greece into accepting their initial bail out. The IMF who, we are told are the foremost respected economic system analysts in the world have today declared they made a mistake, should we believe this or should we now see them for what they are “international loan sharks” who offer loans on the condition that you spend that money only on their advised spending policies WTF, street loan sharks don’t even tell you how to spend their money.
Come on BRICS get your act together and give the IMF some competition.
Weeminger,
Simply put, what position do you think Stoksey could prove himself quickest, do you think he’s been given the chance to ?
Last Sunday, I played football with my five year grandson, who, despite having a distinct American accent is absolutely Celtic daft. We played one on one in his back garden with two little portable goals to attack/defend.
In my grandfatherly indulgent way I made the game competitive for him, but very quickly he saw through my plan and promptly gave me a Grade C bollocking for not trying to play properly.
He won of course, by a margin of 15 to 12 if I recall accurately.
By the end I was praying for the final whistle. Playing in 95 degree heat on dodgy knees never seemed like such a bad idea as it did by then.
He is a Scott Brown clone – incredible strength, really terrifying work-rate, extremely competitive and he has perfected the skill of stiff arming anyone who competes with him for the ball or for his space. His Daddy says that he didn’t start to do this as well until he was about 17.
Yesterday, I played one v one football again – this time with Tony’s elder daughter – aged 7. She also won – 14 – 11, I think. She laughed so much though while still winning; I joked about “missing” the ball and tripping myself up etc. Kids just love slapstick.
Funny thing is that she wears the No 8 jersey especially, because that was her Daddy’s shirt number too. That Scott Brown connection again.
It’ll be good to see you back playing in the hoops Scott – wearing that number 8 jersey.
HH
henke .
Last character of the alphabet – Z
riotous mob – use letters m / o / b
I followed – put I at end of word .
.Z O M B I
Travelbhoy
20:09 on
2 July, 2015
henke – Last character (last letter in alphabet = z) with riotous mob (anagram of mob – it being ‘riotous’ = omb) I followed (stick an I on) as a lethargic person (answer is something that describes a lethargic person = z-omb-i)
HH
TB
too clever for me …..I would never have got that :-))
HH
hankray … hard to believe Stokes is still that young …. he always seemed much older … partly because he has been around for a while … plus his baldiness always made him seem older ….
there have been a lot of articles about anti-baldy discrimination (seriously!) …
Canamalar …. maybe its not anti-irish sentiment … just anti-baldy sentiment …. thinking back …. gravesen got chased out … as did daniel masjorovic … all baldies!
then again, perhaps I’m just more sensitive to that issue as my hair gets thinner by the day!
Canamalar
The imf are fine body of men
They should tell us all how to spend our money. .It would stop all you left wing hippy types spending your money on pot and save the whale badges
Bankers of the world unite
Now where did I leave me aul confederate flag
Sunderland agree Matthews fee. Looks like one right back in and one out.
Word made from last character in alphabet is z, plus mob, plus i . Zmobi. Add an e and get zombie?
Matthews to Sunderland?
Makes sense. Any know how long his contract is with us – if two years or more has to be more than £4m, £2m if a year
HH
The ignorance of the little Englander EPL fan never ceases to amaze. Had a quick look on Sunderland forum and on a 5 page thread about signing Adam Matthews no one has heard of him.
canamalar
19:01 on 2 July, 2015
Fair point…..just was never impressed with him ……. willing to be proven wrong :)
Weeminger,
Me too but when you think about it what does it take to be a Celtic legend ?
A couple of good years of playing football ?
A bit pathetic when you really think about it, no ?
dena29 – took me a long time to be able to do more than a couple of clues at a time – think my Dad did them so it’ must be hereditary !
HH
TB
Sheep game is on premier live, for anyone looking.
Canamalar – I think he’s done best as a wide left forward, similar position to Thierry Henry but my point about legends is that they force themselves into the manager’s plans. I’m pretty sure in training they experiment with players in lots of positions if Stokes can’t show it in training the coaches can’t be expected to just put him in the team anyway.
He’s good SPL level but I’m not sure he’s any better.
Matthews away. No real surprise there. Good right back but not brilliant and suffered a bit under Ronny. One less Neil Lennon player one more Ronny.
2 first team ready players signed and a few fringe players away. Wage bill down. Should leave a few quid spare for a proper striker.
Canamalar – it probably took Lubo 2 goals to become a legend. He didn’t even know how to react let alone realise what he would become.
Canamalar @ Stokes
I agree that AS has the basics to be a very good player.
Unfortunately his attitude has let him too many times.
Plus he is a No. 10 not a full on CF.
I fear he has used up all his life’s.
Would just like to wish Adam Matthews all the best.
Never a hint of bother.
Decent player.
Weeminger,
It’s all about opinions, I had loads of stick supporting Sammi, sometimes you just need to enjoy what you see and hope other will eventually catch up.
I actually believe Stokesy is better than Sammi, given the backing he will prove that but then Sammi was never given the supporters backing till it was too late. Even then there were too many willing him to fail so their years of denial could be vindicated. They failed but too late for Sammi.
travelbhoy….
Stick at the crosswords, the only downside is, ye get used to the way clues come at you, then they change the person writing them and you need to find their mind track:((
Mike in Toronto
Anthony Stokes’ assault case keeps going back which must affect you , no matter how self confident you are. It went up to the more senior court so he will be worried. Case comes back in early 2016. I think he will get off (usual late bar nonsense)
His background is interesting, went to Terenure College(private school) which is very much a rugby school. His dad likes to associate with criminal gangs and has got lifted more than once because of it. All cases were dropped but the association causes these issues
I don’t think us who live in Ireland are anti Irish for noting this, the dogs on the streets know what these gangs are and what they do and I’d rather our players stayed well clear.
Sore one for ol’ Rafa there – losing to Noel from Casualty….
Canamalar
19:46 on
2 July, 2015
`that’s probably his problem as our administration don’t want legends `
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At least you have an administration!!!!!