Here’s how it works. Celtic tell agents the profile of players they are looking for, who subsequently send their client’s CVs and DVDs back. If one fits the profile (for example: a central defender, with pace, wage budget £X, transfer budget £Y), then he is retained for consideration.
Some retained for consideration make it onto ‘the list’. Celtic actively pursue these players, usually more than one per requirement, as they know how deals can fall through. If players start to drop off the list, either because they have not performed to standard when scouted, or Celtic’s approach is declined, names are added to the list from those retained for consideration.
That ‘retained for consideration’ folder generates more advertising revenue than anything else in football. Lots of people are incentivised to link a name to Celtic (or many other clubs). The agent can legitimately tell a journalist he’s spoken to Celtic about a player, the journalist can then trail the transfer saga for weeks, its rise, climax and last minute hitch, will generate millions of hits. This is called Click Bait, you are the target.
Consider the near certainty of the reporting that Jelle Vossen was about to sign for Celtic. The Genk striker matches Celtic’s criteria in several areas: he’s a striker, they will be able to afford his wages and transfer fee, they have received information on him. Hundreds of articles have been written on this basis alone, generating thousands of pounds of advertising revenue.
The problem is, Jelle Vossen isn’t on ‘the list’. His CV is stuck in a folder somewhere at Lennoxtown, not currently under consideration. Celtic are not actively pursuing his services.
Danny Wilson? Never made it onto the list. His agent got a courteous response “months ago” when first asked if there was interest. Danny’s CV is in the same folder Jelle’s is in. When I spoke to a senior source at the club yesterday, the player is so far off radar, the source couldn’t even remember Wilson’s name when I asked about Celtic being rejected in favour of a newco.
The PR behind the message sent out with Wilson’s signing was inspired. Some of the reporting was shameful. The days of being able to twist a story against Celtic without consequence are gone. The BBC recanted one story (at the insistence of reporter Alasdair Lamont). Sky Sports News gave Neil McCann a stage for utter guff on Wilson rejecting Celtic, while much of the print and online media quickly moved on, not caring one way or the other.
The episode reminded me of the almost universal line the media took the day Neil Lennon resigned – unhappy at Celtic’s transfer budget, apparently. This message was never attributed but it was reported so widely, you could trace the manipulation. We even had the Usual Brigade of ex-Celts ready to express their disappointment at the club’s financial decisions. Economic illiterates, to a man. The story was nonsense and almost certainly came from the same source as Wilson’s rejection.
There are strikers on Celtic’s list, but if the agent’s talking to the media, chances are, he’s not talking to Celtic anymore.
Here’s a Bob Dylan singing Like a Rolling Stone, especially for Neil McCann. How does it feel………?
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Evening Times reporting that our League opener on 1 August has been brought forward from 3pm to 12:45 because of Sky Sports.
Charlimac
May your friend Wullie Marshall rest in peace.
Can I start on my pet dislike of a Celtic player ?
I give you Calum McGregor, flash in the pan, and we spoke about lazy players earlier
Now there’s an alleged £56k a month saving Celtic
Hail Hail
DU v Aberdeen moved to the Sunday on opening weekend
Just to explain my last comment
Speaking to the official Celtic website, Ronny Deila admitted that he wants to possess a smaller squad by the start of next season.
The Norwegian boss said: “We have many players but we need a smaller squad as well. It’s not just about getting players in, it’s also about having the right squad going into the season.”
Whilst the Bhoys did possess a large squad during the 2014/15 season, it is a surprise to see Deila want a small one in time for next term.
With ambitions to play in the Champions League, and the need to challenge on three fronts for silverware, Celtic need a squad with real depth.
Of all the teams in Scotland, the Hoops are the only one who require a squad with two quality starting XI’s, and Deila is wrong to claim he needs a smaller squad.
So add Boerrigter, Balde, To that cost saving, or in Ronny’s words, smaller squad :-)))
Hail Hail
gary67
16:38 on 25 June, 2015
DU v Aberdeen moved to the Sunday on opening weekend
As has StJohnstone v Hearts.
Half of the opening weekend games moved for a pittance of a TV deal.
I take it there’s no friendlies being played that weekend with EPL teams!
Efe`s reputation for making mistakes is greatly exaggerated.
As has always been the case with Celtic, any negativity among the support is seized upon by rival fans and the MSSM and, before long, becomes an accepted fact . Worse, it becomes an accepted fact by many at the game. The resulting apprehension when Efe receives the ball is bound to have an affect on the player`s confidence. Trouble with this state of affairs is that Efe now needs to go many, many mistake free games more than any other player in order that he may lose that unfortunate reputation. That is clearly unfair and only the Celtic support can change it. I hope we do.
JJ
JJHS @ 16:28
Unless there are further purchases, I would not bet against that line-up starting the season.
AM (if he is still here) is cover for ML
EA and CM are cover for VVD and Boyata
CM is really the only cover for Izzy, but not really his position, so we need another LB
Henderson is the only real cover for SB and NB in the middle, so we need someone else (unless we want to try SA in this role)
GMS and SA are cover for JF and SA, and KC is cover for SJ
SS is cover for LG up front. I think SS has a lot of upside, but he is still a bit of a gamble. I might want to bring another striker in … preferably someone big who can hold the ball up (LG is surprisingly good in the air for someone of his size, but target man really isnt his game).
I think some of these guys will leave (AM) or be phased out (KC), so we have some gaps to fill…. more importantly, as has been pointed out, we have several young guys who either need to be given time or need to be taken off the payroll,
Plus there are those like Boerrigter who (I think) have talent, but just didn’t seem to catch on here, and need to get off the payroll.
charliemac,
Sad news about your friend Wullie. RIP. He, imo, was a fine judge of a football player. Bobby Murdoch is the best player I have seen in a Celtic jersey, bar none, although my own favourite is Charlie Gallagher. Now, Charlie could make that killer pass that was talked about today better than anyone else I’ve seen in the Hoops.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/ryan-fraser-vindicated-for-bournemouth-switch-1-3757404
“And who can now blame Fraser for making what has since proved to be such an educated decision?”
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/25/bournemouth-tyrone-mings-ipswich-town
“Bournemouth have broken their transfer record by signing Tyrone Mings from Ipswich Town in a deal believed to be worth £8m. It is understood that Ryan Fraser, the former Aberdeen winger, is moving to Portman Road on loan as part of the deal.”
So after struggling to establish himself at Championship side, he has been offloaded once they got promoted.
An inspiration to all young Scottish players. Jump at the first chance to go to England!
So again the flag will be unfurled in a hurry, sky will not show it and the support will simply have to lump it. Why all the hype about 3 three o’clock starts are back when everyone knew sky would deliberately spoil the party, this is one that sky should have been told to sling their hook.
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
16:51 on
25 June, 2015
Efe`s reputation for making mistakes is greatly exaggerated.
========
In your opinion.
HH
Good evening All,
It would appear our League opener on 1st of August has been brought forward from 3pm to 12:45 because of Sky Sports.
It’s marvellous night for a moondance
Van and Gregory at Blenheim palace
Whohooooooo
It didn’t take long for the fixtures to get messed about did it?
So much for Saturday 3pm’s are back.
Watching some of the Copa America stuff, plus the under 21 stuff this week …. a few thoughts ….
the English team was so far behind many others in terms of ball skills and tactics …. the game is passing britain by …. in the EPL, they are attempting to make up for this, but importing more foreign coaches and stars (which is a short term fix, but will only further damage the home grown game in the long run)…..
the scary thing is the english teams are spending a fortune and struggle to compete against the best in Europe ….
what chance to the scottish teams have, when they are buying players for 1/50th of what the English teams pay (and they are often getting dross for that!)
One of the benefits for Celtic is that, hopefully, not playing in the EPL, there wont be the same degree of ‘big time charlies’ … and that the players will be more likely to respond RD’s ways, and his concept of how ‘the TEAM’ has to come first.
Her seems to be the sort who has been able to get the players to buy into his philosophy …. now, he needs to translate the off field improvements (in fitness, for example) to the pitch … .he needs to get them more confident on the ball, and moving more , and getting to know where their team mates will be moving ….(all of which should be easier, if they are fitter, and know his system a bit better this season)
I think RD will really have his work cut out for him this pre-season …. but, over the course of the season, I expect to see us starting to play some good football on a more consistent basis …
Although to be fair to the club they did just say Saturdaysare back not the 3pm bit. Let’s see how many stay that way though.
http://www.celticfc.net/news/8468
Trad…,
One mistake in a game is all it takes for many supporters to justify the label of bombscare, and it usually nullifies every good contribution made, it is identically to how Sammi was hounded. Efe’s crossing is better than most in the team but people refuse to see that cause they are waiting for the mistake and anything done well is discounted because it’s not what’s wanted or expected
Champions League qualification is the only way we can be sure of playing more Saturday fixtures.
Efe tries his hardest for Celtic. His big weakness for me is his timing of a header and the lack of purposeful direction/ power on it. As Ronny has stated he does whatever he’s asked to do. He was part of our defence which beat Barca. He could do with better decision making but it is up to his tea mates to provide option of the easier ball with their movement. It’s brave for a centre half to try and contribute to the attack, I welcome any Celtic defender who attempts this.
martim1980 …. well said.
Canamalar
I don’t judge him on his crossing, I judge him on his defending and there are just too many individual, unforced errors that are just part of his makeup and it is for this reason I think we should, as an earlier poster said(sorry can’t remember who!) go to ‘the list’ and try to upgrade to a defender who is not so prone to such moments.
There is a lot at stake early in the season and some errors which are not punished domestically may prove to be more costly in Europe,
HH
traditionalist88
I would certainly hope it is my opinion!
Martim1980
I agree with you that Efe`s biggest weakness is his heading. So far, though, the media have not concentrated on that so the ` bombscare ` image is prevalent.
JJ
Peñarol has three nicknames to which any fan will happily identify. Like their counterpart, one of them is the team colors, Aurinegro, or “black and gold”. A second nickname is Carbonero (“coalman”), which comes from the railway heritage of shovelling coal into locomotives. The third nickname, Manya, has one of the most bizarre origins in all of sports. Striker Carlos Scarone returned from a stint with Boca Juniors in Argentina, and signed for Nacional. When his father, an ardent Peñarol supporter, asked him why he didn’t go to Peñarol, he responded, “Why would I play for Peñarol? To eat shit?” For Scarone, the son of an Italian immigrant, “to eat shit” came out as manyarmierda. Corrupted to manya, the term was initially used pejoratively by opposing fans, but soon peñarolenses adopted it as their own.
Danny Wilson decided to eat shit ;))
HH
Livibhoy
I agree with your post ref Efe but two points in particular deserve reiteration.
His evident love of life and the club which as you say manifests itself in a willingness to play anywhere and run through a wall for us if called upon.
And his obvious lack of confidence on the ball. Painful to see.
HH jamesgang
I like big Efe, plays for the club he loves, and gives 100% can’t ask for any more,like even the greatest players in the world he has his bad days as do we all, calm doon ffs with the predictable ….a told yi so posts……I know it’s others opinions, but try a positive now and again ffs.
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
17:19 on
25 June, 2015
traditionalist88
I would certainly hope it is my opinion!
====
I don’t know why you’d hope that, its wrong ;)
HH
Trad…,
As you told someone earlier, that’s your opinion,
Contrary to your previous statement there is not enough evidence to prove your opinion is anything other than your opinion, there may be a few who support your opinion but apparently the manager supports my opinion, I prefer the managers expertise to your opinion if that’s ok.
jg,
Completely disagree on “obvious lack of confidence” else he would not put himself in the firing line every time he takes to the field.
Lapses in concentration at worst something most player are guilty of.
Mikes Lustig wishes he had half of Efe ( he’s a bombscare ) Ambrose’s attributes.
Ola fae sunny Portugal.
Finally got a copy of the CQN Seville book to read on hols,
fairly get through it at speed…then came The Bhoy Jinky’s
sad tale of his beloved Son……tears tripping me whilst lying
on sunbed on Barril beach.
B,god bless you Mhate.hh
Efe Ambrose is a truly marvellous player to watch. Definitely my kind of player.
Efe has the Heart of a Lion as well, and the skill of a Lisbon one.
Just heard Bournemouth have reportedly bid £8m for a player.
Bournemouth!!! £8m!!!
Shows what we’re up against :-(
==============
Ross County game….it is still a Saturday thank goodness!
HH
His heading, as people have commented, isn’t his strong point but Ronny wullnae have a guy who shirks the work that underpins his whole ethic.
Efe Superstar
I remember when Celtic suddenly resigned Vic Davidson.
Things you hear down the beach bar .
Teenager # 1″
” Didn’ t think much of the supposedly great Arri Cane “.
Teenager # 2
” His surname means dog .It suits him.”
NB – There is no k in the Italian alphabet and the letter h is silent.
I’d like another good long look at Calum McGregor when he recovers from his injury.
Fee is a quality, versatile player, we definitely need him in the squad.
Think the reputation for mistakes and the lack of confidence comes from the Juve 3-0 game.
For me he shouldn’t even have been playing in that game, he should have been in Nigeria celebrating the winning of the Afcon Cup with his team mates.
Hail Hail