In the dark days of late August, with various players looking for an exit from the club, some at Celtic Park concluded that for all the success of our strategy to scout young European youth internationals who were still below radar, none of them would sign an extended contract after their credentials were established at Celtic. This assessment included Olivier Ntcham.
The club set its face to stone regarding Moussa Dembele but Brendan Rodgers was so incensed by the player on deadline day that he was told to empty his locker. Dedryck Boyata was denied a move to England, but while the Belgium international remains in the final year of his contract, Olivier surprised me by signing a new four-year deal. Something has changed.
While there is nothing inherently wrong in selling players for large transfer fees, selling too many, too quickly, puts pressure on clubs, who will struggle to recruit appropriately experienced replacements to order.
It is good news that Olivier extended his stay. It confirms he is happy at Celtic, that we can afford competitive wages, and that he has faith in the manager and direction of travel at the club. His continuing stay will also encourage others to come to Glasgow.
Ryan Christie, who signed a new contract yesterday, has every bit as much potential as Olivier. He has had the most thrilling three weeks of his career. A year ago, I was told by someone inside Celtic Park he had the potential to go far, which I dismissed on the spot. It took patience and hard work, but he got there.
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Over on FF there is a thread on Thompshun’s performance in their game against the Mothers. They reckon his performance was excellent (for them), and they are right. They reckon it was only because of their board’s statement complaining about Collum, that they got a “good” performance out of Thompshun… they might be right again.
Now I don’t think we should be issuing bat sheet crazy statements every week, but I do think we should comment publicly on every poor decision given against us. It can’t do any harm.
?⚽️
BSR … just checked … the IDF dinner? Fair enough… not everyone’s cup of tea … but he also seems to have done a lot of other stuff that many on here celebrate … he was in LIberia to see Mary’s Meals first hand, for example.
Fess … I dont really know him … it is my running joke … he has copied me since the day he was born …
GB and I we were both born in Paisley ..
same name …. Gerard is my middle name (changed it as the same name, and striking physical resemblance was confusing too many people)
both moved to Montreal as youngsters (although I moved to Ontario and he moved back to Scotland with his mum)
both studied law at university (although he quit a week before his call to the bar apparently)
both dated Jennifer Aniston (although, once I found out that he was seeing Lyndsey Lohan, I made sure that I paths never crossed)
and, as I said, there is the obvious striking phyisical resemblance!
and all of the above is 100% true …. well, except for the Jennifer Aniston thing …. (I was just checking to see if you were paying attention)
All joking aside, I know they are rich people, but still must be hard to see your house go up in flames like that.
Timaloy29 3:55
Has anybody been impressed with the signings made since Congerton replaced John Park? Not me anyway.
———–
Always found the Congerton appointment a bit strange. Hadn’t he been with Sunderland and Hamburg? Probably the two worst performing clubs in Europe’s top leagues this decade (neither now in their top league!).
Not to say that was all down to Congerton, but it didn’t exactly fill me with confidence that he was good at recruitment.
Interesting article about club badge changes over the years, including Celtic:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6383941/How-football-badges-changed-ages.html
Old Peculiar
So Menga is cited,hearing on Thursday, definite ban, he will miss the Sevco game, this follows on from McKenna of Aberdeen Mclean Hearts subsequently banned after playing us and not sent off during the game
McKenna unpunished foul against Celtic played on – two game ban
McLean unpunished foul against Celtic played on – two game ban
Menga unpunished foul against Celtic played on – two game ban
Anybody see a pattern CSC
Livingston striker Dolly Menga has been charged with violent conduct by the Scottish FA and the club will accept a two-match ban for the player.
The forward has been cited for an apparent head-butt on Celtic’s Ryan Christie during the sides’ 0-0 draw on Sunday.
The incident was not seen by referee Kevin Clancy but was actioned by the governing body’s compliance officer.
Three former Category One referees reviewed footage of the incident and agreed that a red card offence had been missed, meaning that a notice of complaint was sent to the player.
Livingston will not contest the ban and Menga will serve an immediate two-match suspension. He will miss matches against Rangers and Motherwell.
Hrvatski
Interesting article about the club crests…
Anyone think that the zombie crest would be much more dignified (wouldn’t be hard) if, instead of ‘ready’ in English, it was in Latin …’Aye, Paratus’
So the corrupt Scottish FA offered Menga a 2 game ban yet Allan McGregor can do as he pleases.
Yep the game will never change in this country but just imagine if clubs were that wee bit braver when corruption was rife in 2012.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 13TH NOVEMBER 2018 5:45 PM
More than just a pattern……………..a concerted campaign.
RON 67
The incident was not seen by referee Kevin Clancy but was actioned by the governing body’s compliance officer.
‘The incident was seen but not actioned by referee Kevin Clancy.’
There. Fixed that for them.
BSR 5:45
McLean unpunished foul against Celtic played on – two game ban
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Due to the nonsense rule of one game having to be in the same competition he only missed the Hibs game and was back playing against us on the Saturday (should have been minimum six games if you ask me).
The second game won’t be served until next year. If the team gets knocked out of the competition the ban should kick in immediately. I think Alves and Kipri both missed a game ban as they had left the league.
Reason to be cheerful .
Karma got Naismith.
Really confused.
Celtic 2 Leipzig 1.
Celtic score a fantastic football goal straight from the equaliser.
Celtic defended all over the park for the next half hour.
A break in injury time with 3 players bearing in on goal. One pass away from another goal scoring chance.
Cannae last 90 minutes rogic. Added muscle Ryan. Invisible McGregor. The new iron man Keiran.
The ball goes up into the corner and we finish the game.
I am sure all the stats had Celtic players matching or beating their opponents.
So how exactly are we less fit than Leipzig.
Hen1rik 6:00
That’s harsh. McGregor has a “lifetime ban” from playing for Scotland.
Oh, hang on……
These sfa cheats really need called out. Wish our club would grow a pair.
MIT
“Anyone think that the zombie crest would be much more dignified (wouldn’t be hard) if, instead of ‘ready’ in English, it was in Latin …’Aye, Paratus’”
Surely that should be :- “Aye, Deadasa Paratus”
Messed that up
Should have been either Dead Paratus or Sickasa Paratus
Brexit
16 in our squad are currently British
9 other EU countries and
8 from Rest of world
Given our squad is oversized then the 9 EU players would need work permits
De Vries, Simunovic, Lustig, Boyata, Benkovic, Compper, Hayes, Nt’cham, Edouard.
De Vries, Simunovic, Commper, Hayes, Ntcham and Edouard would currently fail the criteria. Only the last 2 would be a problem. Their young age may give grounds for appeal
Non EU Gamboa Izzaguirre, Ajer, Bitton, Rogic, Arzani, Mulumbu, Kouassi. Losing more than half would be a problem
So if non British players were to be set same as EPL at 12, we would have 4 EU and 5 RoW keepers. well within our limit.
Brexit is not a problem for us.
FWIW- I think Boyata was promised a move, it didn’t happen as we didn’t have a replacement in,he has been our POTY IMO
Orfiace morta ursi.
Smell the dead bear.
Have the refs called a strike yet? Sevco calling out Collum…..
Wee Aidans MRI scan was all clear.?
A big thank you to all for the lovely posts, I was humbled as was my brother when I told him of all your kind words and prayers.
This is a special place.☘☘☘☘☘☘☘
Things you won’t read in the Daily Record
Seethen Gerrard doesn’t have UEFA coaching ‘A’ Licence
I wonder if big McLeish will pull out of the squad as well…
Cmon the wee Aiden.
Gonny take a wee break from blog during the international break
Passed performance during this time says quality will suffer and any amount of shite will be getting posted.
So a break is as good as a rest. Keep it lit.
Last comment at rah today my name got called same time as a fella called Joyce. Walked through together he says must be good guys first. And a wee wink.
Exciting January signings like Pawel Brozek,
SIPSINI big big hugs to aiden.hh. ??
Women’s fitba!…..Bah! Humbug!!!
WBC
I love it.
OZ 5 Chile nilly.
Sam Kerr superstar.
Scotland competing well .
So far. :-)
St Stivs said:
` So how exactly are we less fit than Leipzig`
Come off it Stivs. Don`t go asking people who offer opinions as fact to actually support their views.
JJ
sorry agree with wbc, definitely bah humbug.hh. womens fitba I mean.
MacJay…not for me, thank you very much! I’m too long in the tooth…and the bbc are so pc…sorry! Can’t help it! :-)
Women`s fitba.
Hush , lads.
Or the virtue signallers will be on your case.
Bristling with indignation.
:-)
Male chauvinist pig, that I am…”come on you girls in green”….doesn’t have the same ring about it!
Did I hear someone say spend 10/20m on a player to develop as an asset?
Said player gets his leg broken or blows a joint on one of the 3 artificial pitches in the SPL ( 25% of pitches in the top league are not grass!!) and what looks like a good asset becomes a huge liability.
Anyone who makes decisions has to consider risk – central case, best case, worst case and everything. In between. If you’re doing it properly you’d attach probabilities to certain outcomes.
Spending 20m on a player would be stupid.
As for the person who said BR knows his budget and can flex it up or down……..sorry I don’t buy that.
No way would he have (very, very, very, stupidly and inexcusably) brought the conflict with PL in to the public domain if that were the case.
I respect both your opinions but agree with neither!
McLeish might have to ask one or two of the women to join his depleted squad…