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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The level of players Sevco are signing shows that the SFA have told them
there’ll be no league reconstruction.
McGeady.Hopper. no thanks.couldn’t wait to leave Celtic.Samara’s shouldn’t have been shown the door.but that’s Lawell for you.
Jamesgang
We are on the same page mate. Back Efe and he will flourish. While he wears the Hoops he has my full support.
Lennybhoy
I thought young Aiden would be a superstar by now but I’m afraid he hasn’t developed the way I hoped. The wages he is probably on is way out with our structure and at that level of spend I wouldn’t take him back. Maybe one day though but not at this juncture.
LB
Trad..,
I’d just like to echo cowiebhoys comment :)
http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/122433241496/baby-steps-laying-the-groundwork-for-the-spfls#_=_
On SPFL Broadcasting and what the SPFL can do now for fans to prepare them for what must come in the future.
Ruggyman …. I haven’t seen enough of Rogic to form an opinion, but a few aussies I know seem to think he has the skill to be something special. Hope so… the game needs as many of those types of players as possible.
Jamesgang ….. I could try to pretend that I have no idea what you are talking about … that I was referring to the dispute as to the origin of that saying (the Dredd Scott case?) …. but, I know you are too sharp to let me get away with it …. so I will have to plead guilty as charged, and throw myself upon the mercy of the CQN court (and just hope they are bit more gentle to me than to poor Efe!)
https://twitter.com/celticretro/status/614021726612135936
… I was born in a Gorbals street….
livibhoy
18:33 on 25 June, 2015
I would suggest it is Aiden to decide how rich he wants to be. Whether he gives us something we don’t have, I think he just might have learned a wee bit since he left us. I would take Aiden and put him in place instead of Jamsie. All about opinions mate.
The other thing is do you start Aiden or GMS!
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Chairbhoy 17:52
Spot on. The mistake was playing Efe in that game, when he had spent a month playing for a different team in a different position in a different continent. Hadn’t been involved in any of the preparation.
I think its time Aiden came home, I think he’d be receptive to coaching now.
And I believe Ronny is the right coach to give him an end product.
Sandman
Interesting if Celtic were to ban a TV ‘pundit?’ who commentates on live games.
Don’t think we’ve tried that, but if we do it for the written word then Neil McCann is a contender for spoken bias. It might teach Sky a lesson, if we did.
Imagine the length of the MSM list of those who deserve banning from inside Celtic Park.
As it stands, providing everyone fully fit, our Champs league team will go along the lines of
4-2-3-1
———————-C.Gordon—————–
Lustig. Boyata. VanDijk. Izzy
————Broony. Bitton —————–
GMS or J.F. Johansen. Armstrong
—————-Griffiths————————
Million dollar question…. Is that side good enough to progress to group stages?….
Possibly
In ideal world, where do you tweak the above team…. Most people would observe possibly left back, and centre forward.
Evening bhoys n ghirls from a fab Turkey, the country isnae bad either.
Lennybhoy
Spot on. All opinions.
One of the things I am most looking forward to this season is seeing James Forrest fit and ready to kick on. If Aiden comes back then it would be a great addition to the team and you have been in the know before but even at reduced wages he would be one of our highest earners if not the highest. I would rather we pushed the boat out for a front man who has pace power and quality and 30+ goals a season BUT I trust the gaffer.
LB
BT
Where about in that Turkey are you :-)
Hope you and family are enjoying bhud
sandman
I suggested last year that Efe be played in front of the back four …. and still think he would do a job for us there …… the problem is Biton, playing in that role, has become the first name on the teamsheet, and I think I am the only one who would start Efe before Scott Brown …. with NB in a more advanced central midfield role (where his passing could create chances) ….
so, where do we fit Efe in?
Mike in Toronto and Sandman
Efe is versatile, and will be kept on this basis.
Where he fits in, is simply as cover in a variety of positions…right back, centre back, defensive midfield
glasstwothirdsfull @ 18:41,
Yeah, thanks, that was exactly my point and as BSR and Canamalar pointed out, as soon as the vacancy for a whipping Bhoy came up….
Think we might see the best of Efe under, RD.
Hail Hail
Side Cowiebhoy
An hour from Antalya airport
Place is great, weather bearable at 29 and apart from intermittent wi fi mini and mrs BT loving it
My factor undercoat doing the trick 8))
Aiden McGeady was overrated. In my honest opinion.
It’s called The McGeady Spin
ruggyman …. agree with what you say about Efe … I would keep him… he is versatile, and has a heart as big as any player ….
As I said last year, I just dont think we have seen the best of him yet …. and think that if he got a run in the team, he could be a star for us.
Plus … I love seeing the flips when he scores …. would love to see a few more of those!
Ruggyman – High hopes for Griff domestically this season but he’s not ready for the CL. That is the one spot where I feel we are lacking at CL level. The rest of your suggestions work for me. Jamesie on the bench
Billybear – If I was allowed to agree with you I would :)
The Man Himself
Samaras was underrated, again in my honest opinion. Celtic would be better off with Samaras back than McGeady.
I think for champs league, our no.9 lead striker doesn’t necessarily have to be prolific. If he knows where the back of the net is, it’s a bonus.
However we need a forward that can hold the ball up, bring the energy of Johansen, Armstrong, GMS in to play.
That when we play on counter attack we can hit at pace, because the guy up front has good game intelligence and can link the play.
And as much as I like wee Leigh…. that description above isn’t him.
Leigh will score a bundle again next season in the Scottish premier league
Paul writes of “economic illiterates’ – there are many who haunt this forum – you know who I mean, the Lawwell/Board Haters.
With regard to 33k plus season ticket sales – it reinforces the call for the ‘skimming’ of CP down to a 40k capacity.
60,000 is vanity – 40,000 is sanity. We could then move to an actual club membership scheme, which would open up all sorts of other possibilities.
Let’s also strive to make the match-day experience second to none – e.g. on site affordable hotel accomodation for our large Irish support.
The stadium occupancy is no more than 65% as normal – with 55,000 achieved only on a handful occasions throughout the season.
With the imminent introduction of SSA, which if successful, will surely be extended to maybe 8/10k, stadium atmosphere will be like a European night more often.
bournesouprecipe
19:03 on
25 June, 2015
The Man Himself
=======================
Brilliant,would love to see him back.
I remember seeing Samaras playing at Heerenveen …. thought he was the best player I had seen in Holland since Suarez (who I rated!), and thought he would be a star for us… seeing him in full flow was a thing of beauty …. like watching a young thoroughbred run!
and when McGeady broke through, he was worth the price of the ticket alone ..
but, the (lack of) coaching in Scotland seemed to take the zest and the ‘forwardness’ (if that is a word) out of them and their game ….. they both learned to stop, slow down and play sideways and backwards ….. and often ended up running aimlessly as they didn’t have teammates making runs for them …. it was a shame ….
I dont think RD will allow that to happen now … and think JF, GMS and SS will blossom this year under RD …
I wish RD had been around when we had GS and AMcG…. they would have been stars in his system … but, time has passed and there is no looking back ….
I’ll go out on a limb …. my break though players for this year …. Armstrong is going to be indispensible, but in a more understated way …RD is going to make Forrest and Scepovic stars this year!
R.I.P. Wullie Marshall
ThompsonTwin
Last season, we sold over 40,000 season tickets and are on course to top that this year. You are trolling this non issue. Blow!
Expect that average attendance at Celtic Park including european nights is forty thousand at most. No disgrace. No doubt some CQNr can provide actual figures.
Livibhoy.
I am also looking forward to seeing James Forrest at his best. Let’s hope this is his year for staying injury free and he shows his true talent. I am genuinely shocked at some of the abuse James receives on here. He has competition from GMS and it will be interesting to see who Ronny selects as his main man in that position.
IMHO Danny Wilson couldn’t lace Efes boots,
Sandman@ 18.27 hrs.
With the greatest respect who constitutes a green Hun and what is your criteria for a real Tim
HH.
livibhoy @ 12:11 on 25 June, 2015
Good analysis and theory. It will be interesting how this pans out.
Billybhoy,
I was one of his biggest critics, I don’t think he was overrated I think his head was too big and as such was uncoachable, I believe he has seen and is experienced enough now to come back down to earth and understand he is playing a team sport and that coaching will help him improve every aspect of his game.