I heard earlier this transfer window that the club didn’t expect an offer for Moussa Dembele. There was interest a year ago, but a year of injury, then a fresh injury at the start of this season, convinced all that the player would be with us until January, at least.
When Real Madrid invoked a buy-out clause for Lyon striker Mariano on Wednesday, the French club were prepared to throw a lot of money around to buy a replacement, and their primary target was Moussa Dembele.
There are millions of euros at play here. Agent fees alone would be in seven figures, while the contract available for the player would dwarf anything Celtic pay. In addition, they were prepare to offer Celtic a lot of money. So what do you do?
Celtic were not planning to sell Moussa Dembele, just as they were not planning to sell Kieran Tierney in July. The club gave very clear messages to Lyon that they would not entertain a bid. Note Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas’ comments “I know the boss at Celtic well. He is basically like a bulldog who negotiates after yapping.”
The assumption in Lyon was that after Peter Lawwell’s “yapping” there would be some negotiation. Lyon expected Celtic to roll over, but Celtic did not bite.
The choice was to pocket the money without buying a direct replacement (as it was too late), or reject the offer. The sale was not even considered, by the manager or board. As we saw three weeks ago with Boyata, Celtic do not need the money, what they need is talented footballers.
It was right to reject the offer. Not just because we need players more than money, but because if we fold under player pressure, we will only encourage more ‘sore back/not the right frame of mind’ scenarios when contracted players are tapped up during a qualification campaign.
The football business is incredibly unstable. We contract players, who, if they succeed, will soon be able to earn millions of pounds per year more than we will ever pay them. You either sell when the big offers come, or turn your face to stone and sell when you are ready.
I don’t know if playing hardball this month will stop this happening again, but folding would guarantee tantrums every time a player receives an 80€/week offer. We could be sitting this morning with all the money in the world, but a little light up front. That’s not the plan and never has been.
The first piece of business today was the signing of central mid, Youssouf Mulumbu. Youssouf’s career came off the rails when he broke his metatarsal weeks after joining Norwich three years ago, but a cameo half season at Kilmarnock convinced Brendan Rodgers to move. Welcome to Celtic, Youssouf.
Let’s get Filip Benkovic signed up, and spank Newco back into their dystopian existence on Sunday. Oh, and Malmo and Sarpsborg would do nicely in the Europa.
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MEDTIM on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 8:25 AM
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A clear and concise post. Unfortunately Paul’s article above has aged horribly and gives an insight into the problems at the Club.
bamboo on 1st September 2018 8:47 am
Whats happening ? Done three very good comments which got swamped and disappeared by pop-up ads.
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There’s a filter on what is deemed a ‘good comment’ ;O)
Good morning CQN from a wet Garngad
A shambles of a summer transfer and PR wise
I would like to welcome our 2 new recruits, guys wear the hoops with pride and have a heart of a lion and you will do well
Do :)
The Huddle.
Appreciate the points you make.
However,the thrust of my point is with regard to how businesses “manage” their assets,particularly their most valuable ones.
In this regard,I maintain my point that it is gross negligence to have treated the Dembele situation in the manner it was dealt with.
The proof of this lies in the very simple fact that a bid WAS made and was ACCEPTED.
Whoever made the decision to gamble on no bids forthcoming got it entirely wrong.
I repeat,in any organisation I have been involved in,if someone took a £20,000,000 gamble and was negligent in it’s regard would be sacked.
THE_HUDDLE on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 8:45 AM
medtim on 1st September 2018 8:25 am
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The article mentions his injury record as the reason Celtic didn’t expect a bid, I’d also add he had 2 years left of his contract (not 1) and clubs out there knew that it would take a big bid for any move to happen.
All that limits the number of clubs who might bid, then throw in the English window shutting early and those clubs with the money and the need reduces further.
I still think that BR will always revert to his 1 striker up front approach, so having 3 was overkill for me. Because 2 of those strikers were injury prone then it worked (sort of), hopefully this season Eddy proves not to also be injury prone and is the main man with Griff covering.
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Strongly disagree with your last paragraph. Eddy can play off the front either on the left or just behind, and linked brilliantly with Moussa. It gave us a much needed variation to our play. Fundamentally we are now weaker in terms of personnel and tactically.
I didn’t realise Peter Lawwell was approaching 60.
This provides a convenient escape route and a chance to save face.
I’d expect an announcement over the next couple of months that it is his intention to retire at the end of the season and Celtic were looking for a replacement.
It’s hard to believe that Celtic don’t have a list of strikers that could do a job for us, what’s the scouting team for??
Benkovic coming in albeit on loan is a player BR has been interested in for a while now, he must also have striking targets?? We must be monitoring targets all the time surely to Ghod??
Is success to much for Celtic to handle, when successful do we retreat into the goldfish bowl mentality.
I didn’t expect Celtic to go out and sign three or four world class players but I did expect a level of professionalism throughout the club during the transfer season to improve our chances of growth as a unit this season.
Questions need to be asked of all concerned, everyone knows that players have the power now but are their contracts now not worth the paper they’re written on, seems to be so?
We have come across this summer after a decent preseason as a club unable to conduct themselves professionally and have everybody do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
A massive game now tomorrow as the hordes will be much encouraged by goings on at our club and the media as ever will be preparing the Cracked Celtic Crest and let’s face it we’ve all given them a perfect chance to dust it off..
As the old saying goes a fish rots from the head down..
Good morning friends.
The window is over, September is here. The sun is still expected to rise each morning.
Watched Brendans full 20 minute press conference from yesterday, posted as always by BSR last night.
We’ve been battered and bruised. But life, and my favourite pastime goes on.
These transfer windows are an almost impossible balancing act.
We are going to get these scenarios every window and our other favourite players will be lured away.
Just got to step up the scouting and recruitment .
david17 on 1st September 2018 8:57 am
Strongly disagree with your last paragraph. Eddy can play off the front either on the left or just behind, and linked brilliantly with Moussa. It gave us a much needed variation to our play. Fundamentally we are now weaker in terms of personnel and tactically.
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Sure we are weaker, I’d prefer to have all 3 strikers but I’m saying if Eddy stays fit then I don’t think we’ll be score less goals than last season. I might be wrong but we’ll see.
Now that the PR disaster is over, let’s circle the wagons and unite against Der Hun Fuds mañana
They have been bumping their gums since the smsm have been brainwashing them about Stevie G
COYBIG
D. :)
https://youtu.be/Hkt8E2Ul-Xw
CHAS n DAVE – NO PLEASING ( some ) YOU ?
THE_HUDDLE on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 9:05 AM
No worries, just think we have lost something as the two French boys were dynamite together. Hope SS can step it up again this season as is much needed.
Wow! Painful reading back. There are roasters who don’t respect the blog rules to say the least, who filled their boots last night.
I don’t know if it’s my iPad or the site but some amount of adverts.
Also iPad is jumping all over the place and refreshing just as I type and before i post
Any advice
D. :)
Starry Plough
Cracked Celtic Crest?
Get a grip mate.
7 in a row
6 out of 6.
One of the best managers in Britain in post. Financially sound.
The jokes on who with Dembele? Edouard could have a phenomenal season for us. Yes it’s not perfect but the fact is he is a big risky signing for Lyon with his injury record. A panic buy.
Onwards to tomorrow. Completed the job on Thursday minus Rogic, Forrest and Edouard. Brown on top form, Ntcham looking decent. Win the midfield and deliver a 4-1 victory.
The fish rots from the head down? That’s the spirit mate. Wallow wallow.
time for a distraction,
the bhoy in the picture,
where is this. when might it be,
https://image.ibb.co/gjXs5K/36915072_10217237483836051_2802320556953698304_n.jpg
FRAMBO11
All the facts you posted are indeed facts, did you think that Celtic projected a united professional front during the window??
I’m not producing a cracked crest the point was in my opinion I think we’ve given our enemies more hope than they should ever had had.
By your last comment it’s obvious you’ve never read any of my posts on here I’m guessing that most would describe me inaccurately as a happy clapper..
If there’s no clear direction from the top of any team that is where the rot sets in..
HH
Who is going to hold their hands of and take responsibility for the failings at the club? Who is the incompetent one? Gross mismanagement by either BR, PL or LC.
Caulker will no doubt be in the door now as another last resort, didn’t have anything planned type deal.
I see people posting regarding appointing a new CEO, can you imagine we approached this the same way we approached signing new players:-
Peter Lawwell announces in October that he is stepping down with effect from 31st December 2018.
There then follows a period of tumbleweed.
Before at 2357 on 31st December 2018 Celtic secure the services of an 18 year old modern apprentice who is working towards an NVQ in business administration at Man City’s ticket office as a replacement. On a 6 month loan deal of course.
No one comes out of this window well especially the fans who pay their hard end to attend
Brendan and his scouting team should have had replacements ready ( do we know they didn’t). He must feel badly let down by the board and some of his senior players 1 of whom has left. At least we have brought in an experienced French bhoy, I hope he and Toure can get the young bhoys heads back focused..
The board have made mugs of the fans and the manager by leaving him in the firing line whilst doing nothing to improve our squad
Will they make Brendan say he is happy with the transfer window because we made a massive profit and protected the CEO bonus?
My stance has been well known on here for years and I need some convincing to return to my beloved Celtic park as a ST holder.
SCUNNERED but not surprised
Starry Plough
And now it is over. On wth the season. We emerge with the strongest squad, management team and finances in Scotland.
United front? Definitely not. Rodgers quotes lay it all bare. The united front doesn’t bother me, it’s business, with competing ambitions at the top, it will always be so. More important that squad management strategy is corrected.
Give our enemies hope? We’ve added £20m to our resources to keep all competitors at bay. What we do with it will determine if those at the top will match the manager’s ambition.
all seated kilbowie
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CViRQm9W4AEmGS1.jpg:large
6800
follow follow
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/uZ1bQs2OYSXScgfbgRFkzQ1636170/GW1111H1600
Welcome back Macjay, great to see you in high spirits. Hope you and your lovely wife are well.
When Moussa was good he was very very good, but this was not as often as we would have wanted.. Our “best” forward was a bit player in the last couple of years. Like Boyata his status grew large when he didn’t play. Will miss his hunskelping moments but 20 Million for a player who was never going to give 100% every game is great business. Eddy was always his replacement. Give me Scott Brown, KT, wee Jamsie, McGregor, Tam Rogic , sincy , Leigh Griff anytime. Players who wear the hoops with pride and give 100% , win lose or draw. These are the players who won the double trebles. They will stand up and give you more success, if you give them you support. We will get another Moussa, more short term superstars who see Celtic as a stepping stone, and the club will need to deal with these assets in the best interest of the club. Celtic will beat sevco on Sunday. I am going to enjoy it. Hail Hail.
I will still continue to pay for all my daughters home and away tickets and purchase her Europa League tickets so I still continue to pay into Celtic before anyone starts
I might even strand the AGM this year
That autocorrected as tear.. hmmmm
FRAMBO11
The money in the bank won’t help when we go to Leipzig and Salzburg.
These are two decent outfits and we’ll need to be at our best to get the results we want. I’m baffled at our Euro outlook this season, okay AEK has been done to death but as soon as we went out of the CL our policy should have been right what do we need Brendan to make a fist of the EL, doesn’t look like that to me and although I happy enough with the two boys who came in Benkovic and Mulumbu I would have been happier had we added I striker!
To go in to the season with two strikers is a concern for me as all three of our front men had injury problems last season.
But as you say it’s over now and we go on, I know where I’l be tomorrow!!
Bring on the scum..
bobby moore testimonial
http://i58.tinypic.com/f9im9c.jpg
SAINT STIVS on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 9:19 AM
Hampden definitely .
Winklepickers worn by the guy on the steps.
`61 ish or slightly earlier.
The semi final loss to St. Mirren
`59 4-0 . ?
TAURANGABHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 9:44 AM
Thank you , Tauranga .
TAURANGABHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 9:44 AM
Wow, reality check.
Unfortunate but true.
HH.
Good morning all from the Govanhill Frank Zappa appreciation society.
TAURANGABHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 9:44 AM
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Great post mate
D. :)
CQN Coupon:
AWATR – Peterhead
LB – Crystal Palace
GFTB – Aberdeen
TET – Peterbourgh
Pog – Reading
BMCUWP – Derby
Jobo – no pick
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Saint Stivis great photos and some great memories
I remember my dad helped a team (corpus Christi under 21s) and playing at Kilbowie
As a kid I was on the park with my dad
D. :)
I am bemused, there are so many on here spouting how a well ran professional club we are, in many ways we are I grant you that.
Can you explain to me and I assume many others how this well ran professional club can leave us going into a new league campaign, with six big european games to try and win with only two strikers, both of whom are often unfit and one is still a kid, smacks of rank amaturism to me.
For money men our board have a lot to learn, detract from the football side and it detracts from their profits in the medium to long term, you would have thought that this well ran and professional club would have seen this simple staring them in the face fact, it looks like they were blinded by the short term gain.
Saint Stivis it’s not so much the park but the memory your photo evoked of me kicking a ball with my dad who is no longer with us.
Hail Hail
D. :)
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 8:58 AM
@@@@@
I honestly think if PL retired today , the new man taking over would follow the orders Of DD ,same as PL has done all these years . All the penny pinching , ridiculous transfer policy , and getting involved in things he knows nothing about , IE. Team matters are all down to his background involvement. After all instead of instructing his army of top notch lawyers , to take action on the trailer load of proof that the club were cheated , he welcomed them back .