Strikers liniked, the good and the indifferent

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Back in the 90s, when we struggled to achieve much, we appeared to have the Midas Touch when it came to signing strikers. The Three Amigos, Henrik and even big Mark(o) made the job look simple. It was keepers and the like we had trouble signing back then.

The litany of strikers who have trudged through Celtic Park in recent seasons provides sharp contrast to earlier times. Scott McDonald, Gary Hooper and Leigh Griffiths are the only strikers with a half decent scoring record since the departure of The Swede 12 years ago. Since then we’ve been home to many and various strays, from Dion Dublin to the Miku-Lassad twins, Kazim-Richards, Cole, Scepovic and Guidetti.

A few of these worked on paper (Scepovic and Guidetti) but the return on our money has been painful.

Getting it right in this department is important for Brendan Rodgers but I’d caution judging too much on what a player looks like on paper. I remember the comments section when McDonald (largely sceptical) and Griffiths (vehemently opposed by many) joined.

There are lessons from elsewhere too. Markus Rosenberg scored 20 goals in five seasons (none in 18 months at West Brom) before pitching up at his first club Malmo and eliminating Ronny Deila’s Celtic. Rosenberg was 32-years-old at the time but Malmo knew what they would get from him.

I’m not particularly inspired by any of the strikers we’re being publicly linked with but I’d take a player the manager knows and trusts can do the job before someone who shakes out of the scouting DVDs.

Chris Sutton Night, Irvine CSC

The Irvine Celtic Supporters’ Club are hosting a Chris Sutton evening on Friday, 24 June, at their social club in the town. Tickets are available for £10 by calling the club (evenings only) on 01294 271967.

If you are from the area, or fancy a good night out in Ayrshire with a Celtic striker who looked good on paper, looked better on the field, and delivered some of our best memories in the last 40 years, get along to see him – and bring your camera.

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557 Comments

  1. What is the Stars on

    Delaneys

     

    Brady and hendrick. Both played on the same team at St kevins as schoolboys

  2. Embramike,

     

    never having seen the inside of a gym I will bear that in mind if I ever visit one

  3. I rather celtic went for a bit more class than the 2 stickers there talking about Fletcher would be a bit part player and we had wear fill of them and as for Danny graham I wouldn’t put him in pub team too old will Grigg or Brenden larso

  4. Delaneys Dunky on

    WITS

     

    If I was Brendan I would sign them both. Great fitba players both. Won’t make Dublin for Barca game. Hope to see you in Limerick for Inter match.

  5. Jobo.

     

    Yes, it’s not a bad game now, but it was short of goal attempts. All down to ” game management ” which seems to be the new cliche of this tournament.

  6. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Belgium one-paced and lacking creativity.

     

    Dembele for Fellaini. If Lukaku can’t start moving his backside a bit more I’d get Origi on.

  7. Off topic…just checked up for my daughters boyfriend to be insured on my car for one day, as it’s my nephews going away party with his wife and kids as they are emigrating to Sydney next week…£65 for 12 hours…taking the pish.

     

     

    No drink for me on Saturday:((

  8. Belgium should get the young guy on who nearly won Atlético Madrid the CL final when he came on. Carrasco?

  9. Delaneys Dunky on

    WITS

     

     

    Heard Limerick was a shit hole last week from a lovely couple fae Tallagh in Spain. He was a Man U fan, his missus Chelsea fan. None of them knew a thing about Celtic, apart from we wear Shamrock Rovers strip. :-)

  10. Thought the ball had to move forward at kickoff?

     

    Fellaini at centre spot himself and just kicked it back to defender.

     

     

    Match void.

  11. Hunderbirds are Gone on

    Think too many Belgiques are off form.

     

    Hazard, Fellatio, de Bruyne and Lukaku are all form players, and all pretty unplayable when on song, but if they are off form, they are not effective. Like tonight, so far.

     

     

    Cue Belgian goal rush :)

  12. beatbhoy on 13th June 2016 9:11 pm

     

     

    Thought the ball had to move forward at kickoff?

     

     

    Fellaini at centre spot himself and just kicked it back to defender.

     

     

    Match void.

     

    ————–

     

    They changed the rule, old timer :O)

  13. theglasgowcelticway on

    Beatbhoy

     

     

    Noticed that at the Ireland game too. Ball just kicked back no forward pass.

  14. What is the Stars on

    Delaneys

     

    Limerick is not so bad, has a reputation as” stab city,” but a lot of that is media hype. Never spent too much time there except when passing through on the way to miltown malbay and doolin and other little towns in Co. Clare for traditional music festivals

  15. Hunderbirds are Gone on 13th June 2016 9:12 pm

     

     

    Think too many Belgiques are off form.

     

     

    Hazard, Fellatio, de Bruyne and Lukaku are all form players, and all pretty unplayable when on song, but if they are off form, they are not effective. Like tonight, so far.

     

     

    Cue Belgian goal rush :)

     

    ——————–

     

    Belgium are full of very good players that make great team mates (for club sides), throw them all together at International level and they lack a certain class.

     

     

    Queue goal rush :O)

  16. The _huddle

     

     

    Glad I asked rather than proclaimed!

     

    Have to apologise to EPL ref noo!

  17. Rowley Birkin QC on

    Beatbhoy

     

     

    The ball is initially stationary until it is put into play. The ball is in play when it is kicked forward, although from the start of the 2016–17 season it can be kicked in any direction as a result of a rule change approved by the IFAB in March 2016. The player who has first kicked the ball may not touch it again until it has been touched by another player.

  18. What is the Stars on

    Belgium get hyped up by the media because they have so many EPL players.

     

    Ireland will stuff them

  19. DD…………..

     

     

    Re Limerick………

     

     

    Tell yer chums fae Tallaght………….they’re confusing Ballymun wi’ Southill.

     

     

    HH……..

     

     

     

    TheDrone CSC

  20. Delaneys Dunky on

    WITS

     

    Limerick folk will be fine with me.

     

    Celtic is oor cause.

     

    Celtic brothers united in Limerick will be amazing.

     

    See you there.

  21. Thanks Rowley.

     

     

    Glad to see it’s a recent change. Don’t feel quite so daft now! (Or old, Huddle!)

  22. Rowley Birkin QC on

    Regarding other rule alterations, referees now have the power to send players off BEFORE a match kicks off, and injured players are again able to receive treatment on the pitch as opposed to on the sidelines. So hopefully, that’ll put an end to the silly ruling of players needing to be waved back onto the field when their team is defending.

     

     

    Punishments for denying a goalscoring opportunity have now been softened – or at least referees can be softer in their decisions should they wish following an accidental or non-dangerous clash – lessening the possibility of the triple jeopardy of red card, penalty and subsequent suspension.

  23. The Glasgow Celtic way

     

     

    I’ve been put straight on that.

     

     

    Modren fitba’ kick-offs are rubbidge!