Celtic Transfers Summer 2010

Sport
181

Fuck it McManus deserves a better send-off. Great guy, not a great footballer but there were plenty at the club who didn’t try half as hard as McManus.

"I went full time in 1998, and it was a really, really hard thing for me to do, finally walking out of the door.

"Celtic will always be a part of me, it will always be my first love in football.

“But I am coming down here, it’s a fresh challenge and I am really looking forward to it.”

"If somebody had said to me as a young kid that I would have played for 10 minutes at Celtic Park, then I would have bitten their hand off to do it.

"To come through the ranks and to play in the first team, to win Old Firm games, to win the league, to win trophies, to play in the Champions League, to captain the club, it was an incredible feeling to do and one that will always stay with me.

"It is something I can be proud of, and I loved every minute of being there.

"But the time was right for me to move on, for the club as well. It was the right time for the club to sell me and it was the right time for me to move on.

“I wish everybody all the very best up there because it’s a wonderful place and it’s a wonderful club.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ5QuYlHrSU

9 mins in for this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGr5fUS8ZF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a9FQVTsl0w

182

McManus always came across as a sound person but it’s been glaringly obvious that he just wasn’t good enough for a long time. That video of the ‘tackle’ against Hearts last season was the last straw for me - it was actually a stupid and gutless thing to do. But overall you couldn’t question his commitment; I remember him being on his belly in a game against the huns and wriggling forward and making a tackle with his head when McCulloch was going in with his studs. It’s just that he was a poor player - tall but not commanding, actually bullied by physical forwards, not very quick and questionable positioning. As he says himself, it’s the best thing for both himself and the club.

Wouldn’t be keen on Murphy for obvious reasons; the main one being he’s shit.

183

Just to be clear: I also think Murphy is shit. In fact I think he’s worse than shit and have never liked him or rated him. But it looks a done deal from Lennon’s quotes.

"We think we’re pretty close with Murphy from Sunderland as well.

“He’s quick, he’s six foot two and I’ve watched him a lot for a few years now.”

Asked if Murphy would be joining Celtic in America, Lennon replied: "If we can get it done, yeah.

"He was playing for Ireland in an end of season tour in America, he caught my eye and I’ve kept an eye on him ever since.

“I think he’d do all right, he could take the hits for us up here.”

184

wouldnt rate him at all- always thought he would end up back in the LOI

some ipswich fan was on the radio in the 2nd half of the last season- said if murphy was there for the full season they would have been promoted- maybe he isnt as shit as we all think then

185

From the Celtic site:

artur leaves celtic after five great years

Paul Cuddihy
ARTUR Boruc has joined Italian side Fiorentina on a two-year deal. The Polish goalkeeper leaves Celtic Park after five impressive years at the club and goes with the best wishes of the whole Celtic family.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper joined the Hoops in 2005 from Legia Warsaw and quickly established himself as the first-team goalkeeper.

He made his debut in the 4-0 victory over Artmedia Bratislava in the UEFA Champions League qualifier at Celtic Park, and went on to make a total of 221 appearances for the club.

And he also famously scored for the club in the 9-8 penalty shoot-out victory over Dundee United at Hampden in the CIS Cup semi-final two seasons ago.

Artur has always been a favourite with the Celtic support and he has also proved to be one of the best goalkeepers the club has ever had.

Among the many highlights of his time at Celtic was the penalty save against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League in November 2006, which helped give the Hoops a 1-0 victory over the English giants and ensured qualification for the knockout stage of the competition for the first time in the club’s history.

And his penalty shoot-out heroics the following year in the qualifying round of the same competition against Spartak Moscow in August 2007 put the Hoops into the group stages on what was an incredible European night at Paradise.

[b]Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “It was clear that after five years with Celtic, Artur wished to pursue a fresh challenge.

“I know everyone at the club and all our supporters will sincerely wish Artur all the very best in this challenge.

“During his time at Celtic, he has been a magnificent servant to the club and without any question, he is one of the finest goalkeepers ever to play in Scotland. Indeed he has been one of Europe’s top keepers.

"A true character, a passionate man and a real Celtic supporter, he has been part of some memorable occasions and been instrumental in the successes which the club has enjoyed. We send him all our best wishes for the future.[/b]”

Hear hear!

Thank you and good luck, Artur Boruc.

:clap: :clap: :clap:

186

+1

up there with totti,ddr, twiggs & zlatan in been one of the few athletes id respect

187

From the players he has bought and those GCFC have been linked it - it appears Neil Lennon hasnt a scooby doo. Views?

188

Murphy transfer still looking very likely. I’d rather it didn’t happen but I imagine it will happen now. Just hope it means Samaras is leaving and then we’ll be left with Fortuné, Murphy, Rasmussen and Sheridan. Only one of those (Rasmussen) looks like he might be good enough but he’s the only one I haven’t really seen enough of. Certainly hope there’s more to come.

Sunderland were today awaiting developments on Republic of Ireland striker Daryl Murphy’s proposed move to Celtic.

The clubs have agreed terms and the 27-year-old was last night given permission to talk to the Glasgow giants.

Black Cats assistant boss Eric Black said today: “The clubs have agreed terms, it is now down to the player.

“He has been given permission to go and speak to them, which I think he was doing last night.

“We should have an update on that today, with a bit of luck.”

189

it really does show you what an absolute 3rd rate club celtic are… i mean dayrl fucking murphy!!

190

Murphy has signed

191

FFS

192

lets all laugh at celtic
:barcasmile: :barcasmile: :barcasmile:

193

Did they pay money for him?

194

Hmmm… hope to be proved wrong on this one. I think as an SPL player and a foil for a better striker he might offer something, not an awful lot, but something maybe.

If he’s the answer to our striker problems then we’re fucked I’d say.

195

Yeah, I’m not too keen on this signing at all. He’s another non scoring striker who drifts wide and outside the box. We already have Fortune and Samaras for that. We need Keane or Bellers back for that infusion of class.

196

Has Daryl Murphy’s squad number been confirmed yet? Just want to get his name and number on the back of my new hoops?

A message from Juarez on his Twitter page:

Feliz por haber llegado a un equipo historico como el CELTIC!!!

I can’t say fairer than that. :clap: :clap: :clap:

197

Murphy is #27 Bandage. Can’t believe we won the race for him.

198

I’m learning Spanish at the moment and will have no problem translating the above if anybody would like.

199

Hercules, newly promoted to La Liga, have made a bid for Samaras. I have no issues with his potential departure but we need to sign a proven striker urgently. I thought Fortuné was chronic in his cameo last night and I have no faith in him. Lennon is apparently unimpressed with Rasmussen and considering offloading him on loan and Daryl Murphy certainly doesn’t set the pulse racing. I think we’ve done a bit of decent business with 2 or 3 of the signings so far but we still need reinforcements in every single sector. Zaluska is not goo enough to be first choice keeper; we’re still short a centre back; we could do with another left back; midfield can be improved and then there’s the striker problem I mentioned. I post all that in terms of us needing players for these positions that will immediately improve the first team. We actually have loads of filler/dross and are actually top heavy overall and I’d gladly move the likes of Wilson, Caddis, McGinn and a couple of others on. Paddy McCourt has been offered a 2-year contract extension today.

200

i reckon Murphy will start off the season like a house on fire for celtic and then just laze about and eventually fall out with Lennon