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:
[calameo code=0003901713852289beccb lang=en page=10 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
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Has anyone actually watched Van Dijk play? There’s limited clips online but I’m sorry to say I’m uncertain. Not really feeling it with the signings and linked players so far.
6.4″ is quite short for a Dutchman? Theres no hills in Holland fgs!!!
Heard we are interested in Hearts LB Kevin Mc Hattie.
Repost.
canamalar1
13:49 on 20 June, 2013
Well ghuys and ghals, first stab at the resolution
comments welcome, try and remember we are trying to get our board to protect out interests and only they are accountable to us, asking about the sfa’s interests will only muddy the water.
theres plenty of room for improvement
We the undersigned have concerns we would like addressed by our board being the legal representatives and responsible to protect our interests.
Recent information made public has raised concerns about the integrity of the governance of the market in which we operate, specifically on the qualification and issuance of license to practice.
Serious questions have been raised on the administration of the rules, fundamental to the integrity of the sports governance.
We would like responses to the following questions
1. Have our representatives/board raised any concerns with the sfa on the information recently made public, what was the response ? if not why not
2. Are our representatives/board satisfied with said response ? why
3. Are our representatives/board aware of any irregularities, what steps have you been taken to protect/recover the interests of the minority shareholders?
4. What is the boards strategy to recover earnings lost through governance irregularities which may come to light at a later stage?
5. If there is no strategy to recover lost earnings from the offenders, will the decision makers be compensating the minority shareholders from their own holdings, if not why not ?
6. If the decision makers are considering such compensation how will this be calculated :o)
as I said plenty of room for improvement
winning captains:
cheers for the explanation but I just got the feeling that somehow the CQN ‘brand’ might just have being spread a bit thin, but obviously I don’t have access to the daily figures that you do.
Regards the online pictures, I though they were quite easily accommodated into a blog.
And most important of all, see that Setting Free the Bears… be careful there mate, there are one or two who have nothing bad, bad words about him.
Though personally, I think he’s got potential and with a wee bit of coaching he’ll make the bench at least.
!!Bada Bing!!
So are Leeds – allegedly.
Legend Rising e w.
canamalar1:
Too many questions, you won’t be given the floor time.
https://twitter.com/celticfc/status/347708012951134210/photo/1
No nay never…..again
First, it’s very sad when anyone loses their job.
However, I can’t subscribe to the view that what happened to Hearts wasn’t their fault.
Like the Huns they lapped up everything they were told. I mean, weren’t they going to win the Champions Leagie within 4 or 5 years?
FFS, you deserve all you get if you’re that stupid.
No Nae Never 4/1
I don’t think Izzy is a particularily good defender, especially in the air.
He will always be a weak link in any back four, for that reason.
A big, pacy left back and we’ll be fine.
We do have the money to spend, so why not?
Phil MacGiollaBhain @Pmacgiollabhain 1m
Has the Daily Record taken enough brave pills to enable them to run their exclusive on Brian Stockbridge?
GM
The admin staff? That’s who have been made redundant so far.
assuming Rogne, Wanyama and Hooper, Miku, McCourt and Lassad are leaving we look well balanced at back and short everywhere else.
Forster/Zaluska
Lustig/Matthews Ambrose/Wilson Mulgrew/Van Dijk Izzy/Mulgrew
Forrest/Brown Brown/Commons Rogic/Kayal/Ledley Ledley/Mulgrew
Samaras/Watt/Commons/
Stokes/Balde
There is a distinct lack of creativity in midfield… not counting Rogic who seems to have impressed in the Australian national team but looked a bit lost in the SPL.
1 more striker? 1 more midfielder?
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning!
14:34
Not as weak as Kevin McHattie (good luck to the lad).
See the Lassad goal at Tynecastle last season for reference.
No nae never no nae never no more will Sevco
beat the Celtic no never no more
first winner of the week.
can someone explain to me how i get my £4.00 freebet to be used on paddypower
Celtic_First
I didn’t recommend McHattie and can’t remember ever seeing him play, so I’ll take your word that he’s p*sh.
Izzy is still not the answer at left back.
In my opinion of course.
valentinesday
well done bud…1st of many I hope :-)
craig
If there is £4 free showing, make your selection, and when you go to put it on, you’ll get the option to use your free bet.
Philbhoy
I took your advice the other day and searched for the post that you referred to.
After a few tears I’ve said it for prosperity. Many thanks my friend and God bless.
cheers TnT
Well done to Celtic on making sure they have a Balde Dijk on the park to support all the thousands of baldy dicks watching it .
The T4 Gang
Love
HT
A truly wonderful story!
It really does deserve a repost.
Go on!!!!
https://twitter.com/celticfc/status/347710246950686720/photo/1
Malarkey
” assuming Rogne, Wanyama and Hooper, Miku, McCourt and Lassad are leaving we look well balanced at back and short everywhere else.”
That tends to happen when you take out first team players who haven’t actually left.
Philbhoy
Ha ha absolutely no chance of that!! I will however peruse it at my own leisure from time to time :-)
I happen to agree with you regarding Izzy but have also maintained that his strength and pace will dig him out of many situations that are of his own making.
Twisty Thanks
A stor…,
you should see some of the drivel given plenty of floor time, I’m hoping once the backing is achieved and the resolution is issued there is no choice but to give it floor time, I will obviously be corrected if I’m wrong.
There is one fundamental point, its not a resolution :o)
its a list of questions and concerns, I thought it might be better to write and get a reply to these, then form a resolution round the response, however I don’t believe I would get such a response in time to form a resolution, and I believe these are very important questions that need answered and the answers will identify exactly what the board are doing to protect our interests.
canamalar:
Are the board agreed that all previous awards of licences to Scottish football clubs to represent Scotland in European competitions by the SFA have met – in full – without undue or concerning equivocation, both the PUBLISHED SFA and EUFA, rules and regulations?
If not, is there a strategy in development to redress the issue(s) that so obviously affects shareholders (both large and small), the season ticket holders, the Supporters, and the fans of Celtic Football Club?
Fully expect to be in the minority here but I really like the new home jersey. Honestly!
Back to working and lurking…
As custodian of the zonal marking (Celtic Style) stats I feel the time is right to register my concern for this corner defending system due to the arrival of Balde MK II and the imminent arrival of pilot of Thunderbird 2.
These guys are HUGE. An attribute which tends to favour the man to man marking that so many football commentators prefer.
Watch this space.
canamalar
I genuinely appreciate your efforts on these issues, sadly as a non shareholder I won’t be in touch regarding it.
I would ask though, what happems if you get the opportunity to address these questions to the Celtic board and you aren’t satisfied with the replies?
HT
That’s a shame.
Agree that Izzy has other strengths, however, I like my fullbacks to resemble Tommy Gemmell.
canamalar:
I missed a wee bit of emphasis between SFA and EUFA.
It should have read:
the PUBLISHED SFA – and EUFA – rules and regulations?
Hi folks,
Help required for Celtic v Liverpool friendly – I understand the SB holders were looked after first, the general sale seemed only to allow me 1 ticket.
I seen this appears on Ticketmaster too, and as I’m bringing Mrs Celt to the game in her home City… I wanted to check out the premium seating etc. (she’s the snob not me!)
Anyone know how close to sell out this is? The FAI aer rotten for information on this!
By the way, if any of our new signings give as good an account of themselves stepping up to play for Celtic as the likes of Gary Hooper in the next few years, I hope no one calls them out for “turning their back on the club!”
HH
Jobo
I like it too!
If we go to Santa Ponsa this year I’ll definitely get it.