Imagine for a moment that instead of turning out for Celtic’s under-20s at Cappielow last night, the same 13-year-old Messi-anic talent, Karamoko Dembele, made his debut for Morton’s under-20 side. With all the scouts in Scotland and beyond watching his ever move, what chance Morton fans would be in a position to watch the lad grace their first team for anything more than a fleeting moment?
Celtic, among many others, would be all over the situation. His advisers would ensure that when he approaches his 16th birthday his career options were as open as possible – that’s if he’s still part of Morton’s development setup by that stage.
It’s easy to see Morton’s place in the food-chain. They would be totally incapable of offering a young player anything remotely like the compensation the likes of Celtic would. Self-awareness regarding the food-chain position is less common.
A few years back I watched a preseason game at a lower league club with a scout who worked for Manchester City, as well as a few lesser lights. When the subject got around to Celtic’s then equally Messi-anic prodigy, Islam Feruz, there was little the scout didn’t know about the player.
He could quote every stat and report ever written on Islam, but he didn’t make comfortable listening. “The boy will never play for Celtic”, was his verdict. “All the big English clubs want him and one of them will offer so much money, he’ll not refuse. Celtic can’t come close to offering the same.” I had plenty of hope that he would be wrong but as Islam’s 16th birthday approached, Chelsea outbid all others to transform his bank balance beyond all recognition. His subsequent demise is a footnote in the tale of player development.
Clubs cannot offer a professional contract until a young player turns 16. It does the developing club no good whatsoever to have a prodigy, evident to the world, before this age. Once he’s 16, he can be offered a professional contract, and the club can secure a subsequent transfer fee. If he leaves before this, the most the club will earn is a modest training compensation fee. Even if the parent club manages to secure the player on a contract, it’s likely to be something like Martin Odegaard’s at Strømsgodset – due to expire while the boy is still a boy, limiting game time and transfer fees accordingly.
Will Karamoko Dembele make it? If he does, will he be the exception to the rule that takes Teenage Kickers into the financial stratosphere before they are ready? Let’s hope it’s yes on both counts, but consider me skeptical for the next three years until we find out. On both counts. Until then we we can enjoy watching a great talent come through the ranks, but nothing more significant.
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Wits what Good Catholic Bhoy is not looking forward to this now after been so nervous. HH
Marc,yer an absolute star.
Just like yer oul’ fella!!!!!
Well done,mate.
HH.
Raymond
The only person you need to be afraid of on here is grumpy ole Canamalar.
He fights with everyone and he is never in the wrong
apart from him we are all nice well balanced mild mannered types who never raise our voices
BMCUWP
more on Cable Street
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/battle-of-cable-street-when-the-irish-helped-beat-back-the-fascists-1.2801873
Almore
Just read back. Marc’s achievement against the odds, is the marc of the man. Congratulations to the whole C family.
Proud dad you should be.
Welcome to RAYMOND SHANNON61.
Good on yi posting.
HH
http://youtu.be/605fY2RqTkI
“Carry no weight,let the weight carry you” ;)
WHATISTHESTARS
Read about Levitas brothers. Legends,really. Communist Irish Jews do not likely to toe the establishment line.
RS61
You don’t know what yer letting yourself in for. But a very huge welcome.
HH
Bobby
Communist Irish Jews indeed
I used to sit beside a young guy up in North Stand 411…he was a Celtic supporting jewish rastafarian….
I kid you not…
Loved that Neil Oliver KKK documentary. I was educated greatly watching it. Reminded me of life in Rosevale St. Partick growing up surrounded by those who hate you for what you are.
UTLR
Raymond
A warm welcome to the broad, majestic,Raymond Shannon.
Connaire12,
regarding the shares phone call,
sure there was a con going around the past few years ,
quite a few on here got calls
New Bhoy,
where are you staying in PDC
on the international break.
i allways feel, there should be a fixture list, and you only get to cancel if you have say 3 players called up. the games should go ahead regardless. why should two teams with no players away have these down times.
even celtic, and i know we often have 10+ players away, but we should be able to play a fixture if we choose.
tuppence worth.
WITS
A former gaffer of mine was a Jewish, Mason, Celtic and Rangers season ticket holder. Supported both teams equally. He was confused in my mind. Came from London and was also a Spurs fan also. His nickname was Threeteams.
ALMORE on 4TH OCTOBER 2016 8:09 PM
So proud of you Marc, so grateful to Australia for giving you this wonderful opportunity and can’t wait to welcome you home in early December with the father-of-all hugs.
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That`s precisely the way my extended family has been treated in Oz.
We live in a great open hearted generous society.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 4TH OCTOBER 2016 11:00 PM
Bobby
Communist Irish Jews indeed
I used to sit beside a young guy up in North Stand 411…he was a Celtic supporting jewish rastafarian….
I kid you not…
———————————
was it Michael Moses Marley ?
Macjay
Dont tell me you are turning into a lily livered liberal,with this immigrants are welcome stuff !!
Congratulations to Team Almore.
Always good to have a doctor in the house.
St Stivs
This young guy was a great character,he was mixed race and wore dreadlocks
always arrived late to the game with a slice of pizza,smoking doobies.
One day he didnt arrive until half time and he was wearing a suit,also had one of those little jewish hats on .
Explained he was at his grandads funeral ( his grandad being jewish)
What a combinaion,
Awe yooz timternetters with Apple ID’s should download the Celtic Newsnow app
Dead Brilliant so it is!
We got karaoke dembele
Desmondo no besmirches r us
the 7 biggest differences between BR and Klopp
Spurs tribute to Celtic
Hun vanguard Lenaghan
Its like Celtic quicknoose
Im loving it!
and crivvens its free!!
Awe naw no another jewish mason spurs chocolate loving alloa huns god luvvem thread!
WHAT IS THE STARS on 4TH OCTOBER 2016 11:41 PM
Macjay
Dont tell me you are turning into a lily livered liberal,with this immigrants are welcome stuff !!
================================================================
Legal immigrants always welcome.
From anywhere.
Even Ireland.
:-)
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 4TH OCTOBER 2016 11:41 PM
Congratulations to Team Almore.
Always good to have a doctor in the house.
==========================================
Don`t tempt me , mate.
Macjay
Legal ? ( does that mean White )
WHAT IS THE STARS on 4TH OCTOBER 2016 11:59 PM
Macjay
Legal ? ( does that mean White )
=======================================
Where you come from , yes.
DD
what is the name of the Neil Oliver documentary about Scotland and the ancestry of the KKK?
I love that guy. I’d like to see that.
Macjay
Not necessarily
MACJAY
Sometimes,even I have to ask…
Why?
Jee-Zoh,yer easy to love and hard to defend at times.
I’ll go wi you being a right good Tim wi different opinions,take it no further. It’s worked for long enough.
HH.
MAGS
Hope this helps.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Oliver
Roger Waters a tim? Who would have thought a man like that, who I idolised in my youth would end up thanking us, the Celtic support for being human, and being decent caring people.
Cetic have many new admirers both on and off the park. Guy I was out with tonight was a manU fan and he raved about last wednesday night. I had to calm him more than once with “ffs, john, I was there and it was beter than yer telly”
We are gaining much respect across the globe and its both football and fans who deserve the praise.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 5TH OCTOBER 2016 12:03 AM
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 5TH OCTOBER 2016 12:10 AM
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Dear god , lads.
You do know I`m joking.
As I assumed WITS was .
My wife and her family are morenas.
Word of the day ?
TTT, thanks for putting TET in touch with me.
HH bruv, appreciate your assist.
My favorite word is flange.
Macjay, take note.
Just been catching up on the latest malarkey at the High Court re Mr Whyte Esq etc.
Brilliant. Just Brilliant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMmCExykCRg
Second favorite word has to be nubbin, although Im not sure if its an actual word or one I made up. TOSB also likes nubbin so theres an argument to get in the next oxford concise, if it,s not already there.
Deinition of the word cant be posted here because adults read this blog.
M McG
Sorry pal. Have smoked a few nice numbers tonight. Forget programme name. Great watch stoned. ;-)
DD
Thanks!