Living so close to England it’s easy for us to get drawn into the ways and processes which prove effective south of the border. SPL clubs all scout there, more often than not trying to pick up physically robust scraps discarded by the lower leagues, or troubled souls looking for a sixth chance. Scottish clubs are full of players who have failed to make the grade in England.
When Motherwell were looking for a manager a year ago I heard one of their directors say they hoped to get someone with experience of the English lower leagues, as this has proven to be an effective place for them to network in the past.
Problems with the neighbours works both ways. It’s too easy for English clubs to use the loose change part of their budget to scoop up anything that looks like promising talent from the SPL. While most players will earn well in England, few enjoy the career progression they hoped for.
They do things differently elsewhere. When was the last time teams from Cyprus or Switzerland badgered an English League Two side for their surplus talent? Developing football teams is difficult but a good top level plan helps. One of the most encouraging aspects of Celtic’s top level plan is that it meets criteria that match our place in the world. Recruit talent from the right markets, at the right age and price. Some money has been spent in England, but not much, and those who have arrived from there look decent value.
If Celtic are to match the recent Champions League achievements of Basel or Apoel Nicosia, players like Izaguirre, Kayal, Wanyama and Ki, who pitch up in Glasgow from what appears to be beyond the horizon of the English, will be crucial. Just as those players at Basel and Apoel, they arrived here within an affordable budget and appear to have the talent required to compete at the level Celtic aspires to.
11 years ago we bought Chris Sutton from Chelsea against competition from other FA Premier League clubs. He was soon joined by others at the peak of their ability and reputation, all relatively low-risk signings. We had a few years in the sun but it was neither affordable nor sustainable.
We’ll know soon enough if the current crop of players trying to establish a reputation for themselves have what it takes to win the league and compete in Europe. Good top level plans can still fail in execution, but I’d rather this strategy than send my cash down the M6.
Issue 5 of CQN Magazine is due out next week, let me know if you would like to advertise, celticquicknews@gmail.com.
Read CQN Magazine for free online here. Subscriptions to the online copy are discretionary but you can contribute here. Old-school hard copies are available here from Magcloud.
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VP,
aye , I am standing here looking like Francie and Josie.
Free taxi…
No news from Uefa today according to STV
Celtic face a wait to discover if they will be punished by UEFA over allegations of “illicit chanting”.
The governing body is set to review the allegations on Friday but STV has learned that a decision will not be communicated to the club until next week due to the volume of cases being heard today.
“There are so many cases on today’s agenda that it takes a long time, hence all decisions will be communicated only next week,” a UEFA spokesperson told STV.
Dear Santa, thanks for the early Christmas pressie I asked for…
i.e. The Huns on a pay as ye go meter.
Ooooh and happy Friday to all you Celts out there.
Vinny
HH
googybhoy ♥ Kano 1000 says:
9 December, 2011 at 10:35
No need,my good man. I said that as a way of highlighting your excellent idea!
And anyway,last time I was in Manchester,my van got broken into,and the steering wheel wrenched off in an attempt to break the steering lock.
Slept in the cab-tucked up wi a wheelbrace-and delivered the goods next morning in a fleet of taxis. I then got thoroughly blootered with my company’s local agent in Dukinfield before being poured onto a train to London.
Fortunately for us both,that’s where I was living at the time…..
Thanks for the offer,in all seriousness if I do make it back,I will let you know!
havnt time to read back, hows the huns on pay as you go, whats happened ?
testing testing
St Stivs, as a few of us have been saying on Cqn for a few weeks, the Huns should be asked to pay up front for the 8000 briefs on the 28th, it seems that CFC have acted wisely on this…….
V
HH
Newradbhoy you have to save the changes.
V
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire said at
9 December, 2011 at 10:16
Corrib04….,
true enough with the pic, but why would they then quote Levein ???
I think that was a typo Canamalar. I tried to post a note to the editor to fix it without success.
HH
this time.
Does anyone know a good site for tattoos
Newradbhoy well done mi amigo!
V
SERGE(10)TOMMYBURNS 1057
I hesitate to suggest yer wee pal Declan…..
Serge (10)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm580687872/ch0034718
Serge
Try this un
http://www.tattoojohnny.com/
V
BMC-UW
sorry mate i’m lost with that 1, Who’s Declan?
Over and Over, Vhman.
thanks for that , this old duffer cant do i.t.
was even rubbish at techy drawin at school.
hail hail to your fine selves.
tommytwiststommyturns Kano 1000 says:
9 December, 2011 at 09:54
Hail Hail to that!
With the Celtic family You will never walk alone!
Can taste that 10:30pm malt already or perhaps that’s the kickback from last night! :-)
HH
CRC
When I go to change my log in name which part do I click on to amend it?
It’s not allowing me to alter any details. Thanks
Newradbhoy de nada!
V
googybhoy, any chance of a free taxi for me .
I only live in Darwen.
The Spirit of Kano
hahahaha Nik Nak…quality!! “Monsieur Bond”
Vmhan
Thanks mate that will pass an hour or 2, HH.
SERGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Declan Is Neil Lennon 1888 Hates being 2nd says:
8 December, 2011 at 22:43
depression? nane of you know what that is. i will tell you about depression. depression is being laughed at by a bunch of aberdeen fans because some mental foreign bird tattoos some scouse guitar player on your leg in saloo rather than our club hero because she said i “talk funny” when i am steamboats. naw, i talk proper she just didnt understand. you guys have nae idea. sitting there, raging hangover, pushing a weetabix round a bowl of that minging foreign milk whilst 3 sheep botherers sing instant korma to you. why that boy wrote a song about curry i dont know. he looks like a korma eater though that john lennon, so i wasnae too surprised. haha
kojo i think you are right by the way. my cousin went to lourdes and was cured of her toothache. the church is the cure for all stuff, nae need for science or anything like that. that is all guff.
Mon the hoops!
Morning y’all.
First post since starting my new job at Dundee College. All is going well, despite the plethora of Arabs (it would appear that I’m the only Tim in our area).
I have begun the education of my colleagues on the evil of David Murray and orcdom, which has raised a few eyebrows and ellicited (as opposed to illicit, sectarian, murdur, etc) a few shocked responses and more than one or two ‘Never really thought about it like that’ comments.
Such a curious thing that people only ever see what they have been told to see. Well, I’m telling it like it is and they’re lapping it up: the whole loaded ‘arms-race’ v financial-dopingFC and the enduring outcome of this for all Scottish football, tax-dodging (you know many still thought this was about image rights – wtf?), court cases, more court cases, the Whyte Knave, etc.
Every day’s a school day (or a college one).
:-)
HT
Where it says nickname, change it and save the changes.
V
HAMILTON TIM
Click on your moniker at bottom of page,then amend “nickname” and save.
Hamiltontim
Nickname required……
Display name as…….
Then update profile.
Hail hail
Burnbankbhoy
Serge (10) Tommy Burnssays:
9 December, 2011 at 10:57
Does anyone know a good site for tattoos
Edinburgh Castle
hamiltontim says:
9 December, 2011 at 11:06
Its your display name you have to change, then update profile.
newradbhoy you are welcome
Test
i was dyin to tell ht, lol.
newradbhoy with the kano 1000 says:
9 December, 2011 at 11:07
googybhoy, any chance of a free taxi for me .
I only live in Darwen.
I take it you mean deepest darkest Darwen.
Of course mate.
Test 2
Celticrollercoaster
It’s near enough to 10.30pm in Sydney so I’ll gladly have that malt for you. No need for thanks..it’s just the kinda guy I am..:-)
Ya dancer, thank you ladies :)
googybhoy yes , that one.
hamiltontim, press update profile, (blue wording bottom left of screen)
press that after alterations.
See the Gutter Red tops are rinning witht he Gary Speed story again tomorrow. Scum