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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KEVJ
Hail Hail
2nd tier England that is
Decent bit of business for Matthews. We have too many right backs and something had to give. A good player but not great defensively and a bit injury prone.
Monaghan
Interesting comments re bigotry ..yet promoting their own brand of same
They’re too thick to understand irony ..
Just watched an amazing film called “The Way Back” which tells the story of a bunch of guys who escaped a gulag in Stalinist Siberia, walked 1000s of miles through frozen Siberia, across the Gobi desert, over the Himalays and finally into India. Walked every step of the way.
A truly astonishing story.
But, and this is the point that makes you really think, just as we were watching the scene when they finally reached the tea plantations in India, my Mrs piped up with:
And if Tony Abbott had been there, he would have locked them up in a detention centre for entering the country without a passport.
THAT is the fundamental truth of Tony Abbott and his “stop the boats” philosophy.
“Just look at the contrasting reactions to Seville v Manchester!”
Kinda nails it for me that.
Does anyone have a link to HT’s OBAF petition they can post please.
Fanx in advance.
macjay
Scroll by….no I don’t think so.
Isnt it obvious, that if you say silly things, or promote views that are disliked, you will be challenged on it.
kevj
Did you really beat cancer?
I cannot imagine anyone saying something like that if it were not true so apologies and would just like to add thats brilliant.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
11:48 on
3 July
MACJAY
Those good and smart people are all too happy to believe what they are told.
————————————————————————————————————————
Well.There we`ll have to differ.
I have huge respect for British people .
The Green Man
12:09 on
3 July, 2015
macjay
Scroll by….no I don’t think so.
Isnt it obvious, that if you say silly things, or promote views that are disliked, you will be challenged on it.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Which is precisely why I am conversing with B.M.C.U.W.
To which you objected.
Make your mind up.
Good luck to Adam Mathews
Liked his style going forward and some neat crosses and cut in runs with a shot to match – was at Arbroath for that absolute belter. Fair warmed me up on an otherwise cold misersble night on the North Sea coast.
Anyway, not sure if he played in his best position.
Never a full back in terms of his ability to stay goalside of his man. Positional sense in defense was not a strength and his desire to get back seemed to lack, noticeably.
A talented footballer wore the hoops with distinction and will hopefully have fond memories of Paradise.
Best wishes Matty
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
10:28 on
3 July, 2015
MACJAY
Erm,the point was that we would rather have an outright Tebbitt of a man than the like of IDS. No-one mentioned laughing at him,nor his blameless wife.
FWIW,I think the IRA chose a more legitimate target that night than they had previously. And Mrs Tebbitt was treated in a specialist hospital,Stoke Mandeville,which the Tories were desperately trying to close.
Fortunately good ole Jimmy Savile managed to save Stoke Mandeville. Look what happened there.
Karma. Eh?
The Green Man
11:54 on
3 July, 2015
macjay
Stop talking bs…you only come on the blog to wind people up.
Have we all just to accept you silly right-wing half-arsed ideology.
Don’t dish it out, if you cant take it.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Marvellous example of ” Ad hominem.”
Nothing to contribute except abuse.
Fascist socialism in action.
Cowiebhoy
11:37 on
3 July, 2015
Lustig was out for more than half last season with non related football injuries.Bones on his hips needed surgery to allow freer movement.He alsow got,as I said,a very bad ankle injury at Dundee,being tackled as he cleared a goal scoring chance.Bad luck.
In the three seasons previous,he played nearly all the 90 games,and 10 Internationals.
As I said,remember he was vying with Mathews in a lot of these games,not always picked.
Taking into account his previous career he is anything but”Injury prone”.
I rest my case M’lud.Now off to the beach.Mrs TB giving me the “Look”.
Whats wrong with you people?
KevJungle
12:03 on
3 July, 2015
I LOVE it that I beat cancer a couple of weeks ago…the battle continues…
================================================
Kev J-delighted for you, and wish you well in your ongoing battle!!
You may talk rubbish at times, but then so do we all and that is what this blog is about :-)
HH
CRC
bawsman
12:08 on 3 July, 2015
“Just look at the contrasting reactions to Seville v Manchester!”
Kinda nails it for me that.
—-///–///—///
Yes me too
A smidgeon of capacity to reflect?
“Just look at the contrasting ‘behaviours’ in Seville & Manchester”
Whoooooshhh!
Turkeybhoy
Enjoy the beach
6 months out recovering from hip surgery whilst on full pay from Celtic
I would class as out injured, he needed his hip surgery to allow him to continue to play, and has only play a few games since
Hail Hail
“I LOVE it that I beat cancer a couple of weeks ago…the battle continues”
……………………………….
Not responded to you in a long time KevJ but good on you in beating this horrible disease. It takes far too many before their time.
Mea Culpa,
There is another true story,”As far as my feet will carry me”about the same thing.Even more incredible story.The guy did it on his own,from a Salt mine up at the Barents Sea.
Wont tell you the rest.
macjay
Im sure you would challenge my views as well….that’s my point.
Debate is healthy…provocation, and baiting for a controversial reaction isn’t.
In reality….in a proper political debate, you would get schooled.
Don’t take it personal:)
HH
Yes Kev J
All the best on your own personal battles, delighted for you
Hail Hail
Cowiebhoy, don’t know if you saw my post re the “lost distilleries” dram. Cracked in open and gave it a road test. very nice indeed. Thanks again.
HH
SMSM and a few Hun roasters lurking on here all trying to stir the pot overnight.
You need to try harder, you worthless, soulless gimps.
Are we bidding on Ebay for Cifti? Suddenly, the SMSM jump is £1.5 to £2 million if we want him.
Maybe, if your comprehension levels are around primary 6 remedial class.
A quid more than Wigan suffices, and probably less if the big guy wants to come here. Dundee United will crack and cut their losses. £750k or lose the lot.
Question is, do we want him at a ridiculous price when we could come to an agreement and get him for nothing/minimal amount come January or at the end of the season?
I don’t think CL qualification is dependent upon his signing now.
ACGR
How’s our investment coming along?
HH
CRC
One player I’m a little surprised we weren’t interested in is Kolbein Sigthorsson (Icelandic striker for Ajax). He just moved to Nantes for 2m (I’m pretty sure we are a more attractive proposition than Nantes).
46 goals in 112 appearances in Dutch league. 17 goals in 29 international appearances.
Maybe not a superstar but probably better than what we currently have.
Hello. (Hello)
Great news, Kevjungle.
Before I go,Paul Mc Mullen away to St Mirren on loan.Good on the kid.Hope he does well.
macjay
” Fascist socialism in action” Really!
You will have to improve my friend, your reasoning is stuck in a time-warp.
That wont do.
I await the unveiling of your political mastery with interest:)
Yawn
Well done Kevjungle on defeating this hateful disease, you must be relieved and delighted.
Thunder Road “Whats wrong with you people?”
…………….
My hair thinning and going grey, my golf swing has taken a turn for the worse and I can no longer neck a full dram bottle without serious repercussions.
But apart from that I’m fine:_)
new article posted.
Well done kevjungle
I don’t know you at all but genuinely very happy for you
Billybear@ 12.25
Good post Billy.
HH
KevJungle
12:03 on 3 July, 2015
I LOVE it that I beat cancer a couple of weeks ago…the battle continues…
=======================================
Well done, mate.
You’re mental, but you’re Celtic mental, and I’d rather have you that way that not around to exasperate us.
CRC, it’s sitting in the dark gaining colour and flavour. Was thinking of another sample around April / May next year if there’s consensus between the troops.
I still have Culry’s previous one in my cabinet.
HH
KevJungle
12:03 on
3 July, 2015
The rest is irrelevance.
Keep strong,pal.
Stick with me.
I`ll keep you right about “THE BOARD.”
:-)