As the football operation at Celtic enjoys its first break since returning to training in June, focus at the club moves to recruitment. Celtic have been busy renewing contracts throughout the first half of the season, the notable exceptions being Dedryck Boyata and Scott Brown, but reinforcements are needed ahead of the Champions League qualification games, if not the second half of the season.
The biggest area of concern is central defence. Filip Benkovic will (probably) return to Leicester City in June, while Dedryck Boyata will hope to cash-in on last summer’s World Cup appearances before he produces too many like those at Ibrox on Saturday. The Marvin Compper experiment was over before it began, while Jack Hendry has dropped to fifth choice and the fitness status of Jozo Simunovic has to be assessed on a minute-by-minute basis.
That leaves Kristoffer Ajer (20) as the only reliable option for a position that cost us dearly against AEK in August.
There is work to do elsewhere. Right back needs strengthened, we are crucially short of headcount in the striker department and there’s a reasonable chance Scott Brown will move on this summer, but while moves are underway to cover some of these gaps, I would forgo all other positions to get central defence sorted out this month, despite the fact that right now it is the most settled of the positions discussed.
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I wonder if there will ever come a day when oor board of cowards will stand up to Masonic influence and establishment priorities?
Ermmm… Naw I don’t! I expect the cowards to continue on in their Old Firm apathy.
MWD
Who would win in fight between a bean counter and a bonus collector?
Of course Beaton conveniently admitted he had seen incidents in his report.
To deny with any plausibility he would have had to have eyes like Dave King.
Though i am sure the SFA would have let squinty ref if he had requested such it was easier having his proxy in Beaton for appearance sake.
Lawwell sailed through the AGM, sitting there confident enough to throw Resolution 12 under the bus. All after his summer fiasco. We all laugh at the lack of accountability at the Huns, the succulent lamb brigade, the smsm, Club 1872 and the rest. But, who is holding the PLC Board to account as they award themselves salary increases and bonuses and are complicit in corruption and cheating in Scottish football? Where are the supporters associations and such like and the bloggers like CQN who have nothing to say about it. The truth is our side are just as bad, if not worse. The lack of accountability is staggering.
Sothe wee sleekit coward gets away with it.The fact the defence isthe ref saw the incidents makes matters worse.
McGregor at Park head and now this little rodent.
M6BHOY
Eddy 9 million?
It was nowhere near that!
However it’s a fee that the board want you believe.
There are so many add ons to get near that, over several years.
What you are saying doesn’t make sense.
Why would Brendan and Lenny blame the innocent party?
MWD
I fear that the evil shadow of the masonic order already influence our board
Why dont the PLC or say the “Football department” bring out a statement, the ensuing fine will come and then dont pay it, isnt that how it works? Worse case scenario the support would stump up the fine, or its equivalent and give to the needy
MOONBEAMSWD on 3RD JANUARY 2019 3:12 PM
Celtic and the Bonus Collector will do nothing about Beaton!
You heard it here first.
MWD
*****
not true.
They will buy him a beer at the next ludge meeting.
:)
(I was never one to buy into the whole ludge theory …. for me, it was always about the money … but, so many decisions over the last few years have been baffling, not only ethically, but also financially, so I am starting to come ’round to the ‘funny handshake’ way of thinking.)
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 3RD JANUARY 2019 3:18 PM
Who would win in fight between a bean counter and a bonus collector?
———
‘The Bonus Collector Always Rings Twice…..’
HH jg
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 3RD JANUARY 2019 3:18 PM
Who would win in fight between a bean counter and a bonus collector?
****
That’s a trick question …. like who would win a fight between our Board and the zombies? There is no fight. They are on the same side, trying so squeeze as much money from the pigeons (I mean fans) as they can.
I have no idea what problem Brendan has with big Anthony but he did agree tae a contract extension after he stood up tae neymar. Now it looks like we are being priced out of our latest right back attraction mibbees just mibbees we should give the big mhan a chance, after all that wee cant kent never kicked a ball once he came on. He also has a bone, nae pun here, tae pick with that wee talcum powder sniffer.
Lambert 14
“There are so many add ons to get near that, over several years.”…how do you know this? I haven’t seen anything published.
” waans as bad as the ither…..!”
:0
Aye?
:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Brendan is to blame for the current recruitment issues.
Congerton is his appointment.
Brendan bought Comper and Hendry 12 months ago.
One is not fit for purpose and the other is not good enough.
The whole thing is shambolic
The succession planning over the last 18 months has been abysmal.
Truly abysmal.
Brendan and Congerton will could leave us in a much worse state than what they inherited.
Time for them both to get out recruitment right.
Quite concerning.
TT
TONTINE TIM on 3RD JANUARY 2019 3:39 PM
I have no idea what problem Brendan has with big Anthony but he did agree tae a contract extension after he stood up tae neymar. Now it looks like we are being priced out of our latest right back attraction mibbees just mibbees we should give the big mhan a chance, after all that wee cant kent never kicked a ball once he came on. He also has a bone, nae pun here, tae pick with that wee talcum powder sniffer.
// // //
I agree with you on that. Looks like a Bhoy who will take no crap and looks like he can
hand it out when required. Needs more game time. Think he can really make the grade.
TINYTIM on 3RD JANUARY 2019 3:54 PM
Brendan is to blame for the current recruitment issues.
Congerton is his appointment.
Agree with this but they both need the funds and contract negotiations from our well paid CEO to complete any deal.
The Davie Hay/Stevie Clark scenario springs to mind.
We have enjoyed laughing at the Sevco pantomine for years now and we have mocked the Level 5 spin machine and their relentless issuing of statements at every perceived injustice.
Right now, we need to follow their example. The SFA are shit scared of Traynor, King and Gerrard. Who do we have to rattle their cages in the same manner? Why do we always pussyfoot around the issues instead of calling them out?
We think that everyone is in cahoots with the huns yet the huns show nothing but contempt for the ruling bodies and challenge them at every turn. And mostly win.
Someone needs to start fighting our Club’s corner as if their life (or at least their livelihood) depended on it.
Call out the blazers, the refs, the media. Who gives a crap if they say we are paranoid.
Rangers have signed Jermaine Defoe.
TT
Oh, and while we are pussyfooting around, Defoe is reported on Sky Sports to be going to Ibrox
18 month loan deal confirmed.
Defoe to sevco 18mths,deal agreed,who are the well run organised well funded outfit
SFA aren’t scared of HUNS they are HUNS!!!! just want to help as much as possible. PS SHinnie been done for diviong yet?
Sevco swooooooooppppppppp
Tiny Tim
Brendan is not without blame. But the bonus collectors interference last summer was also a major concern and still is a major concern.
Without the interference then we as a support would 100% know how good\bad Brendans’\Congerton’s recruitment policy stood in the face of evidence.
The Bonus Collector has inadvertantly, while protecting his bonus, given reason for fan base to question him “again” while possibly letting Brendan and Congerton of the hook.
MWD
Glad we were not in the race for Defoe. 36 year old hasbeen.
We’ve had enough of them in our time!
MWD
MARADOMINIC – They may be huns but they are still shit scared of them, they are shit scared of letting them down. Of being the ones called out for bias or incompetence.
Traynor, I imagine, has dirt on all of them. On their private lives as well as their professional lives.
Defoe to the huns 18 month loan
Morelos must be for the off, if the Defoe deal is genuine as Gerrard only plays one striker up front and they won’t pay the wages to Defoe to be sitting on the bench pro cierto.
MOONBEAMSWD – Robbie Keane has been spotted at Glasgow Airport.
Sevco’s youth policy is putting us to shame – McCauley 39, Defoe 36, Davis 34 – they need to bring back Davie Weir to complete the job.
MWD
I agree that – at 36, with 4 goals last season, and the right to be recalled by Bournmouth if he does well – Defoe would not be my first choice. But having seen him last season, he looks like he could still score a few in the SPL … and a few goals could make the difference in the title race this season, particularly, if we handle this window as badly as the last (although I have to think we will do better this time around).
So, my proposal to the pro-Board contingent is ….
I will hold off on slighting the Board until we see what the transfer window brings (which gives you guys a month of peace and quiet) , in return for which, if this window is as shambolic as the last, the happyclappers agree to storm PL’s place and rip up his beloved heated driveway.
Glad the manky mob are active in the market.
Might make us wake up and realize we are going to have to compete to win the title this year.
No knee jerk reaction required, instead tactical approach to strengthen the team and squad as a whole.
There are a few that will move on we think.
Time to get into 2nd gear for the rest of this season.
How many on loan do that shower have right now?
David Weir was a fantastic player for Oldco.
TT
Tiny Tim
and that is relevant, why?
Has he reincarnated as a striker and calling himself Jermaine Defoe?
MWD
how the hell can they afford the wages with pena and the other guy back.
they are getting ramped up for the title.
overseasbhoy.
loved lustig, thought he was the best player at celtic a few years back.
to many ops. and probably not the right system for him, he did fine in the world cup but we dont have the wingers who come back to help out. that goes for all the back 4.
What happens if bids come in for our better players?
Broony and Boyata are free to talk to clubs.
We wouldn’t sell them , surely?
TT
MWD
Someone mocked the signing of David Weir , because of his age .
I was pointing out that signing veterans can work.
Pat Stanton.
Dion Dublin.
Roy Keane.
Iain Wright .
All helped us for a short period of time .
TT
Sevco Director Alistair Johnston was in the Chip last Saturday. Being a bit tipsy, me and my mate got talking to him. We chatted about EBTs (“they were legal at the time”), same club myth (“of course we are”; “naw you’re no – I watched a video of you this morning on Twitter saying Craig Whyte killed your club”). Outright laughter at his BS.
Anyway, we said it looked like they were going all-out this year to get to the Champions League. “Oh yes – that is the game changer.” His eyes lit up talking about it. The Defoe signing is an example – they are using every penny they have to try to take the CL place off us. We have to respond.
As for Morelos “he has market value” – not sure if that means he’ll go now or in the summer but he’s going to be sold.