A quick straw poll suggests we’re happy with £2m for Adam Matthews, although Sunderland will be happier, having signed what is likely to be a first team player for what is a bargain fee in the English league. For Celtic, the player had only a year left on his contract, and was not first choice when Mikael Lustig was available. On other occasions we would struggle to get £500k.
A few factors supported Adam’s marketability and price. He is part of a successful Wales team who are likely to reach Euro 2016. Scouts from all over Europe watch Wales and it’s unlikely you’d be able to sign any of that team for less than £2m.
There’s also the Joe Ledley and Victor Wanyama effect. Joe and Victor were Celtic contemporaries of Adam and both are solid performers for EPL clubs. Don’t even ask me about what’s going on with Daryl Murphy at the moment, as it beats any rational explanation I can come up with.
Having 20 hugely wealthy neighbours comes with lots of problems, but if we are going to lose players to England, it’s better to lose them on our own terms – when we are in a position to start a fresh building process, than have events overtake us, as appears to be happening at Tannadice this year.
Enjoy events this afternoon at New St Mirren Celtic Park.
894 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- ...
- 24
- »
(imho)
Ronny instructions to his players
DO NOT get injured we have 11 days till the real deal.
LOVE
Burghbhoy
Very Hoooopy Birthday, enjoy your day :-)
MT, congrats to you and Mrs MT, as above enjoy both of your own special day
Hail Hail
I don’t care about the result today… And some mistakes I can put down to being off for a break … But our players still don’t seem to be getting rd’s system, and when and where they are supposed to move . That is a concern.
Also, I rate lg, but wonder if he is the style of player to lead in rd’s system.
Agree with Guernica’s points. And just remembered that Virgil is suspended from at least one of the Icelandic ties. That is a worry, as Mulgrew is slower than a week in jail. Remember his performance in the away game against Legia?
One thing for Ronny to reflect on – every time the Czech right midfield player looked up, there was an ocean of room down our right side, resulting in a few of their goals.
I burst out laughing when I heard the commentator say, “a cross to the far post – there’s no one there.” How many times did we hear that last season?
I like Griffiths, but he cannot win and hold the ball up with his back to goal. We lost possession from most of Fasan’s kick outs, which were consistently poor. Back up to Gordon required urgently.
I think Ronny will get it right for the Iceland tie, but it is worrying how a moderate Dukla side simply passed us off the park and how poor our first touch was for most of the game.
Cowiebhoy
main main main :)))))
Pure waste of time analysing a bounce game with more than regulation substitutions.
We actually lost more goals after our star CB came on.
Completely irrelevant in relation to how a CL qualifying game would be played and who will be selected.
The same could be said for the win against Den Bosch where the game died on its feet when Celtic made the substitutions in the first half. It’s a bit like a Celtic practice game at Lennoxtown where I’m sure Celtic A or B often lose five goals.
Canamalar
It depends on the “expectation” or point that people are trying to convince us about.
I can guarantee that there is no Celt “happy” to see us lose 5 goals, there are just varying shades of disappointment, from stoic resolve to do better next time, right up to full blown panic and shouting that the sky is falling.
The old myth that Celtic “did not do friendlies”, i.e. we used to always try to beat English teams when we played them in whatever meaningless testimonial was dreamed up on order to supply visiting fans’ coin to an overpaid retiring EPL star, was in itself a bit cringeworthy.
We never won either prestige, fans or money from winning any of these testimonials; we just got invited back because our fans were likely to turn up in numbers. The retiring EPL player was always grateful and gracious but the English public could not give a stuff.
Who really looks back with fond nostalgia on a testimonial performance? For me, I only recall the Di Stefano game because of the magic of Jinky. Who can even quote pre-season results from last year? We like the trips and the drinking as fans but, for players, this is all about fitness and preparation.
I will judge the team on their qualification progress. I am anticipating a tough and close competition with the Icelanders and an even harder tie next round. If we get through them, I will rejoice at a job well done and will have forgotten all about Den Bosh, Dukla and Sociedad.
M i T
Quite!
Ole Gina L?
Now yer talkin’!
Away for a lie down!
HH!!
Ps did you say you were born in Paisley?
Mrs Tally was born there, but I’ve never held it against her!
:-)
Ronny out out out now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wits
11 23
Farquhar 3rd @ 16/1.cheers.HH.
Relax its only a friendly better to be tested & learn something from the game than steamroller teams of weaker opposition Ronny will lead us to champions league
SFTB,
Was it no Jock stein that said Celtic don’t play friendlies ?
As I asked proff green, we’ve only been away for three weeks, players out injured are expected to hit the ground running in full on competition after three weeks out recovering from injury never mind a three week rest how does that work ?
Canamalar
Your point regarding injured players is spot on. My point is we should not be looking at lack of fitness and sharpness as an excuse.
My fear is the players still view teams like Dukla, Maribor and Legia etc as inferior to us and and are not raising their game as they did versus Inter.
We are not in a position to underestimate any team.
weeron
14:29 on 4 July, 2015
Re your comments about players not being prepared to sign new contracts
I have posted on here before that I have it on very good authority that
you could not be more wrong
regarding Joe Ledley
If what I was told is accurate then it is Mr Lawwell who decides if you stay or go
For the avoidance of doubt Joe Ledley did not want to leave Celtic.
FWIW I think that £2m for A Matthews, given his injury record and defensive capability, is not unreasonable money even allowing for Greatestleagueintheworld hyperinflation
Squire
Mind yer business impugning ole Pedro there
I thought Farquhar should have won,bad start,buried behind a wall of horse,couldnt get a gap on inside,switched to outside and flew …but 2 late 3rd at at 16/1 is ok but …..
pre season or no pre season , still does not get away from the fact that we still have players who need to move on as they are not good enough i.e. CM.
Tallybhoy ….
Yep … family was in Paisley (Glenburn), although only a few are still there now.
Hoping to get back to Paisley to see some family when I get over in September.
Wits
Thought Farquar did well considering the awful start and trouble in running
Hughes just made an erchie of it on Black Cherry there …..didn’t give the horse a chance ..hopeless
It was Kerry here and Kerry there
Kerry, Kerry everywhere
And all along the midnight air
There rang the war cry Kerry
Our town Tralee they came to see
To conquer with their savagery
But Lynches army made them flee
From our beloved Kerry
Our hand grenades were Kerry made
Our soldiers were of the Kerry grade
And when old Ireland it was betrayed
We pinned our faith in Kerry
So Kerry short and Kerry Long
And Kerry weak and Kerry strong
Was Kerry right or Kerry wrong?
Sure the Tans remembered Kerry
So Kerry here and Kerry there
Kerry , Kerry every where
And all along the midnight air
There rang the war cry Kerry
HH.
PF Ayr
I had good info on Farquhar from a very good source who knows connections (Irish jockey)
they expected to win
But sure thats racing
bournesouprecipe
14:56 on
4 July, 2015
=============================
BSR.
Fair comment,however a poor weather and football day,I am surprised that both Rogic ( I thought he had gone ) and James Forrest, continue to be vanity projects,Ronny is reputed to be harder than his TV personna suggests, but he seems reluctant to call time on these two.
We need Izzy further forward or dropped as he cannot defend,similar to Mathews who had lost early promise.
I wonder if Marek Hanousek ( No.5 ) would have looked as dangerous playing for us, as opposed to playing against our defence.
pf
Typical Hughes ride IMO
Sooner he’s gone the better
I wouldn’t panic just yet…although its clear that qualification for the CL, is going to be difficult.
Surely we will learn our lessons from last year’s dismai failure.
Fitness is a factor of course…but its not good to give five goals away…friendly or not.
HH
Richard Hughes knows that his time is up.He was a great pilot though to be fair.
That Jamie Spencer one is the world’s worst.
He needs to jack it in as well.
HH.
NegAnon2
13:37 on
4 July, 2015
I see Paul’s articles are becoming as jaundiced as the daily record headlines.
Pretty sad when all cqn has become is a vehicle for board propaganda.
Well we always have your guff to even things up.
Canamalar
“Was it no Jock stein that said Celtic don’t play friendlies ?”
I cannot find it in any of Jock’s quotes on Celtic wiki.
The one source I did find suggested that Jock was quite financially astute about friendlies/testimonials etc; If you were of a mind, based on the upcoming interview (sourced from kerrydale street site) answer, you could accuse him of ripping off our fans to earn the club some money:-
“Real Madrid, the Milan Clubs and Benfica where once the most sought after clubs in Europe. But not any more, Celtic manager Jock Stein told me this week.
‘Now we call the tune’ said Stein. ‘When anyone wants to play us in a benefit or a friendly I say okay, but only at our price. On our first trip to North America for instance, we travelled from one side of Canada to the other and from the coast of America to the west coast and ended up in Bermuda for a holiday.’
‘Last time we went to Toronto to play AC Milan and played before 34,000 people – a national record. We made more money in one match than we had done in the previous eleven in an exhausting tour plus a holiday in Bermuda. When you’ve goy a commodity to sell make it the highest you can get.’
And what is Celtic’s price for fitting another game into an already tight schedule ? £10,000.
Remember people whistled when the great Real Madrid side asked for and got the same amount. Few of us thought we’d ever see the day a Scottish club could name their own terms. Celtic and Stein have done it.
Already the Celts have obliged West Ham (Bobby Moore) and Man Utd (Bobby Charlton) for benefit matches. The latest club to make an approach is Chelsea on behalf of Scottish international full back Eddie McCreadie. There have been other offers that Jock didn’t mention, many from overseas including America and Canada.”
Burghbhoy
Hoopy Happy Birthday
new season ticket arrived today……….Sooooooooooooo
excitedcsc
HH
Today’s result is not so important, but there is clearly work to be done. Izzy had a stinker – too much football perhaps? Griffiths loses possession often enough in the SPL, against a half-decent team he is way out of his depth. Cifti could hold the ball up much better.
With Bitton and Armstrong we’ll be better.
Harps beat Cabinteely 1-0
http://www.highlandradio.com/2015/07/04/harps-defeat-over-cabinteely-horgan-reaction/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter.
————————————————————-
i havent seen anythin of todays game,only via here,it appears a big pool were given a run out.hope we learn well,any links to the goals?.
:-)
HH
Somewhat strained “interview” on C4 Racing between JP ‘Frank’ Spencer and his estranged missus Emma…..
That Kerrydale Street piece is from a 1972 interview by Jock. Some o his other answers suggest he was thinking ahead of the game too. Credit for this goew to the very astute “St. Anthony” posting on Kerrydale Street site:-
“Stein Says: I don’t threaten my players about long hair, I just tell them if they don’t get it cut they might not fight themselves in the team.
Stein Says: Some of the players today are as good as the old immortals, there just aren’t that many of them. Modern players are becoming blase with international travel.
Real Madrid, the Milan Clubs and Benfica where once the most sought after clubs in Europe. But not any more, Celtic manager Jock Stein told me this week.
‘Now we call the tune’ said Stein. ‘When anyone wants to play us in a benefit or a friendly I say okay, but only at our price. On our first trip to North America for instance, we travelled from one side of Canada to the other and from the coast of America to the west coast and ended up in Bermuda for a holiday.’
‘Last time we went to Toronto to play AC Milan and played before 34,000 people – a national record. We made more money in one match than we had done in the previous eleven in an exhausting tour plus a holiday in Bermuda. When you’ve goy a commodity to sell make it the highest you can get.’
And what is Celtic’s price for fitting another game into an already tight schedule ? £10,000.
Remember people whistled when the great Real Madrid side asked for and got the same amount. Few of us thought we’d ever see the day a Scottish club could name their own terms. Celtic and Stein have done it.
Already the Celts have obliged West Ham (Bobby Moore) and Man Utd (Bobby Charlton) for benefit matches. The latest club to make an approach is Chelsea on behalf of Scottish international full back Eddie McCreadie. There have been other offers that Jock didn’t mention, many from overseas including America and Canada.
‘Money keeps things going, the domestic scene at present makes it difficult for clubs like ourselves and Rangers to put money in the bank. Unless there is a drastic re-appraisal Scottish football will die. It’s dying now.’
‘We’re getting too much football but the fans will pay to see it on a big scale.’
‘In England the home clubs keep 80% of the gate and the away 20%. In Scotland it’s on a 50-50 basis. That’s all right for the wee clubs but in fairness to such as the Old Firm what do they get out of these games ? Not enough to make ends meet.’
Therefore how can the Scots compete with English gold ?
Stein: ‘We have to sell so many players that we are being drained. The day will come when England will subsidise our international team. We’ll have to go cap in hand and ask for their players. They’ll be able to ask us what we are contributing at international level. All done by their players, bought by them and trained by them.’
Then he said significantly ‘If the game is dying up here then I don’t want to be part of any dying sport.’
Stein figures we need an elite league, one with a tidy number of select clubs, successful clubs. ‘Study the form over the last couple of seasons. If a club is on the slide relegate it into another league and let’s have a third league if we have to. Under the present circunstances the tail is wagging the dog. We should get right down to rewriting the constitution and the rules. What was good in 1890 is antiquated today. There wasn’t TV, golf, bingo or any of the other extras to compete against not to mention rising costs.’
‘And another thing, the clubs moan about costs but they aren’t helping themselves. For instance the grounds stand vacany six days a week and in the case of those without reserves, thirteen days a fortnight. They could stage a number of things, bingo for example. They’ve got to think or go under.’
A man of action and a successful man at that, I reckon Stein could have been a success at almsor anything. He’s an ideas man.
‘Any club lucky enough to buy a new stand should build a complex of offices and shops and let them pay for the rent and rates to the ground.’
On sponsorship he’s all for it but let’s do it in a big way and not for peanuts. ‘Take Scotland’s top four clubs and England’s top four clubs and see what happens. For the other tournaments we’d rather not play in them. We don’t need the money but others do – badly.’
‘The top eight clubs in Britain should be able to makr it a football festival at the end of the season and not at the beginning. ‘If somebody puts up say £200,000 they’d get a lot of effort and a lot of football from by players who by that time will be tuned in.’
With forward thinking people like Stein I would suggest that the managers of Scotland get together and demand to be represented on all SFA and league commitments. I understand there is a move to do just this,
With pros guiding the amateurs then maybe we could get Scotland off the ground. We haven’t had a new idea since someone wrote the rule book 100 years ago.”
Good God,half in panic now.Enough for me today.Tennis is better than reading this nonsense.
SFTB,
I’m glad I phrased that as a question :)
I thought he did, the nearest I found was Ian St John. Prior to a 6-1 drubbing of Portsmouth.
You learn something old every day.
If we had won 5-3…would we have waxing lyrical…?
Yes we would…
But hey…It’s only a friendly…no need to worry.
Somebody ate my “been”…
OOPS
not been on a lot but gotta say
KevJ
Good news Kev,
that was a good news you got the other day :-)
had the same impact as Murdo’s shot in the 4-2 game(if CQN had been about)
for ripple effect,big smiles,cheeriness and joy.
:-)
Celtic
No one with pass marks today.
Izaguirre still making the same mistakes as he did in competitive games last season.