The Guidetti enigma

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I was asked to contribute a piece on John Guidetti to a German magazine last month.  John was on his way to winning the European U21 Championships with Sweden, while being every inch the football personality.  The German publisher wanted to know why Celtic, Stoke and Manchester City had decided against re-employing a striker with a flattering pedigree.

During last season it looked like John was destined for the English lower leagues, or perhaps one of the resting homes in Turkey, but a few weeks at a tournament later he’s won himself a five year deal with Celta de Vigo.

Guidetti is a better player than he looked at Celtic last season.  We don’t play a system which lends itself to a classic, British style, penalty box striker, which is what John is, but would you give him a five year contract to play in La Liga?  Of course not.  You’ve watched the player way more than Celta’s scouts and you know better than they do.

This is the truism in scouting, people who watch a player week-in, week-out, know vastly more than a scout who only gets to see a month’s games, or a handful of games across the season, or worse, a selection of DVDs provided by the agent, or TV highlights.

What’s made John Guidetti is his outlier season, 2011-12, when on loan at Feyenoord he smacked home an astonishing 20 goals in 23 games.  Without that season, the Celta scouts wouldn’t even know his name.  Maybe the serious illness he subsequently suffered robbed him of his mojo, maybe he’s a pound or two heavier than his fighting weight, but my money’s on Vigo suffering buyers regret soon enough.

The best of luck to John in Galicia, but I suspect he’ll be available for loan this time next year.

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  1. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Sannabhoy, I hope you win the CQN open. I know it’s a long shot but I hope TF you’ve been practicing.

     

     

    HH big chap

  2. So….for what it’s worth….1 lime…..sliced….can service…….8 bottles of Corona Extra….easy…

  3. Directed at nobody in particular.

     

     

    But in the world I live in, anyone who wants to kill another human being, be they huns or muslims, or who ever, are no way Celtic supporters.

     

     

    END OF

     

     

    HH

     

     

    And trust me, I am as cool as it gets, just fecked off with hypocrits and their fawning of would be murderers.

  4. Gerryfaethebrig on

    what is the stars

     

     

    00:38 on 12 July, 2015

     

     

    Good night and the very blessed God Bless

  5. Wits,

     

     

    That is great.

     

     

    That will be a big help.

     

     

    Thanks,

     

     

    Clogher

  6. Natknow..I Hope Djorkovic wins..Although if Fed Plays like he has been playing, i cant see it…Guys playing a different game …best tennis ive ever seen ..live in hope.

  7. JimmyQuinnsBits on

    After this intervention, Britain and France announced a non-intervention policy, barring any supply of arms and munitions to the democratically elected government, leaving hitler and mussolini to supply troops and arms to Franco’s forces

  8. bgx

     

     

    The Fed Express was sublime against oor Andy……..I’ve a feeling he’s thinking he’s done it all and has nothing to lose….he’s goin into the final thinkinn “what will be will be” Canny see him losin ….

  9. Directed at no one in particular….Then why vote for them…I Dont..I Voted for a Party that Does not Support Invasions ..Ask Yourself..Did you?

  10. What is the Stars on

    Jimmy quinns bits

     

    The European democracies failed Spain

     

    But what’s your point

  11. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    ACEILERGONOFRUST

     

     

    Magic,I hope yer spielin has improved by then(!)

     

     

    Like I care,can you spell the round out? Aye? Och,well,yer in and get them in.

     

     

    How did your dearly beloved size 22 enjoy the big city yesterday?

  12. 31003..Guys Playing a different Game, Tennis like ive never saw..If he wins ..well..naw…Cmon Novak..laughing..

  13. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BGX

     

     

    Equally,I refused to vote for a party hellbent on beggaring its electorate just to make a point.

     

     

    And for all its manifold faults,I picked the only one that fitted the above.

  14. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    TET, c’mon we’ve talked about the best way to eradicate the hun in their lair. Don’t go all namby pamby on me now.

     

     

    You want to play off the wifies tee’s next time?

  15. JimmyQuinnsBits on

    WITS,

     

     

    I’m just stating facts

     

     

    And my opinion now, that Britain and France didn’t just fail them, they actively – but surreptitiously – encouraged them

  16. bgx

     

     

    Granted……Novak is superb…..but like I say…..the Fed has nothing to lose or prove……he’s goin in there, as the underdog, with absolutely no nerves…..Novak on the other hand….

  17. 31003..i Make Fed Favourite mate, hes playing better, has won more grass titles, plus..i dont know if Djorkovic is over his defeat in Paris..if it goes to 5 sets..Novak wins….Under 5..Fed..IMO…

  18. Just spent a week in hospital, discharged yesterday, and just wanted to say how much I appreciated CQN during that time. Visited it a lot and read every contribution, even the ones I would normally scroll past, it was a blessing and helped with boredom.

     

     

    Some heart issues which seem to have settled down although they tell me I will probably need to go in again in a couple of months. So thanks guys for keeping me sane.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  19. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    BobM, ssssssh as you said nobody else noticed.

     

     

    The big wan is havin a blast in fun city. I always hope when she goes there she meets a man that will take her heart…………………and her massive cost away from me.

     

     

    Alas, she’s already indicated she wants me to pick her up at smokie central. So that screws my day up.

     

     

    Wummin, what is the point of them?

  20. bgx

     

     

    I’m goin with age….if Fed can win first two it’s his….if Novak keeps it tight fitness will play its part…..

  21. JimmyQuinnsBits

     

    00:31 on

     

    12 July, 2015

     

    Today in 1936 the Falange killed Socialist party member and Assault Gaurd José Castillo. The Assault retaliated by killing Calvo Sotelo, a leading monarchist and conservative.

     

     

    By this date in 1936, British Major Hugh Pollard and MI6 agent Cecil Bebb were on their way to the Canary Islands; their mission to transport General Franco to his loyal troops in Morocco, and pave the way for the invasion of republican Spain. German planes supplied by Hitler, completed the invasion by ferrying the Moroccan troops to Spain.

     

     

    ————————–

     

     

    i have quite an interesting perspective on this,

     

     

    my brother in law is from garrachico , north west tenerife, and almost “plantation” .

     

     

    will do it when i am sober

  22. clogher celt on

    Celtic Bhoy,

     

     

    Great to hear, you are better. No doubt my posts didn’t help. Take Care.

     

     

    Clogher

  23. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    ACEILERGONOFRUST

     

     

    Ach,they usually seem like a good idea at the time. And you know you love her dearly.

     

     

    Plus,she knows yer bank account details,so it’s live wi her or…

  24. JimmyQuinnsBits on

    Stivs,

     

     

    I’d be interested to hear it… my wife’s family are Andalucian, and have a perspective on it also, from both sides

  25. celtic bhoy

     

     

    Hers the good news…..

     

     

    Had heart problems 3 years ago…..went to heart rehab classes (they’re a laugh) for a few months. Feelin sorry for myself I asked the nurse if I’m likely to die sooner than expected. She said…”look, your problem has been sorted. The ones in trouble are the ones who have the same problem you had and don’t know it. They’re the ones with the problem…..you’ve been fixed…..spare a thought). Nuff said?

  26. Clogher Celt

     

     

    Believe me all the posts helped. Thank you for your good wishes.

  27. 31003..agreed..Fed cant beat him over 5..Only Murray or an on Form and Fit Nadal Can…Funnily..i Dont think it will go 5..It will be 3 or 4..to whom..i Dont know..

  28. celtic bhoy

     

     

    God bless you pal. Stay well.

     

     

    It’s the inglorious 12th but our time has come, much to their chagrin – not that they know what that means!

     

     

    Apropos nothing really……I was a smidgen vexed the first time I was in Turkey about 15 years ago cos all the locals liked the stickies cos of tugay.

     

     

    Just back from Turkey again. Lovely folk. Would like to make them a nation of Tims via Cifti!

     

     

    Night Timdom

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  29. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BGX 0050

     

     

    Wow,stunning response. Care to elaborate?

     

     

    Since you are reading this,I can only assume you read too slow,not that I speak too fast.

     

     

    Personally,I don’t think I speak too fast,nor do I think that you read too slow. What I do think is that as usual you tried a cheap jibe,thoroughly in keeping with your persona since you came on here.

     

     

    Perhaps it’s not the speed of reading or speaking that should concern you. More the speed of thought. Or lack thereof.

     

     

    (I could have summed up the above in six letters,but there you go…)

  30. Now im off ..im Going to Witness the Sublime attributes of @msDiamondJackson in all her wonderfullness…Bless..

  31. What is the Stars on

    Jimmy quinns bits

     

    It’s a fascinating period of European history

     

    The Spanish people were sacrificial lambs to the slaughter in the war between the 2 great isms.

     

    The people who could have saved them were France and Britain but they stood idly by.

     

    Of course they weren’t interested in helping a left wing govt

  32. clogher celt on

    Plenty of Irish people have set alarms to get up and watch Conor McGregor fight in Las Vegas this morning.

     

     

    I hope it goes well, for Conor and both men walk away.

  33. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    JimmyQuinnsBits

     

    00:31 on

     

    12 July, 2015

     

     

    Weapons from Stalin instead.

     

     

    Meanwhile, the Republican government had requested aid and weapons from France in order to defeat the Nationalist forces and the president of the French Republic, Léon Blum initially decided to send help because a Nationalist victory could damage the international position of France. Nevertheless, on July 25, 1936 Blum decided not to send weapons to the Republic, because the opposition of the British government and the French right.,[9] and on August 8, 1936 decided to close the frontier,[10] Then, the Spanish government decided to buy weapons from the Soviet Union. The first Soviet ship with weapons reached Cartagena on October 15, 1936.[11] On 28 October 1936, the Republican prime minister Largo Caballero decided to launch a counter-offensive with the Soviet weapons in order to detain the Nationalists advance towards Madrid.[12]

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