Olivier Ntcham, 21, yesterday became the third most expensive signing in Celtic history, the initial payment was slightly north of the £4.5m quoted, and there are add-ons which are likely to take the total price above that which was paid for Chris Sutton and John Hartson.
The most striking element of the deal is that the player has played only 39 games in senior football. Compare this to van Dijk and Wanyama, who had played over 60 games before coming to Celtic, and you get an idea of how the transfer market has changed in a few years.
60 games is now too late. You need to be on the ground watching and ready to move inside 40 games. More than this and top talent will likely already be competitively priced out of reach.
A consequence of this trend will be an increase in one element of the transfer risk: any scout would prefer to see more than 39 senior games before making a recommendation. But this risk is mitigated by the fact that waiting on a player to increase in value, only introduces the risks associated with paying a higher price.
Then there is the risk of doing nothing at all………
What we do know is that everyone at Celtic, the management, scouts and board, are happy to have secured Olivier’s signature.
Welcome to Celtic, Olivier.
You know when the PSNI say, “The only way you can have the game in Belfast that week is if it’s on Friday and there are no away supporters”. Then Linfield insist on having the home game first due to TV money. Then someone else at the PSNI says they did not block Celtic fans from attending?
Well, that just happened.
Here is the new CQN Podcast…
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THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD
That Gladio sketch that blows my tiny, it really does, the breadth and scope…
HH
Squad on way to Belfast, Ntcham hasn’t travelled as he is short on fitness.
Starry Plough.
‘Deconstructing the Deadhead’….read that.
Its all synced.
Flower Power…Vietnam, Cointelpro, MK Ultra
Wild Stuff
HH
Barney/Turkeybhoy…
Perhaps, I am missing something, but if not, I find this quite troubling…
Here is what I understand, but perhaps (hopefully) I have missed something …
On June 23, Celtic FC released a statement which said, in part:
“Following the discussions, it was agreed among the clubs and PSNI and has now been confirmed with Uefa that, should Linfield progress to the second qualifying round, Celtic’s Champions League match against Linfield will take place at Windsor Park on Friday, 14 July, with a 5pm kick-off.
“No tickets will be available for Celtic supporters for the match. The safety and security of all Celtic supporters travelling and attending matches is of paramount importance to the Club.”
As I read that, it says there was an agreement abut the date. It also mentions that no tickets will be available for Celtic supporters, but does not actually say that this was demanded by PSNI, or even agreed upon. Who made that decision not to have celtic fans there, and on what basis that decision was made, is not set out.
On July 12 (strange day to announce it ), PSNI issue a statement that says the decision not to accept away tickets “was a decision taken by the football club and was not made by PSNI”
That same day, Celtic respond, ”
“We are extremely surprised by this statement and the timing of the release. “This is clearly not our understanding of the situation and we stand by our statement of 23rd June. We feel there is nothing to be gained by commenting further until the tie has been played.”
Why were Celtic surprised? Because there had been an agreement not to discuss? This is not what was discussed or agreed upon? Is the breach intentional or not? Surely, this discussion/agreement must have been documented, or at least minuted. If this was left so ambiguous that a truck can be driven through it, then there are serious questions about whoever negotiated it ….
Then, we read CQN’s leader today, and it gets more interesting. P67 says, “You know when the PSNI say, “The only way you can have the game in Belfast that week is if it’s on Friday and there are no away supporters”.
Now, I am making a few assumptions here … one that P67 was not in the room for these discussions, and that he was told this by someone who was. Two, that , P67’s source is not the PSNI, or Linfield, but is someone from Celtic who was involved in these discussions. I cant see any other reasonable scenario.
For several reasons, this makes it much more serious. this removes the possiblity that there has been a misunderstanding., and suggests clearly that the PSNI are telling porkies. If so, that is pretty serious, and needs to be called out. And if that is the case, why would Celtic say that there is nothing to be gained by discussing … at least, until after the game?. If some Celtic fans do go (and I believe some will), they have a right to expect that the police will do their job (without fear or favour). If the PSNI are not telling the truth, then how can they be trusted otherwise? If they are lying, Celtic must say so clearly, and show us the evidence, and do so publicly.
Otherwise, this teasing ….’we know something, but aren’t going to say anything’ routine that Celtic keep pulling …. makes the Club look bad. It looks like the Club want fans to think they (the Club) are doing something, but, as I think the above shows, the Club never actually says what it is doing … it is, in the vernacular, teasing.
Why would Celtic not be able to comment on this directly, but then, apparently, tell P67 who they would surely know would write this?
If P67’s information is accurate (and while I dont always agree with his spin,/editorial slant) I have never found P67 to be untruthful), then why the silly games by Celtic PLC?
If the PSNI (like many others) are lying about Celtic PLC, then the club must come out and says so. We are talking about a police force who are charged with protecting the lives of our fans (and others). Something like this is too important to ignore…
Starry Plough
Edward Bernays…Joseph Goebbels….Ron.E. Hubbard…Jack Parsons.
‘The Summer of Love’ Owsley Acid, Merry Pranksters, Leary……all constructed.
HH
Superscoreboard
Celtic ready to fly out to Belfast ahead of tomorrow’s game v Linfield. Olivier Ntcham doesn’t travel but will be involved v Lyon on Sat.
On a different note.Aberdeen re building their team very well for next season.Tansey,Christie,GMS,will be great signings for them.If as seems very possible,they can get Moult in from Motherwell,they will be a force to be reckoned with.Still trying for Maloney,who would do a great turn for them.
DALLAS DALLAS,
Thanks for putting me straight. It’s many a year since I used either, although I do remember using the 64 very occasionally to get from the town to Parkhead, although I preferred the 63 as it went along the Gallowgate, rather than London Road, which suited me much better.
not 63, I meant 62.
MiT, I personally feel Celtic are just keeping their powder dry until after the game. Which we more or less say in the last line of the statement…We feel there is nothing to be gained by commenting further until the tie has been played.”… I agree with that statement, there is nothing to be gain by getting into a war of words with PSNI. It is clearly their intention to try and provoke us into one, and the date of their statement is more than telling.
Daily Record exclusive
Ntcham not travelling to Belfast source says
“Southampton want him”
Parkheadcumsalford
I knew what bus you meant. ;)
‘gained’
PSNI telling porkies………whit…??? Never.
Breithla Shona oldtim…and hopefully many many more.
Lancearmstrongfc
Barney …..
You might be right, and, in fact, I hope you are, and that Celtic come out after the game, and hammer them… (although I can’t see why it would be necessary to wait until after the game… ) but, after the last five years, I am suspicious …. we keep being told that ‘powder is being kept dry ‘ but even gunpowder has a shelf life …..
Mike In Toronto.
I agree about the PSNI thing.I had a rant,not like me,the other night about Celtics PR.It is absolutely atrocious.On all fronts.Even the press confrences get hijacked by Hun reporters asking ridiculously loaded questions to players etc..On their watch.We,the fans are never really kept informed of things which we really should be.I cant ever remember being happy with this side of Celtic.Even simple things,like injury updates.
Just what do they do?.a couple of peely wally statements a year does not cut it.
TURKEYBHOY…
Agree regards the Sheep,if their sigings bed quickly they could be better than they were last season.Hopefully pushed all the way by Lenny’s Hibs.
If all goes well we could be looking at a lower than third placed Sevco.MIBs will be uber busy this term me thinks.
Hope you”re on the mend asap.
===
Happy birthday OLDTIM and many hoopy returns.
Anyway,thats me ranted out.Rabies taking effect.A wee lie doon required.
Happy birthday to OLDTIM !!
Hows the Australian Born (of Hungarian parents) Brit doing
at wimbers ?
JC2
1 set down.
It was an exclusive on CQN before the Mirror:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/steven-caulker-set-offered-celtic-10791374
KTF
Catman
Congrats on the birth of your grandchild.
HH
Turkey … I remember your rants the other night … thought your account had been hacked! :)
on a more serious note, sorry to read about the dog bite … I hope you feel better soon.
Cheers Barney
MIKE IN TORONTO on 13TH JULY 2017 3:29 PM
It’s a volatile situation and it would be irresponsible of Celtic to inflame matters by getting involved in a slagging match with the PSNI until after the game.
I suspect what has happened is that the PSNI have said they would rather Celtic didn’t take their allocation.
Questions have then been asked by UEFA and others about what kind of a sectarian shithole NI is, and why the PSNI aren’t able to ensure the safety of visiting fans. The PSNI are now looking to cover their arses by deflection attention and responsibility onto Celtic.
Ernie@3.44
“Questions have been asked ….and why the PSNI aren’t able to ensure the safety of visiting fans”.
Simples…..PSNI part of the problem in no way part of the solution.
HH
Lancearmstrongfc
Konta back to being Australian,… shortly
OldTim: Breithlá sona dust.
WITS: Enjoy the match tonight. I stayed overnight in Mlada Boloslav years ago. Home of Skoda cars.
Dust = duit
Just back fae a wee trip back hame, 13 days in a wee village between Dumbarton and Helensburgh and 3 over in the mother country.
It was not really planned, we just decided tae go a month or so ago. Haven’t been there for around 11 years and truly wasn’t actually enamoured at the thought of it. Why? as much as I still love the place tae bits I spent too much time coming hame for not the best reasons and have been driving down tae the States in recent years.
Anyway, even after an almost 5 hour delay at Pearson Airport which meant landing at the same time as an incoming Dubai flight, where I saw my only 32 red top in the time I was there, it turned out really really good.
I had forgot how much I liked the place and the weather didnae really rain on my parade. My family were laughing when I mentioned packing sun blocker, giggling actually, and saying it might be good for deflecting the rain of my heid.
Last Saturday walking through Balloch with nae bunnet I ended up with a sunburnt nose and heid.
Took a tour up the Highlands including Glencoe and Culloden, never been there and liked Inverness, nice and friendly people.
Highlights of my time on the Bonnie Banks though were standing in a wee pub at the bottom of the Loch watching Radio Luxemburg dumping sevco out of Europe tae the cheers of the bevviers in there.
Next day I was walking through the Clydebank Shopping Centre when I heard of the tax case going against them. As they say over there “pure dead brilliant”.
Didnae buy any papers and only listened tae Your Radio (from the Firth of Clyde to Loch Lomondside) in the car as for the TV news well compared to CNN and MSNBC over here it was relatively trumpet free although not Celtic friendly either.
Went over tae Ireland for a few days, 23 years since I had been there, and enjoyed my time, felt like a homecoming, took a trip out tae Connemara and saw the rural part or as I was told the real Ireland. Never been in Galway City but was impressed with what I saw, that is except for the public drinking and scattering of empties in Eyre Square, what would Padraig Pearse have thought as he sat in his cottage in Ros Muc planning the uprising.
Also did one of the hopper bus tours of Dublin, the city is a bit of a mess with construction now but passing some of the sites I had read about some songs would come to mind especially when the driver mentioned the Four Courts, “The Four Courts of Dublin the english bombarded, the spirit of Freedom they tried hard to quell” went through my head.
As we passed the Croppies Acre Memorial Park I thought of that “ most distressful country that ever yet was seen” and how it has grown and moved on, well 26 counties have, meanwhile a couple of days later in the part of the country that time has forgot the ancestors’ of the ragamuffins that were plantation march around disgracing themselves and men like the bold Robert Emmett, Wolfe Tone, Henry Joy McCracken and the man named in the aforementioned song James Napper Tandy and all those fearless men and women who initially “bore the fight that freedoms light might shine through the foggy dew”.
We Scots, especially the Celtic supporting ones, have a lot to learn from the “land across the sea”, God Bless Them, no more sitting at the back of the bus and lying down tae a bunch of reprobates that don’t even know their own history, or should I say refuse to admit to it.
Although I should say I was pleasantly surprised though with the amount of Celtic tops on display especially in Dumbarton, Clydebank and Glasgow Airport, at least the support urnae Croppy Bhoys or Ghirls.
Only disappointment in Ireland was the poor unfortunates hanging around the GPO, not through their own choice probably and no difference from Edinburgh, Glasgow and TO, but my initial thought was is this what Pearse, Connolly and “those fearless men but few” gave up their lives for.
Driving back tae the airport on a misty morning was so surreal although my heart was no longer with sore with grief. Oh aye and plenty of Celtic tops , not SR ones, on show there tae even the new one.
Mike in Toronto
Mike, it might help if somebody could source the original PSNI quote. Linfield offered Celtic the North Stand for the 14 July match, were they going against the advice of the PSNI when they did so? If so it would be strange given that they had held meetings previously. The Green Brigade issued a statement on 27 June that they thought the PSNI were “more than happy for Celtic fans to attend the match”. Something not quite right somewhere, and do not think Celtic have added any clarification with their latest statement. And neither it has to be said has Paul67.
MIKE IN TORONTO on 13TH JULY 2017 3:13 PM
Here are a couple of quotes from 23rd June report at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40387363
Earlier, Linfield Chairman Roy McGivern said he was pleased that agreement had been reached to stage the match – should Linfield qualify – on 14 July.
“I would like to thank all of those involved for their efforts in resolving what was a difficult situation and we can now concentrate fully on our forthcoming games against FC Fiorita from San Marino,” he said
PSNI Supt Norman Haslett said: “Police have been in close contact with representatives from both Linfield and Celtic football clubs due to the possibility of a Belfast fixture between the two clubs in July.
“Public safety concerns surrounding the fixture and the impact on the greater Belfast area over the Twelfth period have featured strongly in our considerations and discussions. I can confirm that all parties have now reached agreement on the arrangements for the match, should it proceed.”
That certainly implies all parties were aware of the proposed way forward.
Hail Hail
I really hope we stuff that shower tomorrow and Sinky gets a hat trick.
Konta out.
Much talk about Clare Grogan and Byres Rd earlier. She bought a pair of shoes from me when I worked in Stead & Simpson’s in Byres Rd around 1996. Tiny she was.
https://mobile.twitter.com/gibbygibbo1/status/885234586476851201/video/1
Mirror FootballVerified account @MirrorFootball · 23m23 minutes ago
Steven Caulker set to be offered Celtic chance as Brendan Rodgers eyes reunion with former Swansea star
Was a top class defender before his off the field problems, still young at 25