To our eternal confusion, when Daizen Maeda got to the World Cup in November, he was used as a striker, a role he only fulfilled at Celtic when there was literally no one else available for the task. It was not madness on the part of manager Hajime Moriyasu, who left the brilliant Kyogo back in Glasgow.
Daizen is not as accomplished a striker as Kyogo, but Japan were in Qatar to play a different way than Celtic, they were prepared to concede possession for long spells, so needed someone who could press defenders at an elite level. There is none better for that role than Daizen.
At 25, I don’t think we have seen the best of him yet. The vast majority of games he plays for Celtic provide little scope for his natural game, as active space is so contained in Celtic’s attacking third. It is perhaps only against Newco, who vainly try to go toe-to-toe with the champions, where he can really turn it on.
His goal at Ibrox in January, when he spooked Tavernier is a perfect example, as was his Scottish Cup semi-final move, when he won a ball he was third closest to, before whipping in an inch-perfect cross for Jota to nod home.
“Another four years” is perhaps a bit misleading. Sure, he’s contracted for that long, but I expect bids for him in 2024 or 2025. His physicality, speed and perpetual motion is made for the dozen-or-so teams that regularly counter-attack in the EPL.
You can imagine the goings-on at Celtic this week. “We’ve all this money, do we need to tell the stock market?” It reminded me of an old Dave Allen joke:
A man sits in a confessional and says, “Father, I’m having an affair with a gorgeous young thing that lives down my street.”
Priest, “That’s not how a good Catholic should live.”
Man, “Oh, I’m not a Catholic.”
Priest, “Well, why are you telling me?”
Man, “I’m telling everybody!”
Football is a hard enough business, if you have a good story to tell, tell it.
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CAMUSBHOY
Glad you are well and enjoyed your holiday!
Love the lake district.
Used to go to an hotel in Cartmel, right next to the race course.
It was idyllic…..but the drink was expensive.
Looking forward to developments in the close season although !!BADA BING!! has got word that we will lose another “big hitter” this window.
Apparently it’s not CCV so could be any of the rest!!
Take care and keep well!
Petec
Take care good sir.
I don’t think we should be having an argument regarding Covid when G.G. From here is seriously ill with it at the moment. Has he posted recently?
Paul The Spark
He hasn’t posted for a couple of days. Think a few on here have his contact details.
AIPPLE
Thanks for that. It goes without saying but hopefully he is on the mend.
I’m telling everybody
GG……you hang in there Bhoy……..
Tontine – great stories………………
Pete – Keep it Lit matey………………….
HH CQN CSC
Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar. Rather humid in downtown Govanhill.
See that doyen of football knowledge Alex Rae,is telling us that Kemar Roofs is one of the best strikers in Scotland.The same Roofs who has averaged 9 games a season in the past 3 years.His reporting on the new Hun forwards is equally breathtaking.Dessers ,great 2 footed player????,will be the perfect foil for ,on loan ,Sima,and the could not score in Newcastle on a Saturday night,with,£ 50 notes hanging from every pocket,6 goals in 3 years other useless dumpling they have signed.His opinion of Roofs is a measure of his knowledge.
He can’t wait.
Neither can I.
Roofe,of course.
Turkeybhoy
“Couldn’t score in Newcastle on a Saturday night with £50 notes hanging out of every pocket “. Ffs hahahaha 😆
Jeremy Vine trending on Twitter………
DENIABHOY on 8TH JULY 2023 8:03 AM
Morning to all.
Anyone jetting in today?
Anyone else miss the buzz of the Ange early signing days, transfers done and dusted due to forward planning?
——–
Aye. Sure am.
The pace of the acquisition biz seems to have changed post-ecoglou.
PETEC – tough gig with your Da; ktf fella.
Bada …gies a clue. pal………………
BBC presenter suspended……
BIG JIMMY on 7TH JULY 2023 1:29 PM
FAO TONYROME…
Ive Texted the MOD, and I have asked him to provide you with my Email Address asap.
So look out for an Email from the MOD very soon…Hopefully…..and then feel free to Email me asap ?
Cheers Mate.
HH
———————————————————————————————————–
Hi Jimmy good to see you back on. I don’t have an email but I’ve got your number. I didn’t want to message you in case there was something wrong.
I’m glad that’s not the case. That’s my concert schedule complete. I’ll text you soon.
KEEP THE FAITH
Good luck PETEC with yer son of the rock da just hope the remainder of his days are pain free which I have no doubt they will be, Scotland still has excellent health care no matter what our oppressors try do to it with the transfer of payments.
Now no matter what that hauf wit SQ says, oh apologies tae any hauf wits on here as they have a least half a brain that pointed hat balloon disnae seem tae have any, but Canada has an excellent health system, although every province is autonomous, just like we are supposed tae be at hame, we are definitely not the US ok.
A wee fyi here, concerning the father of health care who in a national TV contest, conducted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in 2004, was crowned “Greatest Canadian” by viewers in an online vote, Tommy Douglas, aye a wee boy fae Falkirk.
Tommy Douglas was born in 1904 in Camelon, Falkirk and when he was around 6 his family emigrated to Winnipeg Canada, shortly before he left Scotland Tommy fell and injured his right knee, osteomyelitis set in and he underwent a number of operations in Scotland in an attempt to cure the condition.
Later in Winnipeg, the osteomyelitis flared up again, and he was sent to hospital where doctors there told his parents his leg would have to be amputated; however, a well-known orthopedic surgeon took interest and agreed to treat him for free if his parents allowed medical students to observe, after several operations, Tommy’s leg was saved, this experience convinced him that health care should be free to all.
Many years later, he told an interviewer, “I felt that no boy should have to depend either for his leg or his life upon the ability of his parents to raise enough money to bring a first-class surgeon to his bedside.”
Tommy, later a Baptist minister, was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1935 as a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) the forerunner of the National Democratic Party, he left federal politics to become Leader of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and then the seventh Premier of Saskatchewan, his government introduced the continent’s first single-payer, universal health care program. Tommy was the maternal grandfather of Kiefer Sutherland
Anyway, back to vaccinations, I am now in my 8th decade and on my 6th “shot” as they call them over here, all free, now my only problem with the antivaxxers is should they catch Covid they would be the first in line greetin tae get treatment, and in this country they would never be rejected either, however, they would be taking the place of those poor unfortunate souls who had an auto immune condition or similar and were prone to catching it, vaccinated or no, and also putting the health professionals at risk.
Now I have a very close friend, in his late 50s whose wife suffered from Lymphoma, now it is a serious disease with good treatment options available and so she was able to live a normal as possible life, unfortunately she took ill during the height of Covid and couldnae get into a hospital for treatment, eventually when she did it was too late so he had to pull the plug on her himself leaving 3 sons and a newborn granddaughter who she never got to hold in her arms.
“!!BADA BING!! on 8TH JULY 2023 2:30 PM
Jeremy Vine trending on Twitter………”
As one not attracted to twitter et al, could you , or anyone, explain the significance ( if any ) of that?
https://news.sky.com/story/household-name-bbc-presenter-paid-teenager-for-sexually-explicit-photos-12917193
England v Spain U21 Final on C4 at 5pm
MODERATOR1888 on 7TH JULY 2023 3:52 PM
Big Jimmy/TonyRome
Have emailed both you each others email
——————————————————————————————————-
Thanks MOD but I never received an email. I’ve got Jimmy’s number anyway. So it’s ok.
KEEP THE FAITH
TONYROME on 8TH JULY 2023 2:54 PM
………….
Okay Tony Bhoy.
Just TEXT me after Tomorrow ( Sunday) and I will get back to you asap.
HH Mate.
TONYROME…
I sent you an Email yesterday ( Friday).
HH
are we on the telly yet?
Petec
Sorry to read about your da.
My thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.
My da died a long time ago but I still remember how bad I felt at the time.
Cheers Bada……………
gave up Twitter years back….
HH
Jeremy Vine saying it’s not him , maybe best to let the dust settle on this
Petec
Thoughts with you and yer da.
Keep holding his hand a jibber jabbering. KTF bud
And
PETEC ,
Chin up mate , keep holding his hand
PETEC
Thoughts with you and your Dad
Ah, the pishin doon rain. Thank you.
OBs
Very uncharitable of you Robert.
I like your style 👍
Those who are speculating about who has been suspended from BBC, should use a Google search rather than naming whomever is trending…and posting the name on this site.
I found out in 10 seconds and it’s not any name that has been posted, here or on other social media.
A lot of mischief making going on.
The Onlooker
I owe Mr Vine an apology it seems
Pete, Best Wishes to you and your Dad,
BIG JIMMY on 8TH JULY 2023 3:13 PM
TONYROME…
I sent you an Email yesterday ( Friday).
HH
———————————————————————————
Hi Jimmy my usual laptop is playing up and I’m using another one. I know that shouldn’t affect emails but I never got one from you. I’ve got your number and sent you a text.
KEEP THE FAITH
Tonetim
I have had no vaccine but have twice had covid 19. Recovered without the help of any medication, or kicking & screaming for the NHS to help me.
I am not an anti-vaxxer but, neither dis I take the covid vaccine. I take serious issue when those responsible for the health & wellbeing are not held accountable for the decisions they make.
When are we gonna release the new variant on the population?