If you know your Greek mythology, you will know that Vasilis Barkas (28) joined Celtic as a goalkeeper two years ago.
During last season’s league campaign, he made it onto the bench for the opening game against Hearts and played the Boxing Day fixture at St Johnstone. In the cups, he was a Scottish Cup fifth round substitute against Raith Rovers. It was the Champions League qualification that made Ange Postecoglou’s mind up about him.
Midtjylland earned a first leg draw at Celtic Park with a goal that Vasilis carried the can for. Ange had seen enough. The Boxing Day appearance was a result of significant illness in the squad, it is telling that Vasilis was unaffected.
Yesterday, he travelled to Utrecht in the Netherlands, the land of his birth, where he will spend next season trying to get his career back on track.
Barkas is the most expensive goalkeeper signing in our history and was a significant deviation from plan. International travel was banned in the spring of 2020 and scouts were not permitted to attend games until late in the summer.
Fraser Forster, who performed superbly for Celtic the previous season, had permission from parent club, Southampton, to train with us pending completion of an anticipated new loan deal. The south coast club had some details to take care of first but terms were agreed.
Craig Gordon had been backup to Fraser and had an offer on the table from Celtic to remain at the club another season. Craig, however, was at the stage of his career where he wanted to play and left to join Hearts on a significantly lower wage than was on the table at Celtic.
When Southampton gave Celtic the green light, Peter Lawwell called Fraser at Lennoxtown to confirm the deal was done, only to be told, “Actually, I’m not sure.” I understand there was a possibility of some goalkeeper movement at Chelsea and they were looking at backup options. Fraser was invited to empty his locker.
Had he revealed his hesitation a week earlier, Craig Gordon would have accepted the higher-paid contract at Celtic and stayed as first choice. He didn’t just let the club down, his ‘keeper pal was denied money and potentially medals.
Unable to scout, Celtic were left in a position of recruiting from the teams they play against, or relying on external scouts in Europe. This latter route brought Barkas to Glasgow. He successfully played against Celtic in Champions League qualification two years earlier, was a full Greek international with experience at the top table of European football.
We will hopefully never had to sign a player without going through proper scouting processes again, alas, a repeat of the behaviour of Fraser Forster is something we are likely to see at some point.
Good luck, Vasilis.
148 Comments- Pages:
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BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 8TH JUNE 2022 3:28 PM
Tomás Belmonte is 1.78 M
Possible target?
Might have to consider amending my moniker :)
MODERATOR1888 on 7TH JUNE 2022 11:00 PM
Perhaps they are writing deflection squirrels for their latest crisis…
_________________________________________________________________________
I would suggest that the more likely reason some of the regular posters are absent at present is because Celtic have no games to play – and the transfer window is still shut – not because they are “trolls”.
Presently I only check the blog occasionally to see if there has been any news. Sincerely hope any currently absent posters will not be declared as “trolls” when they do eventually come back on.
CAMUSBHOY
Celtic like other clubs could be announcing signings just now
I take it you missed my point about Forster having a last minute change of heart.
How do we know that Barkas is signing for Utrecht for example
Because he had already cleared his locker and left the building, and it’s a loan deal. No red face if Barkas has a last minute change of mind so no real risk in announcing it and Utrecht announced it first.
A real red face would be announcing Jota and CCV before the window and one or both of them change their mind before signings registered on Friday. Extremely unlikely I know, but after Forster, I can see the club’s point.
PS. Love your moniker. I’m a big fan of Albert.
The Son Of Law-Well,will smite the Unbelievers.For so it was written.
Your friend jhb is a racist polititical troll.
You do a fair bit of cheerleading for the right of troll
under the guise of free speech rtb
You should try posting what you think of all things Celtic
Instead you stick another cushion on the windae sill and comment on what other posters are saying or trying to fix Celtic fans into a them and us rubbish scenario.
Was actually pleased to see Barkas at the final day celebrations last month, and likewise that he is going out on loan to the Netherlands. Wish him all the best for the future, likewise Craig, Fraser, David at Hibs, Conor (sp) et al. Actually hope the latter mentioned gets a chance with us given how young he was when thrown in at the deep end. See us being linked to the now released Dundee Utd keeper, young enough to follow big Joe Hart, and would, along with Scott Bain give us a decent trio of goaltenders.
Hi Tom, thanks for replying
The monicker comes from my Grandad’s birthplace Camus Oughter in Connemara although I could go with Albert also 😀
Wee jim Spence appears to be writing bout potential goalkeeping signing
https://twitter.com/JimSpenceDundee/status/1534473257201635328?t=viNQy_kXKD_RQXPwO-i4IA&s=19
HH
Brian@4:41
Same thing happened to me today. Weather radar shows downpour heading to Sunderland.
So I go in a four mile walk, did have a top water proof on but not the legs. Weather radar wrong😈Rain pours off top jacket, runs down shorts, down legs into shoes.
Got back to the cottage and opened a can🍻
CAMUSBHOY
Aha. Every day’s a school day.
Cheers for that.
I might have exaggerated the cough, :)
Enjoy your beer
AN TEARMANN on 8TH JUNE 2022 4:51 PM
Your friend jhb is a racist polititical troll
Have no idea who jhb is – other than he is an occasional poster on here who you dislike
You do a fair bit of cheerleading for the right of troll
utter nonsense
under the guise of free speech
I’m in favour of free speech
You should try posting what you think of Celtic
generally I do when we are playing
Instead you stick another cushion on the windae sill and comment on what other posters are saying
mosts of the posts one here are in relation to what other posters are saying – yours for example.
or trying to fix Celtic fans into a them and us rubbish scenario
more utter nonsense
talk of Albert Camus reminds me of my favourite meme.
‘God is dead’ Neitzsche 1883
‘Nietzsche is dead’ God 1900
I was drinking with Renee Descartes last night.
I said ‘ another pint for the road Renee?’
He said ‘I think not’
Bugger me; he just disappeared!
CONEYBHOY
3 Russians sitting in the Siberian Gulag.
Man1: What are you guys in for?
Man2: I spoke badly of Popov.
Man3: I spoke well of Popov. What about you?
Man1: I am Popov.
Tom 👏👏👏👏👏👏
CONEYBHOY
Descartes.
Brilliant.
Had to think about that one.
See what I did there?
ROCK TREE BHOY
I may be wrong but I don’t think AT’s post was directed at you mate.
Good evening all from Neesons.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 8TH JUNE 2022 5:32 PM
It most certainly was Tom…
“under the guise of free speech rtb”
anytime I post he’s coming at me – for why I have no idea.
Old woman standing in bread queue in Leningrad. Says to the old woman behind her, “My son tellsme the quesues are even worse in Moscow.”
Other old woman replies, “This IS the queue for Moscow.”
Every signing we make comes with an element of risk, barkas like many did not work out. Best way to reduce the element of risk is to have a playing style and to buy players who fit that style. To succeed in an Ange team players need to have good stamina, be hardworking, technically sound. Targeting players with those basics gives them a higher chance of fitting in.
Lots of players linked so far but so far nothing of note. Given the outgoings clearly work is well underway, just need to be patient
HH
ROCK TREE BHOY
Sorry. Never noticed that on first read.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 8TH JUNE 2022 5:25 PM
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 8TH JUNE 2022 5:38 PM
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 8TH JUNE 2022 5:30 PM
🤣 On form today Tom
Two racehorses are stabled next to one another. One says to the other “A strange thing happened to me yesterday. I was a 20/1 outsider and this guy put 10 pink pills into my water bucket just before the race and I romped home by 3 lengths.”
The other horse says “Funny you should say that, last week I was a 100/1 outsider and this guy put 20 pink pills into my water bucket just before my race and I strolled home 5 lengths ahead.”
At that moment a greyhound happened to be walking through the stables and pipes up “I’ve just been listening to your conversation and funnily enough I was in a race 2 weeks ago and I was a 200/1 outsider when this guy put 30 pink pills into my water bowl I won the race by 10 lengths.”
At this point one horse turned round to the other and said “Feck me did you see that – a talking dug!?”
Put this joke on a good few years back , still a corker …
A lady walks into Harrods. She looks around, spots a beautiful diamond
bracelet and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to look more
closely, she unexpectedly farts.
Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone noticed
her little woops and prays that a sales person was not anywhere near.
As she turns around, her worst nightmare materialises in the form of
a salesman standing right behind her – Good looking as well ,Cool as a cucumber, he displays all of the qualities one would expect
of a professional in a store like Harrods.
He politely greets the lady with, ‘Good day, Madam. How may we help
you today?
Blushing and uncomfortable, but still hoping that the salesman
somehow missed her little ‘incident’, she asks, ‘what is the price of
this lovely bracelet?’
He answers, “Madam – if you farted just looking at it – you’re going
to shit yourself when I tell you the price!”
Rock Tree Bhoy.
Nobodies coming at you so you can tone down that frightfully frightful lingo,OK,
Utter nonsense- is suggesting you don’t windae hing rtb.look forward to a post bout Celtic sometime.
Which poster you missing?
Michael O
Park the bus
Sceptical citizen
Eddie nygma- aw he’s na fav
Fresh season surely the line up refreshed lol
It will!
Ralston starts
CONEYBHOY @ 5:20 PM
I was drinking with Renee Descartes last night.
I said ‘ another pint for the road Renee?’
He said ‘I think not’
Bugger me; he just disappeared!
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Should have sung him this song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-vQAUhr3Tw
Am A Tearymann @6:20pm
——
Grow up ffs.
You sound like an immature spoiled brat.
You are going down the wanklepicker route.
You can’t function unless your engaged in friction.
You can’t handle the FACt that folk see through you.
Celtic talk?
Why are Celtic the only team who seem interested in Jota?
Enjoy the son of Lawwell.
lol 👍
A Japanese tourist got lost in Buckingham Palace. He opened a door and saw Prince Charles in the act of self abuse. The tourist quickly took a pic and ran, hotly pursued by a panick-stricken Charlie, who eventually caught up. The tourist agreed to sell him his camera for £10,000.
10 minutes later, Charles was playing with his new camera when the Queen saw him.
“Where did you get the camera?” she enquired.
“A Japanese tourist sold it to me.”
“How much?”
“Ten thousand pounds.”
The Queen shook her head before replying.
“He seen you coming.”
PARK THE BUS
Why are Celtic the only team who seem interested in Jota?
Because the window isn’t open yet and Celtic have a contractual agreement with Benfica giving them first option.
2 Celtic players and 5 ex-Celtic players in tonight’s starting line-up v Armenia.
Siri, Alexa, then this………….
https://twitter.com/joshbechill5/status/1533857146160308224
Musta broke the blog.
Good luck to VB , didn’t work out but in a stable squad he’ll come good again
Does anyone out there in the worldwide Timternet have any experience of using amzfootball.com?
Nice looking site, clear picture and graphic in 10 minute trial, covers the universe of football, various options from $15 a game to $72 a year.
I’m reluctant to give my credit card number to a new entity without some references, especially if FIFA/UEFA closes them down. Has anyone used this streaming site?
INIQUITOUSIV on 8TH JUNE 2022 7:31 PM
Musta broke the blog.
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Nah, just a slow day.
If you don’t mind I’ll post a wee trio of tunes that hopefully the blog will like.
If you rather I didn’t, feel free to let me know,
https://youtu.be/efB3aQkZS1g
https://youtu.be/fUNTk5xsxk4
https://youtu.be/tODaH_fGtMY
Brian