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.
1,242 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- ...
- 33
- »
when paul mcstay, charlie and danny where at the height of their powers/
look at mcstay, 19 or so,
what a player.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-9_GJmtCIs
BMCUW
surely seven letters….. off has two “f”‘s… what school did you go to?
CELTICBHOY
Good health,old bean.
Stay sane,stay cool.
BGX 0107
Wonderfully timed post.
celtic bhoy
The only way now is UP old bhoy…..
Macjay,
Hope you’re well
And no, you’re right… it’s all for the best that Franco won… democracy is a bugger when the bassas vote the wrong way
Macjay
And what’s your point
No one else would supply them with arms so the soviets did
they demanded and received Madrids gold reserves in return. The Spanish communist party didn’t cover themselves in glory either
BMCW..caught your post just as i was leaving…as i said to another poster on here…I could care less about your opinion of me..it would take more effort than im willing to give….Take your overblown heid out yir no doubt AMPLE sized arse…With that.Bless.
JIMMYQUINNSBITS
Aye,that would have done too. But the letter in question is getting worn out on my keyboard.
I’ll settle or (!) a six letter word or two. Cyberpints to the irst(!) person to name them both
bgx……settle down man….
Bgx
Maybe you are watching too many of them diamond Jackson movies
BGX
Good reply again,mate. Keep it coming.
Went for a pee there…came back expecting a few more comments n nothin….is everybody away to bed?
Where’s the night shift? Where’s Maggie?
Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition
Nobody expects the unexpected
31003
Watch the boxing vid I linked to. Effing brilliant.
BMCW..sorry man.i was raised with the mantra..” Never Educate a Mug”…Goodnight…
Brian: “you’re all individuals!”
Crowd: “we’re all individuals!”
Lone voice: “I’m not”
LifeOfBrianCSC
Bobby….with all due respect…..you no meant tae be workin????!
jimmyquinnsbits
I know…I know…..but it’s still funny as f%#k
I’m laffin n the wife thinks I’m daft….
31003,
Ffs… Its only a nuclear power station, whats the worst that can happen?
Right…..is that the time?….. Ahm gaun tae ma kip…..good night, friends enemies, all…….
BGX
Listen,eff off wi yer cheap shots,I canny be arsed wi them. As far as I’m concerned you’ve added nothing to this site since you came on here,merely detracted from it wi yer puerile politics.
Politics and porn,marvellous. Got anything to say about Celtic?
I’ve got all night…
BMCUW
Watched your boxing vid earlier today
It was magic. My eldest brother boxed for Scotland early sixties and was/ is a pal of dick mctaggart. H H
31003
Night off. Just as well. Those crystals would be black as my heart if I had to take a deep breath.
PAPAJOE55
Glad you liked it,mate. No way you would have got me doing what your brother did.
I like to wear guid trainers and run like f…
Bobby,
Is that them that there Dylithium Crystals? A wee bit of white spirit will get tham back upbto warp
Nae bother, ur welcome
bgx……
If only you could meet some of the posters you cross swords with……you’re missing a trick….bmcuwp ……it’s definitely a pleasure to know you……good night to you and everyone….
Squad needs trimmed further: McGeouch (22) initially impressed before falling away, McGregor (22) initially impressed before falling away badly, Irvine (22) can’t see it happening for him here, Rogic (22) can’t make mind up on the lad he does have something, Boerrigter (28) would happily see him leave for free, Mulgrew (29) high earning back up players are no use to celtic, Commons (31) high earning impact players no use to celtic, Stokes (26) done well for celtic if any striker is getting kept it would be him, Šćepović (25) unsettled, weather, lazy who know? Not working.
Unfortunately it’s going to be very difficult to move on what are 5 high earners and 4 low level earners to pastures new. It’s a sobering thought to think we have already released/returned/sold/loaned out 12 + players this summer and our squad still has 29 players. If we can move these bhoys on we would be left with the squad below.
…………………………………………………………………………….
Gk: Gordon, Bailly, Fasan
RB: Lustig, Jecko, fisher
CB: Boyata, VVD, Ambros, O’Conner (Cover CB: Lustig (28))
LB: Izzy
DCM: Brown, Bitton, Henderson (Cover DCM: Johansson (24), Armstrong (23))
ACM: Forrest, GMS, Johansson, Armstrong (Cover: ACM: Jecko (19) Henderson (19))
CF: Griffiths, Nadir
+ Youth players
………………………………………………………
By my reckoning the most obvious requirement would be a: left back (to push and rest izzy), Quick centre back by trade (when VVD sold we’ll be thin on the ground) and Centre forward (with good link up/ build up play)
…………………………………………………………
Total first team squad made up of 23 senior players. Think it might take RD another couple of transfer windows to achieve his goal. Out with the left back position and replacing VVD I don’t think we should be looking to recruit before we sell but we should be looking to sell those that don’t or can’t fit into the system
HH
Bloody hell, I went a wee bit piratey in that last post
Its the rum
Yarr
BMCUW
Watched him eat raw eggs and drink pure lemon juice trying to make the weight he was a middleweight , now a wee frail 78 year old man.
31003
Oh aye and definitely.
BMCUWP’s
Just enjoy your birthday.
Forget them.
HH,
Clo
stephbhoy
Yea sonofabitch
Whit you da’in postin Celtic stuff just when ahm gaun tae ma kip????
JIMMYQUINNSBITS
Ffs,don’t get me on an addictive spiral.
Again…
CLOGHERCELT
Aye,mate. Yer right. Back to the boxing vid. It’s a cracker,trust me!
Addictive spiral?????? Seen them at the ol’ burns howf….what a waste of time n money that wiz( copyright ol Dick Byrne)