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Tactically aware athlete needed

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

I don’t know anything about Stefan Johansen, who is one of several central midfield players Celtic are tracking, but I’m pleased we’re scouting for this area.  There’s no question we are missing a penalty box predator but you could make a case that the sense of calm and control exerted by Victor Wanyama in the middle of the park is a more telling absence.

Nir Biton has all the potential to get there eventually but it’s going to take him time.  He reminds me of Ki, who a couple of seasons ago was fifth choice central mid for Celtic, behind Brown, Wanyama, Ledley and Kayal.  This season I’ve watched him collect and distribute, close space and bring shape to a struggling Sunderland team.

I’ve also watched a bit of Barry Robson since his return to Aberdeen.  Despite his advancing years he remains one of the most intelligent footballers in the game.  His arrival in the Celtic midfield six years ago changed Celtic into a winning team.    You don’t need Pele for this role, just a tactically aware athlete.

How many accountants does it take to tell you that losing circa £1m per month is not a good idea?  Lots, apparently.
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  3. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    Paddy,

     

    The Radnor bit was a kid on mate ..hahaha.It will be floored shortly apparently.

     

    Coming over on Friday cara.

     

    Aye blog name.what’s the script with payment etc..

  4. SydneyTim on

    Seeing Aiden signing for Everton brings back the “every penny brought in the be reinvested in the team”. Lying statement from Peter lawell

     

    Peter set his benchmark there in that we dare not expect all transfer money’s be given in complete to the manager

     

    Before Aidens transfer it was expected

     

    After aidens Peter lawell knew he had got away with his lie

     

    It has got so bad that not one penny of vic money went to Neil

  8. ryecatcher on

    Watching Match of the Day and thinking about the superb atmosphere all the time in Goodison Park.

     

     

    Dear oh Dear what a dump it is though and it looks even worse from outside.

     

     

    Methinks Everton are going to have serious money problems when they are forced to upgrade their stadium in line with their competitors in next few years.

     

     

    They have no money to start with…….maybe they’ll need a Charles Green type,ey?

  12. paddybhoy1888 on

    billy bhoy 05

     

     

    Sub goalie

     

    worst position in the squad. I know what you mean he played 25 games last year.Man of the match in at least 5 of those( stadium announcer)

     

    Some great saves makes you really proud, then the odd fumble/ error and your sitting there totally helpless feeling his pain.

     

    Ah well as I said at least he got a win bonus today.

     

    His time will come I’m sure.

     

     

    How is your lad doing?

     

     

    HH PB1888

  15. Gordon64 on

    Yet to find one of those mythical Celtic supporters

     

    who want to see Rangers in the SPL.

     

    The media have done their best to get Celtic supporters

     

    to admit we want the Sevco in the SPL but other than a

     

    few radio plants these people do not exist.

     

    Life without them is good.

  16. TBJ Praying for Oscar Knox on

    Roy of the rovers

     

     

     

    I think its my role in life to be the bus driver

     

     

    Does the Cambuslang / Newton / Blantyre / Coatbridge albion rovers csc have a ring to it :))))

  18. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    Ryecatcher,

     

    My oul bud,

     

    Ye seem tae have it really in for Everton.

     

    They will stick with Goodison for the foreseeable.

     

    Anfield,White Hart Lane,The Hawthorns,Carrow Rd. Why would they worry?

  19. eddiegreenhillsbhoy on

    Bcw

     

    Pn did not sell his soul but judas did, if it comes out in the interview that pn acknowledges his sin i will forgive him ktf

  20. marspapa on

    Lennybhoy ,

     

    My mistake I thought it was the Big Tree at the whifflet lights ,

     

    The reason I asked I was at monklands hospital and dropped

     

    In leaving the price of a couple of pints behind the bar , the barmaid

     

    Asked who shall I say left the pints for him I said …..Billy….I was ushered

     

    Out quite briskly shall we say , all I could say was , but I’m no a , end of

     

    Conversation , my apologies for jumping into your post with Bt :))

  21. the glorious balance sheet on

    jc2 1920 – Just logged on and read back and saw your apology to me from last week.

     

     

    That’s very decent of you to do that. Water under the bridge now – I`ve said a lot worse myself after a few drinks on a Friday night!

     

     

    Hail hail.

  26. THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5 on

    SydneyTim

     

     

    I would be one of those who are not one of the happy clappers on here, but PL didn’t lie, the team in his opinion may well be the youth set up, the scouting system etc, so in effect he was splitting hairs, but a lie……

     

     

    Still I have to agree that he gambled with CL qualification, had it failed, who knows where he would be now had it failed, but it worked, that is what bothers me, he gambled and it paid off, will he try it again ?

     

     

    Problem is, we spend wheans on say Finbo and he fails, unless we are spending ways above what we can afford…..

     

     

    We are a club in limbo if the truth be told, we are too big for sectarianland, too small for playing with the big boys.

     

     

    Things will change, of that I am sure, maybe not as quick as I and maybe you would like, but we will someday be gone from this hellhole we are in, maybe then we will see the purse strings being loosened, till then, we will just have to suck it up.

     

     

    All in all, we are top of the league that we are going to win, we will hopefully get anohter crack at playing against the big boys next season.

     

     

    All is not great in Timland, never is, tis the fickle nature of Celtic supporters, but I thank god we are in the position we are in compared to our brothers on the south side.

     

     

    HH

  29. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS .........FC not PLC on

    CLUNKS

     

     

    I’m home in late April if you fancy an Ayrshire swallysesh.

     

     

    We can compare notes.

  31. THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5 on

    ryecatcher

     

     

    With all due respect, you seem very bitter towards Everton for being a Celtic supporter.

     

     

    Me, have always favored Everton, never had any time for the pool, too much anti Celtic in their support for my liking, but we all see things the ways we see them.

     

     

    HH

  33. ToffeeTim on

    Ryecatcher ……… At least Goodison has an atmosphere unlike that red keech hole of a place the other side of Stanley park !

     

    NSNO n Hail hail bro !!

  36. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    We have to be on the ball in this transfer window,not the next one.If we have aspirations of being in next seasons Champion League we MUST strike within the next two weeks.

     

    Once again we will have to negotiate CL qualifiers and they will not be at Celtic Park unless I have that wrong.

  37. The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie on

    Excellent Article From Celtic Journal….

     

     

    Could It Be That The Author,Joe Ruddy….

     

     

    Is None Other Than Our Own KevJungle….?

     

     

    I Claim My Fiver…

     

     

    ~~~~

     

     

    What is the point in signing for Celtic?

     

     

    ⁠1⁠ Posted by Joseph Ruddy – 08/01/2014 – The Journal

     

     

     

    As you all know, Callum McGregor was sent out on loan to Notts County in August, up until January. Since joining Notts County, he hasn’t looked back and has made a name for himself while down south. Now that his loan deal has expired, Notts County are actively trying to extend the deal to keep him there until the end of the season, as they continue with their fight against relegation. Fighting relegation is always difficult, but for McGregor it has been the best thing yet in his career, as he has notched up 12 goals, leaving him as the clubs top goal scorer. Taking into consideration that he is a midfielder and that the club are in a difficult position league wise, this is good going for young McGregor.

     

     

    In light of the ongoing discussions between Notts County and Celtic to keep McGregor down south until the end of the season, Neil Lennon was asked what he thought about his current form. He was quoted saying: “He’s taken a chance and now we can either look at bringing him back or maybe selling him.” All fine and dandy until the last two words, sell him. This is not at all what these young players want to hear from the manager of Celtic, and I believe Lennon was very wrong to say this so openly.

     

     

    Before McGregor secured his loan deal, he didn’t manage to break into the first team, only playing in the reserves. What I’m saying here is that it was a big step up in terms of the quality of football. McGregor has since received raving reviews and has been noticed for his excellent performances at Notts County. To have scored 12 goals already from the midfield position is quite an achievement for a player who has never experienced first team football before now. He has taken this opportunity by storm and is showing just exactly what he can offer on the field.

     

     

    He’s now one of Notts County’s most important players and current manager Shaun Derry has said several times that keeping McGregor is vital for the clubs chances of survival. So why would Lennon come out and say that he may look to sell him? It just gives the impression that nobody in the Celtic youth team or reserve team will get an opportunity at Celtic. If these young players have heard what Lennon has said, will it do their confidence any good? No, it won’t.

     

     

    Now if you look at Mo Bangura for a moment, he has recently returned to Celtic from a year long loan at Swedish club Elfsborg. In his time there he played a total of 35 games, scoring 8 goals in the process. Lennon said of Bangura: “I think he is determined to make his mark here because he hasn’t done that yet. He’s played away on loan twice since we signed him, so we’re hoping that experience has improved him, getting him some game time. Hopefully he can add something to what we’ve got.”

     

     

    Forgive me, but, position aside, what is the difference in Mo Bangura and Callum McGregor? Why has Lennon said this about Bangura, but when asked about McGregor he mentions the possibility of selling him? Taking into consideration the fact that Bangura has played a number of games for Celtic, failing to really show his worth and struggling to find the net, Callum McGregor would offer Celtic more than Bangura would. As a striker, Bangura only scored 8 goals in 35 games, whereas McGregor as a midfielder has scored 12 goals in 27 games.

     

     

    This comment from Lennon will put the fear into all young players at Celtic and will make them think about their future, quite rightly so. What is the point in signing up for Celtic’s youth academy? Yes, it offers the chance of becoming a better player and learning more, but when they come of age at 17, 18, 19 or 20, at the minute they have no chance of getting into the first team. Why is that? Well this season I believe it is because Lennon is clinging onto this ‘invincible’ dream that we can remain unbeaten the whole season, and he is scared that putting in a few young players will put a threat on that status. Who was the last player that was brought up through the youth ranks and into the first team? James Forrest, and before him? Aiden McGeady. You could argue that Darnell Fisher and Bahrudin Atajic have done so, but they haven’t got guaranteed positions yet in the first team. Would Lennon play Fisher if Matthews and Lustig were both fit and available?

     

     

    Jackson Irvine (Kilmarnock) and Partik Twardzik (Livingston) are another two players who have been sent out on loan this season. Both players have returned to Celtic for now, although Kilmarnock are keen to keep Irvine for the remainder of the season. Will Lennon now come out and say the same thing about these two players as he did with McGregor? Will both these players be sold on now?

     

     

    I had a conversation in my work with one of my colleagues about this whole situation, and an interesting point came up. What is the point in Lennoxtown? Why spend £2 million a year to keep it up and running when none of the players are going to be given the chance in the first team? Why not get rid of the facility and just sign a youthful prospect from another team? That’s what Lennon seems to do more, just spending money on ‘players for the future’ other than looking to what is on his own doorstep.

     

     

    This is one of the things that I don’t like at all about Neil Lennon, that fact that he seems oblivious to these talented young players at the club. Instead of buying ‘players for the future’, why not look at the players already at the club? Lewis Kidd is another prime example of a talented player not getting a chance. Last year, Ajax were looking at him and were going to make a bid for the player. Ajax are a big club and have one of the best youth systems in Europe, so that speaks volumes about just how much potential Lewis Kidd has.

     

     

    If this doesn’t change and these players don’t get the chance to prove themselves in the first team, there will come a time when some of them will say enough is enough. Even if Celtic are looking to sign a young player to add to their ranks, there will be a time when players say no, I’m better of elsewhere.

     

     

    I’m not saying that McGregor should be brought back immediately and put straight into the first team at Celtic, not at all. I think the best option for all parties is to extend his loan at Notts County until the end of the season. That will give McGregor more game time and much more first team experience. But I think McGregor could offer something in the Celtic team from next season. Let him continue to develop and learn at Notts County until the end of the season and then bring him back and see what he can do for us.

     

     

    Written by Joseph Ruddy – @joebhoy2412.

     

     

    http://celticjournal.org/4052/whats-the-point-in-signing-for-celtic/

     

     

    ~~~~

     

     

    Bring Back MegaWattie…..

     

     

    Malky Mackay For Celtic..!

     

     

    ~~~~

     

     

    Bruce Springsteen…??

     

     

    Poor Man’s Steve Earle…

     

     

    Innet ?

     

     

    ~~~~

     

     

    Whaur’s Ma Buddy..Canamalar ?

  38. marspapa on

    Gordon 64

     

    If you find out PL has been lying to us where he gained financially ,

     

    Would that stop you going to Celtic park and why not read the words

     

    on Pat Nevin and then judge him , I know it won’t change your mind

     

    But better to hear from the horses mouth to confirm what you already

     

    thought .

  40. nakasammi on

    For any CQNers going to the game in Antalya take your boots. You might be needed. Neil sent everyone on a wee holiday :–)

  41. ryecatcher on

    Tet….

     

     

    Don’t mind Everton when comparing them to ManUre……

     

     

    Anti Celtic in the Pool support?

     

     

    I experience the very opposite.

     

     

    Like you say we all see things the way we want to see them,or sometimes even the way we see and hear them for ourselves.

     

     

    First light tee off tomorrow,weather permitting….off to kip…..nite nite all.

     

     

    Hail hail

  42. Gordon64 on

    TT

     

    We were at Neville Southalls testimonial

     

    In the old wooden stand.

     

    A great day in Liverpool.

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