I remember one of the Q&A evenings in Blantyre when it was suggested from the floor that Celtic pay whatever money necessary to retain John Park as chief scout. John out-performed his peers for several years, but, as you know, there are no gurus in football. A fallow period followed the recruitment of Mikael Lustig in January 2012; many players arrived in the years since then but few were able to enhance the team (with the odd outstanding exception).
Football scouting at this level isn’t really about being able to spot a player, it is as much about contacts. Your network keeps you. With many of these guys, their networks diminish over time. They fall out with each other regularly – trust is a precious commodity in football transfer negociations. Your value as a scout to an agent is largely dependent on your club. Since 2012 Celtic’s financial position relative to the English leagues has diminished. We will spend less than they will on any given player, and we will buy fewer players.
Perhaps for these reasons Brendan Rodgers decided a change was needed and has now secured his former colleague at Chelsea, Lee Congerton. Congerton has had recent spells at two highly dysfunctional clubs: Hamburg and Sunderland, but rejected a pretty spectacular offer to join Brendan’s revolution at Celtic. We have recruited a known quantity who will fit with the manager’s plans as closely as Chris Davies does. He will also bring a fresh batch of scouts and agents to the table. I hear they are working on plans for the summer already.
Amid the gloating at the hubris of English football amid another humbling in Europe last night, my Dad made the point that unlike Arsenal, or Manchester United, Manchester City didn’t try to cheat us by scamming a penalty in our Champions League encounters. They played with a straight bat.
We have also established a beneficial relationship with them. A year with Jason Denayer, the purchase of Dedryck Boyata and 18 months with Patrick Roberts. So far.
Roberts’ situation at his parent club should be easier to fathom after City’s exit. 10 points adrift in the Premier League and the only team to be eliminated from the Champions League last 16 by a lesser- moneyed side, what chance Pep Guardiola decides what his team needs for next season is a player City shipped out to Celtic in January 2016?
It is not going to happen. Patrick is caught in an impossible situation in Manchester. The Manchester City football model harvests innumerable players, but precious few young English players will make it onto the roster in any decade. None will do so in a season when there is a perceived need for them to up their game. Pep will spend big this summer, Roberts’ opportunity to breakthrough in Manchester next season have diminished.
My first reaction at full time last night? Our chances of getting to keep Patrick increased. Which would be a very good thing, for both club and player.
574 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- »
GuyFawkesaforeverhero on 17th March 2017 8:48 am
On the comparison during recent days between James and Paddy, here’s what I think.
James – wrote a bible. Big wow, who hasn’t done that?
Paddy – rag-dolled druid dudes, invented the colour green, shamrocks and Guinness. A proud Scot.
It’s a Paddy win for me, all day long. Cheers to us all.
—————————————————————————–
Aye, but what about St Gary Mackay of Steven?
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 17TH MARCH 2017 8:34 AM
I’m beginning to understand how you can maintain a belief that is contradicted by the facts.
Davidopoulos on 17th March 20.17 8:49am
I like the kid a lot, but the notion that one of the mighty pillars of our one, true, Apostolic faith could be called – Gary, is as likely as me placing a u in the correct spot of your moniker without checking back thrice.
6IAR!, still six to go.
MurdochAuldandHay@11:51pm.
That’s some list of concealed side-letters and, therefore, 0-3 amended results.
Strip those titles and hand them over!
Surely can’t be any Tim seeing that industrial-scale cheating who thinks it’s ‘time to move on’.
Especially if they paid for the privilege of watching such a rigged game over so many years.
Once bitten, twice shy.
GuyFawkesaforeverhero
Davidopoulos on 17th March 20.17 8:49am
I like the kid a lot, but the notion that one of the mighty pillars of our one, true, Apostolic faith could be called – Gary, is as likely as me placing a u in the correct spot of your moniker without checking back thrice.
6IAR!, still six to go.
————————————————————————————-
Look, if there can be a St Chad, there can be a St Gary.
Worry not, getting the “u” in the wrong place isn’t as bad as thinking my name is David O’Poulos…
;)
Morning all, enjoy the day everyone. Always wonder if St Patrick knew we would be celebrating his day during Lent and it is just a big piss take on his part?
Good morning CQN and a very happy St Patricks day, but who was St Patrick ?
WILL THE REAL ST. PATRICK PLEASE STAND UP
https://daily.jstor.org/the-real-st-patrick/
Beatbhoy
They must remove those titles from the historical record of RFC 1872, however under no circumstances will it be a trade off for continuity, they died, I was going to games and have told PL that I have been ripped off, now up to Celtic and Scottish football to deal with this, no deal and total transparancy, if it is ignored and I know I am only one person I have watched my last Celtic match by attending.
My friends in Celtic,
Happy St Patricks Day. To those of you who are abstaining from alcohol for Lent, fill your boots. You are granted a 24 hour reprieve.
It’s in the rules.
HH.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day one and all.
I will never allow anybody, institution or dead team to f##k with my happiness in watching Celtic.
It’s that simple for me, however I accept others may feel differently.
HH.
ernie lynch on 17th March 2017 8:57 am
Ernie, it seems your use of the word facts is a euphemism for “Ernie said”.
You have still to provide 1 fact in the argument.
KTF
Has Pedro Caixinha had ketchup removed from the World Class Breakfast table yet?
Sftb happy St.Patrick’s day to you and all CQNeners. GGG didn’t play , one of my favourites but better still played Baidin fheilimi, wonderful pics of Gabhla hadn’t seen before. Now sent all over the world with greetings. Thanks. cathach
In 2002-3 Celtic ‘lost’ the league on goal difference, one single goal, to Rangers (1872-2012).
During that season we drew 3-3 at Celtic Park with them. Can still see Henke’s brilliant equaliser at 0-1.
Including 2 subs who came on, every player on the pitch for them that day was ineligible. They all appear on Murdochauldandhay’s list.
So, 3-0 to us, no need for goal difference to be considered, our title, even just looking at one game in that season.
Exercise can of course be repeated for 2004-5.
Happy St Patrick’s Day to all you bhoys in Green. Will be thinking of all the cousins lining up off 5th Avenue to take part in New York’s big parade. Stood on the avenue a few years back to watch the parade go bye. It was a tremendous sight. Hope Donegal get moving before 16.00 hours this year.
SFTB,
The video wouldn’t play for me, but it appears to be Mhairead.
Her father, Francie wrote the lyrics to the air……but you knew that!
Happy St.Patrick’s Day from a wet, windy North West Donegal……..that is going to get wetter!!!!
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’s DAY TO ONE AND ALL!!!!
Off for some Guinness shortly,got some horses to stab wi a pin first. Should work better than yesterday’s methods.
DAVIDOPOULOS 848
Have a quick shuftie at JJ’s latest.
1981
Tuesday 17th March
Lá Pádraig inniú ‘s mar is gnách níor thárla aon rud suntasach, bhí mé ar aifreann agus mo chuid gruaige gearrtha agam níos gaire, agus é i bhfad níos fearr freisin. Sagart nach raibh ar mo aithne abhí ag rá ran aifreann.
Bhí na giollaí ag tabhairt an bhia amach do chách abhí ag teacht ar ais ón aifreann. Rinneadh iarracht chun tabhairt pláta bidh domhsa. Cuireadh ós cómhair m’aghaidh ach shiúl mé ar mo shlí mar is nach raibh aon duine ann.
Fuair mé cúpla nuachtán inniú agus mar shaghas malairt bhí an Nuacht na hEireann ann. Táim ag fáil pé an scéal atá le fáil óna buachaillí cibé ar bith.
Choniac mé ceann dona dochtúirí ar maidun agus é gan béasaí. Cuireann sé tuirse ormsa. Bhí mo chuid meachain 57.50 kgs. Ní raibh aon ghearán agam.
Bhí oifigcach isteach liom agus thug sé beagán íde béil domhsa. Arsa sé ‘tchim go bhfuil tú ag léigheadh leabhar gairid. Rudmaith nach leabhar fada é mar ní chrlochnóidh tú é’.
Sin an saghas daoine atá iontu. Ploid orthu. Is cuma liom. Lá fadálach ab ea é. Bhí mé ag smaoineamh inniú ar an chéalacán seo. Deireann daoine a lán faoin chorp ach ní chuireann muinín sa chorp ar bith. Measaim ceart go leor go bhfuil saghas troda.
An dtús ní ghlacann leis an chorp an easpaidh bidh, is fulaingíonn sé ón chathú bith, is greithe airithe eile a bhíonn ag síorchlipeadh an choirp. Troideann an corp ar ais ceart go leor, ach deireadh an lae; téann achan rud ar ais chuig an phríomhrud, is é sin an mheabhair.
Is é an mheabhair an rud is tábhachtaí. Mura bhfuil meabhair láidir agat chun cur in aghaidh le achan rud, ní mhairfidh. Ní bheadh aon sprid troda agat. Is ansin cen áit as a dtigeann an mheabhair cheart seo. B’fhéidir as an fhonn saoirse.
Ní hé cinnte gurb é an áit as a dtigeann sé. Mura bhfuil siad in inmhe an fonn saoirse a scriosadh, ní bheadh siad in inmhe tú féin a bhriseadh. Ní bhrisfidh siad mé mar tá an fonn saoirse, agus saoirse mhuintir na hEireann i mo chroí.
Tiocfaidh lá éigin nuair a bheidh an fonn saoirse seo le taispeáint ag daoine go léir na hEireann ansin tchífidh muid éirí na gealaí.
(Translated, this reads as follows:)
St Patrick’s Day today and, as usual, nothing noticeable. I was at Mass, my hair cut shorter and much better also. I didn’t know the priest who said Mass.
The orderlies were giving out food to all who were returning from Mass. They tried to give me a plate of food. It was put in front of my face but I continued on my way as though nobody was there.
I got a couple of papers today, and as a kind of change the Irish News was there. I’m getting any news from the boys anyway.
I saw one of the doctors this morning, an ill-mannered sort. It tries me. My weight was 57.70 kgs. I had no complaints.
An official was in with me and gave me some lip. He said, ‘I see you’re reading a short book. It’s a good thing it isn’t a long one for you won’t finish it.’
That’s the sort of people they are. Curse them! I don’t care. It’s been a long day.
I was thinking today about the hunger-strike. People say a lot about the body, but don’t trust it. I consider that there is a kind of fight indeed. Firstly the body doesn’t accept the lack of food, and it suffers from the temptation of food, and from other aspects which gnaw at it perpetually.
The body fights back sure enough, but at the end of the day everything returns to the primary consideration, that is, the mind. The mind is the most important.
But then where does this proper mentality stem from? Perhaps from one’s desire for freedom. It isn’t certain that that’s where it comes from.
If they aren’t able to destroy the desire for freedom, they won’t break you. They won’t break me because the desire for freedom, and the freedom of the Irish people, is in my heart. The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show.
It is then we’ll see the rising of the moon.
——–
This was the final diary entry that Bobby Sands made as he chose to conserv his mental and physical strength for the fight ahead.
Sadly, on the 5th May 1981 Bobby Sands lost his life, however, the fight against criminalisation was carried forward by 9 of his fellow H-Block comrades. Within months of the end of the Hunger Strike Thatcher had conceded the prisoners 5 demands.
“Our revenge will be the laughter of their children”
PEDRO CAIXINYERGIRO
Thoroughly enjoying your updates. Can you let us know how things go at payday?
Btw,if yer following BT’s advice re suitable watering-holes,you might like to ask for an advance…
Dessybhoy
Correct. Nothing to do with Sevco, apart from their Continuity fantasy, so wonderfully enabled by the SPFL website, of course, and so studiously ignored by the other member clubs.
Hence, farce.
HT
Powerful and very moving.
Thank you for posting.
God bless Ireland.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 17th March 2017 9:50 am
DAVIDOPOULOS 848
Have a quick shuftie at JJ’s latest.
———————————————————————-
Interesting piece, but again something feels just a little….off….with him, what he says, the way he says it. His obsession with an “exclusive” just adds a little more weight to my view that not only is Jack Irvine a friend of his site, he is an active contributor/director.
I am now virtually convinced that John James is the Irvine/Easdale equivalent of Charlotte Fakes.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 17TH MARCH 2017 8:48 AM
So what is everyone doing with their Friday now that there isn’t a live stream of a Supreme Court hearing to watch?
Root canal treatment?
That’s amazing, how did you know I was getting that done next Tuesday? I didn’t tell anyone! Think you should try the Euromillions t’night, me bhoy.
Have a braw St Patrick,s Day….
A big braw smiley green thing…
Braw
Great work Hamilton Tim,
“I scratched my name but for fame” another poem that should be read by all.
God how these young men suffered. Had the tour of the Maze, visited the cell where Bobby died, Heard the whole story from an ex prisoner while standing there in the last remaining H Block.
I liken it to my visit to Auschwitz , 2 of the most harrowing experiences of my life.
“and they dared to call them Terrorists”.
EmeraldBee\o/ still proud to be an internet bampot
How did you know I play the Euromillions????
Dessybhoy
Well, I say nothing to do with Sevco, but maybe Glibby McShameless will come good on his stated intention to take Rangers (1872-2012) out of the liquidation process by ponying up, you know, a still as yet undetermined amount of millions to the 276 creditors.
If ever there was an admission that they are a new club. . . . . . . .
“There appears to be no precedent for taking a company out of liquidation but despite the myriad complications which are clearly involved in Rangers’ (sic) case, King insists it could be achieved.”
From The Scotsman, September 2015.
Happy St Paddy’s Day to all CQNers.
A nice wee story to start your day.
Last summer three American nuns were on a holiday visit to Killarney and decided
to go for a trip in a jaunting car.
The sun was shining, The horse was trotting along, the driver was explaining all the
usual points of interest and everything was going well when suddenly the horse
had an almighty bout of flatulence! and a horrible noise emanated from the front
of the car closely followed by a choking sulphuric smell!
The driver, absolutely embarrassed, stopped the car, turned round to the choking
nuns and offered his sincere apologies thatthis had to happen when they were
riding in his jaunting car!
With watering eyes, the senior nun, patted him on the back and comforted him.
saying,
“Don’t let it worry you, my good man. We all actually thought it was the horse!”
Hail! Hail!
Terrymac
Happy St Patrick’s day from NZ calling it a night here now had a few Guinness in town and a wee Jamieson night cap to wish you all a great one when you catch up later. Slante.
There were never any snakes in Ireland. Fact.
Happy St Patricks Day.
HAMILTONTIM on 17TH MARCH 2017 9:51 AM
Working from home today so that post inspired me to put this on the turntable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9wWgzUygkk
I’d love this to be belted out from the North Curve!
KTF
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 17TH MARCH 2017 9:33 AM
ernie lynch on 17th March 2017 8:57 am
‘Ernie, it seems your use of the word facts is a euphemism for “Ernie said”.
You have still to provide 1 fact in the argument.’
###
There is nothing in the British Constitution that prohibits a Catholic from being PM.
That’s a fact.
2017 St Patrick’s Day Message from President Michael D. Higgins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcvDcz2ppY0
To all immigrants
So John James latest, is he suggesting BDO may will the appeal but the concession from Thornhill will allow HMRC to persue the EBT recipients separately for Tax and NI. Makes you wonder if a comprise has been reached behind the scenes. HMRC need a win in this case, but the Masonic order needs to protect their own. Murray gets off the hook and with the SC win title stripping will be off the table. And all for the price of throwing the EBT recipients under the bus.
BARNEY67 on 17TH MARCH 2017 10:17 AM
There were never any snakes in Ireland. Fact.
——————–
Not quite, there are pets and zoo’s :-)))))
I prefer to think St Patrick banished them , although you are of course correct.
It’s strange though that over the years snakes ( slithery ones ) haven’t travelled from the UK or elsewhere , or pets haven’t escaped.
HH.
Morning Celts
Happy St Patrick’s Day to all.
Ernie Lynch
‘You just wouldn’t let it lie’:)
‘Whats on the end of the stick Vic’
HH