Over the last few days of the European transfer window I was keen to find out what business Ajax would be able to complete (what Milan and Barca did is of scant interest). Between Friday and yesterday Ajax lost two players, Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen moved to Tottenham, and yesterday, Belgian defender, Toby Alderweireld joined Atletico Madrid.
Both were big players for the Dutch champions, who could realise €20m from the sales, but attempts to sign Ola John from Benfica and Eljero lia of Werder Bremen failed, instead they paid Heracles Almelo €2.5m for midfielder Lerin Duarte.
The Amsterdamers had a frustrating final few hours of the window. No doubt potential targets were worried about having to face three huge teams in the Champions League. In a difficult group, this is what counts as a break for Celtic. Only five games into their league season and without Champions League qualifiers to use as a yardstick, the group stage will come early for Ajax.
Living adjacent to an over-monied behemoth has considerable drawbacks as even our top clubs struggle to retain teenagers in the face of English lower league competition but such a rich market can also bring enough transfer income to make the difference between feast and famine.
The English Premier League spent £445m on transfers outside England but apart from Celtic and Hamilton Accies, who between them will earn around 4% of that total, I don’t think anyone else in Scotland got a piece of the action.
Nurturing and selling talent to England has to be a strategy for dozens of clubs here. Paying (for them) top wages to players who are no longer able to gain employment in England can only be considered a waste by comparison.
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HH
Day trip to Milan is ok. Did it for the last 16 when Kaka did us.. Just remember being held in the stadium for ages at the end.. The buses dropped us early up at the stadium..hopped on and off the trams, had a rare old day.
Pleasant time Pre match in small cafe , which did free food, which I believe is the custom..
HH
Kayal33
15:41 on
3 September, 2013
Doing a wee bit of research re. Amsterdam. Return flight from Manchester £187, one night in Ibis at airport £66 and a ticket from dutch agency £80. £333 in total, probably still a lot cheaper than Thomson/Celtic travel judging by Milan prices. Tempted. Been to see us twice in CL/EC in Amsterdam and seen us win twice, could go for the hat trick.
Kayal33
You better make sure said ticket is genuine? Why? Because I’ve just found some websites who are looking for £125 upwards for said match with words stating
No Celtic Fans which would be a fiasco if one was to pay either £125-£145-£185
only to find out @ the turnstyle no entry or getting past the turnstyle and then
getting ejected from the Stadium for being in the wrong section.
Also, I heard in the past that the Amsterdam Police are a bit heavy handed
with their battons. In other words they don’t hesitate to use them. Be careful
and do a thorough check before parting with the readys for said ticket in other
words is ticket available genuine and if so what section is it in??
FF taking the news in its inimitable stride:
“Where does the conflict of interests begin with this ??”
——
“You can just imagine the first meeting he attends, they will all walk in in to a chorus of “Hail Liewell.”
——
“That’s us ****ed then.
Slightest chance to get us on anything and he’ll be in there.
Also the disciplinary panel will never get to see Lennon again.”
——
“I thought the sfa was no more? So what’s the spfl then?”
fan-a-tic @ 17:13,
You are quite right, we have a great opportunity to develop our prospects and youths in the SPL and Cups games.
Must win games and UCL we can use the stalwarts.
I believe we can get so much money in transfer fees from the likes of Southamptom and Norwich.
They just don’t have the luxury of developing players in the first team, every points a prisoner, getting sucked into that relegation zone is an expensive business, so they pay over the top for proven professionals.
Hail Hail
timbhoy2
16:41 on
3 September, 2013
regarding the Main Standcan we not have another share issue.They did it for Lennoxtown ,the old stand is well old
Somehow, I don’t see that matter coming to fruition.
Why? Because why would they want to increase
the capacity of ‘The South Stand’ when they can’t
even get all bums in seats for the run of the mill
matches (SPL) Also, it would cost millions of £’s
to cover said project. Perhaps if the Hoops one
day are playing in a more financial set up League
But until that day, that idea is a non-starter.
Deary me. Forgot the link to the CST Web site
http://www.celtictrust.net/index.php?func=d_home_article&id=433
Celtic supporters ask questions of Celtic re SFA
Published on Tuesday 3rd September, 2013 by Celtic Trust
New resolution to the PLC AGM
We have been asked by a group of Celtic fans who are trying to get a resolution on to the agenda of the Celtic PLC AGM to publicise their resolution. If you support this proposal. Please print this off, fill it in, scan the first page then return it by email to canamalar@yahoo.com
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
17:01 on
3 September, 2013
I can retire now. My work is done lol.
SFTB
If I may….
“In order, I think the three most compelling divides are:-
1) Celtic’s attitudes towards and handling of the Sevco/Rangers issue
2) Celtic’s handling of the Green Brigade
3) Celtic’s general finances and, especially, transfer finances.”
I think I might be about to create another compelling divide here…
(Aside: Can one describe a divide as compelling? I suppose meiosis is pretty compelling for living cells)
Anyways…
1) Celtic’s handling of the Sevco shenanigans has divided the support only insofar as between those who were content to let the Board manage the shebawz in the way they felt most appropriate, versus those who wanted the Board to be a strident voice, a leader, a Defender of the Game’s values if you will, and by extension, an Annihilator of hunism.
My sense is that most of us were dismayed to read Dermot Desmond’s comments, found them incongruous with our own views, and really rather wished he had shut the fech up.
That said, I’m not sensing a meaningful division though on Sevco’s fate. Most folk (who still support our club and attend matches) seem to consider the outcome about right – liquidated, expelled from the game, started over in a new guise at the bottom. It was the shabby and corrupt manner of the management of the problem that stuck in the craw, together with the continuing efforts abroad to deny the reality of what happened.
There is a tangible and justifiable sense of distrust of those responsible for running the Game in Scotland, and this seeps through to some distrusting Celtic for whatever role, real or imagined, Celtic had in those proceedings and matters arising since.
If there is a meaningful divide, it is between those who support the game and those charged with “fostering and promoting” it, and “protecting it from abuses”. Within the Celtic support, and between the supporters of (almost) all clubs in Scotland, there is near unanimity that the game was bent out of shape repeatedly by SFA to find an accommodation for a dying club that had itself bent the game shamefully and irreparably.
Canamalar’s resolution speaks to the heart of this matter, but again, I’m not seeing a ‘divide’ between supporters on the matter, only a frustration that answers have not yet been provided, and a regrettable inertia in supporting his effort.
It’s a Celtic issue insofar as Celtic are a member of SFA, and an influential club in this country. We are though apt to exaggerate our influence, both underestimating and overestimating according to circumstances, but fundamentally, the Sevco shebawz is every bit an issue for the supporters of Aberdeen, Raith Rovers and Clyde as it is for Celtic, and no more so (qualitatively, rather than quantitatively).
2) The Green Brigade
Terrific, imaginative, colourful, naïve, anonymous, exclusive and belligerent. About sums it up. Their biggest problem is being unable to control the many who want in on the GB action. Placing this at No2 on the list is within your rights, but perhaps a little over-stated in my humble opinion.
3) Finances
There is a tangible divide here, but it’s more fundamental than finances. It’s between (in my humble view) those who understand, appreciate or trust what the club is trying to achieve long term, and those for whom understanding is secondary to gratification.
The first group get frustrated at short term stumbles, but keep the eye on the bigger view. The second group seems not to care about the future beyond ” – in a row”.
Perhaps divide isn’t the right word. It’s perhaps more about the inclination to make allowances when things go the way of the pear from time to time.
The football team’s successes and failures, the club’s finances, the support for the club, and the support from the club to the myriad special causes, are all inextricably bound. Failure to see that results in such strokes as diverting charity funds to pay football players’ wages.
It’s probably just an issue bound up in the modern social spectrum, on which you’re far better qualified than me to comment.
Off oot to find a tin hat…
TBB
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
16:34 on
3 September, 2013
TBB
Is that Sandy Stables …sounds like a name Ian Fleming would conjur up. ;-)
0067csc
Sounds like a DJ from Atlantic 252 – along with Dusty Rhodes and Sandy Beeches
The Battered Bunnet
16:31 on
3 September, 2013
Are we to believe that the Unseen Fenian Hand will now be pouring the tea at SFA Board meetings?
Only for Campbell – accompanied by the Voice Of God announcing “Campbell, yer tea is OOT!”
fan-a-tic
“Someone posted last night that we were guaranteed to win the SPL.
It’s probably true so why is the coach so reluctant to give youth a chance?”
The short answer is, he isn’t! Neil has given debuts to more first time players from outwith the named first team squad than any previous coach, just count them.
The second answer as to why that is not enough for you and others is that the crowd complains volubly every time we drop points and were calling for the head of the guy who was supplying the fresh blood that the fans requested.
Tom Rogic, far from being kept back, was introduced ahead of schedule. He has actually had very limited senior football experience, less than one year with an A-League team. Last year was his blooding season and he played 8 games. This is his breakthrough year and we might expect 10 to 20 odd games plus sub appearances.
It took Niall McGinn 8 months to register a first team appearance, Paddy McCourt had only 4 in his first year and both had had longer apprenticeships than Tom Rogic.
We can only play 11 to 14 players in each match. We need a certain amount of senior player continuity to allow partnerships to develop and it does the kids no favours to introduce 4 or 5 tin the same match to the first team. Most will play 1 or 2 games to encourage them to play better for the Development Squad. Others like Watt, Rogic and Twardzik (when fit) might be encouraged that they can hope for more and become squad players.
Celtic fans will tolerate a few poor results. More than 2 in the same month leads to fractious behaviour and calls for the coach to go.
I would be prepared to lose a few more to blood a selected group of youngsters this year but, given the reaction of the panic merchants and Chicken Littles in September and October 2012, there are not many of us willing to forego our entitlement to boo and towel chuck.
setting free the bears supports celtic’s best fighter- wee oscar knox
16:02 on 3 September, 2013
Very good post indeed…….
“I still hope against hope that the club’s silence is because they read that more damage can be done to Rangers by not responding than by doing so. If that proves to be right, I will apologise to them profusely and admit my doubts on their strategy were wrong.”
That’s what I have felt all along…….and that the LL etc would like nothing better than to engage In a hate campaign against ANY comment from Celtic…….I want Celtic to rise above these corrupt / hate-filled beasts and, like all the other Clubs affected, get on with developing the sporting ethic from the mess they created….SFA, MEEJA, OLDCO ….the lot of them.
I also supported the GB, and still do……..you are correct……there were faults on both sides, and thank goodness the situation has been resolved….hopefully permanently…!!
On the transfer policy, I wholeheartedly believe Neil, as ever, when he said we were working very hard to bring in players…….we are going to have an issue in this area for as long as we remain in Scottish Football, and that is not a criticism of Scottish Football……it is a financial reality…….we need to sell as many as possible of our SBs, not easy during this recession….
However, we are doing VERY well despite the ‘barriers’………!!!!!……Hail Hail to you…..
Ah jist read a Critique o’ oor New Striker.
It wiz made by a writer of a Celtic Blog.
Hmmmmmm
And…He concludes that we hiv bought a
TARGET MAN!
Yep, it seems that Pukki , is a Target man..and should no be expected tae be a Like fur Like .. of the Amazingly Prolific Hoops.. A hard worker, a Grafter.. but, by no means anither Hoops.
A Target Man!
Jeepers and Creepers.. Folks, who read Ma Stuff know that right away..
If . The author of the Celtic Blog,who reached this Conclusion. that Pukki is a Target Man..is Correct in his Assumption.
Then.. Ah Kojo, wull be spitting Nails..
Fur
Kojo,HATES TARGET MEN!
No Expensive Yins,of course..
But, Cheap . Knockdowns.. Like Neil has Bin Specializing in…
Fur Cheap Target Men are a Waste..of Time and Money..
UGh!
The Key question , that must be asked..and Ah wull ask it..
“Is this Assessment , by the Celtic Blogger.. a True and Accurate one.?”
Hmmmmmmm..
Mebbe, Aye, Mebbe Naw..
And tae tell ye the Truth, Ah am Anglin’ towards the Negative,oan this Wan..
Fur..
The Blogger, who Authored this Assessment of oor Noo Striker..
Made this Assessment ..Entirely Based it…
After.. Watching Pukki’s Performance..
in
TWO. INTERNATIONAL Games.
Noo.. In MA opinion..
Any Player,whom, Ah hiv watched.. in an International Game…
I Have noticed , Plays Entirely Differently,than He usually Plays,in a Club game.
Fur he is Amongst Strange company.. And In an International Game.
he certainly finds Himsel..in Strange Company.
He is now subject to playing under Unfamiliar Team tactics..and So forth.
Withoot going into it ,too much.. Let me say that Judging a Player’s expected CLUB Performance. based oan his Showing in an International..
Is.. Well.. Not too Reliable. at best….and Pretty Unreliable…as Woist!
Ah wid be so, so, Disappointed ..if Pukki, turned oota be a Target Man.
So Ah Wid.
Fur..
Kojo, Simply Hates..
Cheap Target Men!
Is Pukki, wan?
Gee.. Ah Hope No!
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
setting free the bears supports Celtic’s best fighter- Wee Oscar Knox
So what young players would you like to see given more first team
appearances then?
the battered bunnet
17:35 on 3 September, 2013
Correct, he should have said nothing………..hopefully, he was playing a wee game with them….
natknow-and Robin Banks……
SFTB@1602,
more power to you sir, you nailed it in that post, absolutely summed up the current situation for me anyways!
HH
gebhoy
Kogo
Time will tell is Teemu Pukki is either a success or another
Darrell Murphy. We are in transition mode, @ present.
From your pal who likes you.
bournesouprecipe
16:33 on 3 September, 2013
I was going to say that, IMO, PL should not have joined the SFA Board, but if it’s got FF in meltdown, then that will do me…!!!!!!!!…….a few pundits won’t be happy either….hahahahaha
TBB
Can’t find shebawz anywhere in the dictionary. Is it a hemaphrodite thing?
I placed the topics in order of divsiveness because the measure I was basing that on was willingness to walk away.
I have met more Celtic fans, across a wide variety of Celtic demographics, willing to walk away on Sevco/Rangers if they felt or had proof that our club acted dishonourably, than I have over the Green Brigade and transfer spending.
I have met more willing to walk away because they perceived an injustice being visisted on our own in the GB, and they suspected collusion between Celtic office bearers and the authorities to this end, than I have over transfer issues.
I have met many who blow very hot about transfers during July and August and again in January but they rarely follow through with actually giving up for that reason. Thankfully, we have few fans who sing- “We don’t care if we win, lose or draw, so long as the Centre forward cost more than £5m”.
Btw
Those of you who are non season ticket holders and are only able to attend maybe one or two of the CL home games 1 night Glasgow Hotel and ticket for game £179
Arrange your own transport
Contact Thomson sports
So for once the BBC can’t find a nasty picture
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23948154
!!Bada Bing!!
17:47 on
3 September, 2013
natknow-and Robin Banks……
Nice wan! Reminds me of an article on BBC a while back talking about people with unusual names. There was the story of the female lawyer – first name Susan – who married a banker called Robert Mee. He was known as Rob Mee and she became Sue Mee.
mickbhoy1888
17:54 on 3 September, 2013
Btw
Those of you who are non season ticket holders and are only able to attend maybe one or two of the CL home games 1 night Glasgow Hotel and ticket for game £179
Arrange your own transport
Where is that offer mate???
good afternoon cqn
Well,our Peter with this new job at the SFA,the current buns will love this news,like a tim joining the masons.
H H
AKBW1888
Canny argue ,aboot that,pal..
Sure , Time wull Tell.
But, even the Mention that Pukki… could.. Possibly.. be..
a .. TARGET MAN..
is enuff tae pit me in a Brown Study.( A Whit?..ed)
Nice chattin,pally..
Kojo.. who likes YOU a loater.
Still, Laughin’
AKBW
No favourites. I want to see the ones who play best and train best introduced, regardless of age and Buggin’s turn.
It is very hard for a young defender to break through. Lewis Toshney looked like a good hard tackler but was overwhelmed by being in a poor Dundee defence. Jackson Irvine has a great competitive attitude but has to prove he can do it at Killie if he is going to enhance his chances of proving his worth for us. I liked the bubbly attitude that Calum McGregor showed playing in a very limited Notts County team; he seems determined to keep his standards high and not let his team mates drag him down.
Our bar is pretty high. These guys have internationalists ahead of them. they need to be very good even to be 3rd choice. Niall McGinn and Ross Wallace fell just short but went on to have good careers elsewhere.
It is a lottery but keeping injury free and getting plenty of high quality opposition is vital to making that breakthrough.
I like Paul George as he is tricky and skillful but he has yet to prove anywhere near ready to by-pass the likes of McGeoch before he tackles Forrest or Commons.
the exiled tim
17:55 on 3 September, 2013
Typical of these low-lives………reminded me of Peter’s laugh when he was describing the Parallel Universe, though …….and he’s still laughing at them, as we are…..hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Ol Tom no happy either
Tom English (@TomEnglishSport)
03/09/2013 17:36
How come there’s a 50ft Celtic jersey draped over the front of Hampden?
I hope Peter Lawell is inside trying to get us out..
Kojo
17:58 on
3 September, 2013
AKBW1888
Canny argue ,aboot that,pal..
Sure , Time wull Tell.
But, even the Mention that Pukki… could.. Possibly.. be..
a .. TARGET MAN..
is enuff tae pit me in a Brown Study.( A Whit?..ed)
Nice chattin,pally..
Kojo.. who likes YOU a loater.
Still, Laughin’
Your welcome pal.
Hopefully our new additions, come good fast.
Or it’s going to be one of those long Season
ahead, good luck to them all, they will need it.
I don’t think we should be thinking that fielding youngsters will equal dropped points. If that’s the case they shouldn’t be at Celtic. Although to be fair, we shouldn’t drop points at all in Scotland but we certainly don’t put teams to bed even if we are winning. I know motivating millionaires to battle amongst the cluggers of the SPL is difficult but that’s the job.
I wonder if the seat on the SFA board is the price the SFA are paying to keep us quiet on the Sevco rules change fiasco- If it is I’d be looking for more than that for years of institutional bias
SFTB
Who outwith the first team squad has been given a run of games?
On the Rogic question he is a full internationall so playing him so sparingly seems cautious but understandable with our coaches system.Dont think its necessary.
I agree the pressure is there to win or the groans begin but time for Neil to show he has the confidence and belief in his players and systems.
setting free the bears supports Celtic’s best fighter- Wee Oscar Knox
18:00 on
3 September, 2013
AKBW
No favourites. I want to see the ones who play best and train best introduced, regardless of age and Buggin’s turn.
It is very hard for a young defender to break through. Lewis Toshney looked like a good hard tackler but was overwhelmed by being in a poor Dundee defence. Jackson Irvine has a great competitive attitude but has to prove he can do it at Killie if he is going to enhance his chances of proving his worth for us. I liked the bubbly attitude that Calum McGregor showed playing in a very limited Notts County team; he seems determined to keep his standards high and not let his team mates drag him down.
Our bar is pretty high. These guys have internationalists ahead of them. they need to be very good even to be 3rd choice. Niall McGinn and Ross Wallace fell just short but went on to have good careers elsewhere.
It is a lottery but keeping injury free and getting plenty of high quality opposition is vital to making that breakthrough.
I like Paul George as he is tricky and skillful but he has yet to prove anywhere near ready to by-pass the likes of McGeoch before he tackles Forrest or Commons.
In my opinion I personally believe the Ross Wallace did not really get a chance under
WGS The same could apply to Niall McGinn.
I like the looks of young Daryl Fisher along with the young fellow Finley.
If they can get a chance, well that is another question.
I also hope that the Goal Keeper they took on loan from Fulham gets
a run out. After all, we took a Swedish goalkeeper on loan last January
who did not get a sniff @ first team appearances.
It’s basically a case of broadening one’s horizon when the opportunity
presents its self not missing a good opportunity slide bye.
googybhoy ♥ celtic
17:57 on 3 September, 2013
Celtics new travel partner thomsons sports
Googbhoy
http://thomsonsport.com/event/celtic-2013-14