Scouting and development, from Lanarkshire to Dumfries

804

There’s some fresh enthusiasm in Lanarkshire this morning with the appointment of Englishman Ian Baraclough as Motherwell manager.  Baraclough had a couple of successful years with Sligo Rovers from 2012-14, winning their first title in decades, before things fell apart this year, but his role as a scout for Huddersfield over the last six months is likely to interest Motherwell as much.

Motherwell directors have had a long-term tradition when looking for a manager of saying they want someone ‘plugged into’ the scouting and agent network.  This game is all about the right contacts, you don’t get to acquire a promising Blackburn Rovers reserve (as Motherwell once did), but this particular activity is also very competitive.

The small matter of how to deploy players is, of course, equally important, but if you’re Motherwell, Celtic or Barcelona, that call is a shot in the dark.

I watched newco Rangers for the first time last night, although I ended up watching a lot more Queen of the South than I expected.  The latter, each of them journeymen, were excellent, the former were symptomatic of everything that’s wrong with comfortably well-off footballers.  Newco’s medium-term future, if they have one, will be to spend the next few years building a self-sustaining lower league club, capable of winning promotion and remaining a top-flight football team thereafter.

Get along to Celtic Park early tomorrow, Davie Hay will be signing copies of Caesar & the Assassin in the Superstore.  If you ask him nicely he’s promised to sign your CQN Annual too.  Don’t forget your camera!

Also remember to look out for the Foundation bucketeers as you approach the ground or enter the turnstiles.  My boys and me will be at the North Stand, turnstiles 1-13, say hello if you’re around.

Thanks to everyone who donated to Mary’s Meals yesterday, the response was overwhelming.  Emails went out this morning to winners of the Magners’ tickets.

You can order your CQN Annual here, or get a special Annual-DVD bundle here.

As a special offer, everyone who buys an Annual, or bundle, before Christmas will be entered into a prize draw for a VIP Meal of 4 at a Celtic Park restaurant on a match day. One entry for each Annual bought; pile in.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

804 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. ...
  10. 22

  1. Why are wummin always so well organised, ma good lady just presented me with my Christmas card then hung aboot like a bad smell waiting on wan back. Happens every year. Just nicking oot the noo to buy some “milk” wink wink. A would have remembered before Christmas eve honest.

  2. ExSlaemuirBhoy. In one interview a few years back, he did joke that he couldn’t sell his Celtic Shares as his family would disown him. He has also publicly stated on a few occasions that Celtic was his one and only emotional Investment. The story I heard is that its his daughter is the big Celtic fan in the family but I do know of a lad that has been to Celtic Park a few times with one of Desmond’s sons.

  3. Zagreb sink Celts in 7 goal thriller. So ran the headline in yesterdays edition of metro. Not exactly how we felt after the match

  4. Cowieboy

     

     

    Well summed up.

     

    You would do well as chief scout and weed out the guys who continue to recommend third raters.

     

    Newcastle have very poor record in visits to Arsenal with no wins in 17.

     

    HH

  5. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    NegAnon2

     

     

    Do you see yourself as having Inquisitorial powers now ?

     

     

    But let’s not bore the blog eh ?

  6. No Footie today, so let me tell you a true story.

     

    At the very end of WW2 when the Allies were retaking Singapore, a load of Japanese soldiers fled to the sewer system to escape capture. Move on to the early 1950’s and an agony aunt received a letter from one of these Japanese soldiers, begging for advice.

     

    He said that in 1945 when the Allies were re-taking Singapore, he realised his war was done. He decided to load up with as much food as he could carry and headed for the sewers to escape. Days passed by, they soon turned to weeks and then months. He waded through, day after day, never meeting a sole nor having any idea where he was or even how the war was doing.

     

    Then one day, he heard a shuffling sound coming towards him. Not knowing if this was friend or foe, he hid and slowly a figure appeared wearing Japanese uniform. He spoke to his comrade, they exchanged photographs, addresses and food. They enjoyed each others company then went their separate ways, not knowing whether they would ever again meet up.

     

    He relayed his story to the agony aunt asking whether he should get in contact with this stranger, or will they remain, two nips who passed in the shite!!

     

     

    KINGLuBO

  7. corkcelt,

     

     

    I sometimes think the terms Celtic credentials or Celtic minded can be very misleading and can contradict our core value of open to all regardless of background.

     

     

    Please do not think I am having a pop as I sometimes use the terms myself, however I often wonder If RD had “Celtic credentials” he would be given more tolerance and patience to build his team.

     

     

    I believe you can acquire Celtic credentials, you do not necessary need to have the background or the birth right.

     

     

    HH.

  8. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    NegAnon2/BCW

     

     

    Have you two had a fallout?

     

     

    If so, I for one am glad,you’re sordid,craven, sexually charged

     

    exchanges on here are not appropriate.

  9. parky out there bhoys, sounds like utd are getting beat up, more of the same to follow next week. great tip BCW but to late bud only got on ma return home

  10. Greenpinata, I’m sure you are right, I was just responding to a question as to whether Denis O’Brien was a bona fide Celtic Supporter and just reponded that I didn’t know his Celtic credentials. Obviously some people are born into Celtic and many others come to Celtic at later stages and all are equally welcome.

  11. Cowiebhoy

     

    13:30 on

     

    13 December, 2014

     

    Celtic, Celtic. .. Celtic, Celtic

     

     

    sad to see so many writing off Adam Mathews so soon, yes he has had apoor month, but is trying to recover fitness, and I will repeat, anyone playing behind Calum McGregor will look poor, as he offers

     

    ——————————————————————————————————————–

     

    Sorry but Adam Matthews is not good enough no matter who plays in front of him. He can’t tackle, rarely wins 50:50 ariel challenges, is liable to more defensive bomb-scares than Ambrose and his passing/crossing are piss poor. But above all, he is an utter and complete crap-bag. Check out him “doing a Regi” in the recent game at Pittoddrie. Stop the video clip at 1m 40sec, then play it forward (in slow motion if you can). Not only do you see an example of his poor technique but he definitely bottles the challenge with his opponent and Aberdeen break up the park and almost score.

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baU1MYZAuyg

     

     

    I can forgive most things in our players but a defender who lacks bottle is irredeemable. imo.

  12. greenpinta

     

     

    I agree. I read both Celtic Minded books and they confirmed for me that we are an exciting melting pot that doesn’t fit the stereotypical image our opponents have of us.

     

     

    I for one like to add new ingredients to the mix and I hope Ronny brings something to the party.

     

     

    hh

  13. Port gubbed 5 nil at home , depressing. For a wee second there I felt how sevies feel every waking minute of every day o the week. Magic.

  14. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    corkcelt

     

    15:42 on

     

    13 December, 2014

     

    Nye 15.33 Is that a serious post or did you just forget to put in the smiley bit.

     

    ___________________________________________________________

     

    I spent my last smilybitthingy on you……they don’t grow on tree’s.

  15. cowiebhoy

     

     

    13:33 on 13 December, 2014

     

    Oh Doc,

     

     

    Is the winning manager from last night not a Bannockburn Bhoy ? Know his uncle and brother in law go up on Oor bus :-)

     

    Well done James Fowler

     

     

    Hail hail

     

    ————————————————-

     

     

    He is indeed.

  16. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Away to walk the black lab,back in time for the f/t’s,

     

    wondering who will scupper my coupon today.

  17. It’ll be wan o those unseen fenian hand conspiracy things that big pete organised just to give the Tic a wee helping hand in our hour of need

  18. going to pick up the family, have a wee gathering tonight . Plenty of free flowing vino tinto to look forward tae ya beauty

  19. Roy C

     

     

    I would love to see Celtic youth players coming through and making it

     

    And I would like them given a chance

     

    Unfortunately I cannot see anything in McGregor, that tells me he will make it for us, a very poor Back up for James Forrest.

     

    I found it frightening that BT reckons he earns £48k a month with us

     

    Unbelievable if true, for that calibre of player

     

     

    I would give young Paul McMullan a chance

     

     

    Hail Hail

  20. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    Dear Nye Bevans

     

     

    Seeking advice from your column. I have a suitor who is doing plenty of chasing. He should perhaps be chased himself :-)

     

     

    This character keeps begging for a rendezvous, but seldom frequents the stadiums I do. I only seem to meet him on a chat room after a defeat for my team. He seems quite gleeful at these defeats and I’m not sure if we compatible at all. In fairness I’m not usually in the most receptive of moods at these times.

     

     

    But that’s not the worst of it. During these occasions he is verbally abusive to me and others, shockingly so, using expletives and displays a condescending manner.

     

     

    I’m also worried about the attention he pours on other chat roomers. Even today he was giving Tony Donnelly a lot of time. Tony’s not the only one either, there was this Soz, and a host of others too……

     

     

    Should I be worried by these other dalliances……But more importantly am I right in my position of unrequited love ?

  21. Roy C

     

     

    In full agreement with that

     

    Young Liam has a big future, hopefully with us ( he is only 18 and will be inconsistent, but the Bhoy has talent)

     

    Play him with Biton

     

    Move Broony to wide right, Johansen wide left

     

    And we have space for some more creativity through middle, even a 2nd forward :-)

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    Oops changed from that 4,2,3,1 :-)

  22. 48k whit? No chance of that. At present I don’t see it but I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think so…Lh is far better and I agree Pm deserves s chance.

     

     

    HH

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. ...
  10. 22