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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Guidetti still a bit of an enigma. Arrived at Celtic Park full of the joys of his move, kissing the badge and throwing shapes to the crowd and after all the histrionics could not wait to get to hell out of the place.
Good man stevenagebhoy! Enjoy the evening with Mrs SB! Here in sunny Dresden, there’s no such thing as a good curry :-(
Hippo birdie two ewes
BMCUW
Best of luck to big JG.
Good performance last night against Real Sociedad
Can’t wait until Wednesday and the real fitba returns.
HH
I fell asleep this afternoon, I don’t remember ever falling asleep on a Saturday afternoon before, ever, but I did, maybe it is an age thing. It was a wasted sleep though, because it was troubled by a fog. In it I dreamt of a man who once said that if it was proved to him that the game of football in Scotland was proved corrupt he’d walk away… only, not only, to prove to himself that the game was indeed corrupt but on conclusion then to educate others that the game was corrupt; But he didn’t walk away. Integrity was an illusion both in presence and desire. And in my dream on oceans emotion, in my dream, I was confused; I was trying to scream “Why?” “Why?”, then I woke up and couldn’t remember the rest of the question. Why what? I don’t know if it’s an ethical enigma or an age burden, but I’ll try and sleep better tonight and because my own particular ‘why’ is answered and floating more than a year behind in my moral wake. And now I just don’t care, I’ve mournfully lost a lot but I kept a hold of my bleeding soul and the hurt is less so much so with than the right I retain to look another man in his eyes, and without shame… not not look away.
We all signed the five way agreement, each and every one of us.
HH
Looking forward to the thunder & buzz of Paradise next week…
I care for no other team but Celtic FC..
OTHERs look on with envy..I like that,and laugh at their cheating & manipulation to emulate us..
Here s to the new season..
Incidentally,
Was Geronimo in goals for Sociedad..I thought I misheard the name..?
Cracking name
HH
Ah,the lovely,sexy,beautifully put together,very fine Tennis player Gabine,cruelly put to the sword by the greatest female player ever.Never mind.a long career ahead,with many trophies,that I will gladly be watching.
sipsini
16:05 on
11 July, 2015
hankray…
Yep, when you look at the build of Djokovic, Serena would leather him, off court that is.
I mind there was rumours flying about Nadal and Spanish footballers using drug enhancements, some Spanish judge supposedly ordered their samples to be destroyed. mmm
Have been saying to Mrs TB,that since Nadal came back from the long injury lay off,he looks like a different person.Remember that muscle bound physique he started out with.Not now.H,mmmm.
Celta Vigo…
BBJH ..
Out muscling one of their defenders … Blooter!!
Halcyon days ..
:)
turkeybhoy…
Nadal is certainly not the player he once was, as you say more than a bit iffy.
The doubles is a good match, hoping that one Murray can do it.
Grateful for his goals last October/November, they kept us ticking over. But i will remember him for his behaviour after the League Cup final. It was poor and there and then I new he was a goner.
Paul67
Wish Guidetti all the best. Have to agree with BMCUW that for a wee while last season his goals were absolutely vital.
Seems he is the type of player who needs to feel loved and adored, to perform at his best. The first sign that he is being questioned or called to account, the rattles are out the pram.
Not sure having his dad so close to his professional life is doing him any favours.
Unless you can call a 5 year deal with a La Liga team anything other than favourable, in financial terms at least.
His track record points to difficult times ahead for both parties.
Enjoy the honeymoon
May I enquire of cqn ? Does ‘the big yin’ do any ‘deid club’ stuff in his stand up routine? Or, would that be an ill-advised business move ?
First Test
Bangladeshis / Indians / Pakistanis and Sri Lankans celebrating an easy England victory Remember being surprised to see people from the sub continent supporting England over Australia. I was so intrigued , I asked the ? – the answer – Tony Abbott
England batted better than Australia , England bowled better than Australia, England fielded better than Australia .
Australia were outplayed and outclassed .
Just had a wee look at Gullible Media,and this wee gem popped up,
NorthUistBear
North Uist Loyal
First Team
2,393 posts
Gender:Male
Location:North Uist
Posted Today, 02:52 PM
Not that i fancy it up there. Been CR4 for 10 years but had a look online to see how sales for ST’s were and seen the whole club deck unavailable. Why is that? Surely not all STs?
A few closets coming back with,”I’m sure there is a good reason”
I just wonder if that reason is Big Mike.Does he not hold the fabled “Car park”without which,they cannot use the Club deck?.
Just a thought.
brollies up in the Brig for the reprobates coming back from their gathering !
Ya dancer, drown the rats
Chuck them some soap ..
:)
gerryfaethebrig…
Yer a bad mhan, hope it’s acid rain :)
John Guidetti. He was never serious about staying for the long haul. My wee fellow’s gutted though and I respected more from him. His goal against Inter contributed to a great “european night” at Paradise. Good luck to the lad.
Afternoon all, just in from work
5 years at Celta Vigo for JG? I doubt he will be on the fabled €80k a week there or anything like it but good luck to him
He might have been a big wean but he gave us a real boost when we were toiling last Autumn and for me the best striker we fielded last season- when he was good.
And who’d a thunk the Aussies would be crap at cricket?
Curry on way.
Jimbo67
sipsini
17:25 on 11 July, 2015
My last word on them, as Leftclicktick posted earlier a few years ago it was a hundred times worse, they are following their club, a dying breed, band that left my scheme was from Ardrossan, Coatbridge is their attraction, anyway too much airtime hope our fellow times in the 6 counties get through the bike tomorrow, as for Guidetti, I was gutted he didn’t stay but as far as I am concerned Ciftcic means more to me as he wants to wear the hoops !
Hail Hail
Guidetti may have the potential to be a world class striker but he doesn’t have the attitude… in fact, no he doesn’t, he doesn’t have the pace either.
BobM, hope you are having a very hoopy day.
HH to you.
We rest our case, m’lud …..
https://twitter.com/grantcoll/status/618712018254700545
times = tins
bike = bile
Away to enjoy a wee family Saturday night, wee yin is hiding my phone
Take care & Hail Hail
I see a White Heat a James Cagey classic on Film 4 to-niight. Worth watching.
jimbo67
Curry on way. where are we signing him from , there’ll be a fair few puns for that name
(only joking jimbo)
HH
bmcuwp
Happy Birthday :)
Hope you have had a great day so far and there’s more to come!
Dena29
Very droll☺☺☺
Thunder Road
Thunder Road
17:57 on
11 July, 2015
bmcuwp
Happy Birthday :)
Hope you have had a great day so far and there’s more to come!
He couldnt be having that great a day he’s been on the blog all afternoon :-)))))
No offence bhoys but BMCWP needs to get out ………….or are you multitasking Bobby ??
:-))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
enjoy the rest of your day Bobby
HH
jimbo67
18:01 on
11 July, 2015
Dena29
Very droll☺☺☺
I’m trying ………very trying :-)))
HH
BMCUWP
CQN Legend………………..All the best bud and have a great day.
You’ll be happy yer ma’ never held on a few hours or you would have had a parade for your birthday in Kilwinnin’ every year☺…….yer probably their favourite Tim anyway :-)
John Guidetti…….A massive ego, thats for sure , what a fun guy, his wee ditty on Swedish TV was what the board used to hang him out to dry.Never got any service IMO…..could have been a star.
See if you have better players than the other team, you can expect to win most of the time. Systems are grand but you have to have the players to suit.
Jock Stein made Bertie Auld, Bobby Murdoch and Bobby Lennox better players than they were prior to his arrival at Celtic Park. The rest he pretty much said “fit into the system, and we’ll be fine”.
At every level of football the best players win the games most of the time, agreed.
Boys
Dena29
Cheers. It is here. Seems scarilege to drink only water with it but 3 weeks sober. Roll on 10 Oct!
H x 2
Jimbo67
For the boys at Hamilton races, I mentioned sean corby 2 rides in the 715 and 745 earlier. Made some enquiries from someone who knows his family and been told both horses are fancied, Pabusar and pull the pin
Sounds like Mark Warburton will soon have Rangers* ‘back’ where they belong
https://raillydecord.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/admiration-for-warburton-and-rangers-grows/
jimbo67
18:09 on
11 July, 2015
Dena29
Cheers. It is here. Seems scarilege to drink only water with it but 3 weeks sober. Roll on 10 Oct!
H x 2
Jimbo67
Water…………..nothing wrong with that I prefer a nice cold milk but hey ho, ENJOY
congrats on 3 weeks ………..keep it going
HH
Damo Lennon
18:15 on
11 July, 2015
Sounds like Mark Warburton will soon have Rangers* ‘back’ where they belong
Hopefully on a skip………………
They never give up do they?
they get everything they deserve its just not coming quick enough for me
HH
I’ll try again………….
See if you have better players than the other team, you can expect to win most of the time. Systems are grand but you have to have the players to suit.
Jock Stein made Bertie Auld, Bobby Murdoch and Bobby Lennox better players than they were prior to his arrival at Celtic Park. The rest, he pretty much said “fit into the system, and we’ll be fine”.
At every level of football the best players win the games most of the time, agreed???
From Boys Guild to international, want to be the best and play for the jersey is an emotional winning combination, or was at one time; make that joint endeavour a way forward and maybe, just maybe we can challenge the money driven sides by countering them with team spirit and self belief, and of course having the fantastic Celtic support lifting our spirits and frightening the feguck out of the oppostion.
I live in Hope.
God Bless.
Enjoy your day Mick…………..
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
TBM