Reading the CQN article on Stuart Armstrong this morning pulled the emotional strings. Stuart has made two starts in the league since moving, both of which ended in substitution, while Southampton are above the relegation places only on goal difference.
The club will doubtless throw money at their problems in January, which will do nothing for Stuart’s chances of more game time. That first glorious season under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic must seem a long time ago.
It took Stuart 18 months before his flame flickered here. For most of that period, it was Gary Mackay-Steven who looked the more promising player. Then everything clicked. Goals and assists arrived, as he became an integral part of the team. His form was good, but was never going to trouble one of the larger teams in England, so Southampton looked a wise move. The problem with all of these clubs, though, is they have a surplus of everything. And even as his time at Celtic expired, he was more of a squad player than automatic first choice.
Unless a manager is going to sit you down and tell you how you are going to change his life, the deal to sign you might not register too deeply with him. And even then, whoever makes the promises to you may well be moved on before you’ve had a chance to buy a house. With the news of Fulham changing manager this morning, Mark Hughes will know his time will be up soon if results don’t improve.
I can’t blame Stuart for going to Southampton. They did well by Victor, Fraser and Virgil and the money would have been fabulous. It was the right decision to make at that time. He is too professional to pause right now to reflect on what might have been had he extended his Celtic contract. For now, his focus will all be about getting into the Southampton team, but you’d better believe he will be used as a morality tale when Celtic have been busy with contract renewals this month.
“Go for a bit more money, sit on the bench until the manager is sacked, then sit in the stand. And win nothing.” We need players to be successful when they move on if we are to continue to get value when others leave, but the odd flop introduces a useful jeopardy into the decision to leave Celtic.
Pretty much every player at Celtic will know they could earn more money in England, but when they measure themselves against Stuart, few will be assured of a better outcome.
174 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- »
JG/Trad
Close, but not quite …. football authorities, particularly in Scotland, England, and Europe should be scrutinized, scorned and mocked because, notwithstanding that they typically have at least the same or more expertise than those at Celtic, (i) those in Scotland are masonic b’s, (ii) in England they have too much money, and (iii) in Europe, they routinely kick Celtic’s ass (and UEFA wont give us automatic entry into the C)L ….. so all of them deserve to be ridiculed and mocked…
I always thought Stuart had a quality, though quaint quiff…but now…
It’s official…Quiffs Are Out…old-fashioned, passe, square, quite questionable in fact!!
‘member bhoys…..
“Bring Back The Quiff”
Why?
“Because He’s Worth it!”
42k a week basic will soften the blow of warming the bench.
When Stuart becomes an auld, baldy wee millionaire, he’ll look back at the photies and the videos and think…..”Wzat me wi herr?”…but in an Invernesian/Southamptonish accent…
“No Other Quiff Looks Like It, Or Lasts Like It.”
Tradionalist: my use of Catholic/Protestant was lazy on my part but at least you understood what I meant. I also agree with what you said.
HH
Should natural arithmetic and an outbreak of common sense amongst Unionists bring about a united Ireland, the main losers will be Scotland.
The backwoodsmen of the DUP and assorted fellow travelers, will decant to their spiritual home, across the Irish sea.
They may even get their bridge to facilitate the exodus.
Almore on 14th November 2018 3:02 pm
No worries, some very conflicted and confused Unionists around. So no change there then!
HH
I have very little knowledge of `esports` but, apparently, it could become very big and celtic have signed two superstars of the game. Something to celebrate? Maybe but if you are BBC Scotland and Celtic are involved, there has to be at least one negative comment.
`Gordon Kaye, the club’s head of business development & esports said the signings were “a statement of intent” and a “perfect fit for Celtic”.
That may be so, but what will the club’s fans make of the recruitment, given the club’s failure to strengthen the first team in the summer?`
A sad excuse for a neutral, national site.
JJ
NEGANON,
“Just do as Celtic usually do,and sit at the back of the bus”.
Well if winning double trebles,being on course for a third treble,having the highest turnover in our history,having a squad filled with players who can command multi millions in the market,going for title no.8,having the best stadium,surrounds,while the Huns lose 10s of millions each year,have no future whatsoever,and are up to their armpits in debt,is sitting at the back of the bus,GET ME A TICKET.
Stuart Armstrong’s quiff was higher than his wages.
TURKEYBHOY on 14TH NOVEMBER 2018 3:32 PM
Me too.
Here is the esports`s article if anyone is interested:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46209628
Turkeybhoy
A fine rebuttal of neganon`s point but I fear it may fall on deaf ears.
JJ
TRADITIONALIST88 on 14TH NOVEMBER 2018 2:22 PM
jamesgang on 14th November 2018 2:16 pm
Professionals know best didnt you know, and never ever make mistakes, nor should be questioned. Ever. And most certainly not on a football blog intended for discussion about football!
HH
EUROCHAMPS67 on 14TH NOVEMBER 2018 2:30 PM
Jamesgang,
I do hope you are right about Ryan Christie.
And yes The Quiff is yesterday’s man (to us).
Good to be discussing the positive merits of Celtic players though.
———
T88 – that’s me well and truly telt!!!! ?
EU67 – I ‘fell in admiration’ with RC when he came on for the 2nd for ICT at CP and tore our defence to shreds. In the usually well marshalled defensive set ups of the modern era, having a Bhoy who’ll make the run through and past the defensive line is a game-changer. Ergo our winner against Leipzig.
I want all Bhoys to do well at CP (eg GMS ?) and would have really felt for the kid has he not been the chance to live the dream.
HH jg
Eurochamps67
Commenting on SA,is really absurd.We would not be mentioning his name if it where not for the Hacks trying to get one over on us.”I dont miss Celtic”,aye right Stuart,as you warm a bench with a 3rd rate team,going down this year.Just fodder for the Hun hacks on an International break.
Wisen up.He is not missed.
Turkeybhoy on 14th November 2018 3:32 pm
100% mate spot on. I’m loving being a season ticket holding Celtic supporter right now.
The boring ever repeating malcontents add no value to Celtic or the general discourse.
They bore the proverbials off most of us.
Hot Smoked – spotted that too……….
sadly predictable from thum.
There’s a kulchur in Shorties fitba’ dept that despises Celtic and our success.
Auld fashioned teddies still calling the cheap shots.
It’s a familiar, strategy from sleekit huns.
BRING BACK PADDY.Thats the new Celtic way,”Players we know”.Break the bank for Dedryk,alongside big Ajer.Sign a good RB,and we are off and running for the 10.Europe,we will wait and see.By the time we get to 10,we have ,wee Dembele,Okoflex,coming into the team.
Its a rerr view from the back of this bus.You can see the Huns miles behind.
Sorry turkeybhoy/Timmy7
Perhaps you might offer us a list of topics hat we can discuss. And ‘style of posting’ advice notes?
Or perhaps you could learn the wonderful art of scrolling?
?
HH jg
MARTIN42 on 14TH NOVEMBER 2018 12:28 PM
Bigyinmilan
Hi Martin42, nice hearing from you.
I am well, but overrun with work at the present time: travelling every week since September. Things going very well and helping bring around change for the good of patients in poorer parts of the world. A lot of job satisfaction but still too frequent episodes of frustration. Hope you are fine: maybe your ‘wee bhoy’ could bring you along to our curry night when I am next back in Glasgow. Had the pleasure to have your grandsons with us last time. Take care.
Freedom funky white boy style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMdCq4l-Ivo
It would be grand if,….Celtic were led by statesmenlike leaders with substance, ie: cojones!
For me, the ideal way to deal with the SMSM, would be to wait till there is a “live” news conference being broadcast, preferably with all the usual suspects in place, BBC, SKY, BT, and the radio stations, as well as the written press, and then, deliberately provoke a situation, be cute, like presenting a memorial for the ‘AN GORTA MOR’, right in the middle of a mundane issue, like after we’ve skelped the huns, so that we’re doing it from an, upper hand position. Just, unexpectedly slip into the conversation, during the glossing of our victory, that,….
“Celtic Football Club are going to energize our roots, our benevolent foundation’s that gave birth to this club, by building a new tier above the old Main Stand, we might call it “……whatever…” anyway, we heard the anti Catholic, Irish, Celtic volumes of hatred that were spewed from, the so-called ‘Rangers’ end of the stadium, toward our fantastic supporters, and that’s not us saying that, Uefa have officialy recognised the quality of the fantastic folk who faithfully support our club, their club dont forget ‘their’ club, Uefa rubber stamped the peerless quality of Celtic supporters, after over 100,000 of them travelled to Seville in 2003, and saw the Celtic players lose, narrowly, and controversially, and yet, out of that 100,000 Celtic supporters, one person was arrested for falling asleep in the street, after having too much to drink. When you compare those fantastic 100,000 travelling supporters, who were awarded by Uefa, the top recognition going, compare them with what has happened ‘here’ in Scotland, this season alone, issues’s concerning those same follower’s of so-called ‘Rangers’, stabbings, rioting in the street’s, assaults, linesman having his head split open, all issues that you, the SMSM, have conspired to sweep under the carpet! The same carpet that you, individually and collectively swept the £140 million that the ‘old’ Rangers swindled off the taxman, swindled with the help of the SFA, who looked the other way, as the swindled £140 milion was used, to specifically cheat the supporters and players, and managers of Glasgow Celtic! The same carpet that you swept the ‘old’ Rangers supporters trashing, befouling, wrecking the city of Manchester 2008 were, the entirety of Scottish football would have ended that very night, had the violently assaulted policeman not pulled through from the anamilistic kicking that he recieved from these followers of the ‘old’ Rangers. You see, this is the last time that there will be any dialogue, from any ‘senior’ figures of Celtic FC, with any of you. Some folk would say that you are all pedellers of ‘fake news’ well, you, all of you, are, way, way, way lower than the peddlers of ‘fake news’. So, get out, there’s door, don’t come back, media facilities will no longer be available to you, good riddance.”
Why that can’t be said, is because it’s Old Firm supporters who run Celtic FC, that’s why.
Oh, to have a Celtic that was run by Tims, for Tims.
Anywye,……back tae bed.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Probably needs a lie down after that.
Stuart Armstrong doesn’t owe the club anything.
Played a key role in first of Brendan’s Treble winning teams, also kicked us on a wee bit last season when he returned from injury.
The club got a fair few quid for him, probably more than he was worth.
Kris Commons was another terrific signing for us, brilliant footballer – don’t pay too much attention to nonsense he spouts in his media roles – what’s most important is that he served the club well.
HH. ?
Jamesgang,
I can assure you my scrolling finger works extremely well, in terms of topics to discuss go for it, anything you want is fine by me you have my blessing :-)
However repeating the same shite every day!! Definitely off the approved topic list.
HS- The BBC Scotland bias,needs to be highlighted at every turn.
Kev @ 4.30 – one of your better rants!
CELTIC BY NUMBERS on 14TH NOVEMBER 2018 12:27 PM
Armstrong was played out of position as a wide attacker for 18 months. When moved to central midfield as a number 8 Celtic discovered they had a player who could
Break lines with passing and running
Get beyond the striker
Score goals from deep
The salutary lesson slowly learned is Christie. Played out of position for longer than 18 months who now seems to be a genuine box to box all action number 8.
I’m not sure what people see all day in training!
…………………………………………………..
Fear of failure combined with better the player you know syndrome?
Classic example of your thesis is Callum McGregor who was only shoved into the Scott Brown role because he was both the most expendable from the midfield options & the most adaptable.
Stuart Armstrong was a tenacious tackler, a 90 minute runner, a great passer of the ball & scored regularly – in short a classic modern midfielder. When the team was in the doldrums earlier this season it was precisely his kind of play that we missed. Ryan Christie stepped up.
Glad to see Ryan Christie began to shine and at times he has looked more like Armstrong than the orginal.
His goal against HMFC at Murrayfield & his assist with the winning goal against Leipzig were very Armstrongesque.
As for my first comment – how many Celtic fans were dreading having no Brown in our team?
How many could have imagined that we would play so well without him or Griff and also be top of the league without them?
If they had been fit then both would have played & we would be debating about whether Ryan was worth another years extension & when were we going to sign a player to replace the ageing Brown.
Needs must when there is no window – but from Bertie Auld to Chris Sutton, from Kris Ajer to Callum McGregor – players have often found their real niche position through an accident of intersecting events.
Good Luck to Ryan, Callum & Stuart
I miss Stuart Armstrongs song more than I miss Stuart Armstrong.?
Hot Smoked ( ages ago )
BBC’s new satire is a modern variation of “taking the micky” as in 1930’s Britain.
Fits well after Neil Lennon’s anti Irish – anti catholic sentiment and subsequent deathly silence on Scotland’s shame which is richly running through every BBC portal.
Stuart Armstrong is gone,end off,Ryan Christie,is a good player,but we need another Striker,and a Right Back,O,Donnell at Kilmarnock would be a good aqusition,and yes like many Celtic supporters I too would like to see the old stand upgraded,it certainly would help the fans who have restricted views,with those 2 Beams,but then it would probably cost a lot,maybe a share issue,like up.at Lennoxtown, would help to it being built,also on a final note Gary McKay Stevens and Liam Henderson should have never left Celtic,but I suppose it’s like a lot of things ,if your face doesn’t fit.
Turkeybhoy as ever in your angry way you miss the point entirely.
This isn’t about the current success. It’s about the racism of the past and the potential racism of the future. You tackle this when in a position of strength. We had a historic chance to change things but instead the cowardice from lawwell and co has let it slip and the Huns are taking over the agenda, unquestioned and unchallenged.
D.
Its quite possible to enjoy current success whilst buildings the foundations for future success. They aren’t mutually exclusive. A bit like you and your anger.
That reminds me whatever happened to the Stuart Armstrong money?
Awe that rain we have had recently has made the weeds grow again I see.
?the front of the bus they cany sing, they cany sing, they cany sing. ????
Am I missing something but did Jamesgang address a post To Turkeybhoy and did Timmy7noted respond as if he was Turkeybhoy, or am I not feeling well and need a lie down.
OK I need a lie down, Jamesgang addressed the same question to both of them.r
Not the Daily Record
The Takeover Panel of the City of London has defeated Dave King in court again, and this time a judge has agreed that he should face a contempt of court charge in relation to his refusal to comply with various orders they’ve made regarding his purchase of the club.