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.
[calameo code=000390171ece27dd9e54e lang=en page=98 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
2,217 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 59
- »
A light insanity
Just scrolled back and noticed your best wishes for my wee ghirls 7th birthday.
Thanks m8
Hail Hail
Burghbhoy
Feliz Cumpleanos to your wee ghirl.
Hope she has a good one.
HH
Burghboy
I’ve liked Balde from the start, he has the lot: power, size, reasonable speed for such a big lad and ability. The latter he has evidenced every time I’ve seen him in the flesh. He works and appears to have the right attitude. Couldn’t understand the criticism he’d came in for given the off-field issues a young foreign player, with no English and presumably no friends around, must face.
I’d love to see him and Watt play, once Tony returns. Maybe the Big Balde fella could use his “influence” to persuade Tony to realise what is required !
TET
Thanks bud
joe filippis haircut
12:53 on 11 January, 2014
He could be a good mentor for Amido, Janko still has a good couple of years in him. However, personally I believe we need something different.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BCW
Absolutely bang on my son
HE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5
12:49 on 11 January, 2014
Afternoon Timland from a cool hun free mountain valley.
So we are playing Galatasary the morra, hopefully a sign of things to come.
BTW, and I stand to be corrected on this………I don’t think VVD can be sold this window, would that not infringe the 3 club rule in a season.
HH
can sign for another club no problem & play for them as i don’t believe he has played a competitive game for Groningen.
The thing I like about Amido is he is built like a tank and takes the knocks but comes back for more.He also has an abundance of skill like others I think it is time for him to get a run in the first team. H.H.
Burghbhoy
Happy Birthday to your lassie, hope she has a great day.
Seems like yesterday my two boys were so young. Now one is 18 and towers over me at 6’3″. The youngest one is approaching 6’0″ and he is 14 !
Anyone know when the Rat Nevin interview will be published ?
Or have I missed it ?
.
It seems Everyone Agrees we should Give Amido a run in the Team..Something l asked for Sammi for 2 Years..
But we have been asking for him to get a Run since August..
Summa
DjYNWA67
Thanks for that.
It was just that someone told me that it’s to do with being registered with a club, whether he plays or not.
As I said, I stood to be corrected.
HH
JT Nearly gifted Hull an opener.
moravcik
It’s in thew next issue of the CQN mag I think.
HH
Re Janko I am of the opinion that if a player or manager knocks us back then they should never get another change to sign for us, one exception being very young players. Maybe I am just vindictive.
BCW
Thanks buddy
RIP Ian Redford.. sad news.
I know that young collum McGregor is currently on loan at Notts County & that other clubs wanted to take him on loan in janurary before he extended his loan deal.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS 13:01 on 11 January, 2014 …………..
A.BaldeT.Watt……………. Really!
TBM
roy croppie
12:15 on 11 January, 2014
I like it when ‘low-key’ signings make a big difference to the team. Barry Robson was just what we needed at that time as was Billy Stark in the late 80′s…great signings.
————————————————
Billy Stark, for a man of his experience! was one of the finest signings for Celtic in many a year, great player loved him.
Ayrshire is Green and White
HH
TheBarcaMole
Why not ?
A.BaldeT.Watt……………. Really!
I don’t think anybody should be getting themselves into a lather about that striking combination ;-)
THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5
13:11 on 11 January, 2014
DjYNWA67
Thanks for that.
It was just that someone told me that it’s to do with being registered with a club, whether he plays or not.
As I said, I stood to be corrected.
HH
Seems he can sign for another club but as he has played for Groningen & Celtic (in the past 12 months) he would not be eligible to play for another until the new season.
THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5
13:11 on 11 January, 2014
DjYNWA67
Thanks for that.
It was just that someone told me that it’s to do with being registered with a club, whether he plays or not.
As I said, I stood to be corrected. <<<<NOT exactly.
HH
THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5
13:11 on 11 January, 2014
DjYNWA67
Thanks for that.
It was just that someone told me that it’s to do with being registered with a club, whether he plays or not.
As I said, I stood to be corrected.
HH
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Two
Hail Hail!
If Neil Lennon is to be believed we signed VVD to play alongside Kelvin Wilson.
I was not a fan if Wilson when we signed him.
He more than won me over.
His pace and power were a real asset in European football.
It therefore stands to reason that Neil Lennon still feels that there is room for another natural central defender in our squad.
Add to that , that it is likely that VVD will attract offers from clubs with more spending power , in the next wee while.
Then we should be looking to recruit a natural central defender now , and possibly a second to replace VVD.
We are a selling club.
It is part of the business plan, whilst we remain in Scottish football.
We will never build a side that will give us 3 seasons if keeping our best players and adding to them.
It is what it is , but we could be so much more if we moved out of the SPFL.
The board must strive for an exit strategy .
Creative thinking and drive are required .
Until then , we need to look to replace the spine of the team.
A Keeper , a couple of CH’s, a couple of midfielders , a couple of strikers.
All required to keep the conveyor belt going.
TT
Pogmathonyahun
Lots of people had formulated the opinion that VVD was a dud……
Lots of people had formulated the opinion that Big Vic was a dud……
Lots of people had formulated the opinion that Stan Petrov was a dud….
BIG-CUP-WINNERS 13:28 on 11 January, 2014
TheBarcaMole
Why not ?…………………..
Just a wee (humorous) play on words/names, BCW………………
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Neil Lennon has a job which is similar to painting the Forth Road Bridge.
TT
BCW, I think you’ll find that thebarcamole is using a bit of word play with the striking combination. My wee smiley at the end is a clue. I agree with your sentiments.
Hail! Hail! PMTYH
Me, I’d play a diamond with Biton, then Commons behind the twin strikers of Balde & Pukki.! But what do I know!! And for a couple of full games as well.
Hail Hail
KINGLuBO
.
Did Ian Redford commit Suicide..?
Summa
DjYNWA67
So I was right and wrong.
Rules Eh, maybe the hun have the right idea >}
HH
BCW, in fact I would be foaming at the mouth with that striking combination ;-)
Further to the slightly dodgy A Balde T Watt chat…
Anybody remember a guy on the telly a few years back, he’d caught a record trout or salmon or some other monster of the deep using a fly he’d made himself from his wife’s pubic hair.
He called the fly a Heriot-Watt.
I won’t get my coat as it’s a true story, m’lud.
Debut Bhoy: This is just the start
By: Mark Henderson on 11 Jan, 2014 12:52
TEENAGER Eoghan O´Connell admitted it was a memorable moment when he made his first appearance for the Celtic top-team in Thursday night´s victory over Trabzonspor.
The young defender came on as a second-half substitute to help the Hoops defeat the Turkish side 3-1 and book their place in the final of the Antalya Winter Cup final against Galatasaray.
For his family watching back home in Cork it was a proud moment and his phone was buzzing through the night as messages of congratulations poured in.
“I was very happy when I got the shout,” he told the official website in an exclusive interview. “I kind of knew before the game that we were going to get on, so when I got the call I was delighted.
“I was pretty nervous watching the game in the first half but when I came to it I was fine. When I was coming on, it hadn´t sunk in yet, so it didn’t hit me and I was alright when I got on.
“The manager just said to go on and enjoy yourself, that there was no pressure and to do my best.
“I was hoping to get a run and I only found out on morning before the game. I was delighted once it came.
“My mum and dad and my two brothers and sister were watching it so my phone was going off all of Thursday night. They were all very happy and I´m sure they are proud as well, and I was just very happy”.
Making his bow for Neil Lennon´s side was the culmination of plenty of hard graft behind the scenes for the 18-year-old, who has shone for the U20s and the UEFA Youth League side this season.
But, sensibly, he recognises that there is a long way to go before achieving his ultimate aim of becoming a first-team regular.
“Look, it´s a big step, but there is no point in taking it if you are not going to go on from there, so I will look to push on from here and work even harder,” said the stopper.
“I just need to keep improving as much as I can and see where this takes me. I won´t set any goals and I will just keep improving as a player on and off the pitch and see where it gets me.
“Over the summer I worked hard and brought it into the season. I started well and just carried on from there. I have worked hard and thankfully it´s paying off and I will just try and keep going now.
“It does raise confidence and belief in yourself, but there is no point just resting on this. I will try and kick on from this and try and work even harder.”
O´Connell has been part of a large contingent of Development Squad players who have travelled to Turkey for the mid-season tournament and he believes it has been an excellent learning experience for him and his young colleagues.
“It´s been lovely,” he said. “The weather is nice, training has been good and there are a lot of things to do around the place so you don´t get bored. So it´s been brilliant and I am very happy to be here.
“It´s all a great experience and that´s what it´s all about, trying to take it in and learn from everything.
“It´s an excellent experience and the other younger boys and I are trying to take it in and learn as much as we can.
“You learn a lot from seeing what they do on the pitch. They are all top players and you just have to learn from them.”
I reckon if NFL has a fault it’s that he is a bit stubborn in that he won’t try to take a wee calculated risk or two. Nothing ventured etc. If we don’t try out new ideas then we will forever be stuck I’m afraid.
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles 13:43 on 11 January, 2014
BCW, in fact I would be foaming at the mouth with that striking combination ;-)……………
Aye but who would play in the hole behind them?????????
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
hoopy-do
12:37 on 11 January, 2014
No surprise Victor Valdes said that Ibrox has a better atmosphere than Celtic Park
—–
hoopy-do, I saw that story in the Day-late and made a comment:
Headline – “best”
Body Text – “intimidating”
I wonder if Angie Haggerty thought the ‘intimidating’ tweets she got from Limmy’s daft brother were the ‘best’ she has every received.
Needless to say, my contribution has since been deleted. Got to love the Day-late – poetic license knows no bounds in their offices…
TTTT just to let you know that my delay in replying was down to collecting my wee boy and a date with roll n skwer, not a cream puff!!
Get your point but guess I fear he’d be more likely to try it in midfield. Hence higher risk, higher reward!
Off again. Kick about with the wee man!
HH jamesgang