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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Shucks too late.
Change …Nickname required
Then open drop down list on Name used publicly .
Press button next to new name.
Press Update Profile.
Hearing Aunt Sally was so angry because he thought he was on to a sure fire winner at the tribunal by posing them the the question.
What Would Jesus Do?
2 Game Ban was the response… :)
HH
Sorry about that typo. Running
KittichWhoTypesLikeThePolicemanFromElloEllo
Serge (10) Tommy Burns
Ask Declan… ;)
Googybhoy
Good 1!! Been there done it.
Im still lost….with the Declan thing
It’s a bright sunny morning on the Fylde coast, what’s the weather like in Glesga? What’s the forecast for tomorrow?
Ta
V
What if all the other SPL clubs follow our lead and make the huns pay in advance?
I can see Craig Whyte looking into investment opportunities with Cash4Gold and WeBuyAnyCar.com if that happens.
You’d need a heart of stone not to laugh. :)
Liquidate the deadbeats. (thumbsup)
Now wee Sally has posed a question
Is Sone Aluko
a) a Liar?
b) a Cheat
c) both
d) a rich Nigerian benefactor
If the answer is C will Sone soon have a position on the ibroke board with the others
If the answer is D don’t open his e mails
Serge (10) Tommy Burns (1000) Kano at 11:26
Declan is a “poster” who quite regularly posts about the number of Celtic tatoos he has.
Mort
I have no Celtic tattoos..
There, you know now.
Mort – I can’t help but feel that tattoos are a sign of moral weakness. (thumbsup)
http://www.busybus.co.uk/Design/santa/busybus_santa.swf
philvisreturns at 11:31
That’s why I have none. Either that or I’m scared of big needles.
Mort
Mort
Thanks mate, Had no idea what was going on there. How many has he got? :-p
Serge (10) Tommy Burns (1000) Kano says:
9 December, 2011 at 11:35
Mort
Thanks mate, Had no idea what was going on there. How many has he got? :-p
———————————————————————————————
Hunners
Dirtymac
Well done. Sounds like you’re engaged in important work in the mission lands. More power to you.
Anyone who hits with that twaddle about it all being about the “Ugly Sisters from Glasgow”, invite them to compare and contrast Celtic versus Dundee United on 12.09.09, and Rangers versus Dundee United 10.05.08.
Another good contrast would be their home games, Dundee United versus Celtic 17.10.10, and Dundee United versus Rangers 19.04.11.
These four games encapsulate very well the difference in treatment Dundee United fans have witnessed in the past seasons when playing Celtic compared to their team’s matches against Rangers. Quite how any objective Dundee United fan could claim we are two sides of the same coin is baffling. I know some do say that, though. I think you hit the nail on the head when you talk about only seeing what they are told to see.
Mort – My theory is, only sailors or ladies of the night should have them.
And the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (thumbsup)
Serge (10) Tommy Burns (1000) Kano 2011 at 11:35
Well over a HUN dred.
Mort
Philvis.
Once in my morally weaker past, i got another tattoo.
it was on my bum.
ive got a devil on one cheek, shoveling coal up (you know where) with flames comming out.
On the other cheek an angel with a fire extingwisher putting it out. TRUE.
i just had to share that info, couldnt help myself.
Apologis if ive put anyone off their lunch.
Morning CQNer’s.
I would like to congratulate Mr Neil Francis Lennon for his public airings re: Depression.
Like my late mother who, suffered from this mental illness for all the time I knew her, as a young boy I was always, intriqued by my mums mood-swings and, general downers that she went through. Now as I reflect on my own situation, I can identify totally what my mum was going through. It ain’t nice to watch and, now that I have come through my own dark days, for the time being at least, I always recall how going to see the Cellic was a perfect antidote and, a source of strength to fight against dark forces who where determined to get me down at almost every turn as I saw it. Even now, I still have days where I feel as though, this is not for me and I have to pick myself up and face what I see as, my own personal nemesis, just like my late mother did before.
I don’t like to talk about these things but, I feel that, Neil Lennon is a source of unbreakable strength and, without doubt a peerless hero of mine from whom, I will continue to draw, the source of the unbreakable spirit that I know/hope will see me through until, I can be re-united with my late mum.
God Bless Paul Brennan for his excellent administration of the BEST Celtic Fan Site In The World.
God Bless The Best Posters In All Of Timdom.
God Bless Neil Lennon And His Lions.
Until Next Time….Good Bye CQN.
i dont have hunners, i only have 5
Celtic First
all non CFc / Hun fans are conditioned to think we are both the same
it`s suits the Hun agenda to dilute their obvious short-comings by associating with us
they seem to think that “both as bad as each other” excuses their disgraceful behaviour
Must be time they broke for lunch in Switzerland.
Any word?
newradbhoy with the kano 1000 – Could have been worse, you could have Rue, Betty, Estelle, and Bea permanently inked onto your legs:
http://www.woosk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/staygoldtattoo.jpg (thumbsup)
Mort
Is he The Leopard Man from Skye!
In my experience the vast majority of other fans buy into the “bad as each other” mentality. They believe what they’ve been fed over the years.
Of course this state of affairs only suits one club – and it isn’t us.
Declan
Do you have a ‘Mum’ tattoo?
googybhoy.
i was only joking, i wouldnt dream of encroaching on your kind nature.
i will be in manchester on wed 14th (works Christmas do).
meal, canal st, (just visiting) print works, and that very very small pub.
I dont remember the name, the lads do im just along for the rideout.
KevJungle – I bet you have tattoos on your knuckles.
“LEFT” and “RIGHT”, they say.
Also I bet you have “LEGNED” inked on your left man-boob. (thumbsup)
Just read the DR story on the ‘Cash Up Front’ request. Absolutely hilarious!
On a serious note, I hope we got cash up front from Mad Vlad too!!!
ASonOfDan – naw thats minging getting that only stupid neds have that.
i have stuart slater on one calf, lenny on the other. a celtic cross on my forearm. my daughters name on my other forearm. celtic crest on my upperarm and kermit the frog on my chest. dont ask it was a dare and i was wrecked at the time.
hail hail
ernie lynch says:
9 December, 2011 at 11:44
12 courses as usual.
How about personalised number plates on motors? Are they as cool as tatts? Tell me what to do!
Mon the UEFA!
I always laugh when i think of the newcastle utd fan who got a big tat of andy cole on his thigh.
Only for him to be sold to man utd the next day.
RobertTressell – On a serious note, I hope we got cash up front from Mad Vlad too!!!
Yep.
It’s a classic “win/win” situation for Celtic.
Worst case scenario: we don’t have huns or mini-huns stinking the place up.
What’s not to love? (thumbsup)
Hope Celtic go straight for the kill from kick off tomorrow.
Attack Attack Attack!
4-4-2 & annihilate them. Give these scumbags the biggest thumping they have ever had in the East End of Town.