Teemu Pukki’s permanent move to Brondby for a reported £500k is good business for a player who never came close to commanding a regular starting place at Celtic. While we did well exiting him from Celtic Park but his arrival two years ago is worthy of review.
He came from Schalke as a 23-year-old, having been at Sevilla as a teenager and scoring slightly better than one in two in Finland. Even his Schalke stats were decent, 8 goals in 7 starts and 30 appearances from the bench, which for a sparingly used young player is around the mark expected. On paper, Teemu looked a good fit for us, so do we have anything to learn?
For a start, being able to score goals in the Bundesliga does not guarantee you will be able to translate this into an even better scoring rate in Scotland. We have made similar mistakes when recruiting strikers from Spain in recent seasons. For all our lack of financial clout, delivering in Scotland is not an easy task.
There is a whole world of potential issues around psychology, motivation and appetite, which I regularly hear cited about players from people in the game. For the most part, I reckon these are excuses to bridge the unexplained gap between expectation and outcome. You get the odd indulgent nutcase, but most players have an overwhelming sense of their need to maximise their commercial value by delivering on the park. I suspect Teemu is no different.
Whatever the reason behind him not fitting at Celtic, the exercise cost us not only the £1.5m net loss on transfer fees, and wages paid, but more importantly the failure to kick on from reaching the last 16 of the Champions League in season 2012-13.
There’s a truth in the game which has stood the test of time: only people who watch a player week-in-week-out know his true value. Schalke fans would have told us things about Teemu which we can tell others about John Guidetti. John will pick up a club keen to exploit his untapped potential. A year from now they will be a little wiser.
Our lesson: scouting is the only important part of recruitment, stats, references and YouTube clips don’t count.
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Big Cup Winners,
I will be absolutely astounded if Henderson doesn’t turn into a very good footballer. In saying that he is only just turned 19 and unlikely to be a first team regular for a couple of seasons!!
I don’t think he’ll make it as a 10 though…..I think he’s more suited to the DM role long term. Reminds me a lot of Jordan Henderson at Liverpool.
graffiti on the wall @ 9.38
Made me laugh
Happy Father’s Day ghuys.HH
TOSB / Hebcelt, thanks guys. Very out of touch at the moment and internet access is sketchy.
Appreciate the update.
HH
There’ll be no panic buys,………….just panic.
The Battered Bunnet.
11.25.
Great post and hopefully will give others some insight into football.
My son played with Tony at Airdrie.
It was very obvious he had been a recreational player, I don’t think people realise how big a gulf it is. It’s all about levels, each level is a huge step for young players.
Tony was a gem of a player, his pace at Airdrie level was blistering. However at training he was always last and never took it too seriously. I know that his attitude at training when he moved to Celtic infuriated Neil Lennon. I don’t think I am saying anything that Tony wouldn’t admit himself. As for my son he was on a contract 90 quid a week and 50 win bonus. He decided that he couldn’t make a living off that, as he accepted that was his level, and took a different direction all at the age of 18. I was annoyed at the time but as far as he’s concerned he made the correct decision. GMS was there too.
Tallybhoy,
McMullan is good but I think Nesbitt is better. Mark Hill has always been mentioned on here as a player to watch…..one poster in particular reckons he’s dynamite (can’t remember who it is). Donnelly is a strange one. I hadn’t heard his name at all until this season but he seems to be flying at the moment. Scored a great goal in youth cup final and got 4 in the semi.
EC 67
:)
I know the feelin’…………
Treated myself to two new pair,
one for “dressy occasions”……………..
;)
….an’ the other fo morer casual outings!
Nota Bene CSC
“Fo morer” is the local pidgin patois………in Rebel Cork, btw.
BCW
The chat was about strikers not about general signings …mention was made re Hooper and Griffiths as being successful
Unfortunately there has been little in the way of success beyond the two mentioned above
If you think it’s a jaundiced view …perhaps you can point out where the comments have been skewed or omitted
Aiden nesbit looked good in that cup final v sevco boys
Involved in 3 or 4 goals. And getting himself a maisy
1 game I know but he did look good.
On George McClusky. I don’t think he got enough credit from the support(myself included)
When I look back at old vids he was some talent
Sydney Tim
If it’s the same scout regularly recommending duds then I think it highly unlikely his services would be retained.
The fact is we don’t know the record over time of the scouts. Just as good players can lose form for a while scouts don’t get it right every time.
What I would like to see (Winning Captains) is an interview with Celtic personnel on the subject of player recruitment.
How it was done in the past, how it is being done now and any changes from lessons learned for the future.
Perhaps then we would have the basis for a more informed discussion.
Ole EuroChamps67 has made a fast egress and is already on Hoegaardening leave.
hebcelt
A great was had by all at oldtim’s BBQ. The Sun came out as well.
OldTim was in great form.
I got home at 23:50 thanks to a lift from Marspapa.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Auldheid. Indeed would be an interesting conversation. Eg are the scouts only looking for players for their sell on value to help the balance sheet. Or are they actually looking for players who can do a good job for the club
Man Utd are set to take a £50,000,000 punt on Raheem Sterling.
TakeTheMoney CSC
Auldheid
That would make very interesting reading
….pfayr supports weeoscar
10:13 on 21 June, 2015
Dangerous game for a man asking for donations.
Celtic Underground – @celticrumours
Vossen looking like a goer.
Minx: congratulations to you parents. That’s some achievement.
Jelle and ice cream?
EC67
Ditto.
Nearly 60 and now running about in NB trainers with lime green laces.
21-5-79
10:24 on 21 June, 2015
Sydney
———-
How about we bring in Martin Bain as CEO and see where that gets us?
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Please stop confusing SydneyTim……..we are trying to sign him as our next chief scout
what is the stars
11:15 on 21 June, 2015
Jimmynotpaul
Ascot started great for me .first 2 days great but hootenanny was a big bet for me that flopped.
Not to worry
Onwards and upwards
………………………………………………………………….
WITS, we can’t win them all … Keep your tips coming .. Much appreciated ..: ). GOTW
auldheid
11:51 on 21 June, 2015
Please stop using foul language………”informed discussion”‘ indeed …. Hahahahahahaha
Goooooooooooooooooooooooood afternoon all
Happy Fathers day and happy day to non dads,
Mam update
She has told me to go home about 10 times fae half 7 “I’m fine”
Dave King set to swoop in on a private taxi to secure Eustace signature
Murray into Queen’s final.
jimmynotpaul
I was having a wee look at the ages of NHL team playing squads recently.
I know its a totally different sport but out of 18 teams with squads of about 25 players, there were only 1 or 2 players that are 19 and not many aged 20 either.
There are quite a lot more 21 and 22 year old’s.
It seems to me that players are considered to be developed enough by that age to compete physically.
Maybe somebody who knows a bit about the hockey will put me right on that but that’s how i see it.
The thing is…..in football, is that jump from youth level to full team level too great for young guys that are still growing up physically and mentally and would they stand a better chance if they had another few years to grow?
Lennons passion
Huns wouldn’t support Phil anyway
niallo83
11:35 on 21 June, 2015
Big Cup Winners,
I will be absolutely astounded if Henderson doesn’t turn into a very good footballer. In saying that he is only just turned 19 and unlikely to be a first team regular for a couple of seasons!!
I don’t think he’ll make it as a 10 though…..I think he’s more suited to the DM role long term. Reminds me a lot of Jordan Henderson at Liverpool.
……………………………
He can put himself about without doubt and could be a great defensive midfielder but he is also very skilful and has a eye for a pass. Remember his chip to Guidetti against Inter and there were one or two other incisive passes. He’s a tremendous talent.
Thunder Road,
I know nothing about the NHL. Do they have a college sport ice hockey set up similar to other North American sports?
In NFL, MLB, etc. most players start their pro careers around 21/ 22 having gone through a very competitive and high pressure college system. Football here doesn’t really have an equivalent – I suppose the nearest is loaning young players out to lower leagues to develop.
Minx, best to your mum and dad.
Niallo
Think it’s abit unfair to put Liam in with the other 4 who haven’t really played for first team .
Liam is a good player and should go on to be at least a very good squad player the next few seasons.. I’m hoping for more but don’t want to put too much pressure on him.
His pass to guidetti for the goal against inter at paradise ..pass of the season.
Paul McMillan has looked really good in few highlights I have seen, hope we can build him into a better athlete than Forrest and watch him shine.
So the master baker the new Sevconian Saviour wasn’t employed by the hands aff GASL mastermind of the New Journey. He’s not even spoke to him lol !
Tweedle dum and dee Murray and Gilligan were the culprits ;)
Blame culture get out again by Simba.
The rotten mob still playing blind man buff whilst putting there trust in shysters crooks and thieves .
They deserve everything they get
Dontcha just love their gullibility makes ma day well everyday ;)
Hail Hail and NSNO
Dublin 2016 Our Destiny ;)
Thunder road
How ye doin’ buddy?
Hope yer well.
Mike in Toronto is possibly the ghuy to ask about the NHL.
HH!!
Theoriginalsadiesbhoy,
Agreed!!
Proudbhoy,
That’s why I ranked them and put him first. As you said in a way he’s already made it but always the risk he could do a Watt!! I don’t think he will though!!
Gordon j
Don’t know if they are the same as those other sports, but i think they may be, purely because it seems to be the way over there.
Might try to look into it a little more later!
Can see why they would do that.
A few years at that age can make a huge difference.