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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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.
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Makes no sense whatsoever.
That game was supposed to be played yesterday or Tuesday.
If the PSNI or Linfield, for whatever reason, couldn’t fulfil or host the game – that was their problem, not Celtic’s.
Whomever agreed to all this alternative tripe is an imbecile.
Like sitting there with a royal flush and still somehow contriving to lose the game of poker.
The Celtic Trust and the Green Bridge seen through the baloney.
Just get someone else to negotiate in future, and stop digging ffs.
Raging still.
HH.
Had the great pleasure of sitting next to Clare Grogan at a wedding a few years ago.
Sexy, charming, flirty, oozing charisma and sex appeal in a short little dress.
Clare was quite pleasant too.
;))
Actually, I couldn’t resist – once introductions were through and the conversation and drinks flowing – from cheekily telling her when she asked my prefered monicker that she could call me, ‘Mr.Spaceman’.
Wonder how many times she’d gotten that reply over the years…
Gregory’sGirlCSC
TURKEYBHOY on 13TH JULY 2017 1:49 PM
Dup going crazy because a designated fan zone has been made for Celtic fans tomorrow.Trying to get the order rescinded.taking legal advice.15,000 quid it is costing,and they are complaining at this”Waste of money.I could be put to better use”.Yes,probably could.They could invest in a few more fire hoses to help put out the blazing roofs on the houses set on fire every year by the flaming embers from their”Kulchural bonfires”
Inbred rednecks.
Bit late catching up. Is above post a wind up?
Happy birthday oldtim….have a great one. HH
Barney67 on 13th July 2017 4:05 pm
I really hope we stuff that shower tomorrow and Sinky gets a hat trick.
====================
18/1 on Betfair.
‘Mon Sinky – score me some holiday Euros against those Dirty. Orange. Bastards.
I still don’t understand how they get the acronym ‘DUP’ out of those last three terms…
Someone should tell the DUP that in effect Celtic fans have contributed to the £15 grand being spent on a fan zone, within the £1.5 billion bribe that the they got from tax payers…including Celtic fans.
Will Oliver prove to be a Hardy player ?
Happy birthday OldTim.
Scott Sinclair is 10/1 to score a hat trick tomorrow @ Ladbrokes.
When will the smsm ask black hun players about the racism against Scott from hun fans ?
HH
Betfair it is then.
14s in Hills and Betvictor…
BIG JIMMY on 13TH JULY 2017 4:38 PM
Someone should tell the DUP that in effect Celtic fans have contributed to the £15 grand being spent on a fan zone, within the £1.5 billion bribe that the they got from tax payers…including Celtic fans.
Don’t you understand. Fifteen grand of the bribe spent on Tims, is fifteen grand less available to spend on cultural artfacts like flutes and drums for Orange bands.
Steven Caulker, in a heartbeat, the boy was class and given the right track will only get better, he needs someone like Brendan to nurture him, we could be on to a winner with him.
The Celtic support will take to him and back him to the hilt, the team will be the beneficiaries of this.
I believe if he didn’t have a few issues we couldn’t afford him, either his transfer fee or his wages, well worth it imo.
Hope Theresa is getting a bellyful of her new playmates.
Posted yesterday.
Belfast remains the swamp that spawned it hundreds of years ago.
New currency between UK and Norn Iron
1 pound = 1 pallet
Quonno
Very hard on swamps
L57
Ah well that was easy for the old timer Venus against the Hungarian/Australian/English/British hope. :0)
LURGAN57 on 13TH JULY 2017 4:53 PM
Quonno
Very hard on swamps
L57
Agree completely.
THE EXILED TIM on 13TH JULY 2017 4:46 PM
Agree re. Caulker. Could be this year’s Scott Sinclair, a player who has lost his way but has the talent, and just as important knows the manager has got the best out of him in the past.
He’s eligible for Scotland as well so a move could get him CL and WC football ;-)
QUONNO on 13TH JULY 2017 4:48 PM
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You are a swamp.
MIT:
I think what happened is this.
After discussions about the possibility of a Linfield Celtic game on the 12 of July Celtic realized it would be unsafe for Celtic supporters to attend this game. Even though the game had been moved to Friday the 14th and regardless of the safety measures put in place by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Celtic still felt it was unsafe for their supporters. So, Celtic refused to take up their allocation of tickets.
I think the surprise for Celtic is that the PSNI issued a statement when no statement was required. And they did it on the original date of the tie, the date that made it impossible for the tie to be played, and that date made the statement incendiary! Therefore attempting to move at least some of the responsibility for the situation to Celtic (blame the victim tactics).
However I don’t understand this part:
“This is clearly not our understanding of the situation…”.
You are correct in that it seems something known is not being said by Celtic. Perhaps that is because to say that ‘something known’ before the tie will only make it more dangerous for the Celtic team and the Celtic supporters who most certainly will be there.
T
GARY67 on 13TH JULY 2017 4:55 PM
WC, now i know your joking ;-)
LURGAN57 on 13TH JULY 2017 4:53 PM
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You from Lurgan and calling some place else a swamp?
Please tell me you are joking?
16 roads keep your hair on
L57
Gary67
I didn’t know about the scotland bit.
I recall that QPR were trying to punt him in the last window to Russia, could be wrong mind you, maybes getting him out of London will help him, whatever, the boy is a player, superb in the air.
HH
Oldtim67
Singing ♫ “Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday” ♫ in Clare Grogan voice.
Steven Caulker is 1.91 m
© ST. DBBIA
LURGAN57 on 13TH JULY 2017 5:06 PM
16 roads keep your hair on
L57
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Knew you were only joking.
HH.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 13TH JULY 2017 12:48 PM
TTT
It was funnier on the old thread.
*****
That’s me all over.
A day late and a dollar short!
Glad to see you survived the weekend!
16 ROADS – CELTIC ÜBER ALLES… on 13TH JULY 2017 4:56 PM
QUONNO on 13TH JULY 2017 4:48 PM
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You are a swamp.
Have called worse on here.
Even a Hun.
For clarification.
I have a family history in Belfast stretching back almost a hundred and fifty years.
Doesn’t stop me recognising it for what it is.
16 roads it is the 13th remember , a fun day
L57
Just seen June Whitfield at Wimbledon, and thought of ACGR?
Caulker could be a Stan Varga, Alan Thompson type signing, lost his way, and looking for a manager who trusts him.
Steven Caulker could come in and do a ‘Tony Adams’ at Celtic. After Tony got himself together he was a rock in that defence☘️ BR could be just the man to make him the player he is☘️
TTT
We can swap more photos soon ☺️
Never seen a tennis player smile as much as wee Martina Hingis…
Is June Whitfield typical serve and volley or more baseline ?
Oldtim very happy birthday.
Just discovered today that the Celtic Shop in Greenock is shut. Advice on the window tells us the nearest shop is in Clydebank. What has happened to all the Celtic supporters in Inverclyde? Where have you been buying your Celtic gear?
Wonderful town, wonderful town.
Gone.
HH.
Chris Evart is 62……jeezo….