Lewis Morgan has had a difficult shift this season. The 23-year-old winger was used sparingly as a squad player before the concurrent absences of Odsonne Edouard, Leigh Griffiths and Bayo saw him drafted into the striker role against Rennes on 28th November.
Lewis scored a good goal that day but he is not a striker. He made another four appearances in that position before Edouard’s return, which brought the experiment to an end. He made 17 appearances in League One for Sunderland during the second half of last season. In the Wembley play-off final, he was brought on as an early substitute, while Aiden McGeady remained on the bench, but his time in the North East was not particularly productive.
Now he is Going to Miami for talks with Inter (not that one), with the MLS side having agreed a fee with Celtic for his permanent transfer.
There are several things about our experience with Lewis Morgan I like. Celtic scouts considered him the top talent in the Championship, a player with the potential to make the step up. It is good that we sign players like this.
He was loaned back to St Mirren, then after six months at Lennoxtown, out to Sunderland. He was given a chance in the qualifiers, then put through the striker turmoil, which gave Neil Lennon a chance to assess the player.
The player has a League Cup winner’s medal and a Wembley experience, things that he will be talking about for the rest of his life, and is likely to sign a contract to keep him in Florida for a few years. He would have hoped to hold down a first team place at Celtic, but on balance, the move from St Mirren has worked out well for him.
We have difficulty keeping players who are outstandingly successful, but they usually leave a for fee that allows us to further strengthen. What happens with players who do not make the grade is also important. Getting them off the wage bill, for a fee and hopefully a profit, stops the budget from being clogged by unproductive costs, a problem we have discussed on these pages since the days of Martin.
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Paul 67:
“ We have difficulty keeping players who are outstandingly successful, but they usually leave a for fee that allows us to further strengthen”
Are you at the wind up? I don’t remember getting in a £25m LB to replacement for KT.
On Scott Sinclair I dont think he was the same since the racist abuse he received at ibrox and being attacked in glasgow airport after one of the derbies mr desmond carved for, just my opinion of course
Craved
It’s highly unlikely that Scott Sinclair lost all of his pace , his skill and his eye for goal in the space of one season.
He latterly seemed reluctant to take on his man or have a pop at goal , instead he would turn back and pass the buck to somebody else. It always seemed to me that the reason lay between his ears.
I’m absolutely delighted to get Sinclair and Morgan off the books, with a little cash also.
Sinclair goes with my thanks, a top player for 18 months, who then lost his confidence and mojo. I said the extension was a mistake unless they sold in the summer, i even said id take 1M, because i didn’t see him playing regularly and with his wage that was a must. Plenty disagreed, time has vindicated me.
All through the summer i was posting that Morgan was just not good enough, i remember him coming on against the Estonian team with 20 mins remaining, possession was surrendered with him 6 times in 20 mins, he was too weak physically also.
Now we need to see 1st team standard recruits, this is the hard part, if its loans and big wages for 5 months, so be it, the money is there and failure will not be tolerated.
DBHOY on 10TH JANUARY 2020 1:09 PM
Turkeybhoy
He was frozen out the team for non footballing reasons imo. He is a Hunslayer, excellent goal record for us, clearly dedicated to his craft, great fitness levels, quality player who never shirked responsibility on the pitch, looked liked he loved being at Celtic throughout his time with us.
Why do you think a guy like that should be shunted out of the first team plans?
HH
Many of us totally agree with that.
We saw the work that Scott Sinclair put in at Lennoxtown ( Much of it on his own ). We saw the physical results of that work.
And yet he was not given a chance. We were desperate in some meaningful games for attacking options to give us goals , and yet a tried and tested proven goalscorer and former player of the year was not given his chance.
Optimisation of our best available talent, doubtful. ?
HH.
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 10TH JANUARY 2020 2:02 PM
……………
I agree 100% and go further as IMHO during the last Two seasons whenever SS did get Game Time, he looked devoid of any bravery and confidence on the ball, to take a man on.
He even looked like a “Lightweight” during games….aka Lewis Morgan and Mikey Johnston.
I am also sorry to say that if French Eddie is sold during this “Window” for ANY Price, The Celtic Board will stand accused of completely surrendering 9in a row….Simples. Some Celtic supporters may see it as the last straw, as ANY Guy brought in as his replacement would most likely need time to settle in etc, and how many more points would be dropped during that period…. I wonder ?
For Eddie to be sold…. on Top of the Silence from The Celtic Board regarding Kent and Morelos, and all the other issues ( Res 12 ), and not forgetting that Vile Hun support still being allowed into Celtic Park etc etc….and we dont win 9 in a row…I think it would be “The Last Straw” for many of the current SB Holders ?
I do hope that I am wrong.
HH
BLUEGRASS CELT on 10TH JANUARY 2020 2:00 PM
Paul 67:
“ We have difficulty keeping players who are outstandingly successful, but they usually leave a for fee that allows us to further strengthen”
Are you at the wind up? I don’t remember getting in a £25m LB to replacement for KT.
___
That’s not what he meant. KT’s sale will have helped with the required squad rebuild that included Jullien, Bolingoli, Elhamed, Taylor, Frimpong, Forster, Elyounoussi, Bauer, O’Connor and our potential January signings.
Sorry I haven’t posted anything, too busy re-writing history…”Now, Scott Sinclair…………………..”
Scott Sinclair was frozen out for non-football reasons? Not sure I agree.
I think it simply is down to Neil Lennon not rating him. There’s no evidence Neil has ever rated him.
Why did we give him a one-year extension? Either we thought we’d get a fee for him or we wanted him as a safety net in case we couldn’t get another winger (Elyounoussi came on the last day of the window)
I meant to add, that I sincerely thank Scott Sinclair for his contributions to Celtic, but he cut a pretty forlorn figure on the pitch since last season at least.
I did notice that he looked as though he had “Bulked up” this season with Gym work etc……but yet looked as “Lightweight” during any game time that he did get…..maybe a Player who had lost all confidence ?
HH
Big Jimmy
Indeed. Scott Sinclair’s game was built on bravery , speed , decisiveness ,positivity . We saw none of that latterly and without it he had no game.
Also agree about Eddy . He can’t be sold in this window , in fact we should only sell him in the summer if a proven striker is recruited in this window so that he’s settled in and ready to step into Eddy’s shoes when he does go. A lack of goals in the months ahead could mean a lack of points and the lack of a ninth title , which would be criminal.
Back in the day when things didn’t work out for a player at Celtic they ended up in Dumbarton or in East Fife.
Nowadays they are forced to move to places like New York City, or Miami FLA.
Playin fitba is getting tougher by the minute.
“…….brilliant, exciting, scoring goals, player of the year………………………………frozen out, on the bench, shite, coward…”
Timaloy@2:33
That might be your interpretation. Replacing KT with Bolingoli was criminal. As for the rest, half reasonably good and the rest low budget projects.
We need proven players for the positions that have left . A third of KT’s fee would have bought us a proven left back pro, one that we all know could do a job for two years before doing a SS .
We will end up buying more projects for this window if we are lucky. I don’t know if I would trust NL with any funds anyway to be honest
‘If ye don’t show up in training yer getting sent tae live in Florida on treble the wages’ -)))
Timaloy- I would keep O’Connor, and try to get him some game time, given El Hamed is injured again, he had a really good game for the Republic last month.
There is no doubt Scotty was a top class player, but he developed a very annoying habit of turning the play back rather than attacking. He also lost possession quite easily.
BLUEGRASS CELT on 10TH JANUARY 2020 2:49 PM
That might be your interpretation. Replacing KT with Bolingoli was criminal. As for the rest, half reasonably good and the rest low budget projects.
____
Do you think that the Forster, Frimpong, Jullien & Elhamed signings are just “reasonably good”?
What’s a great signing to you? Winning the Ballon d’Or?
Sounds to me like you’ll never be happy. You certainly checked the box now you’ve mentioned “projects”
Signing players with potential isn’t a lack of ambition. It’s something the top clubs in Europe do. Real Madrid, Chelsea & Barcelona have all been penalized for going after “projects”
Stan Petrov did pretty well for a “project”
“We need proven players for the positions that have left . A third of KT’s fee would have bought us a proven left back pro, one that we all know could do a job for two years before doing a SS .”
There’s no such thing as a “proven” player for Celtic. Every signing contains some risk. We signed Boli from Rapid Vienna. The Austrian league is ranked higher than the Scottish league and he had already played in Europe.
He’s been up and down so far but I wouldn’t write him off.
Neither would I write off Greg Taylor. I’ve been impressed whenever I see him.
“We will end up buying more projects for this window if we are lucky. I don’t know if I would trust NL with any funds anyway to be honest”
Wait til the window closes before you wet the bed.
!!BADA BING!! on 10TH JANUARY 2020 2:59 PM
Timaloy- I would keep O’Connor, and try to get him some game time, given El Hamed is injured again, he had a really good game for the Republic last month.
___
I hear you but O’Connor seems to play more regularly at fullback these days.
I’d feel more comfortable bringing in a CB with experience for the next 6 months (or more) to cover Jullien & Ajer
For you Folks that meet up in Babbittys for a pint.
You will find it a friendlier smoother run shop on when re- opens a la 6/7 weeks
WDH
has Babbity been sold? I always liked the staff/management in there. last in on 28 Nov pre Rennes
Unorthodox and risky business models are not exclusive to Govan.
https://on.ft.com/2FIty0d
Fraser has sold Babbity’s and I believe the current owner of Rab Ha’s is the new owner.
It won’t be a patch 😉 on the old establishment.
thingscanonlygetbettercsc
Pog
I like what you did there!
Rab Ha’s is a good pub so glad BB is staying in local ownership . Hopefully the staff stay on too
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 10TH JANUARY 2020 2:02 PM
It’s highly unlikely that Scott Sinclair lost all of his pace , his skill and his eye for goal in the space of one season.
He latterly seemed reluctant to take on his man or have a pop at goal , instead he would turn back and pass the buck to somebody else. It always seemed to me that the reason lay between his ears.
==============================================================
Exactly how I saw it .
With great regret,
Wee Jamesy has similar tendencies but to date has always recovered .
Pog
your information is correct
Bobbsie is an excellent publican all will enjoy the warmth he creates
WHITEDOGHUNCH on 10TH JANUARY 2020 4:03 PM
Pog
your information is correct
Bobbsie is an excellent publican all will enjoy the warmth he creates
===============
As long as he disnae create warm pints…
HH
GREENPINATA on 10TH JANUARY 2020 2:26 PM
In Scott’s first season, from his first game at Tynecastle I thought we had someone of the same ability as Larsson. A game-changer. But whatever happened, his performance levels were on the slide in the next two seasons.
Test
Admittedly it’s a while ago now, but anytime I was in BB’s I never rated it as a boozer – the staff were lousy.
I hope it improves.
BIG JIMMY on 10TH JANUARY 2020 2:27 PM
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 10TH JANUARY 2020 2:02 PM
……………
.. Some Celtic supporters may see it as the last straw…
_________________________________________________________
I remember that particular straw. It was a constant irritant at the start of the’64-’65 season. Mind you, there was some improvement over the next 9 seasons.
……………..I’d have to add that the company was always top notch tho’!
:)
HH.
bankiebhoy1
agree completely
it will
Fritzsong
Some improvement…….master of the understatement !
The two pivotal moments for me were the SC win over Dunfermline followed by the New Year game THRASHING of the former top dogs (who at that time were known as ‘Rangers’)!
WDH………….
With your guarantee, I’ll take that as sorted!
Cheers.
HH
Timaloy. You mentioned 8 players . Elhamed isn’t good, Frimpong is good ( but not a RB. Swap him for Forrest). Julien , the jury is still out. Taylor looks like he could be good. The rest are either on line or just shite.
And BTW , I seldom post on here so don’t know how you can say I’m never happy.
And another thing. I’ll wet the bed like I do ever other window cause that’s what is normally like with this board. Hope your happy clapping proves me wrong 👍
El Hamed isn’t good? Seriously?