[FONT=Calibri]Surprised I didn’t get JVoH but other lesser players immediately sprang to mind. I’ll never get the last 1 and it’ll annoy me now. Google it there befucked, Puke.[/FONT]
[quote=“Bandage, post: 789772, member: 9”]“Celtic are delighted to announce that Dutch U21 internationalist Virgil van Dijk has signed a 4-year deal with the Scottish champions.”
[/quote]
Fantastic news. Delighted to get two young quality players in nice and early.
[quote=“chewy louie, post: 789797, member: 1137”]Virgil is the 9th Dutchman to sign for Celtic.
Who can name the other 8?[/quote]
Hooiveld is the one ye forgot I think.
[quote=“Rocko, post: 789810, member: 1”]
Hooiveld is the one ye forgot I think.[/quote]
Great shout:clap:
Welcome to Celtic, Virg.
What’s the state of play with regards the ins and outs so far, bhoys?
IN:
Balde (£1.8m)
Van Dijk (£2.5m)
OUT:
Lassad (released)
Miku (loan expiration)
McCourt (out of contract)
Noring (loan expiration)
Rogne (out of contract)
Gershon (loan expiration)
Am I missing anyone?
Lovely to see the Celtic WAGs reaching out via Twitter to provide Big Virgil’s girlfriend with a virtual welcome to Celtic too. A happy home life should ensure the new bhoy hits top form quickly.
I’m encouraged that we’ve made two promising purchases so early in the summer. None of this hanging around until the end of August - we’ve identified two targets for two central positions and gone in and signed them.
I was remarking recently offline to Rocko that if the policy of buying young and often unproven players, improving them, selling them on at a profit (as Dutch and Portuguese clubs do) and repeating the process is to be successful then we need to buy in to all 4 aspects of it.
I was getting a little concerned with the Hooper situation, for example, and how his contract has been allowed to wind down. And though that particular issue isn’t resolved yet, at least we’ve started another phase of buying players with potential to improve with these two signings.
I imagine our strong financial results aided by the Champions League run last season have allowed us to spend what (for us) is a chunky enough amount of cash, and early on in the summer too.
Hopefully we’ll make another few astute signings. I think a wide player is a position we need to target - we were obviously in for Tonev but missed out on him.
[quote=“Bandage, post: 790423, member: 9”]Lovely to see the Celtic WAGs reaching out via Twitter to provide Big Virgil’s girlfriend with a virtual welcome to Celtic too. A happy home life should ensure the new bhoy hits top form quickly.
I’m encouraged that we’ve made two promising purchases so early in the summer. None of this hanging around until the end of August - we’ve identified two targets for two central positions and gone in and signed them.
I was remarking recently offline to Rocko that if the policy of buying young and often unproven players, improving them, selling them on at a profit (as Dutch and Portuguese clubs do) and repeating the process is to be successful then we need to buy in to all 4 aspects of it.
I was getting a little concerned with the Hooper situation, for example, and how his contract has been allowed to wind down. And though that particular issue isn’t resolved yet, at least we’ve started another phase of buying players with potential to improve with these two signings.
I imagine our strong financial results aided by the Champions League run last season have allowed us to spend what (for us) is a chunky enough amount of cash, and early on in the summer too.
Hopefully we’ll make another few astute signings. I think a wide player is a position we need to target - we were obviously in for Tonev but missed out on him.[/quote]
I am in two minds about Hooper. Firstly, it would be for the best if he left, given his contract situation but also due to his inconsistent form and sometimes questionable work ethic/attitude - it’s not really his fault as when he goes through these slumps he should be out of the team but Lennon simply will not drop him under any circumstance.
My second view of this is that we should under no circumstance sell him for under £6m. English clubs have been blowing bigger money on far worse players in recent years and while it may be cutting your nose off to spite your face, it does send them a message that we won’t be bowled over easily when it comes to transfer fees.
A lot of talk about Celtic accepting a bid from Southampton for £12m over the weekend. Scottish media claiming this morning that Wanyama rejected the terms offered to him by Southampton.
He’s holding out for Liverpool according to my sources.
Is there anything substantial with the links to Liverpool? I’d happy with £12m.
Not sure I believe much of the Wanyama stuff in the papers at the moment. There was talk he was down in Southampton for signing talks but it would seem strange that we wouldn’t want to attract other suitors first. Also, while there is merit in selling him early to get money to fund a replacement, if he was going to a club like Southampton he could play CL qualifiers for us without jeopardising anything and I think that should be a factor in keeping him for a month or so at least.
[quote=“Il Bomber Destro, post: 789482, member: 1052”]Lovely stuff.
What else is on the agenda now lads in terms of strengthening?
I’d like another centre back and a left back, a winger, a versatile attacker, a holding midfielder and creative midfielder and replacements for the likes of Wanyama/Kayal etc if they leave - not that there is anything to suggest that Kayal would leave.
I really liked the look of that South African midfielder who plays in Belgium that we were linked with a while a while ago.[/quote]
Just coming back to this list - meant to reply to it at the time. I think we’re ok for defenders now since we got Van Dijk. I’d like us to upgrade in terms of quality a bit but we have 4 centre backs in Van Dijk, Wilson, Ambrose and Mulgrew. We have three excellent specialist full backs - Izzy, Matthews and Lustig and with Matthews able to play both sides and Ambrose and particularly Mulgrew capable of playing wider I think we’re ok there.
I think other than replacing any leavers, and the likes of Hooper or Wanyama would certainly require replacing with quality, the main position I’d target would be a winger/creative midfielder. It could be one player for both positions or a specialist for just one position but I’d prefer a quality addition to one of those roles instead of getting in two more average players.
[quote=“Rocko, post: 791154, member: 1”]Just coming back to this list - meant to reply to it at the time. I think we’re ok for defenders now since we got Van Dijk. I’d like us to upgrade in terms of quality a bit but we have 4 centre backs in Van Dijk, Wilson, Ambrose and Mulgrew. We have three excellent specialist full backs - Izzy, Matthews and Lustig and with Matthews able to play both sides and Ambrose and particularly Mulgrew capable of playing wider I think we’re ok there.
I think other than replacing any leavers, and the likes of Hooper or Wanyama would certainly require replacing with quality, the main position I’d target would be a winger/creative midfielder. It could be one player for both positions or a specialist for just one position but I’d prefer a quality addition to one of those roles instead of getting in two more average players.[/quote]
I don’t believe we need to replace Hooper if he goes - we already have Balde, Watt and Stokes as strikers and Samaras can play there if we need it. Then we have a few youngsters that could do with some exposure this season - Atajic, George and Keatings could fill in domestically if needed. How is Denny Johnstone coming along? He is a striker as well I think. I think we do need another couple of bodies in the centre of midfield even if Wanyama goes or not. I think it’s time to cash in on Kayal, he’s had two very average seasons now and if we could get get £4m for him then I’d say see ya.
Hooper and Wanyama look likely to leave but I’d also try and offload Kayal, Ambrose and Commons if we can get reasonable fees for them and replace them with better and more functional players. I also think we should really be looking to loan McGeouch out to a side like Hibs this season and see how he gets on.
[quote=“Il Bomber Destro, post: 791161, member: 1052”]I don’t believe we need to replace Hooper if he goes - we already have Balde, Watt and Stokes as strikers and Samaras can play there if we need it. Then we have a few youngsters that could do with some exposure this season - Atajic, George and Keatings could fill in domestically if needed. How is Denny Johnstone coming along? He is a striker as well I think. I think we do need another couple of bodies in the centre of midfield even if Wanyama goes or not. I think it’s time to cash in on Kayal, he’s had two very average seasons now and if we could get get £4m for him then I’d say see ya.
Hooper and Wanyama look likely to leave but I’d also try and offload Kayal, Ambrose and Commons if we can get reasonable fees for them and replace them with better and more functional players. I also think we should really be looking to loan McGeouch out to a side like Hibs this season and see how he gets on.[/quote]
Hmmm… I’m not sure any of the alternatives to Hooper are as natural goalscorers. All offer different things but I think we could do with a pure predator who will get us 20 goals. Stokes and Samaras haven’t done that, though they’ve offered plenty else and while the youngsters are promising to varying degrees, it’s hard to be too reliant on them. Johnstone was an attacking midfielder I think but he seems to be playing more as a striker these days.
While we’re on the youngsters, we had a Swedish lad called Niclas Eliasson on trial recently. He was at Arsenal too and seems to be highly enough rated. And finally on the youngsters, young Jackson Irvine is playing central midfield for Australia in the Under 20 World Cup at the moment, and playing well apparently.
Can’t think of any reason why we’d even contemplate getting rid of Commons. He was our only reliable creative outlet last season and he contributed in terms of goals and assists throughout.
[quote=“Rocko, post: 791169, member: 1”]Hmmm… I’m not sure any of the alternatives to Hooper are as natural goalscorers. All offer different things but I think we could do with a pure predator who will get us 20 goals. Stokes and Samaras haven’t done that, though they’ve offered plenty else and while the youngsters are promising to varying degrees, it’s hard to be too reliant on them. Johnstone was an attacking midfielder I think but he seems to be playing more as a striker these days.
While we’re on the youngsters, we had a Swedish lad called Niclas Eliasson on trial recently. He was at Arsenal too and seems to be highly enough rated. And finally on the youngsters, young Jackson Irvine is playing central midfield for Australia in the Under 20 World Cup at the moment, and playing well apparently.
Can’t think of any reason why we’d even contemplate getting rid of Commons. He was our only reliable creative outlet last season and he contributed in terms of goals and assists throughout.[/quote]
Commons is a bit of a square peg in a tactical system of round holes. Stokes record in the SPL before he joined Celtic was 36 in 56 games, the only thing that has changed since he came to Celtic has been the fact that he has been in and out of the team and his role has changed on a regular basis. I have no doubt both he and Watt would score the goals Hooper has if they were afforded the same continuity and time on the pitch. In any case we don’t need a natural scorer, we will win the league anyway and for the most part when we play in Europe we will be going with one up top on his own which is likely to be Balde. People overestimate Hooper’s scoring ability, he plays virtually every second of every game and has a team who plays for him.
We’ll never agree on Hooper’s worth to Celtic - but I think his reliability and lack of injuries is an asset, not something that should be used to dilute his statistics.
Commons is crucial to us in adding a tactical variation - he allows us to blend between playing 1 or 2 up front and he also allows us to switch formations and emphasis within games without making a substitution. I take your point on not necessarily needing an out and out goalscorer at the moment, but it’s for that exact reason that I think Commons is important.
[quote=“Rocko, post: 791173, member: 1”]We’ll never agree on Hooper’s worth to Celtic - but I think his reliability and lack of injuries is an asset, not something that should be used to dilute his statistics.
Commons is crucial to us in adding a tactical variation - he allows us to blend between playing 1 or 2 up front and he also allows us to switch formations and emphasis within games without making a substitution. I take your point on not necessarily needing an out and out goalscorer at the moment, but it’s for that exact reason that I think Commons is important.[/quote]
My point basically stems down to other players not being afforded the same patience, loyalty and faith that Lennon has placed in Hooper. Stokes and Watt have been inexplicably being dropped by Lennon in bouts of good form, yet Hooper is retained game after game irrespective of his form, he went on a run of games this year where he scored 1 in 7 or 8 starts. Stokes has shown in the past that he will scores goals for fun at this level if played on a regular basis, I’m not 100% certain on the stats but I’d be confident he has a more prolific goals to minutes ratio than Hooper in the SPL (including his stint at Hibs and Falkirk). He’s also only had one reasonable absence through injury.
It’s not really to do with Hooper’s reliability and lack of injuries that give him an edge, it is Lennon’s preference that gives him an edge. Watt spent long spells out of the squad last season when he was available for the team and was playing in youth games and on his occasional returns to the side he made a real impression but would then go missing again.
Commons does not really fit into any role in the team and I think his presence actually causes a bit of an imbalance. While he has the quality to unlock defences, he can also be very damaging to our fluidity. It always seems that playing Commons is at the expense of another player who adds something to the team but also fits into our tactical shape.
There are direct quotes from Wanyama in the Daily Mail today stating that Neil Lennon told him about the Southampton offer and Celtic are satisfied with the fee (GBP£12m) but he doesn’t want to join them. He does say he wants to move to the EPL but I reiterate that he’s holding out for Liverpool. Cardiff are also mentioned today but he won’t want to join them either. Weird that a diddy club like Southampton have the capability to make Celtic an offer they can’t refuse but that’s the football environment in England these days.
James McFadden:(
[FONT=verdana][SIZE=6][SIZE=3]Wanyama’s agent is starting to act the cunt. From STV:[/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=6][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]Celtic respond to agent claims over Victor Wanyama move to Southampton[/FONT][/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]STV 25 June 2013 17:54 BST[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Helvetica Neue][FONT=inherit][FONT=inherit]http://nfs.stvfiles.com/imagebase/25/623x349/25643-celtic-midfielder-victor-wanyama.jpg[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Helvetica Neue][FONT=inherit]Celtic had agreed a fee with Southampton for the sale of Victor Wanyama.[/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[RIGHT][SIZE=16px][FONT=inherit][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]©SNS Group[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE][/RIGHT]
[RIGHT] [/RIGHT]
[LEFT][FONT=verdana]Celtic have responded to comments made by Victor Wanyama’s agent by saying they have acted with “integrity” over the player’s future.[/FONT][/LEFT]
![http://nfs.stvfiles.com/imagebase/25/623x349/25643-celtic-midfielder-victor-wanyama.jpg[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]](http://nfs.stvfiles.com/imagebase/25/623x349/25643-celtic-midfielder-victor-wanyama.jpg%5B/FONT%5D%5B/FONT%5D%5B/FONT%5D%5B/SIZE%5D){kind=link}
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]Wanyama has been linked with a move away from the Parkhead club and the Kenyan midfielder’s agent, Ivan Modia, confirmed that Southampton had agreed a fee with Celtic for the player’s transfer but that personal terms had been rejected.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]Modia implied that Celtic were keen for the player to move on after accepting the bid, in excess of £12.5 million, but said Wanyama would not be “forced into a corner”.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]A Celtic spokesperson told Press Association that they would not conduct business in the public domain but had no questions to answer over their handling of the situation.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]"These negotiations like any others, are carried out by Celtic in a proper, private and professional manner,” the spokesperson said.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]"Celtic carries out its business with integrity, we work to the highest standards and in the interests of the club, our supporters and indeed our players.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]“We do not need to comment any further on this matter."[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]Modia had insisted that Wanyama, contracted to Celtic until 2015, would was not holding further discussions with Southampton and suggested that the 22-year-old was unhappy that a proposed move to Queens Park Rangers in 2012 had not gone ahead.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]“We are not in talks with Southampton and have not been since their final offer of terms, which was more than two weeks ago,” Modia told Sky Sports.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]"The news of the fee being agreed may just be coming out now, but we see little sense in a fee being agreed if there is no reasonable prospect of the player’s terms being met.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]"To suggest we are talking with Southampton is totally false, their offer was way below Victor’s expectations. There is no chance of him signing the deal on offer and, in fact, both Celtic and Southampton were informed of this some time ago.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]"The player will not be forced into a corner to accept the Southampton deal, just because it is good for Celtic. Remember, he has been with the club for two years now - without a pay rise - and has given them wonderful service ever since he arrived.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]"Added to this is the fact that by Celtic refusing him permission to join Queens Park Rangers last summer, Victor lost more than £1million in potential salary earnings - yet he just kept his mouth shut and continued to be a model professional.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=16px][FONT=Georgia][FONT=inherit][SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]“Many other players may not have adopted this attitude, in the circumstances.”[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE]
Wanyama’s agent is a troublemaker.