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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PF Ayr, Gordon J
Agreed. But as Dirtymac is proving, sometimes the facts can get in the way of a good story.
It’s incontrovertible evidence. After the game at Ibrox, the Dundee United manager suggests there was no point in his team turning up. After the game at Celtic Park, Darren Dods admits he handled the ball in the United box and the same manager jokes that he thought Dods should have caught it. Steve Conroy managed to stay strong that day and wave play on. Rangers had drawn 0-0 at Fir Park and a win would have taken Tony Mowbray’s Celtic team to the top of the league.
After the game against Rangers at Tannadice, a different Dundee United manager says Willie Collum’s award of three penalties to Rangers and three red cards to Dundee United makes him doubtful about the future of the game of football. After the game against Celtic, scandal after scandal unfolds as Dougie McDonald prefers to lie and eventually sacrifice his career as a referee than stand by his initial decision to award Celtic a potentially decisive penalty.
Declan
That is SIX you said you only had FIVE?
Exposed as a hun as no-one with an RC education could make that mistake… ;)
Celtic are celebrating an awards double after Neil Lennon and James Forrest scooped the SPL manager and young player awards for November.
Lennon guided his side to four wins in the Scottish Premier League, closing the gap on Rangers at the top of the table to four points.
Winger Forrest has impressed in wins at Motherwell and Inverness, scoring in the 2-1 win against Dunfermline.
Forrest also won the young player’s award for September.
ASonOfDan – so only RCs can support celtic or comment? nice one. i will let the muslim boy who sits beside me know when i am at the game tomorrow
new article posted.
Well done Lenny & James, Brilliant.
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.
The governing body contacted Celtic in November to advise them that the organisation’s control and disciplinary body would consider a charge of an incident of an unsporting nature, namely “illicit chanting”.
The charge relates to an allegation made by Strathclyde Police that a section of the club’s support sang “offensive songs” during Celtic’s Europa League match against Rennes on November 3
I see Mr Wishart change his tune last night as he discussed the Hearts’ players current wage predicaments.
He told us it would be wrong to name any names of his members who were unhappy. From his point as union “leader” he is totally correct in this stance
So why then did he feel it appropriate to name Scott Brown in asking him for advice as to when he could talk to other clubs just last Saturday?
Hmmm
KevJungle – “Lennons Lions Get Ready To ROAR!!!” says:
9 December, 2011 at 11:40
KevJungle- depression and the understanding of what people suffer going through this terrible illness is slowly becoming understood thanks to high profile people such as Lenny, Stan Collymore and Marcus Trescothick.
My wife, like her mother and granmother, is a sufferrer, and have to say feel utterly helpless when these bouts occur.
keep strong
Celtfish
philvisreturns says:
9 December, 2011 at 11:31
Mort – I can’t help but feel that tattoos are a sign of moral weakness. (thumbsup)
…………..
Last time I spoke to you about tattoos you talked about “ladies of the nightand sailors’ . Moral weakness,.indeed.
newradbhoy with the kano 1000 says:
9 December, 2011 at 11:47
Do not flash that tattoo on Canal St..yer erse could end up on tatters.
Well done to all involved. Hope the kids have a great day tomorrow. Good to know that, out of something sad happening, something good has come out of it. You are all doing a fantastic thing for these kids, well done to all of you. Congratulations, enjoy tomorrow, and a win would be good too!!
Morning Lhads.
Fleagle,if naps here this morn ,I’m going for Salut flo in the 2.30 Cheltenham.
Cheers
GM CQN
I’ll try my luck again with DIVERS in the 2.30pm at 8/1.
GL to all
Too many renewals at Cheltenham, going for Berbice 6.20 Wolv.
Good luck everyone.
Speculative punt today:
Roberto Goldback 230 Chelt for Dessie Hughes
Lots of tips for the big one at Cheltenham. I reckon Sunnyhillboy is laid out for the race.
AP and Jonjo.
Nap however is MALLUSK 12.20 Liingfield just because it is too big a price.
Best of luck to everyone and I fancy a decent win at Paradise today. An early goal and those not being paid will collapse.
EC67
EUROCHAMPS
LINGFIELD is off.
Mallusk is a non runner.
SUNNYHILLBOY 2.30 Cheltenham is the nap.
Now let me tell you a story
Doncaster 3.20 Max Bygraves e.w. at 14/1
tulipsinamsterdamCSC
CQN Saturday Naps Competition – Week 17 Standings
+£16.00 voguepunter (3)
+£12.83 bobbymurdoch’s winklepickers (5)
+£11.83 fleagle1888 (4)
+£ 5.50 twists n turns (3)
+£ 3.25 Eurochamps67 (5)
+£ 3.13 Rockon (4)
+£ 1.50 wolfetonebhoy (3)
-£ 0.70 Som mes que un club (2)
-£ 2.00 Cathal (4)
-£ 8.00 What is the Stars (1)
-£11.50 hunza rugli (1)
-£12.00 Che (1)
-£12.00 PFayr (1)
-£17.00 BULL67
-£17.00 oldtim
-£17.00 Raymac
-£17.00 The Token Tim
-£17.00 tommytwisttommyturns
*No selections from : PF Ayr, Raymac*
Cheers, fleagle1888
Having great difficulty picking one out today,you could say I havingotascoobydo!
Gonna go with
Traffic Article 1245 Cheltenham
I was thinking of going today,but finished work a bit later than intended.
PLUS,IT’S BLINKIN’ FREEZIN’!
Lads, my nap for today is :
Mossley (Cheltenham 12.45)
Cheers,
fleagle1888
Captain Dan George 3.20 Doncaster 33/1.
Morning all
Sea of Thunder in 13.55 for me today – hail hail wolfetonebhoy
Oldtim
Is the aul alzheimers getting to ye.Or has Chief Dan George been demoted to Captain Dan George
If he doesnt win will he be Corporal Dan George next week
Only joking pal,hope you are well.
Sunnyhill Boy is my nap today.seems laid our for this.Might back Quantativeeasing each way also
I think Che may have put this up earlier as well but Roberto Goldback for my in the 230 at Cheltenham. And I thought I was the only fan of the lovely Tanya…. :-) be lucky Bhoys and c’mon the hoops!
Word for Dibella in the 1.45 at Navan
it’s going to be one of those days bhoys …
Edu booked 10 mins.
Fleagle1888
Good afternoon.
Menorah
1505 Cheltenham.
All the best as always.
Quantitive Easing in the 2.30 at C/ham. Just what the Orcs need at this time. My tipping is now so bad I don’t even back them myself.
WITS.
I think it may be the old altzimers
southwell 225 shieldmaiden for me please.
Ouch – my heid hurts.
Sorry for late selection – I’ll go Pittoni in 3.05 Chelters.
Good luck all.
I’ll go for Oiseau de Nuit in the 1:20 at Chelt.
T4
Wits.as you can see with the spelling I think I may be suffering from Alzheimer’s.I’m was fine health wise until I started watching the Hibs game that’s made me a bit sick watching that dross.
Your correct by the way on the naming of the horse.My nap for the day is Chief Dan George,someone’s put money on it apart from myself. as it’s come in from 33/1 to 25/1.
PF AYR
Naps Dave’s dream 1.20pm
wolfetonebhoy says:
10 December, 2011 at 11:19
I was just thinking, “well done, how did you manage to pick that one” – very hard luck.