There’s something healthy when the arrival of a new striker, who has yet to trouble the net, has raised the game of an incumbent. If you talk to footballers they’ll tell you they need to be challenged. Even most greats hit a comfort zone, where they know they are cherished by manager and fans alike, so that knot in the stomach about where the next contract is coming from never materialises.
Gary Hooper missed this at Celtic. He was the apple of Neil Lennon’s eye, and clearly top striker at Celtic, but a few seasons in his appetite for the same old challenge seemed to wane. I’m assured by those who shared a dressing room with Henrik Larsson, this was one area which set the Swede aside. The accolades meant nothing to him, he wanted every trophy, every record, which perhaps indicates why he captured the Champions League in his mid-30s.
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Nakamura was a joy to watch, never afraid to take a pass in a tight spot, Lubo had the same ability and belief. The perfect out ball as they say nowadays.
Donegal struggling.
0.8. 0. 4
re. Griffiths – his goal tally was never a problem.
Hooper scored goals, but helped the team – therein lies the difference.
My take on the VVD valuation is that he is as skillful and has the potential to be a superstar that if he was being compared to other players currently playing in the EPL he would be worth in excess of £25m.
However he doesn’t play in the EPL. He plays in a Diddy league where £12m is worth a lot more to Celtic (than say, £25m would be to Southampton) given the turnover of each club.
That is why VVD will be sold for circa £12m. And why, if he’d been playing for Southampton for the last two years (with no European experience) he would be sold for more than £25m.
If there was a centre half playing for Pollok who everyone agreed could play at SPFL level and even European level would Celtic pay £1.5m to Pollok to buy him?
Of course not. They would pay perhaps £30k because that is what Celtic would consider someone coming from the juniors to be worth, irrespective of talent.
Agreed Paul67.
I like my CFs to be hungry.
The kind of hunger that no number of Tunnochs Teacakes can satisfy.
I also like them with a bit of bite.
So I look forward to a bit of a goal feast this season. :)
Big nads played less than 180 minutes in 2 friendlies and a cl qualifier – after only a week at the club and 2 weeks pre season training
He will score 20+ goals this year
tbj..,
Is that all, what a waste of money that was
A couple of awesome days.
Owen, Thank You for what you done, ye probably dinnae even read the blog.
The best part of the weekend was, and there were many highlights, hearing about the wee premature baby Hope, a truly fantastic name.
The Derry and Belfast dudes the mostest maximum of respect.
In that House of Love, even waking up with cramp didnae feel as bad as it should.
Shine on
Downpatrick, I’m in awe of the place, dinnae ken about putting newspapers on the Quality Pool table there, wtf is that all aboot. :))
Why don’t the poor caddies use a golf trolley at the Open?
jmccormick
14:49 on 19 July, 2015
Nakamura was a joy to watch, never afraid to take a pass in a tight spot, Lubo had the same ability and belief. The perfect out ball as they say nowadays.
—————————————————
Spot on. Nakamura was amazing at finding space for himself and rarely got tackled….he was so ahead of the game.
jamesgang
14:02 on 19 July, 2015
Another non laurel rester…..
@TFBible_: STILL GOT IT: Yokohama drew 2-2 thanks to a 94th minute free kick from 37 year old Celtic legend Shunsuke Nakamura! https://t.co/Sfkv8yrl9W
HH jamesgang
………………….
Thanks for posting that link. Naka’s one of my all time favourite players. I miss him almost as much as I miss Henrik. Brilliant, brilliant goal.
I was walking along Playa del Ingles’s excellent beach this morning with my wife and grandson dipping our feet in the water when I spied a young man resplendent in his Hoops top walking with his partner. Cheered me up. He’ll have to do domething about his dodgy orange swim shorts though ……………… or maybe he’s just being tricolourful.
Mick TT & BMCUWP
The wee soiree in Ayr was excellent yesterday. Sorry to hear about your puncture, Mick. The roads in South Ayrshire are in terrible nick just now.
The quantity of attendees was low but the quality was high.
Many thanks to Mrs PFAyr for the lift home.
Aff oot to my pal’s hoose to watch the sclaff baw.
GER57
My Dad told me that he enjoyed his wee discussion with you yesterday.
Is the Spanish game on C TV??
Andy superb lob to take set 3! 2-1 u.p!
Big surprise Monaghan beating Donegal
Qualifiers for the green and gold now
Any ML5 Cqners the tunes are on in the Bammy…. Joe McDonnell is playing just post your requests although Alan Ryan has just finished so might be a hour or two before that can go back on
Ginger, I watched the game.
Donegal had about fifteen attempts wide of the posts.
The commentary team said Monaghan’s tactics out Donegalled Donegal.
Congratulations to Derry who won the Ulster minors championship.
England collapsing at the cricket, watching the golf instead, think the cricket would be more fun
The Murray Bros go into the semis of the D Cup! Englandshire being obliterated by the OZ!
Now going to watch the Open.
HH
What’snottolikeCSC
Easy for mayo so far
2 goals 4 points to 1 point
11 minutes gone
Andy Murray is now a British hero! I am so happy for him. Incidentally, the cricket is hilarious, don’t have Sky just following it on Twitter.
Ginger
15:41 on 19 July, 2015
The first half performance from Donegal would have put you to sleep – dreadful
Have decided the Mayo game is a formality…back to the vino.
Good afternoon from a cold Marmaras, 33 today tut tut, need to complain to Thomsons. No stupid Huns to comment on today perhaps they have went underground
Amateur now tied for the lead at the Open
Great comeback from Andy against world no 6.
What a player.
Switch to the gowff now.
Mayo game embarrassing it’s so one sided
3. 7 to 0.3 after 22 mins
gerrybhoy…
I didn’t get back from work in time to see any tennis but I got the impression Andy didn’t feel too comfortable holding the butchers apron and then throwing it on the deck :)
Amateur now leads the Open
the_huddle
16:31 on 19 July, 2015
The boy has no fear – wonderful to watch
the_huddle
16:31 on 19 July, 2015
Amateur now leads the Open…
__________
ACGR :-))
Emdae got a cure for a very slow laptop??
Unbelievable, the Murray brothers along with a Scottish captain guide GB into Davis Cup semi’s, what does Sue ‘Ally / Cliff menage a troi’ Barker say
“England v Australia, what a match that will be ?……………..”
Ahhhhhhhh, Andy pull out of the team and let the english clowns play
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
16:36 on 19 July, 2015
Emdae got a cure for a very slow laptop??
————
You can start with ccleaner
https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/standard
Then spybot
https://www.safer-networking.org/mirrors/
the_huddle
16:31 on 19 July
Got a feeling Jordan Speith is peowling
Hail Hail
Spith now joint leader, younger than the amateur :O)