Likely summer signing number two, Virgil van Dijk, arrived in Glasgow this morning for a medical after terms were agreed with the player and his club, Groningen. The 6’4” player, who will be 22 next month, is a Dutch under-21 international.
Virgil is two weeks younger than Victor Wanyama and emerged into the Groningen team around the same time Victor pitched up in Glasgow, they have made almost exactly the same number of appearances for their respective clubs, 62 top flight games in total, in the case of Virgil.
62 games is an interesting figure. Enough to bed in, catch local scouts’ eyes and have well-travelled men from Glasgow watch several times before making a recommendation. Not enough to catch the eyes of less well-organised, but no less resourceful, scouts in the bottom half of the English Premier League, who Celtic now seem to compete for talent with.
If Virgil is the real deal, another couple of dozen games might have changed the competition for his signature.
Is there a 50-80 game window which can deliver sufficient evidence of a player’s talent, but not too much evidence, which evaporates the value gap? This hypothesis would be easy to test and if it holds would provide an interesting filter on the hundreds of names pushed to the club each year.
Have you booked for the Lions Roar event at Celtic Park tomorrow night? Last and precious opportunity to watch how the European Cup was won with the men who did the work. In short, priceless. Tickets available here.
Speaking of the men who won it, buy Heart of a Lion here:
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macjay1 for Neil Lennon
Ole Swinging Dick (and I use that not as a term of offence but just as the one he is known around here, I certainly don’t agree with that) told me that William Cooper was actually a Mason. I corrected him and told him he was a DeMolay member when he was younger.
William Cooper says listen to everyone. That Guy was murdered right after 911 and we have loons like Alex Jones and Icke polluting enquiring minds. Russell Brand is the latest recruit and he is a lot more subtle but ultimately it is not hard to see through him.
My Dear Kojo…..
Hmmm….Forest Fires..
Ah See Ye Hiv Read The Report By The Special Defense Committee In The US….
Examining The Causation Of All Those ‘Wildfires’ In Colorado…..
And Ither Pairts Of The Land Of The Free
Over The Last Few Years….
Well Only Last Year,Putin Warned Us That The FSB Had Established……
That Al Qaeda Was Behind Many Of The Brush Fires In Europe Last Year…..
Including Those In France,The Iberian Peninsula ….And Greece….
In Fact,This Strategy Was Uncovered….
In Material Obtained By The SEAL Team..
Who Raided Bin Laden’s Compound….
In The ‘Land Of The Pure’…..
The Object Being Inflicting On The Western World…….
“Death By A Thousand Cuts”…..
[ And That’s Why We’re Giving Advanced Weapons Tae ‘Al Qaeda-In-Syria’ ?..Ed ]
Anyone guessed Jabba’s name on RM?
Clue: the pen is mightier than the sword!
Morning bhoys nd ghirls, hun free here, as ever.
Blootered, been oot tonight.
See if canamalrs thing works, that will be the icing on the cake for me, cos it wont, I will tell you that now.
Fair play to yer men, and I hope everyone supports him, cos the more that know that we are seen as mugs the better.
HH
Kojo/singing dick
Still…..a bellend
Lost a feckn bundle on the Spanish game tonight, bet them under ten goals….Oh dear.
THE EXILED TIM
00:33 on 21 June, 2013
Lost a feckn bundle on the Spanish game tonight, bet them under ten goals….Oh dear.
______________________________________________________________________
Unlucky Man
floridaghirl 22:47 on 20 June, 2013
Didn’t part of their roof collapse in the past year?
………………………………………………………………………
floridaghirl, I read your post and laughed then I wondered if it was a serious question.
In the last year their whole world has collapsed………………………..along with their arseeeee holes.:-)
petec
00:26 on 21 June, 2013
Mate.
It`s the facts I enjoy eg. Derivation of Besiktas.
I also find differing and different views stimulating ie. food for thought.
The most important thing to teach kids is to learn to think for themselves lest they become fodder for the media or just mouthpieces for their parent`s opinions.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
00:48 on 21 June, 2013
petec
00:26 on 21 June, 2013
Mate.
It`s the facts I enjoy eg. Derivation of Besiktas.
I also find differing and different views stimulating ie. food for thought.
The most important thing to teach kids is to learn to think for themselves lest they become fodder for the media or just mouthpieces for their parent`s opinions.
______________________________________________________________
You are definitely on the same page as me although perhaps not so.
I told Aidan that God is his Real Father a long time ago. It takes away every worry in an instant, if you know what I mean?
I’ve told Aidan not to believe everything he learns in School from a very early age, but I have emphasised that Mathematics he should REALLY listen in and really tune in.
He is doing fine in that field so far as far as I can see. ;))
Just wondering with the pending signing of Virgil if JVoH had anything to do with the scouting. Still keeps close ties with the club and loved his time here.
gsu
The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie
00:27 on 21 June, 2013
Give ole petec one of your finest Music tracts on a Thursday night.
petec
01:00 on 21 June, 2013
As my old man used to say:
” Do your best,son.You can do no more.”
Evening fholks,
macjay @ 0:48,
An important point well made amigo.
The qualifications though have to include some trust. If some names post here often enough, young impressionables will take their references as fact, when in fact, they can be nonsense on occasion. I’d wager this is why many are keen to protect the honesty and integrity of this particular blog, which is still a beacon of light.
Have always appreciated your points, which are in fact similar to Petec, ie, not to pigeon hole anyone’s opinions into right or left, but look at the overall picture and use our own personal judgement, which is where we would all mostly agree in fact.
The TSD comes across as having a particularly right wing agenda though, which I think is actually a deliberate parody of Kojo from someone who should know better but won’t give up. Either that, or he actually is a pseudo-intellectual failed-education upper class, over-enthusiastic rozzer.
Anyhoos, on a brighter note! Good to see you back Pedro! Glad you enjoyed the Roses !
“As Scottish champions and Scottish Cup holders, and with the club in magnificent shape off the field, we look ahead to next season with confidence.
“We enjoyed fantastic support from our fans last season. We aim to continue to deliver success and we are sure there will be some exciting times ahead for our fans once again.”
Peter Lawwell.
……………………………
Big Peter should travel to the games with me. I had some exciting times last season. Second or third game in a guy jumped off a bridge onto the M80 causing chaos and a big stain on the road. I clipped a dear after the 6 -2 DUFC game. Young ACGR managed the Coia’s three meal challenge (Fish and chips, a pizza followed by a massive bowl of minestrone with bread and croutons), followed by puking up en route to paradise.
The Barcelona game was a bit samey:-)
I wonder what the big chap has in mind for the coming season. Sound like its gonnay be good.
FFM
And when you Judge the Swinging Dick?
Angels and Demons is my Church.
I’ve already said on CQN about sleep paralysis.
Petec / FFM, long tome no howl.
You guys are mellowing in your dotage.
petec
Knights Templar have been sending me messages in my sleep to clean up the Scottish contingent who have long been embarassing :))
ACGR,
Owwwww..!!! I am indeed mellowing, you’re right amigo. But what really freaked me out reading this place during the week when I got the chance, was ole Canamalar ! Loved the patronising comments from some congratulating him on it as well :)))
Seems that honesty and higher level argument are anti-social traits to display on a blog now….:)) Hmm, it just doesn’t fit in with the way politcal society, MSM spin, and the future police state see things…..
One for the moonhowlers –
Can anyone talk for a minute without using the vowel ‘a’ in any word?
eiou csc
Just seen that wee nyaff Neil McCann on SSN talking about the Hearts stuff. Do you know every club he’s been involved with has suffered an insolvency event.
FFM, touché:-)
Myself and canamalar have now buried the hatchet and he’s got his work cut out to do.
I was impressed by his approach in trying to gain sufficient support to question the board on their attitude to the licencing issue of rangers that cost our club so dearly. So much so I called a stock broker company yesterday morning and bought back the shares I’d previously sold (Don’t worry, I’ll be transferring these into the name of the bhoy acgr on his 18th birthday). I’ve added my name to his list and hope he gets to ask his question at the club AGM. More importantly I hope he gets an answer that explains why Celtic as a club stood by and did nothing in the face of such obvious hun / authoritarian skulduggery i.e. cheating of Celtic Football Club.
I’m not sure what you’re getting at in the last paragraph of your post?
Mon the 100.
This is not an attempt to start a songs debate, neither am I condoning or condemning the proscribed(?) songs, it is merely a question seeking an answer, preferably an unequivocal and qualified answer. That’s not to say every barroom lawyer shouldn’t have a stab at it if they fancy.
How can it be deemed legal for a group, let’s just give The Wolfe Tones as an example, to sing songs about Irish Rebellion and struggle, in concert halls around Scotland, but individuals and groups of like minded fans can’t sing the very same songs inside Parkhead where any reasonable person would expect there to be a great affinity with the Irish and their struggle for freedom and one nation?
Further, though associated, how can it be legal for followers of the Orange Order to parade along many of the public roads of Scotland singing some of the songs that they do legally and publically endorsed, taking into account the previous question (especially if some of the followers insist on wearing a clubs football jersey) whilst clearly parading under the influence?
Now I have kept that as brief as I could.
I like the new strip looks good its still the hoops and from where most of us sit it will still look like the hoops, unless we play at another final at Hamden of course where we can’t wear it as it clashes with other teams stripes, (cough cough)
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
01:12 on 21 June, 2013
Your concern about young impressionables is valid.
Where did the Green Brigade gets its politics?The upside down banners directed to John Reid,described on these pages as a war criminal.Does your concern extend to those young impressionables? It does to me.
You express concern about a particularly right wing agenda,but not about those who have a particularly left wing agenda.Why not? Is that not simply a reflection of your own personal political preferences?
As far as Celtic is concerned,surely they should be above and beyond politics and religion as a matter of principle.
Inevitably and for me regrettably,our club`s foundation associates us with religion.Some seek to associate it also with socialism,being under the impression that socialism and Charity are virtually synonymous.History begs to differ.
Kojo and T.S.D. hold views which can be controversial and conflicting to some,probably most.The response sometimes is for me, even more intolerant than the views.
“Fascist.Bigot.Bellend”,they cry.
Any insulting term you care to mention
Reminds me of “Fenian,Taig,Pape”
That`s bad enough,except that then the predictable ‘Me too” bullying begins.
Memories of the primary playground.Same mentality.
Sargassosea
I could, but it’s no vowel, it’s the first letter ;)
I don’t think Celtic care what sevco do or what the SFA or SPL do, we just plod away winning leagues and cups domestically, what they do is what they have been doing for years nothing will change we sit at the front of the bus now in the drivers seat and they know it
, ignore them all we await the challenge from who ever it may be, bring it on.
FORTUNES FAVOUR MIBBES 0134
Owwwww..!!! I am indeed mellowing, you’re right amigo. But what really freaked me out reading this place during the week when I got the chance, was ole Canamalar ! Loved the patronising comments from some congratulating him on it as well :)))
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Naturally,I told him he was a crawling git,or similar,when I mailed him about it,haha!
Macjay:
Didn’t Celtic once refuse to play a European tie which many might consider political?
ACGR @ 01:57
Doh :)) I’d forgotten you were one of the ones :)) But wasn’t referring to you, as you say, you had your own disagreements and dealt with them.
Last paragraph was soaked in sarcasm. In translation, Moonhowlers, political chat, opinions and honesty seem to be offending more and more here these days, while the rozzers deal with the cheek of our young supporters when they demonstrate any kind of political thought, and the meeja comply by demonising it as sectarian hatred on a par with hunnery.
To sum up, Canamalar has been right all along; there’s a concerted effort to sanitise the Celtic Support while hunnery is encouraged to be more spiteful. Very worrying stuff, that needs identified even here before we can tackle it anywhere else.
A Stor Mo Chroi, that is without doubt the shortest post you’ve ever written:-)
I would have abbreviated it to this:
Bigoted drum banging huns in sevco tops can walk the streets with impunity singing songs of hate with a police escort while we cant sing folk songs at Celtic Park that are in allowed in mainstream venues. Why?
A Stor Mo Chroi, I’m no lawyer so without stating the obvious (refer to FFM for his views on the polis and others on masonic collusion), I canny answer your question.
But, I suspect the answer lies within the brackets above.
Well I’ve just had my question part answered by Paul McConville over on his blog.
High Court Confirms Draconian Nature of Offensive Behaviour Act re “Boys of the Old Brigade”
What he writes is most concerning but highlights most of all that people really are not sure what is deemed acceptable as opposed what is not.
A Stor Mo Chroi
It’s pretty simple – said Republican offenders should be singing about Scottish freedom fighting. Not Irish freedom fighting, which is highly offensive to some Scottish freedom fighters’ and their descendents :)
Flower of Scotland has more significance because it implies a lack of understanding of who actually betrayed the Scots. That’s why it’s loved here, as it fits in with the misinformation and lack of historicial knowledge which has become part of the real Scottish Culture since the triangular slave trade became so profitable…in my opinion…
BobM, watch yer gub pal or I’ll have my big pal dessie swap your seats for ones in row TT in the gods of the north stand:-)
Is yer auld da in hunsville or over in espania just now? I’m off there in a couple of weeks and if he’s there I might consider a dawn raid to kidnap the auld fella for a game of sclaffbaw free of wummin that don’t let him swally ra drams.
Free the winklepickers da!!
FFM
Its still using a v_w_l l!!
Think numerical csc
Release auld Pat. FFS, Mandela only done 27 years!!!.
macjay1 @ 02:22
You’re right to draw those distinctions amigo, and I hold my hand up to them.
For me, left wing thinking = concern for all, right wing thinking = concern for the individual.
If you can indulge me that strict categorisation, it needs to be considered by all of us, why the first category is the most oppressed by govt and establishment, while the second is the one most encouraged. It’s not only anti-Christian, it’s anti-society and anti-future.
If we had a right wing element singing in the Celtic Support, it would be the Support, ie the people who would police it out. Because it is a group who actually do represent the majority thinking (ie, concern for others and the oppressed), they are being persecuted by the establishment.
I understand the fundamentals of your argument, but it’s not as black and white as that. The above points are the over-riding factors in this.
Re Kojo and TSD – I agree to a certain extent. There should be no personal abuse. But we can’t silence any number of people that want to tell them if they think they are wrong.
Talking to Petec tonight on the phone, I agreed, Kojo makes some excellent points with good references, but they get lost in the anti-Islam tirades which make everything he says untenable in my opinion.
Islam is a fine religion, and the various cultures involved in it are outstanding. It’s comparable to the cultures that Catholicism has been involved in. In my opinion, as an agnostic, it’s no co-incidence that these two major religions (and Bhuddism) are under constant attack by the establishment in today’s world.
Apols for not being 100% to the point in my current tirade :))
BMCUWP, have you checked the fixtures to see if we’re on a home game the day of your next hootenanny?
You’ll have to remind me again of the exact date of said proposed hootenanny, Ha ha.
Heidthroughthemincer.com
BMCUW @ 02:26
Good stuff, so would I ! Copoutamar :)))