My knowledge of Chinese football since 1979 is limited, and I don’t watch a lot of Brighton or Huddersfield, so I’ll need to bow to Ange Postecoglou’s judgement when it comes to Australian international midfielder, Aaron Mooy.
Mooy was a mainstay in the Huddersfield team that won promotion to the English Premier League, stayed there, then were relegated after two years. His form won a move to then-EPL side Brighton, where he stayed for two years before the lure of the yuan.
20 games in 18 months in China ended at the turn of the year. Since then, Mooy has played only internationals, including three games for Australia last month. The reported one-year deal, with a one year option, for a free transfer, is low risk for the club.
Celtic have cover in the wide positions but central mid is an area where the headcount is down, after the departures of Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic. Rogic is easier to compensate for in the existing squad, it’s the No. 6 position, where Ange is limited to Callum McGregor and largely untested Yosuke Ideguchi.
Some of us will have a Pavlovian reaction, Mooy is two months older and has the same positional profile as James McCarthy, who signed a year ago but looked short of fitness all season. There is certainly reason for caution.
Celtic faced a genuine battle for the league last season, and I expect nothing less in the season ahead. Getting the mix right in central mid is one of my biggest concerns. This feels like a pivotal decision.
218 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- »
Don’t know about his time in China but Mooy has always been a super fit guy who can look after himself. I’m hopeful it’s a great signing. New centre back next, I hope.
JD @ 1.41
LL car park — that is the for the free pie seats.
They get in early and use the bar because they can.
Seat in a lounge with a selection of hot food available.
That is why they are in so early.
We should make this style of facilities — and others — available to more of the crowd.
A football match as some sort of sporting pit stop — splash and dash — might have been the way of the world 50 years ago but the world has moved on and we are getting left further and further behind.
The Apollo vs The Hydro — discuss?
Jimdom, any post that agrees with me on something if offcourse a superb contribution to the site.
thumbs up.
Good Afternoon from a scorching Monifieth on Tay. Just catching up with the blogs from the weekend. Great to meet up with Big Jimmy, BRRB and Leggy on Saturday after the match for a wee interlude in the Merchant City. A very pleasant couple of hours, and, yes, I did make the Megabus back to Dundee in good time…
HH
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 18TH JULY 2022 1:45 PM
Agreed, with little pre season he’ll need a few games to get up to speed but we should have enough in midfield already, and who knows what the squad will look like after the window shuts
No 5 week break for our World Cup players unfortunately. Hopefully none will come back with hangovers
looks like fans are split on the mooy signing – hardly inspiring going into champs league. This is a team who’s style struggles to stop goals against europa league opponents.
Teams cut us apart through midfield (no pace) and cross balls (lacking areal dominance).
so far the window has been a major let down in terms of improving last seasons team for home competitions and esp champs league readiness.
Hoping Mooy (like we re-signed Scott brown) is not one of the 2 Ange was referring to!
MM
I live in the ‘privileged’ West End – no sign of the Avenues project, I think what your a describing is what has been done in Sauchiehall Street – wider pavements, trees, banners and closed shops!
There appears to be a similar proposal for Byres Road – basically the great woke hatred of cars and business – retailers in Byres and surrounding are fearful of the proposed changes.
All the better for out of town centres.
If we do get similar for Gallowgate to CP I’d vote for ‘Paradise Boulevard’
I would suggest that most football supporters complain about transport and parking at games far more than other facilities.
It’s taken me over 30 minutes to get home after a Game at Vale park 🤭
Touching 32deg with forecast of 34 by 4 o’clock
MADMITCH
I was indeed being facetious
Your perspicacity knows no bounds.
perspicacity- is that the ability to sweat 🤭
No problem on a day like this
MADMITCH
The Lisbon Lions car park is open to everyone, not just hospitality ticket holders. I’ve used it several times in recent years. It was always £5 but when I used it towards the end of last season it was free.
Stebhoy 2.15
I agree we have spent a load of money so far to stay same as we were last year, we need to improve. Mooy is a terrific player though past his best. Ange ignoring the priority which is the weak defence, small fullbacks and no left footed defender are obvious weaknesses plus Hart as a sweeper is just terrifying. Ange needs to address the weakness in the team which is the defence, no sign of it yet. We will be taken apart in Europe as things stand.
At least Mooy is bigger than 5’7″.
Holy moly.
Qduadrophenian
You detect a bit of smoothness re mooy.
I kinda get where you are there Quad,my generation are more akin to checking oz pools teams in close season.There is a tendency to look down on Oz football(from Scotland we tend to look down on all football do we not?:-),TomR had plenty boo bhoys if you recall too.
In Ange we trust and if he wants to sign then fine by me.100% suppyort.he will have a plan,as will mooy so I hope it augers well for our club.
My reservations are on age,31,it seems outa sync but an old head may help.As HL spaghetti pointed out we have lost Tom and Nir,a lot of good experience,knowledge(goodwill) going out so good to see someone in,and hopefully a few more to come
HH
Just maybe the same tactic employed by the Malmo coach last year might just pay dividends against thems again this year.
Undercooked a wee bit and some with no experience at Ibrox will go into a must win game. Arguable as big a game as their last European game in terms of finances.
The wee mob have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
A win for the Govan mob is critical as it puts them in the black and will enable spends. Defeat takes them to Europa jeopardy territory. So need for further clear out and a few more budget recruits.
It also ensures we will get the fully Tv pot for our country and not be having to share.
Ibrahimovic signed a 1 year contract with AC Milan at 40
Quadrophenian
Think Mooys Mrs is from here
HH
Jeezo, some of our support always find ways to make themselves concerned.
I don’t know Mooy. Therefore I’ve no idea if he will be good for us or not. I didn’t know much about Jota, Abada, Carter Vickers, Kyogo, Maeda, Giakomakus, juranovic or Hatate. I did know about McArthy. I was wrong about him.
So, while I’m not a big fan of the ‘in Ange we trust’ school of thought, I am going to give way to him on a player whose career he has followed and a pkayer who he has managed and I have not.
I’m also willing to wait until the transfer window closes before worrying myself about ‘gaps’ in the squad. We all know what we need but there’s a whole load of obstacles to getting players that need to be overcome.
We are miles ahead of where we were this time last year. We should be confident. But I wonder if some folk see half the Welsh international subs bench being signed across the City and a big transfer fee going the same direction and decide we need to break from the plan. Some among us are very nervous people.
Roberttressell
Perhaps we need to adopt the Bury nickname of ‘the shakers’ as they don’t need it anymore.
You can be sure the Belgian mob, will sack their manager a couple of days before the Sevco games….
Ange Postecoglou predicts Celtic transfer acceleration as he insists star man Jota’s ceiling is limitless
The Parkhead gaffer believes they’ve signed a better player this summer than the one who arrived on loan from Benfica
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou says £6 million winger Jota can take his game to another level at Celtic this season.
The Parkhead gaffer believes they’ve signed a better player this summer than the one who arrived on loan from Benfica a year ago. After the Portuguese star impressed in a 2-2 friendly draw against Blackburn Rovers, Postecolgou heaped praise on his wide man.
And ahead of their Premiership title defence and a crack at the Champions League group stage, the Hoops boss insists there’s no limit to how good he can be. Postecoglou said: “There’s no ceiling to Jota’ s potential. He was very good today. The attacking players rely on feeling fresh with their athleticism and their speed. I know people said we re-signed two players in Jota and Cameron Carter-Vicker s this summer. But I think we’ve signed two better players than we had last year. That’s why we brought them in. There’s no reason why Jota can’t go further and take his game to another level.
SAINT STIVS on 18TH JULY 2022 10:47 AM
i took a trip to the east end yesterday, I wanted to take a good look at whats going on. A field trip if you like, with some site survey to go with it, and a wee look at structures and buildings,
Sure its Fair Sunday and the hottest day of the year, what do we expect to see in the worlds most friendliest city.
I started in the city centre, along clyde street, the hotel developments come along at a good pace, 4 more big names coming and the customhouse repurposed and looking grand in the sunshine.
The Barclays development at tradeston, superb transformative.
The clyde side strip of grass was busy, all the pubs equally so, the area around st enochs busy with kids
going to the fair.
Pass the Shipbank doors open, suprised to see a fella with an orange away top on, covered by a jacket but still, maybe Jimmy knows this guy.
Round Charlottes street, I always think of the Marists here and Walfrid pacing up to Brigton and his teaching duties.
Up the Gallowgate, the former Bairds all cafe continental, St Lukes even more so , busy again.
All around glasgow green really busy, was cinnamon on last nioght ?
So all areas busy with people, tourists, students,
Up the London road, Bridgeton lless so, some of the pavement pirates outside their ugly dens.
Celtic park awaits. The shop is opened, but only 6 cars, The school car park maybe 40 or so.
I wander up the way, looking at structure, steel, panels, I think the banners are down to let works on them happen, there is evidence of sections being cleaned and replaced, sure some junctions have rusted over time, but not enough to be totally replaced. Normal maintainece would cover that.
It is funny looking at the stadium without the now so familier banners, I hope they are retunred cleaned up and fresh.
So, too the footprint, all those acres, can they turn a profit on match days and beyond, temporary structures seem sound until its a freezing snow mid winter windy night, how attractive then ? Sure for a Champions league game, less so for a raith rovers at home league cup quarter final.
Brings us to the biggest issue, not celtic not wanting a fanzone, but GCC and councillers continued opposition to anything proposed.
All that land, once built on, where do the supporters busses and cars relocate to ?
The area for hotel and museum, it is the best orientation and positioning proposed. Would I build it without a partner operating it, well no.
The corner parcel at London Road, Springfiels road, across from the Vaults, something is going on, its enclosed and boarded, looks like ground works, but on checking it has been zoned for hoteland retail linked to the emirates, but various propsals have been withdrawn over time, that tells me feasablity studies have decided a hotel is not viable so far up the east end. 3 miles from the city centre, you could as well be in cambuslang.
As an aside all the residential going up, I like the brick the styles , the block on springfield junction is nice, those at the cattle market also, and all along the terry tattoo witevale/bluevale area, all nice,
come back to that later.
Out to Barrowfield, no access , but can see through the fences,
This desire to be there, have b games, youth games, ladies games, for me the investment is overly sentimental , sure we improve the space, and a spiritual home but on any given day, will it earn anything for us ? Build it, they still wont come.
I asked over and over who goes and sees any of these games now ? Why would it change if its in the east end.
BTW, the social club, it literally was one man and his dug,
Now back to the forge.
Did you know Tesco super store is now closed ? A favourite haunt of the wandering parents and kids pre match has gone, Massive retail gap , massive impact to the east end, it easily will have supported 300 jobs, all gone,
The reason ……… its a loss making store.
Let that sink in. Massive footprins square feet yes, but even Tesco could get enough footfall to save it, attempts to downsize met with reluctant landlord, I am told from someone in the know, Tesco wanted a massive rent free period to stay on. The financialcs couldnt work for the landlord, better to moth ball.
Maybe it could be repurposed as an indoor football park ?
If celtic want to operate a hotel, do it elsewhere. The east end , even with celtic park as the hub, and even with the emirates hosing events, for me the demand doesnt match any investment.
Maybe rebuild the main stand aye (btw Crystal palace, £120m and rising for a 10,000 seater which has been delayed any number of time)
The mythical football tuorist doesnt exist in any great volume outside london or madrid or barcelona.
Glasgow is the destination people come to, Celtic park aye for a mathc or a look see, but anything else, its a real stretch.
As an aside, need to find out what is being built behind saint marys, only got a drive past, but something is going up right on top of celtics birthplace.
Never heard of the Belgian team before today ,- mind you hadn’t heard of Cluj or Bodo/ Glimt before they sent us out
Open question to the body of the kirk (ha)
What is your normal mathc day experience ?
How often do you attend celtic park in any other capacity ?
I don’t know how any Celtic supporter can claim we have not strengthened since last season.
The Japanese Bhoys finished a tough season and started a new season on the other side of the world without a break. This summer they have all enjoyed a proper rest and recuperation before returning for pre-season.
Jota and Carter-Vickers were key players last season but have now converted from loan deals to permanent signings. Both players came to Celtic last season after extended periods of relative inactivity. They have enjoyed a full and successful loan term followed by the security of permanent big money deals and must be really looking forward to competitive games.
We have brought in Siegrist as backup to Joe Hart and Bernabei to compete with Taylor for game time.
It looks like Aaron Mooy will be an important addition to our midfield and if we trust Ange’s judgement, he’s got to be a good acquisition with one more new signing still to come.
We also have B Team players being introduced to the first team squad. Admittedly none have set the heather on fire thus far but it can be a gradual process and is surely a step in the right direction. Game time can produce the goods.
It is far too simplistic to just count players in and players out and decide we are weaker. There’s much more to it than that. Players who were here last season can and will be better, stronger and more confident, for various reasons as I have touched on above.
I won’t be going to the Norwich game but am really looking forward to our opener v Aberdeen. I have a feeling this is going to be a very special season.
Hail Hail
In fact, did anyone actually attend the doors open training session today ?
————
Craig
@CraigCelt
·
5h
For people heading along to the Celtic training day on an unusually warm Scottish Monday afternoon.
The kiosks will be open and water will be available. Just ask for free tap water.
jinkyredstar
Bit bourgeoise for some on here…
How about ‘Portail a l’Echafaud’ for the Gallowgate, n’est-ce pas
‘Boulevard’ could be a two edged sword, one bad defeat and it gets branded
‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ though not by me.
I’m leaning more towards ‘Paradise Alley’
Thought I’d have a gander at the women’s cricket – very poor from South Africa.
Nugget on BBC Scotland reporting about the hot weather…….with a jacket on…..
Michael Nicholson replaces Rangers MD Stewart Robertson on SPFL board as Celtic chief leads shake up
Nicholson will serve as the Scottish Premiership representative alongside Ron Gordon and James McDonald.
13:21, 18 JUL 2022
SPORT
Celtic Director Michael Nicholson
(Image: SNS Group)
Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson has been elected to the SPFL board.
The Parkhead chief replaces outgoing Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson. Nicholson will serve as the Scottish Premiership representative, alongside Hibs owner Ron Gordon and Ross County director James McDonald. The trio are joined by reps from the Championship as well as club officials representing both League One and League Two. League boss Neil Doncaster heads up the group, with chairman Murdoch MacLennan and independent, non-executive director Karen McCluskey.
Nicholson was initially appointed to his Celtic role on an interim basis after the short-lived tenure of former Scottish Rugby boss Dominic McKay. He replaced the long-serving Peter Lawwell last summer after his retirement, but lasted only a few months with the champions before resigning for “personal reasons.”
It was Lawwell who first appointed Nicholson in 2013. Since taking the top job, Nicholson has been praised by manager Ange Postecoglou for his role in the Hoops’ recruitment last season, which played a big part in them winning the Premiership title back from Rangers.
2022/23 SPFL board appointments in full
· cinch Premiership: Michael Nicholson (Celtic), Ron Gordon (Hibernian), James MacDonald (Ross County)
Pause
Unmute
Current Time
0:12
/
Duration
0:30
Fullscreen
76516486337
SIMILAR ARTICLES TO THIS
76516486337
138366343002
138366779584
138366343014
Powered by
· cinch Championship: Les Gray (Hamilton Academical), Graeme Mathie (Ayr United)
· cinch League 1 and League 2: Alastair Donald (Forfar Athletic), Alternate director – Paul Hetherington (Airdrieonians)
Tough ties await both Dundee United and Motherwell in the Europa Conference League.
The Tannadice club will face either Tuzla City or AZ Alkmaar in the third qualifying round after Monday’s draw.
And if Motherwell beat Sligo Rovers in round two, they will take on either Sparta Prague or Viking FK.
I think Mooy will prove to be a great addition this season. I remember seeing him play in the EPL, determination and grit are two words that come to mind, which we could do with in this Celtic team, especially against thems.
HH
GSU
SAINT STIVS
Our supporters bus leaves Leith 3 hours before kick-off and we are usually parked in the JS bus park between 1 and 1.5 hours before kick-off. I and my pals usually remain on the bus, as do quite a few others, and continue to drink our beer/spirits etc and talk about the game, Celtic and football in general until about 15 minutes before kick-off.
Apart from match days I am very rarely anywhere near Celtic Park.
Good afternoon all from the Tolbooth via Grace’s. Lasted an hour at the training day. Boiling. 🥵
So Michael Nicholson actually exists.
That’s good to know
SS- outwith a match day,there is very little to attract you to the Park,except the Superstore or the ticket office, very few social events there,concerts,business seminars etc
ST TAMS on 18TH JULY 2022 3:37 PM
So Michael Nicholson actually exists.
That’s good to know
————-
wait till you see his bonus for last set of record breaking accounts.
BRRB
How much ball work did you do or was it mostly sprints 🤔☀️