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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Hamilton
It’s bizarre of course
But has anyone actually been convicted yet
I only follow it on here, mainly through your comments, as it doesn’t get reported in irish newspapers and I don’t read Scottish ones, and from what I can gather most of these cases are eventually dismissed
I was talking to Paddy McCourt’s sister and his nephew earlier tonight.
The whole McCourt family are a credit.
Paddy’s brother is a great friend of mine and his son knocks about with my son.
Fabulous people.
Tricoloured Ribbon,
Sometimes I think you have to expose these people for the crooks that they are…hence having a look at Ulstur Scotch.
It is pure mince.
Clogher
Hamiltontim
I’ve found that even to Celtic sympathetic people and other football enthusiasts who don’t actually go to away games,it’s like selling bad news. The silence from our media, both reporting and editorial ensures that the compliant population don’t even realise that an injustice is taking place.
Applaud your pereseverence by the way.
See you at an away game soon
HH
hamiltontim
01:31 on 13 July, 2015
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Futile HT, regardless.
Still trying to fight an old war that they cannot ever win.
Still takes a lot of courage and conviction though to take a stand when most of us are blissfully unaware of this tripe, or complacent at best.
Clogher Celt – pure, unadulterated pish mate.
I would have bet my last hapeeny on a 100% winning result for myself there – That’s how ya know it’s garbage.
HH.
Wits
Absolutely no offence to you mate but that’s why I despair. You have no understanding of what we need to endure. It’s not just because of where you live, there are many here who’re equally ignorant.
I’m off to bed good people before I lose it altogether:-)
UTLR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48RqQqj9L5I
The wizard that is Paddy.
Think 16 roads posted this before
clogher celt,
I have said it numerous times pal.
This Ulster-Scotch bunkum has been only generated to promote cash for these jokers.
Rab C.Nesbitt pish.
16 roads,
What is pure unadulterated p..h?
Tricoloured Ribbon,
I know, a friend showed me a photograph today of a bonfire, ready to go in Belfast.
No wonder so many people come down here to escape that.
Clogher
Nadir Cifci.
Now,a ban is coming.Big time and rightly so.
Celtic have got to sort this loose cannon out.
I’ll tell you one thing though.
When his head is ok,and he’s on tour wae the Griff we will blast them out of sight.
Celts for the Treble.7/2..
£49 mill for Stirling, Sturridge is a better player (but cant stay fit)
The_huddle,
Another 49 million for Rodgers to waste.
The game is rotten to the core in England.
TCR – Ciftci gets an opportunity to prove his credentials at the big club, not a problem.
Why didn’t Ronny give Tony Watt a chance to redeem himself. Maybe the lhad is a bad apple,(Lenny obviously had enough of his shenanigans)?
Strange that RD got rid immediately though.
For Europe?
This: LG,Ciftci and Tony Watt.
Dynamite.
HH.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5X2UxgSxho
Away to my bed comrades.
16,
Bring Tony Watt home now.
Slan comrade.
WITS I think it’s disgraceful that you are downplaying the OB and its impact. It’s an absolute disgrace and is criminalising Celtic supporters.
It’s the thin end of the wedge in Scotland which is rapidly becoming a very sinister place to live.
16 Roads,
Thanks for coming back. I understand now.
HT,
Well Done on your efforts. I will be thinking about the lads tomorrow.
Bizarre to think that people are in court for singing songs that we will have at Dublin2016.
Conor McGregor goes into the ring with the Foggy Dew…no doubt that is an arrestable offence in Scotland.
Anyway,
Night all
A striker make the step up to European level?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JuLnriEqz3A
When we humbled what is considered to be the greatest club side in the history of world football, ever.
Too late now.
HH.
Just in to say thanks to all of the ghuys & ghirls from Paul 67’s dear-green-place who wished Parkheadcumsalford and myself a happy birthday.
Parkheadcumsalford…a belated Hoopy birthday fella.
BMCUW’s – Yer an absolute star mate….LOVE.
….oot. YNWA.
kevjungle,
Belated best wishes to you and parkheadcumsalford on your birthdays, condolences to those who have lost family members recently.
HT, best wishes to the boys facing their day in court today, keep up the good fight.
I saw St Stivs reaction to an earlier tweet tonight but I have just been sent one allegedly sent out by athlete Lynsey Sharp which should result in disciplinary conduct as well as loss of sponsors if it is true, I won’t be holding my breath for either result, I will also not be copying it on here.
AR
Morning Timland…. blisteringly hot in the desert!!
Yesterday was the proverbial long 24 hours… expected new grandwean can now pop out whenever she’s ready.
Off to Turkey today for two weeks:-) will be in the Edinburgh airport bar by 8 0’clock!
prestonpans bhoys
05:28 on
13 July, 2015
Off to Turkey today for two weeks:-) will be in the Edinburgh airport bar by 8 0′clock!
…………………………..
see if ye can find us a playmaker!!
Good luck to the young lads appearing in court today as a result of this horrible act
It’s acts like this and the way police Scotland have implemented it that will forever prevent me from voting SNP
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
06:11 on
13 July, 2015
Good luck to the young lads appearing in court today as a result of this horrible act
It’s acts like this and the way police Scotland have implemented it that will forever prevent me from voting SNP
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In total agreement – however I must add that what should prevent people from voting SNP is that they are offering NOTHING and are running Scotland in a fascist manner, where everything is centralized and no criticism is allowed.
The party machine controls everything and everybody.
Political branding of the police and emergency services has completely swamped the SNP duty of care – they must be ‘brought to book’ for the culpable homicide of the two young parents in Stirling.
The Scottish NHS is crumbling before our eyes.
TT
Disappointed by labour yesterday again agreeing with tax credits cuts
Flagship policy not long ago, I really despair for labour
About Ciftci
Ronny says:
“Even if he is banned for league games, he will still be available to us for European matches, so he will still be able to feature. It is not ideal, but of course we were aware of it and we will deal with it when it comes.”
Kevjungle and Parkheadcumsalford belated birthday wishes, hope yer day was a cracker.
Sorry for brining up politics I was only trying to lend my support to the bhoys in court today
Hi Ho
And in the absence of Jobo g72 is wet with dark clouds following a fair amount of rainfall last night
Free the Jobo weather man
Many ole belated happy returns to ole parkheadcumsalford and kevjungle.
ThompsonTwin
No aggro…but I was wondering what you think of Labour backing Tory Welfare cuts.
Do you think that’s wise?
And remember….Im not a Nat:)
HH
Parkheadcumsalford
Belated birthday greetings to you.
Wet day in G20
Good luck to the 7 in court today.
Jimbo67
Labour are not backing the welfare cuts, they just won’t oppose them!
They have a cheek to call themselves Labour…What a joke.
The Leadership candidates are all middle-class Tories.
Total Chancers.
HH
Ron… does that not amount to acceptance??
It’s sitting on the fence
Id say Harriet Harman has either totally lost the plot….or more likely, is trying to distance Labour from its core working class vote.
To be frank…im astonished at the Tory rhetoric coming from the Labour aristocrats.
Shocking.
HH