I hear from good sources at Celtic Park that despite Victor Wanyama declining to sign a contract extension since October last year, the player is an absolute joy to deal with. His professionalism is well rooted; there have been no “rolled out of the pub” emails about this guy, nor is there likely to be.
There are usually reasons why a player with the best part of three years left on his contract (as it was) declines a one year extension for dramatically better wages (Victor is on an entry level contract and was offered a top pay deal). We now know discussions were taking place for a proposed move to QPR last summer.
According to Victor’s agent, Celtic blocked the proposed move, costing the player £1m in wages. It could be argued that advising Victor to decline Celtic’s new contract offer also cost Victor a substantial sum.
Herein lies the problem. QPR were paying the kind of money that would make Louis XVI wince. Staggering sums were paid to players, well beyond their value. Despite this, those very same players are now readjusting to life as lower-division players.
The irony has escaped Vic’s agent, but the contract value proposed to the player during QPR’s pre-guillotine era made declining Celtic’s offer almost a year ago look like a good idea. The contract offered by saner-Southampton clearly pales by comparison, which will make the decision to sit on entry-level wages at Celtic for nine months look ridiculous. Of course people are getting irritated, there are questions to answer about the advice given.
My guess is that the agent needs to pull a big contract offer out of the bag. Victor is a special talent but Louis XVI-type offers don’t always come along in twos. If Victor goes, it will be to a club matching Celtic’s valuation and the money will come in handy. If he stays, Celtic expect to retain their top player for another two years. No one, and I mean no one, is distressed at this prospect, after all, Celtic sell when they choose to, not because they have to.
So the Daily Record have (for the second time, in case you’ve not been paying attention) dipped their toes into Charlotte waters. Items “leaked on to the internet, where they are openly available” have been used, without reference to source, and without concern for apparent legal consequence.
As far as I am aware, none of the owners of the material leaked have disputed their authenticity or declined permission for it to be used. Our media are a huge part of this story, they feature in galling terms in many of the leaked documents. The cry of legal probity was convenient, but has twice been shown to be nonsense by the Daily Record (who have been highly selective on who to target).
It is a huge story.
There are months of material waiting to be written about.
The Daily Record are doing what many said cannot be done, without consequence.
But, this one does not fit popular narrative, and is likely to cause the kind of schism Mme Guillotine did in 18th century France. Seek Truth, as someone once said.
Willie Wallace………… what can we say?
Willie came onto CQN last night before leaving for Australia today. This is a taste of what he said:
“I just wanted to come back onto CQN this evening to say my farewells as myself and Olive head back to Australia tomorrow. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the Celtic supporters I have met during the past month, at book signing events, in supporters clubs such as Greenock and at the CQN Golf Day.
“Also to everyone at the Lions Roar event last Friday where Bertie stole the show as usual! I came all the way from Australia and I couldn’t get a word in! The 1254125 charity tells you everything you need to know about Celtic supporters.
What is amazing about this Celtic family of ours is that when you live at the other side of the world you still know that this is a special club with wonderful supporters. Then you come back to Scotland and realise you actually under estimated these things because Celtic is even better than you remember and the fans are truly amazing. The best in the world.
“To everyone on CQN can I say a very special thank you. I hoped that the book would go well and we’d sell a few copies but it was never about money – it was about telling my story. I arrived at Winning Captains house and was met by a mountain of books to sign – all ordered by the CQNers. I had to go back another day to finish signing and the mountain was as big as before! I’ve been avoiding him ever since!
To Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan – when I heard his name I thought that would be some round of drinks! He’s been great, helping make Heart of a Lion what it is – a really good Celtic book – and turning up at the CQN events and book signings.
“Thank you the CQN’ers.
“Thanks to the Celtic family and I look forward to our next trip home to Paradise.
“Hail Hail and all the best to each of you and your families.
“Willie Wallace
“Keep the Faith!
“Hail Hail!”
Willie, it has been an utter joy. Thank you.
Heart of a Lion:
[calameo code=000390171b241bb2703f4 lang=en page=130 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
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sipsini,
No self respecting football fan would pay any attention to any pundit.
We all know more about the game they they do!
You can criticise a man’s clothes, his hairsyle, his wife, etc., but never, ever criticise his driving or tell him that he knows nothing about football !! : > )
G’night, sports fans, everywhere.
jude2005 is neil lennon \o/
Vespers! Lol.
Hello from a grey and drizzly Gold Coast Thursday morning. Just arrived at hospital for an MRI scan on my pelvis.
This well determine the extent of the tumour and whether or not it is confined to the prostate. Again, I am somewhat nervous but optimistic.
Not sure if I will get the results today, but will keep all my friends on CQN posted.
Thanks again for all your support and encouragement.
Hail Hail.
Sipsini
Pal.. Thanks.
Well… dae ye agree me me.. oan this Yin???
“Ah say that Victor , wull No be missed,one wee tiny bit.. By Celtic, when he taks
aff .”
Furget aboot ..awe the Speculation aboot How Much bettah he wull be in the Future.
And ye know something..pal.
Ah thought that Young Moloney, wiz a Hot Prospect, afore he went tae Aston.
Ah thought that Young Miller ,wiz a Whiz Bang Prospect, tae.. Afore he went tae Manchester.
Ah don’t say that those Two examples , prove .. well.. Anything,really..
But..Ah thought ,in making reference tae them..
It wid gie ye some idea, from where Ah am coming ..in this.. aboot.. making Future Speculations aboot Young Victor.
Pal.. Ye jist canny forecast , how a Youngster wull Pan Oot..
Like Ah hiv said..and…only TOO well.. according tae Some.. who hiv accused me of Over Egging the Pudding.. in the making of My remarks concerning why Ah believe that
Victor wull not be Missed.
Well…
Dae Ye agree wi ‘ me ,this time..
aboot..Ma Proclaimation that
Victor, when He goes. will no be missed wan wee bit..
His Absence in our Middy..l.
Wull go.. Completely ..UNNOTICED.
Kojo
Still Laughin’
.
Courtesy Fritz A. Grandold..
Eyes To The Ground For Change
You barely had time to take a breath this year before the Celtic news cycle began again. They’re at it already; training, improving, leaving, joining. Joe Ledley’s drive into the top right hand corner past a hapless Hibs is already history, a stat, a record of achievement that says Celtic won the double in their anniversary year. The entire focus is now on a part-time team from North Belfast. Yet our gaze, as fans, of course goes beyond that tangible fixture towards another cosmic journey that will bring us to the edge of our dreams on a cold Autmun night, a place where 18 year olds from Coatbridge take on footballing gods and win… it’s two nil, it’s two nil, it’s two nil!
You’d be forgiven for thinking that seems as far a journey as it has ever been. Many felt that the team stuttered last season in the progress Neil Lennon has made since becoming manager, despite exceeding expectations in Europe. Many feel that this Summer may be a transition from Lennon team number one to Lennon team number two. Some say our stars will leave and we’ll be back to walking the precarious and at times unfulfilling line of securing talent for the future and providing the team with first team performers. But let’s numb the pain of any bad news with good news first.
Celtic are thriving.
For the first time in years the club is in a position to make progressive monetary investments for the future. Already they’ve slashed season ticket prices, reintroduced family incentives, invested in partnerships that will bring digital connectivity to match days and stamped authority on their section of the transfer market. None of this is possible without the cosmic journey. New arrivals Virgil Van Dijk and Amido Balde fit the existing profile of new Celtic signings; physically imposing, young, hungry, rising footballers. If you drew up a list as the final whistle blew against Hibs in May of player types Celtic needed you’d surely put a strong, tall striker and an alternative natural centre back near the top.
Change will happen this Summer but it is not a negative and it is not because Celtic stuttered last year, it’s because Neil Lennon brought players to the limits of their value. When that happens then it is time to see through ‘the plan’. That plan is to realise a player’s value in order to invest in the change that brings about the next cosmic journey. Some argue if it’s worth the risk to sell a Victor Wanyama or a Gary Hooper for money when their performances may bring you to that glory (and in turn money) again in Europe. Frankly, yes it is. If you do not sell these players now then their contracts run out and you lose them for a fraction of their true value in the marketplace. There’s always a chance the player signs another contract, and yes Neil Lennon has hinted that negotiations may re-open with Hooper, but you can’t bank chances and chances do not allow you to plan for the future. Celtic must exert its influence in this aspect of a player’s value.
However changing everything all at once from a position of strength would be foolish. Ideally the only first team players that will leave this Summer are Wanyama and Hooper, in part due to their contractual situation. This would leave us with a core of a team that can use their time and experience together as a machine to generate success for yet another year. If you add in the next generation replacements and the hallowed creative, central, attacking midfielder then a team is well on its way to taking on the elite of Europe and having its foot on the throat of Scottish football.
Early complacency in the transition is an issue. Embarrassments lie in every dark shadow of the European qualifiers, waiting to creep up on an unsuspecting Celtic that has new horizons and a deep gaze towards the distance. Buying early was key and a lesson learned from campaigns now stretching back half a decade. While Celtic have been able to afford to be proactive this pre-season, you still get the feeling that qualification for the Champion’s League group stages will again open new doors personnel wise that can excite the fans. Neil Lennon has ensured now that settling for less is not an option and there will be deep disappointment if we do not make it to the big dance.
Domestically Celtic must look for consistency. A team of course cannot win every game but it was frustrating to see some of the performances churned out mid-season last year. If not winning then a Celtic team must at least give heart and at times this lacking. Thankfully the quotes from the camp pre-season appear to chime with this thinking. There is always a chance another club can string together victories that puts unnecessary pressure on Celtic and we have to be in a position to counter the hysteria that would undoubtedly build if this was the case. Ideally the progression from a double is a treble. A treble is something that in my opinion you can never expect but I am as hopeful for it this year than I have been for a long time.
It’s clear that in the sweet part of the city times are good on and off the field with or without change. Change should be welcomed, it should be seen as a new beginning. Some try to paint these changes as a drama or a negative that can destabilise the club. This has little chance of happening, we must evolve and shift as a football club to meet old challenges and face new challenges. It’s all part of the cosmic journey.
Summa
tom mclaughlin
23:43 on 26 June, 2013
Wow. I just signed on, went to last page and your post almost floored me.
Good luck and best wishes from myself and I’m sure everyone on CQN.
Tom McL
Thanks for the updates.
Your optimism is an inspiration to us all.
Hit it out the park.
KTF & HH
Tom McLaughlin
G’day and good luck from all on CQN
HH!
Kojo.
You are falling into the pit of tarring players with the same brush.
An argument huns in work… the ones that can still look my way… will put to me.
Wanyama will be an exceptional player as he matures.
Time will tell who is right.
Still smirking :-)
My Dear Kojo….
I Respectfully Disagree Wi’ Your Assessment Of Victor….
I Think He’s Developing Into An Astounding Player….
Who Hiz Got His Wits Aboot Him…
He Always Gives The Impression Of Playing ‘Within Himself’…..
In Oor Humble SPL Fixtures….
He Hiz Certainly Benefited From Playing In The SPL…..
As He Hiz Brought ‘Discipline’ To His Play….
And Resists The Temptation To Go Into Rash Tackles…
Where The MIBS Would Hiv The Opportunity Tae Penalise Him….
Even Mair Than They Already Do….
Ah Think That This Will Pay Dividends…
When He Gets Tae Compete Oan A Mair Level Playing Field…..
In The EPL Or Serie A….
Also,I Think He’s Pretty Good At Passing…
And Will Benefit From Playing With More Quality Players…..
Who Will Actually Make Runs For Him…
And Ah Think We Will See Victor Start To Score Mair Often…..
With Thunderous Drives From Ootside The Box….
Ah Firmly Believe….He Will Generate The Biggest Transfer Fees Ever Paid For A Former Celtic Player….
As He Moves Clubs Over The Next Few Seasons….
Tom McLaughlin
Sorry tae read whit ye wrote,pal.
Hope things turn oot fur the Best.
Kojo
Sir Kojo….
Ah Take It All Back….
Ma Previous Submission
In Its Entirety….!
Ah Cannae Be Seen…..
Tae Be Agreeing Wi’ An Awkward Customer….
The Likes O’ ……..Sipsini !
Wur Pinkety..? Still…
Sipsini
Ah disagree wi ye,there Pal.
Ah am soitenly.. No Tarring everybuddy… wi’ the same Brush.
Ah took extreme Pains tae explain that Ma Two Examples..
DIDNAE PROVE ANYTHING…. REALLY!
and… Ah said as much.
Whit Ah wiz endeavouring tae get over ..
wiz the fact that..
Victor, although he is a Great Prospect..
Ah hiv Not the slightest Interest oan whit Victor Becomes or Disnae Become in the future.
Tae Me. That kinda Speculation is Completely
Irrelevant , tae whit Ah am Talkin’ aboot..
Ah am Talking aboot..
Whether or Not.. Victor, when he leaves..
Wull Be Missed by the Celtic.
Kojo
Still.. Laughin’
tom mclaughlin.
Hoping all goes well for you.
It can’t be easy for yourself and your family.
Ktf.
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. The Singing Detective.
Pal.. Go aheid an Disagree wi Me..
That’s Perfectly Alright.
My point is.. mebbe.. not being made ..as well as Ah wid Like it tae be.
What Ah am saying.. In Essance..is
“When an If.. Victor Leaves fur pasture anew..
HE WILL NOT BE MISSED, by the Celtic.
Ah agree ,of course , wi you ..and Ithers.. oan o the rest of the stuff..
He is A Great Prospect.. He wull.. or could or Mebb… get Much ,Much Bettah..
etc.
Yes.. Ah soitenly am arm and arm wi ye,pal.. in everything that ye hiv said, regarding that..
Nice Chatting.
Kojo
Still Laughin.
Gotta… Desert.. Bert
Seeya..
Kojo
Still Laughin’
Kojo.
I got your point. The one i was making is if he stays, he will only get better and if he goes he will also get better.
He will be missed, maybe not so much as the player he is but the player he will aspire to be.
Tom McL
Good luck and KTF. Remember this can be beaten. Wee Oscar showed the way.
HH
CRC
Summa of Sammi,
just back froam a roastin, hoat Vegas to a Melbourne “Indian Winter?.” You must be getting up in the efternin cos it’s freezin here in Werribee at 9.21am.
Can you send me yir address so I can return the CD’s or meet at the NO1 AGM on July 5th; a Friday for a change.
my email is mcdadep@tpg.com.au.
The two CDs are ‘Lord of the Wing” and Charlie and the Bhoys- live a t the Barrowland. Are they the right ones?
Hail! Hail!
Pat
Tom McLaughlin
All the very best to you.
Tom –
I’m a CQN lurker for many a year. Just wanted to wish you all the very best and share a thought & prayer for you and yours.
Jim
.
Wing Commander..
Lord of the Wing is the Only one that Matters to me the Other was a KoK..
They only matter because they were the Last thing My Aunt Susan sent me before she Passed away..l Still have the cases..Somewhere Ha..
Thank You for looking them out..Mucho Apreciato..
Might be away Skiing..Errm Watching Skiing for the Meeting..You should get the Werribee crew down for a St Kilda Celts game one Saturday..Guid Wee clubhoose on Elwood beach..Bring yir thongs..Tell Costello to Contact me..;-)
Wake up in the Afternoon..Up a 2am Yesterday and Long lie till 4am today..
001Bhoy
.
Wing Commander..
email sent..
001
.
Tom..
All the best for Your MRI..You and Your family are in My Prayers..
Best of Luck Buddi..
Yea.. you wont get results today but l Hope You get good Results that You deserve..Keep the Faith..
001Bhoy
Shockerooni
Wanyama put himself in the shop window using Celtic to do so.
Is Celtic an EPL feeder club?
Discuss
Amongst yerselves.
Tom
I’ve took a self imposed break from the blog, but you are still in mrsweefras and my thoughts daily. You will win this fight. God bless.
Weefra HH
Gold Coast Tom
Talk to you soon
I have a cracker of a CQN Oor Wullie adventure just for you!
.
Victor Wanyama: Lennon accuses Celtic star’s agent.
NEIL Lennon accused Victor Wanyama’s representatives of being “economical with the truth” in the impasse over his proposed £12.5 million move to Southampton but said he still expects the midfielder to leave Celtic before the start of the season.
• Celtic boss Neil Lennon admits that he is resigned to the prospect of Victor Wanyama leaving Parkhead
• Cardiff and Southampton are chasing £12 million-rated midfielder
Celtic responded angrily on Tuesday night to criticism from one of Wanyama’s agents, Ivan Modia, who claimed the 21-year-old Kenyan international had gone two years without a pay rise at the Scottish champions and that his client had been refused permission to join Queen’s Park Rangers last year.
Wanyama, who joined Celtic from Belgian side Germinal Beerschot for less than £1m two years ago, has one year left on his contract.
His agents have indicated that personal terms on offer from Southampton are unacceptable and are holding out for an alternative move to another English Premier League club.
But, although Cardiff City are also interested in Wanyama, they have not matched the size of the offer which Celtic accepted from Southampton.
Lennon believes Wanyama is blameless in what is becoming an acrimonious situation but insists Celtic will stick to their current position when dealing with his agents.
“There is a bit of mud-slinging going on which we feel is unnecessary,” said Lennon. “We have done nothing wrong apart from accept a bid from a club for a player we value very highly.
“Now it is not up to us regarding a player’s negotiations, personal terms or the agent’s personal terms. We have done nothing wrong. The club made that pretty clear and I would like to echo that.
“I spoke to Victor last week. He was due to speak to his agent regarding the offer on the table from Southampton. I’ve not ad a chance to speak to him since then., Everyone knows that we did offer him a contract extension and we did offer him a pay rise. But that was rejected. So I think they [his agents] have been pretty economical with the truth. We feel we have done our business in the proper manner. It’s a pity they have decided to come out and go public and have not really told the whole story.
“I don’t even know if QPR made a bid last season. If they did, then it was nowhere near the valuation we have of Victor, so it never materialised. We are well within our rights to do that. It’s not like we are stopping the player from progressing his career.
“He is our player. One, we don’t want him to go. Two, if he is going to go then the club has to match our valuation of the player. That’s what Southampton have done. They have handled things very professionally.
“I don’t get involved in any of the negotiations. I leave that to [chief executive] Peter Lawwell and to other people at other clubs. But I’m kept abreast of everything that is going on.
“It is a bit of a stand-off at the minute and you hope that can be resolved in the next week or so.
“Our relationship as a club with Victor is as good as ever. If the deal doesn’t go through, if it collapses or no other offers come in, we will welcome him back with open arms. There has not been one day when he has said he is unhappy here. He is actually very happy here. The policy over the last few years has been to bring younger players in, develop them and sell them on for decent money. We have done that with Victor and his representatives feel it is time for him to go.
“We have accepted an offer from Southampton which we feel is a very good offer. The rest is up to them now. I’m aware of interest from Cardiff as well but I don’t think a bid has come in yet. I hope it doesn’t drag on, but these things can be protracted. Maybe another club will come in and it might be an enticing offer for the player and his representatives. But the figure is there in black and white. I don’t think the club will be shifting too far from that. My own gut feeling is that a deal will get done somewhere along the line. But I’d like to emphasise that the relationship between me and the player has never changed. Neither has the relationship between the player and the club. It has been a bit petty and unnecessary in the last couple of days.”
Lennon reported no change in Gary Hooper’s position at Celtic. An offer from Hull City has been rejected for the striker, who is also entering the final year of his contract, but Lennon expects him to be with his squad for their pre-season tour to Germany next week.
French defender Steven Mouyokolo has returned to Celtic for a second trial period and the 26-year-old former Wolves player may play in a closed-door fixture this weekend as Lennon assesses him. But the Celtic manager insists there is “nothing” in reports linking Monaco striker Ibrahima Toure with a season-long loan move to Parkhead.
Celtic, meanwhile, have agreed to switch the order of their Champions League second qualifying-round tie against Cliftonville after the Belfast club requested to play the first leg in Northern Ireland on 16 or 17 July with the return in Glasgow the following week.
“We have said yes in principle,” said Lennon, “so we are just waiting to have it confirmed by Uefa. It will be the first time I have taken Celtic back home for a competitive game and it will create a lot of interest. It’s a favourable draw for both clubs but we won’t take it lightly. Our aim is to make the group stage again and we are pretty concentrated on these two games already.”
• Neil Lennon was speaking as he promoted a legends’ charity match at Celtic Park on 8 September to raise funds for former player Stiliyan Petrov’s leukaemia foundation.
Summa
Ps..Big Vic should Maybe seek advice from a Midfielder that has been there and Done it..Celtic Legend Styllian Petrov who IMO Left Celtic FC at the Correct time in his Career and Did wht Young Victor never did..Signed a Much improved contract that benefited Celtic
.
Ooops..
That Benefited Celtic and Stan..
Victor Wanyama has agreed a move to Celtic, subject to the player passing a medical and securing a work permit.
The 19-year-old Kenyan midfielder will move to the club from Belgian side Germinal Beerschot, having agreed personal terms with Neil Lennon’s side.
“Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce they have agreed a fee with Germinal Beerschot for the transfer of Victor Wanyama, who has also agreed personal terms,” the club confirmed.
“Victor will join the club in the summer subject to a work permit and medical.”
Wanyama started his career at Swedish club Helsingborgs before moving to Germinal Beerschot, where he has been a regular for the past three seasons.
As Kenya are not ranked in the top 70 of Fifa’s rankings, Wanyama’s initial application for SFA approval to get a work permit will be automatically rejected.
However the teenager, who made his international debut at the age of 15 and is already a regular fixture in Kenya’s starting XI, would then have his case heard on appeal. Celtic would present a case stating that he is a talent that he is an internationally established player.
The appeals panel typically sits within three to five days of the appeal being submitted.
This will remind you of home Maggie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAX2IX2A7ao&feature=youtu.be
Morrissey the 23rd
01:25 on 27 June, 2013
Absolutely brilliant!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3754ktZ8Ic
@CharlotteFakes: Here’s the SPL version of Jelavic contract, as sent to West Ham on 24/01/2012. Definitions seem quite clear.
http://t.co/QPlfMaoSct
What the hell happened to the The Prince of Wales presents Soil Association Gold award
http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/8078039/1/
thats what I want to know.
Tom McLaughlin
Best of luck today Tom.
HH
Tom McLaughlin
Hope all goes well for you my cyber friend.
We do not know each other but i will include you in my prayers .
I think that is what makes this site.
PAUL 67 I WILL HAVE YOURE BABIES.
.
Morrissey the 23rd
01:25 on
27 June, 2013
This will remind you of home Maggie:
..
Jeezo..
That just took me back 36Yrs. to when My Auld Dad used to Drink..Must thank Him for Giving up the Grog..;-(
Summa of HaloHaloCSC
Manufactured consent
Lennon wants
Lennon resigned
Lennon eyes
Lennon and McCartney
Lennon and Trotsky
They will all get an ice pick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te9FMvLmJhU