You would be forgiven if you didn’t know much about Kwon Hyeok-Kyu. He joined Celtic in the summer from his hometown club in the Korean second tier but, before Saturday, the last football he played was July.
Since then, the 22-year-old relocated to Scotland, with all the social, cultural, culinary and sporting challenges that involved. St Mirren have him on loan until the end of the season and on his debut on Saturday, he was awarded Man of the Match (by the BBC, not a sponsor, keen to boost a new arrival). That’s remarkable for a player out for so long.
Defensive mid is the role Callum McGregor plays, and Callum is the most available player on the planet, so swap-out options are rare. Tomoki Iwata awaits his chance there, while Matt O’Riley really impressed when asked to fill-in. It is no surprise we have yet to see Kwon.
He is an absolute unit: 6’ 3”, mahogany solid and fast. His impressive debut for St Mirren surprised no one at Lennoxtown, including his manager, who has hopes for the player.
He is a find; prepare for a reassessment ahead, along the lines of Bernardo, with Holm and Nawrocki to come. A loan move to St Mirren is a great next step. He will hopefully play until May as he becomes adjusted to life in Scotland. Celtic will watch all his games and he will return in the summer ready to press for a place in the team.
What happens to Kwon and the others is critical to how Celtic develop as a club. Make a success of signing players with talent and growth potential, or pick up expensive mid-career journeymen (like Newco). Best of luck to Kwon on Saturday.
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REGGIE on 23RD JANUARY 2024 1:38 PM
“If Kyogo gets injured the league is over”
It’s the same every season, it’ll be the same in the future. Give in to the angst and we’ll end up with a squad full of deadbeat stop gaps
I attended the AGM. The bank cash amount was mentioned as was the fact that a significant amount of it was required to cover payments due in the second half of the year. Obviously wages and payments due on transfer fees would be part of it and there was a hefty tax bill that was due to be paid in January.
I can’t remember the exact figures, but it was certainly apparent to me that the 70 million pound bank balance wouldn’t be in the bank for long.
Club bank accounts seem to be cash rich between season ticket renewal and whoever the financial statement is produced and the reduced significantly between then and the end of the season.
I think the previous season’s uefa prize money is paid in arrears in September also.
TOSS-UP I know that rule,but sign him anyway for next season
Ffs TOSB…..😑
Bhoyjoebelfast
Good to see the return of the teaser.
CQN has been in fine form of late. Long may it continue.
Good post, Darmin.
Glad the enforced break is over and the football has restarted.
Would appear our summer signings are beginning to flourish. Timing is everything.
Ok, game face on. We have a league to win here
Sorry, should have said second half of the season, not the year.
Gary @2.07
thank you.
!!BADA BING!! on 23RD JANUARY 2024 2:05 PM
TOSS-UP I know that rule,but sign him anyway for next season.
…………..
As long as it wasn’t Tosser! 🤣🤣🤣
Re. Beck if we signed him he’d lose 5 months of development through being unable to play. Let’s get him in the summer.
Paul posted….
‘What happens to Kwon and the others is critical to how Celtic develop as a club’.
I guess it depends what we mean by ‘Develop’. For me, it has to include a fair degree of ‘Improvement’.
Honestly, I’m not seeing much improvement.
Sure, things can pick up when we get a new Manager. It certainly did when Ange arrived. But only for about 18 months. Then recruitment took a backward step, opposition sussed us out a bit. And we took a step back.
And so it goes. We will willingly sell MOR, Hatate and others. We will replace them with less experienced players who will take a flourish.
Rinse and repeat.
The only positive on the horizon is an increase in UCL money. However, we don’t appear to be willing to make the investment that would make this more likely.
I’m just not seeing the long term progress that most of us want.
Weeron.
FIFA regs say a player can be registered with a maximum of three clubs in the same season.
We can sign him but he can’t be played
CLUNKS on 23RD JANUARY 2024 2:19 PM
“We can sign him but he can’t be played”
Unless we loan him back to Dundee?
TBH I didn’t even think we could sign (register) him, let alone play.
Unless we can sign him on a contract, but not register it with the SFA and neither play nor loan him?!
Though the SFA are okay with player contracts being imperfectly registered, as we know ;)
QB
31003
I’d say Kwon is 50% right footed……….
CONEYBHOY on 23RD JANUARY 2024 2:29 PM
31003
I’d say Kwon is 50% right footed……….
Touché
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 23RD JANUARY 2024 2:05 PM
This £72m will not have included CL prize money or gate receipts, so let’s be pessimistic and call it another £30m.
Done a bit of searching.
Players were allowed to play for three clubs during the 20-21 period. This was a temporary arrangement so things have now reverted to the old system, so two now.
Apologies for confusing the issue!
Prestonpans
I would say 30 million not unreasonable estimate.
I think the 22-23 UEFA prize money would have have been paid before the AGM but the prize money for the current season won’t be determined and paid out until after all this season’s tournaments have been concluded. Not 100% on this but I think that is how it works.
Celtic40me
Interesting points on Championship debt/sales. Reading down the teams in that league, they all could argue they are a ‘big’ club who should be in the PL. League 1 starts to thin out with maybe only Derby having previous glory.
On the purchase of Championship players by EPL; I think the exception probably proves your rule – Ollie Watkins at Villa. Came from Championship and must have been around 25ish
CONEYBHOY on 23RD JANUARY 2024 2:38 PM
Outside of the relegated clubs who have proven Premiership players who want away theres very few big money sales these days to the EPL, certainly compared to a few years ago.
“The Daily Mail report that Abada has found the situation “challenging” and that “a six-month loan move could offer time and space to review the situation in the summer.” West Brom are said to be preparing to join Watford, Southampton and clubs from France and Germany in pursuing a deal.”
At this rate the press will have the entire squad either sold or off on loan , meanwhile at the bigotdome no one wants any of them 😅🤣😆
Every club is looking for a Centre Forward who can score….finding one on loan will be near impossible .
TBB
brilliant :)
Rumsfeld – now there was kwon c*nt.
A good wee piece in the Celtic Star blog……
Plastic pitches maybe voted out …. https://thecelticstar.com/category/latest/
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 23RD JANUARY 2024 2:37 PM
The bulk of the £30m odd will have been paid and will be in the interim accounts, due mid Feb. More exciting times on CQN to look forward to :)
We’re pleased to give notice that tickets for next month’s cinch Premiership clash v Kilmarnock (Sat, Feb 17 | KO 3pm) will go on general sale from 11am this Thursday (Jan 25).
the msm now saying that souness knew big phil had something special – so special that he preferred the failed Frank Lampard !!!
Sima long term injury, could be out for the season
Henrik was 25 years old when he signed for Celtic.
As for the “journeyman” tag TBB ?
Really like your posts … but come off it !
“We’ve got £70m. Just spend it”
“We need two solid pros. Just get them”
“So what if he can’t play. Just buy him”
“You’re a billionaire. Just build me a dome”
“Transfer window has been open 3 weeks. Just sign someone”
“Sevco are bringing players in. Just copy them”
https://youtu.be/Pqsy7V0wphI?feature=shared
https://www.glasgowworld.com/retro/was-bob-marley-a-celtic-fan-jamaican-reggae-legends-links-to-glasgow-4174267
Brazillian born forward named Everton playing for Hong Kong right now…
Viva Viva Palestina..
1-0 Palestine !
Sima is a big loss for them – pace hard work and goals from the left side of their attack. Very difficult to replace and Shankland doesnt seem like the sort of player who could.
Two big games for them coming up
I wouldn’t be confident of winning the league if I had a forward line of Matondo, Dessers and McAusland with Silva on the bench.
CELTIC40ME on 23RD JANUARY 2024 3:18 PM
Excellent point, I said on here or SC that I have seem them on the telly for a few games this season and was not impressed.
It was only when I saw them in the flesh did I realise how poor they actually were, there’s little if any improvement from the Beale era. Moreover you can see why they depend so much on penalties 🙄
Spikeysauldman
A win v Hong Kong, any win, might just be enough for Palestine to qualify. Providing Japan beat Indonesia tomorrow.
That would be an amazing and deserved performance.
Bada Bing
Sima injury is a big one for them. He was by far their best signing last summer. Although just a loan. They will really miss him.