I wrote in May that Jota (23) was more important to retain than Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent contract. At that point, the profile of both players was high after a successful term in Glasgow, we would not have been the only potential destination. It is a huge credit to chief exec Michael Nicolson and the club that they have delivered both.
Cameron was our best defender, a potential Celtic captain, but still, I wanted Jota more. Opponents fear him. He can take a ball when marked tightly and the defender will not lunge in to attempt a steal, knowing Jota has the ability to move ball and body before they have formulated a thought.
If an opposition team leave him one-on-one, they better not lose possession. He is Celtic’s most effective out-ball; left with only one defender to beat, he can turn defence into an opportunity to score faster than Usain Bolt could track back.
When Aiden McGeady signed for Hibs this week, my thoughts went back to so many great memories. Prominent among them, was watching him as an 18-year-old, bring his instant control to a 2004 Celtic-Milan Champions League game. No one else in the Celtic team had that ball control.
Jota has the same effortless control.
So what about the Magic Window, where Celtic have seen enough of the player to make their move, before wealthier clubs get involved?
Incredibly, Jota had only played an entire 90 minutes of a game only twice before joining Celtic, both cup games for Benfica against lower league opposition. The season before arriving in Glasgow was mostly spent on the bench, watching his Real Valladolid side fail to ward off relegation. He made 8 starts there and was hooked each time, adding 10 appearances from the bench.
Across his career, before joining Celtic on loan last year, he made 9 starts and 29 sub appearances in senior football. Magic window? More a magic letterbox. He had hardly put studs on grass.
Valladolid was clearly a wrong move. As we have discussed previously about Patrick Roberts, he is a creative talent and needs to be with a team that spends lots of time attacking, sides fighting relegation would be unable to get the ball to him enough to see the benefit of giving him a shirt. It was the classic square peg/round hole problem – one we should be on the lookout for again.
To know the value of the player, Celtic would have to uncover knowledge only visible at Portuguese and Spanish reserve level games. The resources required to cover this much ground is unfathomable through traditional means. You are looking at the result of very effective analytics.
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Good morning from an overcast but dry North Staffs.
COVID has hit the family with my son and grandson testing positive.
My grandson was supposed to have his tonsils out on Wednesday but that’s now being cancelled 😨
Happy independence Day to our American Bhoys
GFTB,
I too hope AT gets back on here soon. He is definitely one of the good guys.
For the life of me I can’t see any trills on here. It seems to be a very convenient way of denouncing anybody who has a different opinion to the majority or mainstream if you like.
I think the chat about upgrading our facilities and optimisatng our potential has been first class.
Compare and contrast the approach to Celtic Park now and before the Commonwealth games.
However, improvement must be continuous or we regress.
We never stop is applicable to all aspects of our development.
HH, onboard with the AP journey.
Apologies for the spelling this fone has a life of its own. 🤔🙃
Good morning Celts.
Is it back to Celtic Quick News or is it still Queen’s Park Quick News? Jeezo does MM love to dominate a blog or what?
I’m away swimming. Back later.
Hail Hail.
GREENPINATA on 4TH JULY 2022 8:08 AM
Apologies for the spelling this fone has a life of its own. 🤔🙃
——————
If it is a really old phone, this could be a wind up
Keep it up about upgrading the Stadium ,and other facilities,them on the Celtic Board will finally get the message,the life and soul of Celtic is the supporters not them with cash that get all the freebies and really contribute nothing ,so Bhoys don’t let up we need to let this board that we are fed up being treated as just paying customers.Founded onCharity that went out the window long ago ,the old saying Charity begins at home we’ll it’s time Celtic acted on behalf of the ordinary fan ,I still want rid of Dermot Desmond and a few others .
20 or so ghuys on the internet giving their opinions on upgrading the stadium is going to make the board either do the work or eave and let somebody else do the upgrades…
He think ?
Where the l did that go ..eave is leave 🙈
GP
You never see the “trolls” but they are there :-)
One question
Do you think every poster on here supports or even likes Celtic ?
I don’t … but like any blog “posts” create responses
AT …. Get back in here in your own good time, preferably sooner than later 🍀
TIMBHOY163
As usual you are spot on re stadium upgrade and well done for championing this issue and keeping it going.
Again we will have officials from clubs all over Europe visiting the stadium during the coming season. God only knows what they think of the threadbare facilities in and around the south stand. Then there are the foreign supporters who will come to Celtic Park looking to sample the famous atmosphere they have heard so much about, only to find that their view of the action is partially obsucerd by a huge, ugly pillar.
Something also needs to be done about stadium access for clubs, both Celtic and visitors, arriving at the stadium, where coaches have to disembark their passengers before reversing to let the next coach in. Another embarrassing shambles.
The entire stand area needs to be flattened, rebuilt and largely extended outwards. Arriving team buses should be able to drive uninterrepted into the building, whether that be by means of a tunnel or whatever.
I like the idea of a fan zone as someone mentioned. But what gets me about Celtic Park and indeed most Scottish grounds is the complete lack of toilet facilities outside the stadium. We are encouraged to arrive early, visit the superstore and savour the atmosphore on the Celtic Way, but heaven forbid you should need to relieve yourself.
As I say TIMBHOY123. Keep up the call. We know it makes sense.
PS. Does the above qualify for today’s Mr Grumpy award?
South Melbourne letting Sellik fans in for free again this weekend; the bar takings must be monster ;)
Sydney Cup will surely be announcing that it’s Melb Victory or Brisbane Roar to take Sevco’s place this Nov.
Be a good thing if we setup a reverse feeder deal with an Aussie club, to send some of our peripherals out to get some first team football; yes, Mikey J, Dane Murray and Joey Dawson come on down ;))
Where there’s a will there’s a way, that’s all that needs to happen for a stadium upgrade to begin, por cierto
My friends in Celtic,
Football team names are under threat as never before. I remember posting a while ago that if we didn’t kick back as a society the very name Celtic FC would be under threat by the cancel culture mob.
Other team names under threat :
Manchester United & City. Change Non binary United & City.
Motherwell. Change to Gestationalparentwell.
Maidenhead Town. Cancelled.
Sy Mirren & St Johnstone. Cancelled.
West Ham. Change West FC.
Arsenal: Change. Posterior FC.
Southampton: Change .Southtown.
Wolverhampton Change . Wolverton.
Tottenham Hotspur. Change Tottenspur.
Fulham. Cancelled. Use of Fool and ham.
Blackburn Rovers. Cancelled
Blackpool. Cancelled.
Wigan Athletic. Change to Athletic.
Mansfield Town. Change Person Town.
Tranmere Rovers. Change. The Rovers.
Scunthorpe Utd. Change. Thorpe utd.
Oldham Athletic. Cancelled.
Whitehaven AFC. Change. Haven FC
Etc, etc, etc.
Is this an exeragation? I dont think so. Its coming if we let this madness go on. We maybe dont want to discuss this and think ” This is crazy, he’s off his trolley.
We shall see.
HH.
Guys,
We have discussed the lack of toilet facilities outside the ground and how the bushes are absolutely blooming.
Im sure more cycle lanes will solve this ” problem “.
HH.
GFTB,
In all my years on CQN, I have only heard one poster state he wasn’t interested in football.
And he would not be regarded by the incrowd as a troll
HH.
BRRB
Is Alfredo’s on the Monday “to-do” list today ?
GP 11.21am
Can I ask who the “incrowd” are ?
In my humble opinion there are one or two who would love to lead the blog away from Celtic … politics is the easy option to divide opinions and definitely an easy way for that to happen
If posters keep it Celtic that will annoy any non Celtic supporter…. But easy to post that
Anyhow … work is calling … why in the name of the wee mhan did I ever agree to Monday in the office and not a wfh day is beyond me
AT …. still waiting :-)
test
GENE
Hope the boys symptoms are mild and they recover soon!
Keep us posted!
GFTB 11.23. No mate, haven’t decided where yet. Decisions, decisions. 🤔🍻. Anyways, have we not signed anyone this week. Unacceptable Celtic!!
Prof. Sir Tom Devine (an actual historian) on the credentials of Neil Oliver: ““This individual has no formal historical training either at the undergraduate or postgraduate level but persists in being asked to pontificate on issues of Scottish history…”
From the ole DR
Premier League side Everton are in talks to replace Rangers and face Celtic in the Sydney Super Cup – according to a report.
The tournament suffered a blow when the Ibrox side pulled out of the chance to face their great rivals in glamour friendly Down Under.
Think the correct reaction from the organizers was thank god we missed a bullet there😱
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 4TH JULY 2022 11:49 AM
From the ole DR
“The tournament suffered a blow when the Ibrox side pulled out of the chance to face their great rivals in glamour friendly Down Under.”
The tournament suffered a blow when the Ibrox side caved into fan pressure and pulled out of the chance to face their great rivals in glamour-friendly Down Under.” Fixed that for DR Hun readers.
por cierto
PRESTONPANS – ta for the headsup.
Locally Inter Milan have long been mentioned.
Be entertaining to see Jota v JonJo Kenny though ;)
Beautiful day here in the East End of Glasgow, por cierto
Mining all.Fenerbache muddying the waters again,according to Turkey Sports,regards Sousa.
new article posted.
Stx2 @ 11.49
Prof STD sorry better stick to TD needs to wind his neck in.
NO — by training / education / with trowel — finds history in the raw.
TD — by education / no trowel involved — just gets to comment on it.
I fear an ego has been bruised.
NO is a ham actor / loves a stage but he does have validity.