Squad downsizing though not as you think

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Signing a 21-year-old Argentinian for a few million pounds breaches the box-office threshold around these parts.  If left back Alexandro Bernabei clears his medical and joins Celtic, he will be the kind of addition to the squad that will have fans looking forward to the new season with renewed confidence.

I have seen too many bogus YouTube clip editions to pay any heed, we learn nothing there.  What we know is that he has been scouted through our recently appointed resource and meets our criteria as a potential Champions League player.

He is still young and Parkhead is a long way from Rosario: the language, the food, living away from home, the weather, will all present encounters that will make any early performances a challenge.  Fortunately, we all know signing 21-year-olds is not about the first month.

One of my strategic concerns about the Celtic squad is height.  Last season’s excellent defensive stats were achieved with small central defenders and full backs.  Bernabei is 2” shorter than Greg Taylor, who at 5’ 9” is an inch taller than Josip Juranovic.

Taylor is a couple of inches shorter than Kieran Tierney, while Mikael Lustig had a 4” advantage on Kieran.  That’s a very real downsizing in a few years, albeit not in the common use of the phrase.  We have plenty of ability middle to front, but not a lot of height there either.

Two years after Shunsuke Nakamura scored the only goal of the game against Manchester United to put Celtic into the knockout phase of the Champions League, the player was benched when the teams again met in the Champions League.  Gordon Strachan spoke to Shunsuke before the game to explain the team was vulnerable at set plays due to a lack of height.

Naka was not short, but Gordon went with Barry Robson, who had a slight advantage and was more accomplished in the air.  If I was facing Celtic next season, I would play for corners and free kicks.  I expect we will see lots of this in the Premiership.

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  1. CONEYBHOY on 23RD JUNE 2022 6:14 PM

     

     

    I don’t think Labour is a socialist party anymore. Their economic policies don’t suggest they are.

     

     

    Corbyn was a disaster for the Labour party, and for the country. He mismanaged the Labour response to the Brexit referendum and left us with Boris in charge of the country with a huge, unexpected majority.

  2. !!Bada Bing!! on

    The danger is this could become Mick Lynch v Tory Government, he is already being demonised,and the Tories will never want to see him victorious

  3. Bada

     

     

    Davies link poo-pooed apparently. Sill season fella.

     

     

    Although I really, really would like a Leftie on the left of CH…

     

     

    HH

  4. Celtic40me

     

     

    So you support Labour in a non socialist sense and accept capitalism. Fair enough but why vote Labour?

     

     

    Lib Dems or SNP sound more aligned

     

     

    Genuine question

  5. BSR,

     

     

    I enjoyed that interview a lot. Worth remembering what a level Harry played at and that can only be good for the players development too. Loved when he said ‘Ange’, corrected himself and restated the manager.

     

     

    Spoke highly of John Kennedy too.

     

     

    Looks a wee bit like Gavin Strachan.

     

     

    HH

  6. CONEYBHOY on 23RD JUNE 2022 6:50 PM

     

    Harry Kewell is a member of an exclusive club that i am also a member of?

     

     

    —–

     

     

    Pulled someone who drinks at the woolpack ?

     

     

    HH

  7. I once saw Andy Lynch score the winner for Celtic in a Scottish Cup Final.

     

    I also saw Simon Lynch play at Celtic Park.

     

    Was playing the guitar to be fair.

  8. CONEYBHOY on 23RD JUNE 2022 6:48 PM

     

     

    I’m a Labour Party member, I vote for them because their policies and values align with my own. I don’t think of it in terms of socialism or capitalism. I’m not being facetious but I think that’s how democracy should work.

     

     

    I might consider voting for the Lib Dems if I thought they were a viable opposition to the Tories, but they aren’t and never will be. I’ve voted tactically to elect an MP who went on to be part of a coalition with the Tories so never again.

     

     

    I can’t vote for the SNP, and I’m not going there :)

  9. Big Wavy

     

     

    Close….

     

     

    Both gout sufferers; especially through sport

     

     

    I always got it in my mid 30s after my 3rd game of 5s that week. Not enough water intake

     

     

    He had it while playing with Leeds at the top level

     

     

    He was also at my wedding reception, along with Keane, Viduka, Smith, Kelly, the big SA guy, Matteo etc

     

     

    All good guys except Smith

  10. Thanks Celtic40me

     

     

    I’m always on the left but work for guys to accelerate their stash

     

     

    Massively conflicted. Marx said that capitalism was needed(along with automation and giant leap technology) was needed before we implement communism. I reckon there is enough of that for socialism

     

     

    PS love reading your posts in general but especially on Celtic financial aspects

     

     

    I won’t say i look up to you because as a right back, i look up to everyone 🍀

  11. glendalystonsils on

    ‘Rangers ”win race’ for wonderkid as £9m Brazilian ‘rejects’ Celtic move’ (Glasgow World)

     

     

    I wonder which particular rag uses ‘Glasgow world’ as a nom de plume…..Hmmmmm let me think .

     

     

     

    Even funnier , this ‘wonder kid’ hasn’t actually been signed and the Brazilian in question (Souza) hasn’t rejected anything , rather , his club are looking for a bit more money .

     

     

    If ever a headline reeked of desperate hundom .

  12. Big Wavy

     

     

    We met O’Leary in the ressie bar. Not a nice guy

     

     

    Was about to tell me to FU and then he saw the wedding dress behind me. Was SO lovely to my wife then.

     

     

    We shared a hotel in Dublin with them and they tried to steal our function suite. Scottish guy ex full back Gray

     

     

    I let them in for the afters; great craic

  13. BW

     

     

    Robbie Keane was brilliant dealing with the messers on my side. They were taking the mick out of Viduka ; not the sharpest

  14. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    In general, I mainly scroll past the political debates on CQN.

     

     

    But if I may, I’ll provide the following very short list …

     

     

    … to those advocating an overtly socialist agenda is the path to electoral victory for the UK Labour Party.

     

     

    Clement Attlee

     

    Harold Wilson

     

    Tony Blair

  15. CONEYBHOY on 23RD JUNE 2022 7:22 PM

     

     

    I’m part of the midget right back union as well. Even smaller when I jumped, according to my Dad :)

  16. Celtic40me

     

     

    😂 i was home at the weekend to see my ‘ hyper critical at sport’ dad as he has had a stroke ; on top of loads at his age

     

     

    I got him a Lisbon Lions fridge magnet in Glasgow airport shop/ only old school stuff they had, no stuff on his wee guy hero Jinky

     

     

    He keeps picking it up and looking at it; the nurses have put Celtic on his ‘important things’ board

     

     

    He is the best, funniest, most caring and strong wee guy i ever met

     

     

    Mon the wee guys

  17. GENE on 23RD JUNE 2022 3:07 PM

     

     

    From earlier

     

     

    ‘Feel a bit guilty being a triple lock pensioner’

     

     

    Don’t ever feel guilty Gene of what should be a right,not only for your hardworking generation but for future generations to have as a base income.

     

     

    Drive standards up not detach our society by constantly aiming for the lowest common denominator,you never here of capital shortfalls to cover the cost of board members,always plenty bout when paying square mile salaries.feel guilty bout nothing

     

     

    HH

  18. CONEYBHOY on 23RD JUNE 2022 8:04 PM

     

     

    Sorry to hear that, it’s horrible to see that happen to someone you love

     

     

    I hope he recovers well enough to get some enjoyment out of supporting Celtic again. It’s been an important bond between me and mine as he’s got older

  19. A wee side note

     

     

    The RMT are not affiliated to the Labour Party.

     

     

    They seen thro the war criminal,oh populist of rank populist,and deemed his policies as not in the interests of the working class.

     

     

    That is The RMT think Labour are not in the interest of the working class

     

     

    I wonder if these anti populist unionists here have the wee card from 1997 of Tony’s 5 promises.

     

    All within Tory budgetary constraints

     

     

    Blair was your opportunist populist.could say he piloted the gender

     

     

    HH

  20. Thanks Celtic40me

     

     

    He said at Christmas he won’t be back at CP and i knew he was in trouble the

     

    My mam and sister seem to have got it now

     

     

    Best bit was when he got out ‘YES DEAR!’ when she was wittering

     

     

    Sorry to bring this to the blog lads but a great Bhoy is in trouble for sure🍀🍀🍀

  21. Ernie Lynch,

     

     

    I could name a lot of places who are shocking with Civil Rights.I have taken great sums of money from a few.Turkey has an abysmal record,but so a good few places where people like to reside.Sunshine lovers can’t be choosers.

     

    Think the Brits have a horrendous record,but you still choose to be a Unionist.At least I have a life of luxury for my choice.

  22. Coneybhoy.

     

     

    Hang in the mate,I hope things improve with your Dad

     

     

    Re Cantor Fitzgerald few days back,lost an old colleague on 102,funny how these things cross yir path

     

     

    HH

  23. Clement Atlee achieved more in one government than anyone since that git Cromwell

     

     

    His granddaughter was our community midwife when our daughter was born. Great at her job and no airs and graces. I went mental and my wife never understood

  24. Anyway,guests arrive tomorrow,so next time I am on,all signings done,training restarted,friendlies coming up.

     

    Enjoy.

  25. AT

     

     

    Thanks pal, a terrible thing 2001

     

     

    I had to be in church with the queen! Nightmare

  26. TURKEYBHOY on 23RD JUNE 2022 8:19 PM

     

    Ernie Lynch,

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I could name a lot of places who are shocking with Civil Rights.I have taken great sums of money from a few.Turkey has an abysmal record,but so a good few places where people like to reside.Sunshine lovers can’t be choosers.

     

     

     

     

    Think the Brits have a horrendous record,but you still choose to be a Unionist.At least I have a life of luxury for my choice.

     

     

    ###

     

     

     

    The UK ranks 14th on that list.

     

     

    Ireland is 5th.

     

     

    Turkey 139th, just two places above Myanmar.

     

     

    But I suppose if you’re not too bothered about principles or morality and can’t afford to live anywhere more civilised it would suit you.

     

     

    https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/freedom-index-by-country

  27. Toaty Trumper @ 8.07

     

     

    Once a City / Big Bang bean counter — always a City / Big Bang bean counter.

     

     

    Playing to the triple lock gallery — not a care for those who are struggling now.

     

    Penury and desolation as you bring up a family — never mind it will be party central if you manage to reach 67.

     

     

    Sloganeering about the RMT — nothing about who transformed the wages on the railways?

     

    The answer was TB and GB who brought order to the Tory disaster that was privatisation.

  28. BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 23RD JUNE 2022 7:37 PM

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ‘… to those advocating an overtly socialist agenda is the path to electoral victory for the UK Labour Party.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Clement Attlee

     

     

     

     

    Harold Wilson’

     

     

     

    ###

     

     

    Which of Corbyn’s policies would have been out of place in any manifesto they stood on?

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