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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GG
Thank you for taking the time and energy to update us, and with the added humour, everyone here is behind you that is for sure. Good to hear that N Mochan and the rest are doing their best to have you in shape for the rest of the game.
Good morning all from the University Cafe. Embdy fancy a few beers in the West End? You know it makes sense. 😉🍻
Dawn. Still here. Awaiting another day being prodded, pinched, stuck, injected, infected.
Had a good night relatively. One wee skirmish.
Feeling. Confident with your back up prayers the strength of QN
‘GG
Stephbhoy67- my Bhoy said we are interested in Spain U21 GK,he looked good last night
GG – You’re some Mhan. Keep on truckin…….Regards,Respect and Best Wishes!
GG
All the best old chap. 👍
Good afternoon all from the Aragon Bar. Is there no end to this folly?🤔
So we’ve not to call the clowns building bonfires and doing funny walks fa@nies.
It seems some would want to call them Bonus Holes.🤣🤣🤣
BRRB
Give my regards to Julie, the wee licensee in the Aragon Bar Byres Road, whose family hail from Arranmore Island Co Donegal,
Incidentally, her husband now runs the Dolphin Bar in Partick!
Hail! Hail!
Terrymac
‘GG – Good to see your update last night and glad your spirits remain high. Hope you had a good night. Hang in there pal and just do what you’re told :)
Look forward to seeing the news that your on the way home.
Terrymac
I’m heading down to the Dolphin after the 3 judges. I’ll mention you and hope yer still not barred. 😂😂
Petec – Saw the news about your Dad. Tough times for you and those close to you. Enjoy the time with your Dad. Lost both my parents way too early so know it’s a blessing to have him around. Like many others on here
I’ll be thinking of you.
BRRB
The c
ouple I drink with regularly are not of a Celtic persuasion so I tend to drink in the Aragon which is not universally known as a Celtic Bar like the Dolphin.
When I lived in Partick in the 70s/80s, I could be found holding up the bar in the Dolphin every day with a y in it!
Enjoy your swally,!
Terrymac
Terrymac
Julie and her husband are in Ireland on holiday. 👍
l o g i n
Exciting finish to the test match in prospect.
England need 78 with 4 wickets in hand.
Will England Hibs it
just cos there is nuffin else being talked about, celtic wise, wrappers for the chip,
09:32
Borussia Monchengladbach have had an £8.5m offer rejected for Celtic target Fabian Rieder as Young Boys say bidding must start at around £13m for the 21-year-old Switzerland midfielder, who has said he would prefer a move to Germany’s Bundesliga but is open to England’s Premier League. (Blik)
Gangwon captain Han Kook-young has revealed he told Yang Hyun-Jun that he needs to up his game and leave on a high if he is to clinch a move to Celtic after Friday’s 1-1 draw against Gwangwu did nothing to ease their relegation worries. The 21-year-old’s protracted move to Celtic appeared to move a step closer this week with his club bringing in Brazilian striker Vitor Gabriel from Flamengo. (Sunday Mail), external
Out-of-favour Celtic striker Albian Ajeti’s hopes of turning his loan move to Sturm Graz into a permanent transfer have been ended by the Austrian club’s signing of Szymon Wlodarczyk, according to Kleine Zeitung. Meanwhile, Portuguese outlet JN claims that midfielder Ismaila Soro’s potential Celtic Park exit route to Arouca is now off the table after former Celtic man Eboue Kouassi was signed from Genk. (Sunday Mail), external
Former Celtic defender Kieran Tierney is Newcastle United’s top left-back target following Antonee Robinson’s decision to sign a new five-year contract with Fulham and the 26-year-old Scotland international is poised to hold talks with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta this week to finalise whether or not he will stay at the Emirates. (Football Insider), external
Read Sunday’s Scottish Gossip in full here.
Transfer style guide
3) Celtic FC do not ‘buy’ or ‘sign’ players they ‘finally complete’ deals. The hugely dull nature of this event should be emphasised at all times by using at least one of the following terms – ‘protracted’ ‘long-running’ ‘drawn out affair’
Everthus. ☝️ CSC
Happy birthday Jim Kerr
No English manager has ever won the premier league.
Wee random post for you.
Good afternoon all from the 3 judges. Beer and service not what it used to be. Time for the Dolphin and smiling, happy Tims. 😊
bring back pub spy in the papers, i think i have a perfect candidate
Aipple
Who asked you anyway?🤔
Saint Stivs
I was the pub spy.😂😂
Does this count as Almore’s cafe
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2023/july/06/visit-the-sports-bar-at-celtic-park-this-summer—open-7-days-a-week/
bloody ‘ell aipple
Terry mac
Did you know Canamalar ex of these pages,he would have been a regular in the Dolphin round bout that time.now in Kuwait.
Lovely spot is Arranmore Island.my mate is from there.
Are you abroad?
HH.
kenny miller talks absolute gibberish.
htf do they qualify for these jobs ?
The mighty Tam Gemmell.
V Benfica 69/70 European Cup. The Cup we won in 67 buried the hun.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ibkXSapuzHEajkBp9
Oops
even ib black and white, the celtic strip then was a thing of beauty
Aye
Saint Stivs
Can’t abide numbers, names, ads on those lovely hoops. I understand we have to now. We still have one of the most iconic strips in world football.
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 9TH JULY 2023 3:56 PM
play a one off charity game with the 67 strip on.
only numbers on the shorts.
release it as a kit.
watch as it outselss every other kit in the world.
this marketing stuff, easy peasy.
CQN.
LEGENDARY Celtic keeper Pat Bonner reckons Joe Hart faces a make-or-break period in the early stages of Brendan Rodgers’ return.
===============================
You mention legendary Celtic keeper and Pat Bonnar??
Shoorly shum mistake???
A big jessie of a keeper that never came for a cross ball in his life.
A dud.
As a commentator he is a dud and a fud.
CQN at it’s worst (is that a word?)
Shame on you!
Aipple
Hope you’re right………that will be one of my comments at the Irish Club this pm.
Phil
Who rattled your cage. Ya Bo’ness bampot. 😂
Saint Stivs 4.03
Aye S.😂