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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Canamalar
I read back and followed your posts about Stokes. The guy was initially with Arsenal which I think is a good indication of his talents. Unfortunately I don’t think Tony’s pace and work ethic match his fantastic football brain. His link up play with Izzy was a highlight of last season for me but I think it’s taken 5 years aff the Hondurans career! :-)
Corbyns Good..on Question Time…Pity hes Un electable..
minx1888 praying to Wee Oscar
22:57 on
2 July, 2015
Dena29 – Thank you I’m grand… busy working… unlike some :-) but always lurking!
hope all well with you! Looking forward to the new season!
See you soon
Thats good :-)) all’s well here looking forward to getting back to paradise seems so long since the last game :-))
see you soon KTF
HH
HT,
I respect your right not to comment more. 15 plus appearances itself is an affront to their democratic rights. How can that be possibly justified?
Morally wrong and economically illeratitate.
HH.
Ps : you have been missed on here.
Oh fek HT’s back oan…..don’t be telling him whit I’ve been saying.
Bgx,
It’s very simple, Harold Wilson was the target of death threats from not only his own state but foriegn states without backing, there’s no many people who would sit there and defy that kind of power. Since then the UK has went the way of America and the power/money has only ever been greared to killing any notion of social democracy, banking is the only power base and that’s it until enough call them out, sorry but the SNP are in this baw deep don’t kid yourself that independence will improve anything, if anything we will become weaker with less clout buying power is the only threat to banking the less buying power the less independence.
Financial institutions across the west threatened to do to us what they are now doing to Greece, I don’t see too many govts anywhere resolute enough to face such threats to the lives of their populations, Brown saved millions of lives by taking on the debt of the banks/feral capitalism. Greece has a lot less to loose, to be honest the difference is minute in Greece so they might as well retaliate.
Only fcuk wits think becoming smaller will stop the predators eating you. It’s a very simple law of nature, the law most feral capitalists abide by.
henke/Sipsini – when you head into you 2nd half-century I found I just needed something to kick start the grey cells on the way into work!
Bit like trying to work with a hangover – gets harder to do every year until you stop drinking so much on a school night…took me until 43 or so to learn that.
Awra & HH
TB
Greenpinata
22:10 on
2 July, 2015
My friends in Celtic,
Is capitalism truely bad or just a soundbite for some. I believe most of us would state that we endorse or even activity promote some form of socialism.
However, to reiterate what was said the other day we are all capitalist to a certain extent.
The many wealth creators on here and business-people are in business primarily to make a profit.
The employees of private companies are employed to make their employer a profit at home or overseas. To think otherwise is nonsensical. A tool of capitalism if you like.
Business big or small cannot be anything but capitalism in action. Imo true socialism is now more of an individual choice, where those of us who have, assist those of us who have not .
HH.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Anti-capitalist Celtic supporter?
No problem.
How then can you support an organisation as blatantly capitalist as Celtic F.C. without being a hypocrite?
No profit.No charity.
When stokes was a kid with shelbourne in the league of Ireland, he was their bright young star. Shelbourne were then the top team in league of Ireland and had a sweet deal with man utd which involved ferguson sending over coaching staff and playing pre season friendlies which always filled the coffers. In return shelbourne had to promise that man utd would get first choice on any decent young players shelbourne produced. Of course stokes decided to sign for arsenal which didn’t please sir Alex. ..just saying like
Ruggygman
Maybe Janko will play in front of lustig in Europe having a more physical presence than Forrest and be more defensive minded in away games nice to have options.
Canamaler..So Do we Go with Brics or Stay with the Yanks..And Why didnt britain do what Iceland Done..Aw while im here, why doesnt britain have an oil Fund..Just asking.
glendalystonsils/Cowiebhoy
It’s a fantastic day in the fight against the Act but sadly this isn’t always going to be the case.
Thar she blows.
So since the season ended Zaluska, Pukki, Tonev, Wakaso, Denaya, Guidetti, Herron and Charmers have been sold/ released/ returned to their clubs. Now we are hearing Baldé, fridjonsson and Mathews too. VVD will follow after C/L qualifiers have been negotiated.
Imagine any half decent offers for McGeouch, McGregor, Boerrigter, Stokes, Irvine, stefan or Rogic will see them go.
Seems It will certainly be RD’s team team very soon
hh
HT
That is indeed a fantastic day, well done, incredible fortitude from you.
papajoe55…
yip…almost certain thats the thinking..
if we look at our central core…. C.Gordon, Boyata, Van Dijk (hopefully) then Brown and Bitton..
thats a right strong core…. and as you say, Lustig at right back, and Jancko wide right… sounds to me a strong right hand side.
much to be optmistic about.
i hope we don’t fail by small margins, by not having a european quality striker… the salzburg number 9 springs to mind.
Celtic would have been aware of sunder lands interest in Matthews.
Get Janko in, sorted
Well that’s wot I think
HH
Ruggygman,
Yer drunk ya clown, there’s been a lot more support for Stokesy than you can count, then again clown magic obviously works for you. Keep on ignoring the bleeding obvious.
http://WWW..sounds right mate..
stephbhoy
Been reported that both Amido Balde and Holmbert Fridjonssen are both away, signed for FC Metz & Rejkavic respectively ?
Maybe Matthews was offered a new deal and refused?
As others have said he was free and moves on after great service. Lustig is everyone’s first choice RB. Matthews is an international and his country may qualify for the euros. He has to start games. Think it’s actually a good move by the club to allow him to move on. He does well down there then the value of our future players in EPL terms rises. Everyone has to leave at some time. Great servant and I wish him well.
HamiltonTim
Cap doffed for your hard campaigning. Your hard work is paying off.
I also agree with you with Stokes. The Bhoy doesn’t seem to have a position, Ronny has tried him in a few roles and he doesn’t seem to fit in his system. I read or heard Liam Brady who ran arsenals youth academy say that when he brought Stokes to arsenal he was the best player he had ever seen at that age group. He said he just didn’t listen. No whether that is the case or not I don’t know. Off the pitch he seems to have a bit of daft Bhoyness about him. Nothing wrong with that to a point and footballers are no Angels but my impression is Ronny doesn’t know quite where Stokes fits into his team. So in my mind there are two options. Stokes becomes a bit part squad player or he moves on. Could be completely wrong but just the way I read it. The Bhoy has talent. He knows where the goal is and his build up play is good. He has a decent assist record but ask yourself where does he play in Ronny’s team when everyone is fit and will Stokes at 26 be happy to sit most of the time on the bench? It’s a head scratcher for me!
LB
greenpinata
It’s well known that Celtic sites such as this are observed for info so it wouldn’t be wise for me or the case if I was to say say anymore.
Stephbhoy
maybe im being an optimist… but out of the list of all those names you mention, i certainly dont see Johansen or Rogic leaving anytime this season. Van Dijk, i am starting to believe will be here…at least until champs league qualifying is over.
if we qualify, im almost certain the big man will stay and give champs league a go.
if we fail, he is 110% away…. thats economics for you
Ruggeyman..Your Post earlier..About System and players Was Top Notch mate..IMO..
Hamilton Tim.
Keep up the good work.
15 court appearances is outrageous.
I read on the Huddleboard that the guys cleared today were on their 8th.
The whole thing stinks.HH
Macjay,
I am not against capitalism. I repeat we are all capitalist to a degree, but it has to be regulated. Anyone who earns their living in the private sector and aims to make a profit must be a capitalist, in the true sense of the word.
Football at the top echelons is capitalism in action. No hyprocarcy there.
HH to you.
BGX…. cheers.
Canamalar and no doubt a few others, see things differently. but thats life.
im glad astute intelligent muckers like you and i can see the clear picture.
Canamalar…
Yaawwn…. you no in bed yet.
get that sleep-suit on, water-bottle heated up, and get urself tucked in.
dont let the bed-bugs bite.
Ruggeyman..Shhh…Im in the Diamond Jackson Clique..Barring Offence on Cqn..
Corbyns Good on CQN..i Like Him..
Firstly,
Macjay,
That can always change, because your forced to live in a capitalist society does not make you a capitalist, hence charity.
Secondly
Bgx,
There is a problem when you are the base for one of the biggest nuclear arsenals in the world especially when you don’t control that arsenal, very basic but seriously threatening.
Britain does not have an oil fund because the Westminster paedo society is a closed society that preys on the poor and have no/never had any aspirations of giving up their prey especially if that means sharing that prey with bigger predators.
And you want us to be smaller eh, you think we’ll be able to hide better ?
Canamalar is away to dab on his clinique….
night night big guy….. deep breaths, slow breathing. Thats it, everything is going to be o.k in the morning.
Ruggeyman
Been reading back over posts. Concur with bgx ‘re your earlier post on systems and players. Excellent post.
An interesting point from Phil’s latest was that they will rely on ST sales and receipts from home games to keep afloat (can zombies sink?) and lo and behold the computer has ‘given’ them 4 home games out of the first 6!!
Bgx,
I prefer that delightful fox from Iran.
Also liked ruggygman,s post!
VP
Ya nugget what have you been saying?! :-)
Stivs
We only support and if possible give advice, ultimately it’s in the hands of rich, powerful people, most of whom have little or no comprehension of being a football supporter.
Canamaler…Thats Without Doubt, The Best Post For INDEPENDENCE I Have Ever Ever Read…Bless