Sinclair and others will benefit from a Musonda dividend

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Charly Musonda, 21, graduate of the Belgian football’s prolific development system, would be unavailable for transfer for £30m. Celtic have paid handsomely for his 18-month loan, with the plan to expose him to the rigours of competitive football here and in Europe.

Brendan Rodgers knows the player will be available for the crucial Champions League qualification games this summer, which itself takes the pressure off having to retain players for the same position who might want away (think back to Stuart Armstrong last summer).

This deal is down to the personal gravitas of the Brendan. No manager in Celtic history would have been able to secure such a deal (they didn’t happen in the Stein era and O’Neill could hardly have been less interested in youth development).

Charly is a gifted, creative, player, who will entertain and excite. His comments about the club yesterday could scarcely have been improved upon by a lifelong Celtic fan. As I watched his Celtic TV interview it was clear this lad with the Ronaldinho smile loves entertaining. So often players look surly and unsure when being interviewed.

This is not a permanent signature, but it is the new reality. Top talent is hoarded by the wealthy few. Clubs who recognise that they have something to contribute to this new scenario have the opportunity to prosper. At Celtic, we can let players:

Experience competitive first team football.
Test themselves in the Champions League.
Work with an acknowledged and respected top coach.
We can also pay appropriate money for the loan.

This isn’t as good as finding a van Dijk for £2.6m, but it will improve our competitiveness in the Champions League.

The impact the signing will make on the rest of the squad will become evident in the weeks to come. This season has been more challenging for Scott Sinclair (yes, despite his remarkable scoring status), but watch him bloom as defenders have another creative headache to worry about. The same dividend will be enjoyed by others.

NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW WITH SPECIAL GUEST FRANK McGARVEY

Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Frank McGarvey at The Penalty Spot in Glasgow.

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Frank discusses his time at Liverpool, signing for Celtic, his admiration for Jock Stein, his partnership with Charlie Nicholas, the 1985 Scottish Cup final, why this was his final appearance in the hoops, and Love Street 1986.

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  1. I’d like to watch the contest between the World Class manager and the World Class breakfast.

     

     

    Anyone got a Sausage?

  2. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    AULDHEID 1220

     

     

    In a nutshell,Lawwell was talking shite. My accountant mate can make 1+1 equal whatever the client wishes,Ffs,even I can make it equal a sequence of numbers starting wi 3,17 and 171.

     

     

    Ever thought you’ve been cheated?

     

     

    Ever thought the mineshafters were on the money?

     

     

    Oh,the money. There you go,there’s not so much your answer as your starter for ten.

     

     

    Or 3,17,171. Take your pick. Smoke and mirrors and fool the people time and again.

     

     

    Thing is,AULDHEID. We are increasingly not being fooled. I’m just off the phone to a fella who has been going to the games longer than I have-and more often,since he still stays in Scotland. He’s not renewing.

     

     

    He’s had it.

     

     

    You’ve helped people see the deception,people listen to you. You deserve that. And the plaudits that go with it. I know you don’t want people to turn their back on Celtic,but have the board done enough to give people a reason not to?

  3. Hopefully we keep the three at the back from the first half on Saturday (move Ajer to the middle of the three). Musonda straight into starting eleven for McGregor

     

     

    De Vries

     

    Boyata Ajer Simunovic

     

    Forrest Brown Ntcham Tierney

     

    Musonda Sinclair

     

    Dembele

     

     

    Subs Doolan, Bitton, Gamboa, Miller, Kouassi, McGregor, Edouard

  4. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    SOUTHOFTUNIS

     

     

    Never been a fan of electronica,though rather keen on Tangerine Dream and DAF. But Das Model deserves its place as a classic.

  5. GARY67 on 30TH JANUARY 2018 12:56 PM

     

    According to SSN we’re trying to extend our lead to 11 points tonight. Kinda sums up their knowledge, interest in Scottish football.

     

     

    That’s only because they know the govan galacticos have the 3 points from the game in hand in the bag already……. ;-)

  6. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    RAYMAC on 30TH JANUARY 2018 11:58 AM

     

     

    There is a way to highlight BBC Scotland’s bias.

     

     

    There would have to be a pact whereby hundreds or even thousands of license payers refuse to pay their annual licence because of editorial and employment practice at said organisation.

     

     

    There would be an enquiry of some sort, and reportage of same.

     

     

    It would be UK wide.

     

     

    Even though I’m in Belfast, I would join this and generate news this side of the border.

     

     

    Think it would work?

     

    *

     

     

    REPOST FROM EARLIER.

     

     

    I think RAYMAC has raised a very good point. It’s no longer a criminal offence to refuse to pay the licence,though I don’t recommend it. Most refuseniks simply don’t pay it,full stop.

     

     

    A campaign with reasoning behind it,well,800,000 Catholics is a lot of money for them.

     

     

    And so too is a fraction of that,with a campaign behind it.

     

     

    Be interesting to see how the SMSM cover it. Like,not at all…

  7. I certainly haven’t heard of any other UK clubs doing the 18 month loan deal but I am sure there must be. Creative thinking at least.

     

     

    Spot on re Sinclair Paul. As I have said in a few pieces, Sinclair is carrying the burden on the creative side this season. He is a player that tends to drift out of games for long periods. Hence the criticism. Personally I am not convinced he is playing significantly “worse” than last season. It is just that there isn’t the support around to pick up the slack when he is not doing it – ie fit and regularly playing Griffiths and Dembele, and Armstrong, Rogic and Roberts, ‘s a lot of creativity missing for large chunks of the season.

     

     

    Know nothing of Musonda but will be watched with encouraging anticipation as with all signings.

  8. For once I agree with HITC..

     

     

    Celtic are set to make a second offer for Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

     

     

    Moussa Dembele of Celtic scores a penalty in the second half past Motherwell goal keeper Trevor Carson during the Betfred League Cup Final between Celtic and Motherwell at Hampden Park on…

     

     

    The Daily Record have claimed Celtic are to table a second offer to sign Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson on Tuesday after having an initial £200,000 offer rejected by Stephen Robinson’s side.

     

     

    The 29-year-old has been in excellent form for the Well this season, keeping 10 clean sheets in 28 league and cup encounters but is guilty of conceding eight goals in three games against Brendan Rodgers’ side.

     

     

    The former Liverpool and Swansea City manager is desperate to bring a new goalkeeper to Celtic Park after Craig Gordon’s collision with Efe Ambrose on Saturday has seen the Scotland international suffer a knee injury.

     

     

    Craig Gordon of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Ranger at Celtic Park on December 30, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland.

     

     

    Gordon is now set to be sidelined for 12 months, and is unlikely to return until late April with the Hoops only boasting veteran Dorus de Vries in back-up after teenager Conor Hazard joined Falkirk on loan earlier this week.

     

     

    However, if Rodgers wants to sign a Scottish Premiership goalkeeper before Wednesday’s 11pm deadline, he should forget about a second, improved offer for Carson and instead focus on luring Jon McLaughlin to Glasgow.

     

     

    The 30-year-old has arguably been the best goalkeeper in Scotland this season, producing 11 clean sheets in just 21 league and cup outings after joining Craig Levein’s side from English Championship side Burton Albion in the summer.

     

     

    Jon McLaughlin of Burton Albion looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Burton Albion and Norwich City at Pirelli Stadium on February 18, 2017 in Burton-upon-Trent, England

     

     

    One of those clean sheets came in the huge 4-0 win over Rodgers’ men, ending Celtic’s unbeaten run with aplomb as Kyle Lafferty, Harry Cochrane and a brace from Manuel Malinkovic saw off the Hoops.

     

     

    However, the Scottish stopper was only given a one-year contract by Hearts and is now in the final months of his current deal at Tynecastle despite his heroics this season. A bargain deal could be struck to sign McLaughlin, then.

  9. glendalystonsils on

    I’m not sure which world class breakfast Dodgy Dave prefers but I hear he’s keen to avoid the porridge.

  10. 50 shades of green on

    Think if the huns get 6 mill from a Chinese club we will all be Peking ducked.:-):-)

     

     

    That record mob must think we are all dumplings .

  11. South Of Tunis on

    BARNEY67@ 12 53

     

     

    I went to see them at a thing called Tribal Gathering @ Luton Hoo in 97 (? ).

     

     

    Fabulous performance in a field in the dark . Don’t remember them speaking , don’t remember them moving anything but their hands . Good enough to get 30k people dancing their butts off

  12. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    The MoreLoss “bid” will be the same as McKay. Trying to flush out a desperate Championship team to take a 2m punt.

  13. BMCUWP.

     

    Think they mean 12 weeks as in the same sentence they say ‘unlikely to return til late April’.

     

    Poor journalism.

  14. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 30th January 2018 1:24 pm

     

     

    Craig Gordon out for 12 months?

     

     

     

    Sources,please?

     

     

    ————————————————————————————–

     

     

    I think those super smart guys at HITC have confused the word “weeks” with “months”.

  15. Marrakesh Express on

    Techie help appreciated. Im looking to buy a desktop PC and with my limited knowledge I dont fancy just going to the big retailers and doing it unless I know exactly what to ask for. Online sales are too numerous to go through. Where to start. I want something to run office and don’t need spec for gaming etc. I’d even consider refurb/2nd hand.

     

    Cheers

  16. South Of Tunis on

    BMCUW —

     

     

    I absolutely love Kraftwerk . Obsessive me once drove (in 77) from Ostend to Milan (stopping only for toilet stops and caffeine input ) with the fabby doo Autobahn LP on a continuous tape loop. Had to meet Mrs S of T in Milan — when we met — she took one look at me and said — ” You look like a psycho -what have you been doing ? ” — Driving , amore mio ,driving “

  17. So when will Morelos be putting in his transfer request to get himself out of his sevco hell? Their made up dross might actually end up unsettling a player who is already keen to move on. As Pedro pointed out it doesn’t take much to get into Alfredo’s napper to get him upset :-))

  18. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    SOUTH OF TUNIS

     

     

    Ostend was the first place I visited in Europe,I was about seven years old. Though I’d spent about my first two years in Germany.

     

     

    We were on a hol to see my parents’ pals from RAF Gutersloh. They had kids my age,and kids my sister’s age.

     

     

    Bloody hell,it was hot in Germany in July! I’m out playing football,and I just couldnae handle it,Mum can I go home.

     

     

    Third degree burns. That’s the problem wi red hair,fair skin,you don’t notice the burns till you come OUT of the sun.

     

     

    I’ve avoided it ever since. Splattered wi calomine lotion,I was.

  19. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    From one who knows what she’s talking about.

     

     

    Susie Dent

     

     

    Verified account

     

     

    @susie_dent

     

    55m55 minutes ago

     

    More Susie Dent Retweeted Judy Sullivan

     

    You can be gruntled (satisfied), kempt (combed), couth (polite), ruthful (full of compassion), whelmed (capsized), and gorm-like (have an intelligent look about you). And, for a while in the 1600s, you could be shevelled too.

  20. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    STARRYPLOUGH

     

     

    No,it’s perfectly pitched.

     

     

    They’ve cast Morelos as a £10m player,they’ve revealed the offer from a ludicrously rich Chinese club,and they’ve knocked it back because he’s worth more than is on offer.

     

     

    That means the hordes get to see their hero,who they now know is worth more than embody else in Scottish football,and his value will only increase.

     

     

    It’s a win-win. It’s a faffing joke,of course,as I’m not too sure that many clubs pay attention to the valuations put on a hun player by the SMSM,but it keeps the hordes happy till the next window-why did we no sell that fenian c… for £7m when we had the chance-and then it will begin again

     

     

    Btw,they’ll probably blame the papers for unsettling the player!!!!

  21. South Of Tunis on

    STARRY PLOUGH .

     

     

    Thanks for the link . I shall listen to it tonight while watching Atalanta v Rubentus . First Leg of The TIM Cup Semi Final. Atalanta are a good team with a very good Manager . .

     

     

    One of memories of that gig is a guy who looked like Catweasel flogging E from an M and S carrier bag .

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