Celtic’s summer spend continued yesterday with the arrival of 23-year-old Swedish central defender Gustaf Lagerbielke from Elfsborg for a reported £3m fee. At 1.93m, Gustav is tall, 8cm taller than Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki, only Christopher Jullien (1.96m) was taller in recent times.
Across the squad Celtic are a small team. Purists who still marvel at that Barcelona side will tell you they were the best team ever and the shortest European champions of the 21st century, so height does not make a difference if you are good enough. You will, though, remember that Celtic scored three goals against Barcelona in our 2012 Champions League games, two were from high crosses. At the very least, we need tall central defenders, if not full backs and strikers.
When all are fit and games really matter, Maik and Gustaf will compete for a spot beside Cameron. Normally, I would be reluctant to push a new arrival straight into a big game, but Sunday is worthy of consideration. Cameron retired at halftime after straining a hamstring at Pittodrie, he is not out of contention for the trip to Kilmarnock. He is, however, so critical to Celtic, if he misses the important games next month, it would be a huge blow to the club.
If this was a league game, I would have no hesitation in playing both new central defenders, it is early enough in the season to be able to take a risk. Our League Cup is, however, on the line. I dont’s subscribe to the ‘It’s only the League Cup’ view so cherished by losers. If Celtic were knocked out of a cup tournament in August, it would give an unwelcome boost to everyone else in Scottish football. Fragile managers would see their chance of survival by winning a few more games and collecting some silverware. Brendan has a big decision to make.
Welcome to Celtic, Gustaf. Your arrival is not a minute too soon.
206 Comments- Pages:
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BURNLEY78 @ 3:13 PM
Kobyashi played a great game to much acclaim on here in our 4-1 at Kilmarnock the last time.
Just saying….
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Very good point Burnley.
Forgot about this when I posted earlier.
From memory, he didn’t seem to have any issue with the surface.
Problem with Kobayashi is that he’s not featured in pre season games. He’s behind Stephen Welsh in Brendan’s pecking order
Que sera sera CSC
Celtic Mac
Agree re Farrell and Shearer.
That said Engerland will easily get through their group games without him anyway.
Arguably they are a better team without him. The principle is what matters here Re the rugby imo.
Bournesouprecipe
Is Kobayashi still injured or has he resumed training ?
B78
Been injured since Japan haven’t seen a mention since.
He was back and fit this week.
KLV
Deniabhoy,
Never said I was” Confident” on the goalkeeper.I was told that we had put an offer on the table.How much I don’t know.A VERY good source.
And his Taxi is very clean:-)))).
I don’t care who plays on Sunday,as long as Odin,Gustav,Korean winger( brain gone),Kwon play.There ye are.
And I am unanimous in that.
Criticism for not being Irish enough
Incredibly, Celtic were even criticised for the choice of name for not being Irish enough.
After Hibs’ first game against Celtic on 4th August 1888 an ‘open letter‘ was issued to the media, believed to have been written by Hibs’ Secretary John McFadden, warning their new rivals that ‘evil deeds never prosper; the duplicity of the founders of the Celtic club will defeat its purpose.’
In the range of criticisms directed against the new Bhoys was this:
‘Patriotic Irishmen, truly, the Celtic and its supporters; patriotic Irishmen indeed who, in order to raise the name of Celts – a name which may cover Welsh, Highland Scotch, French, and all the nations of that family – dealt as they thought, and by means which are apparent to everybody, a death blow to the Hibernian club.’
After an early critical reference to a “white flag with green crossbar flying triumphantly above” the new Celtic Park, presumably as opposed to a Harp or Shamrock flag, McFadden went on to criticise the colours of Celtic’s shirt:
‘ . . . the feeling that I had was that the Hibernians did not pretend to be anything else than true Irishmen; who are not ashamed, but proud, to wear the green, and who don’t wear a white shirt and edge the collar with green so that it requires a microscope to detect the colour at all.’ (The Scottish Umpire, August 7 1888, p.15)
It seems that Hibs’ chief official was criticising the choice of name of Celtic as less Irish than that of Hibernian, Harp or Shamrock and along with the flag and jersey was suggesting that the new club weren’t as truly Irish as their Eastern counterparts.
Deniabhoy
Re Zagreb keeper,it is still a possibility
D.Zagreb 1 Aek Athens 2 from CL qualifier 1st leg
on wed night,2nd leg is on saturday evening.
If Zagreb get put out movements may happen next week.lets see what happens
HH
“AURORABOREALIS79 on 17TH AUGUST 2023 3:00 PM
Quadrophenian
“I see Jack Butlin is getting rave reviews for them”
So did joey barton”
I do like brevity ! :-)))
“AURORABOREALIS79 on 17TH AUGUST 2023 3:11 PM
Looks like the media & Derek mcinnes ate setting the ball in motion for a killie pen this weekend”
What`s this about? Anyone?
DeniaBhoy: Remember to remind me if you are not sorted by Monday.
If our new Swedish signing, Acker Bilk, fails to establish a partnership with Maik Nawrocki will they be “Strangers on the Shore”?
Got a WhatsApp message from my daughter in law from Bangor (North Wales) hospital with a picture of my grandson with a bandaged hand.
He was resplendent in his Celtic strip and next to him was a doctor holding up his own Celtic shirt.
It turns out the doctor was originally from Larkhall 🤣
Fortunately 3 stitches were all that was required.
Or ‘ strangers in the back 4’
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 17TH AUGUST 2023 4:36 PM
Someone has hijacked your account, T.
Gene.
On whom?
Vale Bhoy
The one with the bandaged hand
You realise if you hadn’t already bagged it I would have your moniker 🤭
“GENE on 17TH AUGUST 2023 4:50 PM
Vale Bhoy
You realise if you hadn’t already bagged it I would have your moniker 🤭”
What about Burslem Bhoy?
Ps I just had a quick look at Vale`s history……obvioiusly :-)))
Hot Smoked
Not a bad suggestion but I’ll stick with Gene – it’s who I am 😁
Hot smoked
I was Biddulph Bhoy originally 😉
Stay with what you have. It`s in the genes.
I presume Biddulph is a town in Staffs?
Cheerio for now.
Barmulloch Bhoy :-))
Would be utter madness to play CCV at Kilmarnock…madness
I’d play Welsh on Sunday. Hard for a new guy to come straight in and play on that pitch. Welsh is competent. I’d have no worries about him starting.
SFTB,
Aipple has a spare coat.He will even get it for you.
Gustav has to play on Sunday.Played at the weekend,a couple of days at Lennoxtown training,his previous team played on plastic,and only a couple of games till Ibrox.
Its a no brainer.Get him in.
Gustav is first team ready
I remember Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazzmen back ii the days of the ole Burn’sssssss Howf
MELVIN UDALL on 17TH AUGUST 2023 11:26 AM
BIG JIMMY on 17TH AUGUST 2023 11:12 AM
MELVIN UDALL on 17TH AUGUST 2023 10:28 AM
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Completely agree
Did you know that a few of the actors in the films were actual Maria members? Including the big oaf, thinknhis name is Luca Grazzi or something. He was an enforcer for them actual mafia. If what I’ve read was correct that is.
==========================
Agree that The Godfather 1 & 2 were great movies (if not the best).
Godfather 3 was not as good but there is a book “In Gods Name” writtem by David Yallop about the Banco De Ambrosia and the Catholic church in America (Boston/Chicago) c/w banker being found hanging under a bridge in London written bfose ythe movie
I’ve just watched a 15 part series ” The Making of the Godfather” it was shown in Indonesia on MOLA channel. Excellent.
1st time I watched in one week. 3 weeks later binged in 2 days. Worth a watch
Bosun Lawal
https://twitter.com/CelticFC/status/1692204843601916323?s=19
HH
MELVIN UDALL/ BIG JIMMY
Sorry the series is called “THE OFFER”
Nearly midnight and end of Indonesia Independence day.
Hail Hail
You can never have enough good times. So there.
HOT SMOKED on 17TH AUGUST 2023 4:31 PM
“AURORABOREALIS79 on 17TH AUGUST 2023 3:00 PM
Quadrophenian
“I see Jack Butlin is getting rave reviews for them”
__________
Heard Butlin’s a bit camp…
Me. ,..Coat..,..Get
🙂
Lagerbielke?
Sounds like something you might throw up on the way home from the pub after a couple too many!
Maybe he can sicken opposition strikers with his defending…..
“only Christopher Jullien (1.96m) was taller in recent times.”
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How tall is he now?
A Celtic player with Lager in his name. My life is complete.
He’s bound to score against the hun.