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Ntcham and Christie indicate direction of travel at Celtic

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  1. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 13TH NOVEMBER 2018 8:12 PM

     

    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! :-)

     

    ========================================================================

     

     

    PC ? Agree 100 % .

     

    The enemy of reasonable assessment and/or criticism.

     

     

    My stream is from USA.

     

     

    Fitba.

     

    I can enjoy a competitive under 10s game.

     

    Fitba` crazy. Fitba mad.

  2. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 13TH NOVEMBER 2018 8:15 PM

     

    Male chauvinist pig, that I am…”come on you girls in green”….doesn’t have the same ring about it!

     

     

    ====================================================================

     

     

    Ok

  3. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 13TH NOVEMBER 2018 8:15 PM

     

    Male chauvinist pig, that I am…”come on you girls in green”….doesn’t have the same ring about it!

     

     

    ====================================================================

     

     

    Ok

     

    Howsabout ” Bints in green “?

  10. jimthetim53 on

    I just wonder, a lot of you guys or girls on here have played football at some level. I didn’t. How do you feel after you have been dirty? Like Dolly tonight, how will he be thinking? Do you justify it in your mind? Do you learn anything from it? Try to be a better, cleaner player in the future?

     

     

    Because I never played, I am lost.

     

     

    I have said often that I think dirty players are underskilled and desperate against much better players. Look at what happens to KT for instance.

  11. celticrollercoaster on

    SIPSINI on 13TH NOVEMBER 2018 7:03 PM

     

    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.☘☘☘☘☘☘☘

     

     

     

    ——————————-

     

     

    Great news re wee Aidan, Uncle Sipsini!!!!

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  13. Ron Bacardi on

    JIMTHETIM,

     

     

    Sometimes you had to be ‘dirty’, that’s all.

     

     

    Not many times in a season, but on occasions needed to nulify the better opposition on the day

  14. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    USA taking the ball to the corner flag to close out the game.

     

     

    Compliment to Scotland.

     

     

    Game over.

  15. Delaneys Dunky on

    JTT53

     

    I played centre mid. I was not a strong tackler. I relied on my limited skills. Got crunched by dirty bassas on three occasions. Third time stopped my fitba career. Torn left ankle ligaments for the second time. Still aches and causes me pain if on my feet too long. That was 30 years ago.

     

    Great to meet Saturday

     

    See you soon.

     

    YNWA

  16. Thecelt45 on

    HH CRC!

     

    Howz things mate?

     

    Could be an escape bid on for tomorrow depending on Docs!, ???

     

    Wil keep y’all posted.

     

    Been hellish trying to get on CQN. Totally swamped with adds and getting bottled aff!

     

    HH from a freezin’ SE Texas

     

    TC45

  19. weebobbycollins on

    MacJay…growing up, there was a girl nearby who used to play football with the guys down the end of the street…one day she came up with two of the boys and asked if they could play with us. They were told in no uncertain terms that the boys could join in but not the lassie…”Lassies canny play fitba ‘n’ they only get in the way…”

     

    To this day I regret that…not the ‘not-letting-her-play’ bit, but the way she was rejected…

     

    btw…she grew up to be a big, strapping, masculine lass…and I think she forgave me…I saw her years later, she nodded and smiled at me on passing in the street…all’s well that ends well….but I still wouldn’t let a lassie play in my team…(she’d be too good for me now)…

  20. jimthetim53 on

    DD, That’s what I’m talking about. How can they live with themselves? How can they sleep at night?

     

     

    I’m an amateur music guy and cant get my head around cheating and trying to damage someone. but I still love Celtic.

     

     

    (Probably shouldn’t be on here to be honest. Should be on a brass band site if there is one!) But I love the gang on here.

  21. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 13TH NOVEMBER 2018 9:28 PM

     

     

    Your regret does you credit.

     

     

    Girl power.

     

    That`s OK for those who wish power. A bit of a challenge for the girls who don`t , but feel they have to conform.

     

    Gender generalisation is intrinsically unfair.

     

     

    The fact is that not all men or women think , or wish to be , the way the media pressure them to.

     

    Or bully them to.

     

    Individuals have the right decide for themselves and to ignore the groupthink others attempt to impose on them. Usually for their own selfish ends. Often political.

     

     

    My daughter played football for many years because she wanted to and had some ability.

     

    Fine.

  22. jimthetim53 on

    Big Packy , MIT, TET has some bad news about his dog tonight. Very sad. Is it OK to pray for a doggy?

  26. mike in toronto on

    JtT

     

     

    Sorry to hear that. St. Rocco is the patron Saint of dogs, so if they are important enough to have a Saint, then I think it is okay. Plus, I think TET would appreciate it, and anything that is ontended to comfort another person is okay, as far as I am concerned

  27. celticrollercoaster on

    THECELT45 on 13TH NOVEMBER 2018 9:17 PM

     

    HH CRC!

     

     

    Howz things mate?

     

     

    Could be an escape bid on for tomorrow depending on Docs!, ???

     

     

    Wil keep y’all posted.

     

     

    Been hellish trying to get on CQN. Totally swamped with adds and getting bottled aff!

     

     

    HH from a freezin’ SE Texas

     

     

    TC45

     

     

    —————————

     

    TC45

     

     

    All good despite the slump starting again at Livi :-)

     

     

    Glad the Escape tunnel is near completion!! You take care and get better soon. The Bhoys from the hoot say hail, hail and your card is going in the post tomorrow, promise!

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  29. weebobbycollins on

    MacJay…yes, there is a lot more pressure on today’s kids…once upon a time, things were more intimate–you had your own group of friends and that was that! Nowadays, via the internet, everything is so much more exposed and young ones especially, are very vulnerable to pressures from all angles…and many of today’s so-called role models are not all that inspiring either…

     

     

    “Away tae yir bed ya grumpy aul’ sod…’n’ a hope ye dream aboot women’s fitba…”

     

    Goodnight all…

  31. nally81 on

    Obese Gym Trainer used to control the Scottish tabloids and Radio Scotland.

     

     

    Then it was the Herald and SKY tv.

     

     

    We all know the pro-Sevco stuff has been ramped up this year and it is alarming to see.

     

     

    EVERY decision by referees is questioned after each game….almost as if L5 are saying SFA ” dare you to defy us ”.

     

     

    However, for me the big worry is the tv deal.

     

     

    Every footy fan knows Sutton, Craigan, Michael Stewart etc are in a different league from McCann, Commons, Kris Boyd etc and the clever footy fan who takes an interest in these things KNOW that the guys on BT cannot be bought by their shi*ey ”£300 an appearance as long as you slag the tims and tell the thickos that the gers are comin”.

     

     

    If SKY tv get the 3 year deal they will try to crucify us at every turn.

     

     

    I’ll give you an example….SKY never EVER EVER show Celtic Park at it’s best-they never show we have 2 tiers and instead concentrate on the smaller main stand.

     

    By contrast, BT do the opposite ( btw- at all Scottish grounds ) and promote our game without a slanted hun agenda ).

     

     

    It is massive for our game here in Scotland that the other 41 clubs tell the SPFL to tell SKY to GTF.

     

     

    Point being…Traynor is DESPERATE for SKY to get the deal and will be terrified that an independent, professional, progressive and neutral sports dept. like BT Sport will be involved.

     

     

    HH

  32. Delaneys Dunky on

    CRC

     

    Awenawnoraslumpoanagainnoo.

     

    Great gesture the card on Saturday.

     

    Thank you M.

     

    YNWA

  34. celticrollercoaster on

    DD

     

     

    Unfortunately IMO, the slump will continue throughout the international break where we will fail to win any games. Time for Brendan to go, I tell you :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  38. weebobbycollins on

    Jimthetim53…I know you like a wee hymn so, this is for you…and a wee tale to go with it…A few years ago, I was helping my wife with a project in Georgia…one of the tasks required us to capture the sun coming over the Caucasus from above the village where we were staying…the perfect spot was up beside the little Georgian Orthodox church which is built on a large rock and overlooks the village…a beautiful sunrise was witnessed…as we left, we noticed the door to the church was now open and there was singing coming from within…we entered…there were only four old souls in the congregation + the two of us…there were eight ‘priests’…one saying ‘mass’ with two assisstants and

  40. !!Bada Bing!! on

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    ByRecord Sport Online

     

    20:39, 13 NOV 2018UPDATED20:45, 13 NOV 2018

     

     

    Mikael Lustig

     

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    See our privacy noticeMore newsletters

     

    Mikael Lustig has given the clearest indication yet that he will remain at Celtic beyond the end of the season.

     

     

    The Swedish international’s contract expires next summer but he told reporters in his homeland he’s poised to extend his stay in Glasgow.

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