Vasilios Barkas returns to Celtic Park on Thursday, four and a half years after his last appearance at the ground. That 1-1 draw with Midtjylland was our first home game in front of fans in 16 months, with 9,000 allowed to attend. It was also Vasilios’ only appearance for Celtic in front of a home crowd. The goal conceded led to a curtailment of further chances for the keeper.
He was awful at Celtic but it would be a mistake to assume that is an accurate assessment of his abilities. His reputation blossomed since moving to Utrecht, where he has remained first choice for over three years. He is better than any of us remember and will do his best to demonstrate this on Thursday.
Barkas arrived at Celtic late July 2020, when unnecessary travel was prohibited, including trips to scout a keeper. Fraser Forster had just completed an incredible season and had returned to parent club Southampton, who agreed in principle to a return to Celtic the next season, when they had secured backfill.
Fraser told the club and his pal Craig Gordon he was also keen on a return. As a consequence, Craig, who was out of contract, rejected a Celtic deal and went to Hearts for less than half the money Celtic offered, in order to play first team football. A week later, Southampton got cover and green-lit the deal for Fraser. Fraser, though, thought he had a bite at Chelsea, so backed out. These events lost Celtic a known keeper and cost Craig a lot of money.
No travel, no fresh scouting, where do we go? Barkas played for the AEK Athens team who eliminated Celtic from Champions League qualification two years earlier. The deal was done.
Vasilios arrived in Scotland alone, unable to speak the language and not permitted to socialise. Players were not even allowed to eat together, they had breakfast and lunch in their cars at Lennoxtown. After training, he went home, and cooked and cleaned for himself. If you anything about young footballers, those tasks are not familiar territory. Barkas was one of millions of desperately isolated people that year.
He was not alone suffering this way at Celtic that season. Others – who travelled up from England – fared even worse personally, but there is no hiding place between the sticks and Vasilios was exposed. Celtic adhered scrupulously to the rules that season. This had a cost which not every club was prepared to pay. Some believe rules are too taxing.
I don’t know if he will suffer some mild form of PTSD when he walks out the tunnel on Thursday evening, or if he will rise to the occasion, fortified by his subsequence successes. Best of luck to him, either way.
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Celtic thats the team for me
HH
It sure is AT!
Personally, I’d expect an article on player trading. We’re 27 days into c32 day window.
There’s a 3 horse race in the league and the other 2 appear to be interested in strengthening
I understand Robocops fourth directive may prevent that on here however
Still, Barkas eh? What a guy
Barkas honestly who cares we’re sitting 3rd in the league not a penny spent on players 27 days into the transfer window.
I think I’d be happier saying, ‘Best of luck,’ to a new centre back, midfielder, winger and another centre forward.
The Venus de Milo of goalkeepers
If we don’t make these, signings before the weekend, then we need not bother turning up a Celtic Park.
The game is well and truly up.
If only Brendan Rodgers hadn’t let Kwon,Nawrocki and Lagerbielke go..
He has really scuppered our chances of winning trophies …
I was just walking a mile in Nicholson’s shoes there and by the time I got back the transfer window had closed.
Oops! Whit ma like?
Or how about an article on:
“The story of Shin Yamada”
Quite topical considering he was loaned out today.
When asked why the manager (Brendan Rodgers) referred to some signings as “club signings,” Michael Nicholson shrugged his shoulders.
I do remember his signing being well-received after we missed out on FF. I also remember the pile on which was started by Kris Boyd after a mistake which didn’t seem that bad to me.
Season was brutal, there was no escape from the online mob, no release provided by a bit of support from the moderate majority in the match day crowd. Everyone consumed their football on social media and tv. The lunatics ruled. Unreal, surreal, unforgiving.
Something changed that season, the malign influence of the internet became stronger.
Deflection Quick News
Wonder what tomorrows article will be:
“The story of Wayne Biggins”
You would think we were top of the league with a strong squad and lots to look forward to.
Why not ask questions about why are are where we are today?
Barkas , the biggest flapper since the hayday of the Charleston . It’s remarkable what having to cook your own tea does to your limbs .
Anyway , I’m not interested in other team’s players unless they’re in the process of signing for us …….which they don’t appear to be at the moment .
I remember ole Hologram Hauns what a waste of time and money that was.
GLENOWEN on 27TH JANUARY 2026 12:08 PM
Personally, I’d expect an article on player trading. We’re 27 days into c32 day window.
There’s a 3 horse race in the league and the other 2 appear to be interested in strengthening
I understand Robocops fourth directive may prevent that on here however
Still, Barkas eh? What a guy
————————————————————————-
Of all the topics Celtic fans are currently discussing and that’s what the blog is headlining today 😂😂😂
Unfortunately the host appears to be of the same mindset as the custodians are.
Just remember to “behave yourselves”…..
Shin gone.
Talking of Greek keepers, and Fraser Forster Bournemouth signed Lazio’s hot prospect Mandas on loan with an option to buy for £16m today. Bournemouth also have FF on their books as back up, which Mandas will
be. He has a couple of caps for Greece, 33 games for Lazio, he was attracted to Bournemouth who have a capacity of 10,000 because:
“It feels like a magical atmosphere between the players and the fans, and I like the way the team plays, so it is the right move.”
Watching them on TV the average age of their fans is about the same as the contributors to the CQN comments section
When did this blog become Bournemouth Quick News? 🧐
AIPPLE @ ages ago
What larks we had with Aipples app,
Sellic taps, and swipe, push, tap
HH
BSR
Made me smile!
Had to do his own cooking and cleaning. Heavens!
The stomach churning moment when you’ve just about erased that Covid season from the memory and someone brings it up.
Shudder!!
WHAT IS THE STARZ on 27TH JANUARY 2026 12:21 PM
If only Brendan Rodgers hadn’t let Kwon,Nawrocki and Lagerbielke go..
He has really scuppered our chances of winning trophies …
We’d have more points with Lagerbielke Im yhe squad, and probably Maik as well.
Lagerbielke is a right sided centre half who plays in a back 3 for a team that kept a clean sheet when they beat BR’s Celtic 2-0 at Parkhead. He plays every week for a team thats 4th in the Europa league and 4th in the Portuguese premier league. He’d be the best fit right footed centre half in the team
If you pay £5 million for Tounekti and Balikwisha, Motherwell will be looking for similar
I always thought Shin looked somewhat shocked to find himself at Celtic; like eyes wide surprised.
Willing to take a loan at a struggling German Tier 2 team suggests the fella’s confidence is shot tae bits.
Wonder who and when our next in will be ?
PS: Just back in from the pictures to watch The Housemaid; decent wee schlocky domestic horror picture show. Sleep will be a challenge here, with overnights of 26-23c all night long – no duvet reqd.
Barkas!
Hhahahahaaaaahhahahaa.
I’ll write about Barkas, that’ll throw them off the scent.
Oh my, things are becoming a little unhinged on here.
COMING SOON . .. . .
What Deodorant is favoured by elite sportsmen. . . .. . . ?
……..find out in the next edition. . . ..
Paul67
Poor Vasilas , did Wilfried ever gets his dugs out of quarantine?
Martin said a couple of weeks ago everyone was working really hard and he was confident that we would get some signings in. The usual “we are all in it together” message.
A few days later he basically said that he was the bottleneck on new signings as he was been given lots of options.
Wonder what he’ll say at his next media conference tomorrow?
Can’t be long before the “we tried really hard but for some reason other clubs won’t trade players for ginger bottles in January” excuses are rolled out.
I hope Martin’s loyalty to DD has a limit. He has been set up to fail.
DESSYBHOY on 27TH JANUARY 2026 11:44 AM
Mark jumpers rather than going totally zonal, that guy Mcantee loves scoring/assisting against us, from the Republic too going by his country affiliation.
….
If only , you can’t mark jumpers if you are a smaller team it’s totally bonkers , the other teams big guys take our big guys for a walk and the lose out to balls played into 6 yard box , see St Mirren and Hearts under Wilf,
Arne was marking Findlay but managed to lose him , so we are currently playing a hybrid.
Keepupcfc
Section 111
I have never known Paul to change his header.
What do you feel should be talked about?
Go ahead
Write away bout what you think,nothing stopping you writing your view.much as P67 comes in for criticism he won’t curtail your right to say.
HH
Shin é.
On another note, you’d think the faux outrage and disgust generated by the host having the temerity to write about what he wants to on his own blog would lead the most offended to start their own.
Clearly it’s easier and more rewarding for some to moan, complain and hate from the sidelines.
One of the first bits of English Barkas learned was ”catch ye later”……..he soon dropped it.
Boardroom Groupies reporting for duty………..Sah
SECTION111 on 27TH JANUARY 2026 12:32 PM
When did this blog become Bournemouth Quick News? 🧐
An attempt to show the challenges that Celtic face trying to attract decent keepers.
It’s something a bit different, its pretty boring reading the same stuff 24/7.
Try it, it makes the blog a better place for everyone!