The jeopardy lesson of Stuart Armstrong

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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.

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  1. Hebcelt

     

    Singapore- McGettigans pub in Clarke quay is where the Singtims watch the games.

     

     

    Watched the Hamilton game there in August with the guy that runs it and another diehard. Friendly welcoming guys, can’t remember their names . I was awake for 30 plus hours by the time I got there from Scotland and was totally cooked by the end of the game.

     

     

    My advice is get there 1hr or 2 before KO as it’s not that easy to find in amongst all the other bars and restaurants in the vicinity.

     

     

    Enjoy!

     

     

    HH

  2. Hebcelt/Dbhoy – SingTims are a good bunch of lads – last time i watched with them they were in a wee pub near the Botanical Gardens; but if they are in Clarke QUay now then much easier to get to (and find) to watch games

  3. Good morning CQN from a dark but dry Garngad

     

     

    Hebcelt, I cannot help with any information on bars to watch the Celtic games in those areas you are travelling to, but all the best, that sounds like some trip.

     

     

    I think Australia might be on Mrs David66 and myselfs radar in the next few years.

     

     

    Free the BMCUWP1

     

     

    HH

     

     

    D. :)

  4. Good morning CQN

     

    Got up this morning to a message sent last night by MURDOCHAULDANDHAY.

     

    He is expecting to get out of Hospital at 13:00 today. I replied to say it was great news and would message him tonight. He replied at 06:25…Cheers Lennybhoy up already up in anticipation of going home…

     

    Until we meet again…

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

    Hail Hail!

  5. fergusslayedtheblues on

    Lest we forget

     

    are we in a 2010 season all over again ,is a scottish football club in need of CL money to survive

     

     

    2010 was the year of the ‘Honest Mistake’, when match officials in Scotland just couldn’t seem to get decisions right.

     

    This general incompetence would be easier to explain if the decisions ‘evened themselves out’ over the course of the season.

     

    Instead there was a remarkable trend, one club seemed to get a hugely disproportionate benefit from these decisions which the men with whistles themselves termed as ‘Honest Mistakes’ and that club’s biggest rival for the SPL title, and with it the Champions League spot for the following season, just never seemed to get the rub of the green.

     

    That club had a new manager with up until that point had a decent reputation.

     

     

     

    The era of the ‘Honest Mistakes’ cost him his job. Perhaps he himself gave a green light to what was to follow when early on he stated that he wouldn’t challenge poor refereeing decision but instead would ‘take it on the chin’.

     

    Yesterday, some 7 years after all of this happened, a former director of one of these football clubs, appeared in the High Court in Glasgow to give evidence in a criminal fraud trial, involving the subsequent sale of that club which, a mere two years after the era of the ‘Honest Mistake’ went into administration and then liquidation when a CVA failed.

     

    A new club was formed, Celtic played them last weekend at Ibrox and put five goals into their nets.

     

    Things weren’t so dandy back in 2012 when decision after decision would go against Celtic and for the old Rangers club.

     

    In court that former Director in evidence under oath spoke about how close to the wind the old club sailed in 2010 and that the bank were close to forcing an insolvency event on Rangers at that time. He told the court that Champions League money was crucial if the club was to make ends meet.

     

    It was essential that they won the league. Absolutely essential. Critical even.

     

    So it was a remarkably fortuitous coincidence that they were up against a manager prepared to take anything at all on the chin.

     

    And even more of a lucky coincidence that refereeing standards would be so poor, even by the rather low standards of previous seasons, and that the club in need of the title got it, helped by honest mistake after honest mistake that add up to one of the most remarkable coincidences ever seen in professional sport.

     

    Yesterday CQN revisited 50 Honest Mistakes from around 2010 and we would urge you to read these to remind yourselves of what happened. Please note that the extended beyond Tony Mowbray’s time as Celtic manager and into Neil Lennon’s time in charge. Remember what happened at Tannadice?

     

    You will recall some of these but plenty of others will jog your memory and you will probably be fairly shocked as you read down the list and notice a trend.

     

    You get a list at the end totaling up the incidents and the officials who gave them and you will notice that if they gave out awards in Honest Mistakes there are clear medal winners within the whistle blowing profession.

     

    You can read about the first 25 Honest Mistakes HERE and when you have finished that pick up from 26 to 50 HERE.

  6. Shame on the goons who run those on-line polls asking people to vote if our players should be sold or not, even worse the so-called Celtic blogs that run with the results of said plebiscite.

     

     

    Such a pathetic and pointless exercise anyway, hopefully the players that are subject to this nonsense are oblivious.

     

     

    Brendan Rodgers decides.

     

     

    Mikel Lustig faithful through and through CSC.

     

     

    HH. ?

  7. HEBCELT

     

    Enjoy your trip hope you get to meet up with Melbourne Mick a great Celtic mhan who is spreading the word down the Peninsula HH !!

  8. Goooood Morning CQN ???????+ ?

     

     

    Stephen (MA&H) ???? – apologies I didn’t respond to your message

     

     

    Very Hoooooopy Birthday Mrs CRC ??

     

     

    Finally

     

    Jude Ryan Wight – a very special Hooooooooopy birthday – 1 today ?

  9. I think someone mentioned that Dolly Menga (?) was the THIRD player this season to avoid a red card in the game against Celtic but to receive a ban later. Is that the case? If so, who were the other two players.

     

    Thanks,

     

    JJ

  10. Hooooops

     

    That should have been

     

     

    Jude Ryan Wright ?

     

    Very Hoooopy 1st birthday

     

    ( my wee Grandson)

  11. Almore,

     

     

    Sorry no tickets for Hamilton.

     

    One needed to have bought a ticket for Accies v LIvingston to get one.

     

    Hope your friend can get one elsewhere.

     

     

    Eurochamps67

  12. Norriem

     

    Thanks for that. Certainly gives ammunition to the Honest Mistakes view. I wonder how many reds have been given retrospectively and to which teams? Maybe three is the norm.

     

    JJ

  13. All the best MAH, many thanks for the info on where to watch the games, still struggling for Phukket – anyone? Hail Hail Hebcelt

  14. I am just wondering

     

    Any club been charged yet for the hitting of an official with a coin

     

    Or is it still just Celtic, who are the only club ever to have been charged for this type of incident

     

    Anyone charged for throwing said coin rom he assembled group of fans – unknown which team they follow

     

    Anyone charged for throwing a coin at Neil Francis Lennon

     

    Anyone charged for rushing off a supporter bus in Union Jack shorts and seriously assaulting a Celtic fan

     

    Anyon chaged for stabbing two fans at a Europa league game involving a Scottish club

     

     

    Should I go on

  15. …………..EC 67, just saw yer last one.

     

     

    It’s the thought that counts!

     

     

    HH

     

     

    :)

  16. Nice day in Arbroath so out for a bike ride.

     

    If anyone responds to my 9:29 post, I shall reply later.

     

    Cheerio for now,

     

    JJ

  17. HEBCELT

     

     

    Phuket I’m afraid is a Celtic supporters club free zone, I’ve been there many times and failed to find a single bar that currently shows Scottish football. English football rules in Phuket.

     

     

    Not sure which Marriott your in, Nai Yang or Merlin beach. The former is very near to the airport and somewhat isolated, the latter is relatively close to Patong beach where there are a huge number of bars which you may be able to get them to try and find the game. Bribery works but if they are showing the EPL you’ll be screwed. The Drunken Leprechaun in Patong beach might be your best chance.

     

     

    Angus O’Tools in Karon beach might have the game on but never tried it before, its a long way from the airport Marriott but just around the corner in relative terms from Merlin beach.

     

     

    Sounds like a great trip, Sinagapore is great but expensive the Sing Tims are good guys and McGettigan’s is easy to find in Clarke Key, next to the fountains in the centre, just across from the Highlander Bar. Its upstairs so look up for the signs.

     

     

    I would try contacting them

  18. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    You would never get Celtic supporters discussing or recommending who should leave the club.

     

     

    We are, in the main, working class people with socialist values.

     

     

    Therefore, to advocate for a person to lose his job, with the resulting effects on his family, is an anathema to us.

     

     

    Isn’t it?

  19. HEBCELT

     

     

    The sporting calendar on O’Tools website shows the SPL so this would be your best bet, I would also phone them especially if you have to travel thirty plus miles to get there from Nai Yang beach.

     

     

    https://otools-phuket.com/

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