Not wishing to blow ones own trumpet, but have a look at this from the diary of May 9….
Our own stained source tells us to keep an eye on this guy…
He’s Kundai Benyu, a nineteen year old, available for a development fee this summer as he is leaving Ipswich.
He’s spent this season on loan at non League Aldershot, and is being watched by a number of clubs, all of whom seem to be willing to pay a few quid for him.
Haarlem blue, who writes for Ipswich independent website, had a look at him recently..
“He looks very comfortable on the ball with most passes short and accurate and mainly looking to move forward. Good vision and definitely has an eye for the killer pass. He takes all of the set pieces for the Shots, freekicks and corners, and always wants to be involved. “
Watch this space, especially if Bojan Krkic starts sulking again.
We will now pause for a moment to congratulate our man in the know, and consider the serious ramifications of having to pay for his beer the next time we see him..
Well, whenever the scattergun approach of the mainstream media gets one right, they harp on about it for months, so we feel perfectly entitled to have our moment in the sun.
Kundai Benyu, harshly described as sounding like a Japanese bendy bus by our own philosopher El Cormaco, is an excellent acquisition, though one for the future rather than one who is expected to walk straight into the first team.
Manager Brendan Rodgers still has his eye on one more signing, one that will cost a bob or two, before the qualifiers begin, and that means the deal should be done within the next week.
On Benyu, the manager said-according to the Sun;
“It will give us great power and strength as well as quality.”
Hang on, thats not what he said at all. Thats an older quote about another transfer target.
So lets see what Benyu told the official site..
‘I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Celtic,’
‘It’s a massive honour to sign for the Scottish champions and one of the world’s truly great clubs.
‘It’s also a great opportunity for me to continue to develop as a footballer under Brendan Rodgers.
‘I’m looking forward to meeting up with my new Celtic team-mates. I know there’ s a lot of hard work ahead of me but I am ready for this, I’m looking forward to the challenge and I can’t wait to get started.’
The manager has told me just to relax and enjoy my time here, but has warned me not to let my mates talk to drunks in the pub, as that bastard at the Diary can pick up more than Jodrell fucking Bank.
He has signed a four year deal, and Ipswich will receive a bit of compensation.
There were reportedly several other clubs on his tail, and it must be regarded as a neat piece of business for the club.
Adam Virgo, who couldn’t quite reach the level of being a neat piece of business for Celtic, said this, on Twitter;
Amazing move for Kundai Benyu signing for @celticfc what a great move for him. Take it from me your joining an amazing club best of luck
Whilst someone who has watched Benyu added;
Celtic fans, you have got one hell of a player on your hands! With @OfficialShots he was the best player I’ve seen for many many years!
If only he was Mexican, or had spent time in the Portuguese reserve league, then our own media would be singing his praises and saluting the work that went into the deal…
There’s still a bit of work to be done to secure the services of midfield lynchpin stuart armstrong, although the gaffer is confident the deal will be done. armstrong himself is desperate to get his capital letters back, and should sign soon.
Rodgers elaborated;
“I wanted to put it on the backburner towards the end of last season,”
“I didn’t want any distractions and there was a period of time when it wasn’t resolved.
“We put the contract talks on hold. He’s had the Scotland game and a holiday, so I’m sure they will resume over the course of the season.
“It’s just negotiation. Stuart’s at that point in his career. He had a brilliant season, he came on great strides last season.
“Contracts are always about length of time, or finances, but I am pretty confident the club and the agent will come to an agreement.
“He’s happy here in this environment and he knows he is improving and developing. So let’s wait and see. He’s someone I’m keen to keep.
“The last thing he (Armstrong) needed to worry about was contract talks. We wanted to put that to one side. I’m sure that will be resolved over the course of the season
“He’s now an international player so let’s wait and see. He’s someone we want to keep.
“Naturally, I hope he (Armstrong), gets his deal here, and he is very happy. In his own mind he’s been through a tough couple of years, but now he has found a level of consistency and form and he naturally wants to continue like that.”
Another who has yet to re-sign is defender Kolo, Kolo Toure, but for the big man its more a case of does he want to be a coach, or does he want to carry on playing..
Rodgers again;
“It’s a tough one,” “Kolo is still in that mindset where he is asking: ‘Do I want to play?’ He’s now 35. He was fantastic for us last year, but his contract has run out. But he is someone I would like to have a role for.
“Obviously, the playing role diminishes for him. He just needs time to see where he’s at, in terms of playing, or whether he falls into the coaching role more.
“It’s something that he and I have spoken about over the course of the season. I think that sometimes what happens is that players who have been at that level, and have that experience, they sometimes just get pushed to the side a little bit.
“But guys like that are very, very important, not just for changing rooms, but for clubs. Players like that retain the values of a club and they understand the levels expected and the pressures, and they can help in that perspective.
With another player set to join before the start of the UCL campaign, things look a little better on all fronts at the club.
Someone is going though, the u20 coach Jim McGuinness…he’s away to China this summer to work with a guy called Roger Schmidt;
“It’s a fantastic opportunity,” told McGuinness to the Irish Times about the move.
“It’s a level up for me and a great honour to be asked. Roger is a really prestigious European coach and just to be part of his management team is a great privilege. I also feel that it’s great timing in terms of taking the next step forward in my own coaching career.
“In terms of Celtic, every decision that was made was with their knowledge. Dermot Desmond, in particular, was implicit in any decision made. And I’d like to think that the umbilical cord won’t be cut. Everyone in the club has been hugely supportive and hopefully I will return there someday as a better coach.”
From where I’m sitting, this is the manager tightening his ring of steel around him.
John Kennedy next ?
Elsewhere, the issue of new and old clubs resurfaced last night as UEFA upset fans of “rangers ” , who made their European debut last night, something confirmed by UEFA when they published the badges of competition participants..
New badge, new club ?
However, there was more kerfuffle when Grant Russell, of STV, pointed out how Danny Wilson was desrcibed on the Ibrox squad
One for Rangers old/new club debaters. UEFA have Danny Wilson as eligible for Europa Lge as he was trained “by his current club” 2006-2010.
Knob of the Week
Knob of the Week
Er, Pedro, its supposed to be No Surrender
Yesterday , we showed you this picture…
and I have to admit, though the “banter ” on here can be a little over the top, this did make me chuckle..
Caption: Yesterday’s caption winner heads of to Blackpool pleasure beach, hitching a lift by a passing beach goer!