I think we all like Mikael Lustig. This week the defender spoke to the Norwegian media, expressing frustration at the lack of clarity surrounding his future. Celtic have an option to retain him next season, but in January brought in a hoped-for loan replacement, Jeremy Toljan.
Toljan did not work out but the club are clearly still looking for a new right back. I am not sure when Celtic’s option expires, but If they get a satisfactory replacement, Mikael will be allowed to leave, if not, he will stay.
This is the football business. It is harsh, even more so for young players released before they make a significant living from the game, of for those from an earlier generation, who achieved greatness and found themselves without money or a trade in their 30s.
Players will often talk about their “love” for a club, but that love is invariably wrapped up in a lucrative contract. The love becomes a fondness if offered a wage that would be regarded as spectacular to most fans.
I really like Mikael and I know we need cover for every position, but even the good guys sometimes have to wait under the terms of their contract for a decision, and they all need to move on one day.
383 Comments- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
Mon the hoops
Good luck in whatever you do PC Lustig.
A great signing for Celtic.
That’s a bit harsh Paul?
Be like a new signing if we tie him down!
Seriously though if we think hes past it let him go.
HH
And whilst we are waiting to resolve the right back position we could do worse than to make a bid for that American striker Alex Morgan. Lethal in front of goal last night. We need a new Poster Bhoy ;-)
I’m pretty confident Lustig will go. At an alleged 23k a week, I think we can get a better replacement for less money. Ralston will be a sufficient back up. I wonder if it’s feasible to get a free agent like Carl Jenkinson in (45k at Arsenal) and give him a decent signing on fee to allow him to drop in wages to 20-25k. There are plenty of right backs out there, it really depends on what the board wants to push for…
For those full of negativity…
The board and Neil will deliver 10 in a row. They have managed the finances shrewdly and effectively that I’m confident that Celtic will see “55” before them. Embrace the moment! It’s still party time.
Lustig has played for 8 years, nothing said about the multiple wage thieves who have come stayed or left when their contracts expire, no love or even like there, our clubs recruitment is appaling be it bringing in players from Scotland who will never make it to punts on foreigners who offer nothing, this squad is bloated with utter rubbish, we rely on the same players time and time again hence Mcgregor for all his limitation has played 69 games, if the scouts who brought these players to the club are still in situ this process will continue, whoever passed Comperr Boerighter etc as fit to be be signed as a professional players should be questioned legally about their professional judgement.
@ IZZY’SQUIFF on 12TH JUNE 2019 11:36 AM
On managing the finances shrewdly and effectively- I think the last 3 years have provided a skewed impression of how shrewd our board are.
If you had to look at the accounts over Neil’s first stint or under Ronny, you wouldn’t call us shrewdly managed. We were making a loss but for sales in some of those years, had next to nothing in the bank and revenue around half of what it has been for the last 3 years.
Also, the accounts don’t show you money lost for under investment (like last summer).
Bring back Adam Matthews as cover.
Sign somebody else like the Sheffield United lad.
“Toljan did not work out but the club are clearly still looking for a new right back. I am not sure when Celtic’s option expires, but If they get a satisfactory replacement, Mikael will be allowed to leave, if not, he will stay.”
If we can’t manage to find a replacement after looking for around two years, we are doing something wrong.
Philomena Lynnette (88), mother of Phil, died this morning.
Thin Lizzy CSC
https://youtu.be/SGZqDzb__bw
Also Ralston gets a hard time.
Lynnete = Lynnott
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 12TH JUNE 2019 12:07 PM
Castagne was the answer. But identifying a solution and getting the deal done with a player and club who are lukewarm, at best, to a deal are two very different things.
You’d think there’ll be movement on a few fronts within the next couple of weeks.
HH
You’ll miss him when he is gone you know.
here is his end of season Report Card.
The Lustig Conundrum
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/the-lustig-conundrum/
We have difficulty signing players for good fees but no problems when double figures are offered for any of our players, its pack your bags and go , Rodgers would not sell players cheaply that is one thing I credit him for.
Now I fear even our best will go very cheaply.
timaloy29 on 12th June 2019 11:56 am
Sign somebody else like the Sheffield United lad.
————————————————————————–
On what basis? Not being awkward, I see Baldock ever other week at Bramall Lane (I live in Sheffield). A model pro and a hard grafter but nowhere near Celtic standard never mind a multi International tournament experienced and trophy laden Swedish full back.
Not as defensively strong as Lustig and nowhere near as creative.
We can’t afford to just sign someone, anyone.
Slightly off topic, but continuing the theme of end of season Report Cards.
Here is the one for Ajer.
Consolidation of Ajer
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/consolidation-of-ajer/
Meanwhile at the SFA the guy who chaired the UEFA Licensing Commitee that in 2011 granted a UEFA licence to Rangers in circumstances so dubious the SFAs own Judicial Protocal has been rendered neutral, has been elected President of the SFA.
Petrie the same guy Alex Thomson points out was the SFA liaison with Charles Green in 2012 to ensure no surprises in the 5 Way Agreement https://www.channel4.com/news/by/alex-thomson/blogs/rangers-leaked-email .
Had they brought Campbell Ogilvie out of retirement and appointed him SFA President there could not be a bigger GIRUY Peter/Celtic than this.
Deserves a blog in it’s own I would have thought.
Very cold and clinical from you Paul…sounded just the way I imagine a businessman like Peter would say it.
Thanks very much, now off you go…
You said, “….but that love {for the club} is invariably wrapped up in a lucrative contract.” Gosh! Peter must adore us like no other… :-)
P.C. Lustig will always be more deserving in my eyes…
Auldheid
If no one opposes it’s a walkover, No?
Why was nobody willing to stand, maybe they have some credibility and personal respect not to lie with the dogs.
He is a large chap and the gravy train will need to be well stocked.
It would appear Celtic have no influence, or cannot build a consensus for change, it should not stop us as a club seeing throught Res 12 to the end , making our own views known on the same club different club argument and the awarding of the titles of the dead club.
That is if we have not already agreed the position that is presently being spouted by Doncaster.
If we are still looking for a right back then our planning, scouting and squad management in general is a bigger shambles then many already think it is. We’ve known we needed a new right back since the end of the Invincible season. There should be a preferred candidate, with plan b & c, ready to come in now and be ready to start pre season training in 5 days time. In fact, ideally, the new right back should already be at the club, 2 years ago.
The same can be said for Center Halves, we’ve known that the previous manager’s first choice duo were leaving this summer, why aren’t replacements lined up?
Lustig has earned his money, unlike plenty over his 8 years as an outstanding player. Snide slur on his character, I’m guessing we have diluted the 1 year option into 2 years for 1 years money, guys with families, schools to consider, should be treated much better than this.
When Lustig joined Celtic:
Kristoffer Ajer was 13
Odsonne Edouard was 13
Kieran Tierney was 14
Daniel Arzani was 11
Karamoko Dembele was 8
Rangers were still a club
Replacements haven’t been lined up because our dictator is dithering…
Hmm! Upgrade the heated driveway or a new Centre Half? Hmm!
Expecting a cold winter…
Auldheid 12:32
“there could not be a bigger GIRUY Peter/Celtic than this.
Deserves a blog in it’s own I would have thought.”
——–
I think you have answered your own question. If it was seen as being a giruy it WOULD have had a blog, IMO.
GARY67 on 12TH JUNE 2019 12:45 PM
No point being a drama queen about it.
Identifying a right back is all well and good but unfortunately many are ignoring the part that says we can’t kidnap one and force him to sign for us. This is after the small matter of agreeing a fee with a club who are probably reluctant to sell if hes the standard we’re looking for.
We nearly got Castagne but he stayed at Atalanta and established himself in the team, a team who qualified for the CL via a 3rd placed finish in Italy. So hes probably feeling quite pleased that he doesn’t have to go to Northern Ireland or Gibraltar in a couple of weeks to play the first of 8 qualifying games.
RB has been Lustigs for years, not many would have been prepared to come in and play second fiddle.
Toljan was probably plan B, Borussia Dortmund thought he was worth a punt at £6m and we thought he may have been worth a look but not to be. Luckily we didn’t sign him, and have known for a while that he’ll need replaced.
The window has barely opened so lets see what it brings.
HH
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 12TH JUNE 2019 11:53 AM
I understand what you’re saying however making a loss without accounting the sales of players is like doing your expenses but not adding your wage. It is a business. Player sales were expected. Celtic develop and sell players on, it’s a maintainable business model considering the TV income is so low.
I don’t think we’ve under invested that badly. The quality and value for money in the market hasn’t been there bar the odd Gem that considering the amount of football clubs out there… Celtic have uncovered (VVD, Moussa and I would also add Eddy to that group as well)
I have faith in the board. They run a ship less likely to sink than across the city. They are desperate, will have to sell their best player to break even and running on finance from investors who will come knocking for the money back one day.
Looking forward to seeing how much Ashley gets tomorrow.
Hail Hail
Well, if folk were confused when I stated there was a toxic culture at Celtic, there was a systemic failure in our transfer dealings and that we had a huge void where our Director of Football should be…
…read it and weep.
Hail Hail
CELTIC BY NUMBERS on 12TH JUNE 2019 12:30 PM
timaloy29 on 12th June 2019 11:56 am
Sign somebody else like the Sheffield United lad.
————————————————————————–
On what basis? Not being awkward, I see Baldock ever other week at Bramall Lane (I live in Sheffield). A model pro and a hard grafter but nowhere near Celtic standard never mind a multi International tournament experienced and trophy laden Swedish full back.
Not as defensively strong as Lustig and nowhere near as creative.
We can’t afford to just sign someone, anyone.
____
Fair enough. I had heard more positive things from other United fans but I’m not gonna argue with somebody who watches regularly!
Why was he talking to the Norwegian media ?.
ADI_DASSLER on 12TH JUNE 2019 1:10 PM
Why was he talking to the Norwegian media ?.
======
Maybe drank too much lager…
HH
Saw a stat that 50 players have already been signed in the Bundesliga.
Do we have targets lined up, are we on holiday, sleeping, is it part of our strategy? ( is this even a question)
Do we have a procurement/ development strategy?
Is, the strategy, being made up on the hoof?
Hope so, seems the answer to first 2 questions and by the evidence of the leaked documents Q3 would appear to be answered by hope so, too.
p
Why is everybody sweating about a right back? Our manager has a great eye for a player. That’s why he got the job. Isn’t it?
Mikael is one of those we will appreciate more when he is gone – if all he had done of note in his Celtic career was his slalom run and curling finish at Ibrox he would be a legend to me but he has accomplished so much more of course.
He can be exposed, particularly by pacy players, particularly in Europe, but never seems to chuck it, a fantastic professional.
Adequate cover and/or a replacement is long overdue.
Apparently 10,000,000 Euros gets you a Timothy Weah, last season’s benchwarmer.
£15,000,000 gets you a converted Rugby player in Olly Burke.
Added to Jerry Toljan £6,000,000, someone was not shopping in the value for money bucket in January.
That’s where the loans go. We’d have spent about £20m on those 3….
Frightening csc
Auldheid
” Meanwhile at the SFA the guy who chaired the UEFA Licensing Commitee that in 2011 granted a UEFA licence to Rangers in circumstances so dubious the SFAs own Judicial Protocal has been rendered neutral, has been elected President of the SFA.”
In spite of the horrendous nature of the above,the vast majority of posters since 12:32 have continued to give offerings from the much vaunted opinions market. Therein lies the problem.
JJ
There will be more value in the market once the English transfer window closes in August however we’ll have the third qualifying round for the champions league on the 7/8th – presuming we qualify from the first two rounds. I’d expect us to do the majority of our signings then.