Selling players correctly is trickier than it looks

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Photo: Vagelis Georgariou biglens.co.uk

In the immediate aftermath of defeat in Turin our manager was magnanimous towards his opponents, the television broadcaster and his players. Sky TV were thanked for their treatment of Celtic (note to others), Juventus were encouraged to win the Champions League, and Neil acknowledged some players may want to further their careers beyond Scotland.

Let’s be clear, most of the squad are happy at Celtic.  Georgios Samaras could go anywhere in Europe but this Celtic team is his project, as much as it is yours or mine.  Many of the others, including Matthews, Wilson, Lustig, Forster, Mulgrew, Commons, Ledley, Forrest and Izaguirre are settled at Celtic with plenty still to achieve.

Hooper and Wanyama have declined contract offers, so will be most likely to leave in the summer, but in the business Celtic are in right now, if they go, who they go to, is important.    If we lose players to tier-one clubs it will make attracting others a whole lot easier.  If you are a stepping stone to Barcelona, as with Larsson, you are a far more attractive employer than if you lose a striker to Norwich City (I’m friendly with a former Nigerian international who went on trial to Hamilton Accies the week after, and on the strength of, Brian Easton leaving there for the English Premier League).

Selling right makes it easier to buy who you want.  Got to get the right price, keep them for the Champions League qualifiers, and make sure you sell to the right club.

See you at 7.30pm tonight at the Supporters’ Association Club on London Road for the Twists & Turns Celtic Supporters Club charity night.  There will be Question and Answer session with me, John Fallon, Dixie Deans, Archie MacPherson, compared by Phil Agnew.  Afterwards you can enjoy music from Foggy Dew.

Tickets are £10 and you can get them from Phil by calling 07811 178764.  Profits are going to the Tommy Burns charity.
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755 Comments

  1. zimmerman:

     

    >>>>>

     

    that just made me weep tears of joy.

     

    I’m not long back from a two day hospital stay to get my meds in management, and to arrange brain scan for Monday………..and what’s the first choon I lamp upon?

     

    Thank you, kind man. You have a soul of gold.

     

    >>>>>

     

    I have a story to tell of an old Glesgae Prod (married to a lovely Catholic wee woman) I met there, and for the remainder of our lives we are spiritual brothers.( That’s for another time.)

     

    His own brother won’t talk to him, hasn’t for 40 years, because he refuses to be ‘a hun’.

     

    I have been given, at best, with chemo 18 to 24 months and a lot of feel-good drugs.

     

    I dream of my dad.

     

    I will miss those who have remained behind, but I know I will be greeted by my ancestors.

     

    I have loved getting to ‘know’ you all, and we ain’t done yet, brothers.

     

    Hail! Hail! Celtic F.C.

     

    A Tim’s Life and Loves for this bhoy.

     

    My real first name? Michael.

  2. Miki67,

     

     

    keep strong and keep posting brother,

     

     

    “There’s more to the picture,than meets the eye”

     

     

    HH.

  3. miki67

     

     

    Stay the same as you always have been my friend, Death comes to us all. Some young, some old but you have alredy shown great courage in how you have dealt with your illness. When my time, whenever it is, comes I hope I have your strength.

  4. thecarfintim on

    I do not know what it is but i am getting the sudden feeling of feeling sorry for our dearest departed.

     

     

    I have lost a many a good friends and close family members who have been very good Celtic men.

     

     

    Now there is a certain member of our community who have departed,and “a certain amount of sympathy,”empathy”…….well whatever the feeling may be …they want every body to feel it so we “miss them “..

     

     

    i feel a sense of guilt for some strange reason

     

     

    i apologise in advance if i offend anyone if i am wrong

     

     

    will not be the first time

     

     

    god bless

     

     

    & Hail Hail

  5. thecarfintim on

    I would just like to confirm it was not an indavidual comment it was interantional thingamy

     

     

    no offences intended

  6. Miki67 – I’ve been truly inspired amigo; keep punching above yer weight; jist like the Tic:) if yer ever in Toronto, mi casa est su casa and maybe Neil Young can swing by fura sing song?

     

    slainte

     

    tony

  7. Bobbys diary is something else.

     

     

    Incredibly intelligent writer.

     

     

    God bless you bobby and all who stood behind you .

  8. The Boy Jinky on

    miki

     

     

    i lost two very close members of my family … one suddenly.. the other to cancer.

     

    when the docs told us of the timescale i was in bits. but when i got my head around it … i knew i would sooner i had that time too with the member who passed instantly.

     

     

     

    god bless you and yours

  9. Ah, torontytony, yer a kind man; I lived in Canada, Grande Prairie and Winnipeg,(1966 – 1971), came back when i was living om my own for the first time, working in a healthfood store, and playing Piano in “The Ting Tea Shop”. No daft hippy, me though: I was working and putting a rooof over my head @ 18 ,gong out with a beautful skittish nursing student called Susan Jones.

     

    Then….my dad got terminally ill back in The UKplc and I returned, watched him die painfully, and prompp

     

    y: I decided that if that what life dished out to a youngish man (56) then i wiz gonnae live life like every second was the last.

     

    Cosequently, i ended up in a bit of soapy.

     

    Long story short, I went back to Canada for a cuople of years, then got quickly deported back to Prestwick……oooppps.

     

    The upshot of this is that I cannae get back intae Canada….not even for a visit……..poor me.

     

    But he good side of all this? And there is one. I woulnae have met and married the most p human being I have ever known, my wife, Vivienne.

  10. Miki67

     

     

    I can only imagine being in your situation .

     

    It is not one that I believe that I would cope well with.

     

     

    I wish that I had your spirit.

     

     

    All the best.

     

     

    TT

  11. The Boy Jinky

     

     

    How you doing Buddy?

     

     

    I’m having a wee lye in before leaving for Dingwall at 09.00 hrs.

     

    Mrs TT is lying beside me asleep , with our Wee Yorkie dug, snoring at my feet.

     

     

    Minnie TT and her inseparable best pal are all tucked up safe in bed , next door.

     

     

    When I think of Miki67 , and Wee Oscar.

     

    I know that I have a great deal to be thankful for.

     

     

    We need to get a beer before the season’s end.

     

     

    TT

  12. Morning Celts que pasa amigos?

     

     

    Who broke the blog last nigh? Did CRC’s quiz happen?

     

    Are Celtic going to fight the corrupt sfa?

     

     

    Many rivers to cross as the song goes.

     

     

    V

  13. Slightly Dreich but no more rain in the Chilterns…

     

     

    Noticed Mr Lennon had his future as Celtic Manager questioned again.

     

     

    Why? Oh why?

     

     

    Ooh, I remember now.

     

     

    Although in my mind he has nothing to prove, I hope we win the Double for our Manager, a deserved wee milestone in his illustrious career.

     

     

    Was going to post a reply to gordybhoy64 last evening before things went awry!

     

     

    Right bhoys need help, suffering a severe flare up of gout and never slept a wink last night, aff the swally for lent so canny have a drink, what can I take to help get some shut eye

     

     

    Don’t like to give anyone direct advice but a few wee anecdotes.

     

     

    First time I had gout many moons ago I got a pain in my big toe….

     

     

    I had tripped over the kids toys on the stairs and went sprawling.

     

     

    I put it down to this.

     

     

    Went up with the family to visit Mater and Pater for Easter Sunday.

     

     

    Weird thing happened, the other toe flared – talk about pain.

     

     

    Couldn’t go to Easter Sunday mass, actually couldn’t get out of bed to walk to the toilet.

     

     

    Had a few – single flares after that but nothing for years.

     

     

    Anyway a while back my brother-in-law called me, had gout – unbelievable pain.

     

     

    Told him it’s only going to get worse.

     

     

    Called him the next day

     

     

    Gone he said

     

     

    Gone!

     

     

    It got worse, much worse, so he went and got concentrated Cherry Juice – cleared it up in no time. His recommendation – expensive but well worth every penny.

     

     

    Now I control my gout, have done for many years so can’t verify.

     

     

    In between now and then I was at an informal business meal and recounted my tales of gout to a lady who was talking on the subject, told her the flare-ups always seemed to happen around Easter.

     

     

    Do you give up drinking for Lent she asked?

     

     

    Yep, says I

     

     

    Well, that’s why, it’s not when drinking you get gout – it’s when you stop it occurs.

     

     

    Just my observations – if they help great!

     

     

    Good Luck to the Bhoys in Dingwell.

     

     

    Ross County 0-3 Celtic 1888-2013

  14. Doctor Whatfor on

    Good morning, Vmhan. Our days coincide at last.

     

    Any chance you are going to the Aberdeen game next week?

  15. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MIKI67

     

     

    Glad to hear from you again,bud-good to know that the medics are pumping you full of the joys of life!

     

     

    With you not being on the site for a few days,I was beginning to wonder if the spirits from Bradbury Rings had got a hold of you…..

     

     

    I’m still on for Bournemouth next Saturday. But bear in mind that I can come down any Saturday so don’t go making a martyr of yourself if it’s not a good time.

     

     

    Last time I was in Bournemouth was 1988-I ended up being “seconded” into the RAF for the night so that I could take on some Paras in a drinking competition. Those days are gone,MIKI.

     

     

    Tell Vivienne I take my coffee black these days…….

     

     

    Look after yourself.mate.

     

     

    HH&KTF

  16. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    CHAIRBHOY

     

     

    I read about the benefits of cherry juice some time ago in relation to gout,and recommended it to my uncle.

     

     

    It was him wot told me how much it cost!

     

     

    Back to the drawing board,I discovered that VIMTO CORDIAL,which apparently you can still buy in ASDA,does a pretty good job for a fraction of the price.

     

     

    I hope I never have to test this theory. Not a fan of pain….

  17. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    chairbhoy

     

     

    07:57 on

     

    9 March, 2013

     

     

    Gooogle it …………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  18. A wee day trip to Dingwall to see the Celtic and a case of cider at the ready.

     

     

    WOOHOO!

  19. doctor whatfor

     

     

    07:57 on

     

    9 March, 2013

     

    Good morning, Vmhan. Our days coincide at last.

     

    Any chance you are going to the Aberdeen game next week?

     

    ……………….

     

    Sorry for late reply as I was off line for a bit.

     

     

    Yes Doc, I’ll be there next Sat. If you’d like to meet up?

     

    V

  20. Morning all!

     

     

    Celtic playing at 3 o’clock this afternoon?!

     

     

    It will never catch on!

     

     

    To all those going – safe there and back and enjoy.

     

     

    HH!!

  21. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    HAMILTON TIM

     

     

    Obviously you will have drank all that cider prior to boarding the bus?

     

     

    LegaleaglesCSC

     

     

    ps-have a good dayoooooooot,bud!

  22. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TALLYBHOY

     

     

    Howzitgaun,old mucker? Getting ready for the planting season?

     

     

    Make sure yer ould auntie knows she’s got to do her bit-hip operations are no excuse!