“Really robust offer” is apparently a euphemism for “Can’t believe they would pay that much”, following the transfer of Jeremie Frimpong to Bayer Leverkusen. The player is still only 20, with several development years ahead, but I doubt any of us set his valuation in this bracket.
At times this season I referred to Jeremie as our MVP (after his demolition of Hibs in September) and lamented the lack of end product comparable to Kristofer Ajer, when the adaptable central defender plays right back.
The failure to get crosses into the box by full backs on both wings, at the level Kris can apparently achieve, has been one of Celtic’s critical failures this season. Come what may in the summer, we would have attempted to recruit an improvement, with or without Jeremie, who remains more potential than actual.
There is a major rebuilding job ahead, but with only the Scottish Cup a practical target this season, Neil Lennon is unlikely to see much of the reported £11.5m (before Man City’s cut) this week.
Good luck to you, Jeremie.
Loved the way we whipped the ball around last night.
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Beyonce
Don’t give Neil Lennon a penny.
Use the money to pay him off and kick start 2021/22 season with hiring a top class replacement.
Oh, and we’ll be back, ya hun effers !!
HH
Fat Freddy been cited yet ?
He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and he has shortcomings (back post defending) that he needs to work hard on, but wee Taylor is our most productive full back and played well again last night.
PARK ROAD 67
Cited or knighted?
Well his lordship has spoken. The club didn’t sell a top promising youth prospect at all, we got a tidy profit on an unproven nobody.
Funny that a German club thought he was worth it.
I know who’s opinion I value highest, and it’s not that of Peter’s Pal.
Frimpong will be playing for Holland in 18 months … will it still look “great business” then?
Defending this board in print every other day must give this guy a sore throat.
I think Greg Taylor’s main flaw is that he isn’t Kieran Tierney.
I don’t think he has really let us down but is suffering from comparisons with a £25 million pound player and fan favourite.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 28TH JANUARY 2021 12:13 PM
I hear that a lot and don’t buy it I’m afraid. He’s a Killie-level left back and when up against decent opposition has neither the pace or trickery to do anything positive.
Against the worst team in the league, I’d expect him to look ok.
Nothing personal Greg but we need better. Much better than Greg Taylor, a 23 year old poster child for our return to mediocrity.
HH
GGH
Just lacks that bit of pace to get by players so always to close to defender when crossing the ball which causes a lot of his crosses to get blocked imo.
GGH – that’s a fair comment.
Elsewhere, wee Frimpers was a breath of fresh air, ebullient on and off the pitch, a ‘lovely bhoy’ and I wish him well. However the revisionism of his effectiveness and the future forecasting of his stellar career that is going on rather betrays dashed hopes rather than cold assessment.
Good luck wee guy, but ffs learn to find a team mate with the ball.
Totally agree with that comment, he will never attain the level of KT, and once again last nite his final ball/cross was lacking at times….it is improving tho and I do think he tries….unlike some others presently
KTF
But thought he was excellent last night as i previously said
Love the way the blog glosses over this season’s epic failure, one for the ages. A-Paul-ogist for failure in fact.
Why do ‘supporters’ of football clubs feel they have the right to abuse players of the club? Is this a new phenomenon or is it just highlighted more through social media? Is social media taking advantage of things or even creating this as a form of clickbait. I personally don’t see how it helps to crush a player’s confidence. Maybe we should stop using the word supporter and think of a more suitable term.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55813101
Sorry, I meant to attach this link to illustrate my point.
Scullybhoy,
As old as football itself. Social media just makes it a bit noisier now.
HH
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part of the reason our full backs struggle to find a teammate from a cross is that the players all run towards the back post so the ball is almost sure to hit a defender before it gets there
would it really be so.difficult for 1 forward or attacking midfielder to run to the front post area for the cross or cut back?
Firmpong is still young in football development.
He will also bulk up and gather more strength as he gets older.
A top German club paid a hefty amount, I reckon with some better coaching he will improve in a better team. I might be wrong though.
One thing I’m not wrong with , is Firmpong has pace .
That’s a huge asset. He also has huge enthusiasm for the game , something that’s not often apparent in others.
Who gets to re – invest what we can afford from the fee ?
I honestly hope it’s not someone that’s currently employed at Celtic Park.
Thought Taylor had another excellent game last night and just beaten by Soro as my mom.
Just read Lennons comments re.Barkas. Absolutely shocking to go into so much detail. Wish he could analyse Duffys perfomances in the same way.
Our 3rd choice keeper, is now first choice.
Let’s hope we get a good robust offer for Lennon.
My affection for him as a Celtic legend is waning the longer he stays, but that’s something I’ll have to wrestle with.
Re Greg Taylor
Saying he tries hard should never be enough. Anton Rogan tried hard.
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 28TH JANUARY 2021 12:22 PM
Elsewhere, wee Frimpers was a breath of fresh air, ebullient on and off the pitch, a ‘lovely bhoy’ and I wish him well. However the revisionism of his effectiveness and the future forecasting of his stellar career that is going on rather betrays dashed hopes rather than cold assessment.
Good luck wee guy, but ffs learn to find a team mate with the ball.
Totally agree with that. Loved the wee guy, he murdered the Hibs left back at Celtic Park earlier in the season, but if you analyse his effectiveness in the cold light of day its good business for the club.
If he develops into a top class right sided attacking midfielder (as he’s never going to make it as a full back) at Leverkusen, good luck to the wee man, I’ll follow his career closely. He’ll also no doubt have quadrupled his wages, at least and will be playing in a much better league, so win – win for him. However to do that he needs to seriously up his game in terms of assists. Without looking at the stats I would think that James Forrest probably has more goals and assists that Jeremie Frimpong this season and he’s been injured since September.
“The failure to get crosses into the box by full backs on both wings, at the level Kris can apparently achieve, has been one of Celtic’s critical failures this season”
———
A club of Celtic’s standing at domestic level should be able to think a bit beyond “getting crosses in” – probably exactly what the opposition defenders want!
When Patrick Roberts played he would more often get to the byline and play a cut-back for an Armstrong, Rogic, McGregor to come on to. Much harder to defend against.
Requires good coaching though. Player B has to know what Player A is going to do and Player A has to know that Player B will be there when he does it.
We just don’t look like the players are on the same wavelength now. Looks much more random.
I disagree with the sentiment of Paul67’s article.
Yes, Frimpong is probably more potential than actual at this moment but he also has a very high ceiling.
You can be sure Bayer Leverkusen has done their homework and him and sold him a vision for his future development. 11.5m is a huge signal of trust in the players potential.
This sentiment “can’t believe they would spend that much” is short sighted and I really hope this isn’t a view held within the club. That would trouble me as it tells me BL have more faith in his development than our club. That view would certainly push me out the door if I were JF & weighing up opportunities.
BTW – I think this is a good move for both JF at the club and this moment in time and considering the economic circumstances & fee received.
We don’t get enough people in the box….. Big part of the problem…. Also Eddie.. Is not an aggressive centre forward who will bust a gut to head the ball for instance….. I didn’t think we were very good last night.. We were OK…..
The push by Goldson last night was possibly the most blatant thing you’ll see….. No exaggeration to say 20 times more a penalty than Scott Brown’s push at the same venue…… Losing count this season…. Tho they are a better team this season….. We just aren’t being allowed to close the gap..
Not sure about those comments by Neil on Barkas. If correct seems bizarre. How can an international goalkeeper with champions league experience ‘not be up to the speed of the game’. Is Barkas being forced out? Chucking him under the bus seems very odd.
big wavy on 28th January 2021 12:29 pm
Scullybhoy,
As old as football itself. Social media just makes it a bit noisier now.
HH
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My worry from a Celtic point of view is that we will drive players away (Frimpers?) and destroy others – Greg Taylor etc.
Sensible piece of business with proceeds going towards the ‘major rebuilding job ahead’.
The current manager should not be given a penny of it.
Big W- totally agree re Taylor, £2 million? I think not…I watch English League 1 teams with better left backs.
Scullybhoy,
I don’t think for a minute fans have driven away JF. I suspect those who he deals with daily probably have. It’s a good deeal financial-wise for us but only of value if we use it to get some much-needed quality.
Taylor I feel for. He won;t get faster and as a LB I’m not sure why we bought him if we want marauding wing backs instead. Typical of players who don’t fit what we are (i think) trying to do.
Controversially, and given where he went afterwards (ECL) our best LB is Bolingoli, who of course was cast to the winds for early COVID19 transgressions. Get him back and rejuvenate him next season.
HH
BHOYJOEBELFAST
Haha there’s more chance of Fat Freddy being knighted !
Happy today after last night’s performance. After Ajer. Greg Taylor is our most acomplished defender. He s a full back, not a wing back and he never will be. As such, he’s good at what he is paid to do and often does it very well without any fanfare.
Now on to the remainder of the season and next season. Firstly, great money for Frimpomg, well done to him and the club. I think he got as developed as the current management structure at Celtic allows. The said structure needs an overhaul. That’s not to say NL will be sacked but our coaching needs improved tenfold and our sport analytics are shocking . Both areas need working on as does our scouting.
However, if we can see Lawwell leave we may just get a team in place that is allowed to breath on its own without his over bearing presence. He goes and I think things will be better.
Season books are going to take a big hit in these fanless covid times, mix in the general disdain towards the PLC and a desire to see change at the top, as well as the disappointment of this seasons unmitigated disaster, then the club needs to be prepared for the worst.
Yet a bit of contrition and soul searching should not be unwelcomed as we go back to basics as the working class, nderdof club. Success will come again, but only if we have the right men in place. Nothing last forever, not Maley, not Stein, not MvNeil, not MON not Rodgers and certainly not an overpaid, underachieving, entitled CEO.
2 points
1. The reported fee for Frimpong is significantly higher than most would have anticipated. Cant disagree with the decision to sell
2. Concerned if Celtic fans analyse unexpected income without being equally forensic over our expenditure. The transfer fee pales in comparison to the outlay and ongoing costs for Klimala, Ajeti, Barkas, repeated champs league failure, potential drop off on season ticket sales et cetera.
If we only consider the ‘good bits’ whilst ignoring the bad, we’ll barely notice the 20 odd point gap. Maybe when sevco are presented with the trophy we’ll awaken up from our slumber.
Lazy lazy approach to an honest appraisal
SAN LUIS on 28TH JANUARY 2021 12:53 PM
‘However, if we can see Lawwell leave we may just get a team in place that is allowed to breath on its own without his over bearing presence. He goes and I think things will be better.
####
Is his ‘over bearing presence’ not likely to be a consequence of having an absentee owner?
And if so what happens if he’s replaced by someone with the same remit?
SCULLYBHOY on 28TH JANUARY 2021 12:28 PM
I have a theory – also sent to wee Mark at Facebook – that any public posting of any description must be traced to an individual
Meaning to register on any site (including this one) you must give your your NI number (or something similar) to make your comments traceable
So the idiots abusing the 2 man Utd players can be arrested
simple
It would also make public sites far more pleasant to read
Just my view
Hail Hail
67ECW
ERNIE LYNCH on 28TH JANUARY 2021 1:07 PM
Then we are doomed Captain Ernie
67ECW
Have to agree with Lets All Do The Huddle at 12.31. On many an occasion when Jeremy Frimpong reached the bi-line there were few options for him to make a telling pass and it was noticeable last night that Kris Ajer was faced with the same problem. In my opinion JF was unfairly maligned for this part of his game and it is interesting that Bayern L think its not a problem, or if it is then something that can be easily resolved.